London Scots Podcast

Alex McLean didn’t chase fame in the usual way. Instead, he turned a love of pop music — and a deep connection to his Scottish roots — into a journey from Portobello’s seaside streets to London’s fast-moving music scene. Along the way, he’s balanced rehearsals, McDonald’s shifts, songwriting camps, and even Gaelic lessons, building a career that feels as personal as it does ambitious. His unlikely creative secret? Talking to himself in Gaelic while figuring it all out.In this episode, Alex opens up about growing up in Edinburgh, making the leap to London with a “why not?” mindset, and staying grounded while navigating one of the world’s most competitive music industries. He shares how studying pop music differs from classical training, why schools like BRIT have produced so many major artists, and how some of the best songs come from surprisingly simple ideas — echoing John Lennon’s advice to “make it rhyme and add a beat.”The conversation moves beyond music too. Alex speaks candidly about creativity and mental health, the challenge of building connections in a city that can feel overwhelming, and why learning Gaelic has become such an important way of staying connected to home. There’s plenty of humour along the way — from awkward language-learning moments to the reality of juggling gig work with big dreams.Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a lover of languages and culture, or someone figuring out how to chase a passion without losing yourself in the process, Alex’s story is honest, funny, and genuinely inspiring. It’s a conversation about ambition, identity, creativity, and finding your own voice — even if sometimes that means talking to yourself in another language first.

Join us for a chat with Farrah Sutherland (@farrahlia.fldance), a vibrant London Dance Teacher/Model from Edinburgh! In this episode we chat with Farrah and hear about her journey from Edinburgh to London, pursuing a career in dance and modelling. Hear about the challenges in the performing arts sector, the opportunities in London, and her decision to start up her very own dance school. Discover her love for Scotland, teaching children, and her excitement for the future of her business… Check out FL Dance Company on Instagram here and Facebook here. - If you are a Scot in London and would like to appear on the show, drop a message to ed@ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - a taste of Scotland in London. Live band and caller. No experience is necessary. (Music provided by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Licence to Ceilidh)

Join us for a chat with Sarah Bruce! From a wee village in Aberdeenshire to the bustling streets of London, Sarah spills the beans on her accidental adventure, including the unexpected love story with her flatmate-turned-husband. We also explore the nitty-gritty of living away from home, sparking a newfound appreciation for roots and a sprinkle of patriotism… If you are a Scot in London and would like to appear on the show, drop a message to ed@ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - a taste of Scotland in London. Live band and caller. No experience is necessary. (Music provided by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Licence to Ceilidh)

We're into events organising and politics with Andrew. The ubiquitous Chat GPT makes a look-in as well... If you are a Scot in London and would like to appear on the show, drop me a message at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ed@ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - if you would like to donate to help the club, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠via PayPal here⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music provided by ⁠⁠⁠Licence to Ceilidh⁠⁠⁠)

Life in reverse! Listen to Alan's story from Glasgow to Edinburgh to London to Edinburgh to London. Some great insights into the life of a first responder and some fab tips on enjoying retirement... If you are a Scot in London and would like to appear on the show, drop me a message at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ed@ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - if you would like to donate to help the club, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠via PayPal here⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music provided by ⁠⁠⁠Licence to Ceilidh⁠⁠⁠)

We chat about Xena's (⁠@zenagusthart_creative⁠) motivation to go from a wee town in East Lothian to the West End, Bollywood and Broadway. There's an inspirational librarian involved and lots of laughs along the way. Meat Loaf, Rita Orla, Beyonce and Jay-Z all get a look in... If you are a Scot in London and would like to appear on the show, drop me a message at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ed@ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - if you would like to donate to help the club, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠via PayPal here⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music provided by ⁠⁠⁠Licence to Ceilidh⁠⁠⁠)

We're chatting with Maverick about, well, just about everything you can imagine. We move from city to city, life as a young lad and how you can do something nice for the less fortunate at Christmas... If you are a Scot in London and would like to appear on the show, drop me a message at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ed@ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - if you would like to donate to help the club, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠via PayPal here⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music provided by ⁠⁠⁠Licence to Ceilidh⁠⁠⁠)

Instagram influencer and nurse, Frances Hardie (@francesmehardie) gives us an insight into her world. From Edinburgh to London via Aberdeen and Oxford, we find out how she takes such great photos and how it balances her life as a nurse... If you are a Scot in London and would like to appear on the show, drop me a message at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ed@ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ceilidhclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ - if you would like to donate to help the club, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠via PayPal here⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music provided by ⁠⁠⁠Licence to Ceilidh⁠⁠⁠)