Scotcast

Anne Marie Ward from Faces and Voices of Recovery UK has dedicated her life to advocating for those recovering from addiction. She tells us why we need to think differently about our drugs deaths crisis. And gives her take on drug consumption rooms, which we talked about in the very first episode of Scotcast. You can listen to ‘UK’s first drug supervision room opens’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027430 Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

With a third of Scots classed as obese, it’s no wonder weight-loss medicines like Ozempic, which isn’t approved in the UK, are in demand. Pharmacist Sehar Shahid, who prescribes Wegovy and Mounjaro, tells Martin about the complications people are risking by getting these drugs without a prescription. You can listen to our first episode on so-called ‘skinny jabs’, 'Can weight-loss jabs save the NHS?’, on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028sqf Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Some campaigners pushing for the reintroduction of lynx to the Highlands as part of a wider rewilding campaign. We ask former president of the National Farmers Union in Scotland, Martin Kennedy, why he and others have such strong objections. Martin also responds to some of the claims made in the first episode we did on this topic. You can listen to 'Who thinks lynx should roam the Highlands?' on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027tgn Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Age-checking techniques must be introduced to all UK websites where pornography can be found by July. We ask former porn producer Mike Stabile from the Free Speech Coalition, the US adult entertainment trade body, why his organisation opposes the measures. And Mike responds to allegations, made in the first episode we did on this topic, that the porn industry bullies its opponents. You can listen to ‘Mary v the porn industry’ on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027430 Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Martin Geissler speaks to BBC reporter Katie Hunter, who has been investigating millionaire Kevin Booth (pictured), who abused women in an underground chamber at his remote Highland home and in foreign hotel rooms. And with an 'extreme' wildfire warning in place across much of Scotland – we ask fire expert Professor Rory Hadden and environmental scientist and campaigner Laura Young if Scotland is prepared for our changing climate. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk. Artwork photo credit: Peter Jolly/Northpix

Two weeks before Netflix released Adolescence, a debut novel by Scottish writer Chris McQueer with strikingly similar influences was published. Chris tells Martin about the 'boggin' things he saw while researching incels and the so-called manosphere for his book, Hermit, and reveals why he thinks some young men are so attracted to the message of online influencers like Andrew Tate. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Politicians in Holyrood and Westminster are preparing to vote on changing the law to allow terminally-ill people the right to seek medical help to die. We ask the BBC’s Phil Sim and health journalist Helen Puttick about the differences between the assisted dying bill going through the Scottish Parliament – put forward by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur – and Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s (both pictured), which applies to England and Wales. And Laura and Martin discuss the story of a 'miracle' baby - born to a Scottish mum using a donated womb. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Edinburgh University’s principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, says the way we fund universities is 'broken'. We ask The Herald’s education correspondent, Garrett Stell (pictured), and political commentator Andy Maciver from the Holyrood Sources podcast if the Scottish Government’s free tuition policy – a key SNP commitment – should be up for debate. And Laura asks Martin how his latest political grilling was sidetracked by a piercing. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

BBC Reporting Scotland presenter Sally Magnusson sits down with Martin Geissler and Laura Miller to talk about her life and career as she prepares to stand down from the news programme after 27 years. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Industries like whisky and salmon are bracing themselves as Donald Trump prepares to announce taxes on goods imported into the US, on what he’s calling Liberation Day. We’re asking why exactly he’s so keen on tariffs, and what it could mean for our economy. Businessman Sir Tom Hunter, one of Scotland’s wealthiest people, helps us get inside the head of the man who wrote The Art of the Deal. And economics expert Professor Mark Blyth, from Brown University in Rhode Island, explains the theory behind Mr Trump’s actions.Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk