The Bottom Line

The podcast discusses the concept of having too much choice and its impact on decision-making. It explores the paradox of choice, evaluates the role of brands, and examines confusion marketing and the use of the decoy effect in retail and tech. The wide range of shortbread options in the marketplace is also explored. Additionally, the relationship between choice and capitalism is examined.

Former MP, Secretary of State, and Head of Union of Communication Workers Alan Johnson, along with Professor Sian Moore and Susanna Newing, discuss strikes and their resolution. They explore the impact of strikes, negotiations in Coventry, the bitter strike at British Airways, the importance of negotiation in ending strikes, disputes and inequality in the NHS, and reaching negotiable agreements.

As the UK struggles with recession, Evan Davis talks to four business people who are not afraid to be bulls in a bear market. Does a recession offer opportunities to serial entrepreneurs and start-ups that others might fear? Evan Davis and guests discuss.GUESTSCapucine Codron, Co-founder, Swizzle Arka Dhar, CEO and Co-founder SKOV LtdSir John Hegarty, Founder, The Garage Soho and BBH Advertising AgencyandSarah Willingham, Co Founder, Nightcap bar chain and former Dragon's Den panellist.PRODUCTION TEAMProducers: Julie Ball, Nick Holland, Kirsteen KnightEditor: Simon WattsSound: Graham PuddifootProduction Co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross

Col Needham set up his first business at the age of 14 designing and selling games software for computers. But his real love, since the age of 5, has always been film. Col started logging every movie he'd seen in a paper diary which he eventually set up as a database, along with other like-minded film fans. Although it began and remains a personal passion, IMDB is now a multi million pound business, which was one of Amazon's first acquisitions. Col has remained CEO and founder, and he's now seen 15,000 films - all logged religiously in IMDB. He talks to Evan Davis about the journey from passion to profit. GUEST Col Needham, CEO and Founder, IMDBPRESENTER: Evan DavisPRODUCER: Julie Ball EDITOR: Simon Watts SOUND: Graham PuddifootPRODUCTION CO-ORDINATORS: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross

What will higher interest rates on borrowing money mean for the property market and what happens if house prices fall? Evan Davis discusses mortgages and housing in new economic times.Guests: Vanessa McCallum, Owner of Vanessa McCallum Estates Ray Boulger, Senior Technical Manager at John Charcol Mortgage Brokers David Miles, Professor of Financial Economics at Imperial College London Production coordinators: Siobhan Reid and Helena Warwick-Cross Presenter: Evan Davis Producers: Louise Byrne, Kirsteen Knight and Nick Holland Editor: Simon Watts

Since the very beginning of the NHS, GP surgeries have been, in effect, businesses with contracts to do the work the Health Service needs. But in recent decades, patient numbers have grown, surgeries have become larger and the services offered more varied. Many GP surgeries now employ administrative staff, nurses, physiotherapists and paramedics, as well as doctors. What's it like to be a clinician and run a small business at the same time? What are the pressures? How do you get the books to balance? And how do you attract more people to join one of the front lines of the NHS? Evan Davis and guests discuss.GUESTS Dr. John Lynch, GP Partner, Framfield House Surgery, Woodbridge Suffolk Dr. Matt Noble, GP Partner, GP@hand, Bablyon Health a 'digital first' practice Dr. Yazmin Razak, Single GP practitioner, North Kensington and Dr. Rebecca Rosen, Senior Fellow, Health Policy at the Nuffield Trust and part-time GP, South London Producers: Julie Ball and Kirsteen Knight Researcher: Louise Byrne Sound Engineers: Graham Puddifoot and Rod Farquhar Editor: Simon Watts

Evan Davis looks at the UK's defence industry to find out how it is responding to the war in Ukraine and whether socially conscious investors are beginning to change their minds about the sector.Guests: Dean Rosenfield, Head of Saab UK Kevin McNamee, CEO of Denroy Group Ltd Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS GroupPresenter: Evan Davis Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed & Helena Warwick-Cross Producer: Julie Ball & Nick Holland Editor: Tara McDermott

What happens when your business vision doesn't stack up or your long-standing business needs to make changes to keep up with a changing market and customer taste? Do you make a U-turn or a pivot as it's known in business. How do you know when is the right time and how do you get your employees and managers to go with you? Evan Davis and guests discuss.GUESTSMatthew Bannister, Broadcaster and Presenter, Folk on Foot podcastLiz Earle, Beauty and Wellness Entrepreneur, Editor-in-Chief, Liz Earle Wellbeing magazineand Jessica Spungin, Adjunct Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, London Business School PRESENTER: EVAN DAVISPRODUCTION TEAMProducers: Julie Ball and Nick Holland Editor: Tara McDermott Sound: Neil Churchill/Rod Farquhar Production Co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed & Helena Warwick-Cross

Evan Davis asks why there are more job vacancies in Britain than there are people looking for work. Unemployment used to be a big problem, but now businesses say they're struggling to recruit enough staff.Guest list: Jane Townson: CEO of The Home Care Association Will Beckett: CEO of Hawksmoor restaurants Jane Gratton: Head of People Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce Jon Wilson: CEO of TotalJobs online recruitment agency.Production Coordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross and Siobhan Reed Sound production: Neil Churchill & Graham Puddifoot Research: Louise Byrne Producer: Nick Holland Editor: Richard Vadon Presenter: Evan Davis

Is it right that businesses making what look like windfall profits pay windfall taxes? And do the recent announcements from the government to lower taxes in general lead to economic growth? Evan Davis and guests discuss.GUESTSIrem Guceri, Associate Professor Economics and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, OxfordProfessor Michael Jacobs, Professor of Political Economy, Sheffield UniversityCharlie Mullins, Businessman and Founder, Pimlico PlumbersDan Neidle, Founder, Tax Policy Associates Ltd. PRODUCTION TEAMProducer: Julie Ball Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineers: Graham Puddifoot/James Beard Production Co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross