AI investing - too hot to handle or just heating up? In this episode, we bring in Zoe Wallis from Tempo for a Temperature Check on the AI boom. Sophie, Vic, and Zoe dive into whether AI is still the golden ticket or if the train has already left the station. Plus, the all-important question: how do you actually invest in AI without just throwing your money at the next shiny tech stock? We talk Nvidia, diversification (aka not putting all your eggs in one AI-powered basket), and how to spot the n...
Mar 27, 2025•23 min
Blast from the past alert! We’re dusting off an oldie (but a very, very goodie) with the legendary Frances Cook – finance journalist, author, and NZ’s OG money podcaster. In this episode, we dive into the magic of keeping a money diary (it’s a game-changer, trust us), break down the whole good debt vs. bad debt debate (spoiler: your wardrobe might not be an "investment"), and unpack the satellite approach to investing – aka the strategy that lets you have your financial veggies and a little dess...
Mar 26, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 156
Rachel’s back in the hot seat for the second week running and she’s really earning her finance pro stripes - juggling a four-month-old, economic chaos, and a serious amount of market news. From gold hitting record highs and Nvidia flexing a chip 40x faster than its last one (casual), to Tesla’s rocky week and Formula 1 becoming the Real Housewives of sport, there’s a lot going on. Plus, Sophie and Rach break down why the stock market is "on sale" and how that might actually be a good thing for y...
Mar 24, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 110
Buckle up - because things are getting interesting in the markets. In this first episode of our Tempo Temperature Checks mini-series, we’re joined by investing expert Zoe Wallis from Tempo to unpack what’s happening in the U.S. economy, why Trump’s policies are shaking things up, and how it all impacts your investments. Should you be panicking? Selling everything? Stuffing cash under your mattress? (Spoiler: No.) Zoe breaks down the art of staying diversified, thinking long-term, and making smar...
Mar 20, 2025•27 min
What happens when two financial advisors - married to each other - have completely different money personalities? Meet Carissa, the self-proclaimed "procurement officer" (aka, the spender), and Tim, the meticulous planner (aka, the squirrel). They run a financial advice company, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to money misalignments in their own marriage. From arguments over household budgets to Carissa’s "allowance rebellion," this episode is packed with honest, hilarious, and insightful m...
Mar 19, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 155
A quick note: we do touch on pregnancy and miscarriage in the first part of the episode. If that’s not something you’re up for today, feel free to skip to 12:16 , where we dive into the finance chat. <3 With Vic off skiing in Japan (and taking a well-deserved break from Sophie’s market rants), we’ve recruited a temporary co-host from The Curve community - and she’s a total star. Meet Rachel, a finance-savvy marketer (and brand-new mum!) who’s bringing the research and the hot takes. And oh bo...
Mar 17, 2025•52 min•Season 2Ep. 109
Sophie’s flying solo today (send help), but she’s got an exciting update! The Curve is working on something BIG - like Diary of a CEO big. But perfection takes time, so no full episode this week. Instead, Soph dives into a listener’s career dilemma: how do you navigate job hunting when you’re newly pregnant? When do you tell your employer? And why does this still feel like such a tricky convo in 2025?! If you’ve got advice, drop a comment or slide into our DMs. Plus, we’re on the hunt for a fina...
Mar 13, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 154
This week, we’re unpacking the economic drama that’s making headlines - because, honestly, the stock market has been messier than a bad spray tan. We’re talking tariffs, and why new trade barriers between the US, Canada, Mexico, and China have investors sweating. Plus, Prada is thriving while other luxury brands struggle (Miu Miu, we see you), and we’ve got an update on TikTok’s fate - spoiler: Serena Williams' husband is involved. And if you’re still on the fence about investing, we break down ...
Mar 10, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 108
Sophie’s got big news (no, not a baby - though the social media post might’ve fooled you). She’s officially pre-approved for a mortgage! 🎉 But what does that actually mean? In this episode, Soph and Vic dive into the wild world of property investing, the difference between buying a home vs. an investment property, and why NZ’s housing market is such a beast. Plus, they break down the power of leverage (a.k.a. making money on money you didn’t have to begin with) and whether buying a house is rea...
Mar 06, 2025•45 min
No proper episode this week because… we’re working on something BIG. Like, Stephen Bartlett-watching-our-trailer big. Yep, you read that right. We’ve been given the incredible opportunity to pitch The Curve to Flight Studio - the trailblazing studio behind Diary of a CEO - and let’s just say, we are not taking this lightly. This opportunity means everything, and we want to get it right. So, no proper episode this week while we focus on making it the best it can be. I also just want to say a mass...
