Under The Tartan Sky: Recent Episodes
Glen L. Moyer
A regular interview program hosted by Scot diaspora Glen L. Moyer focusing on Scotland - its history, people, culture, lifestyle, music, food, drink and much, much more.
A discussion with Dr. Mel Tonkin, director of the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Saving Red Squirrels Project about efforts to control the invasive grey squirrel and protect the native red squirrel population in Scotland.
Once covering more than 15,000 square kilometers, today less than 1 percent of the once great Caledonian Forest remains. Trees for Life are working to restore these woodlands through tree planting, land management, reintroduction of critical species and more.
Take a virtual road trip around Scotland’s newest tourist route, the Kintyre 66 to see and hear about the many sights , attractions and experiences await the visitor to Scotland’s Kintyre peninsula.
An interview with Brian Binnie, born in the USA and raised in Scotland who piloted Spaceship One to 70 miles above the Earth in 2004 and captured the $10-million Ansari X Prize and ushered in commercial space flight.
Glasgow artisan Alicia MacInness discusses her work in fused glass to create jewellery and other art pieces often inspired by tartan.
A discussion of how the Scottish bespoke travel experience company, Away From The Ordinary, was able to pivot to online activities to survive the shutdown of international travel by Covid-19.
Award winning Scottish travel blogger Kathi Kamleitner discusses moving to Scotland, beginning her career as a blogger and niche destination travel consultant to her latest venture, a travel podcast.
The Eriskay Pony is as old as Scotland itself but today is critically endangered numbering between a few hundred and a few dozen. Once found throughout Scotland’s Outer Hebrides islands it is today limited largely to the Isles of Eriskay and Uist where efforts are underway to preserve the breed.
Two Scottish entertainers, Ainsley Hamill and Anna MacDonald discuss their coming together to form an association (company) to share their love of Scottish culture, music, dance, and language with a worldwide audience.
Dacre Stoker, the great grand-nephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker, discussed his great grand-uncle's life and times, and the many influences on his writings including his time spent in Cruden Bay, Scotland, writing Dracula.
Author Mike Shepherd shares his insights and memories of how Bram Stoker came to right his Gothic horror Classic "Dracula" in the Aberdeenshire fishing village of Port Erroll (Cruden Bay) in northeast Scotland
With the West Highland Way turning 40 years old, Kim Kjaerside decided to challenge himself to complete Scotland’s first long distance walking trail to celebrate his 40th birthday as the trail also turns 40.
Daniel Williamson, curator of the Scottish Tartans Museum and Heritage Center in Franklin, North Carolina, USA , discusses the museum's history, its collection, and it's future.
An interview with Russell Dalgleish, Chairman and co-founder of the Scottish Business Network about the organization, its goals and objectives in aid to the Scottish business community and worldwide diaspora.
Harris Tweed is a Scottish original, woven by hand in the homes of residents of the Outer Hebrides islands. It has a rich history and its future is critical to the islands economy as we learn from Lorna Macaulay, CEO of the Harris Tweed Authority.
Nestled in the small village of Brora, in the Scottish Highlands along the northeast coast, about halfway between Inverness and John O’Groats, the BHRR cares for injured birds and returns them to the wild.
An interview with the Director of the wildcat captive breeding program at the Aigas Field Center in the Scottish Highlands to examine efforts to save the Scottish wildcat from extinction.
Jenny Johnstone is a cartographer working in forestry, qualified in environmental science. Annie Gilfillan is an archivist currently doing a PhD at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Highland folk memory and culture. Together they are the creative duo behind this new Scottish history podcast.
“If it has bagpipes in it, on it, or around it, we’ll talk about it,” says Rab Lennox (Big Rab) hos of the Big Rab Show on radio in Northern Ireland and a weekly podcast of the same name.
Exploring the history of the establishment of the Ulster Plantation in Northern Ireland and the further migration of lowland Scots into the New World with the eventual establishment of the Scotch Irish community in America.
An interview with Michael Sinclair, a woodturner and an Orkney native, whose artistic creations are heavily influenced by the region's neolithic history.
The current and former pipe major of the Texas pipe band, the Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums, discuss the band's coming trip to Scotland in Summer 2019 to compete at the World Pipe Band Championship.
Highland Whisky Festival Project Manager Kirsten Cameron talks about the event's features, objectives, and expectations to promote whisky tourism in the highland region of Scotland.
John Baikie is an award winning Scottish wedding and comercial photographer whose 1st book, The Magic of the North Coast 500, features the scenic landscapes of Scotland’s ultimate road trip.
Andy Scott is best known as creator of the world’s largest equine sculptures, the Kelpies. The Glasgow native has created more than 70 works of public and private art influenced by his upbringing in industrial Glasgow, home of shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturing.
Tessa Palmer is a Scottish artist who uses tartan fabric to create a vast array of geographically themed home decor for tartan lovers worldwide.
An interview with Ruth Watson, founder of the social media campaign #KeepScotlandTheBrand
Kimberlie Hamilton is an American writer now living in Scotland. Her first book, “Rebel Cats! Brave Tales of Feisty Felines” has been translated into a dozen languages worldwide. Her new book, “Scotland’s Animal Superstar” will be published this summer by Scotland’s Cranachan Publishing and will profile contemporary animals of fame living in Scotland.
An interview with award winning British landscape photographer about his love of photography, the Scottish Highlands, and his new photo book “Northwest” - showcasing the mountains of the northwest highlands of Scotland.
Scottish writer and newly self-published author Catherine Alexandra talks about her writing journey, the decision to self publish, lessons learned along the way, and tips for other aspiring writers.
In the past few years gin production, especially craft and artisan gin, has exploded across Scotland as gin has risen to overtake whisky and vodka as the preferred tipple across the UK. What’s behind this movement and where will it lead?
Sea Glass is the ultimate example of a “trash to treasure” story as Scot Gaynor Hebden-Smith demonstrates sharing how she rubbish, reclaimed from the sea, into cherished jewellery.
The great-great step-daughter of Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has designed a new Sherlock Holmes tartan and released a new line of clothing that features the mostly green and blue design.
A visit with Marie McGhee, Marketing Director of The Majestic Line, Scotland's award winning first "mini" cruise line operator.
An interview with award-winning Glasgow photographer Dougie Cunningham about his new extensively detailed guidebook for fotoVUE.
The GlenWyvis Distillery is the first in Scotland to be wholly owned by a Community Benefits Society after a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Dougie the Piper, Dougie McCance discusses his first solo album, his musical influences, and life as a bagrockin' Red Hot Chilli Piper.
My guest Gavin McCutcheon, Director of dtScot Registry and I explore the origins, success, and future of dotScot domains.
A profile of Scotland's first artisan cider, multi award winning Thistly Cross, with its head cider maker, Peter Stuart.
After allowing social anxiety and other mental health disorders to rule her life for 30 years, Paul McGuire sees adventure as a key to gaining back her life.
This episode offers a tour route easily followed through the Scottish Highlands using the locations of four historic inns as anchor points to see many attractions along the way.
Assistant Professor Theresa Mackay discusses her award winning research into female innkeepers in the Scottish Highlands and Islands 1790-1840
David Weinczok is a freelance heritage professional in Scotland who is fascinated with Scottish castles and their history. On social media he is known as TheCastleHunter.
The Tartan Witch is a children's book written those under 7. It is written in both Scots and English as a language teaching tool.
Dr. Mairi McFadyen of the Scottish Storytelling Center and Jeff Sanders of DigIt2017 discuss the differences in history and heritage, how archaeology applies to both and events around Scotland's theme of tourism for 2017.
Scottish journalist and author Iain Lundy profiles a rogues gallery of Scots who immigrated to America and left a dark shadow on our history.
Jed Marum, an accomplished Folk/American and Celtic singer, songwriter, performer talks about the huge influence of Celtic music across American music genres.
Loch Ness Water is the first drinkable bottled water sourced from the world famous Loch Ness in Scotland.
A virtual road trip on Scotland's North Coast 500, a new tourist initiative for the North Highlands.
Scottish singer / songwriter Dougie MacLean discusses Scotland's influence on his music, his annual music festival, his video streaming service that keeps him in touch with fans worldwide and his musical legacy.
A conversation with Scottish singer/songwriter Dougie MacLean about his life, music, and legacy.
Scottish astrophotographer Stuart McIntyre shares his inspirations and experiences in capturing images of Scotland's night sky.
