this scottish life Black Scot Pod is just one of many top-quality homegrown ‘casts. Kevin Fullerton lends his ears to another set of local listens
MALT WHISKY TRAIL PODCAST The distillery aficionados at the Malt Whisky Trail have set up a podcast to help you appreciate your favourite dram. Based on the trail itself (a series of nine locations around Speyside), this is your chance to hear from the talented craftspeople creating some of the world’s finest golden liquid. maltwhiskytrail.com
BREAKING THE NEWS Comedian Des Clarke’s Breaking The News has become a cult favourite for its acerbic and satirical take on current affairs. With weekly episodes featuring top names such as Rachel Parris, Val McDermid and Susie McCabe, this is a treasure trove for anyone searching for a light-hearted take on heavy subject matter. bbc.co.uk/sounds
CLASSIC SCOTTISH ALBUMS A behind-the-scenes peek at some of the best albums ever produced in Scotland, from Idlewild’s The Remote Part to Donovan’s Sunshine Superman. Hosted by Davie Scott, this must-listen for pop enthusiasts features band and production crew interviews, exploring an album’s lasting influence on Scotland’s music scene. bbc.co.uk/sounds
SCOTTISH INDIE PODCAST show. This year they’ve been asked to judge the British P odcast Awards for a second time. ‘I saw that email and thought it was spam. It’s just mind-blowing to be invited to judge some amazing podcasts and peers,’ says Mwanza. They are unassuming and painfully modest, saying they didn’t think anyone would listen. But thousands have, from Europe, Madagascar and even Australia. ‘When people started messaging us about their lived experience and asking for advice, that’s when we knew people were listening,’ says Mcpherson. The talented duo have many strings to their bow: Mcpherson is an aspiring singer and Mwanza, who studied TV & film, has been directing and screenwriting. They recently launched T he A V Club podcast series to review shows, movies and audiobooks, having previously partnered with G lasgow Film Festival, admitting the dream would be to secure a commission from N etflix or Amazon. ‘There shouldn’t be any geographical, race or gender barriers to achieve what you want in life,’ says Mwanza. ‘We are just as talented and capable as some of the biggest stars out there.’ The opportunities are only just beginning for a podcast duo who want to be taken out of their element. ‘O r at least out of the cupboard’ they podcast from. Black Scot Pod can be found at linktr.ee/ blackscotpod with new episodes airing every Thursday.
Since its first broadcast last year, Scottish Indie Podcast has dedicated itself to the cutting edge of our indie music scene. Each instalment features special guests, from Echo Machine’s Gary Moore to Glasvegas’ Rab Allan. One to listen to if you want to discover the hottest new music around the country. podbean.com
THE TARTAN NOIR SHOW Scotland’s crime-writing landscape has been a towering success story for decades, and this podcast highlights some of the finest proponents of the genre. Host Theresa Talbot is joined by a special guest every week, be they crime authors or celebrity fans, to discuss everything from truecrime novels to hard-boiled fiction. thebiglight.com
MAY CONTAIN NUTS May Contain Nuts makes the most of the free-form nature of podcasting in this weekly improvisational barrage of silliness. Fronted by Russell Miller, Stuart Condy, Chris Miller and CraigJames Moncur, there’s plenty of fun in hearing four comics riff on an idea for as long as possible, with plenty of bizarre tangents along the way. bbc.co.uk/sounds
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BLACK SCOT POD
FEELING MY SHELF Literary nerds Joshua Tompkins and Maxime Swift’s brand-new monthly podcast Feeling My Shelf is tackling Scotland’s book scene and inviting local writers along for the ride. Tune in for the duo’s erudite take on the world of literature, from tiny novellas to doorstop novels. Perfect if you need some new book recommendations. mixcloud.com