Podcasts

James Cameron-Wilson examines the extraordinary box office debut of Black Panther, reviewing that along with BAFTA success The Shape of Water and Oscar-nominated Lady Bird. With the singalong version about to be launched he points out that The Greatest Showman has become the most successful ever original live-action musical and takes a look at the BAFTAs and what they might mean for the Oscars.

Interest rates are going to rise in May, if you believe economists, but will things get better or worse for you if they do? Rising rates are often painted as bad news but for many a world in which they go up will look more enjoyable. What would be even more pleasurable is being paid more, so is Britain really finally about to break out of its low wage growth trap and get a pay rise? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus discuss why we don’t get paid enough, what we can do about it and how to look on the bright side of rising interest rates. Contrasting news on the struggles of first-time buyers, at the same time as they are at their highest level for a decade, is also on the agenda.

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: Baidu announces IPO plans for its video service; Under Armour jumps higher; Boston Beer and Chipotle name new CEOs; And Alibaba’s Chairman hits the big screen. Our analysts discuss those stories and share some stocks on their radar.

Dave Birss works in the corporate world, helping companies find new ways of coming up with ideas – and following them through. He's worked as a musician, a poet, and as a presenter; as well as for some of London's biggest marketing and advertising agencies. He's billed as an expert in creativity, and also writes. Sue Dougan finds out more in the latest episode of Track Record.

Britain takes a uniquely restrictive approach to occupational licensing. Around one in five UK employees requires a licence from government to practice their chosen occupation – a proportion which has doubled in the last fifteen years. Len Shackleton, IEA editorial fellow and author of a recent report into occupational licensing, sat down with us this week to discuss the current situation. He examines whether the government’s approach is necessary or desirable – particularly in a world of technological change, with algorithms, robotics and artificial intelligence increasingly able to perform some of the functions of the established professions.

Adam talks to Mastanee Ati of Success Resources, the world’s largest organiser of personal development seminars, about the unconventional way that people are learning business, finance and even sales skills. Mastanee has worked with high profile speakers including Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki and Les Brown hosting events with up to 10,000 attendees.

Steve Caplin takes a look at a dog-walking service described as Uber for dogs, facial recognition sunglasses for the police, Land Rover's phone, the culture secretary's social network and an Internet of Things burglar deterrent called Kevin.

Brexit dominates the news agenda. But with all the talk of the single market, impact assessments and trade deals, it sometimes feels as if this debate is only happening in the comment pages of newspapers, or the corridors of Westminster. What happened to the people? The Weekly Economics Podcast is back with a special episode: a discussion we recorded live in London at the end of 2017, between political theorist Maurice Glasman, activist Ruth Ibegbuna, and the academic Rob Ford. The question journalist Mary Riddell put to them was: where are the people in the Brexit debate?

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University asks whether the US economy is becoming dangerously unstable with spending increasing even as the economy booms. He also reflects upon a survey showing that the UK public appears not to care who runs hospitals as long as they are more efficient. Lastly, he considers Momentum dropping its pledge of non-violence and the MP the Czech secret police called Agent Cob.

Ahead of the BAFTA awards and with the Oscars not far away, James Cameron-Wilson looks at the UK cinema box office, reviewing the new No. 1, Fifty Shades Freed, the third in the S&M trilogy, as well as The Mercy with Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz and Russian Oscar hopeful Loveless.