Business Daily

In India’s villages, innovation is being born from necessity. From a fridge made of clay, to silk fashioned from lotus stems, to smart devices helping blind farmers manage their land, we meet the country’s grassroots innovators.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Devina Gupta(Picture: A lotus flower. Credit: BBC)

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

We’re in Helsinki where Europe’s biggest campus for startup companies is being built. What role could it play as Finland strives to create the continent’s most supportive environment for new businesses? We’ll look at some of the challenges the country’s facing as it competes for global investment and tech talent. And hear from Sweden - does it see Finland taking its start-up crown anytime soon?If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Maddy Savage(Picture: Turkish entrepreneur Lalin Keyvan, who's founded a startup in Finland. Credit: BBC)

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

Thousands of businesses have 'spun-out' from universities - so is this an opportunity for further growth? The model has seen great success in the US, leading to booming commercial ventures such as Dropbox, iRobot, and Boston Dynamics. And now the UK government has plans for further investment in spin-outs from Oxford and Cambridge. But what evidence exists that this approach can be as effective in other parts of the world? And as global economies strive for growth, will there be competition for talent and investment?If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Sam Fenwick(Image: Oxford University in the UK)

Transcribed - Published: 13 April 2025

From noticing a gap in the market, to launching a start-up with her husband, CEO Julia Hartz tells us how she's built Eventbrite to become one of the biggest event ticketing platforms in the world, distributing 272 million tickets to more than 1.7 million global events in 2024. The online site enables users to buy tickets to all kinds of community gatherings; with almost one-million creators publishing get-togethers like, cooking classes, yoga sessions and cold-water plunging. Julia shares how the company has dealt with challenging economic climates, the scourge of surge pricing, and how it's adapting to new ways of bringing the world together offline. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: Julia Hartz. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

Colombia has emerged as the world's second-biggest exporter of cut flowers, and the largest supplier to the United States. Local growers suffered a scare this year when US president Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs of 50% on imports from Colombia. The dispute was quickly resolved but, even so, the threat of tariffs remains. And the sector faces other challenges, particularly around sustainability. We visit a flower farm in Colombia and go to Bogota airport to see how the country exports this most delicate and perishable of goods. We also talk to an academic who says the industry is changing rapidly, with an emphasis on growing flowers locally rather than flying them around the world. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Gideon Long(Picture: A female employee handling roses at a flower farm, Flores de los Andes, near Bogotá, Colombia. Credit: BBC)

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

A shortage of workers is leading some retailers to forgo hiring altogether. The number of unmanned, or staff-less stores in South Korea has grown rapidly in recent years - from ice cream shops to bustling cafes and bars.We explore how these unmanned stores operate and if they can offer a solution to the country’s demographic problems. Is this the answer for business to keep things running when there aren’t enough people to work? Producer/presenter: David Cann(Image: An unmanned bar in Seoul, South Korea)

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

A shortage of workers is leading some retailers to forgo hiring altogether. The number of unmanned, or staff-less stores in South Korea has grown rapidly in recent years - from ice cream shops to bustling cafes and bars.We’ll explore how these unmanned stores operate and if they can offer a solution to the country’s demographic problems.Is this the answer for business to keep things running when there aren’t enough people to work? Produced and presented by David Cann(Image: An unmanned bar in Seoul, South Korea)

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

The country is facing a labour shortage following decades of low birth rate and depopulation.By the year 2032, it’s estimated South Korea will need more than 890,000 additional workers to maintain the country’s long term economic growth goal of 2%.But with 95% of the country’s population identifying as ethnically Korean, the public opinion on immigration is mixed.In the second of our three-part series looking at South Korea’s low birth rate and population decline, we ask if the immigration can fill the gap in labour, and what the challenges are.Produced and presented by David Cann.(Image: A worker from the Philippines holding a baby in South Korea. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2025

South Korea has grappled with an unprecedented decline in birth rate over the past nine years.However the latest figures show a slight rise in the number of babies born. Although the number remains low, the news is being welcomed with cautious optimism. The increase follows years of pro-parent policies and heavy investment by the government and businesses.In the first of our three-part series looking at South Korea’s low birth rate and population decline, we look into the efforts it took to achieve this turnaround, and find out how the number got so low in the first place.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by David Cann(Image: A mum and child in South Korea. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2025

