Best Scottish Poetry Library Podcasts (2025)

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From the Archive: George Szirtes. March 2013 33:33

2d ago33:33

33:33

Born in Budapest and brought up in England after coming to the UK as a refugee in 1956, George Szirtes has remained one of the country’s most interesting poets since his first prize-winning collection, The Slant Door, was published in 1979. That wasn’t the last trophy he was to take home; he won the T S Eliot Prize for his 2005 collection Reel. The…

1
Lapwing Ringing on Deeside 23:21

15m ago23:21

23:21

Mark Stephen visits Auchnerran, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust farm on Deeside to watch some lapwing chicks being ringed by research assistant Max Wright and data collector Honor JonesBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Dendrochronology, Seals and The Salt Path 1:23:34

3d ago1:23:34

1:23:34

Dendrochronology is a niche field of study, used to work out the age of trees, forests and wooden objects. However, it is not only useful for looking at the past, but also for considering how to manage wooded areas in the future. Mark met with expert dendrochronologist Dr Coralie Mills, and Borders Forest Trust Project Officer, Catriona Patience, t…

1
The Whithorn Way - Part 1 - Glasgow 31:05

6d ago31:05

31:05

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this episode, Mark and Rachel focus on the start of the journey at Glasgow Cathedral. Mark and Helen cycle down to Glasgow Green and imagine how pilgrims would have crossed the River Clyde. They then follow the River westwards to the new Govan- P…

1
From the Archive: Marianne Boruch. January 2013 28:33

9d ago28:33

28:33

Good poetry gets beneath the skin of readers. This episode features a poet who, for a short period, literally got ‘under the skin’. In the autumn of 2008, poet and essayist Marianne Boruch was awarded a ‘Faculty Fellowship in a Second Discipline’, permitting her to study something new for a semester. Her choice? Anatomy classes. ‘Cadaver, Speak’, a…

1
A Coast to Coast Backpack Challenge, Beekeeping in Kinross and the Capercaillie of Speyside 1:22:35

10d ago1:22:35

1:22:35

Nature-based solutions are a key tool in solving environmental problems such as flooding. Rachel met with Dr Rebecca Wade from Abertay University, who is a big advocate for these solutions, to find out more about how they are actually implemented, and why they are so important. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s demonstration farm in Auchne…

1
Nature-based Solutions and the Changing Climate 25:48

13d ago25:48

25:48

Rachel Stewart meets environmental scientist Dr Rebecca Wade from Abertay University.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archive: Liz Lochhead 40th Anniversary of Memo for Spring. September 2012 43:13

17d ago43:13

43:13

In 1972, Liz Lochhead published her debut collection, Memo For Spring, a landmark in Scottish literature. In an extended interview with Colin Waters, the then Scots Makar discusses what the early 1970s poetry scene she emerged into was like, one in which women poets were few and far between. She recalls early meetings with the elder generation – No…

1
Willow Weaving, Wild Food and the Isle of Whithon - A Dumfries and Galloway Special 1:21:54

17d ago1:21:54

1:21:54

This week, we are coming to you from the village of Whithorn, in Galloway, broadcasting from the replica Iron Age Roundhouse in the village. Julia Muir Watt from the Whithorn Trust, and Shaun Thomson from Building Futures Galloway feature as live guests, to share the history of the area, and the importance of promoting heritage crafts and building …

1
A Wild Food Journey with Mo Wilde 28:26

20d ago28:26

28:26

Mo Wilde is a forager, herbalist and author who is also founder of the Wild Biome Project. In this podcast, Helen Needham meets her at Cambo Estate in Fife where they go foraging and discuss the benefits of a wild food diet.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archive: Ross Sutherland. October 2013 32:36

24d ago32:36

32:36

In 2013, Edinburgh-born Ross Sutherland was described as one of the most interesting young poets working in Britain. Inspired by cut-ups and technology, his collection Emergency Window (Penned in the Margins) featured a sequence of classic poems fed through Google Translate many times until they become something else entirely. He wrote a sequence o…

1
Vintage Buses, A Chelsea Garden in Glasgow and a Very Lucky Ship 1:23:31

24d ago1:23:31

1:23:31

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoorsBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Professor Lorna Dawson, Forensic Soil Scientist 24:17

27d ago24:17

24:17

Mark Stephen meets head of soil forensics at the James Hutton Institute, Professor Lorna Dawson. Mark meets Lorna at the Institute's research farm, Glensaugh in Aberdeenshire to find out what exactly her job entailsBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Nothing But The Poem - Norman MacCaig 18:42

