Best Cocoa Brown Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 51 | Quality Time - Kodi-Anne Brown (Jamaica) - 2025 BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer's Prize 18:55

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2d ago18:55

18:55

Quality Time by Lodi-Anne Brown is the winner of the BCLF Short Story contest for 2025. Described by judge, Patricia Powell, as "...simple and quiet and unsettling and tender and wonderfully turned," it follows a girl on a rare visit with her father who endures his shallow, rehearsed affection. When she is left with a babysister to care for unexpec…

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Business Daily meets: Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales 17:29

11h ago17:29

17:29

We hear how a free online encyclopaedia, run by volunteers, became one of the internet's most popular sites. Co-founder Jimmy Wales tells about the ideals which helped him build the site, and the challenges its now facing, from AI to political criticism. Presenter: Chris VallanceProducers: Hannah Bewley and Niamh McDermott (Image: Jimmy Wales photo…

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What makes a basketball team worth $10bn? 17:26

1d ago17:26

17:26

We look at the record-breaking sale of the Los Angeles Lakers which has just been approved by the board of the NBA - or National Basketball Association. The Buss family had owned the team since 1979. The new majority owner of the franchise is TWG Global CEO Mark Walter. Mr Walter also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers, the professi…

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Episode 50 | Bush Bath - Brandon McIvor (Trinidad & Tobago) - 2025 BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean 20:45

2d ago20:45

20:45

Of all contest entries, Bush Bath is perhaps the embodiment of the 2025 festival contest theme, Remedies of Root. Penned by Brandon McIvor, it traces a man on a visit to Trinidad to see his dying mother, who abandoned him as a child. He delays the meeting, instead taking a symbolic "bush bath" in a forest pool to cleanse his pain. There, a recovere…

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The cocoa conundrum 20:42

1h ago20:42

20:42

Can Europe be weaned off cheap chocolate? EU efforts to block cocoa linked to deforestation were due to come into force at the end of this year – but have faced multiple delays. Another vote is due to take place soon. Some parties are pushing for further delay and modifications, but others are keen to see the rules come into force as planned. They …

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Is this the end for South East Asia's scam centres? 18:29

3d ago18:29

18:29

It’s one of the biggest human trafficking operations of modern times. Scam centres across South East Asia have been making hundreds of billions of dollars annually, it’s estimated, conning people into fake crypto-currency investment schemes. But now these centres could be coming under threat, with both military and legal moves by global enforcement…

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Monetising Machu Picchu 17:38

1d ago17:38

17:38

Peru is home to Machu Picchu - the ancient Inca city in the Andes mountains. It's one of the seven wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular tourist destination attracts millions of visitors, making it very lucrative for the government, local and international businesses. But Machu Picchu is in trouble. Social conflicts, f…

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What happens when the aid money runs out? 17:30

5d ago17:30

17:30

In the second of our two-part series on tightening aid budgets, Sam Fenwick explores what shrinking donor support means for global health — from the sudden halt to major US-funded projects, to the pressure on low-income countries to increase their own health spending. As G20 leaders gather in Johannesburg for the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment …

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What's next for USAID funded projects? 17:28

8d ago17:28

17:28

We examine the fallout from the cuts to US foreign aid. We meet projects in Rwanda and Nepal that were close to shutting down - and hear the story of a mystery donor who stepped in to keep them going. But how long will the support last? Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick (Image: Beatha making soap in Rwanda as part of one of the projects funded …

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Please Take One - Portia Subran (Trinidad & Tobago) - 2022 Finalist BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean 11:56

9d ago11:56

11:56

‘Please Take One’ follows Lloyd, an elderly resident of Chaguanas, as he embarks on a series of desperate attempts to capture the attention of an aloof supermarket clerk. Portia Subran is a writer and artist from Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago.By Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival

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The Human Origins of Beatrice Potter - Soraya Palmer (Jamaica) 14:22

9d ago14:22

14:22

By Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival

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The Galaxy Game - Karen Lord (Barbados) 16:49

