Best Scottish Business Network Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 102: Stephen O’Donnell on Engineering, Enterprise, and Giving Back 46:24

1M ago46:24

46:24

In this insightful episode of the Scottish Business Network Podcast, host Ewan Dunbar is joined by Stephen O’Donnell, Chief Operating Officer of the Scottish Business Network, whose remarkable career spans engineering, global tech leadership, private equity, and now philanthropy.Stephen shares a deeply personal and inspiring journey—from humble beg…

1
First-timers Club: Sam's real life buyer story 20:39

4d ago20:39

20:39

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club, we're sharing a real life first-time buyer story. Sam has recently purchased his first home with his fiancée in Rosyth, and he joins Megan to chat through his experience of buying in a busy Fife market, his advice to other first-time buyers and how to move on after a rejected offer. You can watch …

1
Narrative change workshop: Co-creating adaptation targets with communities 53:47

10d ago53:47

53:47

In this episode, Kaska Hempel explores the ideas behind the Narrating Change workshop - a creative experiment in using storytelling to bring community voices into climate adaptation policy-making. You will hear from researcher and workshop lead Emma Yule, and community participant Luke Fraser who is based in Orkney. They share what they got out of …

1
Is Luxury Fashion 'Sustainable by Nature' - Lessons from Loro Piana 42:47

8d ago42:47

42:47

According to Antoine Arnault, CEO of Loro Piana: "Luxury products are sustainable by nature." Hmmm. What do we think of that, then? Just because it's expensive doesn't make it ethical. In case you are not across these names, Arnault is a member of the LVMH dynasty (his dad, Bernard, is one of the 10th richest people on the planet) and Loro Piana is…

1
First-timers Club: What is LBTT? 12:48

11d ago12:48

12:48

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club we are talking about LBTT (Land & Buildings Transaction Tax) with Gavin Pearson, a solicitor at Mov8 Real Estate. It's likely you may have heard of Stamp Duty - a tax payable on the purchase of a property, but do you know what LBTT is? LBTT is Scotland's version of Stamp Duty. During this episode G…

1
First-timers Club: What is a Home Report? 14:45

18d ago14:45

14:45

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club we are talking about Home Reports. Megan is joined by Kirsten Nicolson, a Director at DM Hall. In Scotland, it is a legal requirement for sellers to have a Home Report for their property. This allows prospective buyers the chance to find out more about the structural condition of the home and alert…

1
Too Hot to Handle - Garment Workers in the Era of Extreme Heat 44:36

16d ago44:36

44:36

We've all had tough days at work, right? But I'm going to bet your last one didn't involve multiple colleagues fainting from heat stress. My guest this week is researcher and academic Cara Schulte, author of an important new report, for Climate Rights International, that looks into the effects of the effects of extreme heat on garment workers in Ba…

1
First-timers club: Appointing a solicitor and why you need one in Scotland 13:29

25d ago13:29

13:29

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club we are talking about appointing a solicitor. Megan is joined by Keri VanderburgSole, a Partner at Blair Cadell. In Scotland, it is a legal requirement to use a solicitor when buying a property. A solicitor will make offers on your behalf and can provide advice and support throughout the process. Du…

1
Indigenous Star Knowledge and Changing the Narrative with Cultural Astronomist Ghillar Michael Anderson 59:41

1M ago59:41

59:41

To mark NAIDOC week in Australia, which officially celebrates & recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we bring you this interview with activist, astronomer and knowledge holder Professor Ghillar Michael Anderson, who was central in the setting up of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra…

1
First-timers Club: How to apply for a mortgage? 13:02

1M ago13:02

13:02

Welcome back to the ESPC first-timers club! In this episode we discuss the process of applying for a mortgage including how to work out your budget, how to find out about your credit score and the best ways to save money for a deposit. The initial consultation with an ESPC Mortgages adviser is free and without obligation. Thereafter, ESPC Mortgages…

1
First-timers Club: What is a mortgage? 18:15

1M ago18:15

18:15

While Paul & Megan take a break for the summer months, we'll be dropping episodes from our "First-timers Club" mini series. It's the ultimate companion for first-time buyers in Scotland. If you would like to watch the episode in video form, you can watch it on our YouTube channel here. In this first episode Megan chats to ESPC Mortgages advisor, Da…

