Rephonic
Artwork for Holyrood Sources

Holyrood Sources

Shortbread Media
Scottish Parliament
SNP
Devolution
Labour Party
Scottish Conservative Party
Scottish Independence Referendum
Independence Referendum
Brexit
Scottish Government
Scottish Conservatives
Erasmus Scheme
Scotland
VAT Cut
Westminster
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Donald Dewar
Reform UK
Public Finances
Scottish Independence
Gaza Conflict

The Holyrood Sources podcast analyses Scottish politics through the experiences of those who have lived and breathed it as Special Advisers to the Scottish Government, SNP and opposition parties. Join hosts Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Chief of Staff to the First Minister, 2007-2014) and Andy Maciver (Former Head of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives) as they take you inside Scottis... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes205Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Holyrood Sources

Latest Episodes

The first Scotland-wide poll of the 2026 Holyrood election year delivers a political shock: Reform UK level with Scottish Labour, the SNP ahead but without a majority, and serious questions for every party leader.

On this episode of Holyrood Sources... more

The Sources Podcast hosts come together for a special New Year 2026 UK politics preview, analysing what could be the most volatile year in British politics for a generation.

With local elections in England, Scottish Parliament elections, Senedd elec... more

YouTube

Happy New Year from everyone at Holyrood Sources!

On a special episode of the podcast, Calum Macdonald takes a look back at our first ever Christmas Pub Quiz.

You can hear a live Q&A session with Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver as they answer quest... more

The Holyrood Sources Christmas Special is recorded live in Edinburgh with a packed audience as Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver review the biggest moments in Scottish and UK politics in 2025 — and make bold predictions for 2026 and th... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Rebecca McCurdy
Deputy Political Editor at The Herald
The Herald
Episode: Angela Constance and the Resident Doctors
Michael Matheson
Outgoing SNP MSP, formerly Health Secretary, Justice Secretary, and Transport Secretary.
Scottish National Party
Episode: New Scottish Poll SHOCKS Labour: Reform UK Surges to 2nd
Mark McGeoghegan
Pollster from Ipsos.
Ipsos
Episode: New Scottish Poll SHOCKS Labour: Reform UK Surges to 2nd
Malcolm Offord
Former Conservative politician who has defected to Reform UK
Reform UK
Episode: DEFECTION: Malcolm Offord Explains his move from Tory to Reform UK
Maurice Golden
Scottish Conservative MSP, not seeking re-election in 2026
Scottish Conservatives
Episode: It's Budget Day and the future of the Scottish Conservatives with Maurice Golden MSP
Russell Findlay
Scottish Conservative party leader
Scottish Conservatives
Episode: It's Budget Day and the future of the Scottish Conservatives with Maurice Golden MSP
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Scottish Labour MSP
Scottish Labour
Episode: Scotland’s Win, Exxon’s Exit & Party Support Ceilings... Plus, Pam Duncan-Glancy
Liam McArthur
Liberal Democrat MSP and proponent of the Assisted Dying Bill
Episode: What Rachel Reeves’ Budget Means for Scotland... plus Assisted Dying amendments
Gillian Mackay
Co-leader of the Scottish Green Party, on maternity leave
Scottish Green Party
Episode: Is Badenoch finished? Swinney heckled... Plus Greer and Mackay on Scottish Greens

Hosts

Calum Macdonald
Host of the podcast with deep expertise in Scottish politics as a former Special Adviser.
Geoff Aberdein
Former Chief of Staff to the First Minister and a co-host, contributing extensive political insight.
Andy Maciver
Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives and co-host bringing a wealth of media experience.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 185 ratings
  • another all male blokey irrelevant podcast

    see above….