9d ago16:49

16:49

On the verge of adulthood, Rafi attends the Lyceum, a school for the psionically gifted. Rafi possesses mental abilities that might benefit people . . . or control them. Some wish to help Rafi wield his powers responsibly; others see him as a threat to be contained. Rafi’s only freedom at the Lyceum is Wallrunning: a game of speed and agility playe…

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Hungry Ghosts - Kevin Jared Hosein (Trinidad & Tobago) 15:16

9d ago15:16

15:16

On a hill overlooking Bell Village sits the Changoor farm, where Dalton and Marlee Changoor live in luxury unrecognisable to those who reside in the farm's shadow. Down below is the barrack, a ramshackle building of wood and tin, divided into rooms occupied by whole families. Among these families are the Saroops - Hans, Shweta, and their son, Krish…

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Is cricket financially healthy? 17:29

9d ago17:29

17:29

One of world sport's biggest rivalries gets underway this week, with England and Australia going head to head in the Ashes. Most matches will last around four or five days, but it's actually the short form of the game that is growing the fastest - and bringing in big audiences and revenues. The IPL or Indian Premier League, has recently been valued…

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A special interview with Google CEO Sundar Pichai 19:37

10d ago19:37

19:37

We speak to the tech executive leading Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. Sundar Pichai gives us his take on the 'AI bubble', saying no company is immune if the bubble bursts on the "irrational elements" of the boom. He says AI will cause "social disruption" for jobs, even replace CEOs, and says people will have to adapt. Is the world read…

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Can global shipping go green? 17:28

11d ago17:28

17:28

After the collapse of a landmark deal, with opposition from both the US and Saudi Arabia, we hear from those in the industry. What's next for a sector responsible for 3% of global emissions? We also find out what it means for shipping's path to net zero. And ask whether technology and innovation are the answer. Presenter: Will BainProducer: David C…

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The ex-soldier building defence software 17:28

15d ago17:28

17:28

As war becomes more high tech than ever, artificial intelligence companies are making software which is increasingly being used on the battlefield. Will Blyth served in the British military as an army major and has used this experience to build his own company, connecting hardware systems from different manufacturers deployed by armed forces. Prese…

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Drones: Who is making the new weapons of war? 17:43

16d ago17:43

17:43

From Ukraine and Russia to Gaza and Sudan, drones have become a key weapon of war. Which companies are making them, and profiting from this rapidly expanding but controversial sector within the defence industry? We hear from a woman in Ukraine who used to own a flower shop in Kyiv, but who is now making drones to send to the front-line; and we hear…

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Zo and the Forest of Secrets by Alake Pilgrim feat Q&A with Kai Muhammad (Trinidad & Tobago) 17:09

16d ago17:09

17:09

Kai Muhammad is an avid BCLF reader who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Zo and the Forest of Secrets is one of his favorite middle grade level Caribbean books. He was overjoyed for the opportunity to ask Alake, the book’s writer, some of the many burning questions he had about the thrilling adventures of her characters Listen now as Kai and Alake hold…

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When We Were Birds - Ayanna Lloyd Banwo (Trinidad & Tobago) 18:50

16d ago18:50

18:50

A mythic love story set in Trinidad, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo's radiant debut is a masterwork of lush imagination and exuberant storytelling—a spellbinding and hopeful novel about inheritance, loss, and love's seismic power to heal. In the old house on a hill, where the city meets the rainforest, Yejide’s mother is dying. She is leaving behind a legacy t…

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Derron Sandy Reads from The Chaos 14:45

16d ago14:45

14:45

Enjoy readings from The Chaos, Derron Sandy's poetry pamphlet, where his subjects are the individuals and communities who suffer most from injustice, poverty and violence in contemporary Trinidad. Using a variety of forms and approaches, the poems describe scene after painful scene – from the murder of an abusive boss and a killing at a gang member…

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What is oshikatsu and can it boost Japan's economy? 17:28

17d ago17:28

17:28

The superfan culture involves doing everything you can to be closer to your idols - often through concerts, merchandise, and streaming support. And now oshikatsu is being praised by some economists for helping pull Japanese retail sales out of a long slump. Figures suggest the role of fan purchasing power has boosted Japan’s annual retail turnover …

