Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson likes #1 Now You See Me: Now You Don't as much as the first in the trilogy. Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson are joined by younger actors as magicians mounting a heist. He particularly cares for the details and the allusions. #2 is Edgar Wright's take on The Running Man with Glen Powell. But despite the big budget, the main character is unsympathetic, the plot makes little sense and the product placement is appallingly blatant. As a fan of French horror, he likes #27 Alpha from Julia Ducournau. It deserves two viewings before the pieces will fall into place.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
Published:
Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin discusses the way the University of Vienna got details of 3.5 billion people from Whatsapp in the largest data leak in history. He was mystified by the in-built questions for Laura, Skoda's in-car AI. More worrying is the misleading financial advice AI has been giving about ISAs and travel insurance. Among gadgets Steve does not recommend are a tiny Kodak camera for a keychain, a Swiss Army knife for baristas and an acoustic camera that detects the source of a sound. And, disconcertingly, he reports that one in five teens apparently find it easier to talk to chatbots than they do to people.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian says that Shabana Mahmood gave a very punchy performance announcing her asylum reforms, modelled on Denmark's policy. It's a bold attempt to win back votes from Reform: it will please some, yet alienate others. Mike is aghast at the degree of pitch-rolling ahead of the Budget, with a manifesto-busting increase in income tax floated, then abandoned. Reeves would have been better to have taken the unpopular decision, rather than proceed piecemeal, as seems likely. He considers if the pair will survive past the May local elections. They may be unpopular, but he doesn't feel there is a credible alternative.
Guests: Mike Indian
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
In the wake of Nvidia's 3rd quarter results, Russ Mould of A J Bell says that all capital expenditure booms come to an end because of over-investment. It is too soon to say how this one will turn out. He is intrigued, though, that AI tech needs energy and mined metals and yet capex in those sectors is very low. With AI, we need to see some return on the money invested. If it turns out to be the productivity boom we've been looking for, then people's perceptions towards mining and energy should change, although in both those fields it takes some time for capex to bear fruit.
Guests: Russ Mould
Published:
Unemployment is not just an economic scourge — it also substantially undermines mental well-being, as Tom Paxton described so vividly in his 1964 song, 'A Job of Work'. Universal Basic Income offers a very inadequate substitute, as voters in Hamburg have shown. Automation is however, an indisposable part of modern life — again, Tom Paxton warned of this sixty years ago. As we commented three weeks ago, the solution is for all to participate in tech giant wealth creation, bringing responsibility through participation in ownership. Background music: 'Taking in The Changes' by Everet Almond
Published:
Original Broadcast: This is Money
This week we've had some worrying-looking unemployment figures and disappointing GDP growth. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 soared within touching distance of 10,000, before hitting a Friday slump. Mix it all together and what does it show about the UK economy? Lee Boyce, Helen Crane and Georgie Frost discuss. Nationwide Building Society has promised to keep all of its branches open until 2030 while major banks exit the high street. Does it make business sense? The Royal Mint has launched some yellow gold coins that has investors excited, and what about gold's 'annoying little brother', silver - is it set to see prices soar? Lastly, we reveal the tale of a reader who had their flights to Dubai cancelled by BA at the last minute... before being quoted £20,000 one-way by Emirates to get away for half-term.
Guests: Helen Crane
Published:
Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
The stock market has slumped the first two weeks of November as investors worry about layoffs, consumer spending, and returns of the AI buildout. We discuss what we’re looking at and how we would invest if the market drops 30%. Plus, we discuss the bond market’s current view of risk, the state of streaming, and stocks on our radar. Travis Hoium, Emily Flippen, and Jon Quast discuss: is the top in for 2025? What bonds are telling us, the future of streaming, calls and puts, and stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: Oracle (ORCL), Axon (AXON), Zillow (Z), Spotify (SPOT), Celsius (CELH), Monster (MNST), Dollar General (DG), Unity (U), Roku (ROKU), Airbnb (ABNB), Disney (DIS), Netflix (NFLX). Host - Travis Hoium; Guests - Emily Flippen, Jon Quast.
Guests: Emily Flippen,Jon Quast
Published:
Warren Buffett’s surprise announcement this past May that he would be stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO left a few lingering questions that many ardent Berkshire followers wanted to know. Many of those questions were answered in last week’s letter he penned to shareholders that will be his new Thanksgiving tradition. Tyler Crowe, Matt Frankel, and Jon Quast discuss the end of the government shutdown and the market’s “meh” response throughout, Buffett quietly exiting stage left and his lasting impact on all of us, and stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: BRK-A, BRK-B, CSIQ, APPN, DECK. Host - Tyler Crowe; Guests - Matt Frankel, Jon Quast.
Guests: Matt Frankel,Jon Quast
Published:
Adam Cox's Hypnotist episodes are all designed for individuals, but it's extraordinary how often they can segway into the realms of public policy. This episode is all about the challenge of turning decisions into decisive action: if that doesn't happen, it can better be described as dithering. In both business and social contexts, people discern what looks as the right way forward — but the follow-through into action requires a degree of emotional detachment: Adam draws on a number of movie metaphors for how it can be achieved. Could Rachel Reeves benefit from this in framing her forthcoming Budget?
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that Labour is now seeing as much rancour as the last Tory administration. The briefings against Wes Streeting appear to have increased the focus on the party's leadership. But could a more capable, charismatic leader fix the systemic crisis in a Britain where nothing seems to work when no politician is even discussing it? The crisis at the Office for National Statistics is crucial, as the Bank of England and OBR rely on it to base their decisions. Poor data undermines the fabric of our society. Tim notes that US financial services in several places are growing faster than New York, particularly in Dallas. Could New York be about to kill the golden goose?
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
Published:
