All Episodes
Broken Chanter: This Could Be Us, You, Or Anybody Else
In this episode, I'm chatting with David MacGregor, aka Broken Chanter, about his terrific new album...
The follow-up to 2024's Chorus of Doubt, it's a rallying cry for empathy, and a call-to-arms, to hold on to each other... it's inspired by the art of Arpita Singh, it's out now on legendary Scottish indie label Chemikal Underground, and it's called This Could Be Us, You, Or Anybody Else.
Justin Currie (Del Amitri): All Back To Mine
If you missed my sold-out conversation with Del Amitri's Justin Currie at the Edinburgh Fringe a few months back - or even if you were in our lovely audience at The Stand and fancy listening again - well, it's right here...
I've spoken to Justin various times over the years - about his songwriting, about Del Amitri, and more recently about his best-selling book, The Tremolo Diaries, which reflects on life on the road, and his Parkinson's diagnosis - but this time round, we chatted about some of his Scottish cultural loves - from Muriel Spark to Davy Henderson (the Fire Engines / Nectarine No.9) via Lynne Ramsay, Morvern Callar, and Josef K.
Rory Watson & Alan Bissett
We’re back in Glasgow’s magical Alasdair Gray Archive on this episode, for a chat with two brilliant Scottish writers, and literary leading lights - Rory Watson and Alan Bissett…
Rory’s latest poetry collection, The Silver of Old Mirrors, is a stunning, glinting and gentle reflection on a life well lived, and a life well loved. He’s launching it in his home town of Stirling at the Central Library on April 8th…
The latest theatre show in Alan’s award-winning career as a writer and performer is When Billy Met Alasdair, imagining a conversation between Billy Connolly and Alasdair Gray, and it’s at The Citizen’s Theatre on March 28, as part of Glasgow Comedy Festival…
Glasgow Film Festival 2026
Glasgow Film Festival 2026: with Paul Gallagher and Chris Kumar
Head of Programme Paul Gallagher and Programme Manager Chris Kumar chat about some of the brilliant movies they're screening - from Welcome to G-Town via Caledonia Schemin’ and Everybody To Kenmure Street - and some of the myriad reasons that GFF remains a world-class festival, while also being deeply rooted in Scotland, and in its own city - as you'll hear.
A Play, A Pie, & A Pint: Spring 2026 with Brian Logan & Laila Noble
A Play, A Pie, & A Pint: Spring 2026
The new season of this theatre phenomenon kicks off later this month at its glorious HQ - Glasgow’s gilded Oran Mor - but many of the plays will also travel to spiritual PPP homes across the country - from Aberdeen to Dumfries; from Pitlochry to Paisley; from Edinburgh to Ayr - and they’re all worth your lunchtime…
Josie Long, Rachelle Atalla & Sorcha Dallas on Alasdair Gray
Josie Long, Rachelle Atalla & Sorcha Dallas on Alasdair Gray
We’re celebrating the wonder of writer, artist, Glasgow icon and cultural polymath Alasdair Gray with comedian Josie Long, writer Rachelle Atalla, and custodian of the Alasdair Gray Archive, Sorcha Dallas.
The annual Gray Day takes place at Glasgow’s Oran Mor on February 25th, and - among other things - it’ll be revelling in Alasdair’s masterpiece, Lanark, on the 45th anniversary of its publication… also starring Alan Bissett, and Alan Cumming (via video)!
Denise Mina: All Back To Mine
Denise Mina: All Back To Mine
My guest in this episode is an award-winning, best-selling writer and style icon - look, I’m just stating the facts here - whose terrific work includes crime fiction, comic books, theatre shows, and historical novels…
Following titles like The Garnethill Trilogy, the Paddy Meehan and Alex Morrow series, Rizzio, Three Fires, Hellblazer and Conviction - the latter of which was celebrated as part of Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon’s book club - Denise Mina's latest novel is The Good Liar, and it’s as brilliant as it is thrilling…
Sir Ian Rankin: live from Dunfermline Carnegie Hall
Sir Ian Rankin: live from Dunfermline Carnegie Hall
I’m delighted to be joined by one of our best-loved, and most successful writers, who’s sold over 30 million copies of his best-selling Rebus novels - not to mention theatre, TV and radio spin-offs, all based in Edinburgh.
He’s also a broadcaster, a sometime rock ‘n’ roll star, and a Fifer with a fab taste in music - and a Knighthood to boot…
He is of course Sir Ian Rankin, and this conversation was recorded at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline, as part of last year’s wonderful Outwith Festival…
Horse: 35 years of The Same Sky
Horse: 35 years of The Same Sky
My special guest on this episode is a woman - an icon - whose brilliant debut album sounded like nothing else when it hurtled into our musical landscape 35 years ago - and there really is still nothing like it…
The record’s The Same Sky, the artist is the mighty Horse, and since that record’s release in 1990, she’s raised the roof, and fired up our hearts, with records like God’s Home Movie, and The Road Less Travelled…
Recorded live at The Stand in Edinburgh
Sanjeev Kohli: All Back To Mine
Sanjeev Kohli: All Back To Mine
I'm joined by fab actor, writer, comedian and TV star Sanjeev Kohli, whose credits Look Around You; Fags, Mags & Bags; Dept Q; I Swear; the new Irn Bru advert - and of course, Still Game...
He's also a synthesizer and keytar maverick who’s played on-stage with Wilco - but we'll come to that… Recorded live at The Stand in Glasgow
All Back To Mine with Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub)
All Back to Mine with Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub)
In this episode - recorded live at the wonderful Stand in Glasgow - I’m joined by Norman Blake, whose musical adventures include The Pretty Flowers - with BMX Bandits’ Duglas T Stewart, The Soup Dragons’ Sean Dickson, and The Vaselines’ Frances McKee - not to mention The Boy Hairdressers, The Clouds, The New Mendicants, Jonny, Jad Fair, De La Soul, Butler Blake and Grant - and Teenage Fanclub…
He played us some songs, he chatted about Bellshill, boiler suits, touring with Nirvana, the meaning of home - and rock ‘n’ roll bungalows….
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival with Emma Pollock, Jo Mango & Amy Duncan
SMHAF x A Kick Up The Arts with Emma Pollock, Jo Mango & Amy Duncan
This episode was recorded live at Glasgow’s Civic House a few weeks back, as part of the brilliant Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival…
I was joined by three of Scotland’s most vital songwriters and musicians, for an evening of live music and conversation that reflected on the ways in which music and creativity can have an impact on mental health - for better, and worse - both on a personal level, and with regard to bringing about wider social change, and kindness, and understanding…
Jenny Colgan & Andrew Meehan: A Kick Up The Hearts
A Kick Up The Hearts with Jenny Colgan & Andrew Meehan
If you’re after cosy, feel-good reading this festive season: here you go! Jenny Colgan’s The Secret Christmas Library follows accidental book detective Mirren, and Jamie, who's desperately trying to do his best on a crumbling family estate in the Highlands…
Andrew Meehan’s Best Friends sees 70-somethings Ray and June falling into ways of life, and love, they never thought possible - via bikes and honey bees, and the wonder of hedges, knees, and surprises…
Gavin Mitchell: All Back To Mine (recorded live at Edinburgh Fringe)
Gavin Mitchell: All Back To Mine (recorded live at Edinburgh Fringe)
I’m delighted to be joined by actor, artist, comedian and Still Game favourite Gavin Mitchell who - among other things - is known and loved as Boabby the Barman…
Our chat ranges from Simple Minds’ wonder and Sigourney Weaver’s hairpiece to Alex Harvey, Robin Williams and Peter Pan. Of course it does…
Hollie McNish: All Back To Mine
Hollie McNish: All Back To Mine
The brilliant poet Hollie McNish chats about her terrific new book, Virgin - along with some Scottish albums, films and books she loves - ahead of a sold-out gig at Glasgow’s Oran Mor. She’s on tour in Scotland across this week.
Gordon Buchanan: All Back To Mine (live from Edinburgh Fringe)
Gordon Buchanan: All Back To Mine (live from Edinburgh Fringe)
I’m joined by brilliant wildlife cameraman and film-maker Gordon Buchanan, whose hugely loved series include My Epic Camel Adventure, Life in the Snow, The Bear Family and Me - and Tribes, Predators and Me. Earlier this year, he published a terrific, enlightening and hugely engaging memoir - IN THE HIDE: HOW THE NATURAL WORLD SAVED MY LIFE…
Bloody Scotland: with Tariq Ashkanani, David Goodman and Claire Wilson
Bloody Scotland with Tariq Ashkanani, David Goodman and Claire Wilson
We’re back at Scotland’s Crime Writing Festival, Bloody Scotland (and the Golden Lion hotel) for this episode - which is a whistle-stop blether with three of the many, many excellent writers who’re in my home town of Stirling this weekend: Tariq Ashkanani, David Goodman and Claire Wilson…
Ambrose Parry (Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman): All Back To Mine
Ambrose Parry (Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman), recorded live at The Stand, Glasgow
In conversation with two of my favourites! Award-winning author Chris Brookmyre and his partner in crime - and wife - the writer and consultant anaesthetist Dr Marisa Haetzman, under their best-selling collaborative guise of Ambrose Parry.
Grant Stott: All Back To Mine (live from Edinburgh Fringe)
All Back to Mine with Grant Stott - live from The Stand at the Edinburgh Fringe…
I’m joined by actor and broadcaster Grant Stott, who regalled us with tales about music, showbiz and secretarial studies and talked about his family and childhood too - which was particularly lovely, as his dad and pals from his primary school were in the audience…
Esther Swift / East Neuk Festival
Recorded at the East Neuk Festival
This week, I’m hearing from one of our most gorgeous, and inventive musicians, Esther Swift, who’s a composer, harpist, singer, songwriter and - as it turns out - a pretty fierce conductor too