An interview with an Aberdeenshire tourism professional about all the region has to offer visitors to Scotland.
How Scots emigrated to Vancouver Island and created a thriving Scottish Community that survives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Mr. Neil Baxter, CEO of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland discusses the 2016 Festival of ARchitecture and its many public events.
A light hearted chat with Florence Maclean, conductor on the Jacobite Steam train made famous as The Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies.
Online research can only yield so much cold data when searching your family history. to gain a true 3-D sense of your ancestor's lives you must visit and see where they came from.
A whisky legend known as The Angel's Share has inspired the launch of new craft glassware company in Scotland with a signature product, the Angel's Share Whisky Angel.
Designer Steven Patrick Sim has brought to market a new tartan design that some say could be a new national tartan for Scotland.
Smithfield Fair is a Scottish folk music trio from Louisiana who have released 30 albums over their four decades of performing.
Smithfield Fair is a folk trio from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They've been acknowledged as one of the foremost presenters of traditional Scottish folk music in North America.
Firkin Gin is one of Scotland's newest craft gins and is unique given its golden coloration derived from a maturation in virgin American Oak casks.
Brian Wilton, MBE is a leading authority on tartan as both a historian and a designer. He is the Consulting Director of the Scottish Tartans Authority, Managing Director of Tartan Ambassador, LTD., and often referred to as Scotland's Tartan Ambassador. He shares his insights into the origins, history, popularity, design, and future of tartan.
Must Visit Scotland is the perfect website from which to begin your travel planning for any upcoming trip to Scotland.
Graham and Liz Gaffney Whaite are an enterprising couple working to restore an historic abandoned Scottish rail station into a new home and thriving fashion business.
Mary's Meanders is a tour operator basedin Linlithgow, Scotland offering walking tours of the village, Linlithgow Palace, area Outlander filming locations, bespoke ancestral tours throughout Scotland, and a new and unique "Taste of Outlander" dinner experience.
Scots have been emigrating to the far corners of the globe since the 13th century. Where did they settle? What is their legacy? How do those of Scot ancestry group together as a community today?
Learn the whys and wherefores of this fundraising calendar as well as the status of the pipe band community across North America.
Scottish piper Craig Munro talks about the history of the bagpipes, learning to play the pipes, and his role as Director of Scotland's Wallace Bagpipes and as a piper with the bagrock band, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Six Scottish travel bloggers have come together to form a marketing team, "The Scotlanders" with an eye to promoting travel to and within Scotland.
Haggis - it's what's for dinner, or lunch, or breakfast, or even snacks. No longer reserved for traditional Burns Suppers, haggis can be found in salads, nachos, pizza, burgers, spaghetti and more as the Scottish government works to remove the ban on its importation into the USA.
Meet Ginger and Summer, hosts of The Outlander Podcast and go behind the scenes where "the men are kilted, the women are winsome, and the whisky is neat."
Glasgo native Lorraine Johnston was a successful career woman when struck by Multiple Sclerosis on her 40th birthday. She bravely re-evaluated her life's direction embarking on a career as a writer and the children's book "Lator Tartan Gator" is her first published success. The book for ages 7 and under, comines Johnston's love of her Scottish roots and her 2nd home, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Celtic Market is the newest online source for products from Scotland and Ireland. Owners Jessie-Lynn MacDonald and Tommy Goldie, friends since their childhood in Scotland, insist the products they sell be crafted in Scotland or Ireland and their goal is to help promote the work of many fine artisans found there.
The Scottish Banner, founded by Scot expat Valerie Cairney is the oldest and largest international Scottish newspaper bringing the news of all things Scottish to Scot expats and diaspora around the globe.
Glaswegian Trish Tracy has been designing jewellery for years, including works using tartan, but with her husband Harry as business partner, only launched her brand, Truly Truly Tartan in 2014. You could call this episode, "Honey, I shrunk the tartan!" Listen to find out why.
Tom Thompson of Tom's Whisky Reviews from Scotland shares his knowledge of "the water of life" gained after years of tasting and blogging about over 1,000 whiskies.
Fiona Richmond, Project Manager for Scotland Food and Drink talks about Scotland's Food and Drink industry, its ties to tourism, and Scottish delicacies like haggis and Arbroath smokies.