Is a lack of access to NHS fertility treatments driving single women to find sperm donors on social media?

Scotcast’s Rebecca Tierney explores the murky, unregulated world of online sperm donation and former MP Hannah Bardell (pictured) tells us about her own IVF experience.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller.

Get in touch: [email protected]

David and Lynsey talk to ex-Scottish Labour MSP Paul O’Kane about the future of Anas Sarwar’ (pictured) as Andy Burnham closes in on succeeding Sir Keir Starmer; the press ‘pen’ dispute at Holyrood; and more fallout from Peter Murrell’s crimes.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart and Lynsey Bews.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Starmer’s off – but can Burnham save Scottish Labour?’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002xzdf

Andy Burnham (pictured) looks increasingly likely to be become Prime Minister unopposed after Cabinet minister Darren Jones ruled himself out of the Labour leadership contest.

Former Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay tells us why he believes Burnham could shift the party’s position on Scottish independence.

And Scotcast’s Caitlin Fairlie picks out some of the eye-catching proposals in the Makerfield MP’s 2024 book ‘Head North’.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘How Peter Murrell did it’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002x3yc

Peter Murrell (pictured) has been sentenced to more than five years in jail after embezzling £400,000 from the SNP.

We ask the BBC’s David Henderson, who was in court for the sentencing of the party’s former chief executive, and Glenn Campbell, who has made a documentary about the case, why Murrell did it.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘By-election bonanza – results reaction’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nt0sfv

Andy Burnham is expected to become UK prime minister after Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.

We ask former Labour adviser James Mathewson and Jack McConnel, who is campaigning for an independent Scottish Labour party, whether Burnham can reverse the party’s fortunes in Scotland.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by David Wallace Lockahart.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you'd like to apply to attend our live show at the Edinburgh Festival, follow this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/edfest26-scotcast-live-20aug26

Labour’s Andy Burnham (pictured) has stormed to victory in the Makerfield by-election but the party came a distant fourth in Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry.

We ask Labour MSP Paul Sweeney whether Burnham can reverse their party’s fortunes in Scotland. And Nicola Sturgeon’s former chief of staff Liz Lloyd tells us what went wrong for the SNP in Stephen Flynn’s former constituency.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you'd like to apply to attend our live show at the Edinburgh Festival, follow this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/edfest26-scotcast-live-20aug26

Ivan McKee (pictured) was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform in May 2026.

We ask him about slashing jobs, cutting spending and reforming taxes.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you'd like to apply to attend our live show at the Edinburgh Festival, follow this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/edfest26-scotcast-live-20aug26

Natalie talks to the BBC’s Lynsey Bews and co-host of The Stooshie podcast, Justin Bowie, about by-elections in Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry triggered by the SNP's Stephen Flynn (pictured) and Stephen Gethins switching from Westminster to Holyrood.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Aberfeldy case: how did police get it so wrong?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002rp1l

Ilia Belov (pictured left) has been convicted of assault and making sexual remarks to a group of young girls in Dundee. His sister Nadjedzha Belova (pictured right) was also convicted of assault.

We talk to The Courier’s editor David Clegg and Calum Steele, formerly of the Scottish Police Federation, about how Police Scotland responded after a video of a girl carrying an axe, pushed by the likes of Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson, went viral.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like:

First Minister John Swinney (pictured) was reportedly targeted by an Israeli firm spreading online disinformation ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election.

We talk to the BBC’s global disinformation reporter Jacqui Wakefield and ex-SNP MP Stewart McDonald, who authored a report about online smear campaigns targeting Scottish public life.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]