Unspun Live

About Unspun Live

Unspun Live is The Herald’s Scottish politics podcast — bringing you interviews, analysis, and insight from the heart of Holyrood. Hosted by some of the finest journalists in the business, each episode cuts through the noise to explore the big ideas, tough decisions, and real stories behind the headlines.

Publisher

The Herald Politics Team

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Apr 2025

Latest episode

4 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

56 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Sept 2026

   Inside Michael Marra's pitch to be Scottish Labour leader

   The Herald's Political Editor Andrew Learmonth sits down with Scottish Labour leadership contender Michael Marra for a wide-ranging, candid conversation. Marra reflects on why Labour lost in May, the "black hole" in Scotland's finances, and the crisis facing Dundee's universities. He also opens up about the abuse he and his family face in public life, and why, despite it all, he still believes stepping up is a matter of duty.

2. 

   26 Aug 2026

   A Scottish Labour first minister? Really?

   Where did it all go wrong for Scottish Labour and Anas Sarwar in the Holyrood election? Joe Fagan dissects the party's performance and reveals whether he has his eye on Bute House. The Scottish Labour leadership hopeful speaks to The Herald's deputy political editor Rebecca McCurdy as part of a Scottish Labour leadership special.

3. 

   24 Jul 2026

   Monica Lennon: Ready to Lead Scottish Labour?

   Monica Lennon says she feels “refreshed and ready” for the Scottish Labour leadership, and that it would be “silly” to rule herself out before the contest has even begun. In this episode of Unspun Live, Political Correspondent Hannah Brown speaks to Lennon about her expected return to Holyrood, the barriers women face in being treated as credible political contenders, and what Scottish Labour must do to recover. The conversation also explores Lennon’s recovery from surgery, the culture of exhaustion in public life, and her campaigning on women’s health.

Who has been a guest on Unspun Live

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Graham Simpson
• Scott Wortley
• Dr João Sousa
• Zarah Sultana
• Màiri McAllan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

84

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Unspun Live

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Unspun Live