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It’s our annual “let’s unpack the year that’s been” episode, and yes, it’s equal parts finance recap, emotional support podcast, and why does London cost £30 to breathe? We reflect on the year’s biggest money moments (hello wild stock market returns, AI doing the absolute most, Bitcoin being Bitcoin, and gold randomly popping off), plus the behind-the-scenes reality of running The Curve without spontaneously combusting. Expect honest chat about budgeting properly (and what happens when you don’t), building an emergency fund, buying property, borrowing money from parents (humbling!), navigating relationship finances, and the ongoing quest for balance when your to-do list regenerates overnight like a cursed Tamagotchi. It’s a mix of lessons learned, goals for next year, and a gentle reminder that you can do everything… just not all at once.

Drop a comment with what you learned this year, what you’re ditching in 2025, and the goals you’re taking into next year we want to hear it all!

Thank you for a fantastic year everyone and see you in 2026. ❤️

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Welcome to Raising The Curve!(00:00:36) Re-introducing our yearly tradition(00:02:59) Our 2024 reflections(00:05:41) What happened globally in 2025(00:09:50) Vic’s business reflections(00:12:56) Soph’s business reflections(00:15:45) Vic’s financial reflections(00:19:31) Soph’s financial reflections(00:22:34) Vic’s personal reflections(00:25:33) Soph’s personal reflections(00:27:44) Vic’s business learnings(00:29:14) Soph’s business learnings(00:31:49) Vic’s money learnings(00:33:01) Soph’s money learnings(00:35:33) Vic’s personal learnings(00:39:40) Soph’s personal learnings(00:43:22) Our previous goals for 2025(00:45:16) Vic’s goals for 2026(00:45:42) Soph’s goals for 2026(00:50:40) SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!(00:54:46) Thank you for listening to Raising The Curve!(00:55:12) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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It’s the final Curve Weekly of the year and yes, we somehow open with eggs, sleep, and the pillow-fort Sophie made last night on her sleepover. But once we snap out of the delirium, we’re diving into a wild week in finance: Warner Brothers is officially the belle of the ball with Netflix and Paramount clawing for it’s attention (hostile bids, political puppeteering, billion-dollar drama - it's basically Succession but with more streaming). Then we chat about the world’s biggest ice-cream brand going public, yep, Magnum is now a standalone stock, though the whole “health and wellness trend meets frozen sugar block” debate gets very real. Nvidia’s China green light is finally confirmed, bringing in billions (and maybe some legally questionable tax mechanics). And to close out 2025? The best global news for women we’ve seen all year: India has started compensating women for unpaid domestic labour. No strings attached. No forms. Just cash, dignity, and a serious shift in economic power. If you need a year-end episode with corporate drama, sweet treats, geopolitical spice, and a big feminist mic drop… this one’s for you!

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

Acquisition – One company buys another.
Bidding War – Companies fighting over who gets to buy something.
Hostile Takeover – A takeover nobody asked for.
Shareholder – Someone who owns a slice of a company.
Equity – Shares.
Spin-Off – A company turning part of itself into a new company.
Conglomerate – One big company made of lots of little ones.
GLP-1 Drugs – Ozempic-style appetite suppressants.
Addressable Market – Everyone a company could sell to.
Lobbying – Schmoozing politicians for business wins.
Revenue – Money coming in (before bills).
Red Tape – Annoying admin that slows everything down.
Takeover Target – A company everyone suddenly wants to buy.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:01:11) Quick catch up: eggs & sleep (00:06:11) Warner Bros: Inside the Major Bidding War(00:18:44) Magnum’s Market Debut: Investing in Ice Cream(00:29:42) Arnott’s: What’s Really Going On(00:33:30) Nvidia’s Milestone: China Approves Chip Sales(00:36:29) India’s Landmark Policy Supporting Women(00:44:46) Thank you for listening to The Curve Weekly!(00:45:24) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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What does it actually take to save £100,000 in your mid-20s without becoming a joyless hermit who never buys a coffee again? In this episode, Sophie chats with the hugely talented creator, Mia McGrath about growing up feeling “not rich enough”, turning a shopping habit into a saving habit, and why your first £100k is the hardest but the most powerful. Mia opens up about being adopted from China, how that shaped her fierce independence, and the moment she realised building her own wealth felt better than waiting for someone else to “rescue” her financially. They get into invisible wealth vs flashy flexing, the FIRE movement and creating a “work optional” life, living frugally without feeling deprived, and how to rethink splitting money in relationships without losing your power. Expect practical tips on low-buy habits, side hustles, emergency funds and compound interest, plus a healthy dose of “put the ASOS app down” energy and Sophie’s pledge to finally stop wasting money on Guinness she doesn’t even like.

