Podcasts

Inflation is within a whisker of its long-term target of two per cent – does that mean an interest rate rise off the table in 2019? Assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost talk about the latest inflation figures in the This is Money podcast – including why it has fallen, where it is heading next and what it means for savers. Savings rates are up, with nearly 100 accounts now matching or beating inflation. Lee explains a nifty trick on how to beat inflation with a one year fixed-rate savings account and boost the rate even further. We also discuss the House of Lords report which let rip over RPI and CPI, and why it matters to the pound in your pocket. Meanwhile, we reveal why it is important to not penny pinch on your travel insurance and how the zero per cent beer market is booming – and it's not just because of 'dry January'. This week, we don't have one, not two, but three coin stories for your enjoyment. How euro coins rattling around in your home could be worth a pretty penny and why 50p coins have had a moment in the sun.

Adam talks to Haleema Nawid, a mental health advocate who experiences severe mental health issues to the point of suicidal thoughts and clinical depression. Heleema even found herself homeless and on the receiving end of ambivalence and prejudice as a result of her mental health issues. She now campaigns to educate and inform people about their options regarding mental health and where they can find their voice.

Jose Hernandez is a specialist in crisis management and compliance, and has ‘rolled up his sleeves’ countless times to repair the reputations and business integrity of organisations around the world. He counts a former director of the FBI amongst his close friends and associates; he’s worked for top firms such as PwC; and loves to travel – for business and pleasure. Now a Netherlands national, he’s originally from El Salvador and has recently written of putting together ‘Broken Business’. Listen as he talks about how reputational damage and crisis can occur in plain sight.

In any society there are ‘elite’ positions that command a high income and, more importantly, high status. Unsurprisingly, there is intense competition for these positions. But what happens when a society turns out more people qualified for these roles than the number of roles actually on offer? On this week’s podcast, the IEA’s Head of Education Dr Steve Davies discusses what he calls the ‘over-production of elites’ in society. The problem, he explains, is that elitism, unlike many things, is a zero-sum game – to be in the elite means you are not like 90 per cent or more of the population as a whole. As a result, the ever-increasing number of UK university graduates or American PHDs students leads to bitter resentment towards those with similar qualifications, who have managed to secure elite jobs. Steve talks about how elitism affects our views of a fair society, what it means for the concept of meritocracy, and how societies go about addressing perceived issues of unfairness.

Graham Spooner of The Share Centre looks back at numbers from Boohoo, Persimmon & Bovis and Associated British Foods and looks ahead to what we might expect from Restaurant Group, St. James's Place and Vodafone.

Steve Caplin continues his look at the weird and wonderful delights of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. There's a VR headset with eye-tracking, a humanisation of Amazon's Alexa, a laundry-folding robot, an intelligent toilet with a "fully immersive experience", a water generator for cars, a mask to stop snoring and a smart speaker to teach Chinese.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University considers the possible future course for the Brexit process in the wake of the Government's unprecedentedly large defeat in the House of Commons. He also looks at the current economic and political state of the EU itself, finding one ray amidst the gloom in the preparations made for Brexit by the authorities in Cornwall. He also marks the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table.

James Cameron-Wilson surveys the UK box office, dominated by period pieces. Stan & Ollie takes the #1 spot, followed by The Favourite & Mary Poppins Returns. Keira Knightley in Colette comes in at #7 with The Upside, remake of French hit Untouchable, at #8. Jason Reitman's movie on Gary Hart, The Front Runner, only manages #18. For home release, James reviews The Escape with Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper.

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: Costco and Target report big holiday numbers; Macy’s tumbles on disappointing December sales; Bed, Bath, and Beyond goes above and beyond; Activision Blizzard loses control over Destiny; And Taco Bell goes on a health kick. Analysts Aaron Bush, Andy Cross, and Ron Gross discuss those stories and weigh in on Ford Motor, Constellation Brands, and Interactive Brokers. Plus, analyst Rex Moore joins us from Las Vegas to talk self-driving cars and other cutting-edge technologies at CES.

Not such Merry Christmas for the high street. In what’s been called the worst festive trading period – the team cast a critical eye over the retail sector and find out who were the winners and the losers. Also…Jaguar Land Rover shed more than 4000 jobs in the UK, how to get your dream job in 2019 and a new website that has your back if you get dumped before heading on holiday.