Money Talks from The Economist

Japan’s prime minister looks set for a big victory in this week’s snap election. In a bid to address Japan’s prolonged stagnation and rising cost of living, Takaichi Sanae has promised tax cuts and high government spending. How could her plans reshape the economy—and why have they rattled global markets?Hosts: Ethan Wu, Mike Bird and Alice Fulwood. Guest: Tobias Harris, founder of Japan Foresight.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

From assaults on Federal Reserve independence to his threats to seize Greenland, the first year of Donald Trump’s second stint in the White House has been head-spinning. But so far, one cohort at least appears unfazed: investors. The S&P 500 has risen 15% over the past 12 months and hit yet another all-time high on January 27th. So what, if anything, would it take for investors to “sell America”?Hosts: Mike Bird, Alice Fulwood and Ethan Wu. Guest: Marko Papic from BCA Research.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

AI is changing how we work. It's turning us all into managers. Be a good one.The Economist’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, takes on the bots in the third season of Boss Class. From cloning to coding, agents to entry-level jobs, he tackles the threat head on and figures out how to turn anxiety into opportunity. Along the way he meets bulls and bears and the people who can help you to master management in the age of AI.Full Season 3 out 29th January 2026.To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plusIf you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

“The ChatGPT moment for robotics is here,” Nvidia boss Jensen Huang said earlier this month. And nowhere is that more obvious than on the factory floor, where machines aren’t just becoming more agile, but smarter, too. This week, Money Talks takes a trip to Germany, to tour the factories of the future.Hosts: Ethan Wu and Alice Fulwood. Guest: Anjani Trivedi, The Economist’s global business correspondent.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Donald Trump had oil on his mind when he declared America would “run” Venezuela, in the wake of an audacious US mission to capture the country’s dictator Nicolás Maduro. But while Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, extracting a profit for US firms may be harder than President Trump thinks.Hosts: Ethan Wu and Mike Bird. Guest: Vijay Vaitheeswaran, The Economist’s global energy and climate innovation editor.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

250 years after the publication of “The Wealth of Nations”, Adam Smith remains a towering figure in economics. But could the field’s most famous book be less revolutionary than you might think? Mr Smith is cited as an influence on politicians from Margaret Thatcher to Javier Milei, but he’s also been widely misrepresented and credited with ideas that were not his own. So is he really the “father of economics”, or is his influence overstated?Hosts: Mike Bird and Alice Fulwood. Guest: The Economist’s senior economics writer Callum Williams.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Break out the mulled wine—it’s the most wonderful (and competitive) time of the year. The Money Talks hosts return with their annual festive quiz. Can you beat Alice, Ethan and Mike at their own game?Hosts: Mike Bird, Ethan Wu and Alice Fulwood.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The bidding war for Warner Brothers has become an instant blockbuster. Netflix’s $83bn deal to buy the storied studio seemed all but done when David Ellison, the son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison and the owner of Paramount Skydance, rode in with a rival offer. Who wins will shape the future of Hollywood.Hosts: Ethan Wu and Alice Fulwood. Guest: The Economist’s media editor Tom Wainwright. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.