Scotcast

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Around 90,000 people are living with dementia in Scotland – and about 144,000 people care for them.

But how close are we to stopping dementia in its tracks, through testing and preventative treatments? The neuroscientist Professor Tara Spires Jones says we’re closer than you think.

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

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Can Michael Marra stick to his indyref2 position?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0031ss7

Natalie, Phil and former the Scottish Labour MSP Paul O’Kane talk about John Swinney’s (pictured) Holyrood motion on independence and how the new Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra (pictured) responded – plus the proposed major changes to councils and Rory Stewart’s viral moment.

Photo: PA

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: ‘Is the Sandie Peggie ruling discredited?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002njyw

Sandie Peggie (pictured) is taking legal action against her trade union, the Royal College of Nursing, in a dispute over her gender-critical beliefs.

Martin talks to the BBC’s Lorna Gordon, who watched the opening day of evidence at the employment tribunal in Dundee.

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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 ‘Our problem with drugs’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029hch

Scotland’s drug supply is getting more and more dangerous, according to Dr Lorna Nisbet (pictured) of Dundee University's Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science.

That’s because a new type of synthetic opioid, called nitazenes, are flooding the market. Five hundred times more potent than heroin, a single grain can kill.

Martin Geissler speaks to the BBC’s James Cook about the criminal gangs making these drugs, and how law enforcement struggles to keep up.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘The Scottish Labour leadership interviews’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030b3d

Michael Marra (pictured) overcame fellow MSP Joe Fagan to be elected Scottish Labour’s eleventh leader.

As MSPs prepare to vote on the principle of self-determination, we ask the Daily Record’s Chris McCall and ex-Labour spokesperson James Matthewson how Marra will deal with questions about another independence referendum.

Photo: PA

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

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Cara McKee (pictured) was elected a Scottish Green MSP in May 2026, following decades living with a mysterious chronic pain.

She talks to Laura about fighting for a diagnosis for trigeminal neuralgia - and her recovery from brain surgery.

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

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Does the Cardiff summit boost indyref2 hopes?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0031h0n

David, Lynsey and former Deputy First Minister Shona Robison talk about John Swinney's meeting with the leaders of Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin; the data centre debate at Holyrood; and the Scottish Labour leadership race.

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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: ‘How big is the Jackdaw decision’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00315sy

Greg Jackson (pictured) is the chief executive of Octopus Energy, the UK’s biggest domestic energy supplier.

He talks to us about household bills, AI data centres and Rammstein.

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: 'Octopus CEO on energy bills, Jackdaw and heavy metal' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0031hbw

Jacob Coxon (pictured), who quit AI giant Anthropic, has said people working on artifical intelligence are“genuinely frightened” by its advances.

As MSPs prepare to vote on a Scottish Greeen motion to block the construction of new AI data centres, we talk to the the BBC’s Graham Fraser and Joe Tidy.

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: 'Has Burnham caved on indyref2?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00315w2

The first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have declared "Westminster's time is coming to an end" at a summit in Cardiff.

We speak to The Herald’s Rebecca McCurdy and our Westminster correspondent Paris Gourtsoyannis whether the gathering boosts SNP leader John Swinney’s independence strategy.

Photo: PA

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

Get in touch: [email protected]