The Bottom Line
BBC Radio 4
The definitive business podcast from the BBC. Each week, the BBC's Evan Davis is joined by bosses, entrepreneurs and industry experts, to lift the lid on how their businesses work, and what it’s like to be in charge. They discuss a big issue, a big challenge, or a big question facing their industry. From managing AI to managing millennials, from supermarkets to supercharging a new product.And our guests will share their stories of success and failure along the way. Podcasts are published every Thursday. And as well as being a podcast, we are also available every Thursday afternoon and Tuesday evening on BBC Radio 4. You can now also listen to The Bottom Line on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Bottom Line”. It works on most smart speakers.The Bottom Line has published a spin off series - Decisions That Made Me - where Evan asks entrepreneurs and business leaders about the most crucial moments in their lives and careers. You can watch these episodes here: https://t.ly/oJ8lW. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with Evan and the team on email at bottomline@bbc.co.uk.The Bottom Line is produced in partnership with The Open University and is an EcoAudio certified production.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 16, 2022 • 28min
Online Reviews
Can we trust the wisdom of the crowd on online review platforms? Evan Davis and guests discuss how businesses can harness this knowledge to their advantage and how they can deal with bad reviews. And how do the platforms that consumers look to for assurance ensure that we're reading the truth? Plus stories of chip shops, splashing in puddles and the mysterious "review farms"...
Guests:
Anoop Joshi, VP Legal and Platform Integrity, Trustpilot
Melissa Norton, Commercial Director, Muddy Puddles
Professor Adrian Palmer, Head of Marketing and Reputation, Henley Business SchoolProducer: Julie Ball
Editor Hugh Levinson
Sound: Neil Churchill
Production coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross
Jun 9, 2022 • 28min
The price of bread
The 'crust' of living: Evan Davis looks at the spiralling costs of baking a loaf of bread. On top of rising energy bills the industry is having to keep up with huge increases in the price of wheat. In this episode a farmer, a miller and a baker explain how they're trying to make ends meet.Guests:
Sarah Bell, Wheat Farmer and Grain Consultant.
Julius Deane, Wheat Director at Carrs Flour Mills Ltd
Mike Roberts, Deputy Chairman of Roberts BakeryProducer: Nick Holland
Sound: Rod Farquhar
Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Mar 24, 2022 • 29min
Business and Energy
How will soaring energy costs affect UK corporations? Prices are spiking, not least because of the war in Ukraine. Energy is essential for everything from heating offices to transportation to manufacturing, so what happens when it just becomes too expensive? Evan Davis and guests discuss the current energy crisis and ask how long is it likely to last and what we can do to reduce the vulnerability of our businesses. GUESTS
Michael Lewis, Eon Energy
Natalie Quail, Founder Smiletime
Tina McKenzie, Federation of Small Businesses
Gareth Stace, UK Steel
Producer: Lucinda Borrell
Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill
Sound: Neil Churchill and Rod Farquhar
Editor: Hugh LevinsonThe programme was produced in partnership with the Open University.
Mar 17, 2022 • 29min
Levelling Up
Evan Davis and guests examine the prospects for business in this government priority for increasing economic activity beyond the Southeast of England. How important is political devolution? Or are practical changes, like transport links and skills education more significant? Guests:
Andrew Carter, chief executive, Centre for Cities
Akash Paun, senior fellow at the Institute for Government
Steve Cole, maritime business improvement director for BAE Systems
Lucy Winskell, chair of the North-East Enterprise partnershipProducer: Lucinda Borrell
Sound: Graham Puddifoot
Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill
Editor: Hugh LevinsonThe programme was produced in partnership with the Open University
Mar 10, 2022 • 29min
Changing China
How will shifts in China's economic policies affect global commerce? The nation is the world's second-biggest economy and it's been the centre of globalised manufacturing for over three decades. But after a global pandemic, an energy crisis and now war in Ukraine, is this going to change? Already, President Xi Jinping has plans to move away from the reliance on global trade towards expanding domestic consumption, alongside targets for encouraging innovation in technology and artificial intelligence. Will recent economic sanctions on Russia due to geopolitics make China retreat more from global trade? What will this mean for us and for the rest of the world? Evan Davis and guests discuss
Guests:
Hong Bo, professor of financial economics, School of Finance & Management, SOAS University of London
Mike Collier, director, China UKTC consultancy
Xiaolan Fu, professor of technology and international development: and director, Technology and Management Centre for Development (TMCD), Oxford University
Producer: Julie Ball
Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed
Sound: Nigel Appleton
Editor: Hugh LevinsonThis programme was produced in partnership with the Open University
Mar 3, 2022 • 29min
Russia and the global economy
What will the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine be for the world's economy - and for us? From the effects on the energy markets to the tough sanctions regime, we can already see ripple effects across Europe and the rest of the globe, at a time when the world's economy is still in a febrile post-Covid state. Evan Davis and guests discuss the likely and immediate picture for business, growth and incomes.Guests:
Duncan Weldon, economist and author of the Value Added newsletter on Substack.
Anna Leach, deputy chief economist at the CBI
Chris Rogers, supply chain economist for Flexport
Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus EnergyProducer: Julie Ball
Research: Johnny I'Anson
Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed
Editor: Hugh LevinsonProduced in association with The Open University.
Feb 24, 2022 • 29min
Buy Now, Pay Later
What's behind the explosion in popularity of Klarna and its competitors? Most of us have found ourselves wanting something that we can’t quite afford. If you’re low on funds and waiting for money to come in, there are a multitude of borrowing options, from overdrafts and loans to credit cards. A new option that is expanding fast is the Buy Now Pay Later model, where customers have the option to pay back money for their purchases and there’s no interest charges - provided the debts are cleared on time. But is it too good be true? Join Evan Davis and his panel of experts to get to the bottom of the BNPL industryGUESTS
Alex Marsh, Head of Klarna UK
Alice Tapper, financial journalist
Sameer Pethe, Financial Services Partner, KearneyProducer: Lucinda Borrell
Sound: Graham Puddifoot
Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed
Editor: Hugh LevinsonProduced in association with the Open University
Feb 17, 2022 • 28min
Alcohol-free drinks
Exploring the growing demand for alcohol-free drinks, the success of gin substitutes, the expansion of the alcohol-free drinks market, challenges in creating alcohol-free drinks, pricing and consumer perception, and the comparison between major drinks companies and independent startups in the no-alcohol category.
Feb 10, 2022 • 29min
The Price Shock
Prices are rising - but are we heading into an unprecedented economic period? So far, wages haven't yet followed. How different is what's going on now from the conventional boom and bust cycle? Evan Davis and guests discuss.
Guests:
Dr Jennifer Smith, Associate Professor of Economics, Warwick University
Professor Michael McMahon, Oxford University
Sonali Punhani, UK Chief Economist at Credit SuisseProducer: Julie Ball
Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed
Sound: Rod Farquhar
Editor: Hugh LevinsonProduced in association with the Open University
Feb 3, 2022 • 29min
Your childhood in the workplace
Psychotherapist Naomi Shragai talks to Evan Davis about how our emotional baggage can harm our work life.. She advises businesses and employees on how to recognise our deeper personal impulses, which often stem from our childhoods. Her book 'The Man Who Mistook his Job for His Life' catalogues phenomena like narcissism, fear of rejection and imposter syndrome, Naomi tells us how to recognise these powerful forces, and what we can do about them.
Producer: Julie Ball
Studio Manager: Neil Churchill
Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie HillThis programme was made in association with The Open University
