Introducing Sam Dalrymple as he discusses his stellar new work, Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia, and new approaches to historical scholarship with Empire Podcast co-host, William Dalrymple, and Moin Mir, asking the questions. 

Sam Dalrymple

More From Sam Dalrymple:

(2025) Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (HarperCollins India) at:

Empire Podcast at: 

Moin Mir's website at:

Join Jeremy Corbyn MP as he talks about his extraordinary life as the most independent MP in the House of Commons and his ground breaking initiative to co-create a new party for the Left called Your Party. Oscar Guardiola Rivera explores why he continues to capture the imagination of young people as two local students, Ella Newton and Duncan Peppe, ask searching questions about his career and the future of British politics.

Jeremy Corbyn MP

(2024) Under the World. Book Two of The Night of the World Trilogy (Fiction, Poetry, The 87 Press) at https:

(2020) Way Out World. Book One of The Night of the World Trilogy (Fiction, Poetry, The 87 Press) at https:

(2019) A Defence of Armed/Art Struggle (UTadeo) at https:

(2013/4) Story of a Death Foretold. The CIA, Pinochet and the Coup Against Salvador Allende, 11 September 1973 (Bloomsbury) at https:

(2010) What If Latin America Ruled the World? How the South Will Take the North to the 22nd Century (Bloomsbury) at https:

Peebles High School student Beth Lapsley cross examines Former First Minister of Scotland, Lord Jack McConnell, and Martin Griffiths, former UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about their latest ventures to help save the world from further conflict and chaos. Mark Muller KC introduces the session. 

Featuring:

Beyond Borders Scotland: https://www.beyondbordersscotland.com

Audio Editor: Aedan Wilson

Catherine Maxwell Stuart introduces Professor Murray Pittock who paints a fascinating picture of John Buchan, author of The Thirty-Nine Steps, and a Scot who wasn’t just a literary legend, but a man who was well ahead of his time on issues that still resonate today from Scottish nationalism to the rights of indigenous peoples. Geoffrey Baskerville asks the questions.

Featuring:

More from Murray Pittock: https://murraypittock.com/ 

Audio Editor: Aedan Wilson

Listen to former First Minister, Humza Yousaf, in a dialogue about the future of Gaza and Palestine with current Palestine Ambassador, Husam Zomlot, who joins from the region, along with veteran Palestinian diplomat, Afif Safieh, and William Dalrymple, who explains why Britain bears a particular historic responsibility towards it.

Featuring:

This session is delivered in partnership with the Britain Palestine Project: https://britainpalestineproject.org

Beyond Borders Scotland: https://www.beyondbordersscotland.com

Hear more from William Dalrymple: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sBh58hSTReUQiK4axYUVx?si=a2747800feba4f53

Audio Editor: Aedan Wilson

In this unique episode of the Beyond Borders Scotland Podcast, we bring you a compelling conversation with two former UN envoys, Staffan de Mistura and Stephanie Williams.

Hosted by Duncan Peppe, a student from Peebles High School, this episode marks the first ever youth led podcast recorded at the Beyond Borders International Festival in 2024. From the journey to peace negotiations to the personal toll of conflict resolution, this intergenerational dialogue offers rare insight into the human side of diplomacy,  all through the eyes of a young and curious host.

This episode is part of the Beyond Borders Youth Podcast Series, amplifying young voices in dialogue with global leaders and changemakers.

Featuring:

Find out more:

Beyond Borders Scotland: https://www.beyondbordersscotland.com/

Beyond Borders International Festival: https://www.bbintfest.com/

In this compelling episode of the Beyond Borders Scotland Podcast, we revisit an urgent and unflinching discussion recorded live at the Beyond Borders International Festival. Professor Sir Geoff Palmer is joined by historian William Dalrymple and journalist Alex Renton for a wide-ranging conversation that interrogates Scotland’s role in the legacies of slavery and empire, and how their repercussions are still felt today.

The panel unpacks how racial hierarchies were constructed to justify economic exploitation—from the chattel slavery of the Caribbean to the looting of the Indian subcontinent under the East India Company. Geoff Palmer’s perspective, rooted in personal and academic insight, provides a powerful lens on the enduring impact of colonialism and structural racism. Alex Renton shares his journey of discovering his family's links to slavery, as explored in his book Blood Legacy, while William Dalrymple details Scotland’s disproportionate involvement in colonial India and how the infrastructure of corporate imperialism was born.

Together, they call for truth-telling, reparative justice, and radical curriculum reform as vital steps toward healing and equity in a post-imperial society.

Featuring:

Find out more:

Beyond Borders Scotland: https://www.beyondbordersscotland.com/

Beyond Borders International Festival: https://www.bbintfest.com/

Step into the heart of ancient civilisations with celebrated historian and bestselling author William Dalrymple CBE, as he explores the remarkable legacy of India in his latest book, The Golden Road. In this thought-provoking lecture recorded live for Beyond Borders Scotland, Dalrymple charts the monumental influence of India’s religious, artistic, and economic power across Asia and beyond.

From the towering stupas of Sri Lanka to the Buddhist cave temples of China, The Golden Road reveals how Indian ideas, aesthetics, and institutions travelled along ancient trade routes, transforming entire cultures. In this episode, Dalrymple examines the origins and expansion of Indian civilisation’s spiritual and material gifts—and why this legacy remains crucial to understanding global history today.

This episode offers listeners an immersive journey through time, illuminating how a once-dominant culture shaped the contours of the modern world.

Featuring:

Find out more:

Empire Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/@EmpirePodUK/featured

Beyond Borders Scotland: https://www.beyondbordersscotland.com/

Beyond Borders International Festival: https://www.bbintfest.com/

Join us on this poignant episode of the Beyond Borders Scotland podcast as we explore stories of survival, justice, and reconciliation in the aftermath of some of the most devastating conflicts of recent times. Hosted by David Hamilton, trustee of the Scottish educational charity Beyond Srebrenica, this episode delves into the horrors of the Srebrenica genocide and the ongoing efforts to address its aftermath through educational initiatives and partnerships.

David introduces Nedzad Avdic, a survivor of the Srebrenica massacre, who shares his harrowing escape from execution and his life thereafter. Nezhad’s testimony not only recalls the tragic events but also embodies the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Additionally, we are joined by Judge Roberto Carlos Vidal Lopez from the Colombian special jurisdiction for peace. Judge Lopez discusses the innovative approaches being used in Colombia, focusing on restorative justice to heal and rebuild communities torn apart by decades of armed conflict.

This session is expertly chaired by Oscar Guardiola Rivera, professor of human rights and political philosophy at Birkbeck Law School in London, who guides the conversation with insightful questions and reflections on the themes of justice and human rights.

Featuring:

Find out more:

Beyond Srebrenica:

https://srebrenica.scot/

Beyond Borders Scotland: https://www.beyondbordersscotland.com/

Beyond Borders International Festival: https://www.bbintfest.com/

Join veteran BBC broadcaster Jim Naughtie as he converses with the ever-entertaining Miriam Margolyes in an unfiltered dialogue about her illustrious career and vibrant personal anecdotes. This episode offers listeners a unique opportunity to hear Miriam’s candid reflections and humorous tales from her diverse experiences both on and off the screen.

Miriam, known for her roles across stage and screen and her one-woman show, "Dickens’ Women," discusses the nuances of her performances and the stories behind her most beloved characters. Jim probes into the depth and breadth of Miriam's career, revealing the passion and perseverance that have defined her life's work.

Featuring:

Find out more:

Dickens' Women: https://miriammargolyes.com/dickens_women/

Beyond Borders Scotland: https://www.beyondbordersscotland.com/

Beyond Borders International Festival: https://www.bbintfest.com/