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Modern life is full of distractions: checking for messages, email, news — all these interruptions frequently result in nothing being done. This episode puts forward a technique to help you focus on one thing at a time, using timed periods to achieve a more productive lifestyle. Just getting started is half the battle, but this will help you see your tasks through to completion.

Adam Cox is joined by Professor Sir Cary Cooper and Dr Jorge Palacios, to discuss new research from SilverCloud Health which reveals how employees' mental health has been impacted post-pandemic. They look at the key factors that are detrimental to mental health, and how employers can improve their workers' mental health. https://www.silvercloudhealth.com/uk

Adam Cox is joined by Ian Chards, Gold Expert from Chards Coin and Bullion Dealers, to discuss new research which reveals the publics opinions on the upcoming potential recession. He explains how high inflation rates affect those keeping their savings in a bank, and how gold could be a good alternate investment. https://www.chards.co.uk/

Adam Cox is joined by Jennifer White, from the worldwide animal charity PETA, for Back British Farming Day to discuss how PETA's new campaign plans to support British Farmers. She explains the types of farming PETA would like to see done, and how possible it is for British farmers to grow vegan foods. https://www.peta.org.uk/

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, updates Simon Rose on the latest 0.75% interest rate rises from the US Fed and the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. As he explains, markets have reacted badly, more in response to the statements about the future, than to the rises themselves. He assesses Sainsbury's half-year numbers which show just how difficult times are for the supermarkets, with the discounters becoming ever more of a problem. Although the shares reacted positively, it is after a decline of around 30% over the last year.

Despite the box office declining another 14%, James Cameron-Wilson finds several films worthwhile. At #8 is enjoyable & unpredictable horror Barbarian. Bros, a studio LGBT romcom at #11 has been a financial bomb but James found it witty & compassionate. Hilma, the tale of abstract artist Hilma af Klint is, he thinks, Lasse Hallström's best film and one to seek out. He also admires the intelligent psychological drama The Good Nurse on Netflix with Eddie Redmayne & Jessica Chastain.

Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin talks to Simon Rose about Elon Musk and Twitter, the arrival of magnetic north in the UK, a new data speed record, a robot falcon, how to defeat self-driving cars, the tiniest of tiny TVs, a self-boiling Thermos flask and how Google hopes to develop AI for the top 1,000 (out of 7,000) languages worldwide.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University asks if the IMF is fit for purpose in a world where power and wealth are moving east and where there are now competitors such as China? With Africa due to be home to 40% of humanity by the end of the century, he discusses the remarkable Megalopolis of coastal west Africa, one of the continent's great success stories. And as California is set to overtake Germany in the list of the world's largest economies, he considers why we can't emulate it in the UK.

Following the past few turbulent weeks on stock markets, the launch of a new training course called ‘Investing Basics’ by the UK society for individual shareowners 'ShareSoc' comes at a good time. It will both remind seasoned investors of good practice, and help newbies understand the dynamics of the markets and the potential for good investment. After setting the scene for a fresh look at investing prospects, we invite you to find the links to the ten-video series here, via the webpage version of our Thought for this Week. Share Radio webpage for full commentary and links (incl. the videos): https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-10-31/ Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny

The tense situation between tenants and landlords is escalating: the former have seen rents spiral but the latter have faced a big jump in costs jump too. Meanwhile regulation has become a bugbear between the two sides, is there not enough of it or too much? What can be done to improve things in the rental market and have we come down too hard on buy-to-let? That’s the question asked on this week’s episode, as Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert debate the problems in the rental market. But before that, it’s time for Rishi Sunak. He was once the Chancellor tasked with calming our nerves during the pandemic, but now Rishi is the Prime Minister expected to settle things down after a bout of financial chaos. Will he be able to pull that off, soothe jittery markets, navigate Britain through a painful cost of living crisis winter, and somehow please the nation while taking money off people instead of dishing it out? The team look at what Prime Minister Rishi could mean compared to Chancellor Rishi – and what the implications for our finances could be. Also on the agenda, there was good news for savers from NS&I this week, as rates were raised across the board, but they can get better deals elsewhere, so what should they do? Plus, what can you do to track down old pension pots and why is John Lewis annoying its loyal credit card customers?