Chris is back with a voice and Lesley has a good news story, a few opinions about the #FRB , David Mundell and localism and the SNP Budget.

In this week's podcast we talk about the Paris Summit on Climate Change, the result of the Carmichael court case, the 'Donald' and then the passing of two great writers; William McIlvanney and Ian Bell. We also touch on the campaign to put Dr Elsie Inglis on the  new bank notes.

This week there is a theme of bridges in the podcast. Whether it is the land owners offering land to communities, Jeremy Corbyn needing to build some, the Forth Road and that Nordic TV series; bridges seem to be the idea of the week.

This week we manage to talk about the proposed bombing in Syria, more Labour problems, tax credits , the Scottish Climate Chaos march, Mary Barbour, Andrew Stoddart and Shooglenifty.

This week we follow up on Lesley's National column on the BBC and the pool of talent; including Nick Robinson. We stray in Alex Bell's comments about the White Paper.

There is a lot of good news from Applecross and the success of the fund raising for their hydro scheme.

This week, it is difficult to see beyond the events in Paris. But we try to make sense of it all.

To change the mood, we also report on the news from the LibDems and then update the Andrew Stoddart campaign.

This week Lesley talks about the sale of Channel 4, the Swedish Union of Tenants and updates everyone on the status of the current campaign about the eviction of East Lothian tenant farmer Andrew Stoddart and family.

This week in a chilly kitchen , Lesley talks about her visit to the Scottish Labour Conference fringe where Land Reform was on the agenda as the main conference counted votes about Trident and TTIP. She has a few comments about that video and the House of Lords. Belfast and Nesca Robb also featured in her thoughts this week as she was filming 'over by'.

Lesley is back from the mining town of Kiruna and has been musing about steel and ore extraction. She also had some things to say about Tony Blair and his recent comments about Iraq. 

And she reveals why she is rushing off to Belfast again...it's a very busy week. 

Lesley spent a few days at the SNP Conference and hosted a fringe meeting on 'Land reform'. But here was a lot more action that happened in the main conference, as she relates.

She also wrote about child poverty in the National and explains her frustration with the inertia in action to combat this growing issue.

Lesley spoke at the Scottish Greens conference today and heard two amazing speakers ( and doctors) ; Harry Burns and Jack Monroe. She also wrote about the Tories and immigration. Is it a case of bad cop, badder cop? Lesley takes a cab and gets introduced to Uber. In a sporting weekend, we also manage to include Jim Spence's analysis of why Scotland's footballers aren't so great anymore. And finally, we talk about Northern Ireland for the craic.  

Whilst Lesley was down at the Ardfern at a Blossom event, she met Mandy Hampton. They had a long and interesting conversation about Mandy's planning, building and green energy experience in rural Scotland. It's an insight into the challenges of living in a remote rural community and the real world challenges.

This week's podcast reflects on the 'Corbyn' Labour Party Conference. It looks like it is going to be 'interesting' with more debate and dissent than usual. Will others emulate this ? Lesley has also been roaming around Scotland and has tales from Arran, Rothesay and Oban to relate. We also touch on a new 'City Link Festival and it's not about transport.

 In front of a live audience at the "Leith Said Aye - Pilton Said It Mair" event on Friday 18 September 2015. Organised by Yes Edinburgh North and Leith, this was a great way to spend the anniversary...stories, questions and contributions. 

This week's @lesleyriddoch podcast covers a lot of ground. Lesley talks about a day in the STV studio watching the 'live' court case relating to Alistair Carmichael and then meeting the House of Lords in Edinburgh.

She also talks about the recent changes in the perceptions of Germany following the sudden rise in refugees and the German response.

We also rave about the Dundee Rep production of "The Cheviot, The Stag and The Black Black Oil". Naturally, we are right across the election of Jeremy Corbyn as the Labour Leaders too.

And we round things up with a couple of upcoming events to mark the anniversary of the referendum.

Lesley jumps off a train and rounds up all the news of this week and talks about legal actions to come next week. Topics include, Gordon Brewer, Alistair Carmichael, the refugee crisis, appeals, Nordic House, the Nairn Book Festival and a whole lot of other stuff. And it being brain dead, Chris manages to leave his mobile on during the recording . Sorry.

This week we are talking about the House of Lords, #ourland demonstrations in Arbroath, #beachbusk in Portobello, the BBC, welfare benefit sanctions. We also look forward to next week.

This week Adrian Sinclair of ChapelFM joins us in the pod. He is the director of a Leeds basedcommunity radio station, a recent returnee to the labour Party and a long time friend with opinions. It was Saturday night and we sat down around the kitchen table and started to talk about the Corbyn effect, the Labour Party and devolution of power amongst a number of things.

Gordon Brown makes a major speech intended to influence the Labour Leader's election. The #ourland campaign kicks off this week and there is plenty to talk about there.. Lesley visits Islay and reports back.

And the big news this week; we recorded the podcast in a polytunnel.

We are back in the pod after Lesley's return from North Uist. There seems to be little going on and the silly season is upon us. However, we can still find interesting things to blether about. The topics this week include, John Rae, Bruce Fummey island life and the technology challenges of Scotland.

This week we tackle the HoL and explore what Andy Burnham is up to. The race for the UK Labour leadership is throwing up new proposals all the time...is it a case of the 'Corbyn' effect? Also we have to mention the opening of the Nordic House Exhibition. 

The question is , when do we get back to domestic politics and stop this Westminster firework display?

However, we start this week's podcast with the celebration of Evelyn Gillan which Lesley was part of and the remarkable legacy. We also touch on Chapel FM, what English students are saying, the Labour Party, the Flying Pigs, Ally Bally, and what's happening in the Nordic House this week.

This week we talk about the row about the handling of Mhairi Black MP's maiden speech by the BBC. We also examine Jeremy Corbyn as the potential next leader of the Labour Party. Lesley also pays a heartfelt tribute to Evelyn  Gillan who sadly passed away this week. We also manage to fit in a trip to Kirkcaldy and the paintings arriving for Nordic House exhibition.

After this week's terrible news from Stirling M9 accident, it's difficult to talk about anything else. Clearly, Police Scotland are going to be under scrutiny but before we rush to judgment , are their other factors to take into account?

We also touch on holidays, the budget and EVEL. It's our first week back in the home pod.

On Sunday, we sat down and did our usual weekly podcast. However, Lesley felt she had more to say following the astonishing ‘No’ vote in Greece. Recorded outdoors on a balmy Cretan evening, this extra @lesleyriddoch podcast tries to tell the story of meeting some extraordinary people in unusual  circumstances as Greece decided it’s path. We also talk about the Cretan wildlife. And if you are wondering; the sound of ‘plastic bags flapping in the background? They are palm trees buffeted by the brisk evening breeze.

Still on holiday in Crete on the day of the big referendum and the results start to come in...they said 'no'. As you will hear, this was not the result we had been anticipating from talking to people and watching the media.

This week's podcast is slightly shorter thn usual - we are on holiday , after all. Next week normal service resumes.

Will they go ...or will they stay? Lesley is on holiday in Crete and talks to local Cretans as to what they think about the Greek Euro Crisis. We also manage to have an interesting discussion about local wild life before plunging back into our own, in the form of 'clypegate'. And we finish on Obama and Castle Toward.

This week Lesley travelled down to Huddersfield to speak at the #NorthernCitizens Convention to talk devolution. We also briefly touch on that Daily Record story again and wonder aloud about the  focus - Holyrood or Westminster, as bits of Scotland get sold off. Are we following Holyrood 'blow by blow'?

On a lighter note, we talk West Fife SNP lupins, lost property at weekends, food on trains, the success of Uffie Elbæck and the challenges of securing the rights  to display Icelandic art.

