Scottish Independence Podcasts

So you want my vote? Edinburgh WFI host a hustings

Edinburgh Women for Independence host a lively and thought-provoking hustings as Holyrood candidates Simita Kumar (SNP) and Ally Maxwell (SSP) go head-to-head. Representing the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Socialist Party respectively, both candidates tackle a wide range of audience questions — from the future of Scotland’s democracy to social justice, equality, and economic priorities.
In a spirited but respectful exchange, two impressive women set out their visions for Scotland’s future and highlight the importance of strong female voices in our proportional representation parliamentary system.
Key points:
00:02:57 Simita Kumar opening address
00:09:34 Ally Maxwell opening address
00:17:23 Audience questions
00:22:08 Response from Ally
00:26:15 Response from Simita
00:38:12 Audience questions
00:47:52 Simita responds
00:53:24 Ally responds
00:57:00 Ally quizzes Simita
01:04:59 Simita quizzes Ally
01:13:11 General discussion
#holyrood2026 #hustings #womenforindependence
find out more aobut Edinburgh WFI here https://www.edinburghwfi.com/
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm
We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?  https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcastsor choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.
 

Scotland, will you march with us?

We chat to Believe in Scotland founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp about the biggest event on our March calendar - the "End London Rule" march and rally for independence in Edinburgh on 28th March 2026.
Gordon shares the details of the changes to the start time and planned route - the march will now begin at Noon at Parliament Square in the High Street and the rally will be held at iconic Calton Hill - and the support in place to allow as many people as possible to take part.
Please share widely and let's make this event an amazing experience!
More information on Believe in Scotland's website here https://www.believeinscotland.org/mar... #believeinscotland #caltonhill #edinburghmarch
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:
Email: indypodcasters@gmail.com
Bluesky: @scottishindypod
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.
Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee? https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependenc... or choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod

A Moment of challenge - Indypodcasters react to FM's speech

In this episode, indypodcasters Fiona and Marlene  share our honest reactions to John Swinney’s speech A Moment of Challenge. We chat through the bits that genuinely landed for us, the moments that made us pause, and a couple of lowlights that didn’t quite hit the mark.
 One thing that really stood out to us was the clear difference between the tone and framing of questions from the audience and the BBC's effort. 
The link to the full speech is below, why not watch it and share your reactions in the comments!
Key moments:00:01:01   What threatens Scotland?00:05:06   How Uk does not act in Scotland's interests00:11:22   The Brexit Disaster00:17:00   Sir Neil MacCormick on sovereignty and power00:18:30   Solutions00:22:21   The case for rejoining the EU00:25:08   Question from BBC Shortbread00:28:16   Comment from the audience 00:29:17   Question - infrastructure vulnerability00:33:20   Question- Scotland's technological opportunities
Full speech here:https://youtu.be/O2MsBB-3wAo?si=UeWi6-J6Z6vSpqILScottish council on Global Affairs https://scga.scot/"On Thin Ice" https://youtu.be/s0Siphuwflc?si=Hb3LGBJFmAxcGhBJ
#reaction #johnswinney #scotland
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm
We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?  https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcastsor choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.

Economics For All with William Thomson

What does it really mean to be a heterodox economist? And how does Modern Monetary Theory fit into today’s political narratives?
In this episode, Indypodcasters Fiona and Marlene catch up with political economist William Thomson  to unpack the big ideas shaping Scotland’s economic debate. William explains what “heterodox economics” actually means, challenges mainstream thinking, and explores how Modern Monetary Theory connects to the political choices facing Scotland right now.
We also hear about his ambitious new event, Scotland's Economics Festival, taking place 19–21 March in Leith, Edinburgh — designed to bring big economic ideas out of academia and into the hands of the public.
🎟 Get your tickets at: https://www.scoteconfest.org/
Big ideas. Straight talking. Economics made accessible.
Chapters:
00:00:27  Scotland's Economics Festival00:05:54   Thinking Beyond GDP00:12:01   Engaging Scotgov00:15:45   Zack Polanski vs the mainstream media narrative00:27:52   "Grandfathering" will hold Scotland back00:32:18   Don't fear the Markets00:36:16   Independence starts NOW00:39:51   Scottish Government Bonds - good idea or smoking gun?00:52:10   Sectorial Balances homework
Related topic:Finding the Money https://findingmoneyfilm.com/
#scotonomics #MMT #economicsfestival
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm
We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?  https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcastsor choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.
 

