Best Forhecz Topher Podcasts (2025)

1
Rise of the neobank 11:00

Play Pause

35m ago11:00

11:00

Two of the biggest oil companies in the Middle East scale down their acquisition sprees, and Wall Street’s comeback has dramatically narrowed the gap with European stocks. Plus, the US is lifting sanctions on Syria, and Klarna makes some changes to its business model. Mentioned in this podcast: Gulf oil companies slow $60bn acquisition spree as cru…

1
US banks are hungry for deals 12:02

1d ago12:02

12:02

The Trump administration is paving the way for more US bank mergers, and China’s online retail giants are losing some key customers. Plus, the race to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is heating up, and the UK is trying to make financial advice more accessible. Mentioned in this podcast: Deal hunger stirs among US banks US shoppers ditch Sh…

1
Labour MPs rebel against UK welfare reform 11:57

14h ago11:57

11:57

Some members of the UK's parliament fight back against proposed welfare cuts, and early intelligence suggests Iran’s uranium stockpile is still intact, officials say. Plus, the rise of sports gambling in Nigeria is being powered by social media influencers. Mentioned in this podcast: Early intelligence suggests Iran’s uranium largely intact, Europe…

1
Why markets are unfazed by the Middle East conflict 9:55

1d ago9:55

9:55

Nato members decided on increased defence spending, the Federal Reserve is planning on cutting capital requirements for America’s biggest banks, and accounting firms are ready to open up to public markets. Plus, why US stocks are unfazed by the Israel-Iran conflict. Mentioned in this podcast: The US, Iran and markets The markets are silent — that i…

1
The end of the UK’s ‘bailout era’ 16:46

6d ago16:46

16:46

The Royal Bank of Scotland was once the biggest bank in the world. Then, hubris got the best of it. During the financial crisis the UK government spent £46bn to bail out the bank. Seventeen years and a rebrand to NatWest Group later, the government just sold its last shares in it and officially ended the country’s “bailout era”. The FT’s Akila Quin…

1
Iran's path forward 10:34

6d ago10:34

10:34

US stocks almost hit record highs amid possible de-escalation in the Middle East, and Johns Hopkins University professor Vali Nasr analyses Iran’s future. Plus, the US Federal Reserve chair signalled no interest cuts this summer, and US states are sending delegates to the EU for advice on green policy. Mentioned in this podcast: Israel-Iran latest:…

1
Will the wheels come off Nato? 9:59

7d ago9:59

9:59

US president Donald Trump has said Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire, shifting priorities in the US are putting pressure on Nato members in Europe, and emerging markets defy US President Donald Trump’s trade war. Plus, the US has yet to find Iran’s uranium stockpile. Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump claims Israel and Iran have agreed c…

1
The US targets Iran’s nuclear programme 11:17

8d ago11:17

11:17

The US is now using force to try to eliminate Iran’s nuclear programme, and new tariffs on US household goods take effect. Plus, the chief executive of a Russian burger chain is petitioning President Vladimir Putin to block western businesses from returning, and the CEO of the fintech Revolut could be due for a major pay out. Mentioned in this podc…

1
EU pushes a UK-style trade deal with the US 12:07

11d ago12:07

12:07

Russia’s war-time economy is slowing down, and the EU is negotiating a trade deal with the US to keep some tariffs in place. Plus, the Bank of England votes to hold interest rates steady, and a UN official describes violence at aid distribution sites in Gaza. Mentioned in this podcast: Russia on brink of recession, says economy minister EU weighs U…

1
The Fed cuts US economic outlook 10:36

12d ago10:36

10:36

The Federal Reserve cut its outlook for the US economy on Wednesday, and in the UK, inflation remains higher than ideal. Plus, Big Tech companies are lobbying for a decade-long ban on AI regulations, and the Israel-Iran conflict has hit the global supply chain. Mentioned in this podcast: UK inflation was 3.4% in May Federal Reserve cuts outlook for…

1
Trump demands that Iran surrender 10:36

13d ago10:36

10:36

US President Donald Trump demands unconditional surrender from Iran on social media, and the Iran-Israel conflict causes Trump to leave the G7 summit early. Plus, the EU relaxes merger rules on defence and Meta will bring advertisements onto its messaging platform WhatsApp. Mentioned in this podcast: Meta introduces advertising to WhatsApp in push …

1
Inside Moët Hennessy’s crisis 22:53

13d ago22:53

22:53

LVMH’s wine and spirits division, Moët Hennessy, has long been a source of success – and cash – for the luxury goods behemoth. But more recently, that’s changed. The FT’s Paris correspondent Adrienne Klasa, found that certain strategic decisions made under the company’s former CEO have contributed to a change in its fortunes. She examines the misst…

