Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Merryn Somerset Webb is Editor-in-Chief of MoneyWeek and a contributing editor and weekly columnist for the Financial Times. She has published a book called 'Share Power', showing not only where capitalism is going wrong, but also how every one of us can have the power to make it work for us. Larry Fink, Chair and CEO of BlackRock, also understands the problem. However 'Participation for all' is the key objective in Share Alliance's quest for a more egalitarian form of capitalism — Merryn's book and Larry's annual letter to shareholders move us strongly in the right direction. Background music: 'People Watching' by Sir Cubworth Image sources: Merryn Somerset Webb — Alchetron; Larry Fink — Wikipedia
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University thinks that a huge political realignment is happening in the West. There's a new type of discourse which is less about economics, as it largely was for almost a century, and more about identitarian politics, about the shifting sands of statecraft and the nature of the nation state and borders. It's a big, historic inflexion point which Tim believes will be the biggest geopolitical upheaval since the last 1940s. The boom in higher education in the UK turned into a bubble and bubbles are prone to burst. The sector is in crisis, with culling of courses and institutions while student loans are now a hot political football. Clearly it is a bad idea for national targets to be set for higher education, but Tim wonders why there is no competition for student loans. Why can't institutions compete with the government and develop their own products?
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Political commentator Mike Indian says that the Iran war will have a profound and lasting effect upon the UK government. In the short term, it has strengthened the Prime Minister's position, with his "Steady Eddie" persona. But the cost of living will come to the fore, with energy, food, CO2 and fertiliser costs all rising and the possibility of food shortages. The PM has come under attack for delays in defence spending. It is one thing to announce an increase in investment but it is important how the money will be spent. We don't appear to have learnt from the Ukraine invasion about the importance of shortening supply chains. Mike discusses the extraordinary intervention by J D Vance in the Hungarian election. Many European leaders will breathe a sigh of relief at Orban's outing but it is not clear what Magyar is for and how he will use his power.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin warns holidaymakers to check their data allowance abroad, having saved a small fortune by using the Roamless app in Morocco. He loves some of the public's names for autonomous cleaning robots. American scientists are experimenting with robot seeing-eye dogs. Skoda, who made bikes before cars, have come up with a bell that works even if pedestrians are wearing noise-cancelling headphones. The singer Eddie Dalton, topping UK music charts, turns out to be AI-generated. There's a crowdfunded gadget that lets you use your vintage camera lenses digitally, while Steve admires a cheap multi-function pen. And he is impressed that Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin has found a way to make oxygen from moon dust.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson found the romcom #7 You, Me & Tuscany implausible, clichéd and derivative dross. However, he adored #9 California Schemin', a true story directed by James McAvoy about a pair of Scottish wannabe rappers who pretend to be American to get noticed. Told with cinematic verve and with great performances, it's an extraordinary story which reminded him of Trainspotting. James found Keanu Reeves in Outcome, on Apple TV+, a story about a movie star worried about a bizarre video from his past, all rather too familiar and underwhelming. Directed and co-written by Jonah Hill, it's also terribly crude. He adored The President's Cake, an Iraqi film, again based on true events, made with non-actors. Heartbreaking and compelling, it's a small masterpiece, available on BFI Player and Amazon Prime.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell says that the S&P 500 has just set a new all-time high, with the UK getting close too. Despite the war in in the Middle East, markets must believe that they've seen it all before and that the war won't last long. But there are longer-term issues to address if not, including the status of the dollar, supply chain issues and national security, with a move from Just In Time to Just In Case. This year the best performer has been Latin America while the UK has beaten the US. If you want dependable stodge and think the emphasis will continue to be on commodities and raw materials, then both areas look sensible. Russ also discusses Japan. Investors need to think about their sectoral and geographical mix as well as valuation. This can go a long way towards helping you find an optimal asset allocation.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: This is Money
Many younger adults think they are substantially less well-off than their parents. But while there are inequalities, new research suggests the wealth gap may be far narrower than previously reported — and it is largely down to the cash those in their twenties and thirties have stashed in their pensions. Lee Boyce, Helen Crane and Georgie Frost discuss why official figures got it wrong, and whether property versus pension is a pointless comparison. The team also ask what will happen to interest rates and mortgages due to the fact that — for now at least — a ceasefire in Iran appears to be holding. Elsewhere, Lee reports on a ferocious best buy battle at the top of the fixed Cash ISA tables, where even the high street banks are getting involved. And finally, another Chinese pretender to Amazon's retail throne has entered the UK. Is Joybuy any good, how did it fare when our reporter put its delivery service to the test — and do we really need another place to buy bargain toilet rolls online?
Guests: Helen Crane
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
The first quarter of 2026 is in the rearview mirror and earnings season begins next week. We discuss what we’re looking for along with the latest in the world of artificial intelligence at the biggest companies in the world. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Jon Quast discuss earnings season expectations, AI’s most dangerous moment and is Meta back in AI? Plus: home-run CEOs and stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta Platforms (META), Crocs (CROX), Target (TGT), Snap (SNAP), Apple (AAPL), Nike (NKE), Disney (DIS). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman, Jon Quast.
Guests: Lou Whiteman,Jon Quast
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Reading Jamie Dimon’s annual letter to shareholders is one of those calendar events. For those who haven’t had time to read it, we break down some of the big takeaways from the letter as well as pushing back at some of the things we were less sure about: plus, dissecting Bill Ackman’s Universal Music Group bid and answering listener questions. Tyler Crowe, Lou Whiteman, and Jason Hall discuss Jamie Dimon’s message to JPMorgan investors, Dimon’s words of warning to the private credit market, whether rolling back bank regulations is the best idea, Pershing Square bids for Universal Music Group, Bill Ackman’s investing track record, and listener question, including: are covered call ETFs a good idea? Companies discussed: JPM, OWL, PSHZF, UMGNF, JEPQ. Host — Tyler Crowe. Guests — Jason Hall, Lou Whiteman.
Guests: Jason Hall,Lou Whiteman
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Homelessness is a crisis that needs no introduction, but leading homelessness charity Porchlight is highlighting the problem that “hidden homelessness” plays across the UK. This refers to the large number of people who aren’t supported because they don’t fit the usual stereotypes. Whether that’s because they’re staying on a friend’s sofa, sleeping in their cars or have isolated themselves for protection, finding and getting these people the support they need is a challenge that charities and support networks are having to tackle. Joining us to talk more about hidden homelessness and the support that is out there for people is Sarah Mills from the homeless charity Porchlight.
Guests: Sarah Mills
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New research reveals Brits are redefining ageing — focusing less on appearance and more on how they feel, from energy levels to long-term health. But despite this shift, many admit they’ve ignored their health in the past, and younger people are already feeling the pressures of ageing. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss this is Alan Graves, founder and Clinical Research Advisor at DoNotAge.
Guests: Alan Graves
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HMRC is urging self-employed workers and landlords to prepare for one of the biggest changes to the tax system in years. Under the Government’s 'Making Tax Digital' programme, hundreds of thousands of taxpayers will soon be required to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC, with the rollout starting on 6th April 2026 for those earning over £50,000. As the thresholds fall over the following years, millions more people — including those with side hustles or online income — could eventually fall within the new reporting rules. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss this is accountant and UK tax expert at HaysMac, Graeme Privett.
Guests: Graeme Privett
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