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We are in the worst recession in living memory for the UK with GDP plummeting by 22.1 per cent in the first six months of 2020. But strange as it may sound, does that matter? We knew things would be terrible as the coronavirus lockdown pressed the pause button on the economy and people’s lives. Shops were shut, businesses were shuttered, everyone who could worked from home, almost 10million people were furloughed, international travel was halted, property sales were frozen and children didn’t go to school for four months. If you’d have predicted that was what 2020 would bring last New Year’s Eve, nobody would have believed you and they might even have called for help. So, it should come as no surprise that the ONS released figures this week showing that this year’s astonishing actions crashed the economy – although the fact that the UK suffered more than any other major economy other than Spain is a cause for concern. The question is, what next? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost dig into the GDP figures to find out why the UK was hit so hard, whether we can read anything into the ONS’s figures and what to watch out for to identify if the economy is recovering better or worse than expected. Also on this week’s show, they discuss how amid all that carnage some households are getting their finances on track, how to buy a property in pandemic if you are an aspiring first-time buyer and how to keep your pension on track. And finally, the Government in its wisdom has decided to push on with getting Brexit fully done - even if it means no trade deal by the end of the year – and that will mean imported cars get more expensive. But fear not, new car buyers, because we’ve got the best British-built options instead – from a Nissan Juke shopping cart, to a gorgeous McLaren and the wonderfully bonkers Ariel Atom.

Simon Property Group talks with Amazon about mall-based distribution centers. Microsoft announces plans to sell a $1,400 foldable phone. Marriott rises despite reporting its first quarterly loss in more than eight years. Apple and Fortnite engage in a battle royale. Lyft deals with sinking revenue and California concerns. SmileDirectClub gives investors something to frown about. And Starbucks, Dunkin’, and Hershey’s get a head start on fall and Halloween. Motley Fool analysts Ron Gross and Jason Moser discuss those stories and share two stocks on their radar: Bed Bath & Beyond and Qualcomm. Plus, Lakehouse Capital Chief Investment Officer Joe Magyer discusses investing during the pandemic, why digital payment companies are creating structural changes, and how his thinking on Berkshire-Hathaway has evolved.

Financial health is a crucial part of overall wellbeing, and yet we don’t talk about money. Listen to our experts: Maya Prabhu, Managing Director and Head of Wealth Advisory at J.P. Morgan Private Bank; and Kelly Hearn, psychotherapist and ex-investment manager, as they share their thoughts with Tamara Gillan on how and why you should be talking to your children about money from a young age.

Share Radio's tech maven Steve Caplin shines his LED light on vein scanning, cars with predictive touch screens, rage rooms to rent, learning the piano through a role play game, a black dot absorbing 99.9% of light, a high-tech drill, how to put an end to leaves on the line and space rockets that can land themselves.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University examines the Government's ideas for reforming Britain's planning system and suggests what the ramifications might be for solving the country's housing problems. As an economist shows that the UK economy has been bouncing back faster than over comparable countries, he looks at a think tank's ideas for introducing e-businesses as a way of giving Britain a post-Covid boost.

James Cameron-Wilson talks to Simon Rose about the latest state of the UK box office, still becalmed ahead of the imminent release of Tenet. Together, they review the camp classic Flash Gordon which is out again for its 40th birthday. According to star Brian Blessed, it is the Queen's favourite film. James also reviews the Gemma Arterton film Summerland and the Shailene Woodley vehicle Endings, Beginnings.

Helal Miah of The Share Centre looks at recent news from Intercontinental Hotels, Prudential, Admiral and GVC, all to some extent affected by the Covid pandemic. He looks ahead and gives an idea of what we might expect from Persimmon, Wood Group and BHP.

Adam Cox is joined by stage hypnotist, Robert Temple, who details the fun and challenges of being a stage hypnotist in the 2020s. He discusses the perceptions and misconceptions of stage hypnotists and why he decided to become one. They discuss why many hypnotherapists look down on stage hypnotists, and what the future has in store for this form of entertainment.

Financial Planning Fool Amanda Kish joins us to discuss the things you should not do if you want to be a successful investor.

On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost discuss negative rates: what’s the point, do they have any positives and beyond costing savers’ interest how would they prove harmful? They also talk gold and why the price of the precious metal has soared 35 per cent this year, to rise above the $2,000 mark and whether it can keep going. Buying gold and taking rates negative are seen as glass-half-empty measures, but are things brighter than we think? The housing market is doing better than expected, car sales have posted a surprise 11 per cent annual rise and Britain went mad for eating out at the start of the week, thanks to Rishi Sunak’s discount deals. Are these indicators of a V-shaped recovery? The job losses that continue to pile up will weigh on that and the team have tips on what to do if you are made redundant or it is a threat. And finally, if you do fancy splashing out and have your eye on a new car, you might think it is time go electric. Simon runs through What Car?’s new special awards for the best electric cars in every category.