This week, we’re revisiting an episode from last year. Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest healthcare companies, is facing thousands of lawsuits from people alleging they got cancer from using one of their oldest products: talc-based baby powder. To manage the growing liability, J&J deployed a controversial bankruptcy manoeuvre known as the Texas two-step. The FT’s US pharmaceutical correspondent Jamie Smyth helps us explore whether J&J’s use of this m...
May 31, 2023•35 min
As cryptocurrencies have grown in popularity and people use cash less and less, central banks have been put on the defensive. Their solution to stay relevant and maintain control? A central bank digital currency. Institutions such as the European Central Bank see it as their way to leap into the digital age. But as the ECB is pushing forward with its agenda, it’s facing criticism from the very people and banks who would help keep it alive. The FT’s Martin Arnold takes a closer look at the digita...
May 24, 2023•21 min
The London Stock Exchange once held the top spot in global financial markets. In recent years, that’s changed drastically. The FT’s Harriet Agnew and Katie Martin explain how a yacht floating off the Canary Islands 30 years ago played a critical role in changing the stock market. Clips from CBS, Thames News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Britain’s ‘capitalism without capital’: the pension funds that shun risk ‘There are no domest...
May 17, 2023•20 min
On the final episode of BTM Night School, we're talking markets: from stocks to bonds to commodities. We're joined by the FT's Markets editor Katie Martin and Ethan Wu, a member of the FT’s Wall Street team. Katie and Ethan unpack why last year was terrible for stocks, what bonds can tell you about inflation, and which market gives us the clearest picture into the “real” economy. This series is made in collaboration with Blinkist. To hear more conversations like this, check out the Blinkist app ...
May 15, 2023•19 min
Silicon Valley legend Intel was the semiconductor chip industry’s global leader for decades. Lately it’s fallen behind, just as the US is recognising the importance of chips to economic and national security. Now, Intel is trying to turn itself round. The FT’s Richard Waters explains its plans and the many challenges it will face in order to reclaim that stature. Clip from CNN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Can Intel become the chip cha...
May 10, 2023•18 min
ESG has become a buzzword within public companies and among asset managers. Central banks and big asset managers such as BlackRock have been championing these standards, asking companies to consider climate change and corporate governance. But ESG is also seeing a backlash. Gillian Tett, founding editor of the Financial Times’ Moral Money newsletter, explains how it is changing the corporate boardroom and how much of an effect the pushback against ESG is having. This series is made in collaborat...
May 08, 2023•21 min
When news broke last year that EY was planning to split its businesses, it was seen as a move that could reshape the accounting industry. The bold plan was given an equally grand name, “Project Everest”. But after months of negotiations from within the firm, and despite the support of the global leadership, the plan recently fell apart. FT’s US accounting editor Stephen Foley and accountancy correspondent Michael O’Dwyer explain why that shakeup didn’t happen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...
May 03, 2023•18 min
From the rise of ChatGPT to job cuts at companies such as Meta and Amazon, tech has dominated the headlines in 2023. On this episode of Night School, the Financial Times’ innovation editor, John Thornhill, breaks down the biggest tech stories of the year so far. He tells US managing editor Peter Spiegel how artificial intelligence will revolutionise healthcare, who is winning in the global tech race, and what’s in store for blockchain’s future. This series is made in collaboration with Blinkist....
May 01, 2023•16 min
This week, we’re bringing you something from our fellow podcast, FT Weekend. The show travels to Miami, Florida, to drink some beers, place some bets, and discover how AI is changing the sport of horse racing. FT data journalist Oliver Roeder joins FTW host Lilah Raptopoulos to talk about how the ancient sport is being upended by anonymous computer-assisted bets. These secretive gamblers are injecting billions of dollars into the pools, and aggressively tipping the odds, and it’s putting the who...
Apr 26, 2023•24 min
Inflation remains stubbornly high in the US. In this week’s episode of BTM: Night School, US managing editor Peter Spiegel talks to US economics editor Colby Smith about how we got here and what the Federal Reserve can do to tamp down inflation. This series is made in collaboration with Blinkist. To hear more conversations like this, check out the Blinkist app . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Interested in pursuing a Master of Business Administration? Sign up for...
