Share Sounds.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University gives a fascinating analysis of Latin America's problems, with political instability and a growing macro-economic crisis. He also looks at the under-reported Vortex of Doom in South Africa, where there's a huge energy crisis and law and order is breaking down. Lastly, he turns to the UK, which now appears to be one of Europe's most nannying states when it comes to food, drink and health; is it a case of NHS demand management, he wonders?

James Cameron-Wilson discusses the state of the UK box office where the live-action version of The Little Mermaid is in pole position. With some of the CGI making it feel animated, James thought it a mixed bag. He was no more impressed with the Ben Affleck thriller Hypnotic at #5, which he found silly and unworthwhile. He was, though, keen on the French drama Full Time, with Laure Calamy as a harrassed mother coping with a transport strike, which only made #13 in the chart.

Neil Shah of Edison Group talks to Simon Rose about the general state of the markets, where the US and UK are lagging Europe and parts of Asia. The UK is held back by an absence of decent growth while investors are nervous of a possible American recession, deflation and banking problems. In the UK, though, there are always going to be interesting companies able to react to difficult conditions and Neil highlights what is happening at Topps Tiles and Gregg's.

Steve Caplin delves into the world of tech where driverless car rental has just been introduced in Milton Keynes, the cars being delivered by a remote operator. Sweaters are giving robots the sense of touch, Dyson's robot vacuum has 6 times the suck, there's a solution to mice devouring wheat seeds, a great new bird app, a smart cane for the blind, beaming energy from space to earth and progress towards getting astronauts to hibernate.

Welcome to one of Adam Cox's quirky hypnotist sessions based on random generation of place, emotion and words. The place is Evora, a city in Portugal, and the other random elements are all in the title. Hardly a day goes by without someone on the news admitting to shame or expressing anger, so there should be a lot of takers for this episode!

In this conversation, Adam Cox is accompanied by Rhiannon Lambert, a renowned nutritionist, bestselling author, and top-ranking podcast host in the United Kingdom. Together, they delve into research that sheds light on the most cringe-worthy gut-related issues encountered by Brits. Exploring why people often struggle to comprehend how to maintain optimal gut health, they delve into the prevalent myths circulating on popular platforms like TikTok. Rhiannon Lambert, armed with her expertise, shares valuable tips on nurturing and safeguarding gut health.

Join Adam Cox as he engages in conversation with Ronia Fraser, an esteemed survivor of narcissistic abuse who has emerged as the foremost women's trauma recovery coach in the United Kingdom. To mark World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day, they delve into the intricacies of this destructive form of abuse and its profound impact on its victims. They explore the catalyst that ignited Ronia's journey towards coaching and gain insights into the mechanics of her highly effective recovery system. Ronia, equipped with her extensive experience, also imparts valuable guidance on supporting friends and loved ones enduring narcissistic abuse, as well as offering indispensable advice for individuals trapped within such toxic relationships. https://www.roniafraser.com/

Americans are thinking twice before pulling out their wallets, but it’s not affecting retailers equally. Ron Gross and Emily Flippen discuss the debt ceiling resolution, and updates on employment and consumer debt, why Chewy and Five Below continue to see strong results while other retailers are seeing consumer spending slow down, and the numbers behind MongoDB’s blowout earnings release. Then, 19 minutes in, Scott Kassing talks through three high-conviction stock ideas with Sandhill Investment Management’s Richard Ryskalczyk. Plus, 33 minutes in, Emily and Ron discuss Lululemon’s strong earnings report and two stocks on their radar: Compass Minerals and Veeva Systems. Stocks discussed: M, CHWY, FIVE, DG, MDB, LULU, CMP, VEEV. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Emily Flippen, Ron Gross, Richard Ryskalczyk, Scott Kassing

What kind of day has it been? Bill Barker discusses the stock market reacting positively (or not) to the latest narrative around the debt ceiling debate, Nvidia's new all-time high and why we haven't reached "peak AI" yet, listener feedback over the years and the concept of "playing to the back of the room", and a surprise guest (via audio). Plus, 20 minutes in, Chris Hill wraps up his final episode hosting the show with a salute to The Motley Fool's history and founders, the self-driven mentality of the audience, and advice from the late musician Kevin Gilbert. Companies discussed: NVDA. Host - Chris Hill; Guest - Bill Barker

Forget 5% savings rates. Forget 7%. A new regular savings deal has landed paying a headline-grabbing 9%. But, is it actually a good deal? Saffron Building Society aren't the only savings provider pumping up rates, with fixed-rates now hitting 5.25%. And Cash ISAs are back with a bang with a record amount poured into tax-free accounts in March and April. That comes as more savers look to shield their money from the taxman, with more potentially busting their Personal Savings Allowance this year. Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss all things savings and why people should be tracking down better rates. The debate moves on to housing, with one property price index suggesting an annual value fall of 3.4%. So what's going on? Mortgage deals are being pulled left, right and centre and the amount borrowed in new mortgages dips a record low. Where is it all heading? Plus, Lee argues that tech giant Meta needs to listen to big banks and take the huge volume of social media scams more seriously. Helen gives a big update on her Crane on the Case column and the great dishes debate finally resolved: Is it cheaper to wash up by hand or use a dishwasher?