Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
In Utrecht, says Steve Caplin, they've installed a fish video doorbell so the lockkeeper can open the lock for spawning fish. Scientists have managed to turn lead into gold but, even with the Large Hadron Collider, they only produced 29 picograms. There's a way of adding three extra screens to your laptop. Audible are to use AI to narrate audiobooks. Fusion scientists think they can cut the time taken to get to Mars by two-thirds. A dead man testified at the trial of his murderer in Arizona. And a duck has been caught speeding by a radar trap in Switzerland, for the second time in seven years.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Finlay Mathers and Neil Shah of Edison Capital discuss two tech funds heavily involved in AI. Polar Capital's successful Technology Fund has recently shifted massively into the field, with an 80-90% exposure to AI. Focussing on the middle section of the company life cycle, its managers say that AI is on an exponential curve, much like the development of early skyscrapers. Molten Ventures is a publicly-quoted VC fund concentrating on early stage AI, with exposure to R&D and startups. It has plenty of cash ready for seizing interesting opportunities. Both managers consider AI not to be a trend, but a fundamental shift in technology.
Guests: Finlay Mathers
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that UK politics is at a crossroads. He explains that many of the themes of modern political discourse have their roots in 1647's Putney Debates; he discusses the ideas of four diverse academics on the shifting sands of our politics and governance. And what of the future? Will Labour become the natural party of government? Are Reform the new Thatcherite Conservatives? And, with the LibDems almost neck and neck with the Conservatives in some polls, which party will end up in fourth place?
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Male dominance has tracked humanity throughout our evolution from the animal world, but it's now presenting an existential danger as our ability to threaten the future escalates. Meanwhile society's call for gender equality without addressing the doctrine of male headship is delivering a generation of 'lost boys'. Men need to learn what comes naturally to women: 'servant leadership'. Jesus showed his disciples what it means two thousand years ago, but Christian churches still struggle to understand. It will enable us to care for others and to plan for a better future including bringing inspiration, as opposed to aggression, for young men. Background music: 'Leaders' by Text Me Records — Jorge Hernandez
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Original Broadcast: This is Money
With the Bank of England citing Donal Trump's trade war as the key driver for lower interest rates, will the UK-US trade deal stall the fall? Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Helen Crane discuss this and — will the new IHT levy on pensions lead to retirees spending more on holidays? Also, as companies require more of their staff to return to the office, is 'Working From Home' over?
Guests: Helen Crane
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Fed Chair Powell and team want to see more before making changes to interest rates, and automakers are an early sign price increases might be coming in response to tariffs. Tim Beyers and Bill Mann discuss the Fed’s continued wait and see approach to tariff policy, inflation, and interest rate cuts, Ford’s warning of tariff impacts, and why MercadoLibre is worth a look amid the macro uncertainty, and how Uber and DoorDash are both flourishing as they cash in on the delivery market and consumer laziness. Then, 19 minutes in, Fool contributor Jason Hall talks through his time at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting in Omaha, Warren Buffett’s plans to step down as CEO, and what to expect next from Greg Abel. Finally, 31 minutes in, Bill and Tim break down two stocks on their radar: Apple and Ibotta. Stocks discussed: F, MELI, DASH, UBER, NVO, BRK.A, BRK.B, AAPL, BAC, IBT. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Bill Mann, Tim Beyers, Jason Hall
Guests: Bill Mann,Tim Beyers,Jason Hall
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
After sixty years at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway, the Oracle of Omaha is ready for retirement. Jim Gillies and Dylan Lewis discuss Warren Buffett’s plan to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, the parallels between Berkshire’s succession planning and Apple’s transition from Steve Jobs to Tim Cook, and the available cash, opportunities, and challenges ahead for Greg Abel and team. Companies discussed: BRK.A, BRK.B, AAPL, BAC. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guest - Jim Gillies
Guests: Jim Gillies
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson says that #1 Thunderbolts* is keeping the UK box office ticking over. A mildly entertaining Marvel movie starring Florence Pugh and David Harbour, it is very noisy and features dreadful badinage. He was hoping for more from Netflix's Havoc, the biggest feature film ever to be shot wholly in Wales. Starring Tom Hardy, nothing about this John Wick knock-off rings true and, with no character development, it feels endless. After enjoying A Simple Favour, he was disappointed by Another Simple Favour on Amazon Prime. With Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively again, it starts promisingly with some good one-liners but descends into unbelievable farce.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin wonders why scientists have developed a cake with pneumatic robotic dancing bears on top, rechargeable but also edible. Amazon have a new budget service – Haul. DVD anti-piracy warnings were piratical themselves. Spielberg's film Duel is about to become a reality in Texas. Delivery robots will soon be able to climb stairs. EEGs are to be considerably less intrusive. Agatha Christie is now helping budding detective writers – from beyond the grave. And Chinese scientists have worked out how to tattoo tardigrades.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the predicted US-UK trade deal which is unlikely to be the full deal pursued by the UK for years but should still be a positive. The Indian deal is a significant one, given that India will be the 3rd biggest economy in the world. Both, however, are examples of how the world is becoming ever more complicated. Mike discusses the local elections, a bad night for both Conservatives and Labour. He doesn't think that Reform's success is a flash in the pan but feels there will be a ceiling on its level of support. He also discusses the remarkable turnarounds in the Canadian and Australian elections, both of which owe a considerable debt to Donald Trump's sabre rattling.
Guests: Mike Indian
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