Scotcast

John Swinney (pictured) has been SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland since 2024.
He talks to Martin about feeling the “love of God” and why he believes racism partly explains the popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.
Get in touch: [email protected]

MSPs have rejected a bill brought forward by Liam McArthur (pictured) which would have allowed a medically assisted death for terminally ill people with six months left to live.
We ask the BBC’s Scotland Editor and Newscast regular James Cook how a majority of MSPs went from supporting the bill in May 2025 to voting it down 10 months later.
Scotcast is the BBC's Scottish news podcast. This episode was hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.
Get in touch: [email protected]

Gillian Mackay (pictured) was elected co-leader of the Scottish Greens alongside Ross Greer in 2025.
She talks to Martin about 'rebuilding trust' between her party and the SNP, and her childhood bullying ordeal.
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 ‘Iran: Are our bills about to shoot up?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002s4h6
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that the longer the US-Israel war with Iran continues, the worse the cost of living will get at home.
He’s announced some support for those who use heating oil – but it pales in comparison to the help given out after the Ukraine war. So what can the UK government afford these days?
The BBC’s deputy economics editor Dharshini David answers our questions.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Natalie Higgins and David Wallace Lockhart.
Get in touch: [email protected]

Scotcast's Martin Geissler joins Natalie and David to talk about the first of our leader interviews with Scottish Liberal Democrat Alex Cole-Hamilton and Reform UK's Malcolm Offord. And we preview the upcoming Holyrood vote on whether to legalise assisted dying.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Natalie Higgins and David Wallace Lockhart.
Get in touch: [email protected]