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Steve Caplin looks back over the good, bad, ugly and bonkers of the tech world in 2024. He admired the AI scam-baiting granny, the rocket that eats itself, the underwater kite, butter made from air and the benefits of red wine and dark chocolate. He wasn't keen on Chinese spying air fryers, the flamethrowing robot dog, the airline computer that couldn't cope with a 101-year-old and AI cheating at Diplomacy. And he is still scratching his head at the bike lane sweeper that sits behind the bike and the billionaire who wants to launch a replica Titanic.

Contrarian that he is, Russ Mould of A J Bell was surprised that 2024 turned out pretty much as consensus had it, though few predicted the surge in Bitcoin. Looking ahead to 2025, he wonders what might knock growth and inflation off the rails. He recommends keeping an eye on government debt (growing scarily), world trade flows and tariffs, the dollar (a trade surplus would starve the world of its reserve currency), oil and food prices (important for inflation) and the Magnificent Seven (now so large that they will affect so much else).

Food banks are very busy at this time of year, and Trussell, which co-ordinates and supplies 1,400 of them in the UK with 36,000 volunteers, is particularly active. Its combination of nationwide scalability and local partnerships shows how voluntary and philanthropic contributions can deliver hope in the face of a welfare state which has failed to break the cycle of deprivation over the past fifty years. Is this the model, combined with a more egalitarian form of capitalism, which can provide a more compassionate society, with participation for all? Background music: 'Soul Food' by Chris Haugen Image Source: Trussell

Energy bills are going up in January and are expected to rise again in April, with the push for net zero being partly to blame: but could the hated standing charge be on the way out? Also, with many people opting for cash this Christmas, half of us are having trouble paying in notes and coins — should the Government step in? The team also discuss neighbourly disputes over fences, the best way to give money, and Lee Boyce continues to hold onto his premium bonds.

2024 was another stellar year for investors, but a lot of money is piling into the same places in the U.S. and globally. Bill Mann and Matt Argersinger discuss why 2024 was such a good year for investors, and the concerns they have about valuations and market concentration as they look ahead to 2024, plus the winners and losers of 2024 and the front-page stories you may have forgotten about – the Crowdstrike outage and Yen Carry Trade. Then, 19 minutes in, James Zahn, Editor in Chief at The Toy Book, talks through the toys at the top of wish lists this holiday season and how toymakers and retailers are trying bring value to cash-strapped shoppers. James Zahn’s now-published article on Moxie: https://toybook.com/death-of-moxie-and-the-trouble-with-tech-toys/. Finally, 34 minutes in, Bill and Matt break down two ideas on their radar: Nebius and Cambria Foreign Shareholder Yield. Stocks discussed: NVDA, NBIS, FYLD. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Tim Beyers, Mary Long, Ryan Henderson

As if everything weren’t already enough, Amazon now sells cars. Asit Sharma and Mary Long discuss disruptions to traditional car dealerships. Amazon’s next potential venture, and the rise and fall of GM’s driverless ambitions. Then, 19 minutes in, Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey look at Aercap, an airline leasing company that sees debt as a “raw material.” Companies discussed: AMZN, CVNA, HYMTF, GM, GOOG, GOOGL, AER. Host - Mary Long; Guests - Asit Sharma, Ricky Mulvey, Jim Gillies

If you’re hosting a Christmas bash this year, it’s never been more important to make sure you’re catering to everyone’s dietary requirements and food preferences – and not serving up something that could result in an allergic reaction. But is food labelling and nutritional information clear enough? New research from the public health organisation, NSF, suggests many of us would like things to be a little easier to understand. Joining Adam Cox to discuss this is Katie Glover – food regulations and trading law expert. https://www.nsf.org/

Having resolved the anxiety that can follow a relationship break-up, it's time to look forward. But what sort of person might be right for you? Adam Cox helps by focusing on the missing piece of a puzzle, looking for the characteristics of a complementary fit which will be right for both parties.

James Cameron-Wilson celebrates UK box office being up 38% YoY with 5 films taking £1m. With no new films to review, he turns to the 1954 Edward G. Robinson gangster film noir Black Tuesday. Banned in the UK for its violence, it has been restored on Blu-Ray. Packed with superb extras, it is a forgotten masterpiece. He found Beatles '64, a documentary about the Fab Four on Disney+, slick and engaging. And Simon recommended a glorious garage in Derbyshire where they have restored a Compton cinema organ called Pipes in the Peaks, having attended four concerts there this year.