Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Neil Shah of Edison Group returns to the topic of Games Workshop. The recent trading update of this small cap that has grown into a FTSE 100 share significantly beat expectations. It is growing so strongly that it has already beaten Edison's analysts' 2027 numbers. The company benefits from loyal consumer demand, is still expanding geographically and will benefit from the forthcoming linked Amazon drama. It is a business which is growing in a sensible way while paying decent dividends. Neil points out that it was only a fortnight earlier that he talked of the attractions of Easyjet, now the subject of a bid from US private equity. It may be opportunistic but there is strong underlying demand and valuation there. Stelios still owns 15% of the company and, given that the shares were £18, he may not be willing to sell. But it shows that there are some very attractive UK businesses out there.
Guests: Neil Shah
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin tells Simon Rose that scientists have extracted yeast from the 5,300-year-old Ozti the Iceman to make sourdough bread. Next, they plan to produce beer. Boeing 747-400s apparently update their maps with a dozen floppy discs. If you're wealthy, it will soon be possible to visit your greenhouse with a VR headset. Nvidia's new AI chip apparently "could replace the mouse and keyboard". The Helios robot might be used for manual tasks in space, having no legs but 2 pairs of arms. There's a crowd-funded desk-mounted robot arm, but nobody knows what it can be used for. If you're too warm, there's a solar-powered cap. Scientists say they've found a way to put solar cells in windows. And cosmetic surgeons are finding clients are asking the impossible – to be made to look like an AI-generated version of themselves.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson is rather mystified by the success of #1 Backrooms, with Chewitel Ejiofor. A horror film based on a web series, it baffled James, unaware of its precedents but people are loving it. James was much more taken with #9 Power Ballad with Paul Rudd. Written and directed by John Carney, it's even better than his earlier films such as Once and Sing Street. Peopled with interesting characters and with witty dialogue and great music, it reduced James to tears. Ladies First, on Netflix, is an English-language version of their first French-language film. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, it's about a womanising liar who wakes up in a parallel universe which is a matriarchy. With echoes of Mel Gibson's What Women Want, it's witty and well acted but is more farcical fantasy than satire.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University believes that the recent interventions by Alan Milburn and Tony Blair are being ignored within the Labour Party, which is also oblivious to news that as many union members support Reform as they do Labour. It is clear that the new leader, if there is one, will be incapable of learning what needs to be done to win back the public, which would also pose problems for the Tories and Reform. Instead, Labour struggles to know what it is about, much like the Tories. Tim also believes that the UK police force is another failed brand, no longer an arms-length neutral institution but a part of the state and a political football. It is hard to see how the police force can extricate itself and rebuild its reputation.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
The direct nature of Pope Leo XIV's AI encyclical took some of his colleagues by surprise: as an AI expert Franciscan friar who has advised the Vatican says, ‘Papal documents usually speak in principles; this one names the structural problem — computational power is concentrated in the hands of a few private actors who answer to no democratic process’. The jury is still out on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on human employment, but a cartoon from Private Eye (see our commentary webpage) resonates closely with Standard Chartered's announcement that it will use AI to replace 'lower-value human capital', with about 7,800 back-office roles to be cut by 2030. Background music: 'The New Order' by Aaron Kenny. Image source: Wikipedia
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Original Broadcast: This is Money
It's the sort of theoretical question you might discuss at the pub with your mates. If you won the lottery and had the choice, would you pick a £1 million lump sum, or take £1,000 a week for life? Pollster YouGov posed the question to 7,000 Britons recently, and it is fair to say opinions are divided. According to two money experts, there is a right answer — so which is the best strategy, and why is likely to make you much richer? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss. Easy access savings rates have barely budged in recent weeks, but fixed-rate deals are becoming much more attractive. We look at some of the best — and Helen explains why a number of HSBC customers are feeling disgruntled after ISA transfers to the bank were hit with a raft of delays. The team also looks at Volvo's chaotic EV recall, and what drivers who have been told their car is a potential fire risk can do. It has been confirmed that the energy price cap will rise by 13% in July, with costs for the average household climbing by £221. So is it worth thinking about fixing your tariff? And in last week's heatwave, we discuss data which reveals exactly how expensive it is to keep cool. Are new-fangled air cooler devices worth it, and is air conditioning as pricey as many assume?
Guests: Helen Crane
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Money continues to pour into AI companies like Anthropic, who announced a $65 billion fundraising round this week. But companies are starting to scrutinize their AI investments, which may not be paying off as hoped. Plus, we consider some of our lessons of a lifetime investing and the stocks on our radar. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Emily Flippen discuss Anthropic’s $65 billion raise, corporate America’s ROI on AI, and — what do consumers want? Plus, our favorite investing quotes and books, and stocks on our radar. Companies discussed: FedEx (FDX), FedEx Freight (FDXF), Astronics (ATRO), Transmedics (TMDX), Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman, Emily Flippen.
Guests: Lou Whiteman,Emily Flippen
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Micron has had a turnaround for the ages, going from a free cash flow negative company to a $1 trillion valuation in a little over a year. What does it tell us about the AI buildout? Plus, we get to Eli Lilly’s incredible trial results, acquisition spree, and growth plans before ending with Zscaler’s earnings and why the stock fell 30% in one day last week. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Rachel Warren discuss Micron’s trip to $1 trillion, Eli Lilly’s Winning Streak, and Zscaler earnings. Companies discussed: Micron (MU), Eli Lilly (LLY), Zscaler (ZS). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren.
Guests: Lou Whiteman,Rachel Warren
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New research has highlighted a growing loneliness crisis among UK parents, with one in two saying they feel isolated and many worried about the impact on both their wellbeing and their children. Cost of living pressures and lack of time are among the key drivers behind this trend. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss this is Jodie Reed, co-CEO of Home-Start UK.
Guests: Jodie Reed
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Access to everyday services is something many people take for granted — but for Deaf people across the UK, it can still present significant challenges. From booking appointments to communicating in critical moments, barriers to access remain widespread, with delays in securing British Sign Language support continuing to impact daily life. Joining Rory McGowan to discuss this is Steph Lotz, UK General Manager at Convo and an advocate for the Deaf community.
Guests: Steph Lotz
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