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There's no substitute for being invested with skin in the game in the world at large. In this weekend conversation, Co-founders of The Motley Fool Tom and David Gardner explain why. In this discussion the Gardners cover: - How investing fits into the pursuit of becoming smarter, happier, richer - The importance of being a lifelong learner and investor - Using index funds and how to approach buying individual stocks - Two core Motley Fool approaches -- Rule Breaker and Everlasting investing philosophies - Setting the right expectations for returns - Mastering the mindset of investing and managing volatility

Interest rates went up last month and banks and building societies have been busy upping mortgage rates, with Nationwide revealing a raft of rises this week. But while Britain’s biggest society has got off the mark with mortgage rate rises – reflecting December’s Bank of England hike and money market expectations of another move up potentially as early as February – its savings rates remain on the floor. The best easy access savings deal open to all from Nationwide pays just 0.01 per cent and the top no-strings easy access deal offered as a reward to the building society’s own members pays 0.35 per cent. Nationwide isn’t alone, almost all its big building society and banking rivals have also been failing savers for years – and although they blame the low interest rate environment that doesn’t stop them making bumper profits and paying out blockbuster wages to top executives. So, are they diddling savers or do they have any defence? On this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at how and why banks and building societies have failed to meaningfully help savers ever since the financial crisis – and whether there is any hope that things will change? They also discuss what savers can do about it and why an investment expert recommends savers think in three pots to help them cautiously invest for better returns. Also on this week’s podcast, why buy-to-let investors don’t want to be called landlords any more, how to maximise Avios as we enter a potential sweet spot for picking them up, and how to get a pay rise this year. And finally, what does the Fiesta being knocked out of the list of the best-selling cars tell us about the topsy-turvy pandemic inflation economy? A lot more than you might think, Simon explains.

Laith Khalaf of A J Bell explains to Simon Rose why US markets have reacted so badly to the minutes of the last Federal Reserve meeting that they shrugged off last month. He marks the rise of Apple to become the world's first $3 trillion company. Back in the UK, he sees early signs of optimism for the retail sector over the holidays.

James Cameron-Wilson discusses the latest box office numbers with Simon Rose with Spiderman soaring ahead. The King's Man is at #2, West Side Story is up 87% and House of Gucci rises 191%. James also reviews two Netflix titles, Adam McKay's satire Don't Look Up with a stellar cast and awards-hopeful The Lost Daughter with Olivia Colman directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Steve Caplin talks to Simon Rose about the latest tech as Apple becomes the first $3tn company. Blackberry says "goodbye", Tesla recalls half a million cars, Waymo make a taxi with no steering wheel, the world goes mad for the online game Wordle, a water cooler can make water from thin air, there's a lickable TV, goldfish are being trained to drive cars, a Mafia fugitive is caught through Google Street View and a 20-year-old recreates Ceefax.

In the first Bigger Picture of the Year, political commentator Mike Indian talks to Simon Rose about the problems faced by the NHS in dealing with its backlog, about the Government's Plan B for Covid, about rising energy bills and the cost of living generally and about the objections to Tony Blair being awarded a knighthood.

Why should investors be watching fintech, renewable energy, and the “buy now, pay later” industries in 2022? What’s so exciting about home improvement, healthcare, and an increased focus on stakeholders? Do Crown Castle, Costco, and C3ai really have upside potential? Why investors should keep shares of Mondelez, Peloton, and Zillow on a short leash? And should the CEOs at MarketAxess, Zillow, and Alteryx be updating their resumes? Andy Cross, Ron Gross, and Jason Moser tackle those questions and share why they might regret not owning shares of Monday.com, Visa, and Matterport. They also explain why Okta, Home Depot, and Lowe’s are going to surprise investors in the new year, and make some reckless predictions about Twitter, Berkshire Hathaway, and the Metaverse.

One week before our “2022 Preview” show, Chris Hill takes a step back from stocks to share two conversations. Carl Quintanilla may have been distracted as a college student, but he knew that media was in his future. From a small newspaper to The Wall Street Journal, from print journalism to TV, from reporting to anchoring, he’s demonstrated a willingness to try new things and take on challenges like reporting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Chris Diamantopoulos gets recognized on the street for playing over-the-top billionaire Russ Hanneman in HBO’s comedy series “Silicon Valley”. He shares how he got started investing, why he’s enjoying being a judge on the investing reality show “Unicorn Hunters”, and how it is to feel the weight of history as one of the few people to voice Mickey Mouse.

It's safe to say 2021 has been an eventful one for the economy and personal finance – and This Is Money has covered it all. Georgie Frost takes a look back at some of the best bits of the show starring Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Tanya Jefferies and Helen Crane. We talk about investing mistakes and what you can learn from them. How much a lifetime will cost? And what is behind the inflation surge that emerged in the last few months of the year? There is a bit about house prices – naturally – and we chat over our £1bn underpaid state pension victory. And we have a Dragon in the house. Simon catches up with new Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett, who has a hugely successful podcast of his own. He talks through his views on the traditional route to success and why it is outdated. Happy New Year!

James Cameron-Wilson looks back at the cinema year, giving us his top ten of 2021, with Tick Tick Boom! taking top spot. He sums up the current thinking on those films that could win the top awards, with a surprising contender a favourite for Best Film Oscar. He also looks ahead to 2022, giving us a run-down of the big blockbuster films heading to cinema screens in the new year.