Business Daily

Business Daily episodes:

• 04.22.2024

  Where is 'a woman's place' in Ireland today?

  Earlier this year, on International Women's Day, the Irish electorate was asked to vote in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care. One of those questions was whether they wished to remove a reference to the...

  
• 04.21.2024

  Should I put a wind turbine on my roof?

  More of us are searching for cheaper and efficient ways to power and heat our homes. As energy prices remain high, what about taking matters into your own hands and putting solar panels on your roof, or putting a...

  
• 04.17.2024

  Corruption at port

  It’s estimated that 90% of traded goods travel over the oceans. But for the seafarers who make that happen, it’s not always an easy process. Thousands of incidents of corruption within the industry have been reported to the Maritime...

  
• 04.16.2024

  The rise of women voters in India

  As India enters election season, we look at the crucial female vote. For decades, the number of women turning out to vote in India has been low, but that’s changed in the last decade. Now, political parties are...

  
• 04.14.2024

  Can you be sued for writing a bad review online?

  We depend on online reviews for everything from hotel and restaurant bookings, to what products to buy, and as we hear in this programme, medical and cosmetic procedures. If a customer feels unhappy with a service they've paid for,...

  
• 04.11.2024

  Business Daily meets: game designer Brenda Romero

  Brenda Romero's breakthrough game Wizardry is legendary, and she’s made and contributed to more than 50 titles since. Now, with her own company in Ireland, what does she think is the key to a great game? And in a vulnerable...

  
• 04.10.2024

  Africa's video gaming boom

  There are an estimated 200 million gamers on the African continent. The industry is growing fast, and generating millions of dollars for gaming companies. However, there's a problem - many gamers in Africa don't have access to the credit...

  
• 04.08.2024

  Video games in concert

  The music composed for video games has come a long way. Once limited to simple tunes generated by early synthesizer chips, it now encompasses complex musical works composed for full orchestra. Video game music is now also considered a...

  
• 04.07.2024

  What’s happening to the gaming business?

  Tens of thousands of people in the video game industry have lost their jobs in the past year. The industry itself is valued around 200 billion dollars - one of the biggest in the world. And last year saw...

  
• 04.04.2024

  Business Daily meets: Maarten van der Weijden

  The Dutch swimmer won gold in Beijing, having been diagnosed with cancer seven years earlier. We hear why he decided to stop competing, and instead turn his attention to charity fundraising - setting up his own foundation and raising millions...

  
• 04.03.2024

  Nigeria’s graduates vulnerable to kidnapping

  Kidnapping is endemic in nearly all parts of Nigeria, as shown by the recent high profile mass abduction and release of nearly 300 schoolchildren. And for young Nigerians who are taking part in the national youth service programme -...

  
• 04.02.2024

  The business of scent

  Smell is a powerful sense that can evoke memories and spark emotional connections. And it's increasingly big business. In this programme, we lift the lid on the multi-billion dollar fragrance industry; finding out how scent can influence customer behaviour, build...

  
• 04.01.2024

  Capturing CO2 from the air

  We're in Iceland, where, in attempt to fight climate change, huge machines are being used to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And then locking it away deep underground, turning it into stone. The business behind the technology believes...

  
• 03.31.2024

  The growth of 'quiet luxury'

  We explore the fashion trend that involves minimal labels and logos. Loved by celebrities and social media influencers, what is it about the quiet luxury trend that is so appealing – particularly in countries like China? And can you follow...

  
• 03.29.2024

  Business Daily meets: ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo

  Founded in 1901, the International Labour Organisation works with governments of over 180 countries, to help promote internationally recognised labour rights. In all of its 105 year-history, Gilbert F. Houngbo is the first African to be in charge of the...

  
• 03.28.2024

  Is tidal power a viable energy source?

  The Pentland Firth is the strait that lies between the far north of mainland Scotland and the Orkney Islands. It's a wild area with some of the fastest tides in the world, where the power of the sea is...

  
• 03.27.2024

  The billion-dollar rise of Padel

  Padel is a fast-growing sport, attracting investment from celebrities and major brands. What is it about the game that makes it so attractive? We hear from professional players of the sport, and head to Sweden, where the Padel boom, and...

  
• 03.26.2024

  How do you keep food cold?

  Up to 40% of food in Africa and India is wasted because of a lack of what's called "the cold chain" - the infrastructure keeping food chilled and fresh, from farm to fork. Many small-scale farmers have no access...

  
• 03.25.2024

  Will high interest rates be cut soon?

  The past few years have been marked by two economic trends that have affected pretty much everyone on the planet. The first is the cost of living crisis that followed the Covid pandemic and was made worse by Russia’s...

  
• 03.22.2024

  Business Daily meets: Leigh Steinberg

  Lawyer Leigh Steinberg had no big dream to become a sports agent. He was a huge sports fan, but the job was not something he was aspiring to – more something that he stumbled across. Today, he's built up...

  
• 03.20.2024

  Is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?

  An alcohol shop for diplomats has opened in Saudi Arabia. It’s a significant move in a country that has banned alcohol for over 70 years. Some believe in order to transform the tourism economy it is a sign of...

  
• 03.19.2024

  Why is Temu so cheap?

  The Chinese-owned online store has exploded in popularity in the past year, shipping to customers in 49 countries around the world. And its advertising has taken centre stage at one of the world’s most watched events: the Super Bowl. ...

  
• 03.18.2024

  Would green hydrogen be a drain on Uruguay's water sources?

  The government of Uruguay has launched ambitious plans to make hydrogen and green fuels. The country generates far more of its electricity from renewables than most countries - Uruguay produces more than 90% of its electricity from sustainable resources, like...

  
• 03.15.2024

  Business Daily meets: CEO of Proton Andy Yen

  Andy Yen is founder and CEO of tech company Proton, best known for its encrypted email service Proton Mail. He was born in Taiwan, studied in California, then moved to Switzerland to work at CERN as a particle physicist. He...

  
• 03.14.2024

  Stockholm: The capital of music tech?

  Spotify and Soundcloud started out as small, music tech startups in Stockholm, and now, several other companies that blend music production and innovation are choosing to set up shop in the Swedish capital. In this edition of Business Daily,...

  
• 03.13.2024

  Nato: Who’s spending what?

  Wary of the perceived threat from Russia, the countries that make up the Nato Western military alliance are upping their spending on the military. But not fast enough, according to former US president Donald Trump, who has made the issue...

  
• 03.12.2024

  The sugar price surge

  We trace the commodity’s journey from sugar cane farm, to mill, to candy shop, all in a quest to find out why the cost of sugar has gone up. The US is the world's fifth largest sugar producer, with sugarcane...

  
• 03.11.2024

  European farming’s existential crisis?

  There's been a wave of farmers' protests across Europe in recent weeks. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Eastern European countries have all seen farmers airing their grievances by driving their tractors into towns and cities and blocking roads....

  
• 03.08.2024

  Business Daily meets: Ben Ainslie

  Sir Ben Ainslie is the most decorated Olympic sailor of all time, winning medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. Since then, he's been sailing in the America’s Cup and more recently in the new SailGP league. Now, he's stepping...

  
• 03.07.2024

  The repercussions of the Hollywood strikes

  Last summer marked the first time in six decades that Hollywood’s actors and writers went on strike simultaneously. They hit pause on production over pay and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film industry. The strikes brought the...

  
• 03.06.2024

  Disruption and drought in the Panama Canal

  The important shipping route runs for 82 km through Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. But a long period of dry weather means the water in the canal is very low, reducing the number of boats that can...

  
• 03.05.2024

  Tourism’s sustainability ambitions

  We travel to FITUR - International Tourism Trade Fair. Taking place in Madrid, this year's event was the biggest ever. As the sector is still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we speak to representatives from countries...

  
• 03.04.2024

  How are farmers adapting to climate change?

  Up to 10% of areas for major crops and livestock could be rendered unsuitable by climate change by 2050, so what can farmers do to adapt to rising temperatures and extreme weather events? Stefania Gozzer meets a farmer in Spain...

  
• 03.02.2024

  Bonus: Good Bad Billionaire

  In this special episode, Ed Butler brings you a podcast from our friends at Good Bad Billionaire. In the series, presenters Simon Jack and Zing Tseng find out how the richest people on the planet made their billions, and...

  
• 03.01.2024

  Business Daily meets: Mariana Mazzucato

  The world's major consulting firms make an estimated trillion dollars a year, directing governments and businesses on how best to govern. But the economist Mariana Mazzucato argues that outsourcing the brain power of governments to private firms is a dangerous...

  
• 02.29.2024

  Is it okay to be mediocre at work?

  The idea of settling for ‘good enough’ and being mediocre at work is not new… but the case for prioritising other things apart from work has grown rapidly since the pandemic – and hashtags like #lazygirljob have been getting millions...

  
• 02.28.2024

  Would you like to work 'near' home?

  Work from home, or go into the office? For many businesses and workers it's an ongoing conversation at the moment. But could there be a third way - working 'near' home? New co-working spaces are providing a place for people...

  
• 02.27.2024

  Chile's move to a 40 hour work week

  We look at the implications as the Latin American country gradually reduces from 45 hours. In April 2023 politicians approved a law in congress saying that businesses need to move towards cutting their hours to help get a better work...

  
• 02.26.2024

  How Sweden led the way on parental leave

  It's been 50 years since Sweden introduced state-funded parental leave, designed for couples to share. We hear how the pioneering policy has impacted families and businesses - and ask whether Sweden really deserves its reputation for gender equality. And...

  
• 02.23.2024

  Business Daily meets: Ingrid Robeyns

  Today, the richest 10 per cent of the world’s population own more than three quarters of its wealth, while the bottom half have 2%. To halt the growing wealth gap, one economic philosopher, Ingrid Robeyns, has come up with a...

  
• 02.22.2024

  Ukraine's economic rollercoaster

  The Russian invasion sparked the worst recession in the country’s recent history. Yet 2023 saw growth which is projected to continue. So how are businesses actually faring? The economy is heavily reliant on foreign aid and there is uncertainty...

  
• 02.21.2024

  Peak profits

  The Olympics in Tokyo, some jaw dropping films, and a hardwired desire to be in the great outdoors. These are just some of the reasons credited with boosting the popularity of climbing. Hundreds of indoor bouldering gyms have cropped up...

  
• 02.20.2024

  What happens when you run out of coins?

  The Philippines is experiencing an artificial coin shortage. It’s artificial because there are plenty of coins - it’s just that people are using them less so they fall out of circulation and end up collecting in jars at home. ...

  
• 02.19.2024

  Global trade’s new normal?

  Three months ago, Houthi fighters from Yemen hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea and took the crew captive. It was the group’s first attack on commercial shipping in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Around 30 similar...

  
• 02.16.2024

  Business Daily meets: Tony Fernandes

  Tony Fernandes has worked in the music industry, owned a formula one team and co-owned a professional London football club, but these days he’s concentrating on his core business as the CEO of the parent company of AirAsia, a Malaysia-based...

  
• 02.15.2024

  The making of a billionaire athlete

  Only four sportspeople have turned success on the field to success in business, making it to the 10 figure club. Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Magic Johnson, the last to join in October 2023, according to the wealth-tracking...

  
• 02.13.2024

  A scary business

  Scaring people has become big business. There’s even a catch-all term for the trend: dark tourism, where thrill seekers visit the scenes or replicate the experiences of horrendous moments in history. Elizabeth Hotson goes to investigate. (Picture: Someone...

  
• 02.12.2024

  The content moderators taking Big Tech to court

  We hear from former moderator Daniel Motaung, who has taken Meta and their outsourcing partner, Sama, to an employment tribunal in Nairobi. US lawyer Cori Crider, from tech justice NGO Foxglove - which supports Daniel and others who have taken...

  
• 02.09.2024

  Business Daily meets: Jagan Chapagain

  The secretary general of the world’s biggest humanitarian network – the International Federation of the Red Cross - rose from humble beginnings in Nepal. We hear how Jagan Chapagain became involved in humanitarian work, and how he deals...

  
• 02.08.2024

  The global quest to boost productivity

  From tackling the long commute to sleeping on the job - we head to Lagos, New York, Tokyo, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) and Dublin to look at the diverse ways businesses are attempting to boost productivity and therefore also boost profits....