In its 50th anniversary year, we chart Microsoft's history and look at where the tech giant is heading into the future. It's one of the world's biggest companies - we get exclusive access to the Seattle HQ.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Zoe Kleinman Producers: Imran Rahman-Jones, Georgina Hayes and Rumella Dasgupta(Picture: A Microsoft sign is seen outside the company headquarters on July 3, 2024 in Redmond, Washington. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

Two years ago, boxing was on the ropes. Fans were fed up, and rival promoters were playing the blame game, as egos, finances and broadcaster commitments got in the way.Now, it's all changed, largely thanks to investment from Saudi Arabia. We head to the boxing ring to look at the revival of this global sport – and find out whether the Kingdom's increasing involvement in sport is being universally welcomed.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Matt Lines(Image: Britain's Tyson Fury (red) and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk (blue) compete during their heavyweight world championship rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on December 22, 2024. Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

More than 30 million pilgrims are expected to visit The Vatican city this year, to pass through the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica, opened especially for 2025. In the Italian capital Rome, which surrounds The Vatican, officials have been planning for years to accommodate the extra tourists, including major disruption for locals, but three months in business leaders are reporting that figures are down 15% on the previous year.The city's hotel association says accommodation rates are being lowered in the hope it will encourage more non-Jubilee visitors who may have been put off travelling.But other businesses are cashing in - we hear from faith based tourist groups around the world who say they are doubling their bookings to Rome. Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney(Image: Faithful carry a wooden cross on Via della Conciliazione in Rome during the pilgrimage route to the Holy Door of St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican, as part of the Catholic Jubilee Year, on 22/02/25. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

We’re in Helsinki to find out why this small, cold, Nordic capital is spawning growing numbers of technologies designed to help countries protect and defend themselves against war.We meet some of the Finnish defence tech and dual-use start ups attracting global interest, hear why these sorts of businesses have become more attractive for European investors, and dig into the challenges facing the sector.Presented and produced by Maddy Savage(Image: A Kelluu airship flying over snowy fields. Image credit: Kelluu)

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

Restrictions and government assistance varied, but for small business owners the challenges were similar.Five years on, we hear from three entrepreneurs about their experiences - the manager of a tourism company in Tanzania, a bar owner in England, and a former gym owner in the US. What have they learnt? And has it changed the way the operate and make decisions?If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Sam Fenwick Producer: Josh Martin(Image: A coffee shop owner serves a customer in the US. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2025

The CEO of the Italian luxury car maker tells Business Daily how his background in physics and electronics is helping him lead the company through unprecedented change, as the furious scream of high-powered petrol engines gradually gives way to the whisper of clean but quiet electric motors. How can Ferrari stay relevant in a rapidly changing world?If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Theo Leggett Producer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari, sitting in the company's Mayfair dealership in London, in front of a car. Credit: BBC)

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

We're in Greece to find out what challenges await the new IOC president Kirsty Coventry - the first woman and first African to hold the most powerful role in sport.The IOC faces several challenges, including the issue of paying prize money to athletes, finding a host for the 2036 Summer games and climate change.There are also questions around the future of boxing as an Olympic sport and securing future revenues with NBC's multi-billion dollar deal due to expire after the Brisbane games in 2032 and other sponsorship deals up for renewal.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Alex Capstick(Image: Kirsty Coventry reacts as she delivers a speech after being elected as the new IOC President on Day Two of the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session on March 20, 2025 in Costa Navarino, Greece. Credit: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2025

Despite its growing popularity and its success as a global export, the industry is facing a number of challenges. We found out how the South American country is adapting.Produced and presented by Jane Chambers(Image: Workers processing salmon. Credit: Multi Planta)

