Podcasts

As we fast approach one fifth of the way through the 21st century, the world of finance is modernising in ways that would have been unimaginable a few years ago. And not always in a good way. The language of ‘savings’ has evolved to the point of dishonesty and even fraud. On this week’s podcast editor Simon Lambert and reporter George Nixon join host Georgie Frost to look at fancy new Innovative Finance Isas, at savings products that claim to offer 8% returns and to be protected by the official savings watchdog but are in fact risky investments – and the fraud investigation at London Capital and Finance, where thousands of ‘savers’ lost millions of pounds. Simon guides listeners through the dark side of mini bonds and the complex web of companies that savers’ money was poured into at LC and F before it collapsed owing £236m. The City watchdog supposedly overseeing the company is also now being investigated . On a cheerier note, George explains how teenagers are able to invest on the stock market and how easy it can be to get started, plus a couple of new free share dealing services, an old-fashioned holiday trap and whether insurance companies would pay out if your flash car crash is on video and on social media.

New research reveals that nearly a third of Brits say that they fear the dentist’s chair and 79% say they are put off receiving dental advice as a result – which could explain why nearly 100,000 fewer people visited the dentist last year. Fear is just one of the reasons why we are avoiding the chair, with time and cost also stopping 1 in 7 of us from taking a visit. So, Are we risking our oral health by not taking more regular visits to the dentist? Earlier I spoke to dentist Cathal Hayes and the CEO of Centre for Dentistry who carried out the research Lisa Riley.

Political commentator Mike Indian tries to make sense of the political shenanigans of the past few days, full of amendments and indicative votes, with deadlock in the Cabinet and Commons and Theresa May entering discussions with Jeremy Corbyn. But with the House of Commons' business disrupted by a water leak, Mike explains how important that mishap could yet be.

Steve Caplin takes a look at vending machines in Canary Wharf dispensing short stories, Apple's new credit card, a chance to be the voice of Virgin Trains' talking toilet, a wearable drum kit, less stressed laboratory mice, acoustic metamaterial and an AI system to train violinists.

Majoring heavily on retail, Helal Miah of The Share Centre looks at recent numbers from AA, Saga, Mothercare and AO World. He looks ahead to forthcoming news from Tesco, ASOS, Dunelm and WH Smith, one of the few more positive retailing stories of late.

James Cameron-Wilson discusses the latest UK box office chart, with Tim Burton's new version of Dumbo trampling all underfoot, pushing Captain Marvel down to second position. What is NOT in the charts, however, is The Highwaymen with Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner. As the tale of cops on the trail of Bonnie & Clyde was made by Netflix, some cinema chains are boycotting it. James discusses the cinema vs. streaming war. His DVD of the week is Mektoub, My Love from Abdellatif Kechiche (Blue Is The Warmest Colour).

We make resolutions for New Year, so why not for the new tax year? Jonathan Amponsah of The Tax Guys talks to Simon Rose about some of the steps business owners can use to reduce their tax bill, including making sure they claim expenses, utilise capital allowances, crystallise losses, access various generous reliefs such as on R&D and investing in SEIS companies, as well as gifting and saving in a pension. He also discusses the massive move towards making tax entirely digital.

In this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Matt Dickson and Franz Buscha talk to Carol Propper, Professor of Economics at Imperial College London and a former Senior Economic Advisor to the NHS Executive on Regulation of the NHS Internal Market. We might not immediately think of economists when we think about healthcare, but Carol explains how economists can help with the design of a healthcare system that will produce the health outcomes that we would all want, taking into account the incentives faced by the various people and institutions involved. Matt, Franz and Carol discuss socio-economic inequalities in health and their relationship with healthcare before Carol gives us her prescription for the NHS and looks ahead to how future research might help improve healthcare in this country.

This week, broadcaster Georgie Frost and assistant editor Lee Boyce are joined by cricketer and author Isabelle Duncan, to talk about The Hundred, which is set to launch next year and what it could do for the game (and its finances). How do the 18 county clubs feel about the move, who will be involved, is it all about the money, can a draft system work and can it help encourage the next generation of cricketers to get involved? Elsewhere in the world of cricket, they talk Mankading, grassroots level, whether the old format will die off, why the game is booming in… Germany and what football can learn from the way women's cricket has boomed. Also on the show, Tottenham Hotspur finally move into their new ground this week with a game against Crystal Palace. We speak to broadcaster and Spurs supporter David Levene who has visited the new stadium about his first impressions – and whether it will spell a stint of success on the pitch. And Georgie gets caught up in a protest at Craven Cottage, as Fulham FC fans fightback against high ticket prices.

Saving, spending, planning — you've got money questions and we've got answers. Every week host Alison Southwick and personal finance expert Robert Brokamp challenge the conventional wisdom on life's biggest financial issues to reveal what you really need to know to make smart money moves. In this week's show, Morgan Housel from the Collaborative Fund join the team to talk about the aging workforce and the impact it could have on global economic growth, your wallet, and your portfolio.