Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin is keen on the social media ban for under-16s: not so Simon Rose. Steve is impressed by new lighter batteries for electric planes. AI is helping to cope with mutating viruses. The Argus robot is a dodecahedron with 20 legs and 20 eyes, looking the most unlike a human of any robot. There's a cautionary tale about a banking scam. There's a stylish – but probably expensive – way of hiding your TV when not in use. A screwdriver with a built-in camera can help with fiddly jobs. A company claims to be about to launch a space station with artificial gravity. And the Chinese government has asked the West to stop sending spy turtles into its waters.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Yana Mihaylova of Edison Group focusses on XP Factory, a £32m AIM stock which is the market leader in escape rooms with Escape Hunt and also operates Boom Battle Bar. They are making a strategic shift from the latter to the former. Escape rooms are significantly cheaper to set up and run than the bars and are more profitable, so the shift makes sense, particularly given rising employment costs. The company aims to expand from 24 to 100 venues and make them larger and is helped by smaller escape room operations closing. Neil Shah of Edison returns to PZ Cussons, which manages a brand portfolio including Carex and Imperial Leather. Its trading update showed the new management team's turnround is ahead of expectations. The company aims to spend twice as much on R&D in 2027 as in 2025 and, with a yield of 4% and a forward P/E of 12, Edison feels it has a long way to run.
Guests: Yana Mihaylova,Neil Shah
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson was intrigued but not overly excited by #1 Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg's first sci-fi film since Ready Player One. Emily Blunt plays a TV meteorologist dreaming of better things who shows signs of ESP and can suddenly speak foreign languages. A spiritual companion to Close Encounters, it gets ever weirder, taking in AI, religion, quantum physics and more, but is essentially a chase movie. At #12 is Tuner, which is the best and most entertaining that generic cinema can get. Leo Woodall stars as a piano tuner with incredible sensitivity to sound who finds he has another talent. Dustin Hoffman steals every scene he's in. You can see where it's all going, but it's a most engaging film. On Amazon Prime is the horror film Over Your Dead Body about a dysfunctional couple harbouring murderous intentions. It is an 18, deservedly so, but is also very funny.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University is concerned about the illiberal realities of a blanket ban on social media for children. It lets parents off the hook, infringes civil liberties and free speech and could be a slippery slope towards universal ID. Such heavy-handed restrictions have dangerous unintended consequences; just think about Prohibition and the War on Drugs. Tim is worried that it may end up pushing young people into harm's way. He also is puzzled that dramatic changes in Cuba are not being widely reported. US sanctions have forced the authorities to accept that they must move towards a degree of capitalism. But they intend doing it by pivoting towards China, an idea rejected by the US. Whatever happens, reinstating a degree of private property rights is a massive political story.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Starmer's clarion call for the 2024 General Election was 'Change', somewhat different from Tony Blair's 'Education, Education, Education'. However, in contrast to Blair's delivery in Government, Starmer has got stuck in a morass of inaction, bogged down by the crisis in public finances and an unwillingness to tackle the big issues. The biggest of these is welfare spending, major changes to which former Chancellor Sir Jeremy Hunt recognises as the only way out of this dilemma. As we said on 26th May, it's time to call 'time' on 75 years of democratic socialism (and yes, let's remember that the Conservatives tacitly went along with this also). Background music: 'Taking in The Changes' by Everet Almond
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Original Broadcast: This is Money
Is the great British property obsession coming to an end? Also, should young people be able to access their pensions early? George Frost, Simon Lambert and Helen Crane discuss these issues; plus — how to protect your retirement funds from an AI bubble, and which car makes Britons happiest to own?
Guests: Helen Crane
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SpaceX is officially public and we explain not only why that matters, but also how it may benefit companies like Alphabet long-term. We also explore what’s wrong at Adobe, why Apple has become boring, and the stocks on our radar. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Jon Quast discuss SpaceX IPO, and who Will Sell SpaceX Stock? What’s wrong at Adobe? Is Apple all right? And, stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: SpaceX (SPCX), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOG), FormFactor (FORM), Casey’s General Stores (CASY), Target (TGT), Walmart (WMT), Microsoft (MSFT), Adobe (ADBE), Intuit (INTU), Tesla (TSLA). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman, Jon Quast.
Guests: Lou Whiteman,Jon Quast
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Five years ago, electric vehicles were the talk of the market. But in the U.S., sales of electric vehicles are falling and competition is heating up. With that backdrop, Rivian has introduced the R2 and investors still think this will be a game-changer for the company. We discuss the vehicle and company’s prospects, whether autonomy will be a tailwind, and get to hidden gems on our watchlist in this episode. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Rachel Warren discuss Rivian’s R2 launch, the decline of EVs in the U.S., and will autonomy be a value add for EV companies? Also, hidden gems in the EV market. Companies discussed: Rivian (RIVN), Tesla (TSLA), Quantumscape (QS), General Motors (GM), Lucid (LCID), Uber (UBER), NXP Semiconductors (NXPI). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren.
Guests: Lou Whiteman,Rachel Warren
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Original Broadcast: Modern Mindset
Cycling is becoming more popular across the UK, with more people taking to two wheels in cities like London, Cambridge and Edinburgh — and e-bikes are helping make cycling accessible to even more people. But as e-bike use continues to grow, new research from cycling brand Diamant suggests many of us could benefit from a better understanding of the rules, safety and best practices that come with riding one. Joining Daniel Clewlow to share some practical advice and help us get the most out of e-bikes is Thomas Eichentopf, Brand & Marketing Manager for Diamant.
Guests: Thomas Eichentopf
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New research suggests many Brits are confused about what makes a healthy diet, with widespread misconceptions around fibre, sugar and "healthy" food marketing. The findings also reveal that while summer dieting remains common, many people continue to consume high-calorie snacks, sugary drinks and condiments, highlighting the challenge of balancing healthy intentions with everyday eating habits. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss this is Sarah Stannard, Health & Wellness Coach, who can explain some of the common nutrition misconceptions revealed by the research and share practical tips for making healthier choices, enjoying summer treats in moderation, and maintaining a balanced approach to eating.
Guests: Sarah Stannard
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