Respect yourself

It may come as a shock to you but we begin each podcast with a list of topics, all in my wee blue notebook. This week we break with tradition and open with a continuation of our off-mic conversation on the nature of being who we really are. How does the putting on and shedding the masks we wear affect us personally, politics, and society. This, to our surprise, leads us, quite naturally, to both the SNP conference and the huge All Under One Banner march in Edinburgh. Lesley wonders if the SNP leadership can relax its hold on the reins and release the talent she saw on display, particularly at fringe meetings. Can they also allow the space for that talent to speak with its own, authentic, voice? The AUOB movement perhaps shows in its flawed, human, joyous way how this can be done. We do turn to my infamous list and discuss the recent rumblings of rebellion from the DUP over Brexit, its implications for the peace process and the potential for a referendum on Irish unity. As usual there's lots of other asides including, in no particular order, hockey, an Arsenal football legend, and the collected works of James Joyce. And prizes are still available for spotting this,and last ,week's musical reference in the title.