Shows
The Lesley Riddoch PodcastT'was the week before ChristmasIn this week’s episode, we have a long reflection on the trauma that's around at the moment. Some of it is faced by people who have campaigned against things like the battery storage plants that are abounding around rural Scotland. Sleepless nights, disappointment, disillusionment. That may not seem like a big deal in the face of all the other trauma going around, the terrorist attack on Jews in Australia, the enduring horrible genocide being experienced in Gaza, and the suggestion by President Netanyahu that you can't speak about one without getting on the wrong side of the other....
2025-12-161h 10The Lesley Riddoch PodcastA Beret of BerriesSome big pennies are dropping this week. The biggest, probably, is the US disengagement from Ukraine. It's not just Ukrainians that are being given the heave-ho, it seems to be Europe as a whole.We also look at the big statement about energy for an independent Scotland and the promise of a third off bills. Is that realistic? of course, it actually is, but quite how would you get there? And does John Swinney have to spell it out? We analyise the nuclear consensus amongst Labour, Tory, and the Westminster parties. Why on earth are they so k...
2025-12-091h 13The Lesley Riddoch PodcastBudget PressuresThis week, we learnt that there was no black hole in the UK finances all along. We discuss Rachel Reeves and her doom and gloom pre-budget speech, the controversies that have followed and the stoochie caused by the Office for Budget Responsibility having already told the chancellor that she had some money in the kitty after all. The resignation of the head bummer of the OBR and calls for the resignation of the Chancellor.We discuss all things Saint Andrew’s Day, planning nightmares in the Highlands over wind farm expansion.That and Barclays Hamden Stadium, wh...
2025-12-021h 10The Lesley Riddoch PodcastGoal For ScotlandWell, there's the football and the football and the reaction to the football and the football, and the goals and the radio commentary and the hope and the exhilaration and the football. So we talk about that even though Fraser's nae all that keen. We talk also about the lessons you might learn from Denmark, which is being heralded by Labour as their template for their new crackdown on refugees and asylum seekers.We look at the recent Copenhagen mayoral election where the Social Democrats have lost the control that they have held for 100 years, mostly over...
2025-11-241h 07The Lesley Riddoch PodcastWorst Week of the Week AwardSuddenly, Denmark is in the news and not necessarily in a good way. We discuss the UK Government's plans for changes to immigration and asylum in the UK.We also look back to what's been described as the circular firing squad of Labor's inept briefing against Wes Streeting and the kind of will she won't she hokey cokey budget where the tax rises that were supposed to be inevitable have suddenly been offlaid by discovering some money down the back of the sofa. We take a look at the latest news on WASPI Women, The Alba Party's...
2025-11-181h 07The Lesley Riddoch PodcastSalvo - Podcast ExtraIn this podcast extra Lesley speaks to writer, human rights campaigner and former diplomate Craig Murray and to Sara Salayers of Salvo about their work in the UN in both Geneva and New York taking forward the case for Liberation Scotland find out more at https://liberation.scot/
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2025-11-121h 13The Lesley Riddoch PodcastWhere's Your Cameras BBC?The BBC's had a pretty bad week, North and South of the border. We look at the suggestions that Robbie Gibb, the right-winger on the BBC board, has led a bit of a coup to get rid of the Director General and Head of News. What happens next? Does the license fee payer have to cough up millions to compensate Donald Trump for apparent hurt to his reputation?We discuss that, plus the hurt to Yesers in Scotland and that there has hardly been a mention of the lack of trust, visible and measurable in Scotland as...
2025-11-111h 16The Lesley Riddoch PodcastJack Glass Is A PastorIn this week's eposide we give first reactions to Rachel Reeves' speech outlining all the terrible problems of the UK which land us with some of the highest Governent borrowing costs in the world. We look at what might lie ahead in the UK budget and discuss how Reform's economic strategies are falling off the edge at a rate of knots with the council they actually run Kent County Council looks set to increase council taxes rather than managing to save money.We also discuss the land reform legislation that was going through Holyrood last week, which s...
2025-11-041h 07The Lesley Riddoch PodcastMr Caerffili Romps Home To VictoryWe start with the outcome of the Caerphilli by-election victory, won by Mr Caerphilli himself Lindsay Whittle and Plaid Cymru. But who did we hear from across the airwaves but Reform and Labour, not the victors themselves. Pretty par for the course perhaps but we try to correct that.We chew over recent opinion polls recently one suggesting there is now a pretty healthy majority for independence in Scotland. We look at the Labour Party and the struggles it is in over the whole of the UK as the Reform vote grows.We also talk...
2025-10-281h 09The Lesley Riddoch PodcastYes Cymru - Podcast ExtraIn this Podcast Extra, Lesley travels to Rhyl to speak at a march and rally organised jointly by YesCymru and AUOBCymru (All Under One Banner Cymru), the march brought people from every corner of Wales to the north coast, filling Rhyl’s streets with a sea of Welsh flags, banners and music. Lesley is blown away by the everyday and natural use of the Welsh language by so many Welsh speakers from all walks of life and from different ages. She interviewed some of the organisers of the march to find out more.
★ Suppo...
2025-10-2324 minThe Lesley Riddoch PodcastTo The Top Of The HillThere's a bit of Welsh theme in the podcast this week. Lesley, having just come back from speaking at an all-under-one-banner Cymru rally in Rhyl gives us the low down on all things Welsh, the Welsh indepdendence movement and the revival of the Welsh language. We talk about up coming changes to the Welsh voting system, scrapping what we've got for the Scottish elections which still has the first-past-the-post and the move to a completely proportional system. Why aren't we talking about that here in Scotland? We also discuss the separate Yes movement, Yes Cymru, which was set up i...
2025-10-211h 08The Lesley Riddoch PodcastThat's Entertainment!In this week's episode we discuss the SNP conference which has been something of a triumph for John Swinney. His position on independence was accepted and he made a pretty bouncy closing speech. But what if next May the elections have a result that the combination of independence parties exceeds the 65-seat majority when the SNP alone does not? In this conference episode we also look at the energy policy that was discussed. Is it time to have a really bold policy as Tommy Sheppard and the SNP Trade UInion Group proposed. That is to set up...
2025-10-141h 18The Lesley Riddoch PodcastHollow Speeches In Empty HallsIn this week's episode we chew over the UK Home Secretary's plan to give police in England extra powers to curb repeat demonstrations for Gaza, Palestine, or indeed anything else. We look also at the prospects for peace in Israel-Palestine.We compare party conferences with Conservatives speaking to empty halls to tiny numbers of activists who bothered to turn up. And the Greens Conference in England, which really had quite a zingy kind of speech from the Jewish leader, Zak Polanski, who nonetheless upholds the right to protest for Palestine.All of that, plus looking...
