Share Sounds

Adam Cox is joined by Clar Rosso, CEO from (ISC)2, to discuss research from (ISC)2 which shows the United Kingdom is considerably short on trained IT and security staff, and what effects this is having. They look at why the UK is in this position, and what is being done to address the issues. https://www.isc2.org

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the UK box office, where the latest Marvel film, Eternals, has opened at #1. Spencer, with Kristen Stewart – hotly tipped for award nominations – as Princess Diana, is #6 on only 183 screens. Tom Hanks stars in the post-apocalyptic Finch on Apple while, on Netflix, James reviews Army of Thieves (part of the Army of the Dead franchise) and Passing, written and directed by Rebecca Hall.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, looks behind the 30-year-high numbers for US inflation. CPI is 6.2% but the producer price index is 8.6% with intermediate producer prices up 25% and raw materials climbing 57% year on year. While high energy prices are responsible for some of that, he also points out that the capital investment of the oil majors is, despite the high oil price, at around a 20-year low. He explains the reason behind this (is oil the new tobacco?) but wonders if oil should be written off as an investment just yet.

Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin looks at IT problems at Walker's crisps and how supermarkets are trying to hide empty shelves from shoppers. Heinz have apparently worked out how to produce tomatoes on Mars, Twitter is allowing people to edit tweets (at a price) and Curry's has teamed up with Uber for quick home deliveries. If you've a bored dog, then DogTV is here, aimed at the canine viewer, while lab-grown fish could soon be on the menu. And as COP26 draws to a close, there's news of how to power planes with ammonia, how to clean up the oceans in a more sustainable way and how to remove soot particles from wood fires.

Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the issue of MPs having second jobs and how to prevent paid lobbying. Are the rules fit for purpose? He looks at the issue of Northern Ireland, Lord Frost, whether Article 16 might be triggered and what the consequences could be. And he reflects upon COP26 and expresses optimism that the UK can use technology to show the rest of the world how to achieve a zero-carbon future.

Food banks are providing a vital role to help people this winter, and the Trussell Trust supports more than 1,200 throughout the United Kingdom. In this special episode of The Bigger Picture, their Chief Executive Emma Revie briefs supporters about their progress, and their plans for the future. If you would like to support the extraordinary work undertaken by this charity, please visit https://trusselltrust.org

Adam Cox is joined by Gad Liwerant and Markus Kangas, from My True Ancestry, for Family History Month to discuss how DNA can be used to discover an individual's past, and how we can trace back our ancestors using it. They look at what My True Ancestry is and why connecting to our past is so important.

Did the Bank of England bottle raising interest rates or should a rate rise have never been on the cards in the first place? Inflation is mounting but hiking the base rate will do little to tame soaring energy prices, an oil price spike or the supply crunch. On the other hand, the emergency 0.1 per cent base rate arrived at the start of the coronavirus crisis and the economy looks far better now than was expected then. So where should rates be? And did the Bank of England make the wrong decision for the right reason? On this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Tanya Jefferies and Simon Lambert dissect the Steady Eddie move that got the Bank of England labelled an ‘unreliable boyfriend’ again. Plus, our pension agony uncle Sir Steve Webb joins the podcast to discuss state pension delays and what has happened since he and Tanya Jefferies exposed the situation. And finally, it’s time for some council tax rants… just why is the tax so seemingly crazy and in terms of fixing it, should we be careful what we wish for?

Motley Fool Analyst Eric Bleeker joins us with his advice to avoid getting burned when investing in crypto. Bro interviews Bill Schultheis, author of The Coffeehouse Investor's Ground Rules: Save, Invest, and Plan for a Life of Wealth and Happiness. And we answer your question on picking which stocks to sell when you need the cash to buy a home (or whatever, it’s none of our business).

The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all hit new highs after October’s robust jobs report sent the unemployment rate down to 4.6%. Booking Holdings hits a new high as Airbnb posts record revenue. Peloton takes a hatchet to their guidance, so investors take a hatchet to the stock price. Mercadolibre bounces back with a strong 3rd-quarter report. Andy Cross and Ron Gross analyze those stories, discuss the latest with Zillow Group, Pinterest, Square, Under Armour, Etsy, PayPal, and share two stocks on their radar: Axon Enterprise and Titan International. Plus, Motley Fool analyst Asit Sharma talks with futurist Cathy Hackl about the business potential of the metaverse.