Scots Whay Hae!

For the latest podcast Ali spoke to playwright, fantasy writer, and poet Chris Tait, and playwright, director, and producer Lisa Nicoll, about the audio drama podcast 'A Toon Built Apo Shenanigans', and a whole lot more.

The three discuss Chris's life and work as a writer, the central themes of inclusivity and awareness, looking at perceived disability with positivity, the collaborative nature of this project, how it grew to be something far more than was originally envisaged, the importance of education, the ethos and work of In Motion Theatre Company, and what the future may hold. It's a wonderful, warm and passionate conversation which will strike a chord with many.

'A Toon Built Apo Shenanigans' is available as a podcast from wherever you get yours, and it's such a great listen you'll want to return to it again and again.

The latest SWH! podcast is all about the forthcoming Village Storytelling Festival (5 – 10 July), with Ali talking to Creative Producer Emma Collins, as well as participants and performers Raymond Wilson, Daiva Ivanuskaite, and Shona Cowie. Returning for the first time since 2017, The Village Storytelling Festival will explore Connection and Transformation – Storytelling in a Precarious World and Emma gives us an overview of this year's festival, as well as all the relevant details. Raymond, Daiva, and Shona then talk about the shows they are involved in, as well as telling us what they are looking forward to.

The festival is part of Scotland’s Year of Stories and the conversation also turns to the importance of telling stories in understanding ourselves and each other, and in building and strengthening connections. It's a genuinely inspirational conversation which not only whets the appetite for the Village Storytelling Festival, but for the future of storytelling itself.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to writer Denzil Meyrick to talk about the publication of 'The Death of Remembrance', the 10th in the DCI Daley series of crime novels, as well as the one-off thriller 'Terms of Restitution', and the very different 'Tales of Kinloch' novellas.

Denzil gives us background to DCI Daley and how this series began and has progressed, the importance of the location of 'Kinloch', the development of the central characters over the novels, the importance of family in his work, and discusses the forthcoming adaptation of the series to TV.

The two also discuss how lockdown inspired both 'Terms of Restitution' and the 'Tales of Kinloch' books, and Denzil's desire to write something different with each. It's an insightful and enthralling interview with one of Scotland's finest writers across the genres. We hope you agree.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali caught up with award-winning poet, writer, and singer/songwriter Marcas Mac an Tuairneir to talk about his latest collection of poetry 'Polaris' (Leamington Books). We've been hoping to have Marcas as a guest on the podcast for a long time, so it was great to be able to speak to him about his life and work. Marcas talked not only about the themes and ideas behind 'Polaris', but also the multilingual, collaborative, and interrogative nature of the project.

The two also discuss Marcus's other writing, the roots of the cryptolect Polari, the pros and cons of translations, his musical career, and where Gaelic culture currently stands in relation to Scottish culture and beyond. It's a fascinating chat with one of the most interesting and thoughtful writers around.

For the latest SWH! podcast, Ali speaks to writer and journalist Nick Holdstock to talk about his latest novel 'Quarantine' (published by Swift Press), which is set ten years after a deadly pandemic has swept the globe, in a world which is still learning to adapt. The two discuss the style and structure of 'Quarantine', writing distinct narrative voices, the initial response to the novel, the importance of offering hope even in the darkest of scenarios, and much more. Nick also talks about his journalism and how that may feed into his fiction (even if it's subliminal), and his debut novel 'The Casualties'. It's a fascinating conversation about one of the most through-provoking and arresting novels of the year, and a writer who you need to know if you don't already.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to writer Angela Jackson about her novel 'The Darlings' (published by Lightning Books). Coming 7 years after Angela's acclaimed debut 'The Emergence of Judy Taylor', 'The Darlings' is a honest and insightful novel about the lasting psychological effects of childhood trauma, and our need for unconditional love. Angela goes into detail about what inspired the book, the importance of creating the central character of 'Mark', her life as a writer, the challenges she has faced, and 'casting' her books. 

The two also talk about Angela's upcoming Edinburgh Fringe Show 'Say If It's Not Okay', her love of performing, and what she is planning for the future. Following her recent appearance at Aye Write! it was great to catch up with Angela to dig deeper into 'The Darlings', a book which once read will not be forgotten.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to Scotland's National Chef, and MasterChef: The Professionals winner, Gary Maclean to talk about his fantastic new cookbook 'Scottish Kitchen' (published by Black & White Publishing). The book itself is a hymn to Scottish cookery and produce, and Gary talks about the inspirations behind it, the process involved in writing a cookbook, his determination to champion Scottish ingredients and recipes from all regions, and his hope that it will inspire readers to explore further.

The two also talk about Gary's time on MasterChef, the life of a chef, his role as an educator and the importance of teaching cookery at all levels, and so much more. Both Scots Whay Hae!'s Ali and Ian were chefs in former lives, so this was an absolute treat to be able to catch up with one of Scotland's very best, and we hope you enjoy listening to Gary as much as we did talking to him.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali was joined by musician and writer Ruarri Joseph to talk about his novel William the Conqueror, as well as his band of the same name. The two talk about the links between the novel and Ruarri's songs, how the band came about after his solo career, how carefully he considers the thoughts of his younger self, the semi-autobiographical nature of the novel, and how it came to be published. Ruarri also explains the importance of music in how the story unfolds, how he tried to do something different with the form, and intriguingly hints at what is coming next. It's a very different conversation with a very different novelist, and we hope it'll prompt you to not only check out William the Conqueror the novel, but also the band.

For the latest SWH! podcast, Ali caught up with writer, academic, and Alasdair Gray biographer (and old pal of Scots Whay Hae!) Rodge Glass to hear all about the 2nd International Alasdair Gray Conference, which will be on 16th – 17th June 2022. Rodge gives details of the conference, including how to register and get involved, and just what will be going on and where. He also talks about the organisations who are collaborating for this event, explains the Conference titles 'Making Imagined Objects' and 'Across Space & Form', the interdisciplinary and interactive aspects, and the importance of discussing Alasdair Gray's art and writing together. It's a conversation which will appeal to all fans of the great man. For further details as to what's going on, and where, head to scotswhayhae.com.

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is all about Bella Caledonia and the new Anthology of writing from the years 2007 - 2021. To discuss all things Bella, Ali is joined by founder and editor Mike Small as well as contributors, writer Neil Cooper, writer and performer Dougie Strang, and academic Alison Phipps.

They talk about the beginnings of Bella Caledonia, the aims and ideas behind it, each person's initial involvement, how time can change the context of the chosen essays, the importance of, and dangers in, having a wide and inclusive brief, and so much more.