Podcasts

Lockdown Britain has produced a nation of savers, ONS figures showed this week, with people salting away almost 30% of their disposable income on average. But for those hoping that we might finally have got the savings habit, there’s a catch. Those figures cover April to June, a three-month period when most shops were shut, along with pubs, restaurants, hotels and B&Bs, and going on holiday was a near-impossible task. Deprived of the opportunity to spend, Britain put money aside instead – but is not spending the same as saving? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost dive into the lockdown saving phenomenon and look at what triggered it, whether there was anything other than an inability to spend that drove saving so much higher than in previous recessions and how the paradox of thrift plays out. They also look at where people can put the money they have set aside – with interest on savings deals negligible – and whether the sudden imposition of a savings habit bodes well for people building up better nest eggs when life gets back to normal.Some won’t have been so lucky in lockdown, however, with job losses mounting. The team look at how this affects those already committed to moving home. And finally, are brand new mobile phones a waste of money? Chasing the latest handset is an expensive game, but a new breed of cheap but high quality phones are changing the minds of some of those committed to holding onto old ones.

Want to keep up with the latest earnings updates from the States? Well join Chris Hill and the Motley Fool Radio Show team here on Share Radio, direct from Washington DC, for news, views and analysis of the US stocks that matter. In this week's show: The market reacts to news that President Trump has tested positive for COVID-19; The Labor Department reports slowing jobs growth; Bed Bath & Beyond soars on surprising earnings; Twilio hits a new high; Pepsi gets a boost from snacks; McCormick serves up strong earnings and a stock split; Popeye’s gets into the chocolate-stuffed beignet business; And the Supreme Court of Ireland rules that Subway bread isn’t really bread. Motley Fool analysts Andy Cross and Ron Gross discuss those stores and share two stocks on their radar: Union Pacific and Rocket Companies. Plus, journalist Matthew Yglesias talks about his new book, One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger.

Joe Healey of The Share Centre casts his eye over recent news from Diageo, Boohoo and Rolls-Royce, all affected in different ways and to different degrees by the effects of the pandemic. Looking ahead, he considers what might be expected when we hear fro Tesco and imperial Brands.

Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the Government's battle with its own backbenchers over the UK Internal Market Bill and oversight of the Covid-19 regulations, with the new Speaker issuing a rebuke to the administration. He assesses Sir Keir Starmer's virtual speech to the Labour party conference and considers the problems of holding a party conference under such conditions. And he looks across the Atlantic in the wake of the first Presidential debate between Trump and Biden.

James Cameron-Wilson laments the nervousness of the film studios in holding back new movies from the nation's cinemas, starved of new product. With no new films to see on the big screen, he raves about Japanese animated movie Weathering With You, out on DVD and Blu-ray and is equally excited by Netflix's The Social Dilemma, a frightening and thought-provoking documentary about the dangers of social media. He also recommends The Great Buster: A Celebration, a documentary about the great silent comedian Buster Keaton.

Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin gets excited by trials of a hydrogen-powered train which, it is hoped, might appear in passenger service in 2023. David Attenborough achieves a record for speeding to 1m followers on Instagram, Amazon reveals a host of new products - including one that seems rather creepy - and also unveils a palm scanner while others think 3D vein scanning could be the way to go. There's a foldable PC, a super enzyme that eats plastic, a smart bike light seeking crowdfunding, a pop-up restaurant on a plane, how seaweed could help with your cleaning and a jet suit for paramedics in the Lake District.

In this episode, Vicky Sayers is joined again by Esther Mukoro, founder of the career and personal finance blog for women: Money Nuggets. They talk about why, when it comes to taking action to ensure their financial security, women tend to fall behind compared to men – and Esther offers her advice on how to change that.

Adam Cox is joined by video conferencing expert, Dieter Dehaemers, to discuss how COVID-19 has changed the way we work – and how flexible working has allowed a new way for meetings to take place. Dieter shares his thoughts and advice on how to keep up to date with meetings and the way our mindsets have changed when it comes to collaboration when working from home.

Adam Cox is joined by entrepreneurs Alex Willcock and Felix Conran. They discuss the impact our living spaces have on our lives, the new reality of the home being on display through video calls, and the pressure this puts on the individual to have a more presentable living space. Adam delves into the changing relationship between the home space and the work space, and how the distinction between the two has started to blur during lockdown.

Adam Cox is joined by leadership and mindset coach, Adrian Hales, to discuss holistic approaches to boosting confidence and what it means to be superhuman. Adrian talks about the different types of confidence and the fine line between arrogance and authentic self-confidence. Adrian and Adam reveal the superheroes that most inspire them, and Adrian offers practical tips for anyone who needs an immediate confidence boost.