2025-10-071h 04The Lesley Riddoch PodcastGet Your BritCard OutIn this week's episode we consider the Labour Party conference and what it all meant. We reflect on the odd goings on, like Labour Home Secretery Shabana Mahmood saying her political hero is Margaret Thatcher and we tackle Kier Starmer's conference speach. With Labour and Reform facing off on migration policy and plans for so called Brit Card compulsory ID Cards we look at what is motivating these policies and whether this is the type of country that you'd want to live in.We also ponder some interesting history that saw the archives of Scotland sink in...
2025-10-011h 05The Lesley Riddoch PodcastBe Prepared!Lesley is back and Finland's in the news, not just because Russian jets invaded Baltic airspace as well as Estonian earlier last weekend, but because they are prepared for a future that perhaps all of us are suddenly having to focus on. Oslo and Copenhagen airports both experienced Russian drones wandering through their airspace and closing those airports and there was an alleged cyberattack in Brussels.It feels like the problems of the continent are certainly coming home to roost. We talk about all of that, and the many ways in which Finland is a country that...
2025-09-231h 07The Lesley Riddoch PodcastNora Conference - Podcast ExtraThis podcast extra was recorded at the NORA conference in Stornoway. This was the first conference of its kind in Stornoway. It included Scotland and Scottish Isles, and the NORA countries: Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and coastal Norway. The title of the event was Building Sustainable Futures for Island communities.NORA, or Nordic Atlantic Cooperation, is an intergovernmental organisation under the Nordic Council of Ministers, uniting Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and coastal Norway. Established in 1981 and formalized as NORA in 1996 when coastal Norway joined, the organization strengthens regional cooperation to make the North Atlantic a dynamic...
2025-09-1624 minThe Lesley Riddoch PodcastThree To Get Ready and Go Ange GoThe Labour Party dominates this week's podcast, which might be a bit of a shock for followers of Independents, but not in a very good way for Keir Starmer. We discuss the fall out of Angela Rayner's resignation and the further collapse in confidence since the departure of the golden girl of the working class side of Labour stepped out. We look at the fall out over her stamp duty debacle on her what actually was a third residence.We also take a look at the race for the deputy leadership and what that might mean for...
2025-09-0957 minThe Lesley Riddoch PodcastBack to SchoolWith both the Scottish and UK Parliaments back in session today, there is a back to school vibe for this week's podcast. After a quite week last week everything is kicking up a gear. We look at the Keir Starmer's mini mini reshuffle, which is a lot less sensational than expected, but seems to be centralizing power in Number 10. We talk about the number of departures from the Scottish Conservatives, and the fact that one of them, Graham Simpson going to Reform, might jeopardize the recall petition idea that he is pushing through as a private member's Bill.
2025-09-0158 minThe Lesley Riddoch PodcastThe Right to Protest Against WrongIs it time for John Swinney to do something robust and clear to make it obvious to everyone that Scotland is really got a different outlook towards the whole question of Palestine and Palestine Action than Westminster? We discuss the call from Ross Greer MSP to explore legal ways to stop arrests and prosecutions like the ludicrous situation of award-wining sreenwriter Paul Laverty.We talk also about the asylum protests that have been going on in Perth and elsewhere and ask where they largely the product of people being bused in or are there deeper problems with...
2025-08-261h 06The Lesley Riddoch PodcastScots culture - Stuart McHardy and Roger Emmerson - Podcast SpecialThis is a special podcast about Scotland’s culture and its tenacity over centuries of denial, marginalisation and nae seemin posh enough.Lesley heard these two in action at an Independence Forum Scotland event in Perth and thought the craic was so good it deserved this wider audience.So Stuart McHardy a writer, occasional broadcaster, and storyteller who has been Director of the Scots Language Resource Centre in Perth and President of the Pictish Arts Society is in conversation with Roger Emmerson, a distinguished architect who surprised many in his own profession by running the fi...
2025-08-191h 04
Scottish Independence PodcastsPalestine - Yes It Is A GenocideFiona and Marlene report from the Palestine march and rally in Edinburgh this weekend, with coverage of the march and the speeches from Elizabeth House, also known as Colonial HQ
Key events:
00:07:30 Gathering at St Giles
00:08:06 Chanting in Parliament Square
00:08:38 Mick Napier outlines the purpose of the protest
00:10:36 Into the High Street
00:12:51 Speaker Doha Abu Amer
00:19:37 Speaker Tommy Sheppard
00:29:42 Speaker Lesley Riddoch
#palestine #gaza #edinburgh
The Scottish Independence Podcasts team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember...
2025-07-2237 minScottish Independence PodcastsLesley Riddoch on Finland🎙️ IndyPodcasters, Fiona and Marlene chat with award-winning journalist and filmmaker Lesley Riddoch about her latest documentary project – a powerful new film exploring why Finland is the happiest country in the world 🇫🇮✨
Scotland has already adopted Finland’s famous Baby Boxes, but what else can we learn? Lesley dives into:
🔹 Finland’s world-renowned education system
🔹 Distinctive land ownership patterns
🔹 A cultural mindset that values equality and collective wellbeing over individual wealth
Lesley also shares insights into her unique approach to crowdfunding and the creative process behind making a documentary that aims to spark real change in...
2025-07-0444 min
Question TimeSt AndrewsFiona Bruce presents an hour of topical debate from St Andrews. On the panel, Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar, the SNP’s Shirley-Anne Somerville, Conservative Andrew Bowie, Reform UK’s Thomas Kerr, and journalist & broadcaster Lesley Riddoch
2025-06-2758 min
Talk MediaLabour Defence Announcement, Public Prayer and Sunset Song and book banning / with Lesley Riddoch and John NicolsonHere's the first topic of today's Talk Media. To hear the full episode go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia
2025-02-2621 min
Scotland OutdoorsLewis Grassic Gibbon, Snowdrops and a Beaver MOTAuchnerran Farm is run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust as a demonstration farm to test and trial conservation and land management strategies. Mark visits the farm to hear about their projects and how they manage these alongside a profitable enterprise of sheep farming.It is the 20th anniversary of the opening of Five Sister’s Zoo this year, and the facility has grown from very small beginnings to now housing over 160 species on site in West Calder. Rachel chats to Brian and Gary Curran about their growth over the last two decades and their recent at...
2025-02-151h 23Scottish Independence PodcastsThe Big Land QuestionFiona and Marlene share their highlights from the Big Land Question conference.