1
Update After the Kantamanto Fire - Resilience, Creativity, Community 39:13

1M ago39:13

39:13

This week's episode is an update from Accra, Ghana, and the situation at Kantamanto markets. It was recorded during the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, where I met up with Liz Ricketts from The Or Foundation. Liz was with several community members from Kantamanto, including market trader Mary and upcycler Latifa - both featured on the podcast.…

1
An architect's guide to transforming Edinburgh homes | ESPC Property Show 32:37

2M ago32:37

32:37

On this week's episode, Paul & Megan are joined by Niall Hedderman of @RealLifeArchitecture to discuss renovating and reimagining the unique properties of Edinburgh. This is the final episode of the podcast for this season! Before we return in September with more episodes, we're going to share our mini-series the "First-timers Club" which is our gu…

1
Wine Waste, Algae and Co-designing Bacteria - Welcome to the World of Future Fabrics 49:40

2M ago49:40

49:40

Over the past few weeks, we've been diving into the world of weaving with natural fibres, exploring local textile traditions and capabilities, and don't get us wrong - we will always love that. But there's also a whole world of sciency possibilities shaking up the future of fabrics and fabulous ways. Pack your (metaphorical) bags for a European inn…

1
Old-School Sustainability - A Visit to Australia's Longest-Running Weaving Mill 41:48

2M ago41:48

41:48

Welcome to another episode about why it matters that we can make stuff locally. After last week's ep on Yorkshire's centuries-old wool recycling expertise, this time, as promised, Clare's taking you back to Australia, to see another inspiring mill in action. We're in Launceston, Tasmania to visit Australia's oldest continuously operating weaving mi…

1
An update on the local property market from March - May 2025 13:24

2M ago13:24

13:24

In this week's episode, Paul & Megan discuss the latest ESPC House Price Report which covers the property market activity from March to May 2025. You can read the full report here. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on [email protected] or vi…

1
Waste Not, Want Not - Mungo, Shoddy, the History, Process and Modern Times of Mechanical Wool Recycling 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

Ever wondered how mechanical textile recycling actually works? What shoddy and mungo is, and why we called it that? What the rag n' bone man collected back in the day and how the trade grew up, then scaled back? And what it will take to bring it back and keep what's already here, going? Wonder no more! John Parkinson has a masterclass for you, comp…

1
One year until the Scottish Election - will they solve the housing emergency? 30:18

2M ago30:18

30:18

With just under a year to go until the Scottish Election, Paul & Megan are joined by political analyst, Andy Maciver to discuss what the next 12 months may hold in store for the political landscape. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on market…

1
A Love Letter to Local Textiles Skills, with Julia Roebuck 47:46

2M ago47:46

47:46

What if the best place was the one you're already in? Meet Julia Roebuck, the powerhouse organiser behind Thread Republic Textile Reuse Hub and social enterprise in Huddersfield, UK. We're talking about textile skills, mending, repair, sewing, the wellbeing economy and what that might look like - at home. What fashion can be when we remove the tran…

1
Episode 101: Navigating Global Opportunity with Doug Stevenson 32:12

3M ago32:12

32:12

Welcome to the Scottish Business Network podcast. In this episode of the Scottish Business Network Podcast, host and SBN's Chairman Russell Dalgleish sits down with Doug Stevenson, the Network’s San Francisco Ambassador, for a dynamic conversation spanning continents, industries, and insights.Doug shares his personal background and early career, of…

1
Clare's Take: 5 Lessons from Australia's First Big Sustainable Fashion Conference 40:32

3M ago40:32

40:32

How do you feel about competition? Do you think it’s healthy? Natural? Are you that person who has to win at Scrabble or tennis or the pub quiz? Or maybe you've read your Gaia theory and are hooked on the idea of a harmonious, post-patriarchal ecosystem that's all about balance and working together. Many of us have come around to thinking that, at …

