FT Alphachat

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos next week, replete with captains of industry and world leaders. The FT's US managing editor Gillian Tett and Fusion's senior editor Felix Salmon join host Cardiff Garcia to debate the merits of the gathering of the rich and powerful in the Swiss Alps. They also discuss the theme of privacy in an age of enhanced security measures and new technology. Finally, with the workforces of several developed countries expected to shrink in the near future, Alphaville's Matt Klein dissects the economics of ageing populations. Go to ft.com/alphachat for show notes. Music by Podington Bear and Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Barack Obama intends to expand background checks on gun sales and target online firearm marketplaces like Armslist.com that have created a loophole for people prohibited from purchasing guns. US policy correspondent Barney Jopson explains. Then, as the Consumer Electronics Show wraps up in Las Vegas, correspondents Leslie Hook and Tim Bradshaw talk about the latest tech gadgets on display at the conference, including new developments in virtual reality and a smart phone-controlled running shoe. Finally, hosts Shannon Bond and Cardiff Garcia offer a few predictions for 2016. Music by: Blue Dot Sessions, Minden and Kevin MacLeod. Go to ft.com/alphachat for show notes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a year when the Federal Reserve announced the first interest rate rise since the financial crisis, mergers and acquisitions activity brought record-breaking deals, Silicon Valley's unicorn companies continued to raise large rounds of funding, and property tycoon Donald Trump topped the polls in the Republican primary race, US reporters and editors at the FT discuss how the biggest stories of 2015 will impact what is to come in 2016. Music by Minden and Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cuban dissident Miriam Leiva speaks with Cardiff Garcia in Havana about the life of her late husband, Oscar Espinosa Chepe, an economist with an irrepressible instinct to tell the truth to a government that did not want to hear it – for which he was repeatedly and severely punished. Then Gary Silverman on a trip to Arizona, where he discovered a free travel zone for Mexican shoppers who want to cross the border. Finally, a review of “Hamilton”, the hip-hop Broadway musical depicting the life of US founding father Alexander Hamilton, which has become a cultural phenomenon. Music credits: Boom Boom Beckett, Blue Dot Sessions, A Ninja Slob Drew Me, Nick Jaina, Will Bangs, The Womb, Kevin MacLeod.Hamilton musical credits: Original Broadway cast/Warner Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economists widely agree that Janet Yellen and the Fed board will lift interest rates at the December 16 meeting but expectations vary just as much when it comes to longer term monetary policy. Capital markets correspondent Eric Platt joins Shannon Bond to discuss. Then, a shrinking in America's middle class to less than 50 per cent of the population for the first time since the early 1970s comes under examination from Washington-based FT correspondents Sam Fleming and Shawn Donnan. Finally, economist Claudia Goldin explains a theory about narrowing the gender pay gap in certain occupations. Music by Salmo and Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Sean Silcoff calls in from Toronto to discuss the rise and fall of BlackBerry, the topic of the book he co-wrote, "Losing the Signal". Then, Patrick Chovanec of Silvercrest Asset Management discusses the IMF's plan to include the renminbi in its basket of reserve currencies. Finally, why is one Chicago group pushing back against George Lucas's gift of a museum for the city? Neil Munshi discusses with host Shannon Bond. Music by Kevin MacLeod, The Womb and Kai Engel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Car sales in the US are set to hit a record high this year, helped by the post-recession resurgence of the sport utility vehicle. As President Barack Obama prepares to visit Paris next week for the UN climate change conference, host Shannon Bond asks FT journalists Ed Luce and Robert Wright what the SUV boom means for the government's efforts to steer Americans toward more fuel-efficient vehicles. Then, the FT's Robin Wigglesworth and Matt Klein examine how a $2bn IMF-led bailout program is helping to right the Jamaican economy, and Shannon previews the latest episode of Alphachatterbox. Music: "Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rise of the Robots author Martin Ford stops by to discuss his pessimistic outlook on the future of automation after winning the FT-McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award this week. Then, San Francisco correspondent Hannah Kuchler breaks down how Facebook is turning to user data to power its artificial intelligence products. Finally, US retail sales are lagging in advance of the critical holiday shopping season, even as total consumer spending grows. FT correspondents Lindsay Whipp and Eric Platt offer some explanations. Music: "Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When "Reclaiming Conversation" author Sherry Turkle sat down with co-host Shannon Bond, she had more to say than could fit in this week's episode of Alphachat. Ms Turkle talks about the effect of screens and smart phones on office conversation and productivity, and how to create device-free zones at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sherry Turkle, clinical psychologist and MIT professor, stops by to speak with host Shannon Bond on how our addiction to our tech devices has stunted our ability to converse with friends, family and colleagues - the topic of her new book "Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age". Then, FT journalists break down the differences in valuing public and private tech companies, especially the so-called unicorn startups. Finally, a preview of the latest Alphachatterbox episode featuring development economist Esther Duflo. Music: "Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.