Mia’s socials:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/miarose_mcgrath/?hl=en

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@miarosemcgrath?lang=en-GB

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@miarosemcgrath

Substack - https://frugalchic.co.uk/

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Welcome to Raising the Curve(00:00:37) Why Mia Set Her £100k Goal(00:02:50) Mia’s Early Money Story(00:05:08) Breaking Free from Overconsumption(00:10:47) Adoption, Identity & Independence(00:14:03) How Her Parents Shaped Her Money Habits(00:16:29) Understanding Compound Interest(00:18:05) Defining What “Rich” Really Means(00:21:18) FIRE and Becoming Work-Optional(00:23:55) Leaving Fashion for Finance(00:29:11) Hitting the £100k Milestone(00:31:39) The Real Sacrifices Behind Saving(00:34:35) For People Who Love Spending(00:36:58) The Idea of Frugal Chic(00:40:08) Small Luxuries That Still Feel Rich(00:42:13) Gratitude as a Money Tool(00:44:04) The Power of Invisible Wealth(00:46:10) Hypergamy, Dating & Splitting Bills(00:57:16) Final Thoughts(00:58:03) Thanks for Listening(00:58:28) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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This week, we unpack a surprisingly juicy mix of money, markets and the evolving media world, starting with Netflix’s huge move on Warner Bros and what it tells us about how content, power and profit are shifting in real time. They look at Australia’s under-16 social media ban and the ripple effects it could have on everything from advertising economics to how young people connect, plus Pinterest’s unexpected rise as the “healthy” corner of the internet and why that actually matters for investors. From there it’s a whirlwind tour through the rest of the week’s financial drama: Prada snapping up Versace at a discount, global companies lining up to challenge Trump’s tariffs, and the wild new frontier of GLP-1 drugs making their way into the pet market (Ozempets… truly). With a sprinkle of Spotify Wrapped chaos, a dash of dating-life overshare, and a sneak peek of our upcoming chat with Gen Z investing whiz Mia McGrath, this episode delivers plenty of laughs but also some big-picture takeaways about where power, money and consumer behaviour are heading.

Sign the petition! https://b416.co.nz/

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

Acquisition – One company buys another. Corporate shopping spree.
Vertical Integration – Owning every step of making your product. Control freak energy.
Regulators – The business hall monitors.
Competition Concerns – “You’re getting too powerful, babe.”
Spin-Off – Breaking a business into a new baby business.
Tariffs – Taxes on imports. A pricey “welcome.”
Pricing Power – When a company raises prices and we still pay.
Share Price – What one slice of a company costs.
Bottom Line – Profit. The money that actually matters.
GLP-1 Drugs – The science behind Ozempic. Very trendy.
Market Consolidation – Big companies merging into even bigger ones.
Ad Revenue – Money made from ads. Your scrolling = their payday.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) What’s Coming Up (It’s a Big One)(00:01:11) Soph’s Dating Debrief(00:04:36) Spotify Wrapped Takes Over(00:10:44) Netflix Buys Warner Bros(00:17:53) The Only App Dodging Australia’s Social Media Ban(00:25:00) Prada Snaps Up Versace(00:27:11) Trump’s Tariffs Come Back to Bite(00:33:10) Ozempets…(00:36:50) One Last Thing Before You Go(00:38:52) A Big Thank You!(00:39:31) Financial Disclaimer(00:39:59) Outtake (sorry Miso)

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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This week, we unpack how foreign buyers actually shape the property market, beyond the headlines, the outrage, and the “blame the billionaire” energy. We dig into why wealthy people snap up homes across the world, what that does to local affordability, and why foreign buyers are such an easy political target. Along the way, we compare the dream portfolios we’d build (yes, there are city penthouses and secluded hideaways), break down how leverage helps everyday buyers grow wealth, and take a fun peek at the property empires of Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna…

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ, whose Home Loan Partners understand that no two journeys to home ownership are the same. With expert guidance, backed by BNZ’s research team, they’re here to help you make sense of interest rates, affordability, and timing - so you can navigate your property journey with confidence, no matter what stage you’re at.

