If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Are Starmer’s Scottish MPs sick of him?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz40

Party leaders including John Swinney of the SNP and Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar (both pictured) have kicked off 2026 with a pitch to voters ahead of May’s Holyrood election.

David Wallace Lockhart explains what their speeches told us about the upcoming campaign.

And Martin and Natalie predict what other news stories will be among the biggest of the next 12 months. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.

This episode is hosted Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins choose their top five news stories of the year.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins look back on the year’s news and pick their biggest stories of 2025.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Two Doors Down is back with a Christmas special and live shows.

Co-creator Gregor Sharp talks to Laura and Martin about writing them after the death of his friend and colleague Simon Carlyle.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Two Doors Down is a BBC Studios Comedy production.

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘What STV cuts tell us about the mainstream media’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002kd3k

STV bosses felt the backlash from staff, politicians and the public when plans to axe a bespoke north of Scotland news programme were announced.

Martin and Laura ask chief executive Rufus Radcliffe why those plans have been watered down, and if holding an online meeting to tell staff their jobs were at risk was a mistake.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Do we need a grooming gangs inquiry too?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz2z

Angela Constance (pictured) has survived a vote of no confidence after being accused of misleading parliament when quoting the views of grooming gangs expert Professor Alexis Jay.

The BBC’s Lynsey Bews explains why the justice secretary won the crucial backing of Scottish Green MSPs at Holyrood.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘What the Sandie Peggie ruling means’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002n9bk

JK Rowling has said errors in the NHS Fife employment tribunal judgement are “scandalous”.

The BBC's David Henderson explains the criticism of judge Sandy Kemp's ruling in the case involving nurse Sandie Peggie (pictured) and Dr Beth Upton.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Meet the new Scottish Green leaders’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002j5l7

Former Conservative government minister Lord Malcolm Offord is ditching his peerage with the hope of becoming a Reform UK First Minister.

Martin Geissler asks him why he has had enough of his former Tory colleagues, and why he thinks he now has more in common with Nigel Farage and his party, Reform UK.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Can weight-loss jabs save the NHS?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028sqf

As a bill to make non-surgical aesthetic procedures safer makes its way through Holyrood, Dr Nestor Demosthenous (pictured) tells us all about working in the aesthetics industry.

And why the Tartan Army might want to check their social media history before applying for their visa for the World Cup.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Why I’m defending Sandie Peggie’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mp56

An employment tribunal has ruled on the case involving nurse Sandie Peggie (pictured), her employer NHS Fife and transgender doctor Beth Upton.

The BBC’s Steven Godden and David Henderson explain the main findings of the 312-page ruling.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘The 1,000 prisoners up for early release’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002ld8y

More inmates are leaving prison earlier than planned as an emergency measure to deal with record overcrowding in Scotland’s jails.

Natalie has been inside HMP Barlinnie to speak to one of the nearly 1,000 prisoners up for early release and staff including deputy governor Jim Beaton (pictured).

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Kezia Dugdale on Labour, trust and Rachel Reeves’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz87

The Prime Minister and Chancellor are visiting Scotland to talk defence and cost of living support, but how do their Scottish Labour colleagues really feel about Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves?

And the BBC’s Kevin Keane joins Laura and Natalie to explain who will pay for billions of pounds of investment into our energy grid.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘We’ll be coming! Why the football means so much’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mckx

Football fan groups say the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America could be the 'most expensive' ever.

We ask the BBC’s Chris McLaughlin and Scotland fan Calum Brown whether dynamic pricing for tickets could price out some fans.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Hot takes from Budget day’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mp3z

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has denied misleading the public over the state of public finances ahead of the UK Budget.

We ask former Scottish Labour leader Professor Kezia Dugdale (pictured) about trust in politics and dealing with decisions made in Westminster.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Derailed’: what now for £50m public inquiry? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mp1y

First minister John Swinney says the Scottish government will clarify its position on an inquiry into grooming gangs before Christmas.

Labour MP Joani Reid (pictured) tells us why she wants Scotland to follow England and Wales with a review of group-based child sexual exploitation.

And your reaction to our interview with Sandie Peggie’s lawyer Naomi Cunningham.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Picture credit: House of Commons

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

A clash between a trans doctor, Beth Upton, and a nurse, Sandie Peggie (pictured), in the changing room of an NHS Fife hospital has been played out and examined in great detail during an employment tribunal this year.

Martin Geissler asks Sandie Peggie’s lawyer, Naomi Cunningham, about her role in what she calls the 'gender wars'.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Martin Geissler, Laura Miller, Natalie Higgins and David Wallace Lockhart discuss Rachel Reeves’s much-anticipated second UK Budget.

And the BBC’s Kevin Keane joins from Aberdeen as workers and businesses in the north east were left disappointed with Labour’s decisions on the windfall tax on oil and gas.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Tax rises and welfare spending have been the focus of speculation ahead of chancellor Rachel Reeves's UK Budget.

We ask political correspondent David Wallace Lockhart and business correspondent David Henderson what else to watch out for.

And has Paul Weller shown that Martin has style?

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘The NHS surgeon who butchered his patients’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002j6zd

An inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh (pictured) is one of five active public inquiries in Scotland.

As MSPs investigate whether judge-led inquiries are value for money, David Cowan tells us how the Bayoh inquiry has been 'derailed' by a string of resignations.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode was hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

'The next thing we're all jumping and dancing on the tables together'.

Singer-songwriter Callum Beattie’s preparations for the biggest concert of his career took an unexpected turn this week when he found himself partying with Scotland’s World Cup heroes. In the Scotcast studio, he tells Martin and Laura about what music does for him, his challenging childhood and what John McGinn told his auntie.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller, Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk