

Scotcast
BBC Radio Scotland
The BBC's Scottish news podcast, hosted by Martin Geissler. Conversation with trusted journalists and experts about the country's biggest stories.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 6, 2025 • 28min
What’s it like to be homeless?
As homelessness stats reach record highs in Scotland, the team asks what it’s really like not to have a home.
We talk to the editor of The Big Issue, Paul McNamee, and Sylvia Douglas, who experienced homelessness as a child and now supports women in poverty, about how to fix this complicated problem.
And Martin and Laura discuss whether they’re sick of looking at their own faces.
Get in touch with the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Feb 5, 2025 • 33min
Humza Yousaf on Trump and Gaza
Donald Trump says America will 'take over' Gaza, resettling most of the native population. His comments have drawn astonishment and anger. Humza Yousaf, former First Minister, has a personal investment. Members of his wife's family are still living in Gaza. In conversation with Martin Geissler, Yousaf reacts to Trump’s overnight press conference, and what it might mean for a two-state solution. Get in touch with the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Feb 4, 2025 • 27min
Water: is it as plentiful as we think?
We drink it, wash with it and curse it when it falls from the sky. But how much do we really know about our water supply?The man in charge of it, Scottish Water's Chief Executive Alex Plant, talks to Martin about supply, demand, rising bills and why we need to think seriously about how much water we use.Scotcast is the BBC's Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Natalie Higgins and Laura Miller. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Feb 3, 2025 • 27min
Can we backtrack on Brexit?
As Keir Starmer becomes the first UK Prime Minister to join a meeting of EU leaders since Brexit, could the decision to leave the union ever be unpicked by our politicians? We ask the BBC’s Glenn Campbell and Angus Robertson, the member of John Swinney’s cabinet responsible for European relations, who tells us why Brexit should be reversed. And Martin Geissler and Laura Miller debate whether it’s ever okay to drop the C-bomb. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Jan 30, 2025 • 26min
Rosebank and the political climate
Will a legal win for environmental campaigners stop new North Sea oil and gas? As extreme weather events become more common, the team asks whether climate change is a political priority anymore - with Tessa Khan, founder of climate action organisation Uplift, and Professor Paul de Leeuw from the Energy Transition Institute at Robert Gordon University.And Martin and Natalie discuss the spike in violent shoplifting. Get in touch with the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Jan 29, 2025 • 28min
Stopping the scammers
With incidents of fraud soaring, can scammers be stopped in their tracks? Harleen Nottay from BBC’s Scam Interceptors gives us a flavour of the fraud she encounters on a daily basis. Plus, ‘Lisa’ tells us the impact a romance scam has had on her life. And Martin and Laura discuss why Harrison Ford is selling whisky. Get in touch with the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Jan 28, 2025 • 26min
What Waspi women want
After the UK Government ruled out compensation for women affected by an increase to the state pension age, is the Waspi campaign over? On the day MPs debate the issue, Waspi campaigner Anne Potter tells us her story and BBC political correspondent Kirsten Campbell explains why it’s a headache for Scottish Labour. And Martin and Natalie discuss the resignation of Stuart Kettlewell, who quit as manager of Premiership side Motherwell because of abuse from his own fans.Get in touch with the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Jan 27, 2025 • 27min
Fixing the NHS: where do you start?
John Swinney is promising tens of thousands of extra NHS appointments: how is his government going to deliver them? We reflect on the First Minister's latest plan for the health service with Cancer Research UK’s Dr Sorcha Hume, a former junior doctor, and pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick, whose industry is absorbing an increasing number of potential GP appointments.Get in touch with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and the rest of the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Jan 23, 2025 • 27min
Tourist tax: the answer to overtourism?
With Edinburgh on the verge of approving the country’s first tourist tax, can Scotland cope with tourism at its current levels?We ask Dr Guillem Colom-Montero, an expert in overtourism, and Jo de Sylva, who runs a hospitality business in Inverness.And Martin and Natalie get BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Calum MacColl's take on Storm Éowyn and the red weather warnings in place for parts of Scotland.Get in touch with the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Jan 22, 2025 • 27min
Mary v. the porn industry
Children aren’t supposed to be able access pornography, but they do in significant numbers and at a very young age. We ask Mary Sharpe, a Scottish lawyer campaigning for stricter regulation of the industry, if adult content is harming our kids and how we can stop them from accessing it. And Martin and Laura Maciver discuss your reaction to our episode about "petrifying" maternity unit failings.Get in touch with the Scotcast team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk


