What Does the Oil Crisis Mean for You?
The episode dissects the current oil crisis sparked by the US‑Iran conflict, highlighting how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed roughly 11 million barrels per day from global supply—more than double the shortfalls of the 1973 and 1979 shocks. Hosts Kalpana Fitzpatrick, Andrew Van Sickle, and Chris Heaton explain the cascading effects on energy bills, food prices, fertilizers, plastics, and broader economic stability, while noting that the U.S. is best positioned to weather the squeeze due to its domestic production and strategic reserve releases. They discuss investors’ dilemmas, emphasizing that while oil futures suggest a modest price dip in six months, such forecasts are unreliable; instead, the crisis may accelerate investment in renewables, nuclear, and uranium as a hedge against supply insecurity. The conversation concludes that the turmoil creates both risks and opportunities across commodities, energy, and emerging market exposure.
China, the Iran War, and the US
In this episode, economist Diana Choileva discusses how the great‑power rivalry between the United States and China is fracturing globalization and reshaping global finance. She reviews the accuracy of her decade‑old forecasts, noting that the US‑China trade and tech wars,...
Are Investors Underestimating Emerging Markets?
In this episode, Andrew Van Sickle talks with Charles Gillings, manager of the Utilico Emerging Markets Trust, about why investors may be undervaluing emerging markets and the fund’s sector‑focused, infrastructure‑centric approach. Gillings explains that the recent EM rally was driven...
Exporting with Confidence
In this episode, Kalpana Fitzpatrick interviews Darren Lytton, founder of Coco Bar, a UK-based maker of premium hot chocolate and chocolate trees, about how UK Export Finance (UKEF) has enabled the company’s rapid overseas growth. Darren explains the brand’s origins,...
Why Hiring Talent Is a Growth Strategy
In this 7‑minute episode, Kalpana Fitzpatrick talks with Karen Hewitt of The Gym Group about how partnering with Jobcentre Plus has become a core growth strategy for the fast‑expanding gym chain. Hewitt explains the challenges of finding qualified Level 3 personal trainers...
Developing Electric Vehicles at Scale
In this episode, Sid Sadiq, founder of Electra Vehicles, shares the company’s evolution from a small workshop in West Yorkshire to a global supplier of heavy electric and hydrogen‑powered commercial trucks. He discusses the hurdles of navigating complex UK regulations,...
Is Europe Ripe for Recovery?
In this episode, Andrew Vernsickle talks with Daniel Avigard, manager of the TM Lansdowne European Special Situations Fund, about why Europe may be poised for a recovery after years of stagnation. Avigard points to a combination of low valuations, a...
Can Purpose-Led Organisations Scale?
In this episode, Geoff Guy, Managing Director of Riverlution, discusses how his purpose‑driven environmental business balances mission and commercial viability while scaling up. He explains Riverlution’s evolution from a community arm of the River Stewardship Company to a standalone community...
Why Vietnam Is the World's Most Exciting Emerging Market
In this episode, Chris Sheldt‑Hoheaton talks with Dominic Scriven, founder and chair of Dragon Capital, about Vietnam’s evolution from a war‑torn, isolated economy to the region’s most dynamic emerging market. Scriven recounts his personal journey—from learning Vietnamese in Hanoi to...