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    scotsnik
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Progressive Taxation

    I have listened to Graeme McCormick’s AGFR tax proposals on numerous occasions and to me it is revolutionary, the structure is in place, can be implemented almost immediately, lift everyone out of poverty and impact on land ownership because of the work done on land registry, all in the one parcel. I have constantly begged people to tell me why it cannot work. All I can see is that it will anger landowners and the MOD - that’s it. It was passed at last year’s Alba conference and then disappeared... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🔬8
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • The best bar none for Scottish political thought

    The weekly listen - and more often when there’s a party being kicked out of government and an FM resignation! - for the best informed take on politics in Scotland. And Calum, Andy and Geoff all seem to like each other too which is fun! 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    robbie77
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Making Scottish politics Informative and entertaining

    Guid banter atween i loons! As a quine fae Aiberdeen it’s affa fine tae hae yon loon Geoff gie a voice tae NE Scotland!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michelle Shortt
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Intelligent, compelling analysis of politics in Scotland

    Every week, I find myself wondering how the podcast will handle the latest events in Scottish politics. It’s fearless, incisive and - sometimes- humorous.

    An excellent listen, subscribe now.

    Disclosure- I am not related to any of the presenters. Indeed, never even met them!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caz Stirling
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the insightful analysis of Scottish political affairs, often highlighting the depth and expertise offered by the hosts.
Many find it informative and a necessary resource for understanding contemporary Scottish politics, although some note a perceived bias towards certain parties.
The podcast is praised for its engaging discussions that manage to balance humor with serious political commentary.
The hosts' experiences within government are frequently mentioned as a key strength of the content, providing a behind-the-scenes look at political dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#221
United Kingdom/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

UK Elections 2026 Preview: Reform UK, Labour, SNP & Plaid Cymru
Q: What kind of impact did the Cofilly by-election have on Labour at Westminster?
Labour's momentum is considered to be reversed due to electoral defeats, leading to concerns about Keir Starmer's leadership and overall Labour strategy.
UK Elections 2026 Preview: Reform UK, Labour, SNP & Plaid Cymru
Q: How much of the upcoming elections is down to Westminster performance and how do local issues play any sort of part?
Local issues do play a part, but there's a strong influence from Westminster, especially regarding the performance of UK parties affecting Labour in Scotland.
Hogmanay Special
Q: Is there a place for your party in Scotland?
Andy expressed doubt about the viability of certain parties, suggesting that even extreme views may not find traction in Scotland.
Hogmanay Special
Q: If Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are forced to resign, who will take their place?
Andy suggested Ed Miliband would win a leadership election easily, while Geoff mentioned that the person who wields the knife first never wins.
Hogmanay Special
Q: Do you think Rachel Reeves did lie and mislead the house?
Andy suggested they are very good at twisting words and meanings rather than lying, indicating a complexity in political communication.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Holyrood Sources

What is Holyrood Sources about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides incisive and informed commentary on the complexities of Scottish politics, guided by hosts with significant experience as political advisers. Analyzing current events, legislative issues, and the overarching climate of Scottish governance, it frequently engages with both major and emerging political figures in the region. Listeners can expect a nuanced exploration of political dynamics, including discussions on party strategies, governance challenges, and public sentiment towards pressing issues such as independence, economic policies, and health services—making it a valuable resource for those looking to grasp the intricacies of Scotland's political landscape.

Where can I find podcast stats for Holyrood Sources?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Holyrood Sources. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Holyrood Sources and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Holyrood Sources get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Holyrood Sources, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Holyrood Sources?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Holyrood Sources, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Holyrood Sources have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Holyrood Sources has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Holyrood Sources?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Holyrood Sources:

1. The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast
2. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
3. Electoral Dysfunction
4. Political Currency
5. Daily Politics from the New Statesman

How many episodes of Holyrood Sources are there?

Holyrood Sources launched 3 years ago and published 205 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Holyrood Sources?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Holyrood Sources?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Holyrood Sources from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Holyrood Sources?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Holyrood Sources. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Holyrood Sources?

Recent guests on Holyrood Sources include:

1. Rebecca McCurdy
2. Michael Matheson
3. Mark McGeoghegan
4. Malcolm Offord
5. Maurice Golden
6. Russell Findlay
7. Pam Duncan-Glancy
8. Liam McArthur

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days