Business Daily
Business & Finance
About
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
Episodes
- How lucrative licences are shaping the toy industry
This episode of Business Daily examines the multi-billion dollar toy industry, exploring how intellectual property licensing for movies, YouTube shows, and social media trends influences profitability. It also touches on the difficulties o…
- Is Chile becoming Argentina's shopping centre?
Argentines are increasingly shopping in Chile due to favorable exchange rates and reduced inflation in Argentina. Retailers in Chile are benefiting from this influx of shoppers seeking well-known brands.
- The baker’s daughter bringing mochi to the mainstream
Vivien Wong shares the story of Little Moons, a company she built making mochi ice cream. She details overcoming family loss to grow the business into a global brand.
- Why female led startups stall in Sub-Saharan Africa
Despite Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest global rate of entrepreneurship, with women as the majority of founders, many female-led startups fail to scale. This episode investigates the challenges these entrepreneurs face in accessing i…
- Hired or hidden? AI’s new power in the job market
This episode of Business Daily examines AI's significant impact on the entry-level job market, questioning whether it hinders or helps graduates. It delves into the AI-driven recruitment process, the challenges faced by both applicants and…
- Why is filling your tank costing so much?
This Business Daily episode investigates the significant increase in fuel costs, examining the price difference between crude oil production and market prices. It traces the journey of petrol from oil fields through shipping lanes and comm…
- The city that’s banned meat adverts
Amsterdam is the first capital to ban adverts for meat, low-cost flights, and fossil fuel cars in public spaces. The episode examines whether such bans can influence travel and dietary choices, despite industry objections.
- The founder making cutlery out of palm leaves
Lamis al-Hashimy, co-founder of Palmade, shares the journey of her Emirati business, which produces biodegradable cutlery from date palm waste, aiming to replace single-use plastics. She discusses early failures, scaling production, and th…
- Does cutting game time boost the bottom line?
This episode of Business Daily examines the trend of creating shorter, algorithm-optimized sports formats to attract younger viewers. It questions whether these new, bite-sized versions of games, including influencer-managed teams and 3-a-…
- Why gas still rules power prices
This episode of Business Daily discusses the global impact of natural gas prices on electricity costs, particularly following the conflict in Iran. It investigates the link between gas and power prices in different countries and considers…
- Diamonds: lab-grown vs mined
This episode of Business Daily discusses the competition between traditional diamond mining and lab-grown diamonds. It explores the ethical concerns surrounding mined diamonds, such as blood diamonds, and compares the environmental impact…
- Diamonds' uncertain future
This Business Daily episode examines the uncertain future of diamonds, particularly in Sierra Leone, where the closure of the main diamond mine exacerbates economic instability and fears of renewed conflict. The report highlights the histo…
- The founder tackling Africa’s data scarcity problem
Kate Kallot, founder and CEO of Amini AI, is addressing data scarcity in Africa and emerging economies with her startup. Amini AI aims to make farming and environmental data more accessible, a mission partly influenced by Kallot's family h…
- Inside gaming’s cheat problem
This episode of Business Daily examines the significant financial and reputational costs of cheating in the video game industry, exploring its impact on players, esports, and game studios. The program includes perspectives from individuals…
- Why Kenya is betting on geothermal power
Kenya is becoming a major African geothermal power producer, relying on this vital energy source for electricity. The episode discusses how geothermal energy is harnessed and future plans for a geothermal-powered city.
- The new fitness tourism
Millions are choosing sport-focused travel, like marathon running or training trips, over typical holidays. This trend is fueling significant growth in the fitness tourism sector. Business Daily explores this developing area.
- Getting goods to the ends of the Earth
This episode of Business Daily follows Jane Chambers to Chilean Patagonia, detailing the extreme difficulties of last-mile delivery due to harsh terrain and unpredictable weather. The program highlights the companies and individuals workin…
- L.O.L. Surprise creator Isaac Larian
Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, shares his life and business journey, highlighting his success in the US toy industry with products like Bratz and L.O.L. Surprise, and emphasizing the essential role of setbacks in achie…
- How wrestling became big business
This episode of Business Daily examines the business of professional wrestling, detailing its evolution into a multi-billion dollar global industry. It covers the impact of sponsorships, broadcasting deals, online audiences, and emerging f…
- Reinventing Kodak
Kodak, once declared a casualty of the digital age, is making a comeback by investing in film again. CEO Jim Continenza shares insights on manufacturing, revitalizing analogue film, and the challenges of this strategic shift, inspired in p…
- Iran’s economy: Counting the cost of war
This episode of Business Daily explores the significant pressures on Iran's economy due to ongoing war, existing sanctions, and a nationwide internet shutdown. It features insights from individuals within Iran to assess the damage and disc…
- The Dutch village at risk from an energy project
The episode explores the impact of a major energy project on the Dutch fishing village of Moerdijk, where families and local businesses face displacement. It examines the quiet dilemmas arising from the global pursuit of clean energy solut…
- The tech boss who 'x-rays' businesses
Business Daily meets Alexander Rinke, co-CEO and co-founder of Celonis. Learn how the company, started as a university project, uses "process intelligence" to analyze businesses and how it secured funding without a Silicon Valley presence.
- Food prices after Hormuz: What changes now?
The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global food systems, leading to increased fertilizer, energy, and shipping costs. While shelves are stocked now, experts predict higher food prices later in the year, especially impacting vulne…
- Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House
This episode examines the rapid ascent of AI firm Anthropic, now valued at $380 billion, and its recent conflict with the US government regarding the use of its AI software in warfare. It questions whether this dispute could hinder the com…
- Headspace CEO on the use of AI in tackling burnout
Headspace CEO Tom Pickett discusses the company's expansion into AI-driven mental health support, its work with the US Navy, and strategies for addressing burnout.
- Wind power: A lifeline or gamble for islands?
Island nations are investigating the potential of offshore wind power as a solution to volatile fossil fuel prices and climate change. Advances in technology raise the possibility of achieving energy independence or even exporting electric…
- The self-taught coder building a drone empire
Bobby Healy, founder of Manna Air Delivery, shares his story of becoming a self-taught coder and building one of Europe's largest drone delivery firms. He discusses how his background influenced his success and his ongoing efforts to chall…
- Is this social media's 'Big Tobacco moment'?
A court ruling held Meta and Google liable for harming a young user's mental health and designing addictive platforms. This episode of Business Daily examines the comparison to the tobacco industry's reckoning and explores potential regula…
- Afterlife: The business of celebrity legacies
This episode of Business Daily examines the burgeoning industry that manages the legacies of deceased celebrities. It features insights from estate managers and agents involved in this debated market.
- The whistleblower who exposed a massive tax scam
Jas Bains, a former finance industry professional, recounts his experience of becoming unemployable and facing lawsuits after whistleblowing on a significant financial scandal.
- After Liberation Day: Who is footing the tariffs bill?
This episode of Business Daily investigates the impact of US import tariffs imposed over the last year. It discusses how these tariffs have affected global trade and inflation, and analyzes who is ultimately responsible for the costs assoc…
- Mighty Patch founder Ju Rhyu
Ju Rhyu, founder of Hero Cosmetics, discusses the success of Mighty Patch, a skin patch for acne. She shares her journey from unemployment during recessions to building a global brand and her current preference for being an employee.
- No suits, four-day weeks: Asia's energy crunch
Asia's economies are heavily impacted by the global energy crisis, exacerbated by the war in Iran, resulting in measures like four-day work weeks and fuel rationing. The episode examines the causes of this vulnerability and the adaptive st…
- ICE: Is it chilling the US economy?
This episode of Business Daily examines the economic consequences of immigration enforcement actions, focusing on the disruption and protests in Minneapolis and their potential broader impact on the US economy.
- Could the Arctic rewrite global trade?
This Business Daily episode examines the emerging Arctic shipping routes due to climate change, exploring their potential to reshape global trade, the operational challenges, and the concerns of local Arctic communities.
- Can Cuba turn its economy around?
Cuba is facing a severe economic crisis and plans to introduce reforms allowing more private investment. This episode examines the potential effectiveness and speed of these changes in addressing the crisis and the significant outflow of C…
- The struggle to find care that sparked a business
Chika Madubuko founded Greymate Care, an online platform connecting people with caregivers in Nigeria, after her family's struggle to find trustworthy care for her grandmother in 2016.
- Oil crisis lessons from Iran to Kuwait
Business Daily looks at lessons from past energy shocks, focusing on how conflict disrupted oil supply, drawing parallels to today's markets. The episode includes insights from a former BP chief on challenges during the invasion of Kuwait…
- The cost of calling home
Business Daily examines the market for apps designed to lower the cost of international calls, particularly for individuals living far from home with limited internet access for their loved ones. The episode touches upon the ambitions of t…
- Germany turns to India for skilled workers
Germany is experiencing a demographic crisis leading to a workforce shortage, especially in craft industries. One proposed solution is recruiting young Indian apprentices for jobs in southwestern Germany, with a focus on industries near th…
- China’s new economic reality
Business Daily examines China's shift towards economic stability over rapid growth, as indicated by its lowest GDP target since 1991. The episode discusses the impact of this change on businesses, investors, and the youth job market within…
- Starting a jet company against the odds
Business Daily features Kanika Tekriwal, founder of India's JetSetGo, who built the aviation marketplace despite significant life challenges including serious illness, sexism, and family opposition.
- How is the world feeling the impact of rising oil prices?
This episode of Business Daily examines the global economic consequences of rising oil prices, spurred by the US-Iran conflict. It details responses like energy price caps in South Korea and access to Russian oil for India, discussing the…
- Kidnapping for ransom
The episode discusses the growing criminal industry of kidnapping for ransom, especially in West Africa. It offers guidance on how individuals should react if they or a loved one becomes a victim.
- Why are more people suing businesses?
Class action lawsuits, originating centuries ago, have become widespread globally, enabling large groups to file collective claims. This rise is a growing concern for businesses facing potential multi-million dollar litigation, prompting c…
- The book that built the modern economy
Published 250 years ago, Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" fundamentally changed the economy and continues to spark debate. This episode examines its impact, featuring economists discussing the modern free market.
- Finding peace through chocolate
Rahul Tandon speaks with Tareq Hadhad, founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate. Hadhad's family business, started in Syria in the 1980s, was destroyed by war, leading him to flee and eventually relaunch the company in Canada, where it now th…
- Can the Gulf stay open for business?
This Business Daily episode examines the Gulf
- Are weight-loss drugs reshaping business?
This episode of Business Daily examines the business implications of the weight-loss drug boom, including how companies are adapting and what the future holds for the market and economy.