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

'Made in Canada': Words that are now a common sight on Canadian shelves, after Donald Trump's tariffs sparked a trade war with the country.The US president has imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada. Trump has also vowed to impose a sweeping range of "reciprocal" tariffs on 2 April.North of the United States' border, the trade dispute has generated a wave of patriotism, with some consumers and businesses boycotting American products. But what impact has it had on business? In this programme, we hear from the Canadian firms choosing to bring operations back to Canada and learn about the hurdles along the way.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton(Picture: An employee covers a stack of aluminum billets with plastic. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2025

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stopping USAID projects worldwide, saying he wants overseas spending decisions to align with his election policy to "put America first". USAID is the US government's main overseas aid agency and it administers humanitarian aid programmes on behalf of the US government. It has bases in more than 60 countries and works in dozens of others. However, most of the work on the ground is carried out by other organisations that are contracted and funded by USAID.The vast majority of projects have been abruptly halted. But what has this decision meant for the people who relied on them? From Kenya’s Lake Victoria to Nairobi’s slums, we explore the profound impact on lives, businesses, and livelihoods.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick(Image: Little boy walking on railroad tracks with Kibera slum in the background. Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

Sim Tshabalala is the CEO of one of Africa's largest banks, Standard Bank. In this edition of Business Daily, he tells Ed Butler about his journey from growing up under apartheid in South Africa, to be becoming a lawyer, then investment banker.He discusses the risks of lending to companies; how the continent is improving its trade relationships; and what he thinks the future of Africa will look like.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Ed Butler Producer: Amber MehmoodAdditional material: Reuters/British Pathé(Picture: Sim Tshabalala, CEO of Standard Bank Group, speaks at Semafor's The Next 3 Billion Summit at The Pierre Hotel on September 24, 2024 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

We hear from a Sri Lankan woman who was trafficked and forced to conduct illegal online activity, including cyber fraud against vulnerable victims. Aneka Boram is one of thousands of people who've recently escaped from so-called scam centres. She talks about her captivity and describes the harsh punishments and conditions she was forced to work in. The scam centres are offices inside Myanmar or Cambodia, where people have been forced to work scamming internet users from around the world.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Ed Butler(Image: Aneka Boram)

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Many prominent US companies have been pulling back on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.US President Donald Trump and his allies have regularly attacked DEI policies. When he returned to the White House in January, President Trump ordered government agencies to eliminate such initiatives - and it appears some of the country's biggest corporations are following suit.Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Lexy O'Connor(Image: Hands holding "equality for all" cardboard sign". Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

Thousands of oil and gas rigs are becoming redundant around the world – and taking them out of service, known as decommissioning, is a multi-billion dollar business. It’s also a complex operation beset by sometimes opposing interests. In this programme, we meet the makers of the world’s biggest ship - a machine at the cutting edge of rig removal, and the visit the port that can recycle over 95% of a rig. As concerns grow over delays to decommissioning in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico, we look into whether enough progress is being made with removing old rigs around the world.Produced and presented by Laura Heighton-Ginns(Image: The Brent Bravo topside oil platform is transported on the barge ‘Iron Lady’ into the mouth of the River Tees on route to the Able UK Seaton Port site for decommissioning on June 20, 2019 in Teesport, England. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2025

More than a year after a change in government, businesses are closing, unemployment is rising and workers are leaving for neighbouring Australia. As New Zealand's recession continues, uncertainty remains. So what is the government's plan? And could there be brighter times ahead? Produced and presented by Alexander van Wel(Image: Workers repairing the road in Auckland. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2025

The international gaming giant has more than 80 million daily users, and is hugely popular with children.It was started by Dave Baszucki and Erik Cassel, and Dave Baszucki is now CEO.In his first ever BBC interview, he tells us about developing the game, the struggle to monetize it, and concerns over child safety - Mr Baszucki insists Roblox is vigilant in protecting its users. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Zoe Kleinman Producers: Georgina Hayes and Imran Rahman-Jones