Unbinding the Union - the Law of Leaving

What are the legal routes to an independence referendum—and who gets to decide? Fiona and Marlene bring you the standout highlights from Holyrood’s Constitutional Committee, featuring evidence from top constitutional lawyers. Expect myth-busting (goodbye “once in a generation”), clear-eyed legal analysis, and some unexpectedly rich discussions about trust, fairness and the health of democracy itself.Key points:00:01:46  "Once in a generation" is just campaign rhetoric00:04:35  "Settled will" is just political rhetoric00:06:29   "Supermajority" is not required, the precedent is a simple majority00:07:13   Scotland would secede from the UK state, not the Act of Union00:07:47   The Act of Union is subject to the Scotland Act sec 3700:09:09   The Claim of Right does not confer popular sovereignty00:11:36    The Treaty of Union confirms Scots are a nation00:13:12    Scots have the right to self determination, how do we exercise it00:15:16    Perceptions of fairness00:18:31   Trust in democratic processes00:21:15    UK duty of "rigorous impartiality" in NI border poll00:25:44    Ambivalent Unionism00:32:08     Citizens Assemblies etc00:42:42     Independence is a process, not an event00:45:05     England can vote to leave UK, why not Scotland?00:49:43     Westminster is blocking democracy.
#scottishindependence #constitutionalrights #mythbusting 
"Contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence".  Clips come from the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meetings held on 13th and 27th November and 11th and 18th December 2025.
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm
We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters  
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?  https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcastsor choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeodScottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.

On Thin Ice? Trump, Greenland and Scotland

As the Arctic heats up, so do the geopolitics.  Regular guests Isobel Lindsay and Bill Ramsay join the Indypodcasters to dig into Donald Trump’s renewed aggression towards Greenland and what it reveals about a rapidly militarising Arctic. We ask why this frozen frontier suddenly matters so much—and what it means for security much closer to home. From opportunities arising out of Scotland’s strategic position in the North Atlantic to the uncomfortable realities of hosting nuclear weapons, we challenge the pervasive myth of an “independent” UK deterrent. We also take a hard look at Keir Starmer’s deferential approach to Trump, and what Westminster's eagerness to please says about Britain's real place in the global pecking order. 
Key moments:00:04:19   A good time to rethink Scotland's position00:07:57   Which state perceives Scotland as a threat?00:10:27    Is the US an ally or a threat?00:14:15    Tensions between NATO members is not new00:17:38     Inevitable impacts of Global warming00:19:08     Why do states start wars?00:23:24     Carney's remarkable Davos speech00:27:33      Values, Trump and the Board of Peace00:33:42     The real threat to England after Scottish independence00:36:14      An opportunity for France00:39.11      An opportunity for Scotland00:45:25      Do our politicians measure up?00:46:45      Michels Iron Law of Oligarchy00:48:55       Reichs 4 Axioms for dealin with Trump00:51:13       A rupture not a transition
#trump #greenland #scotland
You can find the JOhn Swinney speech we mentioned here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2MsBB-3wAo
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm
We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?  https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcastsor choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.
 
 

Holyrood: Majority Rules?

Holyrood wasn't built for winner-takes-all politics.  So why are we pretending it is?This week, IndyPodcasters Fiona and Marlene dig into the idea of political mandates at Holyrood. With SNP leader John Swinney arguing that a majority of SNP MSPs would justify another independence referendum, we ask: does that really stack up in a system designed to avoid majority rule? And if a bigger, cross-party majority backs independence, shouldn’t that count too?
00:03:25  John Swinney explains how the UK UNion fails Scotland00:06:49   SNP majority  equals a  binding mandate?00:09:20   Walking into his own trap?00:13:52    Rachel Reeves is stuck in a rut00:16:55    Once in a generation just campaign rhetoric00:18:43    Edinburgh Agreement not a precedent00:20:17    David Cameron's decision not binding00:24:21     Is a majority the magic wand?00:28:03     Angus Robertson has a different view00:34:09      Our quick poll
#holyrood  #proportionalrepresentation #mandate
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod
 
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm
We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?  https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcastsor choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.
 

The Making of Finland with Lesley Riddoch

Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Lesley Riddoch joins us to discuss her inspirational new film exploring Finland — a country often cited as one of the world’s most successful, fair and forward-thinking societies.
Beautifully shot and deeply engaging, the film looks beyond the headlines to ask why Finland works so well, and what lessons Scotland can learn from its journey. We talk about what independence could make possible — but also, crucially, the changes we don’t have to wait for.
From education and local democracy to trust, equality and community power, this is an inspiring conversation about what Scotland can begin building right now.
Lesley will be presenting a series of film screenings followed by Q&A sessions, details are on her website https://lesleyriddoch.com/events with more events being added.
key themes:
00:03:45 Sisu, Smeddum and Trust
00:06:01 National Security and Resilience
00:13:59 Food Security and Co-operatives
00:16:17 Public Ownership of Assets
00:18:37 Scotland's Transition
00:22:07 Common Sense Solutions - Prisons
00:28:13 World Leading Education from Kindergarten onwards
00:41:39 Forests and Family Trees
00:45:58 Lessons for Scotland
#finland #lesleyriddoch
The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe!
Get in touch:Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod
Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes
Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm
We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters
If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?  https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcastsor choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause.
Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.