One of the extraordinary sights in nature is starling murmurations — hundreds of thousands of birds in what looks like a co-ordinated dance, but without any central control. It can be seen as a metaphor for humanity: individual freedom means charting your own way through life, but with respect for others. As yet again we face leadership in uncertainty, politicians need to learn that we don't need them to be prescriptive about how people should live, or to run everything on their behalf. Will Andy Burnham respect individual freedom? Time will tell. Background music: 'Floating Home' by Brian Bolger. Image source: YouTube
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
It is hard to say what finished off Keir Starmer as PM, says Mike Indian. It was political death by a thousand cuts. But he seemed to be decent and honourable and tried to do his best. Posterity will probably be kinder to him than many current critics are. It now seems certain that Andy Burnham will become Prime Minister and Mike thinks it right that there won't be a distracting leadership contest. Burnham says he will stick to Reeves's fiscal rules which means he will have to show a lot of creative thinking. He is more charming and wittier than Starmer, but will that be enough? His appointment of Chancellor will be crucial. We don't really know what a Burnham premiership will look like. Mike reflects that in the nine years he and Simon Rose have been discussing The Bigger Picture, the world has become a less certain place, politics is now a lot less kind and public trust in institutions and politicians has declined considerably.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: This is Money
As we approach installation of the seventh prime minister in just ten years, Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Helen Crane discuss how we are being seen as the political basketcase of Europe, and what it means for your money. There's also fury over reforms to ISAs, and a warning that Rachel Reeves' new tax on investors won't work. Plus, the Bank of England wants your help.
Guests: Helen Crane
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Memory prices have skyrocketed because of AI demand and that’s not extending into the consumer market after Apple raised prices on nearly all of its products. We discuss why memory is up and how Silicon Valley made itself a villain in the age of AI. Plus, we go through what technologies may be disruptive and stocks on our radar. Travis Hoium, Jon Quast, and Lou Whiteman discuss AI, The Villian; why memory costs Hit Apple; who says “enough”? Is there rationality in tech? Disruptive or sustaining innovation. Plus, stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: Tractor Supply (TSCO), Lockheed Martin (LMT), Apple (AAPL), Micron (MU), NVIDIA (NVDA). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Jon Quast, Lou Whiteman.
Guests: Jon Quast,Lou Whiteman
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Every time you listen to an earnings call, you're scanning for signs that a company knows where it's going. But what if the most confident-sounding language is actually the biggest red flag? Motley Fool analyst Rachel Warren sits down with Phil Le-Brun, former international CIO of McDonald's, and Dr. Jana Werner, executive advisor at AWS — co-authors of 'The Octopus Organization' — to unpack why 70% to 90% of corporate transformations never deliver what they promised, what they call watermelon reporting — green on the outside, red on the inside — and the words that reveal whether a company is truly built for the future, or just really good at sounding like one. Host — Rachel Warren; Guests — Dr. Jana Werner and Phil Le-Brun.
Guests: Dr. Jana Werner,Phil Le-Brun
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Brand new research has revealed how modern weddings are dividing opinion across Britain — from child-free ceremonies and “no social media” rules to refusing plus-ones and even inviting exes to the big day. The study also found that more than a third of Brits have turned down a wedding or hen or stag invitation because it was simply too expensive, while younger adults are spending more than ever to attend weddings. Zoe Burke is the UK’s leading wedding expert and joins Rory McGowan to discuss this, as well as some helpful wedding planning advice for the summer.
Guests: Zoe Burke
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Original Broadcast: The Hypnotist
This is an episode created for someone feeling out of their comfort zone after ending a long-term relationship: a situation where anxiety, fear and trepidation are commonplace. It tracks back (regresses) to very different memories as a young adult: oozing with confidence, charisma and freeness. Adam Cox then finds a trigger to harness that mindset for future-pacing into today's circumstances.
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
For Simon Rose's last discussion with Russ Mould of A J Bell, Russ looks at the tentative bid for FTSE 100 stock Segro, once a warehouse REIT, now moving into data centres. It's the 16th bid for a UK property company in the last four years and yet UK investors don't seem interested in UK commercial property. The 10-year gilt yields 4.7% against a sector yield of 6.3%. Does that premium compensate investors for the risks? Russ wonders why, if REITs believe the sector discount to assets of 25%, they don't buy back their own shares. It would be more positive for the sector than bids, even if those bids show that there are people overseas who think that there is value there.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin reports that the Chinese LineShine supercomputer is beating the American El Capitan. A battery-swapping system for electric lorries has an serious flaw. Those streaming the World Cup may see goals 100 seconds behind those following on live TV or radio. An AI law firm has won its first case, for a fraction of the cost of a real solicitor. A Japanese estate agent uploaded a promotional video featuring a woman in a green bodysuit, as he couldn't work out how to edit her out. Some gamers waiting for Grand Theft Audio 6 have been scammed because of their eagerness to experience the game. The Osmo Pocket drone for pro filmmakers is full of features, but only £445. And there's a crowd-funded harness to make walking on country roads safer.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson says that, despite the heatwave, box office was up 72%, thanks to #1 Toy Story 5. Maintaining the franchise's fantastic quality, it is vastly amusing but also perhaps the most moving of the films. With a plot about the damage screens are doing to children, it has a joyful score, new characters and a stellar voice cast. At #12 is Virginia Woolf's Night & Day, with Haley Bennett an astronomer suffering the social mores of the day. It's a very loose adaptation, with plot, class and language all making it seem more modern. Although kinetic, it feels redundant, despite a great central performance. James wondered why it was made at all. He did, however, enjoy Netflix's Office Romance with Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein. Goldstein, famous from Ted Lasso, co-produced and co-wrote this romcom, which is silly and predictable but also an entertaining romp.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: This is Money
Most families don't pay inheritance tax, but those that do can get hit with huge bills running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. With pension pots soon to be included in calculations, this is going to be an issue facing more families in the years ahead. So if you know your parents or grandparents will get caught in their inheritance tax net, and you also know they don't want to see 40% of a chunk of their hard-won wealth going to the Government, should you ask for an early inheritance to solve the problem? Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert discuss how to tackle the thorny issue of giving money away, without triggering a family fallout. Plus, will the Bank of England still hike interest rates this year, how did a woman end up with another person's massive energy bill from the other side of the country, and is Labour's new plan to make home buyers' offers binding a good idea? And finally, Simon talks us through his shortlived SpaceX adventure after he decided to sign up for the latest stock market craze.
Guests: Helen Crane
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Are layoffs starting to backfire in Silicon Valley? As Robinhood and Rivian announce job cuts, employees at Meta Platforms are starting to revolt against job cuts and reassignments into jobs they didn’t sign up for. Plus, we discuss Fox buying Roku, SpaceX’s $60 billion acquisition, and play the World Cup of Investing. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Emily Flippen discuss Robinhood and Rivian layoffs, and are layoffs backfiring? Also, Fox buys Roku, but why? Plus, SpaceX buys Cursor, the World Cup of Investing, and stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: Petrobras (PBR), Mercado Libre (MELI), ASML (ASML), Spotify (SPOT), Samsung, Tencent (TCEHY), Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), NVIDIA (NVDA), Life Time Holdings (LTH), Rivian (RIVN), Meta Platforms (META), Robinhood (HOOD), Roku (ROKU), Fox (FOXA), SpaceX (SPCX). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman and Emily Flippen.
Guests: Lou Whiteman,Emily Flippen
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