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2025

Dr Joachim Nagel isn't just Germany's chief central banker, he's one of the most powerful economic policy-makers in Europe.In this exclusive interview, he tells Business Daily how he thinks Germany, and the European Union as a whole, should be responding to a time of unprecedented economic peril.It's a shaky time for the world's third-largest economy, which has been experiencing stagnant growth for five years. As a trade war between Europe and the US escalates, what does the future look like for Germany?If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Ed Butler Analysis: Faisal Islam, BBC economics editor Producers: Olie D'Albertanson and Elisabeth Mahy(Image: Joachim Nagel, president of Deutsche Bundesbank in Jan 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2025

The internet is where much of our modern cultural, societal and political history is stored, but as researchers are discovering, the internet has a big memory problem. Without businesses paying to keep servers and archives up, more and more of our history online is disappearing forever. We take a look at what this so called 'link rot' means for our collective understanding.Produced and presented by Frey Lindsay(Image: A man looking confused at his phone. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2025

The south of France is among thousands of places around the world that now stage ultramarathons: extreme running events covering anything above 26.2 miles to more than 100. They often take place on challenging terrain and require considerable physical and mental resilience. And they've become big business.To find out more, Business Daily went to the Nice Côte d'Azur 100-mile race to speak to runners and organisers about the popularity of these sorts of events, and how they make money. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by John Laurenson(Picture: Woman and man running in a forest in the dark. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2025

An hour’s drive north of Buenos Aires is Pilar, a municipality that houses the largest industrial park in Argentina, as well as a population of 400,000. Some rich and middle class Argentines live in its many gated communities, but Pilar has a poverty rate of almost 60% - well above the national figure. We speak to residents and businesses about libertarian President Javier Milei's first year in office.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Natalio Cosoy(Picture: Argentina's President Javier Milei looks on during the inauguration of the 143rd ordinary session of Congress at the National Congress in Buenos Aires on March 1, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2025

We speak to three businesswomen working in traditionally male-dominated sectors.Anna Mareschi Danieli from the Italian-based global steel company Danieli group. Caroll Masevhe, founder of a women-only construction business - Kapcor construction, in Johannesburg; and Patty Eid from Petrofac, a leader in the Middle East’s oil and gas industry. Produced and presented by Sam Fenwick(Image: L-R Patty Eid, Anna Mareschi Danieli, Caroll Masevhe)

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

Unlike 'mega-influencers' with huge audiences on social media, 'micro' and 'nano-influencers' have far fewer followers. But small can be mighty in this business. These lower-profile influencers have anywhere between 250 and 10,000 followers, but businesses are increasingly turning to more niche, content creators in a bid to get more authentic engagement. We hear how they're redefining the way brands are connecting with consumers. Micro-influencers Kadide Francy, in Kenya, and Jerlyn De Silva, in India, reveal what kind of money they make from these collaborations. And East African Brewery marketing manager, Kanye Kiuru, tells us how using these kinds of influencers led to a hugely successful marketing campaign for the company.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Izzy Greenfield(Picture: Kadide Francy, a lifestyle micro-influencer in Kenya. Credit: Kadide Francy)

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2025

The fruit is a beloved staple of the African country's cuisine, and a key export.But is there a missed opportunity when it comes to Ugandan matoke, or bananas?We speak to entrepreneurs who are making banana wine, fertilizers and hair extensions - adding value for local and international markets.Produced and presented by Zawadi Mudibo(Image: A man drives a motorcycle carrying matoke in Kampala, Uganda in June 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2025

For most people travelling abroad by plane, the airport experience can feel fairly nondescript - something to be endured rather than enjoyed. But for those with certain credit cards, a luxury experience awaits. Around the world, card issuers are spending large amounts of money building high-end lounges in airports and prime city centre locations, in a bid to attract and keep customers. And their attempts are getting more and more extravagant. But who’s paying for all of this? If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Rowan Bridge(Picture: Dining area at the American Express Centurion New York restaurant in New York, US, occupying the 55th floor of the One Vanderbilt skyscraper. Credit: Getty Images/Bloomberg)

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2025

We hear from businesses in California, Fiji and the UK that have been hit hard by natural disasters like floods, wildfires and extreme storms - followed by rising insurance premiums - or companies refusing to insure them at all. An alternative type of cover, parametric insurance, is being offered as a way of giving people some cover. But does it work for everyone? If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Lexy O'Connor(Image: A view of flash flood in Daddu district southern Sindh province, Pakistan, on September 07, 2022. Credit: Farhan Khan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2025

