Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that the increasing unaffordability of daily living is something politicians won't admit to. It was masked for a time by the influx of cheap Chinese goods but no longer, pushed up by Net Zero, the minimum wage, tax rises and ever more burdensome regulations and government interventions. The costs of energy and housing are having the biggest effect, with property up by 250% since 2000. Only in the remaining free market areas is it not the case, thanks to the magic of capitalism. Less than two years after the election, Labour is now as divided and fractious as the Tories were and Tim cannot foresee the Labour Party patching things up. The electorate is increasingly reminded of the last Tory government. He also considers how Trump is rapidly reshaping our world, with his actions towards Venezuela, Cuba and Iran effectively taking some of Putin's chess pieces off the board.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
Published:
Starmer has learnt the hard way that without truth there can be no trust. But throughout society people feel that they cannot take anything at face value, and the deception and dishonesty which riddles social media are significantly exacerbating this problem. The need for a moral compass is heavily tested without faith: GK Chesterton said, 'When people stop believing in God, they'll believe in anything’. Is this really where we want to be? Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny
Published:
Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
There are a host of big issues facing young people, but lowering the voting age to 16 is not one of them. Student debt post-graduation is one of the biggest: as Gavin Williamson says, 'Saddling young people with eye-watering debts before they have even begun their working lives is more than unfair: it amounts to a levy on ambition'. Why can politicians not get out of the mindset of pandering to the elderly at the expense of the young? They need to learn what inter-generational rebalancing means. Background music: 'Something Is Wrong' by Sir Cubworth
Published:
Original Broadcast: This is Money
A shake up is happening in the world of DIY investing. Some of the biggest investment platforms are overhauling their fees ahead of Rachel Reeves' big push to get Britain investing — and under pressure from upstarts offering much cheaper services. The biggest name of all, Hargreaves Lansdown, has cut its prices for most investors, yet this seems to have triggered a chunk to jump ship. So, why are some HL investors moving if things are getting cheaper — and is it time we all looked at our investment platform fees? Georgie Frost, Rachel Rickard Straus and Simon Lambert discuss the latest DIY investing battle and what it means for your portfolio — plus, what you should look for if you do want cheaper investing or a helping hand. With nearly £1 trillion in ISAs, how did people build up such big pots and could they end up being a target for a tax raid? What's going on with the civil service pension meltdown? And finally, the most-applied-for jobs and the apprenticeships with which people can dodge a massive student debt.
Guests: Rachel Rickard Straus
Published:
Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Subscription prices are going up across the board and that may be the norm for the foreseeable future. Then we discuss the state of retail spending and why Unity’s stock dropped 30% on fear AI will disrupt the company. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Rachel Warren discuss Spotify and subscription price increases, retail sales, and Unity’s 30% haircut. Companies discussed: Spotify (SPOT), Netflix (NFLX), Disney (DIS), Unity (U). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren.
Guests: Lou Whiteman,Rachel Warren
Published:
Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Motley Fool co-founder and CEO Tom Gardner talks about separating AI contenders from pretenders, his two favorite market indicators, and lessons from the dot-com bubble. Plus, Tom shares six stock ideas for the next five years. Hosts — Andy Cross; Guest — Tom Gardner.
Guests: Tom Gardner
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Hypnotist
If you need a break from routine and repetition, passion for life could point towards breaking free with adventure. How would you face such unpredictability — with trepidation, or with charismatic confidence? A positive attitude is crucial to getting the best out of your plans, and this episode is designed to help you make it a richer, more enjoyable experience. So if you're bogged down with what may feel like boring patterns of life, listen with an open mind for making the best of new experiences.
Published:
New research from wedding planning app, Bridebook, reveals that the public thinks Valentine’s Day is the worst day to propose on — branding it clichéd and tacky. But if you did have grand plans to get down on one knee this February 14th — like 15,000 other couples across the UK — then don’t worry, because Rory McGowan's next guest can give you some top tips on how to make a proposal special and unique. Zoe Burke is the UK’s leading wedding expert and joins Rory now to discuss this, as well as some helpful wedding planning advice as we look ahead to the summer.
Guests: Zoe Burke
Published:
The UK is facing a growing skills shortage across defence, aviation and aerospace, just as demand is increasing. Employers warn the talent pipeline isn’t keeping pace, particularly in key STEM roles like engineering. Part of Lincoln College Group, the Air & Space Institute is a specialist further education provider focused on aviation, aerospace and space, offering hands-on training using facilities such as an Airbus A320neo, flight simulators and engineering workshops. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss this is Julie Sullivan, the Vice Principal for Curriculum, Apprenticeships and Operations at Lincoln College Group, alongside Hazel Bunting, a student from the Air & Space Institute.
Guests: Julie Sullivan,Hazel Bunting
Published:
A new study from cybersecurity company Surfshark has found that 2025 really was a bad year for data leaks. The UK is now 6th in the list of most affected nations globally, indicating a need for better internet safety. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss this further is Dr Luis Costa from Surfshark.
Guests: Dr. Luis Costa
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Liam O'Byrne of Edison Group highlights HG Capital Trust, a £2bn private equity investment trust in the FTSE 250 which specialises in unquoted software companies in Europe and North America. It was recently hit by the widespread worries about AI's effect on software businesses but in fact most SMEs don't have the ability or confidence to develop their own in-house software and, as a result, HGT's shares have recovered somewhat. However, they are still at a 17% discount to NAV whereas normally there's little or no discount. With AI complicating things so much, it makes sense to get exposure to the sector through good fund managers. Patria Private Equity Trust is an £850m investment trust which concentrates on lower and mid-market companies and is at a 28% discount to NAV. It anticipates a strong rebound in 2026 with many investments ripe for realisation. It aims to exit half of its top 10 holdings this year.
Guests: Liam O'Byrne
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson says that #1 Sam Raimi's Send Help, with Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, the tale of a work couple being stranded on a desert island, seems overfamiliar. Blending comedy and thrills, he enjoyed it in a schlocky way. #19 is 100 Nights of Hero, a bonkers movie based on a graphic novel with Richard E. Grant and Felicity Jones. Set in a parallel, colour-blind world it's about storytelling and the empowering of women. It does have a distinctive look but is all too flat and needs a stronger director and style. Far more impressive is Anniversary on Netflix. It stars Diane Lane as the matriarch of a close-knit family and is a state-of-the-nation epic with a frighteningly prescient script. There's so much going on, James had to watch it again. Very credible, often tense and with a strong cast, it's a really brilliant movie he discovered completely by accident.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
Published:
