The Fin
A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.
Episodes
The death of the department store: Inside the collapse of David Jones
Senior reporter Carrie LaFrenz and fashion editor Lauren Sams on the slow motion demise of department stores, what tipped David Jones over the edge and what’s going to happen now. This podcast is sponsored by RippleFurther reading: David Jones prepares for collapse as talks fail David Jones will be tipped into administration this week after a rescue plan that would have left the 188-yea
Two elections: A moment of truth for Trump and Netanyahu?
Washington correspondent Jessica Gardner and foreign affairs reporter Nicci Smith break down the elections in America and Israel and what the fallout means for markets, energy prices and democracy. This podcast is sponsored by RippleFurther reading: Everything you should know about Trump’s midterm elections Americans go to the polls to decide the new make-up of the House of Representati
The day AI won in court and sparked a reckoning for lawyers
This week, workplace correspondent David Marin-Guzman and legal reporter Janek Drevikovsky on how litigants are using AI to level the playing field, what it means for judges, and the business of law. This podcast is sponsored by RippleFurther reading: AI wins landmark Fair Work Commission case for Macquarie academic When Macquarie University computing academic Greg Baker decided to represent himse
The spectacular undoing of Firmus – and what went wrong
Today, senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and tech editor Paul Smith take us inside the spectacular undoing of Firmus: what went wrong, how it unravelled in a week, and what this sudden collapse reveals about the AI boom. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading:How Firmus’ $44b IPO failure unfoldedFirmus was on a runaway train to become one of the country’s most valuable list
Migrants keep this town running. Why it's voting for One Nation
This week, senior reporter Greg Bearup and pollster Kos Somaras on how vital migrants have become in the regions, why those towns are voting for One Nation and how new data shows that the shift doesn’t have much to do with immigration. With additional audio: Nic Walker This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading ‘We’ll cut your rent by up to 4k’: Hanson ups the ante
What a 200-property landlord reveals about the housing market
This week, senior reporter Myriam Robin on the story of a mega landlord and what it tells us about the vibe in the housing market – between renters and Australia’s two million landlords. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading:This 34-year-old owns over 200 properties. Now his tenants are unionisingAustralia was built on the dream of owning property. But as that compac
How much super is enough for a comfortable retirement?
This week, deputy economics editor Michael Read and wealth reporter Andrew Hobbs on the latest round of the super wars, whether you should be able to access your superannuation early and what is the magic number for a comfortable retirement. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading:Hanson poses the super question Australia stopped askingHow much super is too much and, in the trade-off b
Is this AI Armageddon or a 'golden age' for the share market?
This week, markets reporter Alex Gluyas on what the AI threat debate means for tech stocks, why Cathie Wood is predicting a golden era and whether the bond market might spoil the party. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading:Cathie Wood declares ‘golden age’ for equities after bumpy rideThe high-profile investor is betting equity markets are at the start of a decade-long b
Why the Bathla collapse is being compared to the GFC
Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and associate editor Primrose Riordan on how Bathla built its property empire, why it all fell apart and why its effects will be felt well beyond western Sydney. This podcast is sponsored by Elston. Further reading:Living in ‘half a house’: How Bathla turned cheap housing into a nightmareThe downfall of the developer has left families stranded in half-b
Too big to cancel? The project that sums up Victoria’s problems
This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and Victorian political correspondent Sumeyya Ilanbey on the project that has come to sum up Victoria’s problems, whether it is too big to cancel and how it will play into November’s state election. This podcast is sponsored by Elston. Further reading:The secret tax that says everything about Victorian LaborThe revelation that Labor secretly in
How to go from pub baron to Australia’s biggest bankrupt in 10 years
Associate editor Primrose Riordan and courts correspondent Max Mason on why Jon Adgemis is struggling to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret and what his story tells us about the private credit market. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac. Further reading:Jon Adgemis thought he was winning. Then his CFO took the standThe failed pub baron has been trying to keep the detai
Anthony Albanese now has 'a list' – and that’s a problem
Political editor Phillip Coorey on the government’s bet on gambling reform, the problem with "brand Albo" and why there’s nothing funny about the melon incident. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac. Further reading:PM bets on stability pitch as popularity faltersAnthony Albanese celebrated a significant milestone on Friday, but voters have learnt stability and steadiness don’t p
Why this property downturn is different to the rest
Deputy economics editor Michael Read on what’s going on in the housing market, whether it’s the correction we had to have and why the government doesn't want to call it that. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading:RBA warns house prices have further to fallDespite the softness in the housing market, RBA governor Michele Bullock said another interest rate rise remains squa
Did we stop worrying about the oil price too soon?
