How smart is the SNP independence plan?

John Swinney is travelling to Malawi to celebrate 20 years of a Scottish-funded aid-and-development programme in the African country. Labour’s former first minister Lord Jack McConnell, who signed the Scotland Malawi Partnership in 2005, tells us how it all came about. And Martin and Natalie discuss why international aid spending has dropped down the political agenda. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Natalie Higgins and Laura Miller. Get in touch: [email protected]

Why have so many football fans become so angry? Former Scotland boss Craig Levein and the BBC’s Chris McLaughlin discuss rage from the terraces, the treatment of Russell Martin and Steve Clarke (pictured) - and how sport reporting has changed in the age of social media. And Martin becomes unnerved by a stark comparison with Alan Partridge. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Referendum plan revealed’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002gfsl John Swinney’s strategy for holding an independence referendum has been backed by party members at the SNP conference in Aberdeen. Martin and Natalie discuss why the first minister has set the bar so high, while Newscast’s Chris Mason sums up the mood within the major parties as the conference season concludes. And Martin explains why he'd rather not have the trauma of Scotland qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Natalie Higgins and Laura Miller. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘River City goes to Holyrood’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002b61k STV bosses have defended accusations of 'financial mismanagement' and 'cultural vandalism' after announcing plans to cut jobs and axe a north of Scotland news programme. Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins discuss what the proposed cuts could signal for the mainstream media in Scotland. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

The Scottish Government has been warned The Promise – a pledge to improve the lives of care-experienced young people championed by Nicola Sturgeon – is progressing too slowly. Jamie Dalgoutte, who grew up in the care system, tells us what life was like. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like our interview with former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002h9s7 Still reeling from general election defeat, Conservative politicians and members are gathering at their conference in Manchester. Former Scottish Conservative head of media Adam Morris and the BBC’s Glenn Campbell tell us what leaders Russell Findlay and Kemi Badenoch need to do to turn party fortunes around. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Humza Yousaf on Trump and Gaza’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027lr4 John Swinney has been heckled while speaking at a vigil marking the anniversary of the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel. The BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart tells us why the First Minister’s views on Palestinian statehood were met with jeers. And Martin explains why you should check the smallprint on your passport before going to the airport. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

In 1989, John Davidson (pictured in 2025) was on TV screens as a sad and lonely teenager in the documentary 'John's Not Mad'. John tells us what it’s like to have his life and journey with Tourette’s syndrome turned into a feature film, I Swear, and of his pride in Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo credit: Eoin CareyAdditional material: STUDIOCANAL

PPE Medpro, a company linked to Ultimo founder Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman, has been ordered to pay £122 million in damages for breaching a contract to supply surgical gowns during the Covid pandemic. Laura Kuenssberg, who interviewed the couple at the height of the controversy, tells us what they were like. And after MSPs approved new housing laws, the BBC's Georgina Hayes talks us through some big changes for renters and landlords. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Sandie Peggie tribunal: what’s going on?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002hwmc Education secretary Jenny Gilruth (pictured) says the Scottish Government’s new guidance on the treatment of transgender pupils – which instructs schools to provide separate toilets for boys and girls – provides 'clarity'. The Scotsman’s education correspondent Catriona Stewart explains why, for some, the guidance isn’t clear enough. And as the Labour conference wraps in Liverpool, did Sir Keir Starmer do enough to secure his leadership? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]