Interviewer. Copywriter. Optimist. Check out my long-form interviews on my YouTube channel.
Edinburgh Scotland
Joined April 2016
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I sat down with Ash Regan MSP (@AshReganMSP) to discuss the Unbuyable Bill, which aims to change prostitution laws in Scotland.
Here are some of the key points.
1. "Those that are exploited in prostitution... are some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people you will ever meet."
“People are incentivised to narrate themselves perpetually through damage.
Pain becomes identity.
Identity becomes status.
Status becomes funding.
And all the while, actual outcomes deteriorate.”
1/2
Scotland has become extraordinarily skilled at narrating suffering while growing strangely incapable of describing what human flourishing actually looks like.
A remarkable new academic paper by Monteux, Smith, MacLeod & Fenton asks a deeply uncomfortable question about “lived experience”, trauma culture, and the permanent management of suffering.
My latest piece explores why recovery culture still believes something many modern institutions seem embarrassed to say aloud:
People can recover.
"How much is a loaf of bread."
Elections are a good time to get a gist of what people care about.
There is always lots of talk about stuff like QUANGOS.
But people care about the basics, like how much a loaf of bread costs.
Or the potholes in the road.
Democracy might be the best idea humans have ever conceived.
It creates the most stable, equitable, and prosperous societies.
And today is election day in Scotland.
I skimmed the manifestos, and was surprised by how similar they were.
From Green to Reform, there wasn't a massive spread of ideas.
The parties seem aligned on the same principles and values, but differ on how to implement them.
It was refreshing.
Sometimes it's worth remembering we're all on the same team.
One thing I hope improves is how politicians speak to each other.
You'd be sacked in any other professional context if you communicated in the way they do.
Personal attacks, mocking and point-scoring isn't acceptable anywhere outside of Holyrood.
Plus, I hope they realise it loses them votes.
Democracy is flawed.
Everyone taking part is only human.
But it's the best we have.
And to vote is a privilege.
I used to have short showers and was veggie for a bit. Graphs like this changed my mind. I have no bearing on any of it. Might as well enjoy the fruits of modernity.
The theme I’ve noticed throughout this Scottish election has been indifference.
A friend called me the other day. He ranted about the leaflets he’d had through the door.
The Tories said nothing about what they were going to do - just how bad the SNP are.
Labour have been useless in Westminster.
He already pays a massive percentage of his wages in tax - so he’s suspicious of the Greens.
And he thinks Farage is corrupt - so Reform is out of the question.
I don’t think he’s an anomaly.
I’ve seen a lot of shrugs, sighs and “don’t knows”.
Maybe it’s because we have a devolved parliament.
Maybe it’s because the SNP look as if they’re going to win, again.
Or maybe it’s the complete lack of respect and professional courtesy politicians treat each other with.
Hard to say.
What do you think?
Curious to hear people’s perspectives.
Leave a reply if you have one.
Ross
Journalism is a skill.
Ross Patterson retweeted
This chart might look political, but it’s really about data science. The UK can rank great or poorly depending on the KPIs you choose. Our choice of data decides how we view reality.
Britain is a construct, not a nation, according to Tommy Sheridan (@citizentommy).
Coming out of prison, (@citizentommy) didn't feel welcome in the YES campaign.
Here's why he thinks they failed 👇
Tommy Sheridan (@citizentommy) thinks MSPs are paid too much.
And he's planning on bringing a bill to parliament to reduce their salary. 👇
Tommy Sheridan (@citizentommy) on Craig Murray causing controversy in the Alba Party around the gender debate 👇
Tommy Sheridan (@citizentommy) is back.
The Alba party has collapsed.
Now he's standing for The Alliance to Liberate Scotland.
Make Sure You Like What You Make.
The latest episode of The Patterson Podcast is now live. Nate Kitch is a stand-up comedian based in Oxford who began performing in 2019. He has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2021 and received a five-star review from The Scotsman. He is currently on a spring 2026 UK tour and will return to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2026.
Listen now where you get your podcasts.
#comedy #standup #podcast
Doing Stand-up For The First Time.
The latest episode of The Patterson Podcast is now live. Nate Kitch is a stand-up comedian based in Oxford who began performing in 2019. He has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2021 and received a five-star review from The Scotsman. He is currently on a spring 2026 UK tour and will return to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2026.
Listen now where you get your podcasts.
#comedy #standup #podcast