In November the Revive Coalition held their biggest conference yet bringing together organisations and individuals with a shared interest in Scotland's land. Who owns it? What do they do with it? Is there a better way? These, and many more questions were covered on the day and you can watch the full day's event on @IndependenceLive 's channel.
This podcast covers our favourite bits from the following speakers: 00:01:43 - Lesley Riddoch introduces the event
00:07:42 - Kevin Cumming, Scottish Rewilding Alliance
...
2025-01-171h 15Scottish Independence PodcastsOwning Our Futures Q and AThe Owning Our Futures event held in Edinburgh in October was a great opportunity to see our quest for independence in the context of other nations and regions across Europe who share similar aims.
The delegates took part in three Q and A panels and brought their wisdom, experience and fresh thinking to the table.
Organised by the Scottish Independence Convention and the International Committee for European Citizens and chaired by Lesley Riddoch, this was a positive and uplifting event.
Panels and speakers :
00:01:51 Panel 1 questions
00:02:06 Begotxu Olaizola Elordi, Basque Country
00:03:53 Alessandro Cucci, Sardin...
2024-12-2048 min
Nordic HorizonsIceland - fire islandIceland has a stunning landscape with glaciers galore … but is more properly fire island. Lava, earthquakes eruptions and volcanoes dominate life and world headlines.Around Christmas 2023, an eruption forced people from their homes in the fishing port of Grindavik. One year and six eruptions later – the townspeople are back. But another eruption nearby is spewing lava into the car park of the famous Blue Lagoon. By the time you hear this podcast, that eruption could be over… or much worse.Yet despite all the risk and uncertainty, many Icelanders would say they live here because of the...
2024-12-1443 minScottish Independence PodcastsBuilding A Local ScotlandScotland has practically the largest units of local government in the world. An average Scottish council has 175,000 people compared to an average across the EU of 10,000. There seems to be widespread consensus that something needs to be done about the over-centralisation of Scotland, but little agreement about what that should be.
A group of individuals from a range of backgrounds - activists, academics, trade unionists and more - have set themselves the task of raising the profile of this democratic deficit and engaging the public and politicians in a discussion about how to address it.
In...
2024-10-111h 10Scottish Independence PodcastsIndyref 10th Anniversary : Holyrood Rally SpeechesOn 18th September 2024 we marked the 10th anniversary of the historic first Scottish Independence Referendum, Indyref for short. During a passionate and exhilarating campaign, support for the Yes side grew from around 30% to over 50% before settling back at 45% on the day of the vote. In the words of Professor Sir John Curtace, the Yes side lost the vote but we won the campaign. Support for independence has hovered around the 50% mark for the last decade.
Campaign group Believe In Scotland organised events throughout Scotland to mark the occasion. The mood was reflective, but upbeat and determined. We are S...
2024-09-2449 min
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Labour’s policy blitz and gridlock after France’s electionThere are political stories everywhere you look, so which one should lead the news? James Harding is joined by three guests to discuss the first few days of Keir Starmer’s government, the prime minister’s visit to Scotland and France’s shock election result.Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comGuests:Cat Neilan, political editor at TortoiseJess Winch, news editor at Tortoise,Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster and columnist at The NationalHost: James Harding, editor-in-chief at TortoiseProducer: Rebecca Moore and Casey MagloireExecutive produc...
2024-07-0834 minScottish Independence PodcastsBits & Pieces Podcast January 2024Welcome to our roundup of topical clips and snippets for January 2024. Main themes covered this month are:
00:00:53 Calling out war crimes
00:05:47 Covid enquiry
00:09:35 Scottish budget
00:15:48 Holyrood snippets
00:21:15 UK General Election
00:34:59 Westminster hot topics
00:40:23 Horizon scandal
00:44:57 Lesley Riddoch chats with Jim Byrne
00:51:02 Indypodcasters out and about
00:54:02 Time for Scotland by the Singing Councillors
The Scottish Independence Podcasts team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to like and subscribe...
2024-01-2658 min
The Common Weal Policy PodcastEpisode #195 - The State of HappinessEpisode 195 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.Welcome to Season 6 of the Common Weal Policy Podcast. This year's theme is "Activate" so if you have a story to tell about an interesting thing happening in your community or if you're involved in a campaign to change things for the better, then please get in touch and we'll get you on the show to talk about it.This week, Craig talks to Lesley Riddoch about her new film Denmark: The State of Happiness...
2024-01-2445 minScottish Independence PodcastsIs Scotland being cheated? Denmark definitely isn't ...Award winning broadcaster Lesley Riddoch joins us to chat about her new film Denmark: the State of Happiness.
The film is currently on tour all around Scotland with a Q+A session with Lesley at each screening.
For details of dates, times, venues and to book tickets, go to www.lesleyriddoch.com/events
This is the 5th film in Lesley's series looking at the Nordic countries, you can find all her other films at www.lesleyriddoch.com/films
key points include:
00:00:54 Dan Jorgensen - happiness is important
00:01:34 Welcome t...
2024-01-1644 minScottish Independence PodcastsBits & Pieces Podcast December 2023Join us for our last roundup of topical clips for 2023!
Topics include:
00:00:50 Covid come-uppance for Johnson and Mone
00:05:45 George Monbiot savages the Tory Rwanda Bill
00:08:40 Alison Thewlis picks holes in the Tory Rwanda Bill
00:10:58 Joanna Cherry highlights the illegality of the Rwanda Bill
00:12:55 Scottish Parliament legislates for the children's rights
00:17:35 Joanna Cherry explains Tories breaching the Treaty of Union
00:24:56 Neale Hanvey shares international legal opinion
00:28:12 Secret Agent Alister Jack reports
00:31:32 Westminster quick fire round up
00:35:48 Holyrood quick fire...
2023-12-2959 min
Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End ChatLesley Riddoch chats with Jim about her new film, Denmark - the State of Happiness
Lesley Riddoch chats with Jim about her new film, Denmark - the State of Happiness
Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 100
Welcome to Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat. Remarkably, this is episode 100. Hurrah! Well done to us. :-)
This is the second half of my chat with the esteemed broadcaster, podcaster, journalist and filmmaker Lesley Riddoch. In part one, we learned about Lesley’s formative years and we learned about the background to the making of her latest film, Denmark - the State of Happiness. In this second part of our chat...
2023-12-2847 minJim & Pat's Glasgow West End ChatLesley Riddoch talks to Jim Byrne about, ‘Denmark - the State of Happiness’. And more. Part 1 of 2Lesley Riddoch talks to Jim Byrne about, ‘Denmark - the State of Happiness’. And more. Part 1 of 2
Episode 99 of Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End Chat
Lesley Riddoch is a tour de force. She is a political activist, pioneering publisher, writer, podcaster, independence and land-reform campaigner and, last but not least, a role model for women in Scotland and far beyond.