1
Human Rights and the True Cost of Fashion - it's time to get real on this persistent issue 50:43

3M ago50:43

50:43

Want a side of modern slavery with that? Didn't think so. Modern slavery is organised crime, and no one wants that lurking in their supply chain. Yet fashion and textiles are key industries implicated in this travesty that traps an estimated 50 million people worldwide in forced labour, debt bondage and human trafficking. Twelve per cent of those i…

1
Fab Scraps, Clever Pattern Cutting and Why Apparel Factories Need Design Thinkers, with Industrial Upcycler Agustina Comas 39:43

3M ago39:43

39:43

Continuing our theme of fashion's crazily wasteful ways, and our focus on Latin America, this week, more Brazilian goodness, as Clare sits down with São Paolo-based industrial upcycler Agustina Comas. We're talking fast fashion, big business, athleisure's reliance on synthetics and rethinking pattern-cutting. BTW: how much do you know about pattern…

1
Purchasing property in Scotland as an overseas buyer 35:47

3M ago35:47

35:47

In today's episode, Paul & Megan are joined by solicitor Jill Andrews to discuss the challenges and trends for foreign nationals looking to buy property in Scotland in 2025. Here's our jargon-busting guides to buying a property in Scotland: What is a Closing Date? What is a Home Report? How to read a Home Report? Appointing a solicitor in Scotland …

1
"Don't buy, rescue!" Fixing the Trash Pile of Clothes in Chile's Atacama Desert 53:28

3M ago53:28

53:28

Hello! What are we actually doing? Our unwanted clothes don't belong dumped in Chile's beautiful Atacama Desert... Everyone knows reasons why the global north exports used clothing to the global south - it's because fashion is too fast, quality is too low, volumes are too high, and for rich countries it's often cheaper to export your problem than i…

1
Q1 Property Market Review for Edinburgh: Stable, invigorated and first-time buyer hotspots 37:14

4M ago37:14

37:14

This week's episode is a special one - Paul & Megan are joined by four ESPC solicitor estate agent member firms to discuss the current property market. From the properties that are in high demand to the best places for first-time buyer as well as the current climate for landlords and the issue with conveyancing - they leave no stone unturned. If yo…

1
"23 billion pairs of shoes every year and we're throwing out 22 billion!" - Chandni Batra on What the Sneaker Giants Don't Tell You 1:05:38

4M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

Twenty-two billion! What are we playing at?! Things get worse when we look at the materials most commonly in use. The sports shoe category in particular is a giant, influential sector, yet its waste footprint and chemical inputs tend to fall under the radar. And don't get us started on the Crocsification of everything! Injection-moulded EVA is comi…

1
Everything's Better When the Sustainability Team is in Charge - the Inspiring Tale of Lafaani 38:20

4M ago38:20

38:20

In the third of our four-part mini series on sustainable fashion in India, Clare sits down with Drishti Modi and Rashmick Bose, the duo behind slow fashion brand Lafaani. It's focused handcraft, handloom weaves, and natural dyes, and their clothes are gorgeous - we want them all! But the founders didn't always dream of fashion careers - they're sus…

1
How much can you charge for rent? Advice for new Edinburgh landlords in 2025 31:23

4M ago31:23

31:23

In this episode of the ESPC Property Show, Paul and Megan are joined by returning guest Nicky Lloyd, Head of Lettings at ESPC Lettings. They cover some new ground in this discussion including advice for new landlords, why more and more homeowners are opting to rent their properties instead of sell and how much rent should be priced at. Got a questi…

1
From Vintage Seller to Artisanal Manufacturer: Is Ritwik Khanna India's Most Promising New Designer? 39:17

4M ago39:17

39:17

More from our visit to India! If you listened to the last episode with stylist Daniel Franklin, you'll have heard Clare promise more to come from India's burgeoning sustainable fashion scene. This week's chat is with one of Delhi's most promising young designers, who's just shown his collection at Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai, and who won last year…

1
Community Food (CROSSOVER The Highland Good Food Podcast) 31:31

5M ago31:31

31:31

In this cross over we share a 2022 episode of The Highland Good Food Podcast, published by Highlands Good Food Network. Host, Laura Dorantt, speaks to Anna from Planet Sutherland, Mairi from the Fearn Free Food Garden and Emma from the Auchtertyre Community Garden. They discuss the importance of community food projects, which offer a space for lear…