Apr 25, 2023•18 min
Apple has spent two decades and billions of dollars building a massive supply chain for its products. At the centre of that operation is China. But as Beijing has become more authoritarian and relations with the US sour, it has become harder for Apple to do business there. The company has been signalling recently that it will diversify away from the country, but the FT’s Patrick McGee tells Michela why cutting ties will be extremely difficult. Clips from Fox News, CGTN, Yahoo, ABC&nb...
Apr 19, 2023•22 min
It’s time to hit the books with Behind the Money: Night School. This series will serve as a primer to the biggest economic stories of 2023. On today’s episode, US Managing Editor Peter Spiegel talks with Derek Brower about energy policy. They discuss how the United States became almost energy independent, President Biden’s about-face on oil and gas, and why the Inflation Reduction Act might just transform America’s economy into a hub of green innovation. This series is made in collab...
Apr 17, 2023•18 min
There’s been a lot of big finance and economics news in 2023. Whether it's stories about rising interest rates, tech industry layoffs or bank runs, it can almost feel like you need an MBA just to make sense of it all. That’s why the Financial Times is launching a bonus series on this feed called Behind the Money: Night School. Over the next five weeks, this show will help you understand the concepts behind the biggest economic stories of this year. U.S. managing editor Peter Spiegel chats ...
Apr 14, 2023•1 min
This week, we’re revisiting an important episode from last year. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered a global food crisis. Months later, FT correspondents Polina Ivanova, Chris Cook and Laura Pitel found out how Russia aims to profit from this. Ivanova explains how she and her colleagues used satellite photos, transponder data and a document trail to track a Russian company’s shipment of 2,675 metric tonnes of milling wheat out of the occupied Ukrainian port of Berdya...
Apr 12, 2023•16 min
Climate disasters are becoming more and more common, and the countries most vulnerable to them are often the ones emitting the least pollution. That imbalance has sparked a debate on whether rich, polluting nations have a responsibility to contribute more when there are climate catastrophes. In today’s episode, we’re looking at one country that serves as an example: Pakistan. We’ll discuss how it plans to fund its recovery after record-breaking floods – worsened by climate change – submerged muc...
Apr 05, 2023•19 min
After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, markets were anxious, and the prestigious, yet scandal-ridden Credit Suisse looked as if it could be next to fall. But over the span of a single weekend, the Swiss government and Credit Suisse’s crosstown rival, UBS, raced against the clock to avert disaster. The FT’s banking editor Stephen Morris provides a front row look at how the deal came together. Clips from Bloomberg, CNBC, BBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further...
Mar 29, 2023•25 min
Credit Suisse… Silicon Valley Bank… Signature Bank… First Republic… After weeks of breaking headlines about banks in crisis, we are taking a big picture look at the sector with the FT’s chief economics commentator, Martin Wolf. In this episode, he explains why banks fail, and lays out the four paths that banking reform could take in the future. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Banks are designed to fail — and they do US capitalism is ‘br...
Mar 22, 2023•20 min
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last week raised questions about the strength of the United States’ banking system, and whether we’re headed for another financial crisis. The FT’s US financial commentator Robert Armstrong tells us why he’s not freaking out. Clips from CBS, NBC, CNN, DW - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: SVB was only a little bit insolvent, luckily SVB’s collapse is not a harbinger of another 2008 The weekend US officials hatc...
Mar 15, 2023•23 min
Over just a few years, the share price of an obscure company from the United Arab Emirates has jumped 40,000%. But little is known about International Holding Company, which has investments in everything from Elon Musk’s SpaceX to India’s Adani Group. The FT’s Middle East editor travelled to Abu Dhabi to get answers about its rapid growth and its connections to some of the most powerful people in the Gulf. Clips from MSNBC, CBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For ...
Mar 08, 2023•22 min
Recently, flying in the US seems to be more chaotic than calm. And while it may seem like this all started recently, the FT’s Chicago Correspondent Claire Bushey takes us back to a decision that happened in the 1970s that got us to where we are now. Clips from NBC, PBS, CBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: How the US fell out of love with flying Passengers to keep ‘paying the price’ of aviation chaos, says United CEO Hyper-efficiency is bad bus...