Mar 05, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 153
Warren Buffett is sitting on a record-breaking $334 billion in cash - but why? This week, we dive into what the legendary investor’s latest moves reveal about the stock market and whether we should be cautious right now. We also break down Tesla’s dramatic drop, the impact of Elon Musk’s political moves, and whether the stock is becoming a bargain or a brand to avoid. Meanwhile, YouTube has officially overtaken Spotify as the most popular podcast platform in the U.S., and it’s quietly becoming a...
Mar 03, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 107
We took Raising the Curve live with Trade Me Property to talk all things property - because let’s be honest, buying a home isn’t as easy as it used to be. From market trends to mortgage stress, we cover how to get your foot in the door, what to consider before buying, and whether stretching yourself for a bigger home loan is really worth it. Vic shares her journey from first-time buyer to investor, Emily from Trade Me opens up about how a major life event changed her approach to money, and Sophi...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Just a heads up - this episode contains a fair bit of swearing (because sometimes money and career talk gets passionate ). If you're listening with little ears around, you might want to pop in some headphones! We’re throwing it back to June 2023 for this gem of an episode - because career smarts never go out of style. In this one, we chat with the incredible Sharyn Casey about the financial side of work: how to negotiate a pay rise with confidence (and without sweating through your shirt), why l...
Feb 26, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 152
Well, well, well… Tesla’s stock is on a wild ride, and it’s got nothing to do with self-driving cars. This week, we’re diving into why Elon Musk’s political antics are spooking investors and why some Tesla owners are slapping bumper stickers on their cars that basically scream, “I bought this before I knew he was nuts.” Plus, we chat about whether this stock slump is a golden buying opportunity or a moral dilemma. We also cover the latest on interest rate cuts (good news for borrowers, meh news ...
Feb 24, 2025•43 min
Ever wondered how people make money from buying and selling houses? It’s called flipping , and no, it doesn’t mean turning a house upside down. Enter Alex Harper (aka @handy__honey ), a total pro at turning rundown spaces into cash-worthy homes. She breaks down the flipping basics - how to find a great deal, what to ask the seller, and why buying smart is the key to making money. We also chat about avoiding expensive mistakes, working with a tight budget, and how Alex flipped a house while pregn...
Feb 20, 2025•56 min
So, you set a budget in January… but have you actually stuck to it? Sophie hands over her bank statements (risky move) to Dani for a very honest financial check-in. From accidental gym memberships (oops) to short-term money goals, they break down how to tweak your spending without killing the fun. Expect chats about term deposits, cutting sneaky subscription costs, and the real struggle of balancing saving with actually enjoying life. 💸 Need a budgeting game plan? Within The Curve Investing Clu...
Feb 19, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 151
Elon Musk wants to buy OpenAI for a casual $98 billion - but Sam Altman basically replied with “lol, no.” Meanwhile, the NZ property market might be heating up, which is either thrilling or terrifying depending on your bank balance. Over at Goldman Sachs, they’ve decided diversity efforts are just too hard (insert dramatic eye roll), and Soho House is in the middle of a billionaire tug-of-war that’s juicier than a reality TV finale. Also on the agenda: China’s marriage rates are plummeting, and ...
Feb 17, 2025•45 min
Buying a home is supposed to be an exciting milestone, but for many, it’s an emotional minefield - especially when the system isn’t built for them. In part one of this three-part property series, Soph opens up about her long-awaited mortgage meeting, only to be met with disappointment instead of a celebratory “yes.” After years of saving, investing, and doing everything right, being told not yet feels like a gut punch. From the unique challenges of getting a mortgage as a self-employed woman to ...
Feb 13, 2025•52 min
Ever felt like money was some exclusive club you weren’t invited to? Sonia Kaurah did too - until she decided to crash the party. In this episode, we chat about how culture shapes our financial habits, why women (especially women of colour) get the short end of the investment stick, and how Sonia went from knowing nothing about investing to sitting in rooms with top venture capitalists - just by forcing her way in and asking all the right questions. She shares how curiosity (and a little stubbor...
Feb 12, 2025•40 min
Buckle up, because this week, we're diving into two massive stories shaking up the financial world. First up, Trump is back with a fresh batch of tariffs, sending markets into a tailspin and making investors everywhere question what’s next (and yes, avocados are at risk). We break down why global trade drama affects your portfolio and how companies are scrambling to keep up. Then, we tackle Google's surprising move to ditch its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals - alongside other corpo...
Feb 10, 2025•34 min
Okay, bad news first: millennials are the first generation in history to be worse off than their parents (yep, studies confirm it). With homeownership rates down 28% compared to boomers at the same age and wages barely keeping up with inflation, the traditional path to wealth - buy a house, retire rich - is looking real shaky. But what if there was another way? Enter Avion Gray, co-founder of fintech platform BeLong , who's tackling the paradox of wealth head-on. She breaks down why we struggle ...
Feb 05, 2025•55 min
AI just shook the stock market hard . Nvidia - aka the golden child of AI investing - lost $600 billion in a day, thanks to a mysterious new player from China. What is Deep Seek? Why is it supposedly 27 times more powerful than ChatGPT? And does this mean Nvidia’s reign is over? We break down the chaos, what it means for investors, and whether this is a buy-the-dip moment or a warning sign. Plus, a TikTok takeover twist, LVMH’s latest struggles, and a reminder that inflation is still gnawing at ...
Feb 03, 2025•37 min
In this throwback episode, we chat with Alec and Bryce, the dynamic duo behind Equity Mates, and our first-ever male guests! They spill the beans on avoiding lifestyle creep (you know, that sneaky habit of spending more when you earn more) and why your 20s are pure gold for investing. Bryce shares his textbook-perfect childhood money lessons (spoiler: he started saving at five!), while Alec talks about the spectacular failure of his first stock pick - and what it taught him. Whether you’re a tot...
Jan 29, 2025•32 min
This week, we’re popping bottles - but not of champagne because shipments are down, and we’re not about to splurge on bubbly when everyone’s tightening their wallets. Today, we're unpacking why luxury brands and Puma are struggling while Netflix casually crushes records with 19 million new subscribers (thanks, password crackdown). We dive into Trump’s latest antics, from federal hiring freezes to TikTok’s temporary rescue mission that left influencers in a frenzy. Plus, why diversity, equity, an...
Jan 27, 2025•39 min
Meet Nina Mohanty, one of the most inspiring guests we’ve ever had on the pod. She’s a fintech founder, an investing trailblazer, and someone who can explain why immigrant communities are reshaping economies with more grit and innovation than most of us could dream of. Did you know immigrants in the US and UK are 5x more likely to start a business than native-born citizens? It’s not a coincidence - it’s a mindset. Nina breaks down the secret sauce behind this entrepreneurial success: from collec...
Jan 22, 2025•55 min
The LA wildfires are among the most devastating natural disasters in recent history, with 12,000 structures lost, 200,000 people displaced, and $275 billion in economic damage. This episode explores the financial toll, from $20 billion in insurance claims to the ripple effects on housing and the global economy. We also provide actionable tips - auditing insurance, building emergency funds, and investing in climate-conscious companies - to help you prepare for an uncertain future. It’s a stark re...
Jan 20, 2025•28 min
New year, new budget. In this episode, we chat about ditching outdated money habits, setting up a foolproof 3-bucket budget system (essentials, non-essentials, and surplus), and why jumping ship from your childhood bank could save you big bucks. Dani shares exactly how she splits her pay and explains why budgeting is less about penny-pinching and more about feeling financially light . Whether you're starting fresh, trying to fix a blowout, or just want to stop skipping dinner for dessert, this e...
Jan 15, 2025•36 min
We’re kicking off 2025 with a deep dive into what lies ahead - and taking a moment to look back at the year that was. First, we reflect on 2024’s incredible market performance, from the S&P 500’s stellar 25% return to the tech sector’s role as the ultimate overachiever. Then, it’s all about the future: Soph shares her New Year productivity hacks (spoiler: vision boards make an appearance), and Vic talks financial transparency and how her emergency fund came to the rescue when she needed it m...
Jan 13, 2025•30 min
It’s been a YEAR, hasn’t it? From navigating the wild world of personal finances to growing The Curve into a full-on business with staff (yep, we’re bosses now), we’re reflecting on it all. In this episode, we're unpacking the lessons learned in 2024 - like how your personal money habits spill into business, why an emergency fund is your BFF, and the unexpected highs (and lows) of startup life. Expect serious reflections, a few lightbulb moments, and some truly honest chats about what we’ve achi...
Dec 18, 2024•50 min
Today we're kicking things off with a stock market glow-up as the S&P 500 soars 30% - but will the good vibes last? We throw out our bold predictions for next year and weigh in on what the experts are saying. Then, it’s time to talk AI - who’s building it, why it matters, and how it’s tied to the gender pay gap. Spoiler: women need to step up and join the AI revolution! Next, Walmart's 80% stock surge has everyone buzzing. Is a recession looming? A quirky new economic indicator pits luxury s...
Dec 16, 2024•32 min
