Podcasts

Put on your party hats, it's Isa season! After years in the doldrums could we have a proper Isa battle on our hands in 2019? Santander and Coventry Building Society have launched two best-buy easy-access tax-free deals, and that appears to have put some wind in the sails of This is Money assistant editor Lee Boyce. Editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost – along with Lee – talk all things Isa´s: whether they are worth it, the options and importantly, are the new top rates a potential catalyst for more competition? Elsewhere, we take a look at new fintech firm Dozens, offering a five per cent return spotted after a recent London Transport advertising blitz. There is a victory for This is Money readers, as Virgin Money refunds credit card customers stung by charges after unwittingly setting minimum payments rather than paying the full balance when changing card. Simon runs the rule over a 95% interest-only mortgage launched by Newbury Building Society.

The Green New Deal has rocketed to the top of the agenda in the US. It’s an ambitious plan, spearheaded by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to decarbonise the US economy and eliminate economic insecurity at the same time. But in fact the Green New Deal has some of its origins at the New Economics Foundation. So what’s the story behind the development of the idea? And how would a Green New Deal actually work, both in the UK and across the pond? Ayeisha Thomas-Smith is joined this week by: Ann Pettifor, director of Prime Economics and one of the co-authors of the Green New Deal report published by NEF in 2008; Miatta Fahnbulleh, chief executive of the New Economics Foundation; and Waleed Shahid, communications director of the Justice Democrats, who also worked on the campaign to elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

ETFs (exchange traded funds) have revolutionised the investment world, offering a wide range of new opportunities for private investors. A new book on the funds has just been published called ‘The Ultimate ETF Guidebook’. Beginners can easily read the book, and more experienced investors will probably find fresh insight as well. In the latest edition of The Big Call, Ed Bowsher talks to the co-author of the book, David Stevenson.

Adam talks to coach and burnout specialist Sam Dossa about the importance of being present and living in the moment. Sam highlights that for many people they are running on a hamster wheel of simply getting by and never take the time for self-reflection or consciously living. Sam describes the consequences of being a victim of emotional states rather than being able to respond to them in a positive way. He tells a story of a man that ruins his day just by being angry rather over spilt juice rather than having the agility to respond in a calm way. Sam talks about the importance of nature as a way to reconnect and pay attention to those inner voices.

The football managerial sack race is well and truly on. Claude Puel has left Leicester, Claudio Ranieri departed Fulham – while long-standing Rochdale boss Keith Hill has been axed. Lee Boyce and co-host Georgie Frost talk about the bizarre world of football management - there aren't many jobs you go into knowing you're going to get sacked, probably within three years. We all think we'd do the job well – probably from days wasted playing computer game Football Manager – but is that the reality? We also reveal what happens with compensation, with specialist employment lawyer Victoria Mitchell from Farleys lifting the lid. Elsewhere, we chat through the multi-million pound Manchester City/Puma deal with sports sponsorship expert Nigel Currie. Wrestling on your honeymoon? We talk to Wrestling Travel founder Lee McAteer who set up a holiday business specialising in the billion-dollar industry. Paypal offers sports teams an easier payment method, is the World Rugby League idea all about the money – and should Tottenham really sell Harry Kane?

In this week’s episode of the IEA’s podcast, the IEA’s Associate Director Kate Andrews sat down with Francis Boulle, who recently took part in the BBC Two’s ‘Mastermind’, braving the black chair to win the coveted Mastermind trophy. What made this particular episode of Mastermind special was Francis’s choice of specialist subject for the interrogation-style question and answer session. Francis chose Friedrich Hayek as his specialist subject, one of the most important liberal thinkers of all time. Kate asked Francis to take him through his journey of becoming interested in Hayek’s work, why he decided to pick him as his specialist subject, if Francis believes Hayek is relevant in 2019 and how his body of work can help us navigate through our current political and economic woes – especially given that amongst young people socialism is now in vogue.

Political commentator Mike Indian, author of The Groucho Tendency blog, gives us a snapshot of where we are with Brexit in the wake of Geoffrey Cox's return from Brussels and with the Government all but certain to lost Tuesday's second meaningful vote. He also looks at the record of Chris Grayling in the wake of the Eurotunnel settlement and examines the issue of racism in both main political parties.

Steve Caplin looks at a phone that folds, another that has six cameras and one (a weighty one) with batteries that last for weeks. There's an electric 2-seater car with built-in 5G, another electric car that charges 80% in less than 5 minutes. After the ice bucket and mannequin challenge, there's now the cheese challenge. There are self-aware fish and dolls resembling dead partners for the bereaved.

James Cameron-Wilson lavishes praise on Stephen Merchant's #1 entry at the box office, Fighting With My Family, which pushes the new Lego Movie into second place. Another British entry, The Aftermath, with Keira Knightly, entes at #6. What They Had with Hilary Swank only makes #38. He explains why nobody knows the true figures for turkey Serenity with Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. His DVD of the week is the controversial Lars von Trier film The House That Jack Built.

Are there business lessons to be learnt from the way musicians interact with their fans? Mark Jennings, CEO of Subba Media believes so. Talking to Simon Rose, he explains how to have an open conversation which leads to better engagement with your customer base. Authenticity, he says, is the key to building a supportive community. He also passes on a business tip divulged to him by Midge Ure.