Scottish Independence Podcasts

Through an MMT lens

In this episode Indypodcasters Fiona and Marlene sit down with economist and educator Jim Byrne to talk about his new online course, MMT101: A Beginner’s Guide to Modern Monetary Theory. Designed to make Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) accessible to everyone, Jim’s course breaks down complex economic ideas into clear, understandable lessons. Learn more at MMT101.org.
We also invite Jim to weigh in on some key ideas from orthodox economics—concepts we've heard discussed in various recent current affairs podcast episodes with experts from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Jim offers fresh insights by translating these mainstream views through the lens of MMT, helping listeners understand how MMT challenges conventional thinking about government spending, taxation, and deficits.
Whether you're new to MMT or curious about how economic theory shapes public policy, this episode offers an engaging, jargon-free introduction to alternative economic thinking.
📌 Topics covered:
00:00:38   Jim outlines his new MMT course
00:08:18   A peek at the course - MMT Basics
00:09:48   The cost of saving the planet
00:13:39    300 years of deficit
00:18:22    You have the currency, do you have the resources?
00:24:32     But...what about the big black hole?
00:28:37     Why is the UK worse than Germany?
00:34:57     So whose taxes will pay for it all?
00:40:38     Does it matter what we tax?
00:49:56      Does it all come down to sovereignty?
00:54:48       How will we fund future spending?
Find out more about Jim's course and weekly substack here: https://mmt101.org
#indypodcasters #mmt #economics
With thanks to The News Agents and The Rest is Money for short clips included in this podcast.
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!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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
 
 
 
 
 

Colette Walker ISP

In this revealing episode recorded at the Bacchus Bar in Glasgow, Pensioners for Independence invite Colette Walker, leader of the Independence for Scotland Party to address the group as part of a series of events the group are arranging leading up to Holyrood 2026.
Colette shares her unexpected journey into political leadership, her refusal to be defined by her visual impairment, and the challenges she’s faced as a woman in politics. She also speaks candidly about the shocking abuse she and fellow campaigner Eva Comrie have received online for being women with disabilities.
This is an inspiring and eye-opening conversation about resilience, representation, and the fight for Scottish independence.
#Pensioners4indy #ISP #scottishindependence  
Find out more about the ISP and their campaign to form an alliance with other parties for Holyrood 2026 on the website https://isp.scot.
Find out more about pensioners for indy on their website https://pensionersforindependence.scot/
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!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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
 

Wha's Like Us?

Exploring Scotland’s Cultural Heritage | Stuart McHardy & Roger Emmerson at the Independence Forum Scotland Conference
In this thought-provoking episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast, we bring you a fascinating session from the recent Independence Forum Scotland conference, featuring historian Stuart McHardy and architect Roger Emmerson. Together, they explore Scotland’s rich cultural heritage and discuss the positive trajectory of Scottish identity and nationhood in the 21st century.
Both speakers are respected Scottish authors and thought leaders in their fields. Learn more about their work:
Stuart McHardy’s profile and books https://luath.co.uk/pages/stuart-mchardy
Roger Emmerson’s profile and books https://luath.co.uk/pages/roger-emmerson
🎧 Interested in radical Scottish history?Listen to Stuart McHardy’s Radical Scottish History podcast series here:👉 Episodes 1–10   https://scottishindypod.scot/scottish-history/stuart-mchardys-radical-scottish-history-podcast-playlist-eps-1-10-2/
📺 Missed the earlier session?Listen to our previous podcast on the Wellbeing Economy from the same conference:https://scottishindypod.scot/grassroots-indy-campaign/independence-forum-scotland-highlights/
🔗 Discover more about the Independence Forum Scotland conference and its role in shaping modern Scottish discourse.  https://independenceforum.scot
#scottishculture #scottishindependence #stuartmchardy
 
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!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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

Palestine - Yes It Is A Genocide

Fiona 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 HQKey events:00:07:30 Gathering at St Giles00:08:06  Chanting in Parliament Square00:08:38  Mick Napier outlines the purpose of the protest00:10:36  Into the High Street00:12:51   Speaker Doha Abu Amer00:19:37   Speaker Tommy Sheppard00:29:42   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 to like and subscribe!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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:
Industirial Cinematic and Inspired  by Kevin MacLeod
 

How We Set Up Our Parliament

🎙️ In this episode, Fiona and Marlene are joined by Esther Roberton, co-ordinator of the Scottish Constitutional Convention, the movement that laid the groundwork for the creation of the Scottish Parliament. Esther reflects on the original aspirations for a new kind of democracy in Scotland and assesses how far those ambitions have been realised over the past 20+ years.
They also explore Esther’s current work with the Build A Local Scotland campaign (www.buildlocal.scot), including the critical relationship between Holyrood, local councils, and community-level democracy. If you're interested in Scottish politics and the future of local governance in Scotland, this episode is a must.
Key topics:
00:02:25 - Campaigning for the parliament00:09:03 - Designing the parliament00:19:40 - 20 years on, how does the reality match the aspiration00:35:57 - Relationships between central vs local government00:38:52 - Impact of 2014 referendum on Holyrood00:42:03 - Building a local Scotland00:55:58-  Citizens Panels at Holyrood
Listen to our previous episode about the Building A Local Scotland campaign here https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2vxij-16e7d2c
#democracy #localgovernment #constitutionalconvention
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!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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
 

Sacrificing our Heating Bills and other Good Ideas

Highlights from the Independence Forum Scotland Conference | June 2025 | 
In this episode, Indypodcasters Fiona and Marlene share selected highlights from the Independence Forum Scotland summer conference, held in June 2025. They explore key moments from a day packed with fresh ideas, thought-provoking questions, and bold visions for Scotland’s future.
Whether you're passionate about tackling poverty, Universal Basic Income, or building a wellbeing economy, this episode offers rich insights from a range of engaging speakers.
key topics:
00:01:19 – Craig Dalzell: On what he is willing to sacrifice for a fairer future00:08:28 – Annie Miller: Why Universal Basic Income is key to wellbeing00:19:43 – Panel Q&A with Eva Comrie, Dave Thompson, Craig Dalzell, Jim Osborne00:20:43 – What beliefs, values, and standards should sit at the heart of a wellbeing framework?00:24:30 – Can we use NHS savings to fund UBI?00:26:17 – Which policy areas are central to making this happen?00:37:03 – How do we create the political space to turn these ideas into action?
Find out more from the IFS website here: https://independenceforum.scot/
#wellbeingeconomy #universalbasicincome #independenceforumscotland #scottishpodcast
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!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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
 

Independence Forum Scotland - updates from March 25 conference

A Bonus episode with updates on three important topics discussed at the IFS spring conference in March 2025:
00:01:34  Scotland's Land Reforms - John Hutchison
00:10:00  Scotland's Energy - John Proctor
00:24:50  Scotland's Democracy - Geoff Bush
00:30:55  Comment from the floor
00:34:35  Forward look
This Friday's podcast episode will be the Poverty and Wellbeing session from the Summer conference and we have news of the Autumn conference for your diaries.
Find out more from the IFS website https://independenceforum.scot
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!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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

Lesley 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 Scotland's future.
🎥 Want to support Lesley's film? You can find details of the crowdfunder here https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/finland---the-education-superstars-a-new-film
Lesley's website is https://lesleyriddoch.com
Watch our chat with Lesley about her previous film Denmark here: https://youtu.be/qRngEhyYvGU
#LesleyRiddoch #FinlandDocumentary #ScottishIndependence #EducationReform #WellbeingEconomy
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!
Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com 
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
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