Podcasts

In the first of this new series, Policy Matters, Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson discuss social mobility – what does it mean, how do we measure it, what is it like in the UK and why is it an important issue? From Tony Blair to Theresa May, incoming prime ministers have talked boldly about the socially mobile Britain that their government will create, and social mobility has become a much-discussed topic in academia and public policy debates. But what would it mean to have a more socially mobile Britain, how could it be achieved, and what barriers stand in the way? Taking a broad overview of the topic, Franz and Matt consider their own personal mobility and why it is so difficult for the political rhetoric to be translated into effective policy.

Exactly one year from today, Britain will officially quit the EU. But what do we know so far, and what happens next? Today joined by Julian Jessop, Head of the IEA’s Brexit Unit, and Shanker Singham, Director of the IEA’s new International Trade and Competition Unit. Interviewed by Digital Officer Madeline Grant, the pair answer some of the most pressing questions about Brexit – including what, if anything, we’ve managed to negotiate so far, how our economy has fared until now, the future of the Irish border, and whether there is any chance of Brexit being overturned.

Ian Forrest of The Share Centre looks at the result of the GKN/Melrose battle as well as recent numbers from Ferguson, RPC and Glaxo. He also looks ahead to first quarter numbers from Hammerson, currently involved in takeover shenanigans itself.

Tim Evans, professor of business and political economy at Middlesex University, discusses the journey of Labour and why it has created a problem of antisemitism, why the European Arrest Warrant is coming under greater scrutiny by some governments and why London remains the number one centre for global financial services.

James Cameron-Wilson reviews new movies Pacific Rim: Uprising and A Wrinkle in Time, commenting on the extraordinary success of Peter Rabbit, particularly in the United States. He also remarks on the continuing success of The Greatest Showman and how well films with strong female roles and involvement are currently doing.

Steve Caplin marvels at the chairless chair you wear, the latest in delivery drones, the banning of Winnie the Pooh in China, Google Lens and the squeezable metal bottle.

A nerve agent attack on an ex-Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury has led to a retaliation by the UK government – expelling diplomats and ramping up a war of words. With Putin winning another huge election victory last week, some people are worried that we’re entering a new Cold War. Meanwhile, UK gas supplies have run low thanks to the recent winter freeze. What if Russia were to switch off our gas? Has it done it to other countries? And how would we get by? Ayeisha Thomas-Smith is joined by Dave Powell, who leads on the environment for NEF, and Dustin Benton, policy director for the environmental think tank Green Alliance.

Adam Cox talks is joined by Lauretta Cundy, Director of Mad About My Business, to discuss the growing trend for companies to invest in Corporate Wellness. Lauretta discusses the issues that exist in companies of all sizes, and how a psychologist can help; as well as talking about the myths and misconceptions surrounding wellbeing in the workplace, and why investing in the mental wellbeing of staff could be a strategic competitive advantage.

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: Chris talks with Jed Rothstein, director of the The China Hustle, about his latest documentary; and best-selling author, Daniel Levitin, shares his top tips on how to organise busy minds from his new book The Organised Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload.

“My property is my pension”. That was the popular saying when buy-to-let was all the rage and every other person you met fancied their chances as a minor property mogul. But life has got much tougher for landlords, with a series of tax grabs and tougher mortgage rules hitting. So does buy-to-let still stack up as a way to build your wealth? It certainly requires a lot of money upfront, even more now than ever before, and while the taxman will take a big chunk of your buy-to-let investment pot in stamp duty, he’ll give you money back if you invest in a pension instead. Simon Lambert, Sarah Davidson and Georgie Frost take a look at Buy-to-Let and the property market in this week’s podcast, and at how it compares to investing in your ISA or a pension. They also look at investing in property without buying it directly yourself, whether houses are too expensive now for good profits in years to come, or if there are some areas where an investment still makes sense. Also - whether interest rates will definitely rise in May, and what’s behind the tough times on the High Street. And finally - ever wondered whether you could stick a hypercar on finance? We explain how much that costs.