Podcasts

Simon Rose is joined by political commentator and author of The Groucho Tendency blog, Mike Indian, to discuss how UK politics has got to where it is today. In this episode, Simon and Mike discuss the history and role of Select Committees.

Colin D Ellis harboured ambitions to be an architect before working in banking, sales and IT. Since then, he’s worked with companies all over the world including Red Bull, Thomson Reuters and Australia’s government to help them transform their cultures. He’s an expert in boosting happiness at work and tackling harassment and bullying, in order to improve productivity and employee experience. He’s a music lover and claims Y2K (the Millenium Bug!) was prevented by people like him working on IT systems – a tongue-in-cheek claim you’ll hear, amongst other conversation, in this edition of Track Record.

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to discuss some of the most influential romantic films to have hit the silver screen. Plus, what would James Cameron’s Titanic have been like if Matthew McConaughey and Gwyneth Paltrow had had the starring roles? In this episode: Gone With the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1942), Brief Encounter (1945), A Matter of Life and Death (1946), An Affair to Remember (1957), Un homme et une femme (1966), Love Story (1970), Pretty Woman (1990), Jerry Maguire (1996), Titanic (1997).

It’s one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. But unlike the phone, the car, computers and indoor plumbing, the weekend is still stuck in the 1930s. As productivity increased, the promise of shorter working hours always seemed just out of reach. But now, there’s a campaign to make the 4-day week a reality within our lifetimes. Obviously many people would love to work less. But what would it mean for the economy? And what would it take to make it a reality? Ayeisha Thomas-Smith is joined by Alfie Stirling, Head of Economics and Aidan Harper, Researcher at the New Economics Foundation.

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 we’re joined by Motley Fool Analyst Ben Ra to discuss how China’s history influences its mindset on capitalism and business.

What is “stress”, why do we experience it, and what can we do to reduce it? This week, Adam Cox is joined by Stress Relief Coach, Maxine Wynter. She talks about how modern technology can both help and hinder feelings of stress, and offers some tips to help keep it under control.

Professor Tim Evans on the latest developments in the 2019 General Election. What are the polls telling us about shifting political loyalties? He examines the Liberal Democrat manifesto and marvels at the "free stuff for everyone" promises of the main parties. He also looks at NATO, which has identified space as its next operational domain.

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the UK box office where Joker, after six weeks, has been dethroned. The new #1 is romcom Last Christmas with James's preferred film, Le Mans '66, pushed into #2 position. With no other new films in the top 10, James recommends a limited edition 4K restoration of the 1951 classic The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

Helal Miah of The Share Centre looks at recent news from Easyjet, Halma, Kingfisher and Royal Mail. He then looks ahead to what we might expect from Compass, De La Rue, Intertek and Marston's.

Steve Caplin looks at the efficacy of Waitrose's coffee logs. There's also the problems Uber's self-driving cars have with jaywalkers, blood donors tracking their blood, Tim Berners-Lee's new browser, magnetising blood cells to cure disease, stretchable electronics, rhino horns made with horse hair to deter poachers, cream to help you learn languages or musical instruments and the world's brightest (multi-coloured) headlights.