The Carrying Stream

A Podcast for Scottish Words and Ideas
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The Carrying Stream is a podcast for Scottish words and ideas. Hosted by Dr Paul Malgrati, the series offers long-form conversations with scholars, writers, poets, and artists working in and around Scotland. It is a space for criticism, idea-making, and the sharing of cutting-edge work in Scottish literature and culture. With room for Scots, Gaelic, and international voices, the podcast takes its name from Hamish Henderson’s idea of the “carrying stream”: the belief that cultural change emerges through common intellectual labour and the slow but deep sedimentation of voice and verse.

Episodes

  1. FEB 8

    4. Scottish Folksong and European Music - with Kirsteen McCue

    This episode's guest is Kirsteen McCue, Professor of Scottish Literature and Song Culture at the University of Glasgow. We discuss the origins and history of Scottish folk music, and place particular emphasis on the Romantic era, when songs collected by figures such as Robert Burns became instrumental raw materials in the formation of modern music — from Haydn and Beethoven to the folk revival of the 1960s. 2.00 — Kirsteen's upbringing in one of Scotland's most distinguished musical families. 11.54 — Song collection in eighteenth-century Scotland (the example of George Thomson) 16.00 — The relationship between Robert Burns and Thomson 22.00 — The origins of Scottish folk music 28.00 — Scottish music and Enlightenment culture 34.50 — Musical Extract: 'O Poortith Cauld' arranged by Weber 38.00 — Scottish music and democratic culture 44.00 — Burns, Thomson, Haydn and Beethoven 54.00 — Musical Extract: "The Lovely Lass of Inverness", arranged by Beethoven 58.00 — The long-term influence of Scottish folk on Romantic and Modern music. 1.06.00 — From Beethoven to Bob Dylan 1.15.00 — Kirsteen's current and forthcoming research work. 1.22.00 — A final musical recommendation

    1h 28m

  2. 12/31/2025

    3. Robert Burns and Mental Health – with Moira Hansen

    This episode's guest is Dr Moira Hansen, whose PhD research explores the life and mental health of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. We talk about Moira’s work on Burns, including her argument that he may have experienced bipolar disorder, and how this might have shaped his life, his relationships, and some of his best-known works — including "Tam o’ Shanter". It’s a thoughtful conversation about literature, mental health, and how we read figures like Burns today. 01:30 – Moira's background and journey into Burns studies. 05:30 – Diagnosing an eighteenth-century poet. 18:40 – Impact of Burns's mental health on his personal, social and creative life. 28:10 – The Irvine episode: Burns's first depression? 40:10 – How Burns understood his own condition. 46:10 – Frances Dunlop: Burns's correspondent and confidante. 57:10 – A new reading of "Tam o' Shanter". 65:30 – Addressing recent controversies about Burns and gender. 74:20 – Moira's influence on Alan Cumming's recent adaptation of Burns for the stage. 77:39 – Moira's forthcoming research work.

    1h 23m

  3. 12/31/2025

    2. Scots Language and Scottish Worlds – with Billy Kay

    This episode's guest is Billy Kay, the Scottish writer, broadcaster and lifelong advocate for the Scots language and the status of its speakers. Our conversation is, of course, in and about Scots, but we also journey further afield from the deep ties between Scotland and France to broader questions of Scotland's global identity. 03:30 – Billy Kay's upbringing as a Scots speaker and his inspiration for his best-selling book, The Mither Tongue. 11:47 – The linguistics and politics of Scots. 22:10 – Scots and social class. 35:17 – Billy Kay on his book, The Scottish World. 43:20 – The "Auld Alliance" and the wine trade. 53:09 – Billy Kay's view of the future and poetry reading.

    1 hr

  4. 12/31/2025

    1. Gaelic in Translation and Poetic Transience – with Taylor Strickland

    This episode's guest is Taylor Strickland: a talented poet from the US who has learned Scottish Gaelic and recently won several awards for his superb translations of the 18th-century Jacobite poet, Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair. In 2025, Taylor also published his debut poetry collection, Dwell Time with Tapsalteerie Press. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, from Taylor’s journey into Gaelic and his translation work, to his broader thinking about poetry — and his deep admiration for the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. 03:40 – Taylor's (poetic) journey from America to Scotland 13:20 – Taylor's transient poems and his vision of poetry 23:25 – Translating Gaelic Poetry into English 28:50 – Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair 45:50 – Portugal and Pessoa 56:18 – Final thoughts on poetry, national identi(es) and Taylor's upcoming works.

    1h 5m
  5. 0. Welcome to The Carrying Stream

    12/31/2025

    0. Welcome to The Carrying Stream

    In this introductory episode, Dr Paul Malgrati presents his vision for The Carrying Stream and explains why he is launching a podcast devoted to Scottish words and ideas. Episode 0 sets out the ethos of the project and the kind of long-form conversations the podcast aims to make space for.

    5 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

The Carrying Stream is a podcast for Scottish words and ideas. Hosted by Dr Paul Malgrati, the series offers long-form conversations with scholars, writers, poets, and artists working in and around Scotland. It is a space for criticism, idea-making, and the sharing of cutting-edge work in Scottish literature and culture. With room for Scots, Gaelic, and international voices, the podcast takes its name from Hamish Henderson’s idea of the “carrying stream”: the belief that cultural change emerges through common intellectual labour and the slow but deep sedimentation of voice and verse.

Information

  • Creator
    A Podcast for Scottish Words and Ideas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © A Podcast for Scottish Words and Ideas
  • Show Website
    The Carrying Stream

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