Share Sounds

At the end of 2021, we feature some of the topics covered during the year by Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University. In conversation with Simon Rose, Tim discussed the tensions in eastern Europe and why Germany is so beholden to Putin's Russia, the death of the Californian Dream, Ed Balls' examination of the crisis in the UK care system, science's Replication Crisis and why Lord Frank Field was ahead of his time in his ideas on unemployment benefit.

It’s the last episode of Answers (but don’t worry, we’re just moving to Motley Fool Money every Tuesday). We’ll reminisce on our biggest lessons learned over the last seven years and answer your questions, some financial, some festive.

Join Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce to help you cope with the trials and tribulations of a Christmas where little is certain. What happens to your money if your show bookings are cancelled? Plus, they discuss fine wines and what kind of Christmas spread your pension pot might buy. Also - is there a role for wealth taxes?

This hymn has a special resonance at the time of Christmas: this instrumental version is performed by musicians from the band Iona

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the latest state of UK cinema where Spider-Man: No Way Home is shattering box office records, with a US take of $253m. It's Tom Holland's 6th outing as the webslinger. He was engaged rather than stirred but loved The Electrical Life of Louis Wain w. Benedict Cumberbatch, out on New Year's Day. He found Swan Song, a futuristic domestic drama wonderful and very intelligent.

Share Radio's tech whizz Steve Caplin looks at the virtual property boom where an online plot of land sold for $2.4m, at non-fungible token trainers, eye drops to improve vision, biodegradable single-use batteries, a space factory, facial recognition software in the Co-op, reviving wooly mammoths by gene-editing Asian elephants and a rather unlikely Which? Product of the Year.

Russ Mould of A J Bell looks back at 2021, with record highs in the US, India and France and the UK doing creditably and with a decent yield. Oil rose 40% year on year and may yet surprise in 2022 while government bonds were disappointing. Gold surprised by doing little, despite the return of inflation. Looking ahead, Russ believes commodities and real assets may be the safest things, although the actions of central banks will still determine the state of the markets.

Political commentator Mike Indian channels his inner Marley to look at politicians past, present & future. He assesses the void that will be left by the departing German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, perhaps the most impactful world leader of modern times. He asks if the goodwill shown towards Boris Johnson is running out and ponders what his legacy will be. And he wonders if Joe Biden can use his remaining time to bring about the considerable reforms that are necessary in the United States.

Scrooge has made the deal of his life with Chinese investors and must now quickly return to London on Christmas Eve to close the deal. On the flight back, during a fitful sleep, Scrooge confronts his past and present and learns the future consequences of his miserly life to find the true meaning of Christmas. Proscenium Online Theatre is super excited to be bringing you a whole new season of audio dramas in 2022. Starting off with 'The Girl in the Yellow Dress', a dark romance by South African playwright Craig Higginson, and 'Plunder', an original Hong Kong based thriller by American playwright Alan Olejniczak. In the meantime - sit back, close your eyes and enjoy the Proscenium Online Theatre’s production of 'A Christmas Carol'. https://www.prosceniumonlinetheatre.com

Join the Sustain:Social panel session in December '21, considering the outlook for investors in the wake of the COP26 in Glasgow. The panel comprises of - Chair: Rodney Hobson Panel: Gervais Williams (Premier Miton Group); Jamie Broderick (Impact Investing Institute); Mohan Gundu (Sustainable Funds Group); Mike Appleby (Liontrust Sustainable Investment team); Gavin Oldham (The Share Foundation / Share Radio).