"New Frontiers" is produced by Bespoken Media for Scotland’s Veterans' Wellbeing Alliance. This episode is called "My dog saved my life".

This is the last episode in our current series – thanks so much for joining us!

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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‘Dogs can heal invisible wounds.’ Loyal, affectionate, and often hilarious – the right dog can can offer exactly the support some veterans need. This time, Hannah and Richard speak with Bravehound, a charity that provide assistance dogs to veterans with a clinical diagnosis of a mental health condition such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression or anxiety. We also attend their incredible dog show at Craiglockhart, at Edinburgh Napier University.

https://www.bravehound.co.uk/

https://www.svronline.org

Find Scotland's Veterans Wellbeing Alliance here: https://svwa.org.uk/

New Frontiers is produced by Bespoken Media for SVWA and Edinburgh Napier University.

Cover art is taken from a photo by Hugo Jehanne, and colourised by Mac McDade.

The series music is ‘Something New’ by The Eastern Plain.

This episode of "Let’s talk about...", by Nicola Foley, features John Gibson talking about The Canmore Trust. John’s experience changed the course of his life and inspired him to create a space for others to share their stories, find solace, and support one another.

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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If you need help please reach out to one of the following organisations:

https://thecanmoretrust.co.uk

https://talkclub.org

https://giveusashout.org

Voices of Change: Breaking the Silence on Suicide

In this special three-part series, we’re diving deep into the stories of individuals whose lives have been profoundly impacted by suicide.

In Part One, we’ll meet Karen, whose life was forever altered when her partner tragically took his own life. Karen shares her heartfelt story, her journey through grief, and her powerful call for mental health policy reform in Scotland—a change she believes is vital to prevent more families from enduring the same loss.

In Part Two, we hear from John, the founder of The Canmore Trust. John’s son’s suicide changed the course of his life and inspired him to create a space for others to share their stories, find solace, and support one another. John will discuss the mission of The Canmore Trust and the work they’re doing to foster hope and understanding.

Finally, in Part Three, we’ll speak with Ben Akers, who turned the devastating loss of his best friend Steve into action. Ben’s grief motivated him to establish Talk Club, a mental health charity focused on men and suicide prevention. He’ll share the philosophy behind Talk Club, the impact it’s making, and how he hopes to encourage more men to open up about their mental health struggles.

Each of these stories is deeply personal, and yet, they connect us all to the universal need for compassion, awareness, and systemic change. We hope their courage inspires you as much as it has inspired us.

This podcast was brought to you by Nicola Foley and Buzzsprout, music by Zapsplat

"Grief Offerings: (End of) Life Wishes" is a series of conversations and reflections by Emilia Beatriz, Sandra Alland and Etzali Hernández. They share ways they want to care, mourn, live and resist in the current climate, with a focus on mental health and disability justice.

Find a transcript of the piece here: https://www.blissfultimes.ca/transcripts/

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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Grief Offerings: (End of) Life Wishes is an audio and transcribed conversation between Emilia Beatriz, Etzali Hernández and Sandra Alland. The artists use the theme of 'end of life wishes' as a starting point to share ways we want to care, mourn, live and resist in the current climate, with a focus on mental health and disability justice.

The chat is interspersed with poems as ‘grief offerings’ by Scotland-based artists Nat Raha, Jeda Pearl and Andrés N. Ordorica. The sound was mixed and mastered by Claude Nouk.

Grief Offerings was commissioned by Edinburgh’s Rhubaba Gallery & Studios, as part of Care, Resistance… Joy!. Artists were invited to consider structures of care, power and community whilst centring joyful acts of resistance and methods of living well.

Content notes for the conversation include death, dying, eugenics, suicide, assisted suicide, racism, ableism, classism and institutionalisation.

This episode of "Shami's Speakeasy" features Human Rights lawyer and activist Shami Chakrabarti in conversation with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. It was produced by Bespoken Media.

If you’d prefer to watch a video of this conversation, just search for “Shami’s Speakeasy” on YouTube.

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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Nicola Sturgeon – “I’m not going to be bullied out of doing what I think is right.”

How do you stay true to yourself under pressure? What hope is to be found in politics today?

And is there life beyond endless crisis meetings?

Nicola Sturgeon shares her thoughts on all of this and more in the Speakeasy.