It was great to chat with Lesley about her student days at Oxford, her work in both the mainstream and independent media, the current state of Scottish politics and. of course, about the making of her latest film...
2023-12-1357 minScottish Independence PodcastsBits & Pieces November 2023Topical snippets from Scottish politics and activism in November:
00:01:08 Festival for Survival opening by Lynn Jamieson
00:04:09 Jean Urquhart marches in Ullapool
00:06:07 Revive conference opening by Chris Packham
00:10:43 Lesley Riddoch speaking at the Breakup of Britain event
00:16:10 Our Star in Scotland - former MEP Julie Ward explains Erasmus
00:18:47 Holyrood - Trams Enquiry
00:21:34 Net Zero committee on the circular economy
00:27:21 Scotland's Census
00:29:04 Rwanda plan ruled unlawful
00:31:12 How others see us
00:35:45 Westminster - will Kemi Badenoch devolve employment law?
00:36:42 Deirdre...
2023-12-0159 min
Institute for GovernmentWhat would the constitution of an independent Scotland look like?If Scotland became independent, the nation would face some fundamental questions about the operation of its political system. It would need a new constitution; which the Scottish government proposes should be a written one, enshrining key rights and principles. And it would need to decide whether to re-join the EU, in line with the SNP’s position, with implications for the operation of the government, the role of the courts and parliamentary scrutiny.
The event sought to answer some of the following key questions:
What would the process for agreeing a codified constitution look like?
How would popular sovereignty work in...
2023-10-191h 08
1000 Better StoriesTorry People’s Assembly putting “just” back into “just transition”What is deliberative democracy, and can it help your community involve more people in creating a better future for all? SCCAN Story Weaver, Kaska Hempel, explores the idea in this story from the People’s Assembly in Torry, as the community stand up against becoming a sacrificial zone yet again.
The Assembly took place at St Fittick’s Park over the weekend of 28 and 29 of May this year, and it was facilitated by Open Source. It was a part of the multi-partner Just Transition Communities pilot project, coordinated by North-East Climate Action Network (NESCAN) Hub and funded by t...
2023-10-021h 14Scottish Independence PodcastsAn independent Scotland in the EU - Edinburgh rally speechesAll the speeches from the rally organised by Yes 4 EU and Believe in Scotland which took place in Edinburgh on 2nd September outside of Holyrood. Speakers are:
00:00:32 Lesley Riddoch (author and journalist)
00:06:57 Jamie Hepburn (Minister for Independence)
00:11:25 Lorna slater (co leader Scottish Greens)
00:16:16 Claude Detrez (Europe for Scotland)
00:23:52 Believe in Scotland Youth Wing
00:28:00 Iona Fyfe (folk singer)
00:33:30 Humza Yousaf (First Minister)
00:47:12 Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp (Believe in Scotland)
00:52:39 Morag Williamson (Yes 4 EU)
00:54:52 Signoff
The Scottish Independence Podcasts team produce a NEW podcast episode every F...
2023-09-0854 minScottish Independence PodcastsBits & Pieces Podcast : June 2023June's round up of topical clips from the world of Scottish politics and culture presented by a rather croaky-voiced Fiona (thanks to a touch of hayfever) and guest presenter James. Topics covered this month are:
00:00:24 A written constitution for Scotland
00:06:27 A legal opinion on flaws in the Supreme Court Decision
00:11:43 Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp on the impact of a wellbeing economy on polling results
00:20:48 Lesley Riddoch on local government and community action
00:33:11 Alister Jack stirring up trouble
00:40:32 DRS woes continue
00:46:57 Report confirms Johnson is a liar
00:52:40...
2023-06-3058 minScottish Independence PodcastsThrive: The Freedom To FlourishLesley Riddoch gives a fascinating presentation to launch her new book Thrive: The Freedom to Flourish.
Hosted by the Perth Yes Hub at the Bell Library in Perth, Lesley reads excerpts from the book and shares a selection of anecdotes.
She draws inspiration from our Nordic neighbours and those Scots who have decided to get on with whatever needs to be done to allow their communities to thrive.
You can order a copy from Lesleyriddoch.com or all good bookshops
Music: Motivational Upbeat corporate by Rinkevich Music
The Indypodcast t...
2023-06-271h 01
Nordic HorizonsGothenburg - has this former shipyard city become Sweden's green capital?Gothenburg in Sweden once boasted the world's largest shipyards, but in the face of Japanese and Korean competition, the oil crisis and a world economic downturn, the city was brought to its knees in the 1980s, with 5 kms of empty dockland and 20 thousand people without jobs. So far, so very like the Clyde.But though shipbuilding was down, Gothenburg was not out.The City Council bought the empty shipyards for one Swedish krona – that’s 2 pence - financed new house-building, new secondary schools and linked up with Chalmers University to set up Lindholmen Science Park. It a...
2023-05-1755 minTalk MediaOur 'Views on the Scottish News', Murdoch fires Tucker Carlson and The Big Issue Northern edition to close after 30 yearsStuart and Eamonn are joined by a dynamic duo of author and commentator Lesley Riddoch and Big Issue editor Paul McNamee.
This week : Today, Our Views on the Scottish News, Murdoch fires Tucker Carlson and The Big Issue Northern edition to close after 30 years.
This week's listener question is from David McParland.
Recommendations:
Stuart: 2022 Booker Prize-winning novel:
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Sri Lankan author, Shehan Karunatilaka. A photographer in the afterlife sets out to expose the carnage of Sri Lanka's Civil...
2023-04-2606 min
Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politicsHumza Yousaf and The SNP, is Scotland further from independence?Today we speak to Scottish pundit Lesley Riddoch an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and author about Scotland's new first minister and the issues faced by the SNP.Humza Yousaf has pledged to be a "first minister for all of Scotland" after being chosen by party members to replace Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Yousaf, who had been serving as health secretary, also vowed to "kickstart" a grassroots campaign that would "ensure our drive for independence is in fifth gear".Here are some of the other issues that are looming in his in-tray:The mammoth task r...
2023-04-111h 06
Sky News DailyScottish Independence: A blow for Sturgeon - so what next?Supreme Court judges have decided unanimously that an Indyref2 vote cannot go ahead without the UK parliament’s permission. But it’s not the end of the debate – or Scotland’s First Minister’s fight to break free from Great Britain. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what the judgment means both politically and legally with our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies. Plus, reaction from both sides of the debate as we speak to Kevin Hague, chair of pro-union think tank These Islands, and Lesley Riddoch, columnist for Scottish papers The Herald and The National, who supports S...