28d ago18:42

18:42

In this episode of Nothing But The Poem podcast, our usual host Samuel Tongue goes in deep on two weel kent poems by Norman MacCaig, one of Scotland's most loved and influential poets. Norman MacCaig famously, and self-deprecatingly, described writing his poems as "one fag" poems or "two fag" poems. Nothing could be further from the truth for reade…

1
‘I escaped the Nazis then fixed Lancaster Bombers for the RAF.' 58:53

29d ago58:53

58:53

Send us a text During the Second World War, Ruth Brook escaped Nazi persecution in Germany and followed her wartime sweetheart, a Lancaster Bomber into the RAF. As a WAAF, she quickly found a sense of her own purpose. Ruth was offered a job as a cook, a typist or a flight mechanic. She picked up a spanner and her life began. From welding to hydraul…

1
From the Archive: Iain Sinclair. July 2013 39:09

1M ago39:09

39:09

Iain Sinclair is one of the UK’s greatest living writers. Famed for his novels, such as Downriver, and documentary prose, of which London Orbital is perhaps the best known, Sinclair began his career self-publishing his own poetry on his Albion Village Press in the 1970s. 2013 saw the publication of three books – two poetry collections and a longer …

1
Peregrine Falcons in Glasgow, Loch Garten Ospreys and a Spitfire in the Borders 1:21:49

1M ago1:21:49

1:21:49

Peregrine falcons have been in residence at the University of Glasgow’s Gilbert Scott Tower for a number of years now, with a new clutch of chicks being born again this year. Rachel met with Clarke Elsby from the university and John Simpson, from the Scottish Ornithologists Club, to get a glimpse of these magnificent birds of prey. Solsgirth Home F…

1
Sixty Years of the Scottish Wildlife Trust 29:54

1M ago29:54

29:54

Rachel Stewart speaks to Dr Kenny Taylor at the Montrose Basin about 60 years of the SWTBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archives: The Gift to See Ourselves – The Best Scottish Poetry Collections. December 2012 45:49

1M ago45:49

45:49

We have all heard the arguments in favour of Scotland’s best poet or favourite poem, but what about its greatest collection? In this recording from 2012, the SPL invited two guests – James Robertson, poet, publisher and author of the novels And the Land Lay Still and The Testament of Gideon Mack, and Dorothy McMillan, editor of Modern Scottish Wome…

1
Birch Sap, Sailing and Boggy Marathons 1:22:51

1M ago1:22:51

1:22:51

Tennants of Elgin is a family quarrying business that has been operating out of the North East of Scotland for fifty years. They have had numerous impressive contracts across Europe, but have recently begun some work that’s a little closer to home – providing the granite for Aberdeen’s Union Street works. Mark went along to meet with Director Gavin…

1
The Poetry Path at Corbenic Camphill Community in Perthshire 18:12

1M ago18:12

18:12

Mark Stephen visits the poetry path at Corbenic with its founder Jon PlunkettBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archive: Anita Govan. November 2014 38:23

2M ago38:23

38:23

Anita Govan has been involved in performance poetry for many years, long before it became as widespread as it is today, both as a performer and an organiser of events. Sceptical of the competitive aspects of slams, she still takes part in them and organises them for young people as she recognises their part in giving people a forum in which to shar…

1
Wildfires, Mounth Roads and East Lothian Hedgehogs 1:22:53

2M ago1:22:53

1:22:53

The Elsick Mounth is an ancient trackway, linking the River Dee to the Mearns, and is one of the routes featured in the new Scotsways guide on hill tracks. Mark and Rachel both met up with Colin Young, a Scotsways volunteer, who guided them along part of the route to point out some of the important historical and archaeological sites that can be se…

1
Lorraine McCall - the Trailblazing Adventurer on the Scottish Hills 22:36

2M ago22:36

22:36

Lorraine McCall from the Highlands has overcome cancer three times in recent years. She has previously climbed all of Scotland's 221 Corbetts and 282 Munros.By BBC Radio Scotland

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From the Archive: The Written World. October 2012 36:14

2M ago36:14

36:14

The Written World was the Scottish Poetry Library’s London 2012 project. To mark the Olympics, we launched a scheme to find a poem for each of the 204 countries taking part, which were then broadcast on BBC Radio. In October 2012, with the project over, we took the chance to look back on The Written World with its project manager Sarah Stewart. We …