LINKS:

Find Nicola's book 'Frankly' in your locally-owned bookshop, or online, here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/nicola-sturgeon/frankly/9781035040216

Shami's Speakeasy home and mailing list sign up: https://www.shamisspeakeasy.co.uk/

Contact the Speakeasy by email: hello@shamisspeaeasy.co.uk

Find the Speakeasy on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/shamisspeakeasy.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shamisspeakeasy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamisspeakeasy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shamisspeakeasy

SPONSORSHIP:

Are you an ethical, values-based company, campaign group or charity who would like to support the Speakeasy and reach new audiences? Then get in touch

Shami's Speakeasy is produced by Bespoken Media Scotland for Chaotic DoGooders. This episode was edited by Patrick Wallace and Ailish Hunter.

In this episode of "Orkney Sound Waves", Mark Jenkins and Rebecca Marr take a deep dive into Orkney Library and Archive's sound archive to create a lyrical and immersive audio ballad. This episode is called "Home".

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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Orkney Library & Archive’s sound archive is home to hundreds of voices on reel to reel tapes and cassettes, rich in dialect and broad in content. Creatives Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr (Kolekto) take a deep dive in to this archive and emerge with a different way of listening. Travelling across time, this audio ballad is a lyrical and immersive experience.

Let the Orkney Sound Waves wash over you.

Production: Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr, Kolekto (www.kolekto.co.uk)

Source material: Orkney Library & Archive / BBC Radio Orkney

Music: James Watson

Supported through The Space and Creative Scotland as part of the Creative Digital Initiative, funded by the Scottish Government.

Episode 5 of "A Voice in the Dark", produced by Jacob Hodge for the Blue Triangle charity. Blue Triangle is a charity and social care provider offering safe, secure housing for people experiencing homelessness across Scotland. This episode is called "Kay".

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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Taken into care at two. The only kid in school with a social worker. Homeless and pregnant at 19.

Kay tells her story of growing up in a tourist village shadowed by addiction, fighting to break the cycle that defined her childhood, and returning years later to work in the very service that once helped her.

A Voice in the Dark shares the raw, real stories Scotland doesn’t often hear — about homelessness, grief, and addiction — but always with one goal: to show that hope and resilience can rise from even the darkest places.

Original music composed by Jacob Hodge.

For more information on how to get help if you're facing homelessness visit the Get Help section on our website.

Blue Triangle is a charity and social care provider offering safe, secure housing for people experiencing homelessness across Scotland.

Discover more episodes of A Voice in the Dark: https://pod.fo/e/31365d

Follow Blue Triangle on Instagram: @blue_triangle_ha

OurStory Scotland is produced by Ross Whyte and features voices from LGBTQ+ lives in Scotland. The episode is called “Songs From the Back of the Bus”.

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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Originally commissioned by ⁠Shaper/Caper⁠ for their 2024 'Queer & Now' exhibition, Songs From the Back of the Bus by Ross Whyte is a reworking of Brian Souter’s ‘Keep the Clause’ campaign billboards, which promoted his privately-funded 2000 referendum. The visual “noise” of that campaign is contrasted with LGBTQ+ voices.

An original score accompanies the testimonies of those who lived through and campaigned for the repeal of Section 28 (or Clause 2A, as it was known in Scotland).

The interviewees reflect on this significant period of recent Scottish history and discuss their concerns for what may yet lie ahead.

Voices:

Alex Heatherington

Sue John

Val McDermid

Jim Mearns

Edwin Morgan

Martin Thain

Louise Welsh

Jim Whannel

Ross Whyte

Archival recordings of interviews with Val McDermid, Edwin Morgan, and Louise Welsh used with kind permission by OurStory Scotland.

This podcast episode marks the 25-year anniversary of the repeal of Section 28 in Scotland.

Follow Ross Whyte on Instagram: @rosswhytemusic

In Once Upon a TV Time, entertainment journalist and TV critic Marine Perot talks with people who worked on some of the greatest episodes of TV. This episode is called "Battling bastards with 'Game of Thrones' stunt performer Jonathan Cohen".

Made in Scotland showcases the best independent podcasts, audio pieces and sound art from across Scotland. It's curated by the team at Bespoken Media, with support from AudioUK.

Join the Scotland Audio Network here: https://www.bespoken.media/scotland-audio-network

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In this new episode of Once Upon a TV Time, host Marine Perot discusses everything "Battle of the Bastards" with Jonathan Cohen, who worked as a stunt performer on Game of Thrones and recalls what is was like to be in the Battle for Winterfell.

They talk about the misconceptions around what it takes to be a stunt performer, working as a stunt double on "Battle of the Bastards", and facing the miserable weather conditions of Northern Ireland.

Cover art by Agathe Pompon.

Music and sound effects from Pixa Bay.

Additional Game of Thrones soundtrack music by Ramin Djawadi (all rights reserved).

Game of Thrones sound clips copyright HBO (all rights reserved).