1
Will the regeneration of Edinburgh's waterfront solve the housing crisis? 22:49

5M ago22:49

22:49

On this week's episode of the podcast, Paul & Megan are chatting through the latest updated from the local property market including the rapid speed that Dunfermline homes are selling at, as well as the outlook for house prices across the rest of the year, and a deep dive into the proposed Seafield regeneration plan. Resources mentioned: ESPC House…

1
Lakmé Fashion Week Special: Styling India's New Wave Designers, with Daniel Franklin 45:02

5M ago45:02

45:02

Mumbai and New Delhi take turns to host Lakmé Fashion Week, and this season it's the former that will be exploding with creative runways and high-craft fever, starting next week. To get you in the mood, we're bringing you an Indian mini-series of the Wardrobe Crisis podcast, starting with this delightful conversation with stylist Daniel Franklin. D…

1
Woke! Anti-Woke! What's with all the Corporates Ditching DEI? 1:00:38

5M ago1:00:38

1:00:38

A disturbing shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion is spreading through the corporate world. Following US President Donald Trump's lead, some of the world's most powerful companies have rushed to dismantle years of positive work that's been done in this area. Race and gender are central to this discussion, but diversity and inclusion prog…

1
Million-pound mortgages and what the base rate drop means for you 30:57

5M ago30:57

30:57

Is a 5% deposit still enough for first-time buyers to get on the ladder? How much do you need to earn to qualify for a million pound mortgage? Will the Bank of England base rate reduction affect your mortgage as a homeowner? All of these questions (and more!) are answered in this episode of the ESPC Property Show! In this episode, Paul & Megan are …

1
Oh Hey Ripu Daman Bevli... Meet The Plogman of India 40:37

5M ago40:37

40:37

It's time for some more trashtalk, my friends. Remember plastic pollution? Of course you do - because it's still with us. According to the UNEP, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic enter the world's oceans, rivers and lakes EVERY SINGLE DAY. And while there was a great deal of excitement around the prospect of a Global Plastics T…

1
The Future of Fashion Artefacts, According to Leo Carlton (Hint! It's Printed) 47:02

6M ago47:02

47:02

London fashion week spotlight: In a markedly hatless era, forward-marching British New Gen accessories designer Leo Carlton is turning their talents to digitally-printed crowns, elf ears, breast plates and mysterious sculptural masks. Some of these genre-defying fashion artefacts feel a bit witchy, with pagan undertones. Others, firmly futuristic. …

1
We're back! An update on the local property market 24:25

6M ago24:25

24:25

The ESPC Property Show is back for 2025! Can you believe we're on to our fifth season of the show?! And this new season comes with some slight changes. Episodes will now run fortnightly, and every month you'll get a deep dive on the local market with Paul & Megan. This week we discuss what's been going on in the local property market across Edinbur…

1
We Will Rise, with Sandy Winterbottom and Elaine Morrison (Paperboats CROSSOVER)) 42:19

6M ago42:19

42:19

In this cross over we share the first episode of the Paperboats podcast, associated with the Paperboats collective of Scotland-based writers focussed on nature and environment in a time of climate and ecological breakdown. Host, Ian Grosz, talks with Paperboats co-founders Sandy Winterbottom and Elaine Morrison about the ideas behind the movement a…

1
New Gen: Essie Kramer talks Upycling Church Cast-Offs, Mastering the Digital Printer and Nearly Dressing Julia Fox 40:16

6M ago40:16

40:16

Experience matters. Everyone always tells new design graduates that it's best to work for someone else while you find your feet. But at what point do you know that you are ready to strike out on your own? While on the surface this conversation with emerging German fashion designer Essie Kramer seems to be about the joys of sourcing old ecclesiastic…