1
Inchindown Echo, Edinburgh's Herbarium and the 120 Mile Postie's Path 1:24:03

2M ago1:24:03

1:24:03

The Scottish Crannog Centre on the banks of Loch Tay is a bustling model Iron Age village, filled with various craftspeople to demonstrate ancient crafts and technologies. Mark went along to find out how the site has grown over the past few years, and how the construction of the crannog over the water is coming along. Jenny Graham follows the Posti…

1
The Dawn Chorus with Ian Broadbent 22:55

2M ago22:55

22:55

Helen Needham meets with bird recorder Ian Broadbent to capture the April dawn chorusBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archive: Aonghas MacNeacail. Feb 2013 30:28

2M ago30:28

30:28

Aonghas MacNeacail (1942-2022) was a leading voice in Gaelic poetry for decades, as poet, and as a regular literary commentator in print and on Gaelic radio. To celebrate his seventieth birthday in 2012 he published a new selected poems, Laughing at the Clock / Déanamh Gáire Ris A’ Chloc. MacNeacail came into the SPL in 2013 to talk about his life …

1
Tattie Tastic Light Fantastic 1:23:53

2M ago1:23:53

1:23:53

Potato Enthusiast Bob Donald talks to Rachel about a community growing project in Aberdeen which has led to libraries in the north east handing out seeds and seed tatties. Mark speaks with volunteers from a walking group in Govan, who share their personal experiences with homelessness and social hardship. They’re now involved in an innovative proje…

1
Walking and Motherhood with Writer Kerri Andrews 26:03

2M ago26:03

26:03

Kerri Andrews is the author of Pathfinding - On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom. She describes her own traumatic experience with pregnancy, birth and motherhood and draws on examples of other female writers and their experiences over the centuries. She also discusses the history of women and walking and her desire for a more communal child rearing …

1
'How we feel': Live at StAnza - Nuala Watt & Charlotte Van den Broeck 39:04

2M ago39:04

39:04

'How we feel' was the theme for the 2025 StAnza international poetry festival, and the Lantern Live team were on stage, bringing all the feels! Kathleen Jamie and Ally Heather were joined by award-winning performance poet Charlotte Van den Broeck, and Nuala Watt, whose first collection - The Department of Work and Pensions Assesses a Jade Fish - is…

1
From the Archive: Ian Bell on Bob Dylan. December 2013 31:40

2M ago31:40

31:40

Bob Dylan has played many roles in his life: voice of a generation, rock ‘n’ roll Judas, Christian convert, even Victoria’s Secret salesman. The one that concerned the SPL podcast in 2013 was ‘poet’. Across two biographies – Once Upon A Time and Time Out of Mind (both Mainstream) – Ian Bell (1956-2015) considered Dylan in a more literary context th…

1
A North East Lido, Badger Behaviour and a Coral Beach 1:21:49

2M ago1:21:49

1:21:49

Lambhill, in the North of Glasgow, is home to a thriving community hub, built out of an old stable block on the edge of the Forth and Clyde canal. Mark went along to visit their community garden, and find out more about what goes on there. Rachel is on the banks of Loch Lomond to find out about the issues of litter along the busy stretch of the A82…

1
A Fresh Focus on Adaptive Skiing in Scotland 21:25

2M ago21:25

21:25

A shortage of volunteers means some clubs have struggled to restart following the Covid pandemic in 2020. Campaigners say more needs to be done to raise awareness of the issue.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Wild Writing talk to the SPL 18:32

2M ago18:32

18:32

Lorna French and Anna Gray lead small groups of (mostly) women to let loose their wild side, to dive in to their unconscious and find their buried treasure. Wild Writers are creatives, public sector workers, teenagers, or any other type of human who is boldly, and often messily, transforming on their hero’s or heroine’s journey. Ahead of their work…

1
Biofluorescence Walks, Reindeer in Aviemore, and Glasgow Central Mosque 1:24:22

2M ago1:24:22

1:24:22

The Cairngorm Funicular Railway is back up and running after some extensive structural works. Mark took a trip up to the snow-covered peak with the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Limited, Tim Hurst, to find out what impact the funicular has for the mountain resort. Farmers and land managers are working together in Mo…

1
From the Archive: Best Scottish Poems 2012 54:57

2M ago54:57

54:57

Best Scottish Poems is the Scottish Poetry Library’s annual online anthology of the 20 Best Scottish Poems, edited each year by a different editor. Bookshops and libraries – with honourable exceptions – often provide a very narrow range of poetry, and Scottish poetry in particular. Best Scottish Poems offers readers in Scotland and abroad a way of …

1
Celebrating the Imperfections in Wood with Artist and Maker Duke Christie 19:49

3M ago19:49

19:49

Mark Stephen visits Duke Christie at his studio in MorayBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archive: MacGillivray. February 2014 50:36