Mar 01, 2023•20 min
It’s been one year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We’re spending this episode talking to FT reporters and Ukrainian entrepreneurs about the costs of this war: How individuals' lives have been uprooted, how the country’s economy has been turned upside down, and how global markets such as food and energy have been transformed. Clips from CNN, BBC, NBC, PBS, Al Jazeera English - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Conflict wi...
Feb 22, 2023•31 min
The EU’s executive branch is known for leading the way when it comes to regulating crucial industries, like Big Tech. But for now, one country appears to be further ahead in the race to keep competition alive for European entrepreneurs. The FT’s EU correspondent Javier Espinoza explains who is leading the pack and what it means for everyone else. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: How Germany became Europe’s leading Big Tech trust buster Br...
Feb 15, 2023•18 min
The dollar dominated last year as the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates quicker than other countries to tame inflation. But the so-called “king dollar” has shifted recently. FT Capital Markets Correspondent Kate Duguid dives into how the greenback has been toppled from its throne and what that means for the rest of the world. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: US dollar hits reverse gear as Fed cedes rate-rise ‘driver’s seat’ Dollar touche...
Feb 08, 2023•15 min
Several Big Tech companies have recently announced job cuts - and they pinned their decisions on a pandemic-induced hiring spree. But is that actually what’s driving the cuts? We sat down with the FT’s US financial commentator Robert Armstrong to get the full picture. Clips from Reuters, MSNBC, Yahoo Finance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BTM listeners, we want to know what you think of the show and what you want to hear more of. Visit ft.com/btmsurvey to submit ...
Feb 01, 2023•20 min
Last year, we talked about China needing to find a mechanism to fix its economy. It looks like it may have found it - by abruptly ending its zero-Covid policies. The FT’s Shanghai correspondent Tom Hale and Global China Editor James Kynge break down what President Xi Jinping’s main goals are and whether it’s enough to jumpstart the country’s economy. Clips from CNN, BBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BTM listeners, we want to know what you think of the show and what yo...
Jan 25, 2023•20 min
Electric vehicle giant Tesla took the automotive industry by storm with its innovative technology, but the company’s stock price has slid significantly since last year. And its chief executive Elon Musk has some Tesla fans rethinking their support given Musk’s moves as the new owner of Twitter. But the FT’s Richard Waters says that Tesla faces a challenge much bigger than Musk’s latest tweets. Clips from CBS, ABC News, NBC, CNBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...
Jan 18, 2023•19 min
The global economy has been hit hard in the past few years by the Covid-19 pandemic, high inflation and Russia’s war in Ukraine. However, there’s one emerging economy that’s managed to succeed in spite of that - Indonesia. So, what’s its secret? We sat down with the FT’s Mercedes Ruehl to understand how the country got to where it is now, and whether that success will be permanent. Clips from Associated Press - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Indonesi...
Jan 11, 2023•17 min
Welcome back to a new year with Behind the Money! We’re starting off by paying a visit to the New York Public Library to take a peek into the past. Some 300 years ago parts of Europe were in the middle of a financial revolution that quickly turned into a financial frenzy and then — a fallout. With help from the FT’s US markets editor Jennifer Hughes, we’ll learn more about the Mississippi and South Sea Company Bubbles, and what they tell us about today. Clips from: NBC, CNBC, CBS News Musi...
Jan 04, 2023•21 min
It’s our last episode of the year, so that means we’re looking ahead to 2023 with the help of the FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf. He sat down with Michela to discuss some of 2022’s biggest stories — inflation, the war in Ukraine, climate change — and how they might impact events in the new year. Clips from NBC News, AP, Sky News, Channel 4 News, Al Jazeera, CNN, TRT World, Yahoo! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: How to think about...
Dec 14, 2022•21 min
At one time, Credit Suisse was considered to be among the most respected banks in Europe. The FT’s European banking correspondent Owen Walker explains how the Swiss bank is trying to make a comeback after years of scandal and losses — and what might happen if it fails. Clips from CNBC, DW News, Reuters - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Credit Suisse chair says outflows have reversed since ‘social media storm’ ‘Radical surgery’: Will Credit Suiss...
Dec 07, 2022•20 min