2022-11-2319 min
Sky News DailyScottish Independence: A blow for Sturgeon - so what next?Supreme Court judges have decided unanimously that an Indyref2 vote cannot go ahead without the UK parliament’s permission. But it’s not the end of the debate – or Scotland’s First Minister’s fight to break free from Great Britain. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what the judgment means both politically and legally with our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies. Plus, reaction from both sides of the debate as we speak to Kevin Hague, chair of pro-union think tank These Islands, and Lesley Riddoch, columnist for Scottish papers The Herald and The National, who supports S...
2022-11-2319 minTalk MediaGordon Brown & Food Banks, Warships, Joe Lycett & David Beckham and Emergency Services / with Lesley RiddochStuart and Eamonn are joined by journalist and podcaster, Lesley Riddoch. This week - Gordon Brown wades in on food banks, new warships in Glasgow, Joe Lycett’s challenge to David Beckham and a listener question about how the media reports on emergency services. Towards the end of the show...media recommendations!
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After I’ve joined the club, how do I listen? Download the Patreon app...
2022-11-1605 min
The Community Pioneers PodcastThe Power of the Eigg Story - Yesterday and TodayThis is a very special Community Pioneers Podcast entitled " The Power of the Eigg Story, Yesterday and Today' . Moderated by Calum MacDonald with Camille Dressler of Comunn Eachdraidh Eige (Eigg history Society) handling the Q&A ; this event featured three Iconic Scottish Writers, Lesley Riddoch, Alastair McIntosh and Andy Wightman. As you will hear, they all played a part in the Eigg community buyout. Their stories and memories provide a fascinating glimpse to what happened 25 years ago and outline some lessons for the future. Organised by Communn Eachdrtaidh Eige as part of their "voices of the Eigg Community bu...
2022-11-031h 07
Nordic HorizonsThe future (in Finland) will be cooperativeFinland has a 1300 km long land border with Russia, it fought two wars in the 1940s to defend then reclaim lost territory, and is now applying to join NATO. There, most knowledge of Finland ends.Which is a shame.Because a staple of Finnish life could offer a permanent solution to supply crises in Britain – if we could learn to rely on cooperatives not corporations to deliver. The picture shows composite wooden hand-basins and baths - a unique feature of the Solo Sokos Hotel in Lahti- part of a larger S-Group cooperative with more...
2022-10-3037 min
Nordic HorizonsNordic Horizons - the explainer podcastIt's twelve years since Dan Wynn and Lesley Riddoch set up a think tank to focus on the policy successes of Scotland's Nordic neighbours. Since then, Nordic Horizons has organised almost 70 meetings - most of them in person until the pandemic lockdown in 2020. Now Nordic Horizons meets online - less disruption and travel for speakers and more access for Scots living outside Edinburgh. We're also producing monthly podcasts of recent events and edited versions of some 'Golden Oldies' - including a talk about Norway's education system where children attend kindergarten (often outdoor) until the age of six - a...
2022-10-0142 min
Nordic HorizonsJean Sibelius - a living legacy'Finland doesn’t have a long history of Kings and castles. We have always been occupied. When we finally became free the country was built on language, literature, music, paintings. Sibelius created the distinctive sound of Finland. You can hear his enthusiasm for the country – the Finnish sagas, the stories, folklore and the language that is ours and only ours - but at the same time you can hear how he was moving towards becoming a universal composer.' Who wouldn't want to know more about Sibelius after hearing charismatic rising classical star Dalia Stasevska explain why she becam...
2022-09-071h 08Nordic HorizonsGet the bairns oot playing - school can waitIs Scotland set to follow Norway with a shift to kindergarten for the early years and a school starting age 6/7 not the present 4/5?Just 12 per cent of countries send five-year-olds to school. Almost all are former parts of the British Empire, clinging to a model devised to release women from childcare as quickly as possible, so they could work in Victorian factories instead. Child welfare played no part in plumping for the present school age. That’s why Ireland and Cyprus (former British colonies) recently moved away from the British model to the European norm of 6/7.It...
2022-08-2825 minNordic HorizonsHeating homes without gas - the Nordic wayWhy did district heating start on farms in Denmark?Are the Norwegians wiser to depend on electrification?Could Scotland do something game changing with smart, local energy networks?Will nuclear help Sweden reach net zero?This 50 minute podcast of the COP 26 - Nordic Verdict event tackles all these big questions with contributions from Viktoria Raft, a former energy journalist and co-founder of the gender equality network for women in energy, Kraftkvinnorna; Tore Furevik, Professor in physical oceanography at the Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and director of the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre. Keith...
2022-07-211h 00Nordic HorizonsNATO, Nordics and Russian AggressionThis is a podcast edited from the conversation between three Nordic experts talking about Russian aggression in Ukraine and the way it is unravelling 70 years of neutrality and non-alignment in Scandinavia. It deals with opinion polls suggesting most Swedes and Finns want to join NATO, but questions American commitment to the Alliance - in light of remarks made five years ago by President Trump suggesting NATO is 'obsolete' and encouraging Europeans to take over the defence of their own continent. Our speakers ponder whether the time has arrived for an EU defence force.Dr. Hans Mouritzen, Senior...
2022-05-1956 minTalk MediaPolice Speak to Nicola Sturgeon, Rwanda Plan, TalkTV and Putting Politicians on the Spot / with Lesley RiddochEamonn and Shona are joined by broadcaster and journalist, Lesley Riddoch. This week - police speak to Nicola Sturgeon about mask-wearing rules, the UK Government’s Rwanda plan, the launch of TalkTV and a listener question on putting politicians on the spot. At the end of the show, Eamonn, Shona and Lesley share their personal media recommendations.
To listen to the full hour-long episode, and for a full list of recommendations, join the Talk Media Club (99p per week + VAT): patreon.com/talkmedia
After I’ve joined the club, how do I list...
2022-04-2006 min
The National Politics PodcastThe National Roadshow with David Pratt, Kevin McKenna and Lesley RiddochDavid Pratt, Kevin McKenna and Lesley Riddoch join National editor Callum Baird to discuss "What next for independence?"______________________________________________________________________________________________________Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/sun-shine-downLicense code: CPHVIWGTLIHJK0LU See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2021-08-161h 08Scottish Independence PodcastsYes Group spotlight - Yes West Fife presents Lesley RiddochIndylive.radio are very grateful to Yes West fife for sharing their excellent event entitled "What progress has been made since the Holyrood election". Attempting to answer that question plus Q and A from the audience is journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch
#yesGroupSpotlight #yeswestfife #lesleyriddoch
2021-07-121h 08Talk MediaDominic Cummings, Dyson Report Fallout, Immigration Policy and Ryanair Hijacking / with Lesley RiddochStuart and Eamonn are joined by journalist and broadcaster, Lesley Riddoch. This week - reactions to Dominic Cummings’ evidence to MPs, the fallout from the Dyson Report, immigration policy in Scotland and the hijacking of a Ryanair flight. At the end of the episode, Stuart, Eamonn and Lesley go on to share their personal media recommendations.
Bonus episodes are available via Patreon - join the Talk Media Club to access extra interviews with guests and in-depth discussions about significant media issues: www.patreon.com/talkmedia
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Stuart: ‘Atla...
2021-05-261h 01
Westminster InsiderA short history of Scottish separatismWith the Scottish parliament election less than a week away, Jack Blanchard looks back at the history of the Scottish nationalist movement and explains how it shifted from a fringe pursuit to perhaps the majority view in Scotland.Former First Ministers Alex Salmond and Jack McConnell — who between them ran the Scottish government for more than 13 years — discuss the collapse of Scottish Labour in the mid 2000s and the extraordinary rise of the SNP. Scottish Cabinet Minister Mike Russell explains what first attracted him to the nationalist movement in the 1970s, while independence campaigner and columnist Lesley Ridd...
2021-04-3039 min
DailypodDebate: The Time Is Right for Scottish Independence Podcast: Intelligence Squared (LS 60 · TOP 0.1% what is this?)Episode: Debate: The Time Is Right for Scottish IndependencePub date: 2021-03-26Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationShould Scotland be independent? In this week's podcast Alex Massie and Lesley Riddoch go head to head on the question of whether the time has come to break up Britain and for Scotland to go it alone. The debate was chaired by Manveen Rana. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.
See acast...
2021-03-271h 00
Intelligence SquaredDebate: The Time Is Right for Scottish IndependenceShould Scotland be independent? In this week's podcast Alex Massie and Lesley Riddoch go head to head on the question of whether the time has come to break up Britain and for Scotland to go it alone. The debate was chaired by Manveen Rana. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2021-03-2657 min
All Out PoliticsWhat next for Scotland?Adam Boulton and guests focus on the complicated row at the heart of politics in Scotland where - in the past week - Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon have given lengthy evidence to a Holyrood inquiry investigating the handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond.What's been happening in the Scottish Parliament and where does it leave the First Minister, the SNP and the future of the independence movement?Joining Adam this week are the editor and publisher of Reaction Iain Martin, journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch and Sky's Scotland correspondent James Matthews.
2021-03-0451 min
Aye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Podcast # 18 S3 Worst Excess Deaths in 129 yrsWorst Excess Deaths in 129 yrs...
That’s fake news broadcast by BBC Scotland BTW…
Deputy FM John Swinney held the Covid press briefing supported by NCD Jason Leitch...The game was ‘let's compare vaccinations with England” and make ScotGov look bad on the day the UK death rate reached another awful peak…From the past came a poll about a prosecution of former PM Tony Blair…Alex Salmond’s former Chief of Staff, Geoff Aberdein, has been barred from giving evidence of a conspiracy against his boss to the Holyrood inquiry…Nicola Sturgeon is England’s favourite politica...
2021-01-2145 min
Sustainable ScotlandCabin fever: how Scotland is emulating Scandinavian’s love-in for huts and natureThe Scottish hutting tradition is enjoying a surge of popularity as people seek out a simpler way of life more in tune with the environment. But what has fuelled this new love for living for nature, and just how easy is it to get away from it all? Climate journalist Shaun Milne is joined by author and journalist Lesley Riddoch and hutter and campaigner Chris Ballance who share their experiences and also ask does Scotland need a new political party to campaign on the single issue of land reform? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
2021-01-2134 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Podcast # 12 S3 A Lobster RosetteA Lobster Rosette
Our review is a Salmond V Sturgeon psychodrama-free zone but the press asked questions about it at the Covid press briefing which featured Dr. Nicola Steedman and Dr. Alisdair Cook supporting the FM. The figures revealed another peak in hospital capacity but otherwise levelling off. Issues included the Brazil variant and a vaccination plan spat with the UKGov. We discuss the seafood industry Brexit disaster. A new poll has the SNP looking very strong for the Holyrood election 2021 and support for independence is holding at 57%. Lesley Riddoch suggests the YES movement is a healthy demonstr...
2021-01-1445 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Podcast # 302 Season 2 Foot on the Throat of ScotlandFoot on the Throat of Scotland
We begin with the Holyrood Brexit vote to refuse consent for Scotland to leave the EU. Mike Russell made a barnstorming speech winding up for the Scottish Government. There’s a clip at the end.
The rest of the show takes a familiar route linking topical issues/people as follows:-..
FT article offering advice to serious Unionists, Occupied Scotland, Trojan horse, transport infrastructure.. Borders Railway to Carlisle, direct European transport links, North Sea electricity inter-connector, Scottish water, Lesley Riddoch wins award, Stewart voted Tory, Sicilian Mafia think London is mor...
2020-12-3149 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Podcast # 277 Season 2Comment on Alyn Smith OK? Nicola Sturgeon at FMQs .. ‘Phew! Vaccination Questions. Easy peasy’. We learnt more about the Covid jab logistics than UK media have provided. Schools Xmas holidays, exams under Covid, taxi drivers and grouse shooting featured. We then went on to discuss the reaction to the petulant article by Alyn Smith MP and other implications of the SNP NEC changes (don’t call it a revolution) especially a very good article by Lesley Riddoch. And finally we view a BBC rebuttal of the Tory claim that only a Brexit UK could deliver the Pfizer vaccine so fast.
2020-12-0344 min
Talk MediaChristmas and COVID-19 in Scotland, Refugee Crisis and Douglas Stuart’s Booker Triumph / with Lesley RiddochStuart and Eamonn are joined by Lesley Riddoch (broadcaster, journalist and fellow podcaster). This week - the Scottish Government’s response to COVID-19 and Christmas, the refugee crisis and, in the week a Scot wins the Booker Prize, the Scottish Book of the Year Awards are shelved. Stuart, Eamonn and Lesley go on to share their personal media recommendations.
The Lesley Riddoch Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-lesley-riddoch-podcast/id256574954
Follow Lesley on Twitter: @LesleyRiddoch
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Stuart: ‘Rockstars on their day off’ - by @Peej59...
