This weekend, we look at the Peloton phenomenon. Is it a failing fitness cult or a lasting way to stay healthy? Lilah and San Francisco correspondent Patrick McGee explore the behavioural science behind why we don’t exercise and the tech that tricks our brains into doing it anyway. Then, management editor Andrew Hill tells us why so many bad business books exist at the airport, and what makes a good one--------------If you want to explore the FT, use this link for special discounts for listeners: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Links and mentions from the episode: –Patrick McGee on how connected fitness became the new obsession: https://on.ft.com/32YplFd–Andrew Hill: ‘Pulp non-fiction: the worst business books of 2022’: https://on.ft.com/34ao7Hz –All the winners and shortlisted books for FT and McKinsey's best business books of the year award https://ig.ft.com/sites/business-book-award/ –If you want to read more about the culture of Peloton, here’s ‘This is your brain on Peloton’, by Amanda Hess (NYT): https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/16/arts/peloton-cody-rigsby-content.html –Anne Helen Peterson is the unofficial internet scholar on Peloton celebrity: https://annehelen.substack.com/p/towards-a-unified-theory-of-peloton --------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wall Street stocks slumped on Thursday after disappointing earnings reports in the technology sector from Facebook parent Meta, Turkey and Ukraine signed a deal to deepen defence co-operation in defiance of warnings from Moscow, and Olympics sponsors are accused of ignoring the plight of China’s Uyghur Muslims. The FT’s Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson talks about the pressure on companies and how they are responding. Mentioned in this podcast:Amazon shares surge on Prime price rise and boost from cloud divisionBeijing Olympics: the new front line in the US-China cold warErdogan visit to Ukraine tests complex ties with Putin US stocks dragged lower by downbeat tech earningsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spotify delivered a weak outlook for first-quarter subscriber growth, investors are putting more pressure on the European Central Bank to raise interest rates, and Argentina has been plunged into a fresh crisis after a crucial political figure resigned over the country’s outline debt deal with the International Monetary FundMentioned in this podcast:Spotify warns it’s ‘too early’ to calculate impact of Joe Rogan rowEurozone inflation hits record 5.1% in JanuaryResignation of Peronist leader triggers crisis over Argentina’s $44.5bn IMF dealThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alphabet announced a 20-for-one stock split on Tuesday, and businesses across Myanmar shut up shop yesterday, joining a nationwide “silent strike” to mark the first anniversary since a military coup. The FT’s commodities correspondent, Emiko Terazono, explains that the slowing growth of plant–based meat sales has taken executives by surprise. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Google parent Alphabet posts surge in search advertising revenueMyanmar businesses defy army nationalisation threat and join strike Has the appetite for plant-based meat already peaked?M&S and Aldi make peace in Colin and Cuthbert cake warThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US stock market has suffered its worst start to the year since the global financial crisis, US and European allies are preparing what is being described as the most aggressive package of economic and financial sanctions ever assembled to punish Russian president Vladimir Putin, and Italian government bonds rallied as investors welcomed the re-election of Sergio Mattarella as president. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:US stock markets endure worst January since global financial crisisUS and European allies ready aggressive sanctions against RussiaDraghi gains vital time for policy revamp after Italy re-elects Mattarella as presidentSony buys video game maker Bungie for $3.6bn as dealmaking acceleratesThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund has warned that investors face years of low returns due to permanent inflation, and splits are emerging in corporate America’s response to a supply chain crisis. Plus, the FT’s Europe editor, Ben Hall reports from the Ukraine city of Mariupol about how people view a potential Russian invasion. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:World’s largest wealth fund warns ‘permanent’ inflation will hit returnsUkrainian frontier city weighs threat of renewed Russian aggressionWinners and losers emerge from lingering US supply chain crisisTui raises €500m fund to finance new hotelsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look at two things that connect us to human history. First, How To Spend It editor Jo Ellison takes us mudlarking — sifting through low tide for treasure — to find remnants of ordinary life from hundreds of years ago. Licensed mudlark Lara Maiklem teaches us how. Then we explore the staying power of games: why do we love them? Why have we been playing some for more than 7,000 years? Our gaming critic Tom Faber joins us to discuss. --------------If you want to explore the FT, use this link for special discounts for listeners: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Links and mentions from the episode: – This week’s How To Spend It cover story and photoshoot: ‘Tide and seek: the hidden treasures of low tide’ https://www.ft.com/content/44a1a5be-d0de-4a5a-a02b-1386e0b7c84f –Lara Maiklem’s books are called ‘Mudlarking’ and ‘A Field Guide to Mudlarking’–Last time Jo went mudlarking was with jeweller Ruth Tomlinson for this November 2021 article: ‘Why I’m throwing my jewellery into the Thames’: https://www.ft.com/content/aacc19ef-d397-4c15-b943-a029a4954ca1 –A great piece Lilah recommends on mudlarking by novelist Daniel Wallace: https://gardenandgun.com/feature/daniel-wallace-explores-the-art-of-mudlarking/ –Tom Faber on the transformative power of games: https://www.ft.com/content/c2f8b5b6-1f30-48cc-a098-71484ded9a00 –Tom also wrote a great piece this week about the Cameo app and celebrity culture: https://on.ft.com/3FIF7kF --------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple posted record revenue of $123.9bn in the holiday quarter, and investors had a tough time gauging the Federal Reserve’s hawkish tone, the UK’s new information watchdog says he wants the country to take the lead on holding Big Tech to account in a post-Brexit Britain free of cumbersome European data rules.Plus, the FT’s European diplomatic correspondent, Henry Foy, reports that western countries are threatening Russia with new sanctions if it invades Ukraine. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Apple’s holiday quarter revenue hits record despite supply chain worriesEU and UK plan sanctions on new Russian gas projects if Ukraine attacked‘No more Mr Nice Guy’: Fed chair signals tougher stance on inflationUK seeks leadership role in global privacy, says new watchdog headThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by David, da Silva, Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tesla reported a record net profit of $2.3bn last quarter but warned of supply chain constraints and the Federal Reserve signalled its intention to raise interest rates in March. Plus, the FT’s China correspondent, Ed White, talks about China’s vaping queen and her company's stock price which went up in smoke this week. Mentioned in this podcast:Tesla reports record profit but warns of constraints on supply chainFed signals March rate rise as it fights rampant inflationChina’s vape queen hit by Beijing investigationApple reclaims top smartphone spot in ChinaThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google has overhauled a central piece of technology it is building to replace advertising cookies, and the owner of 7-Eleven is facing investor calls to split up. Plus, the FT’s Rome correspondent, Amy Kazmin, explains why Italy is having such a hard time finding someone who can be prime minister if Mario Draghi is elected president. Mentioned in this podcast:Google changes course on cookies plans following advertising industry backlash7-Eleven owner faces investor calls to split upThe Draghi dilemma: Italian presidential election risks turbulenceThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.