👉 To learn more, head here.

BNZ home loans are subject to BNZ’s lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees. An establishment fee of up to $150 may apply.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:00:29) BNZ x The Curve(00:01:19) Our dream property portfolios(00:04:44) Why do so many wealthy people buy foreign property?(00:07:02) Taylor Swift’s property portfolio(00:11:06) Why so many people aspire to buy property (00:14:48) The price to income ratio(00:22:45) Taxes preventing foreign buyers(00:30:08) Ways to help more people get on the ladder(00:33:50) Kim Kardashian's property portfolio(00:35:41) Rhianna's property portfolio(00:36:14) The most lucrative places to buy in the world(00:37:44) A Big Thank You to BNZ!(00:39:19) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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This week, Vic kicks things off with a very serious financial dilemma: should you ever spend your hard-earned entertainment budget in an ironically disgusting pub… or is that grounds for a relationship summit? From there we dive into Google’s big AI step up, why Gemini 3 and Google’s own chips are suddenly giving Nvidia a proper run for its money, and what that means if you’re investing in the AI boom. We also unpack how Eli Lilly just joined the trillion-dollar club off the back of weight-loss drugs, and get into the messy but important nuance of obesity, ethics and investing. Then we finish with the UK budget - but don’t tap out if you’re not in the UK: we use it as a crash course in how government budgets actually work, how frozen tax bands quietly make you poorer, what’s changing with ISAs, and why renters and pet owners might finally catch a break.

Watch our latest episode with Google’s Chief Technologist here: https://youtu.be/kQ3dKKSFbWI?si=Intdo6EBtVz60oTd

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

AI Chips – Hardware that powers AI brains.
Nvidia – The Beyoncé of chip makers.
Gemini 3 – Google’s new AI model causing chaos.
Market Share – How big a slice of the industry pie you own.
GLP-1 Drugs – The science behind weight-loss meds like Ozempic.
Market Cap – What a company’s worth on the stock market.
Tax Brackets – Income levels that decide your tax rate.
Fiscal Drag – Taxes going up… without looking like they’re going up.
ISA – A savings/investing account the tax man can’t touch.
Diversification – Don’t put all your money in one basket.
R&D – Where companies invent cool new stuff.
GDP – A country’s economic “how we’re doing” score.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in the episode...(00:01:09) Vic vs Flower Man: The Pub Battle(00:06:33) Google’s steps up to the AI game (Hello, Gemini 3)(00:14:40) The Trillion-Dollar Surprise(00:28:36) The UK Budget… but make it understandable(00:36:45) Thank you for listening!(00:37:24) Financial Disclaimer(00:37:52) We love you Jacob Elordi

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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At 10, Devika was doing night shifts caring for her nan. Fast-forward and she’s one of the tiny handful of female CEOs on the NASDAQ, building life-changing dementia tech while anonymous investors critique… her handbags. In this episode, she shares the real story behind her “why”: caring for her grandma, building a booming care startup, being bullied out of the business she created, surviving an abusive relationship, sobbing on Old Street while her face covered every Tube station, and then - plot twist - meeting the love of her life in Ibiza wearing five-day-old underwear. We dig into resilience, misogyny, motherhood, leadership, and her mission to transform dementia care for every family. It’s raw, heartfelt, unexpectedly funny, and a hug for anyone who’s ever thought, “I don’t know if I can get up again.”

(We do touch on domestic abuse, grief and mental health - please listen gently.)

