Podcasts

New Economics Foundation ran in 2015 a series where they tell story of neoliberalism, from the beginning. They call it A Beginner’s Guide to Neoliberalism and it is as relevant as ever. It’s presented by the journalist Kirsty Styles alongside James Meadway, who at the time was chief economist at the New Economics Foundation. In this forth episode, James and Kirsty explain how neoliberalism took hold in the UK in the 1980s.

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, the team is answering a record number of questions this month including more on 20-30-50 budgeting, stashing your emergency fund in CDs, required minimum distributions, 15 versus 30 years mortgages, and more.

The next best thing to being at a sporting fixture has to be going to a pub with a group of mates – but the number of boozers is dwindling. This week, broadcaster Georgie Frost and assistant editor Lee Boyce take a deeper dive into the world of 'pub' sports, namely darts and snooker. As pubs continue to close or be 'gastro-ed' will we see the death of darts and pool being played for fun? We talk to Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association for her opinion. The Snooker World Championship is currently on and prize money is growing – but could that be at threat with betting advertising in the crosshairs of government? Although Britain is not as Snooker Loopy as it once was - with numbers playing dwindling - in China, some 60million are estimated to regularly play. Meanwhile, we talk to the 68th best darts player in the world – Matthew 'Prime Time' Edgar about how he got into the sport, its future, and why he wouldn't like it to become an Olympic event. We also take a look at the news that the Premier League wage bill has hit nearly £3billion and Lee reveals all on his La Liga, Athletic Bilbao experience.

This is Money in partnership with NS&I with Georgie Frost, editor Simon Lambert and assistant editor Lee Boyce. In this week's show, the team discusses different topics such if it is an issue covering the care costs of an ageing population; would you be willing to pay a higher rate of tax for every flight you take, and can we ever trust car manufacturers and their data again? Also how do you find out if a local business has gone bust? And don't forget about the tip of the week: Sick of chatbots, being left on hold and email addresses you can't find? You CAN fight back!

In this episode of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson talk to Rachel Aldred, Reader in Transport at the University of Westminster. Franz and Matt discuss with Rachel the benefits and risks of cycling in the UK and touch on subjects such as cultural differences in cycling behaviour across countries, what we might learn from such comparisons and how risky walking and cycling are in the UK. Rachel outlines early results from an evaluation of the ‘Mini-Hollands’ scheme that seeks to emulate planning and infrastructure development from the Netherlands in three outer London boroughs. The discussion then moves to the measurement of traffic injuries and to what extent concerns about pollution might influence cycling behaviour. Finally, Rachel contextualises recent government policy and how future government policy might be shaped around cycling.

Stage hypnotist and clinical hypnotherapist, Jason Simmons, joins Adam Cox to talk about the common myths and misconceptions surrounding hypnotism. They discuss how, for many, ideas about hypnosis are based on stage hypnotists such as Paul McKenna, and characters from Little Britain. But does hypnotism really work, or is something else at play here?

Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the sacking of the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and the resulting Cabinet reshuffle, the recall of Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya and the by-election which will result (will Nigel Farage finally become an MP?) as well the forthcoming European elections and Theresa May's Brexit discussions with the Labour leader.

Graham Spooner of The Share Centre looks at recent news from Lloyds Bank, Sainsbury's (in the wake of the failed merger with Asda) and Persimmon and looks ahead to what we might expect from ITV, Morrison's and BT.

Steve Caplin discusses shopping in the first UK shop with no checkouts, using just his smartphone. He also tells us of the worlds first vertical TV, the arrival of the Tesla 3, an advance for RFID tags, an immersive VR mask, a mower with a top speed of 150mph and a sex toy for dogs!

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the extraordinary box office success of Avengers: Endgame, in theory the last in the series of Marvel superhero movies. It's the quickest film ever to take one billion dollars worldwide, in half the time of the previous record-holder, Avengers: Infinity War. James assesses whether he thinks the unconverted will find it worth seeing. For home release he reviews Minding the Gap, an Obama favourite, a documentary about young men growing up in Illinois.