1
What Trump’s golden share means for the Nippon deal 11:04

14d ago11:04

11:04

Tensions rise as the EU refuses trade talks with China before next month’s leaders summit, and Airbus announced $10bn of orders at the Paris Air Show. Plus US President Donald Trump’s golden share means heavy influence in the Nippon Steel deal, and energy markets react to the conflict between Iran and Israel. Mentioned in this podcast: US Steel dea…

1
Inside Iran’s ‘impenetrable’ nuclear bunker 10:56

15d ago10:56

10:56

Israel may not have big enough bombs to take down Iran’s most secure nuclear facility, and Nippon Steel’s bid to take over US Steel is finally moving forward. Plus, gold has surpassed the euro as the second most-popular reserve asset, and the UK’s overseas intelligence agency has appointed its first female chief. Mentioned in this podcast: Gold ove…

1
Hot Money: Agent of Chaos - Ep. 1, The Bribe 38:18

17d ago38:18

38:18

Today, we're bringing you the first episode from the new season of Hot Money. On Hot Money: Agent of Chaos, reporter Sam Jones investigates Wirecard’s chief operating officer — who vanished just as the high flying German fintech collapsed. It turned out he was a Russian spy. From an Ibizan sting operation to an attempted takeover of the Austrian in…

1
Southern European bond markets make a comeback 10:50

18d ago10:50

10:50

Israel has launched a strike against Iran, Argentina’s month-on-month inflation rate has fallen below 2 per cent, and Italian, Spanish and Greek sovereign bonds have rallied. Plus, investigators in India are looking into a fatal Boeing 787 crash and the US dollar sank to a three-year low. Mentioned in this podcast: Israel strikes Iran and braces fo…

1
Europe’s game plan for handling Trump at G7 10:31

19d ago10:31

10:31

The Pentagon has launched a review of the 2021 Aukus submarine deal with the UK and Australia, Donald Trump has said the US and China’s deal to restore their trade war truce is “done”, and US inflation rose less than expected to 2.4 per cent in May. Plus, European governments are braced for high-stakes negotiations with Trump that will put the cont…

1
How Indonesia cornered the nickel market 24:02

20d ago24:02

24:02

A decade ago, Indonesia produced only 6% of the world’s supply of refined nickel. Now, it has a de facto monopoly on the market. How did it happen? The FT’s Jakarta correspondent A. Anantha Lakshmi and FT’s commodities correspondent Camilla Hodgson examine what propelled this explosive growth and how China helped it happen. - - - - - - - - - - - - …

1
Winners and losers of UK spending review 10:57

20d ago10:57

10:57

The FT’s George Parker explains the winners and losers in UK chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review, the UK imposed the first western sanctions against Israeli government ministers,and Citigroup is poised to increase provisions for potential bad loans by hundreds of millions of dollars for the second quarter. Plus, US state and local governments…

1
Trump cracks down on Los Angeles protests 11:19

21d ago11:19

11:19

The head of the operator of the Panama Canal has warned that a $23bn global ports deal could put the waterway’s neutrality mandate at risk, Donald Trump is testing the limits of presidential power by sending troops to Los Angeles, and Warner Bros Discovery will split into two publicly traded companies. Plus, Brazil is hoping to sell its first sover…

1
Who gets to be Italian? 10:58

22d ago10:58

10:58

Syria is preparing to rejoin the international banking system, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing government is trying to prevent a change to the country’s citizenship rules. Plus, US junk bond sales are booming ahead of fresh tariff uncertainty, and a German fintech is trying to bring cheap retail investing to Europe. Mentioned …

1
Swamp Notes: Trump’s big play to save steel production 18:27

24d ago18:27

18:27

US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel to 50 per cent this week. He’s also allowing Japan’s Nippon to buy the US Steel Corporation. The moves are meant to bring back manufacturing to America’s steel industry. But will they? FT senior trade writer Alan Beattie and Zehra Munir, the FT’s industrial reporter, discuss whether Trump can make …

1
Trump and Xi break the ice 11:48

25d ago11:48

11:48

US President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping agreed to launch a new round of high-level trade talks, the European Central Bank cut interest rates by a quarter point and Europe is being flooded with steel diverted from the US because of high tariffs. Plus, the FT’s Aanu Adeoye explains how a Russia-backed junta leader in Burkina Faso beca…

1
Bulgaria moves into the Eurozone 10:13

26d ago10:13

10:13

Apple’s rollout of artificial intelligence services in China with Alibaba is being held up, Wells Fargo faces an uphill battle to catch up with its rivals after asset cap was lifted, and US President Donald Trump says Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready for “immediate peace” with Ukraine. Plus, the European Commission has finally given Bu…

1
Coming soon: The Wolf-Krugman Exchange 2:08

27d ago2:08

2:08

In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election. Subscribe and listen to this series on The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts …

1
Why Blackstone, KKR and Apollo are moving in different directions 22:48

27d ago22:48

22:48

Blackstone, Apollo and KKR. Although they have similar origins, these three top private capital groups are moving in different directions amid tumultuous markets. What do these approaches look like? And will they hold up in a potential downturn? The FT’s Antoine Gara, US private equity and deals editor, breaks down each approach and who’s most like…

1
Mexico’s new supreme court 11:07

27d ago11:07

11:07

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof resigned after far-right leader Geert Wilders walked out of his coalition government, Mexico’s new supreme court is set to solely contain judges nominated by the ruling coalition, and Eurozone inflation fell below the European Central Bank’s 2 per cent target. Plus, the FT’s Akila Quinio explains how the Royal Bank …

1
Trump’s push to privatise Fannie and Freddie 11:00

28d ago11:00

11:00

Elon Musk’s xAI is launching a $300mn share sale that values the group at $113bn, and China’s property sector woes are compounded by tariff worries. Plus, Poland’s new president is going to make life hard for the country’s prime minister, and the FT’s Amelia Pollard explains why US president Donald Trump wants to take mortgage giants Fannie Mae and…

1
South Korea plots a post-coup future 11:06

29d ago11:06

11:06

Private equity dealmaking around the world slowed down in the second quarter of 2025, and South Korea holds elections on Tuesday after months of political instability. Plus, office space construction in the UK has reached a ten-year low, and Wall Street is warning that a little-publicised foreign tax provision in Donald Trump’s budget bill could up…

1
Swamp Notes: Do Republicans still care about debt? 19:07

1M ago19:07

19:07

Republicans are often known as the party of fiscal responsibility. This week, Swamp Notes unravels the US House of Representatives’ “big, beautiful” bill and its uncertain path forward in the Senate. Edward Luce, US national editor and columnist, and James Politi, Washington bureau chief, explain what made congressional Republicans go all in on big…

1
Trump’s tariffs in legal limbo 10:40

1M ago10:40

10:40

The White House is fighting court rulings that US President Donald Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariff scheme is illegal, and a former Goldman Sachs banker was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the 1MDB scandal. Plus, how Wall Street offloaded billions of dollars of debt from Elon Musk’s Twitter deal. Mentioned in this podcast: Court tar…

1
The challenge to Delaware’s corporate dominance 11:01

1M ago11:01

11:01

A US court invalidated President Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariff scheme yesterday. Nvidia reported a nearly 70 per cent surge in quarterly revenues, and the US has said it will not renew Chevron’s oil licence in Venezuela. Plus, Texas and Nevada are seeking to challenge the dominance of Delaware with company-friendly law. Mentioned in this p…

1
Swamp Notes: Trump’s next 100 days 23:55

1M ago23:55

23:55

This week, Swamp Notes goes to London for a live recording. Katie Martin, host of the Unhedged podcast, and Chris Giles, author of the FT’s Central Banks newsletter, discuss what Trump’s next few months might be like. Have markets truly recovered from the “liberation day” shock? What happens after the 90-day tariff pause is over? Our guests weigh i…

1
Rio Tinto’s surprise CEO hunt 9:47

1M ago9:47

9:47

US stocks jumped yesterday after President Donald Trump said trade talks with the EU were headed in a "positive" direction, and McKinsey cut 10 per cent of its staff in an effort to increase profits. Plus, Asian currencies are getting a boost from investors’ bets on US trade deals and the FT’s Leslie Hook explains what’s next for Rio Tinto after it…

1
How Ukraine fell victim to fake arms deals 8:27

1M ago8:27

8:27

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 kicked off a massive arms procurement race for Kyiv. Officials looked just about everywhere for weapons they could ship to the frontlines. However, Ukraine has lost hundreds of millions of dollars on fraudulent arms deals in the process. The FT’s Ukraine correspondent Isobel Koshiw and investigative r…

1
Behind the Money: GE Vernova tries to shake its parent’s problems 26:17

1M ago26:17

26:17

Today, we're bringing you an episode from our fellow FT podcast, Behind the Money. Massive conglomerates used to define corporate best practice. Think about a company like General Electric, known as “the everything company”. But today, there’s a new popular model: de-conglomeration. The FT’s former US energy reporter Amanda Chu examines whether thi…

1
Swamp Notes: Trump’s next 100 days 24:31

1M ago24:31

24:31

This week, Swamp Notes goes to London for a live recording. Katie Martin, host of the Unhedged podcast, and Chris Giles, author of the FT’s Central Banks newsletter, discuss what Trump’s next few months might be like. Have markets truly recovered from the “liberation day” shock? What happens after the 90-day tariff pause is over? Our guests weigh i…

1
The economic impact of Trump’s budget bill 12:05

1M ago12:05

12:05

Republicans in the US House of Representatives narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s major budget bill on Thursday, and BYD has sold more electric vehicles in Europe than Tesla for the first time. Plus, Nvidia builds a buffer to the global trade war, and the US is starting to take the penny out of circulation. Mentioned in this podcast: US House…

1
Will Germany ban the far-right AfD? 10:02

1M ago10:02

10:02

Telegram leapt to a $540mn profit last year despite the ongoing legal threat to its leadership, yields on the longest-dated Japanese government bonds surged to record highs, and UK inflation rose more than expected to a 15-month high. Plus, Germany is considering banning the far-right Alternative for Germany party, but has it become too big to outl…

1
CATL’s IPO pops in Hong Kong 9:44

1M ago9:44

9:44

European and Asian investors have pumped record sums into global equity funds that exclude the US market, and shares in Chinese battery maker CATL surged 16 per cent on their debut in Hong Kong. The EU plans to levy a flat fee on billions of small packages entering the bloc, mainly from China. Plus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is faci…

1
How Trump’s tariffs threaten Ireland’s pharma fortune 21:21

1M ago21:21

21:21

Ireland has become a major base for US pharma companies, including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. That’s bolstered the economies of individual towns and played a role in the country’s massive budget surplus. Now, US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats are bringing a dose of uncertainty. The FT’s Ireland correspondent Jude Webber trave…

1
A warning shot to the Treasuries market 10:57

1M ago10:57

10:57

The US may be stepping back from its role as mediator in the war in Ukraine, and US long-term borrowing costs rose to their highest level since late 2023 on Monday. US drugmaker Regeneron has agreed to buy 23andMe out of bankruptcy, and the EU and the UK have announced a deal to “reset” their relationship at a summit in London. Mentioned in this po…

1
Trump administration to roll back banking rules 11:19

1M ago11:19

11:19

The UK is holding its first summit with the European Union since Brexit, and US authorities are preparing to announce one of the biggest cuts in banks’ capital requirements in more than a decade. Plus, European leaders are hoping to influence US President Donald Trump ahead of his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and China is on its way …

1
Swamp Notes: Trump’s tilt to the left 18:51

2M ago18:51

18:51

Within the space of one week, US President Donald Trump endorsed tax increases for America’s top earners and promised to slash drug prices by up to 70 per cent. It’s a platform that echoes former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and others on the political left. So why are we hearing it from Trump, and why now? FT’s Washington bureau chief Jam…

1
Can Bill Ackman create a Berkshire Hathaway rival? 11:59

2M ago11:59

11:59

Japan has signalled it is prepared to hold out for a better deal with US President Donald Trump over trade tariffs, and investor Bill Ackman is trying to create a rival to Berkshire Hathaway. Plus, Poland’s election this weekend is shaping up to be a turning point, not only for domestic politics, but also for the war in Ukraine. Mentioned in this p…

1
Turkey after the PKK 10:31

2M ago10:31

10:31

CoreWeave reported a 420% rise in revenue in its first quarter as a listed company and the furious rally in US assets has caught big investors off guard. Plus, the Kurdistan Workers’ party, the militant group that has been in conflict with the Turkish state for more than 40 years, said it would disband. Note: This episode has been edited from its o…

1
GE Vernova tries to shake its parent’s problems 26:17

2M ago26:17

26:17

Massive conglomerates used to define corporate best practice. Think about a company like General Electric, known as “the everything company”. But today, there’s a new popular model: de-conglomeration. The FT’s former US energy reporter Amanda Chu examines whether this is working for a power business that GE spun off last year – or if it’s just anot…

1
UnitedHealth’s big shake-up 10:09

2M ago10:09

10:09

The White House unveiled what it says is $600bn worth of defence and artificial intelligence deals with Saudi Arabia, UnitedHealth Group shares sink to the lowest level in more than four years, and US inflation fell to 2.3 per cent in April. Plus, Nissan plans to axe 15 per cent of its global workforce and almost halve its number of plants. Mention…

1
A sigh of relief on US-China tariffs 10:20

2M ago10:20

10:20

Global stocks surged after the US and China slashed tariffs for 90 days, and Brussels is preparing to use capital controls and tariffs against Russia. Plus, OpenAI and Microsoft are rewriting the terms of their multibillion-dollar partnership in a high-stakes negotiation. Mentioned in this podcast: Who blinked first? How the US and China broke thei…

1
Are investors starting to prefer Europe over the US? 10:38

2M ago10:38

10:38

US officials say they made “substantial progress” on trade talks with China, and trade optimism has driven German stocks to record highs. Plus, US President Donald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates for the first foreign trip of his second term, and the FT’s Christopher Grimes explains why Disney has bounced back ami…