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Richard Newman is an expert in communication and founder of corporate communications consultancy Body Talk. He helps coach a diverse range of individuals - celebrities for TV interviews through to political figures. He's won awards for his work, including the Cicero Grand Prize award for Best International Speechwriter - the most coveted award in the world of speech-writing. Two years later, he worked with UCL on scientific research in communication which was published by the Journal of Psychology. He's also the author of new guide 'You Were Born to Speak'. He says he realised the power of communication when he was forced to take part in a debate at an all-girls school when he 'froze on the spot.'

This episode is a special edition of Policy Matters, looking back at some of the highlights from the last year. We revisit our discussions of social mobility in general and the role of vocational education in particular, along with more recent conversations on the economics of crime and the economics of happiness. Franz and Matt will be back with more episodes of Policy Matters in 2019.

Highlights from four of this year’s interviews consider the theme of 'discrimination and disadvantage’. We have some 'Christmas Cheer’, as the interviews show how far we have come to improve the situation of women, people from ethnic minority groups, LGBT communities and young people from poorer backgrounds. However, the first interview with Dr Jo Blanden, shows how hard it is to make further improvements to the early years experiences of young people. In the second interview with Prof. Emma Parry, we see how research investigating generational differences risks stereotyping different age groups. Prof. Lisa Webley sets out the various waves of policy that have attempted to improve the situation of women and other groups facing discrimination, and continuing challenges faced by the Law profession, where improvements have been glacial in recent years. Finally, in the interview with Vicky Pryce, we see where this debate can lead - if things are not getting better with current approaches, Vicky argues that for women we need to consider the 'nuclear option' of quotas. These are the challenges for our New Year!

One underexplored aspect of the global economy in recent decades has been an explosion in the creation, issuing and enforcement of regulations. But is this emerging regulatory state necessary in the modern age, both to protect consumers and adapt to the changing needs of contemporary trade - or is this weight of regulation excessive and harmful to competition? Some even argue that such rules - often issued by unelected officials and removed from the electorate - represent a threat to democracy itself? Britain’s withdrawal from the EU has revived interest in these issues, since the UK may soon be extricating itself from a weight of historic regulatory rules dating back to the Maastricht Treaty. Yet increasing regulation is actually part of a global trend, with the US, China, and to a lesser extent, Japan also defining the trade landscape through their different regimes. Today, the IEA's Head of Education Dr Steve Davies makes the case that the regulatory state, and its push for harmonisation, is damaging competition. Back in 1970s Europe, he argues, you could determine good regulations from the bad by monitoring each country’s individual rules and regulations and learning from best practice. On our podcast today, Steve and the IEA’s Associate Director Kate Andrews discuss these topics and more.

Adam reviews some of Modern Mindset episodes in this Christmas edition of the show.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University takes a look at the government's immigration proposals and reveals that, on the subject of immigration, he himself is to the left of Jeremy Corbyn. He also discusses a Fabian Society paper about extradition rights and the EAW after Brexit and looks ahead to 2019, which will be a massive year for elections around the world.

Ian Forrest of The Share Centre looks back at the shock news from Asos, as well as Boohoo's more encouraging statement. He looks at numbers from Petrofac and GlaxoSmithKline's healthcare merger with Pfizer. He discusses the latest inflation and retail sales numbers and the Bank of England's decision to keep interest rates unchanged, unlike the US Fed.

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the new leader of the UK box office, Aquaman, disappointed that it beat Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to the top slot, a movie he considers far superior. He is less than impressed with Mortal Engines, debuting at #5. He points out that while only 4 films made over £40m in UK cinemas last year, this year over 8 have exceeded that take with overall attendance the highest since 1971. James also has a look at the nominations announced for the London Film Critics Circle awards.

Steve Caplin looks back at some of the most notable gadgets & gizmos of 2018. He reminds us of some of the tech disasters, looks at some of his favourite gadgets and highlights some impressive innovations. So, as well as the council that forgot to ask itself for planning permission for charging benches, we get jet suits, printed food, car windows for blind passengers, self-parking slippers, edible QR codes, contactless buskers and, of course, cuboid wombat poo's implications for manufacturing.

Nobody can escape the Brexit bedlam that has been playing out before our eyes, especially in the last week. In between backstops, trade deals, Norway, contempt of parliament, no-confidence, withdrawing withdrawal votes… what is really going on? Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost discuss Brexit in the latest This is Money podcast. Are we going to leave? Should we really have a second referendum and can you do anything to Brexit-proof your cash? We talk it all through in our Brexit special. Outside the Brexit bubble, we look into those DNA self-testing kits being plugged by a number of firms as the perfect Christmas gift – could you get more than you bargained for? Simon reveals the best and worst performing funds of 2018 so far, in Top of the Pops fashion and Lee runs down the clever apps from challengers looking to encourage the savings habit.