2020-11-2555 min
2020-11-0428 minScotland OutdoorsMark Stephen speaks to writer and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch about her latest book, Huts - A Place BeyondMark Stephen discusses the Nordic culture of huts with writer Lesley Riddoch
2020-11-0428 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Radio Podcast 243
“He Hates the English.
Rishi Sunak ‘revised’ his Covid support and we review that plus the reaction of Labour rising star Anneliese Dodds.
Norry fails to see what’s wrong with Angela Rayner calling a Tory MP ‘SCUM’ as it’s an acronym for Scottish Conservative Unionist Mp.
DRoss gets roasted (again) for hypocrisy after proudly using his dinner lady mum to support free school meals in Scotland yet failing to vote for them in England. Norry reckons he must “Hate the English”
Lesley Riddoch on the English North gets a mention and acco...
2020-10-2244 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Radio Podcast 197.Featured today;…
The Covid press briefing and then the Gordon Brewer show starring Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.
No deaths, 30,000 tests comleted yesterday, 80% success in contact tracing and quarantine compliance, Daily Heil skelped, TES skelped and a satisfied FM.
GERS dominated the Brewer show and Kate Forbes sorted out Peter McMahon from ITV.
“GERS is a picture of Scotland IN THE UK not an iScotland”
Douglas Fraser unusually was sitting on the indy fence and even Brewer interrupted the Unionist MSPs bawling “Too wee, too poor”
Lesley Riddoch suggested...
2020-08-2700 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Radio Podcast 179.SQA stooshie Part2…FM gives details;
Aberdeen outbreak…Pub crawls at risk…FM “personal responsibility not police matter”;
Johnson Government…PPE contract corruption;
BCIS…New leader Ref Ross blunders…plotter Baroness Porkypie blunders;
Weak Unionist opposition…SNP invents some;
Bomber Baillie…Gets Smart foot shot;
Lesley Riddoch…”Douglas Ross is new Jum Murphy”
2020-08-0600 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Radio Podcast 132The lads discuss today’s press conference with Nicola’s turn in and get a bit heated and bitchy about Stewarts conspiracy theories. As nickel of the person to lead us into the second independence referendum with reference to Peter a Bell’s blog piece and Lesley Riddoch’s article in the National. Boris’s bonking bubble is also discussed.
2020-06-1100 min2020-05-2728 min
The Scottish Independence PodcastScotIndyPod 181 - The Declaration of ArbroathObviously you weren't expecting there would be any UK wide celebrations of The Declaration of Arbroath, were you? However, the indy movement has stepped up and we've had the documentary by Lesley Riddoch and Charlie Stuart, and there will be an illustrated version too.For my own part, I decided just to read the whole thing, not the few quotes we usually hear, and make it available as audio, so here it is. Obviously I read the translation from the National Library of Scotland, not the original Latin.Doing it, it was easy to see...
2020-04-0607 minAye Right Radio PodcastAye Right Radio Podcast #70 Season 2.Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss Lesley Riddoch's love of experts making up the opposition Nicola Sturgeon's daily press conference and airports.
2020-04-0200 min
The Green Alliance PodcastThe race to zero waste: designing Scotland's world leading recycling system (event highlights)Did you know? Waste and resources policy is a devolved matter in the UK and if it was a race to design a world leading recycling system, Scotland would be winning.
While England is just considering how a deposit return scheme for drinks containers will work, Scotland announced in January 2019 that it would definitely be having one and set out its overarching design in May, with a deadline of bringing the system in by 2020.
Join experts in resources and waste to discuss what needs to be done to ensure the system is effective, and how...
2019-07-3016 min
The Media ShowCommercial radio tunes out of localGlobal, the UK's largest commercial radio company, has announced it will launch national breakfast shows on Capital, Heart and Smooth radio. The new programmes, produced in London, will replace local shows and lead to studio closures and job losses. Does the move mark the end of local commercial radio? Amol is joined by Phil Riley, former chief executive of Chrysalis Radio, and Gill Hind, COO of Enders Analysis.Also in the programme, the BBC launches a new channel just for Scotland. Steve Carson, head of the BBC Scotland channel, Bobby Hain, STV Managing Director of Broadcast and...
2019-02-2728 min
What We Do In The Winter02 Morven GibsonOur second podcast features Morven Gibson from Bunessan in the Ross of Mull.
Morven is the General Manager with South West Mull & Iona Development
In our chat we mention:
https://swmid.co.uk
www.mict.co.uk
http://nwmullwoodland.co.uk/
https://ionavillagehall.org/
http://www.tobermoryharbour.co.uk/
Rural Housing Scotland
Woodland Crofts
Lesley Riddoch’s books
Blossom
McSmorgasboard
For more info please visit https://whatwedointhewinter.wordpress.com/
Or follow the podcast on Twitter: twitter.com/WhatWeDoInTheW1
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whatwedointhewinter
2018-10-0454 minScotland OutdoorsHas Scotland become divorced from nature? Mark Stephen meets journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch to find outMark Stephen meets Lesley Riddoch who thinks Scotland has become divorced from nature
2018-07-1829 minThe Scottish Independence PodcastScotIndyPod 154 - McSmörgåsbordAt the moment there isn't really enough talk about choices. Everything is being presented as either a future in Brexit UK (with all the lack of choices that entails), or an independent future in the EU.However there are more options than that available. If one looks to Scandinavia it is possible to see many different types of engagement and activity with Europe, from full membership and trying to change things from within, to various kinds of halfway house.In this talk presented here in the 154th episode of The Scottish Independence Podcast, Lesley Riddoch outlines...
2017-04-2833 minThe Scottish Independence PodcastScotIndyPod 149 - Something FishyA recent episode of the Lesley Riddoch podcast mentioned a couple of things regarding what's going to happen to fishing and agriculture in Scotland post-brexit. I felt what they were talking about was so important that we should go straight to the horse's mouth, and then to the horses a***s (Mundell & Farage).So for the 149th episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast I've pulled together the relevant comments and something fishy does indeed seem to be going on.Hope you enjoy.LINKShttps://www.facebook.com/TheScottishIndependencePodcasthttp://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/
2017-03-1511 min
DiscoveryThe City that Fell into the EarthHow do you move a city? Lesley Riddoch travels to Arctic Sweden to find out. Kiruna is gradually sliding into Europe's biggest iron ore mine. The city has to be rebuilt two miles away. That requires an extraordinary blend of planning, architecture, technology and stoicism. If anyone can do it then it's the Swedes.
