If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘River City goes to Holyrood’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002b61k

STV bosses have defended accusations of 'financial mismanagement' and 'cultural vandalism' after announcing plans to cut jobs and axe a north of Scotland news programme.

Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins discuss what the proposed cuts could signal for the mainstream media in Scotland.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

The Scottish Government has been warned The Promise – policies to improve the lives of care-experienced children and young people championed by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – is progressing too slowly.

Jamie Dalgoutte, who grew up in the care system, tells us what life was like.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like our interview with former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002h9s7

Still reeling from general election defeat, Conservative politicians and members are gathering at their conference in Manchester.

Former Scottish Conservative head of media Adam Morris and the BBC’s Glenn Campbell tell us what leaders Russell Findlay and Kemi Badenoch need to do to turn party fortunes around.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Humza Yousaf on Trump and Gaza’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027lr4

John Swinney has been heckled while speaking at a vigil marking the anniversary of the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel.

The BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart tells us why the First Minister’s views on Palestinian statehood were met with jeers.

And Martin explains why you should check the smallprint on your passport before going to the airport.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

This episode of Scotcast contains some strong language.

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Irvine Welsh: Mobile phones destroy culture’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002gqtv

In 1989, John Davidson (pictured 2025) was on TV screens as a sad and lonely teenager in the documentary John's Not Mad.

Today, he tells us what it’s like to have his life and journey with Tourette’s syndrome turned into a feature film, I Swear - and of his pride in the next generation, including Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo credit: Eoin Carey. Additional material provided by STUDIOCANAL

PPE Medpro, a company linked to Ultimo founder Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman, has been ordered to pay £122 million in damages for breaching a contract to supply surgical gowns during the Covid pandemic.

Laura Kuenssberg, who interviewed the couple at the height of the controversy, tells us what they were like.

And after MSPs approved new housing laws, the BBC's Georgina Hayes talks us through some big changes for renters and landlords.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Sandie Peggie tribunal: what’s going on?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002hwmc

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth (pictured) says the Scottish Government’s new guidance on the treatment of transgender pupils – which instructs schools to provide separate toilets for boys and girls – provides 'clarity'.

The Scotsman’s education correspondent Catriona Stewart explains why, for some, the guidance isn’t clear enough.

And as the Labour conference wraps in Liverpool, did Sir Keir Starmer do enough to secure his leadership?

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like 'Could Andy Burnham be prime minister?' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002jtst

With polls suggesting Scottish Labour are struggling to maintain support, what can Anas Sarwar do to turn things around and does he need to distance himself from Sir Keir Starmer?

Martin Geissler is joined by pollster Mark Diffley who lays out the challenges for Labour ahead of the Scottish elections in May 2026 and former political adviser John McTernan tells us what he would do to fend off a rising Reform party.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Meet the new Scottish Green leaders’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002j5l7

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham (pictured) has turned up the heat on Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party.

The BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart and Iain Watson tell us what’s gone wrong for the prime minister – and whether some in Scottish Labour may also fancy a change at the top with a Holyrood election looming.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like Scotcast - How to save childhood - BBC Sounds

A bill proposed by Conservative MSP Liz Smith (pictured here) which could guarantee all primary 7 pupils a week of outdoor learning has been brought back from the brink.

The Scotsman's education correspondent Catriona Stewart and BBC’s Kirsten Campbell chat with Laura about the bumps in the road it has faced and reminisce about their own school days.

Plus BBC’S environment, energy and rural affairs correspondent Kevin Keane pops by to tell Laura about why she needs to be on the lookout for ticks in her local park.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]