We’re in Budapest to find out how Hungary – once a Soviet satellite state – is now one of the world’s top film destinations, with movie-makers seduced by the central European country's generous tax breaks and incentives. Academy Award nominees this year, The Brutalist and Dune 2, were filmed here – plus 2024 Oscar winner, Poor Things.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Wayne Wright(Picture: Actors perform a scene of the movie "Hunyadi" (Rise of the Raven) during the opening ceremony of Hungary's National Film Institute's new studio complex in Fot, close to the capital Budapest, during the complex's inauguration on January 30, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Published: 28 February 2025

Pokémon started as a hugely successful game for Nintendo’s Gameboy nearly 30 years ago. Since then, it's become a billion-dollar global media brand. Despite the firm's huge revenue, the Pokémon Company remains private. The firm doesn’t release its historical earnings figures, but some analysts estimate it has sold up to $150 billion worth of products, making it the world’s highest grossing media franchise. Mariko Oi speaks to Pokémon Company president, Tsunekazu Ishihara, about the firm's successes over the years, and the challenges it faces - like counterfeits and the resale market. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Mariko Oi(Picture: Pokemon CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara welcomes guests during the 2022 Pokémon World Championships at ExCel, London, UK. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2025

We look at how to rescue brands on the brink. We hear inspired sloganeering and learn about the audacious marketing that have helped companies – even towns and cities – to turn their reputations around.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]/presenter: David Reid(Photo: A businessman covers his eyes and extends his arm to prevent a series of heavy walls from falling on him. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2025

The outsourcing sector in the Philippines has seen significant growth, positioning itself as a global leader. However, the rise of AI technologies is reshaping the job landscape, potentially displacing traditional roles. In the second part of our series looking at the Philippine economy, Sam Fenwick investigates how the government is adapting to the change by investing in infrastructure and promoting foreign investment.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]/presenter: Sam Fenwick Additional reporting: Camille Elemia(Picture: Customer agents sit behind computers on the AI training in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

The estimated 2.3 million Filipino overseas workers form the economic backbone of their nation. The remittances they send home are vital; sustaining household incomes, driving consumer spending, supporting community development, and ensuring national economic stability - contributing 8.5% to GDP.In the first of our two-part series looking at the Philippine economy, Sam Fenwick meets overseas workers who send money home and those who have returned to set up businesses.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]/presenter: Sam Fenwick(Picture: Angel Kho, a head chef, in the kitchen of a care home in the UK. Credit: BBC)

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

Could Germany benefit from drastic Javier Milei-style reforms? One business owner in Berlin thinks so, and many others want a reduction in the amount of bureaucracy bosses are responsible for. As a federal election takes place in Germany, members of the Mittelstand, Germany’s famous small and medium-sized businesses known as the “backbone” of the country's economy, tell Business Daily what a new government could do for them. Theo Leggett travels to a science and research park on the outskirts of Berlin where the boss of an underwater robot company and other tech businesses are based. There's a lot of innovation happening in the buildings, but confidence in politics is low. And Anouk Millet looks at the Hamburg businesses trying to modernise and forge a path towards an uncertain future. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Theo Leggett Producer: Hannah Bewley Reporter: Anouk Millet (Image: Fabian Bannasch, CEO of Evologics,holding a robotic "penguin". Credit: BBC)

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

Germany's once mighty motor industry is losing momentum, as high costs, low demand and competition from Chinese firms take a heavy toll on company profits.With elections in a few days' time, we ask, what do Germany's politicians need to do to put the industry on the road to recovery?If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Theo Leggett(Picture: View of the production plant of the Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2025

Cosplay is the ultimate form of fancy dress – with fans of graphic novels and video games doing everything they can to emulate their favourite fictional characters. And it's a big money-spinner globally.We find out why the hobby has grown so much over the past two decades – and meet those who’ve turned their passion for cosplay into a career.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Will Chalk(Picture: Cosplayers pose as Star Wars characters during New York Comic Con 2024, in New York City. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

