Rugby, Rockets, and Robots
The Lesley Riddoch Podcast
Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson
4.6 • 274 Ratings
🗓️ 10 March 2026
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this week's episode, Lesley and Fraser digest a whirlwind week that saw Scotland’s rugby players secure another win—but this time, there’s a trophy involved with a very specific history. Fraser reveals his own "tangential" role in the creation of the Old Alliance Trophy and why it’s definitely not a cup.
The mood shifts as we analyse the terrifying escalation in the Middle East following the bombing of a girls' school in Minab, South Iran. We discuss the chilling rhetoric of the US administration, the surge in oil prices, and the stark contrast in European leadership—from Spain’s firm "no" on base access to the "swithering" internal dynamics of the UK Labour Party.
Closer to home, we look at a genuine medical breakthrough: a pioneering study at NHS Grampian showing that AI can increase breast cancer detection by 10%. But it's not all good news for the tech world; we discuss Donald Trump’s targeting of Anthropic (the makers of Claude) and what the future holds for software development jobs.
Plus, Lesley shares how she’s using AI to sift through a decade of Nordic research, and we look ahead to the march on Calton Hill on the 28th.
In this episode:
- The Old Alliance Trophy: The story behind the silverware and Scotland’s continuing rugby streak.
- Iran & The "Short-Term Excursion": Analysing the school bombing in Minab and the global fallout of $120-a-barrel oil.
- Spain vs. The White House: Why Pedro Sanchez stood his ground while the UK government remains internally divided.
- AI—The Life Saver and the Supply Chain Risk: From the NHS Grampian breakthrough to Trump’s "stushie" with Anthropic.
- Gathering Again: March on Calton Hill on the 28th and
Links
Support the podcast with a monthly or annual subscription https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe
Pioneering study finds AI increases cancer detection by more than 10 per cent https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd9gn4j7dyo
Andrew Redman’s "The March on Calton Hill" print https://andrewrbarr.com/portfolio/march-on-calton-hill/(Fraser highly recommends this one for your wall!)
Lesley Riddoch: Reading Scotland at Newbattle Abbey College 12th March
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lesley-riddoch-reading-scotland-tickets-1982952469215
Finland Film Screenings - see all here https://lesleyriddoch.com/events
Next up
Dunfries - Friday 13 March https://rbcfilmtheatre.co.uk/all-listings/lesleyriddoch
Greenock - Saturday 14 Marchhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/finland-the-happiest-country-that-almost-didnt-exist-tickets-1980199784862?aff=oddtdtcreator
Artists for Independence - Oran Mor 14th March
The 28th March And Rally Edinburghhttps://www.believeinscotland.org/march_and_rally_for_independence.
The Lesley Riddoch Podcast with Fraser Thompson
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It is a weird thing when you can't be sure, absolutely sure that the UK is not technically at war with Iran. |
| 0:06.0 | And you also can't be sure today at the second of recording whether the Americans think that the war is tailing down |
| 0:14.0 | or have authorized yet another big strike on the new leader. |
| 0:18.0 | All of that is happening at the same time. It's extraordinary and horrible. |
| 0:23.1 | We discuss this and look also at the economic impacts it's having here. The political fallout, |
| 0:29.1 | how has Keir Starrmer handled this and has his profile blossomed in the same way as that |
| 0:36.8 | of the Spanish Prime Minister who's really stood up to Donald Trump over it all. |
| 0:40.9 | And of course, near to home what's happening in the election campaign and a bit of a discussion about Finland, Iran, libraries and much besides. |
| 0:49.9 | Those are the headlines now for the podcast. |
| 0:52.7 | Well, hi folks and welcome to this week's Leslie Riddock podcast. |
| 0:56.7 | Leslie, you've returned from the West Coast, |
| 0:59.2 | fairies and all providing. |
| 1:01.3 | I think you were in Aaron recently with the Finland film. |
| 1:03.9 | We'll get into that in a minute. |
| 1:05.1 | But the big news is Scotland won at rugby again. |
| 1:08.8 | I can't believe it. |
| 1:11.0 | I know. I think I was travelling, it was actually on, but listening to, you know, |
| 1:15.7 | normally very sort of stoic-controlled guys. In fact, it's almost like the rugby equivalent |
| 1:20.9 | of the fabulous football commentary when the football commentators just totally lose it |
| 1:27.0 | at the third or fourth |
| 1:28.2 | goal whenever it was against Denmark. |
| 1:30.7 | It's tremendous to just now be in this sort of situation. |
... |
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