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Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University examines how Europe will cope as it tries to reduce its energy dependence upon Russia. He looks at an article on what those at the top of the Conservative Party profess to believe against their actions and whether Conservatism is ideological or pragmatic. And in the light of America's resurfacing divide on the subject of abortion, he considers why there is so little debate on the subject in the UK.

James Cameron-Wilson marvels at Downton Abbey: A New Era, a British film with the second widest opening of all time in the UK. To his surprise, after the disappointment of the first film, he found it beautifully-crafted, funny, moving and even occasionally exciting and had the best time he can recall in the cinema for ages. However, it only managed £3m at the weekend, presumably as its target "grey pound" audience is fighting shy. He also recommends an amazing documentary currently on BBC iPlayer called Navalny about the Russian opposition leader which includes extraordinary insights into Putin and those who tried to assassinate Navalny. He finishes by giving us the top 5 inflation-adjusted movies in the UK of all time.

Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin tells Simon Rose about how Space X is using helicopters to catch its booster rockets - and then drop them! Also the e-buses catching fire in Paris, faster charging for lithium batteries, how to map the moon, a robot that can jump 100 feet, street lights powered by passing cars, AR glasses for the deaf, making better chocolate and how to avoid leaving your baby in the car.

The Nasdaq fell 5%, continuing a rough year for investors. Andy Cross discusses the short-term pain being felt by all investors, including us; Shopify's 1st-quarter results looking similar to Amazon's; Deliverr, the logistics company Shopify just bought for $2.1 billion; and EPAM Systems, the IT services provider that surprised investors with a strong 1st quarter. Plus, Jim Gillies talks with Ricky Mulvey about MTY Food Group, a Canadian food franchisor small cap with potential.

The Theos Think Tank has demonstrated that the ‘angry hostility towards religion engineered by the new atheist movement is over' in their report ‘Science and Religion: moving away from the shallow end’. This shows how young people are increasingly open to exploring the meaning of life, and prepared to explore the bridge between science and faith. This commentary brings out some of the key points emerging from their work and provides insights from economics and the book of Ecclesiastes in order to argue that the best way to tackle these dilemmas is through the application of logic. The background music is the track 'Resolution' by Wayne Jones. There are a wide range of links from the webpage version of the commentary, which can be accessed at https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-05-03/

Is there any point trying to save when inflation is so high? Interest rates are rising and savers can now get a far better return than a year ago, but compare those rates to inflation and they are losing even more money. So why bother? That's the question that Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert tackle in this podcast. From what the best rates are and where you can get them, to why you should avoid what Simon calls your bank or building society's 'insult account' – with a special mention for Nationwide - and how to turn a savings habit into an investing one that should hopefully get you a better return, the podcast team talk all things saving. Also on the agenda: where are the best places to start investing a small amount, and why that has got so much easier in recent years? Simon shares a bit of behind the scenes knowledge on investing platforms and why they are pushing so hard for new investors – and gives some tips on getting started the easy way. But not everyone will be feeling like they have money to stash away right now: the cost of living crisis is seeing people cut back, the ONS, revealed this week – and that's before most bills spiked. Where are they cutting back and is there anything we can do to help them? (Bonkers two-year MOT ideas excluded). And finally - just when you thought printing at home couldn't get any worse, printer firms came up with a way to make it better… and then made it worse.

Office Hours: Valuing ETFs, Investing For Kids, and Creating Dividends. Got questions? We've got answers! John Rotonti and Robert Brokamp answer audience questions about investing in ETFs, cash management, measuring risk, and more. Bonus resource - https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/07/16/do-you-have-an-investing-checklist.aspx

Are you worried about going back to an earlier addiction - like smoking - that you've given up? For many people who've stopped smoking, there's a nagging worry that they may start again: either due to stress or an occasional social dropping of that internal guard which threatens their new non-smoker identity. This episode uses the metaphor of mechanical scales to strengthen the determination to resist a return to a previous addiction, and to solidify a decision about change for the better.

Adam Cox is joined by freelance technology and travel journalist, Chris Price, to discuss the new Avast Digital Citizenship Report and what it reveals about digital literacy across different age groups. He explains why digital literacy is so important for people's lives, and how Brits can improve their understanding of what is real and what isn't online. www.avast.com

Adam Cox is joined by TV vet, Dr Bolu Eso, to discuss new research from Butternut Box which reveals the 5 types of dog owners. He explains how important it is for owners to understand their dog's health, and he gives advice to listeners on how best to care for their pet. www.butternutbox.com