The festival of Kumbh Mela is estimated to attract 400 million Hindus and other visitors from around the world. The 45-day festival is a massive economic engine, injecting billions in the economy of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which is hosting the event. And this year, it is a Grand Mela, which only happens once every 144 years. From big businesses to street vendors and hotel owners, to major brands and digital entrepreneurs, all are looking to cash in on the influx of visitors.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and produced by Devina Gupta(Image: Shoppers next to a toy stall at Kumbh Mela in 2023. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2025

How to make a battery powered plane that can fly long distances, whilst carrying passengers, is a key challenge facing the aviation sector.As the world tries to reduce its consumption of fossil fuels, researchers are looking to make flight more sustainable to deal with ever growing demands. We hear about some pioneering projects in the Netherlands which are trying to do all of this, whilst still being commercially viable.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected] and presented by Matthew Kenyon(Image: A render of Dutch start up Elysian's fully electric regional aircraft, which it says will have a range of 500 miles. Credit: Elysian)

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2025

We speak to a boss whose business has bulked up on the global wellness trend.Tom Ryder got into fitness supplements as a side-hustle when he was a scaffolder for Liverpool City Council — now he runs Applied Nutrition, which is valued at more than £350million.He tells Sean Farrington how growing up with his grandparents in public housing shaped his entrepreneurial spirit.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Sean Farrington Producer: Josh Martin(Image: Tom Ryder)

Transcribed - Published: 14 February 2025

The digital nomad lifestyle sounds like a dream - working from a beach in Bali or a café in Barcelona. But how do you actually make it happen? In this episode, we meet the people who’ve taken the plunge and hear about the ups and downs of life on the move. Hear from employers managing a remote global workforce and investigate why the lifestyle isn’t always what you see on social media.Plus - we also look at the tax implications.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected](Picture: Woman sitting by a beach, looking at her laptop. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Sam Gruet

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2025

Reusable bottles are everywhere – on your desk at work, at the gym, on a day out, doing a job in the fight against single-use plastic. But if we have multiple versions of refillable water bottles, are they just becoming fast fashion? The global, refillable water bottle industry is worth $10 billion and it is growing at a rate of about 5% a year. Several brands have become household names with international offices across continents. But these types of bottles are energy-intensive. Research suggests manufacturing a single reusable bottle can produce more emissions than producing a single-use plastic version, but that it works out better for the environment once it has been used multiple times. We look at the enormous growth in refillable bottles, and how celebrities and influencers have driven sales.Producer/presenter: Rick Kelsey(Photo: A young woman drinks from a water bottle in Central Park, NYC. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

We’re in the Central American country to hear a tale of two lakes. One, Lake Amatitlan, is badly polluted and there's concerns that the other – Lake Atitlan - once nominated as one of the seven new wonders of the world and - is in danger of going that way too. We hear about the costs needed to clean up these important tourist attractions, and hear about the loss of income for local businesses. Produced and presented by Jane Chambers(Image: A worker picks up rubbish on the shore of Lake Amatilan, Guatemala, during a voluntary clean up day in August 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

Countries considered hostile to the West are threatening to cut under sea cables, which carry 95 percent of the world’s data. China, Iran and Russia are suspected of threatening to sabotage cables, carrying 95% of the world’s data, which makes the network vital to the global economy. Russell Padmore examines how the lines laid on ocean floors are the backbone of the internet, so they need to be protected, but international military cooperation is limited. Produced and presented by Russell Padmore(Image: An undersea cable between Helsinki and Rostock which was laid in 2015. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

We speak to one of Japan's very few female CEOs. Makiko Ono leads Suntory Beverage and Food, part of the Suntory coagulometer that makes soft drinks including Orangina, Lucozade and Ribena. She shares her 40-plus years journey at the company; including how she led company's first acquisition to opening doors for the next generation of women in business. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: [email protected]: Sam Fenwick Producer: Amber Mehmood(Image: Makiko Ono, chief executive officer of Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd, at the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on 23 March 2023. Credit Getty Images)

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025