Scottish Independence Podcasts

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.

Hidden Costs of Inequality with Stuart Donald

We’re joined once again by data analyst Stuart Donald to explore the impacts of inequality — including some unexpected links to how we vote. There’s data, there are graphs, and there are a few “wait, really?” moments along the way. Whether you love a good chart or just a good conversation, this episode delivers.
Key themes:00:00:51  The Equality Trust data sets00:02:45  Inequality is strongly associated with societal problems00:04:12   Income inequality and recycling rates00:08:28  Inequality and democracy00:12:13   Inequality and mental health stigma00:17:14  Inequality and infant mortality00:22:01   Would PR at Westminster  be bad for Scotland?00:31:07  Why Europe needs immigration00:40:19   Projections for Holyrood 2026
Find out more about inequality graphs at https://equalitytrust.org.uk/evidence-base/the-spirit-level-at-15/Also you can follow @inequalitynews on BlueskyHolyrood seats projection image from @ballotbox.scot on BlueskyImmigration projections image originally from the Guardian.
#inequality #proportionalrepresentation #stuartdonald
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: @scottishindypodInstagram: @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.

What's it like to be a Scot?

Happy New Year!
To mark the beginning of 2026, we share a address from the Makar of Scotland, Padraig MacAoidh, which was delivered to the Independence Forum Scotland's Autumn convention.  In a lyrical meditation on identity, he asks what it means to be a Scot in a country shaped by history yet unfinished by it.
This is a speech rooted in language, land, ancestry, and imagination — a reminder that nationhood begins not in institutions, but in people. A moment of reflection to carry us into the year ahead.
For more information about the Makar and his poetry see our blogpost here https://scottishindypod.scot/blogpost/makar-padraig-macaoidh/
You can watch the full coverage of the IFS convention here https://www.youtube.com/live/Ww2ZWOJhuhc?si=SVucfMN7XLxre83z
#IFS #Makar, Scottishindependence
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!
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
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.
 

Indy Artists Resonating Together

In this special episode, the Indypodcasters head to the Carsebridge Cultural Campus in Alloa for a vibrant four-day art exhibition brought to life by Yes Stones, Yes Slates, and the wider community of independent Scottish artists. Hosted by the charity Resonate Together, the event showcased an extraordinary collection of artwork generously donated by the artists — with proceeds shared between Resonate Together and nine Scottish charities chosen by the artists themselves.
From luminous landscapes to pieces exploring history, politics, and Scottish culture, the exhibition was a celebration of creativity in all its forms. Visitors enjoyed coffee, cake, live music and great conversation at the drop-in stone-painting workshop that kept the creative energy flowing.
Join us as we wander through the exhibition, chat with organisers and artists, and capture the warmth, talent, and community spirit that made these four days truly special.
Key points:
00:04:37  Opening day
00:10:04   Chatting with artist Walker McGowan
00:15:33   Reclaiming our culture with piper Caimbeul Mac An T-Saoir
00:15:45    Chatting with Mary at the workshop
00:17:36    Chatting with Angela Watt, founder of Resonate Together
00:23:39     Chatting with Lynne Dougan, Yes Stones/Slates
00:30:24     Reflecting on the event with Neil Haston, Yes Stones/Slates
00:31:35     Protest corner, with music by Jim McLean
Find out more about Resonate Together from their Facebook page or https://www.facebook.com/Resonatetogether or check out their website https://resonatetogether.org.uk
Find out more about Yes Stones from their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/183023062566228
Check out Artists for Independence on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/artistsforindy.scot
#art #scottishculture #scottishartists
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!
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 MacLeodHomeland by the Graham Brown Band
The Man from Peterhead by Jim McLean
Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.