3M ago50:36

50:36

In this podcast the poet and artist MacGillivray reads from and discusses her book, The Last Wolf of Scotland (Pighog). The collection is an exploration of connections between Scotland and the American Frontier whose form brilliantly reflects the subject matter of the poems. MacGillivray joins Jennifer Williams in a conversation that maps the rich …

1
The March of the Frogs, Heavy Lifting Stones and Boat Building 1:22:42

3M ago1:22:42

1:22:42

Many landowners across Scotland are engaging with large scale restoration projects. One such project, spanning 80 thousand acres, is Wildland, in the Scottish Highlands. They have a 200 year vision to help the land heal, grow and thrive, and Rachel is there to find out more about the project, and perhaps even spot some of birds of prey who are thri…

1
Wild Swimming with Greg and Jules 28:40

3M ago28:40

28:40

The actors have become regular wild swimmers in recent years. In their latest BBC Scotland TV series, they visit some of Scotland's islands and try out a whole host of different dipping spots in remote and rugged locations.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archive: Kae (Kate)Tempest. September 2013 48:43

3M ago48:43

48:43

In this 2013 podcast, Jennifer Williams talks to poet, playwright and recording artist Kate Tempest* about hip hop, poetry, their play Brand New Ancients, mythology, world peace and much more. Kate has written plays for Paines Plough and the Battersea Arts Centre, written poetry for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Channel 4 and the BBC, worked in sc…

1
Bracklinn Falls, Needle Felting and The Cabrach Distillery 1:24:06

3M ago1:24:06

1:24:06

Golf courses are often criticised for their lack of biodiversity, but at The Plock, near Kyle of Lochalsh, a community project is reclaiming the local golf course and giving it back to the wild. Mark met up with the local ranger, Heather Beaton, to find out more about this rewilding initiative. A new award-winning footbridge has been built at Brack…

1
Preserving Antarctica's Heritage Buildings with Conservation Carpenter Graham Gillie 21:57

3M ago21:57

21:57

Mark Stephen hears from Graham Gillie about his extraordinary working life in AntarcticaBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
From the Archive: Jenny Lindsay. August 2014 42:49

3M ago42:49

42:49

Jenny Lindsay was co-creator of the popular ‘poetry cabaret’ Rally and Broad (which ran from 2012-2016), a hit originally in Edinburgh that spread its wings to Glasgow. In this 2014 podcast, we talked to Jenny about her poetry and the lively spoken word scene in Scotland. Photo by Alex Aitchison.By Scottish Poetry Library

1
Kingfishers, a Gunpowder Mill and a Halifax Bomber Relic 1:25:23

3M ago1:25:23

1:25:23

Mark visits the Montrose Air Station Museum to hear about a new addition to their collection, part of a Halifax Bomber, which crashed in the Angus glens in 1944. Shan Brewis tells us the story behind the plane crash, and how the piece of wreckage came to be discovered exactly 80 years after the tragedy. Red Squirrels in Scotland are often under thr…

1
Nothing But The Poem - RS Thomas 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

The famous Welsh poet RS Thomas is the subject of this month's Nothing But The Poem podcast. Anne Stevenson of the Listener describes Thomas as a religious poet who 'sees tragedy, not pathos, in the human condition' ... 'He is one of the rare poets writing today who never asks for pity.' 'Like the Welsh countryside he writes about, Thomas's poetry …

1
Wildlife on the Water of Leith 24:37

3M ago24:37

24:37

During the Covid lockdown, Tom Kelly decided to stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway every single day and take photographs of the wildlife in the area. The photographer from Edinburgh has always had a keen interest in nature and he wanted to explore what was living in his own neighbourhood. The result is a huge collection of photographs showcasi…

1
From the Archive: Chrys Salt.April 2015 38:25

3M ago38:25

38:25

Poet Chrys Salt talks about who has the right to write about certain subjects, about writing war poetry when you have a son who is a soldier, and how poetry can benefit from a good performance. Thanks to James Iremonger for the music in this podcast.By Scottish Poetry Library

1
A Soutar's Shop, Jigsaws and Gorillas 1:22:05

3M ago1:22:05

1:22:05

Winchburgh in West Lothian is expanding rapidly, with several new housing developments underway. At the heart of these new developments is the 85 acre Authcaldie Park, where Mark visits a group of volunteers who are building a new centre piece for the area – a model cathedral made entirely out of willow. RSPB Loch Leven has recently hosted the Conv…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Scottish Poetry Library Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen