
Taking Stock
Taking Stock takes a global view of the big business stories and the trends affecting the world economy. Listen and subscribe to Taking Stock on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'
Latest episodes

Feb 9, 2024 • 48min
Fuming Farmers and Billionaire Lifestyles.
This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Lisa O'Carroll of the Guardian about the growing unrest of farmers all across Europe. Cynthia O'Murchu an Investigative Journalist with the FT details her special report on two big billionaire investors and their lavish lifestyles. Plus Lorcan Allen of the Business Post asks if Ireland is actually closed when it comes Big Tech Businesses.

Feb 2, 2024 • 44min
Michelin Stars and Millionaires.
This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston takes a deep dive in the business of Michelin Stars with food writer Tom Doorley and asks what a star really means for a restaurant? Mandy talks to the co-author of 'Eavesdropping on Millionaires' to find out what makes those people tick financially and personally. Plus as Ryanair buys houses and planes Mandy talks to Aviation Expert Gerry Byrne.

Jan 26, 2024 • 48min
Does Your Office Really Need You Back?
A recent and intriguing case in the UK shines a light on the problems that some employers face in convincing their employees to return to the office and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Michael O'Dwyer, Chief UK Business Correspondent at the Financial Times and Chris Kane, author of "Where is My Office" about the lengths some companies are prepared to go to. It looks like Donald Trump has this week guaranteed his position as the Republican nominee. Mandy talks to Caroline Vakil from The Hill about all that happened in the Primaries this week. Plus why the Oil Business is finding it hard to attract new employees.

Jan 19, 2024 • 45min
Can Bankers and Billionaires Solve The World's Problems at Davos?
This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston chats to Leela de Krester of Reuters who is in Davos to get a handle on what really goes on at the snowy Think-Tank. Russian’s Brain Drain; Mandy hears from journalist Jason Corcoran about all the qualified people leaving Russian and what Putin is doing to try and make them stay. And with the Houthi Rebels seeming to dominate affairs in the Middle East we hear from Anna Gordon of TIME about the group who are changing Global Trade.

Jan 12, 2024 • 45min
What's Going on at the Irish Stock Exchange?
What’s going at the Irish Stock Exchange as some of the biggest companies leave Ireland for the UK and the US? This week on Taking Stock Mandy talks to the man in charge, Daryl Byrne CEO of Euronext Dublin, who explains why some of our biggest companies delisted last year. Housing is still the only game in town, Aoife Brennan is Head of Research and Development at Lisney takes Mandy through their housing and commercial property predications for 2024. And finally – a pathfinder and a visionary is how he was described this week by those who knew him, we’ll look back at the life and visionary times of Eddie O’Connor who sadly passed away this week.

Jan 5, 2024 • 49min
The Divided Political State of the USA and Europe.
This week om Taking Stock Mandy Johnston takes a deep dive into the state of American Politics and European politics. She is joined by Simon Tisdell Foreign Commentator with the Guardian who looks at the divided state of American and UK politics. Mandy also chats to Naomi O’Leary the European Correspondent with the Irish Times who details the growing movement of Far-Right parties across Europe. Back home in Ireland Jennifer Kavanagh Law Lecturer tells us about the various referendums and possible election that we have in store in 2024. And for the week that’s in it Mandy also chats to Marian Ryan of Taxback.com about changes coming to all our Taxes in the New Year.

Dec 22, 2023 • 50min
The Best-Selling Christmas Toys, Songs and Movies.
This week on Taking Stock Mandy has some festive fun when she is joined by Newstalk 'Family' Jess Kelly, Henry McKean and John Fardy to chat about the best-selling toys, songs and movies of all time.

Dec 15, 2023 • 44min
New Laws, Same Results?
This week on Taking Stock Joe Lynam stands in for Mandy and looks at everything from Online Disinformation, reforming planning laws and Rishi Sunak’s eventful week.

Dec 8, 2023 • 45min
Latest exchequer figures, unravelling Ray Dalio & key takeaways from this week's GOP debate
Christmas came early at the Department of Finance as exchequer figures revealed a bounce back in corporation tax take - Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times gives us his assessment and looks at the wider economy as we end the year.Best-selling author and New York Times journalist, Rob Copeland, joins Mandy to talk about his book 'The Fund' which looks into the notorious hedge-fund giant Ray Dalio.Caroline Vakil, Campaign Reporter with The Hill talks us through this week’s Republican presidential debate.

Dec 1, 2023 • 43min
Data Dilemma, What the World Wants and Israeli Bonds.
Our dilemma over Data Centres continues - with some warning that Ireland risks a ‘Brexit moment’ as companies look elsewhere for their base. This week on Taking Stock Mandy John talks to John Collins of the Currency about the emotive issue of how many Data Centres Ireland should have.What the world wants! – there’s a new global study of consumer behaviour. Mark Curtis, Global Head of Innovation and Thought Leadership & Sustainability Lead for Accenture Song looks at the new 2024 Life Trends report from Accenture.And finally the cost of war - as Israel raises billions in a borrowing bonanza to fund war against Hamas we’ll ask how the war is funded with FT journalist Kate Deguid of the FT.