1
Clare's Take: Dressing Melania - Decoding the Meaning of Big Fashion's Right Wing Power Play 37:42

6M ago37:42

37:42

A note from Clare: This week, I'm experimenting with bringing you something a bit different. I'm calling it CLARE'S TAKE and it's a sort of op-ed slash invitation to start a conversation about a issue in the news. It's just me, no interview this time. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning the interview format! Normal programming will resume next week, bu…

1
Photographer Axl Jansen on the Coolness of the Berlin Fashion Scene and how “Art is Always a Kind of Danger in Itself” 53:05

7M ago53:05

53:05

Ears here! Do yourself a favour and take a break from doomscrolling Trump... Berlin fashion week is about to roll around again, and we're inspired. Not least because last year Fashion Council Germany became the first to officially adopted Copenhagen Fashion Week's sustainability framework, complete with 20 minimum standards for participating design…

1
Meet Mr McCall. A Chance Encounter with Count Buttons (Or, Why You Should Talk to Strangers at Fashion Shows) 45:42

7M ago45:42

45:42

Happy New Year! When was the last time you admired someone's style from afar, say from across the street? Or when you found yourself sitting next to them in a public place, a cafe perhaps, at a fashion show or on the bus? Did you strike up a conversation? Because we mostly don't. Mostly we just think how fab they look and that's that. I like to thi…

1
Now Here's a Dazzling Idea: Smell as Material, with Susan Irvine 59:33

8M ago59:33

59:33

Breathe in deeply through your nose... What can you smell right now? Can you identify it? How does it make you feel? Is it fresh, bright, pleasant? Nostalgic? Disgusting? How often do think about smell? If you only tend to notice when it's something particularly lovely - your favourite dish being cooked, a preferred flower - or horrid (let's not go…

1
Our predictions for the 2025 property market 25:59

8M ago25:59

25:59

We're back for a bonus episode! Paul breaks down what he expects to see in the property market across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders in 2025. From what's going to happen to interest rates, house prices and selling times, plus much more! Skip to your favourite part: 0:00-0:43 Intro 0:43-3:42 The future of interest rates in 20…

1
What's Going on in Bangladesh? A Must-Listen Convo with Fashion Manufacturer Shafiq Hassan 56:22

8M ago56:22

56:22

"Bangladesh has come out of a lot of difficulty in the past. Bangladesh is a place of hope, is a place of resilience ... We could again come together as a nation, with the ertailers and the brands supporting us, and make the transformation. It's a huge, huge opportunity." Rousing words from this week's compelling interview with manufacturer Shafiq …

1
An urban journey to community ownership - Greener Kirkcaldy at Fergus place 47:20

8M ago47:20

47:20

2024 marked the five-year anniversary of Greener Kirckaldy's ownership of their community building and 100 years of the community land ownership movement in Scotland. This is a story of this community’s journey to community ownership and how that empowered them to do more on climate, build resilience and help people in need. SCCAN podcast has lost …

1
Tapestry! Embroidery! Quilting! Tailoring! Can Textiles Change the World? You Bet 44:18

8M ago44:18

44:18

From Victor & Rolf's "Get Mean" frock through Jordan Gogos's radical upcycling projects to Paul McCann's "Sovereignty Never Ceded" gown, certain items of clothing speak loudly - with intention - about the times we find ourselves in. Let's not forget the long traditions of tapestry-making, quilting, embroidery, and the newer but related concepts of …

1
What is happening in the Scottish Borders property market? 19:04

8M ago19:04

19:04

In the season finale, Paul & Megan are joined by Jan from Hastings to discuss the local market in the Scottish Borders. They discuss how the market has changed since 2020, reasons to live south of Edinburgh and how English stamp duty changes may affect the market. Skip to the part that's relevant to you: Got a question for us? Send us a text messag…

1
Who pays inheritance tax in the UK? An update on the current regulations 37:11

9M ago37:11

37:11

On this week's episode of the podcast, Paul & Megan chat to Andy Lewis (John Scott Davidson Ltd) explains what the current rules are around inheritance tax in the UK including when it is payable, who is liable to pay it and some tax efficient measures to take. Skip to the part most relevant to you: 0:00-1:44 Intro 1:44-4:27 What is inheritance tax?…

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Scottish Business Network Podcasts

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