Podcasts

It can be tough to find good news at the moment but on this special Easter podcast we go looking for some. And amid the coronavirus gloom, there are some good news stories to tell, from how Britain has adapted to working from home, to the appreciation shown to our valued frontline workers and NHS staff, and those volunteering to help others. On the podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss this and tell the stories of some of the small businesses that have been sought opportunity in adversity. From the pub doing meals and pints to go, to the garden centre that has stared delivering and the milkman who has seen business boom, these are inspiring stories of entrepreneurial spirit and helping out the local community. The team also reveal how you can visit the world from the comfort of your sofa – it’s not a real holiday but you can at least do some sight-seeing. Meanwhile, Lee goes on the trail of the apps keeping us social in the lockdown: from Slack at work, to Zoom video chats, and Houseparty fooling around with friends, which are the ones worth trying? And finally, if you are feeling really brave maybe you could peruse a cheap French manor house while you are stuck at home and weigh up your own move to a chateau.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University attempts to ascertain where we are in the Covid-19 pandemic and forecast when and how we might emerge from it, believing that a vaccine could be much nearer discovery than many are saying. He looks at Kier Starmer's election as the leader of the Labour party, asking who he is and whether he can win back lost Labour voters. And he reveals why China's lies and obfuscation about the Coronavirus outbreak has undoubtedly made the worldwide effects of the pandemic considerably worse than it needed to be.

Tech guru Steve Caplin looks at the rumours of the link between 5G and Coronavirus before turning to examine ways in which tech is helping us cope with the pandemic. He also examines a mini record cutter to press vinyl discs at home, stickers that will tell you if fridge food has warmed up too much on the way home, a collapsible bike with folding wheels and a 5G phone with a hinged keyboard like the old Psion series 5 devices.

James Cameron-Wilson reveals the chart of the most successful US movies of the year up to the moment the cinemas were closed down. Here, he looks at two new online films, the Billy Crystal, Ben Schwartz movie Standing Up, Falling Down and the challenging Finnish film Dogs Don't Wear Pants, which even he found hard to watch at times. Out on DVD and Blu-Ray, he recommends the latest incarnation of Charlie's Angels, directed by Elizabeth Banks.

Graham Spooner of The Share Centre looks at Tesco's recent announcement and its positive dividend decision, at odds with so many other companies. He looks at what widespread dividend cuts might mean for investors – particularly those needing income – and explains why the lockdown, with market-makers operating from home, is leading to increased volatility in share prices.

Adam Cox is joined by Gabriele Sommer, a VIP mentor who discusses how to access the incredible powers of the subconscious mind. Gabriele reveals her secrets to create health, wealth, success and even youth. She shares practical tips and advice to unlock the unconscious mind to deal with real issues in modern life.

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to discuss some of the most memorable male icons of cinema. They talk about unlikely heroes of the silver screen that have become household names, and explore a little of what their lives were like behind the camera – as well as why a lot of James’ choices come from the “Golden Age” of Hollywood. In this episode: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Rudolph Valentino, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, John Wayne, James Stewart, Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise.

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, Bro outlines eight provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security Act that may fortify your finances for the coming year.

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: The Federal Government launches a $350 billion small business lending program; Over 10 million Americans file for unemployment; Oil stocks rise; Constellation Brands serves up big earnings; And Luckin Coffee plummets on fraud allegations. Motley Fool analysts Ron Gross and Jason Moser discuss those stories and talk about what to look for when reading a balance sheet. And the guys share a couple of stocks on their radar: Costco and Domino’s. Plus, food and beverage industry analyst David Henkes talks about the government stimulus and the future of the restaurant business. The Motley Fool is donating $1 million to Health Research Incorporated, which is managing New York State’s COVID-19 response fund. To contribute, go to donate.fool.com.

Every year Collins Dictionary chooses its word of the year and just three months into 2020, it feels like coronavirus might be a shoe-in for the title. But among the other words likely to be picked as high-fliers, it seems that furlough will also be in with a shout. Until a few weeks ago, it's unlikely many people had ever considered what being furloughed would mean, but now it's the topic on many workers’ minds. The concept of asking workers to go on furlough lies at the heart of the government’s coronavirus jobs rescue scheme – as it seeks to stall firms making people redundant and offers to pay 80% of their wages up to £2,500 a month. But is picking up the wage bills of big businesses a wise move, will it help save jobs and is the price worth paying because the cost of not doing it is worse? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss what it means to be furloughed and whether the emergency plan can work. They also look at the travel industry chaos and how airlines attempts to dig themselves out of a hole by dodging cash refunds is backfiring. Why aren’t people getting money back for cancelled flights – and is there a way forward that could help airlines and customers? Also on the agenda are the household bills rising at just the wrong time – and finally, at the opposite end of the scale, how did Agent Million deliver this month’s Premium Bond jackpot news to the lucky winners while still managing social distancing?