Angela Macdonald-Smith and Ryan Cropp on the reasons we all stopped freaking out about the oil price and why that was premature. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading:Labor’s plans to source more fuel leaves shipments stranded at seaThe government has been accused of picking winners for its subsidised import plan, which has created a glut and forced vessels to wait offshore fo
Inside Andrew Forrest’s $60 million war on Facebook
Legal affairs reporter Janek Drevikovsky on why Twiggy is taking on Meta, whether he can win and what happens if he does. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading:Meta admits it wiped key evidence in Forrest stoushThe social media giant has accepted it should be punished for not preserving copies of Facebook scam ads featuring the mining billionaire’s likeness.‘Dad, it&rsqu
Australia's AI gamble: Inside Albanese's plan to bring big tech to heel
James Thomson and Ronald Mizen on why CEOs are losing patience with the AI giants, what’s driving the government’s policy shift, and whether Anthony Albanese is overplaying his hand. This podcast is sponsored by Workday Further reading: Could China’s AI bombshell spark a ‘Lehman Bros moment’ for markets?A new model that threatens OpenAI and Anthropic could h
Trailer: How I Made It returns July 29
How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams. Don’t miss season six as we uncover how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
KPMG’s masterclass in how not to respond to a crisis
Professional services editor Edmund Tadros on the fallout from the KPMG scandal and what the government might do to bring the big four accounting firms into line. Further reading: KPMG’s ‘10-hour masterclass in how not to respond to a crisis’By repeating PwC’s crisis-management mistakes, KPMG has forced a reluctant federal government to finally pull the trigger on unpr
Is it even worth investing in property any more?
Wealth reporter Andrew Hobbs and property reporter Lucy Slade unpack our national obsession, explain why property has been such a powerhouse, and ask a previously unthinkable question: Is investing in property even worth it anymore? This podcast is sponsored by Workday FURTHER READING: Should you buy an investment property after the budget changes? New restrictions on negative geari
Is this the end of Australia's two-party system?
Political editor Phillip Coorey on the government’s budget backdowns, the increasingly crowded field in Australian politics and why it will be a bumpy two years to the next election. This podcast is sponsored by Workday Further reading: PM wins round one of the budget battle, at a costProper process, good policy and taxpayers’ money were among the casualties of this week’s r
Sizzle or fizzle: Will investors make money from SpaceX?
Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald and technology editor Paul Smith on the investment case for SpaceX, whether there’s enough money for the other AI mega floats and why Australian investors are all in. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading:SpaceX is the first of three sci-fi IPOs with truly insane mathsElon Musk has shot for the stars with the first of thre
Did KPMG learn nothing from the PwC tax leaks scandal?
On The Fin podcast this week, professional services editor Edmund Tadros on the KPMG allegations, and why they might be more damaging than the PwC tax leaks scandal.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading:Move over PwC: Why KPMG audit leaks are the ultimate betrayalWhy the big four firm’s misconduct could be worse than the tax leaks scandal, and a blockbuster hearing d
Will Macquarie burst Australia’s banking bubble?
Associate editor Joyce Moullakis and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on how Macquarie crashed the big four bank’s mortgage party, why deposits are next and whether the banking bubble is about to pop.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading:Macquarie banks on tech nerds to smash big four’s mortgage oligopolyWhen it came to building up its retail banking busines
Beer, gas and the viral tax fight gripping Australia
Senior writer Myriam Robin and energy and climate reporter Ryan Cropp on the gas tax campaign, who’s behind it, why it took Australia by storm and whether it’s a good idea. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading:Inside the online army fighting the gas tax war (and it’s not over)How a teacher-turned-podcaster, a heterodox economist and a rugby player sp
The AI questions Atlassian and Canva can no longer ignore
Financial Review tech reporter Paul Smith and business reporter Amelia McGuire on what happens next for Australia’s two tech titans and their billionaire founders, and which company is best placed to weather the SaaSpocalypse. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: ‘A certificate for burnout?’ Inside Canva’s confetti-filled AI pivot In the midst of the A
What the budget means for your wealth (and did Boomers win?)
