About 1.5 million fans, a little more than half the population of Qatar, are expected to arrive in the tiny Gulf state for the 2022 World Cup. Two weeks before the start of tournament, Sam Fenwick speaks to fans about how much they are willing to spend to support their team and hopefully watch them lift the iconic trophy. There are concerns that fans have been priced out of attending this year’s tournament. The Ghanaian government is subsidising some ticket prices. It will be the first time many...
Nov 04, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast How easy is it for a woman to start and run a business in Qatar? In the past few years, there have been changes to the constitution and laws which have made it easier for women to work and run businesses. We ask whether that’s filtered down to 'street level' or whether cultural constraints still restrict women. We visit a project in Doha where Qatari women have set up a business in a cultural centre, and Sheikha Mayes bint Hamad bin Mohamed bin Jabr al-Thani explains the important role women can...
Nov 03, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sadio Mané and Mo Salah have had a huge impact on the small towns and villages in Senegal and Egypt where they grew up. We find out how local people have benefited from the money donated and hear about how this type of 'direct giving' is part of a wider trend making a big difference in the aid community. Presenter: Isaac Fanin Producer: Hannah Bewley (Image: Mane and Salah celebrating whilst playing for Liverpool. Credit: Getty)
Nov 02, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Will a boost in visitors for the Qatar World Cup lead to more visitors in the long run? Qatar has spent over $220bn on preparations for the football World Cup, and there are hopes the tournament will draw visitors for years to come. We take a tour of Doha, looking at the dow boats and some of the common tourist sites that fans will experience, and hear from Berthold Trenkel, COO of Visit Qatar. We also hear from economists who think the strategy of hosting a “mega-event” such as this can be a ga...
Nov 01, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Workers from countries such as Nepal have done the bulk of the work to build the stadiums and infrastructure for the Qatar World Cup. But there are difficult questions still to be answered about the treatment of these people, and how compensation for those workers who have been badly treated, or even died in Qatar, is being paid. In this episode, Ed Butler speaks to a man from Nepal who worked on a bus depot project in Doha and an investigative journalist in Nepal who says he is speaking to work...
Oct 31, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Samira Hussain visits the New York studio of one of the most in demand photographers in the world, Jason Bell. Jason has photographed some of the world’s most famous people - including Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio and the British Royal Family. His work has been featured in Vanity Fair and Vogue and he’s shot campaigns for The Crown, Billy Elliot and The Revenant. Jason takes us behind the lens on some very famous photo shoots, explaining how his career progressed. Plus he gives his top tips...
Oct 28, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast In April 2022, Sri Lanka was gripped by a major economic crisis. Prices were rising sharply, protests started in the capital, Colombo,and spread across the country. Daily power cuts and shortages of basics such as fuel, food and medicines were commonplace. Inflation was running at more than 50%. In July, after months of unrest, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. Three months on, Rahul Tandon asks whether Sri Lanka's economic situation has improved, and explores how the country could ...
Oct 27, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a wide ranging interview, David Malpass, president of the World Bank, speaks to presenter Sam Fenwick about the global economic situation. He talks about the consequences of rising global debt and high inflation, and how poorer countries are bearing the brunt of the economic crisis. Mr Malpass says the debt caused by the coronavirus pandemic will take decades to pay off, and says many of the subsidies were not targeted. He says a similar situation is being created again with the energy crisis...
Oct 26, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast In mid-2021 hot tub companies were king. Unprecedented demand through covid pushed up sales as people stayed at home. Some of Europe's well known suppliers boasted up to a 400% increase in sales compared to 2019. Companies simply could not get a hold on enough stock. In China on/off lockdowns caused a part shortage. Waiting lists across Europe went as far as six months. Some of the world's biggest tub producers made record profits. Then in early 2022 an industry went from its heyday to doomsday ...
Oct 25, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast When you’re conducting a scientific experiment, you must prepare for it to fail. Lab researchers work by this motto. But for Dr Natalie Kenny, founder of international lab testing and medical training firm BioGrad, it’s proved true in every aspect of life. It’s been a whirlwind ride: from growing up in a working-class family in Liverpool, England, to battling tropical diseases in the Amazonian rainforest, and losing almost everything before going on to found a multi-million dollar business. In t...
Oct 21, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast We hear from some of the many small-scale farmers in Kenya who are using apps like What’sApp, Facebook and Instagram to share information about the best way to grow fruit and veg and sell direct to consumers. From the vibrant markets of Nairobi to the lush green slopes of Mount Kenya Sam Fenwick investigates how farming entrepreneurs are using smartphones to grow profits as well as peas. But running a business online can be challenging in Kenya where internet connections can be patchy and data b...
Oct 20, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast University sport in the US has become huge business. For decades, students' share of those earnings only came in the form of scholarships. As television contracts got bigger, so did the calls for change - and last year students were granted the right to earn off their name, image and likeness. A year on, Will Bain explores how it’s shaken up college sports, providing opportunities and unforeseen challenges. Hear from former SMU college football player and professional artist Ra’Sun Kazadi, Texas...
Oct 18, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast As many as 7 million Americans who could work, aren’t. These are people who have dropped out of the workforce - they have given up on finding a job or are simply not looking. And similar trends can be seen in other wealthy countries. So what is going on? Ed Butler speaks to Nicholas Eberstadt, a researcher at the American Enterprise Institute. He’s recently updated a book which examines the extraordinary increase in men – and it is mainly men in the US - who’ve decided they don’t just want to qu...
Oct 17, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Greensill Capital was a UK based finance firm and a darling of investors which made its money by lending to businesses. It went into administration in March 2021, leaving investors facing billions in losses. What went wrong with Greensill? Why did leading politicians like former British Prime Minister David Cameron get involved? And what does it teach us about the way modern entrepreneurs, like Australian-born Lex Greensill, try and promote themselves? Ed Butler speaks to Duncan Mavin, a financi...
Oct 14, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast New York’s Penn Station is the busiest transport hub in the United States - as many as 650,000 people pass through it in a day. But this intercity hub is widely agreed to be outdated and unloved. Now there are plans to pour billions of dollars into a station facelift - in the hope it will attract Americans back to trains. In this episode, Laura Heighton-Ginns hears from key stakeholders Amtrak and the Regional Plan Association on why they believe a major overhaul is needed. Laura also takes a to...
Oct 13, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we explore mental health provision in Pakistan. Pakistan has a population of more than 200 million people but only around 500 working psychiatrists. This means around ninety percent of those with common mental health issues go untreated. We hear from Mahira Kahn, a multi award winning Pakistani actress, in April this year Mahira was appointed as an Ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Mahira works with the trust to promote and support it’s current Peace of Mind campaign. The c...
Oct 12, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast A British businessman has come up with a bold plan to turn the floating seaweed sargassum into cash, and tackle global warming at the same time. In this episode, Justin Rowlatt meets John Auckland. He is the man behind Seafields, which aims to create a floating farm 'the size of Croatia' far out in the South Atlantic ocean. The plan is to harvest the seaweed, sink it to the seabed and earn cash from carbon credits. Justin also speaks to Professor Victor Smetacek, an expert in marine biology - th...
Oct 11, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The use of robots in North American workplaces has increased by 40% since the start of the pandemic and the small to medium sized businesses, which never automated before, are getting in on the act. The robotics industry has responded to the global increased demand by creating more and more customisable robots, which can be leased or hired. Ivana Davidovic explores what effect this has had - and could have in the future - on the labour markets, innovation, but also on social inequality. Ivana he...
Oct 10, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is space the final frontier for meat grown from animal stem cells? Elizabeth Hotson asks whether growing steaks under micro gravity conditions could help in the quest for food security and whether, back on earth, consumers could be persuaded to stomach meat reared in labs. We hear from Didier Toubia, the CEO of Aleph Farms who defends his space meat mission from accusations of gimmickry. Seren Kel, the science and technology manager for the Europe region of the Good Food Institute, gives her vie...
Oct 07, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast When women's tennis world number one Ash Barty suddenly announced in March 2022 that she was retiring from tennis, it was huge shock. Barty, a three time grand slam champion, was only 25. At the time she said she was leaving professional tennis to pursue other life goals. Quitting is often seen as a negative thing to do, but in this episode we explore the positive side. PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears survey of more than 52,000 people in 44 countries showed that one in five workers planne...
Oct 06, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Now that borders have opened up post pandemic, backpackers have been slow to return to Australia. Despite a number of initiatives, the number of travellers is low. And that’s having an impact on businesses who need staff. David Reid explores the Australian working holiday visa scheme, which was set up fifty years ago to encourage young people to travel and work. It's not been without problems, and recently there have been allegations of exploitation and even abuse. So is the visa scheme the righ...
Oct 05, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries – more than half of everything we wear is still made from plastic. In the search for more sustainable ingredients – designers are now turning to those you would normally find on your plate. Katie Barnfield travels to Sherwood Forest in England to meet Ashley Granter and Aurélie Fontan from Mykko – a company making leather from mycelium, the root system of mushrooms. Fancy a food based swimsuit? We talk to Dr Kate Riley from Textile Exchange...
Oct 04, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Home solar – putting panels on your roof or side of your house, used be something fairly unusual. However, rising energy costs means that people are increasingly looking for alternatives. Presenter Rick Kelsey explores why the trend for solar panels is happening across Europe – and asks whether the industry has the infrastructure to cope with increasing demand. Rick travels to south east England where panels are being put on the roof, and speaks to installer Scott Burrows. And he meets Linda who...
Oct 03, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brompton makes 100,000 foldable bikes in London every year and exports about 75% of them. Chief executive Will Butler-Adams tells us how he grew the business around the world. He also explains how he's navigating inflation, and the prospect of recession. Plus, why he believes his mission is not simply to sell more bikes, but to change how people live in cities around the globe. Producer/presenter: James Graham Photo: Will Butler-Adams on a Brompton bike at his London factory. Credit: Brompton....
Sep 30, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Comics are a multi-billion dollar industry and comic conventions - or cons - attract thousands of fans, desperate to meet their heroes and splash some cash. Elizabeth Hotson visits the MCM event in London to find out what’s hot and what people are spending their hard-earned money on. We hear from Joëlle Jones, a comic book writer and illustrator, Jenny Martin, Event Director at MCM Comic Con and Michael Loizou from Brotherhood Games. Plus tattooist Matt Difa shows off his Star Wars inkings and V...
Sep 29, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Margrethe Vestager is the European commissioner for competition. Ms Vestager has been spearheading the landmark Digital Markets and Digital Services Acts aimed at regulating the global technology industry. The new rules passed the European Parliament in July and will start to be implemented in the spring. Victoria Craig sits down with Ms Vestager to ask about the commission’s win against Google in one of Europe’s biggest courts (which resulted in a record fine). She also explains the importance ...
Sep 28, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Could building more homes and offices out of wood instead of concrete help tackle climate change? We travel to Finland, where growing numbers of homes and offices are being built using wood, and the industry is booming. We’ll hear how it can help improve sustainability in cities and take a look at the challenges and benefits of using more wood inside our offices and homes. And we'll also hear concerns about the impact on the country’s famous forests. Presenter Maddy Savage speaks to Miimu Airaks...
Sep 27, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Millions of people, mainly women, sign up for jobs as domestic workers overseas. Yet much of this work is informal, with households enforcing their own terms behind closed doors - leaving the workers vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. In this episode, Laura Heighton-Ginns meets domestic workers who escaped modern slavery. Jackie was forced to work extreme hours, sleep on a hard floor, and given only leftovers to eat for two years. Grace felt she had no choice but to take a domestic job overse...
Sep 26, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast The global events industry was valued at more than $1.1 billion in 2019, before the start of the covid-19 pandemic. Live music and concert events alone lost $30 billion in 2020 and most outdoor festivals were cancelled. This year, in 2022, with more people vaccinated around the world, many festivals have managed to return but are having to cope with rising prices and staff shortages, as well as people with less cash to spend. Monica Newton, the CEO of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, S...
Sep 23, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast For online influencers getting verification - a blue tick next to their social media account name - is the ultimate prize. It brings credibility and elevates their status online. Presenter David Harper investigates how accounts can become 'verified', what it means, and if you make your money through online platform, how much is it actually worth? David speaks to Matt Navarra, a social media consultant and industry analyst. Matt has worked for Meta and Google amongst others and says he asked how ...
Sep 22, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
