Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University considers why the authoritarianism is on the rise around the world, even in the UK; is it something we should be concerned about? With debt at such levels, he discusses why the Bank of England under Andrew Bailey is caught between a rock and a hard place and so irritated by the House of Lords economic affairs committee. And, with HMS Queen Elizabeth heading a carrier strike group visiting 40 countries, he explains why the UK is heading into a new era of security policy.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin discusses research that enables mice to eat more and still lose weight, Leica's first smartphone, waterproof cotton lifejackets, Adidas's sports sunglasses, a sign language translation glove, a keyboard that uses only AA batteries for power, the liking of bees for caffeine, more funny tongue-in-cheek Amazon reviews and biodegradable plastic that's useful only in the dark with no oxygen.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell considers the results season, embracing companies that helped us get through Covid but are fading now and those companies that suffered and which are now speeding ahead. One almost universal constant, though, is the complaint about higher input costs and staff shortages. Whatever central bankers say, inflation is already here and have a big effect. Which companies are going to be least affected by it?
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
As cinemas are once more permitted to operate at full capacity, James Cameron-Wilson celebrates another uptick in box office take. He reviews The Suicide Squad, James Gunn's latest hit with Idris Elba and Margot Robbie, finding it even better than The Guardians of the Galaxy. He is less impressed by Jungle Cruise with Emily Blunt, another film based on a theme park ride. But he recommends Antebellum, a dark film about racism now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Tech whizz Steve Caplin looks at the apps Zoom has added to its package but is a little worried about data implications. He discusses several advances in battery technology, with rust powering one new process. There's a new electric bike with an illegal top speed, Ordnance Survey's first game to encourage people to get out, the bullying of children called Alexa and some of the funniest tongue-in-cheek reviews on Amazon, including for uranium ore.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian considers the issue of funding and access in politics and asks if there's a better system. With changes to the traffic light system and today's testing requirements, he wonders if foreign travel will once more become a privilege of the wealthy. He examines why the NHS has fallen down the international health rankings. And he welcomes one bit of good news, that musicians can once more tour Europe.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin feels (slightly) sorry for Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, told just after their flights that they don't qualify to be astronauts. He reflects on those changing their Tinder location to Tokyo in the hope of dating an Olympic athlete. He also discusses the e-motorbike that will follow you around, a way to get your exercise bike to tilt on imaginary hills, how to experience the Great Barrier Reef while staying at home, a Covid mask with a speaker, making fake reviews illegal, a physical stock ticker, the return of the Mini Moke and a way of arranging camping in people's gardens.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson reports that UK box office is not only up 8.9% week on week but 1,832% year on year! Despite its potential for a great story, he was underwhelmed by M. Night Shayamalan's Old with Gael Garcia Bernal and Rufus Sewell, in at #4. Nor was he convinced by Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, #7 in the chart. He did, however, find himself on the edge of his seat in Blood Red Sky on Netflix , finding it nerve-shredding. He also reflects on the joy of finding laughter in a film that is 100 year old.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University discusses why the Californian Dream is dying and why that should matter to us all. He looks at Keir Starmer's purging of the far left, attempting to make Labour a more moderate party that could bring some of those who parted under Jeremy Corbyn back into the fold. And he gives his thoughts on Lord Robertson's powerful reflections on our intervention in Afghanistan.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Laith Khalaf of A J Bell looks at some of the reasons the Bank of England might be right not to concern itself unduly with inflation, with the effects of the oil price and rising wages set to work their way out of the system before long. However, with the call on inflation being so hard to make for certain, he suggests that investors should ensure their portfolios aren't unduly skewed towards a low-interest-rate environment, reckoning it important that they ensure they are balanced.
Guests: Laith Khalaf
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