Financial Review wealth editor Joanna Mather and reporter Andrew Hobbs on how Labor’s new tax rules reshape investment strategies and what that means for you. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: Albanese says CGT is going back to 1999. That’s not quite true Labor’s proposed capital gains tax inflation model is different from Paul Keating’s in two ways
How much is the Iran war costing Donald Trump?
Jessica Gardner on why Xi Jinping is the quiet winner from the war, how much the conflict has cost Donald Trump and what it means for the midterm elections and the rest of his presidency. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading:MAGA still supports war strongman Trump. But that’s not enoughOn the streets of Miami and Palm Beach, havens for Donald Trump supporters, the president&r
Generation X? The federal budget is coming for you
Phillip Coorey on the first year of the Albanese’s government’s second term, what’s happening with property taxes and how the biggest loser in the budget will be Gen X. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading:Prime minister arrests popularity decline, One Nation plateaus: pollAnthony Albanese’s handling of the petrol crisis has improved his personal ratings and
The fight over Gina Rinehart's fortune
This week, Jesinta Burton and Tom Rabe on the landmark ruling, who won, who lost and why this is just one part of a complex web of legal battles over Gina Rinehart’s fortune. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside EnergyFurther reading:The sins of the father: Gina Rinehart’s bitter victoryThe legal war between the billionaire and her children mirrors the secrecy and power struggles she
The unravelling of a media empire: Antony Catalano’s darkest chapter
This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on the rise and spectacular fall of Antony Catalano. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Catalano’s big play to take on REA and Domain to be mothballedStaff at the businessman’s regional media empire were told on Friday that the View.com.au platform, only recently bound for the ASX, would instead
How One Nation went from fringe to mainstream in six months
This week, political editor Phil Coorey and Redbridge pollster Kos Samaras on the sudden rise of One Nation. What's driving it? How far it could go, and what it says about how Australia is changing. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Further reading:‘For too long, we’ve turned a blind eye’: Liberals vow hardline immigration approachLiberal leader Angus Taylor has flagge
Is now (finally) the time to buy an electric vehicle?
This week, motoring writer Tony Davis and reporter Sam Irvine on why Australia is closer than ever to the EV tipping point and whether charging infrastructure and policy settings are keeping pace. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Further reading:Now’s the time to buy a used EV: What you need to knowElectric cars are smoother, quieter, cleaner, cheaper to run and cheaper to servic
Inside Edge Episode 2: The Platinum Asset Management Insider
Over a special two-part podcast series, Financial Review journalists Peter Ker and Alex Gow examine the makeup of the archetypal insider trader, scrutinise the trend of non-custodial sentences, and ask ASIC chair Joe Longo if the regulator's recent focus on investigation will lead to more prison time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The AI-fuelled fraud that deceived Australia's biggest bank
Angira Bharadwaj and Joyce Moullakis on why CBA ended up in the middle of a billion dollar loan fraud scandal, how its spreading to the other banks and who might be behind it. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Further reading:Escalating $1b loan fraud scandal threatens to engulf top banksAUSTRAC is investigating a widening mortgage loan fraud scandal, after a syndicate duped Commonwealt
Inside Edge Episode 1: The Lithium Insider
In our two-part series, Inside Edge, we go behind the scenes of the corporate regulator's high-stakes war on insider trading. We trace the thin line between a "great piece of gossip" and a federal crime, revealing why this is the easiest law to break-and the hardest to prove. As a massive new crackdown looms, ASIC boss Joe Longo reveals his growing frustration with the courts: "The sentences aren
Australia’s new millionaires factory: start-up to $1.6b in 5 years
This week on The Fin podcast, Jonathan Shapiro and Emma Rapaport on what's behind the Magellan and Barrenjoey merger and whether there's enough room for another homegrown investment bank. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading:Magellan merger delivers billion-dollar bonanza for Barrenjoey staffSince the merger was announced, Magellan’s shares have risen by more th
Oliver Curtis on Firmus: From prison barber to AI billionaire
Technology reporter Amelia McGuire and Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald on whether Curtis' AI start-up Firmus can live up to the hype. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading:Firmus lands $600m-plus annual tech giant deal as it eyes ASX floatThe artificial intelligence start-up has already announced a $70 billion plan to work with Nvidia and CDC Data Centres on fa
Kyle and Jackie O: Inside media's biggest split
This week, media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on the radio stars' falling out and whether ARN can use it to exit one of the worst deals in Australian media history.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie BroadbandFurther reading:Kyle Sandilands fires back at ARN: ‘I am not in breach’The high-profile radio personality says his employer denied him due process after it accused him of se
The copper pivot: BHP looks beyond the Iron Age
This week, resources reporter Peter Ker on the challenges ahead for Australia’s iron ore industry, why copper is booming and what miners are doing to ensure the country remains a resources powerhouse. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading:Iron ore giants face billion-dollar hit from China-backed price switchA new index for the country’s most lucrative expor
The ‘SaaSpocalypse’: Something big (and scary) is happening in AI
This week Technology editor Paul Smith and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on why financial markets are suddenly spooked, which businesses are most at risk from AI disruption and whether the concern is overblown. This podcast is sponsored by Vanta Further reading:WiseTech drops Australia’s first AI jobs bombRapid, large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence is happening, with the c
Change or die: can Angus Taylor stop the One Nation surge?
Political editor Phillip Coorey and former Labor adviser and columnist Lidija Ivanovski on Angus Taylor’s big move, the threat from One Nation and why this might not be the last leadership contest before the next election. This podcast is sponsored by Vanta Further reading:It’s Timmy v Jimmy, with CGT the first battlegroundJim Chalmers and Tim Wilson both harbour leadership ambitions.
The global scam network that targeted 40,000 Australian investors
This week on The Fin podcast: journalist Lucy King on the global scam operators targeting Australian investors, how the brother of Olympic breakdancer Raygun came to be working for them and why they are so hard to shut down. This podcast is sponsored by Vanta Further reading:Raygun’s brother linked to global scam network with nearly 40,000 Aussie victimsAn AFR investigation unravels corporat
The billionaire trucker, his Linfox empire and the latest Australian succession saga
This week, James Eyers on why key executive and eldest son Peter Fox has taken an unexpected break from the company, what it means for the Linfox succession plan and why handing over mult-billion dollar family fortunes is so hard to do. This podcast is sponsored by Vanta Further reading: Peter Fox’s long absence puts Linfox succession plan in the spotlightFor seven decades, billionaire
Rethinking Trump: Should Australia follow Canada's lead?
This week, United States correspondent Jessica Gardner on Trump’s first year back in the White House and Mark Carney's viral speech. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading: Rudd’s replacement is no political animal. That’s a good thingMany believe the role of US ambassador requires a sharp politician, but Greg Moriarty is the technocrat that Australia need
Ill-conceived: Inside Australia’s IVF money-making machine
This week, health editor Michael Smith on why baby-making is such big business and how private equity firms are reshaping the IVF sector. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading:Ill-conceived: Inside Australia’s IVF money-making machineThe commercialisation of the industry as private equity owners take over from pioneering doctors has many people very worried.Monash IV
Jetsetting, love scandals and hypocrites: Rear Window’s 2025
Rear Window columnists Mark Di Stefano and Hannah Wootton look back on the action-packed year that was and ahead to what 2026 might bring. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading: Cannon-Brookes now travels by private jet Mike Cannon-Brookes, Atlassian co-founder and leading climate change crusader, has recently picked up a private jet.Dutton left ‘very serious&rs
'Too dangerous to run': After Bondi, Australia grapples with division
This week on The Fin podcast political editor Phillip Coorey and NSW political correspondent Paul Karp on the carnage at Bondi, what is being done to make sure it never happens again and whether it’s enough. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading: ‘When is the shooting gonna stop?’ 9 minutes of terror on Bondi BeachAt first, the crowd thought it was
Why Australia is in the middle of a shoplifting crime wave
This week on The Fin podcast: Greg Bearup and Carrie LaFrenz on what’s behind Australia’s retail crime wave, why Victoria is ground zero and whether facial recognition technology is the answer. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading:We met a professional shoplifter to understand this crime’s popularityRetailers are contending with a new type of
The AI bubble comes to Australia: what happens if it goes pop?
Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and technology editor Paul Smith on the multi-trillion dollar AI investment boom, where the opportunities are for Australia and what happens if it goes wrong. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading: OpenAI in Australian blitz as it woos start-ups, corporatesThe Silicon Valley giant behind ChatGPT will offer free services to major ve
The market darling, the $50 million share dump and the silent CEO
Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on the rise of DroneShield, why its CEO just dumped all his stock and whether the company can restore the faith. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Oleg Vornik defends $50m DroneShield share sale, citing risk to lifeWhile the businessman has been circumspect about the reasons for offloading his entire stake, privately he has given
The shocking number at the heart of the Liberal Party’s problems
Phillip Coorey and Tony Barry on the decision to dump net zero, the Coalition’s existential crisis and whether Sussan Ley’s leadership can survive. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Andrew and Angus who? Leadership rivals a blank canvas, says pollMore than a third of voters have never heard of Andrew Hastie or Angus Taylor, the men who could challenge
What’s behind the relentless rise in house prices
John Kehoe and Michael Bleby on the RBA’s inflation dilemma, why the next interest rate move might be up and how that will affect the property market. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Investors are flocking back to the property market Three interest rate cuts, double-digit price rises and tepid new housing supply have convinced investors that property is once ag
The biggest Australian company you've never heard of (and why it's in trouble)
Health editor Michael Smith discusses CSL’s remarkable story, why investors have lost faith in the healthcare giant and what Trump has to do with it. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: How CSL went from 'bloated bureaucracy' to $145b global behemothWhen Brian McNamee took on the top job at Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, the government-run entity was barely worth
‘He ruined me’: How one crypto investor lost $500k in a scam
This week on The Fin, Lucy King and James Eyers on Australia’s crypto ATM boom, how they are being used for investment scams and why Australia is being targeted.This podcast is sponsored by Salesforce Further reading: ‘Devastated’: How I lost $500k in a crypto ATM scamMary, 85, is one of thousands of victims of Australia’s boom in crypto ATM’s, which suck in $275 mill
'Don’t do a Deloitte': the AI stuff-up that ricocheted around the world
This week on The Fin podcast, Edmund Tadros and Paul Karp on Deloitte’s stuff-up, why it became a global story and what it means for the way we use, and value, AI.This podcast is sponsored by SalesforceFurther reading: ‘Oversight was not followed’: Deloitte apologises for AI reportThe firm will discipline personnel over a report that had to be reissued after they failed to v
Is your Chinese EV a 'ticking time bomb'?
This week, senior writer Greg Bearup and Lowy Institute senior fellow Richard McGregor on China's dominance of the local EV and battery market and why that's a security risk. This podcast is sponsored by Salesforce Further reading: Is your Chinese EV a ‘ticking time bomb’?The rapid uptake of electric cars and home batteries from the Asian nation has put Australia’s energy infrast
Inside the biggest investment scandal in 15 years
Andrew Hobbs and Tony Boyd on how investors lost $1.2 billion in Shield, First Guardian and Australian Fiduciaries, and how the gatekeepers let it happen.This podcast is sponsored by AcendaFurther reading:The ‘easy peasy’ approval: Shield exposes $850b super wrap industryThese funds told us they were toxic: how did Macquarie miss it?How Macquarie ignored its own advice on Shield (and l
What LaTrobe and Jon Adgemis reveal about the private credit boom
Senior reporters Jonathan Shapiro and Primrose Riordan on what ASIC's crackdown on LaTrobe Financial and the Jon Adgemis saga tells us about the private credit market, the risks for super investors and whether the golden run is over. This podcast is sponsored by AcendaFurther reading: Private credit faces tougher regulation after damning report La Trobe investment products hit with stop orders by
Australia's defence deals in the Pacific and why they matter
Canberra bureau chief Nicola Smith and Washington correspondent Jessica Gardner on the Pacific defence deals and what to expect when Albanese sits down with Donald Trump.This podcast is sponsored by AcendaFurther reading: Trump and Albanese meet, as PM finally lands White House visitDonald Trump and Anthony Albanese met at a UN reception in New York as it was confirmed they would finally
It’s firing season at the banks. How far will the job losses go?
Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and banking reporter Angira Bharadwaj on ANZ’s overhaul, why banks are cutting jobs and whether management has lost control of the message. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading:ANZ’s pragmatic deal for ‘betraying’ Australia deserves no applauseANZ has stitched up a pragmatic settlement with ASIC to give Nuno Matos room
Is the war on NIMBYs enough to fix Australia’s housing crisis?
NSW political correspondent Paul Karp and deputy property editor Michael Bleby on the political leaders declaring war on NIMBYs, whether it will help the country meet its housing supply target and why the bigger problem might be a tradie deficit.This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets Further reading: How the Woollahra development could redraw politics in Sydney’s e
Bonus episode - Lachlan Murdoch's $5b succession
Rupert Murdoch's eldest son has finally secured control of the family’s sprawling media empire in a multi-billion dollar settlement with his siblings. Media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones gives his take on the deal that ends a bitter succession battle. This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets Further reading: Lachlan Murdoch takes family media empire, paying siblings $5b to exitThe deal
WFH debate: Is your boss listening into your laptop?
This week on The Fin, workplace correspondent David Marin-Guzman discusses the test case of a compliance company that has been spying on its staff, what it means for work from home and how AI will affect the future of surveillance.This podcast is sponsored by CMC MarketsFurther reading:Company turned laptops into covert recording devices to monitor WFHSafetrac says it needed to track work-fro
Will Albanese’s mega-majority make or break him?
Political editor Phillip Coorey on the debt bomb facing the next generation, the ‘Braveheart ’situation in parliament and the Iran-led attacks in Australia.This podcast is sponsored by CMC MarketsFurther reading: The VW, the tobacco kingpin, and Iran’s Revolutionary GuardSloppy criminals who reused a stolen car for arson attacks on a synagogue and nightclub led spies to
The chequebook of Mormon: $500m on Australian farms in six months
This week on The Fin podcast: senior writer Greg Bearup on why the Mormon Church is buying up vast tracts of Australian farmland and whether it’s in the national interest. This podcast is sponsored by CMC MarketsFurther reading: Mormon church’s $490m spending spree exposes trade deal blind spotFarmers fear the American church could change the face of Australian agriculture.Th
Do we really need to bring back the baby bonus?
This week on The Fin podcast: senior writer Myriam Robin on how worried we should be about declining fertility rates, whether they could and should be reversed and why politicians in Australia are so reluctant to talk about it. This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets Further reading:Can Australia escape the global fertility crisis?Not too long ago, the world was worried a
A 'strike' at the heart of the millionaires' factory
This week on The Fin podcast: senior reporter Jemima Whyte and associate editor Joyce Moullakis on whether Macquarie has lost its edge, who might be in line to take over the top job and what happens when you threaten the pay packets of a millionaires’ factory.Further reading: Macquarie scrambled to lobby proxy firms ahead of fraught AGMThe company made the
"What the f*** did you do?" Sam Altman on being fired & rehired for AI’s biggest job
This week on The Fin, Technology editor Paul Smith talks about his interview with Altman and reveals what it would take for the AI chief to pull the plug. Further reading: What OpenAI’s Sam Altman suggests you do to keep your jobThe race is on to build machines that can outthink humans. The tech founder in charge of ChatGPT says there is one thing that would make him stop.‘Try the
Is Xi Jinping losing his grip on power in China?