This week we manage to respond to the cyclical David Starkey on the SNP, David Cameron and Kristina Lemon of the Swedish Election Authority on elections,Norwegian councillors on childcare costs, the Daily Record on chairing poverty conferences, and the latest news from our favourite Scottish council. Lesley also reveals details about a new Nordic House Exhibition which opens in July in Edinburgh

This weekend, we were in Oban for the People's Council event. In this podcast we try and relate all the issues which were covered in this gathering of activists. From the way it was organised through to the speakers and the insights, there is a lot to share about the moves afoot in local democracy. As usual, we also try and catch up on the week and bring in other detours.

It's all TV appearances, football, Paisley, Porty and PR this week.  It's time to talk about the unasked questions of 'Question Time'  and Michael White's moustache. We also talk about the possibility of Scots boycotting the forthcoming football friendly with Qatar. There are also some startling revelations about PR from the Electoral Reform Society.

This week's podcast sees the retiral of the Alistair Carmichael megaphone of mirth. But will the big man follow? Opinions in the pod are divided. Other topics include more guidance for labour ( north and south), the Irish and referenda, some Eurovision and Land Reform.

Jim Murphy resigned this week and now we have the spectacle of the UK and Scottish Labour parties looking for a leader. In this week's podcast we discuss the various names being offered as potential leaders. What role will the trade unions have? 

The 2015 General Election delivered some surprises, an exit poll out of the blue, a Tory majority and party leadership changes.

Lesley tells us what it was like to be on the STV couch for 4 hours and then what the rest of the election night was like for her.

She also outlines her thoughts on a Tory majority, a single party Scotland and the new community initiatives which are springing up.

In this final podcast before the votes are cast in the 2015 General Election, we talk about heckling in all its forms. We also talk about what we have liked about the campaigns and those things we have been less than keen about...there have been a lot.

This week is slightly different. After all the acivity of the General Election so far, we pause to reflect on where we have got to. Ed Milliband seems to have suggested 'No Deals' with the SNP, but what does that mean? Are Scottish votes second class? How are things shaping up as we contemplate the post #GE2015 UK?

We recorded very late on Friday night/Saturday morning after Lesley had finished talking to the excellent ( as ever ) Stephen Nolan. We touch briefly on events, name drop and recommend a good TTIP education  resource ( thanks - Kenny )

We will be recording again on Tuesday night...before the last hectic day of the election campaign.

It's about "Holding the Microphone" this week on the @lesleyriddoch podcast. Whether it's 'Project Fear', SNP manifesto launches or Mediterranean migrants ; the key question seems to be who is holding the microphone.

We manage to talk about columns in the National, the Guardian and the Scotsman. There is another gratuitous wager, and we attempt to answer a listener's question.

This week Lesley swears she's got laryngitis...it's hardly surprising with the packed week she's had. From a dawn demo at Faslane through to packed meetings at Haddington, North Berwick and Duns. She also commented on the BBC about the Leaders' Debate...and passes on news about the People's Council. And more.

This week's podcast picks up after the mid week 4 leaders debate...there was another one and then Lesley headed down to London and the Andrew Marr Show...so there is probably a tale or two to tell. And Lesley reveals what's on her crib sheets written out on cards...Trident, Cuba, Hilary, PR...and what did Lulu say?

Tonight on STV, the four  leaders of the main Scottish political parties went head to head. Ruth, Nicola , Willie and Jim took on Bernard Ponsonby and an invited audience in Edinburgh. Fresh from our Berlin trip, we sat down to watch and recorded this podcast straight afterwards. We did not have a chance to be swayed by any other opinions. This was our verdict. And we are sticking to it.

This week's podcast is from Berlin. Lesley tackles the big news of the week which seems to be summed up in one name; Nicola. We talk through the 7 leaders' debate and the aftermath. There are some lessons and some warnings in recent events.

Naturally enough, we also share a some forthcoming publications from Stewart Bremner and Greg Moodie ...and also details of an unique walking tour of Cabaret Berlin from Brendan Nash.

Lesley is on a mini tour of the Highlands and Sunday saw her sitting in the Sligachan Hotel and reflecting on discussions in Strathpeffer, Farr, Cannich and Skye. Using the available technology, we discussed these topics and Milliband/Cameron, the bogey man and Mrs Sturgeon.

This week's podcast is like a meeting trying to cram in reports from Keith, Elgin, Dunoon, Strathaven, Perth and Carnoustie. The topics include the Peoples' University, 'Join the Dots', allotments, women only short lists and  the monkey in the sidecar. As we touch on the subject on the subject of the eclipse; listeners are advised to don sunglasses whilst enjoying this week's pod.

It's Saturday night and the pod beckons. More tales of Oslo and social enterprises, a personal story from the Western Isles, the numbers behind immigration, and today's happenings at an eventful Women for Independence meeting in Perth and Radical Independence Campaign in Dundee.

This week we are in Oslo and recording in a Norwegian kitchen. After a walking tour of Oslo, Sarah Prosser joins us to explain some of the realities of the city. The talk is of social entrepreneurial skills, and what Norway and Scotland can share. We also touch on issues closer to home about equality and what Labour does next.

It has been quite a week for people, including politicians, to say incredible things. Whatever it's the stars of "Meet the UKippers", through to Jack Straw, Malcolm Rifkind, Natalie Bennett; everyone had something to say.

Lesley also thinks Scotland needs to become a participatory community focussed democracy and explains why.

This week, we tackle the energy companies and customer loyalty. Greener Kirkcaldy also hosted an interesting presentation by Prof Stuart Haszeldine who talked through the potential of underground coal gasification. With the current background of 'fracking', could gas ever be green? And Lesley spent her birthday with the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association - how did she get on? You'll have to listen to find out.

This week's podcast covers why there is no buzz in the general election campaign so far. We also consider the various tactics people are considering about how to biff the established order and generate the buzz. Naturally enough, this includes an update on the 'community bank' ...and Portobello. Booze and the latest welcome statistics on tee totallers prompt a limp down memory lane.

This week we delve into Lord Ashcroft's latest polls and also talk about a variety of 'community' projects ( some good- some problematic ) including 'Castle Toward' which seems to exemplify something that needs to change.

We are back from our brief hiatus and we have a lot to catch up with...Jim Murphy on Women's Prisons and fracking , the Greek election result, the Daily Express and how the SNP are doing as they select candidates and some entertainment recommendations. It also means this is a big podcast ...or should that be a long listen.

This week's podcast was delayed for some personal reasons . We try and get some perspective on the delay of the Chilcot Report, how Scottish Labour is picking up issues and running with them and the impartiality of the Civil Service. Naturally enough, as Lesley launches her latest edition of 'Blossom' in the Empire Bingo hall, we talk bingo.

In the light of the terrible events last week in Paris, we have a few words about the Charlie Hebdo attack. Difficult to say anything new but we try.

Jim Murphy has also been explaining at length his strategy for the Scottish Labour Party. Lesley has some views on the details as they arise.

As promised, we also broadened our reading this week and dipped into the 'What Doctors Don't Tell You' publication. 

As mentioned on 'Question Time', TV Leaders' Debates - Lesley Wrote about it in the Sunday Post and explains a little bit more

Finally, we finish a windy podcast with a review of 'From Scotland With Love'.

Happy New Year to everyone.

In the first podcast of 2015, we talk Michael Marra tribute nights , @AMWWFmusic , hogmanay travels, the lore of Australia for young Scots, honours, and our plans for the 2015 podcasts.

Chris talks to the Director of the Glasgow School of Sport.  And Lesley explains the appeal of 'Frozen'.

In the final part of our podcast review of 2014, we tackle 'T to Z'. From tourism through to the crowd sourced 'Z',  we also salute our listeners, 'Yes' shops ( various )  and the joys of Wiston Lodge and much more besides.

Although, this has been a four part series, there have been many people, places, events and topics which we could have mentioned but sadly, there wasn't enough time. However, the archive material is there for everyone to enjoy - please listen to what interests you.

And on the subject of 2015 - we will be back in the swing of things by Monday 12th January.