Calum Macdonald, Time Radio presenter and podcaster, was an early starter, beginning his radio career at the age of 11. Reflecting on his early days, he states “All I’m doing is what I’m interested in”, emphasising that he is driven by passion rathe rather than a formal business mindset. He is now learning about entrepreneurship, acknowledging that he would never have associated this during his early endeavours: “I don’t think I would really…entrepreneurship doesn’t feel like entrepreneurship…it’s just been sort of in pursuit of what I really enjoy doing.”
The Holyrood Sources podcast team features Andy Maciver, Geoff Aberdein, and Calum Macdonald, each bringing unique perspectives from across the political spectrum. He observes; “we have accidentally filled a gap in the market,” pointing to a rising demand for in-depth, long-form political discussions that go beyond the limits of traditional media formats. Macdonald believes that the coverage of Scottish politics has been stagnant with a growing demand for more substantial discussion: “there is actually space for long discussions and conversations…learning from politicians who want to talk an hour about something they’re campaigning on.”
Macdonald, the self-proclaimed “radio nerd” of the group, brings over two decades of expertise in radio to handle the technical aspects of production, a vital element of the podcast’s success. Macdonald acknowledges the business acumen that his co-hosts bring. He states: “trying to turn something into a successful side hustle takes a lot of time.” However, he admits that he is navigating challenges of expanding his venture with him being the primary producer with limited capacity to grow at the speed he would like.
“What Holyrood [Sources] does differently” he explains: “is it can bring you inside the kind of decision making, policymaking and political ins and outs of Scotland”— demonstrating that his podcast offers something that isn’t being provided by the media giants such as Sky or the BBC.
He emphasises the importance of audience engagement: “I don’t want you ever to just listen. I want you to engage…this should be somewhere you can come for big conversations about Scottish politics”. Building a community around Scottish political discourse is a big goal for Macdonald especially one that listeners feel invited to actively participate.
For students with an interest in media and entrepreneurship, Macdonald demonstrates how passion, persistence, and being adaptable can bring success in the new media landscape which is continually evolving. Identify gaps in the market and take risks that create opportunities.
For more information on Holyrood Sources please visit their website.
Digital Journalism master’s student Miki Lee Dale.
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