2016-11-0726 min
Danny DorlingThe ministry of nostalgia and Inequality & the 1%Owen Hatherley and Danny Dorling, chaired by Lesley Riddoch. Aye Write Book Festival, Mitchell Library, Glasgow, March 18th 2016
2016-03-1955 min
Costing the EarthThe City That Fell into the EarthHow do you move a city? Lesley Riddoch travels to Arctic Sweden to find out. Kiruna is gradually sliding into Europe's biggest iron ore mine. The city has to be rebuilt two miles away. That requires an extraordinary blend of planning, architecture, technology and stoicism. If anyone can do it then it's the Swedes.Producer: Alasdair Cross.
2016-02-2327 min
The Radio 3 DocumentaryAbove Sixty, Below ZeroLesley Riddoch examines the changing relationship between man and nature in the North.
2015-12-0643 minThe Scottish Independence PodcastScotIndyPod 114 - On Land Ownership & Reform, with Lesley Riddoch"The Land Reform Bill we have in front of us at the moment is just a start, and a pretty tentative one at that. It needs beefed up." - Lesley RiddochWhen it comes to land ownership and distribution it must be said that Scotland is an international oddball.A number of factors have contributed to the unusual situation we find ourselves in and in this episode I spoke with Lesley Riddoch about what those are and what can be done about the situation, both in the countryside and in the cities.Furthermore, is...
2015-10-0837 min
2014 Edinburgh International Book FestivalGerry Hassan and Lesley Riddoch at Edinburgh International Book Festival (edbookfest)Can Scotland Be Future-Proofed?
As the vote on Scotland’s future looms into view, commentators are turning their attention to what might happen next. Gerry Hassan’s Caledonian Dreaming questions some of the key myths Scotland tells about itself, while Lesley Riddoch’s Blossom wonders whether swapping a London elite for an Edinburgh one will make much difference to Scots' lives. Might Scotland flourish if we look elsewhere?
Part of our Scotland's Future series of events.
2014-09-0300 min
2014 Edinburgh International Book FestivalGerry Hassan & Lesley Riddoch (2014 event)
As the vote on Scotland’s future looms into view, commentators are turning their attention to what might happen next. Gerry Hassan’s Caledonian Dreaming questions some of the key myths Scotland tells about itself, while Lesley Riddoch’s Blossom wonders whether swapping a London elite for an Edinburgh one will make much difference to Scots' lives. Might Scotland flourish if we look elsewhere? Recorded live at the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Festival.
2014-08-2000 minEdinburgh International Book FestivalGerry Hassan & Lesley Riddoch (2014 event)
As the vote on Scotland’s future looms into view, commentators are turning their attention to what might happen next. Gerry Hassan’s Caledonian Dreaming questions some of the key myths Scotland tells about itself, while Lesley Riddoch’s Blossom wonders whether swapping a London elite for an Edinburgh one will make much difference to Scots' lives. Might Scotland flourish if we look elsewhere? Recorded live at the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Festival.
2014-08-2000 min
All Back To Bowie'sFri 15 Aug 2014 – Lesley Riddoch interview – Could Scotland Blossom?
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Lesley Riddoch interview – Could Scotland Blossom?
With Lesley Riddoch, David Greig, Calum Rodger, Matt Baker, Lomond Campbell.
I was a bit giddy with the thrill of meeting Lesley Riddoch. I’ve been a fan of her since her BBC Radio Scotland days and followed her writing about the Eigg buyout with fascination. But since the referendum and her book Blossom she has become a central figure in the debate about exactly how we can shape a new Scotland. Her husband Chris Smith is also a stalwart of th...
2014-08-1600 min
The Scottish Independence PodcastScotIndyBook 4 - Blossom"Blossom is an account of Scotland at the grassroots through the stories of people I've had the good fortune to know – the most stubborn, talented and resilient people on the planet. They've had to be. Some have transformed their parts of Scotland. Some have tried and failed. But all have something in common – they know what it takes for Scotland to blossom. We should know too."The ScotIndyBook series features audio book versions, full books or selected pieces, fiction and non-fiction, of some of the books being written about the independence referendum, or using it as a theme.
2014-07-3123 min
The Scottish Independence PodcastScotIndyPod 55 - Imgne A Better ScotlandThe 55th episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast is the first of two that aren't the usual interview format but rather some talks that are taken from here and there and will provide both useful information for campaigners, and I hope some enjoyable listening.This one comes from an event a few weeks back in Kirkcaldy and the speakers were Alistair Bruce, who is involved with Yes Kirkcaldy, Ross Ingerbergson who is a communications director for the SNP, Robin McAlpine who is the director of the Reid Foundation (I also interviewed him here) and writer and former BBC...
2014-02-182h 05
The Scottish Independence PodcastFor A' That 39 - The Other Kind Of UnionFor the 39th episode of the For A' That podcast I was joined by the editors of the Mair Nor A Roch Wind website, namely Amy Westwell, Cailean Gallagher and Rory Scothorne.Their site has been described thusly...“This should *really* scare the Labour establishment” – Pat Kane“It’s like being harangued by a keelie Lenin” – A Cybernat“First I’ve read on this site, which some have been recommending. Dear lord.” – Wings over Scotland“They’ve walked into no mans land, These guys are absolutely smack bang in the middle of everybody” - Le...
2014-01-2840 min
Book TalkThe Hope of the FutureAn exciting new year has begun, and, appropriately, we're looking to the future in this, our first edition of Book Talk for 2014! Host Ryan Van Winkle sits down with three very different people to chat about what the future may hold for books and for Scotland.
To get things started, literary critic and Man Booker Prize judge Stuart Kelly discusses the most recent Booker winner, Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries and why it should be on everyone's to-read list this year. Find out how considering the future informs his judging decisions, what books he's most looking forward to this year...
2014-01-0735 min
The Scottish Independence PodcastScotIndyPod 43 - Lesley RiddochFor the 43rd episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast I spoke with Lesley Riddoch, writer, blogger, broadcaster, podcaster and speaker.The conversation took in a number of things including what's to be done now, and why it can't wait for the referendum, the lack of empowerment in Scottish communities and why the official Yes campaign may or may not have to walk a tightrope but the rest of us should be getting stuck right into it.There's also a radical suggestion about what's to be done about the Scotsman, but you'll have to listen to find...
2013-12-1444 minThe Media Show08/02/2012When Facebook filed for an initial public offering last week, there were suggestions it could be valued at around $100 billion. Since then, more questions have been raised about the challenges it faces in justifying that value. Olivia Solon, associate editor at Wired magazine and James Ball, data journalist at the Guardian, discuss the prospects.The BBC was thrust into Scottish politics at the weekend, when it was reported that it cancelled an invitation to First Minister Alex Salmond to take part in coverage of the Calcutta Cup rugby match at Murrayfield. The BBC adviser who vetoed the...
2012-02-0828 min