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Shoppers may need to switch from steak to bologna, but they still need to eat. That’s just one reason for investors to watch consumer staples if you’re concerned about a recession. Richard Bernstein is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Richard Bernstein Advisors. Before that he was the Chief Investment Strategist at Merrill Lynch. Motley Fool Senior Analyst John Rotonti caught up with Bernstein to discuss how growth stories can change through time, sectors showing the power of compounding dividends, and if a “Fed Put” still exists. Host - John Rotonti Guest - Richard Bernstein

This episode is all about avoiding avoidance: helping to tackle the sense of retreat brought on by anxiety. Returning to work after a period of illness is just one such challenge — but challenges of all kinds can cause inaction. Adam Cox shows how the best way to approach such fears is to treat physical anxiety as a reason to take action, not to avoid it. We soon discover that anxiety is indeed a mirage, which melts away in front of action.

Adam Cox is joined by Cameron Parry, Founder and CEO of TallyMoney, to discuss new research which reveals the level of understanding Brits have around inflation and how banks work. They look at the potential risks of keeping money in a traditional bank, and Cameron explains how TallyMoney can help. https://www.tallymoney.com/

Adam Cox is joined by Gemma Mills, from JOMO Club, to discuss research that suggests how much alcohol Brits are planning on drinking this Christmas, and why people may be consuming less. She gives some ideas on alcohol-free alternatives, and what the "Joy of Missing Out" is. https://jomoclub.co.uk/

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University suggests ways in which the UK can return to growth and compete internationally, but wonders which government – if any – will do what is necessary. He discusses the mindless vandalism of cracking down on overseas students. And he considers whether China's increasing economic woes will benefit India, the world's biggest democracy.

James Cameron-Wilson casts his eye over a lacklustre box office, despite 5 new films in the top 10 places. At #1 is Matilda the Musical, which James thought might be the worst musical he's ever seen, unsubtle, unengaging and with no sense of reality. He was unimpressed with Disney animation Strange World at #3. But he was full of praise for She Said (#4), about sexual harassment in Hollywood, starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan.

Steve Caplin fills Simon Rose in on the latest tech developments, after commemorating 50 years of Pong. There's a backlash against Tesla drivers over Elon Musk, Alexa turning kids' ideas into animated stories, remote control worms, San Francisco's killer robots, circuits printed on contact lenses, vegan honey, the first hydrogen jet engine test and ride-on suitcases for adults.

Victoria Scholar of Interactive Investor talks to Simon Rose about the reasons behind the recent better performance for markets around the world and the recent losses for the dollar. Although the outlook for the UK economy looks fairly bleak at present, it feels – as far as markets are concerned – as if the Santa rally has come early this year.

Even if Putin were to succeed in his barbarous land-grabbing attempt, what would he inherit? A land where almost all facilities of civilisation are being bombed into oblivion, inhabited by a people filled with disgust and distrust for the Kremlin autocracy: and, bearing in mind that an estimated 11 million Russians have family in Ukraine and the close cultural relationship between their two countries, this disgust and distrust will be shared by much of the Russian population. Meanwhile the young generation is of course the most impacted by conflict, which is almost always initiated by old men. So the pointlessness of war is not lost on these young generations, whose high level of communication and mobility also gives rise to a much better understanding of the need for global interconnectivity. Background Music: 'Breathing Planet' by Doug Maxwell

Savings and mortgage rates rocketed after what must now always be known as the 'ill-fated mini-Budget', but even as the Bank of England continues to raise rates have they already peaked. The top fixed rate savings deals have edged down from their highest levels - a five-year fix can no longer be had above 5%, for example, while the best two year fix is at 4.75%. So, if you want to lock into a good savings deal, should you grab one now? Or did rates simply race ahead of the Bank of England and the next round of base rate rises will bump them up some more? Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert look at the potential future of savings rates and why even if they are slightly off their peak, you should still move your money from old accounts. But if a dip in the top savings rates is bad, the easing of mortgage rates is good news. Average two and five-year fixed rates rocketed all the way to above 6.5%. The best five-year fix is now down to 5.95%. But this is still way higher than it was, so where will mortgage rates settle and is it worth holding off? The team discuss that and the implication for both house prices and first-time buyers. And finally, an energy double header: on a serious note, the energy price cap (which we won't pay due to the energy price guarantee) has jumped again, this time to £4,279 for the average household over a year. If we won't pay that, why does this matter? And on a lighter note, what happened when Harry Wallop (who refuses to let his family turn the heating on) tried out a bunch of oddball devices designed to warm the person not the room, ranging from an odd foot warmer, to a heated gilet, and a wearable sleeping bag that makes you look a bit like a crazy caterpillar?