This week on The Fin, North Asia correspondent Jessica Sier and Lowy Institute senior fellow Richard McGregor on whether Panda diplomacy works and why Beijing needs a succession plan. This podcast is sponsored by Workday.China ordered this Aussie flower farm to grow rice. Then they found a solutionIn a country of 1.4 billion people, keeping everyone fed can be the difference between stability and
The rates call that stunned economists, markets and... our reporters
This week on The Fin podcast, economics editor John Kehoe and senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on the RBA’s shock decision on interest rates, what it means for the economy and whether the next generation could be the first to be worse off than their parents. This podcast is sponsored by Workday.Further reading: Gen Z will be richer than their parents. But here’s the catc
‘Law of the jungle’: the struggle to clean up the CFMEU
This week on The Fin podcast, workplace correspondent David Marin-Guzman on what has been done to stamp out a culture of fear and intimidation in the CFMEU and whether it's working. This podcast is sponsored by Workday. Further reading:High Court leaves CFMEU administrator with no more excusesThe failed High Court challenge to the CFMEU administration has cleared a path to cleaning out t
Does inheritance matter more than a career?
This week on The Fin, Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and Wealth reporter Lucy Dean on the surge in inherited wealth, what’s behind it and what can, or should, be done about it….This podcast is sponsored by Workday. Further Reading:You're probably part of Australia's new inheritocracyHow inheritance is upending the marriage marketHow do the 1pc find love? With these high-end
Virgin’s rollercoaster return & why Australia is a two-airline town
This week on The Fin podcast: senior reporter Ayesha de Kretser and Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald on Virgin’s return to the market, why it will struggle to stay in its lane and whether Australia can ever sustain more than two airlines.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie BroadbandFurther reading: Virgin prepares for IPO take-off in a test
‘The Great Wall of China’: A law firm’s cautionary tale
This week on The Fin, professional services reporter Maxim Shanahan on why King & Wood Mallesons is struggling to manage risk and conflicts across its jurisdictions.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie BroadbandFurther reading: ‘We didn’t have a hope in hell’: KWM’s cautionary China taleA corrupt wind farm deal in Montenegro, a controversial Russian legal confe
Apocalypse or a four-day week? What AI might mean for you
This week on The Fin, technology editor Paul Smith discusses the AI future and whether it is more likely to be utopia or dystopia. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.Further reading: Waymo’s robot driver was too scared to take us where we wanted to goThe self-driving taxis are an experience to remember but their post LA-riot nerves rendered them unable to use human logic
The not-so-super tax change that is dividing Australia
This week on The Fin podcast, Joanna Mather and Michelle Bowes on how the super tax will work, why it’s so controversial and what people are doing to get ready for it. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: 7 ways the wealthiest will beat the $3m super taxInvestment bonds, an early inheritance for the kids or just cop it on the chin? Affected taxpayers are weigh
Are house prices about to take off again?
This week on The Fin podcast, economics correspondent Michael Read on why the Reserve Bank is cutting rates and what it means for people like him trying to buy a house. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: Australia on verge of house price boom: economistHistory suggests that once the RBA starts cutting, property fever hits quickly. One prominent expert says a 10 to 15 p
Coalition chaos: ‘It’s like someone dropped an atom bomb’
This week on The Fin, political editor Phillip Coorey and former Labor adviser and AFR columnist Lidija Ivanovski talk about the decimation of the Opposition, the uphill battle facing Sussan Ley and the fierce debate over the Super Tax.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie BroadbandFurther reading:The longer the split, the harder it will be to reconcileSussan Ley, who used to hold her own in shearin
Does Warren Buffett’s retirement mark peak America?
This week on The Fin podcast: senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on Buffett’s legacy and whether his catchphrase ‘never bet against America’ still stands.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie BroadbandFurther reading: Fear, loathing (and hope) as finance’s elite gather in LAPrivate equity titans and dealmakers converging at the Milken Institute Glo
How a $14 billion deal can happen without a shareholder vote
This week on The Fin, James Thomson and Joyce Moullakis on James Hardie’s latest controversy, why shareholders don’t get to vote and what they want to change.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie BroadbandFurther reading: The great ASX investor uprising delivers very hollow victoryThe hated James Hardie takeover of a US group is going ahead, but investors have at least won some impo