Devika’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devikawood/?originalSubdomain=uk

Ayla Care: https://www.ayla-care.com/

Women in Health: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealth-women-in-health

🚗 Thinking about a new car but not ready to drop the cash all at once? Our mini-episode with Lexus explains car financing in plain English (and yes, we made it fun): ⁠https://youtu.be/klxsa-upYH4?si=mStDjeNaPWvERlt_

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Episode Preview(00:01:12) Quick Disclaimer(00:01:23) The Curve x Lexus(00:02:24) Who is Devika Wood?(00:09:12) Devika’s Grandma & Her ‘Why’(00:17:16) Co-Founding Vida at 26(00:30:27) Rock Bottom(00:34:15) The biggest Learning Devika Has Had(00:40:52) Devika’s Mission Now(00:41:54) Devika’s Message to Mums(00:44:36) Thank You For Listening!(00:45:01) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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The Economist recently dropped an article called The Cost of Dating Your Boss, and naturally we had to dive into the juicy numbers: from why dating upwards can boost your salary to why the breakup can cost you big time. But before we get into workplace romance economics, there’s plenty more on the agenda: Nvidia’s highly anticipated result and what it means for the AI hype cycle, Warren Buffett suddenly going off-brand and splashing billions on Google, the world’s first Hermès handbag hedge fund (finally, an investment we can emotionally justify), and the UK’s ticket-resale ban that’s already hammering StubHub and Viagogo. And of course, we still manage to squeeze in Vic’s birthday celebrations, a wildly unhinged clothing haul confession, and even a surprise call from a listener on the Curve Hotline. Buckle up, it’s a big week and we cover a lot.

Episodes mentioned in this podcast:

The art of making money from handbags, with Meg Randell: https://youtu.be/5E3KEAxbUj0?si=MtHwZn9JtjtAZXud

Google’s Chief Technologist on the Future We’re All Heading Toward: https://youtu.be/kQ3dKKSFbWI?si=S0lZb-pndYtqrmQZ

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

Financial Results – A company’s money report card.
Forward-Looking – Share prices based on vibes about the future.
Taking Profits – Cashing in while you’re ahead.
Diversification – Not putting all your money in one basket.
Exuberance – The market getting a bit too hyped.
Bubble – Prices inflated by excitement… until they pop.
Hedge Fund – A riskier, spicier investment fund.
Shorting – Betting something will drop.
Withdrawing Guidance – “We actually have no idea what’s happening.”

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode…(00:01:09) We did something naughty(00:03:02) Nvidia’s results & Vic’s big market call(00:12:36) Warren Buffett’s surprise move…(00:19:42) The world’s first… handbag hedge fund?!(00:23:40) The UK cracks down on ticket reselling(00:28:27) The Economist on The Cost of Dating Your Boss(00:31:32) One last thing before we wrap...(00:34:55) Thanks for tuning in!(00:35:34) Financial disclaimer(00:36:02) Outtake

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

We asked for your financial horror stories, and wow, did you deliver. In this episode, we read (and listen to) real money mistakes from our community, from missed investing wins to term-deposit disasters, stock-picking heartbreaks, property nightmares and everything in between. We break down what went wrong, what we can all learn from it, and why these stories will genuinely make you better with money. Huge thank you to everyone who sent theirs in. And while you’re here, drop your thoughts (or your own money mishaps) in the comments, we read them all.

🚗 Thinking about a new car but not ready to drop the cash all at once? Our mini-episode with Lexus explains car financing in plain English (and yes, we made it fun): ⁠https://youtu.be/klxsa-upYH4?si=mStDjeNaPWvERlt_

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Investing Club⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Welcome to Raising the Curve(00:00:35) The Curve x Lexus(00:01:35) Your Stories Are In (Thank You!)(00:02:11) The Investment She Didn’t Make… and Still Regrets(00:03:44) The Term-Deposit Timing Mix-Up(00:07:12) The Stock Pick That Went Downhill Fast(00:10:23) The Property “Partnership” That Cost Her Big(00:17:56) When a Scammer Pretends to Be Your Son(00:21:49) The Ponzi Scheme That Wiped Out Generations(00:28:23) What We Learned From All This(00:28:41) Thanks for Listening(00:29:06) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.