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A fresh start for the carbon market? 17:29

18d ago17:29

17:29

We find out whether new rules could allow it to move away distance itself from previous accusations of "greenwashing" and fraud? There have been previous false starts for a system which in theory allows for companies and countries to offset their carbon emissions by paying for projects which reduce or mitigate emissions elsewhere. But new UN legisl…

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What’s gone wrong with the Dutch power supply? 17:28

19d ago17:28

17:28

As the country shifts away from fossil fuels, thousands of homes and businesses have been left on waiting lists to connect to its electricity grid. Has the Netherlands moved too fast in its switch to renewable energy, like solar, wind and hydropower? Some commentators are calling it a “grid crisis” – so, could this affect economic growth? If you'd …

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Business Daily meets: Tim Brown, co-founder of Allbirds 18:10

22d ago18:10

18:10

Tim Brown is a former footballer who went on to co-found Allbirds, a billion-dollar brand known for its woollen shoes. We hear how Tim balanced his passions for football and shoe design, while growing up in New Zealand. The challenges that came when making a career change And how his brand was inspired by a dream to rescue New Zealand's declining w…

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Why are analogue cameras experiencing a comeback? 17:28

23d ago17:28

17:28

We go to the heart of street photography in Berlin, Germany, to visit an independent camera shop where sales of analogue cameras are flying because of celebrities opting for old school tech. And we go behind the lens to the development labs to discover the rising demands and rising costs as equipment is sparse. What is the price of taking a good ph…

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Raising Japan’s female leaders 17:29

24d ago17:29

17:29

We find out why the country Japan ranks so poorly in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index and hear about what’s being done to change things From bottom-up initiatives to raise the next generation of female entrepreneurs and businesses leaders and to the work being done by one of the country’s top educational institutions as it tries to shake…

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Is the AI boom a bubble? 17:58

25d ago17:58

17:58

When is a bubble a bubble? When is hype around a new technology signalling the dawn of a new industrial revolution? We assess the arguments for and against AI and its inflated valuations. AI firms and their stocks have surged in the last year, accounting for more than 80% of America’s economic growth. But is there real demand underpinning this? To …

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Is this New York’s cost of living election? 17:28

26d ago17:28

17:28

New York City is in the midst of a cost of living crunch. As a result, the race to become its next mayor this week has been dominated by how to make the city more affordable. We hear about radical plans and ask whether they add up, and look at what the race to run the capital of capitalism might teach other cities about how to fight an affordabilit…

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Business Daily meets: Harry Stine 17:29

29d ago17:29

17:29

We speak to the American founder and CEO of Stine Seed, the largest private seed company in the world, Stine Seed Company. Harry Stine recalls working in a field on the family soybean farm at the age of four, and says he was soon driving tractors before officially starting work with his father. It was then that he realised the potential of plant br…

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Can Canada become an energy superpower? 17:28

30d ago17:28

17:28

As Canada’s trade war with the US rumbles on, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced ambitions for the country to become an "energy superpower" in clean electricity, oil and gas. Supporters say it could boost jobs and investment, but critics warn it may come at an environmental cost. We’ll hear about the projects underway, the challenges that cou…

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Afghanistan: Can its private sector step up? 17:29

1M ago17:29

17:29

Since the Taliban took over from a US-led government in Afghanistan in 2021, the economic challenges facing the country have been huge. The amount of aid going in to the country has dropped, the banking system is difficult to navigate, and international investors are staying away. That is before considering the economic impact of natural disasters …

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The blurring of K-beauty 17:29

1M ago17:29

17:29

Renowned for its multi-step skincare routine and its foundation in the ever trendy Korean culture, K-beauty has become a multi-billion dollar industry across the globe. The term covers a wide range of skincare, make-up and cosmetics from South Korea and is lauded for its quality and value. But as demand grows, tens of thousands of companies are cla…

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Can you buy your way into a job? 17:33

1M ago17:33

17:33

We look at a growing industry where candidates are spending on career coaching, résumé redesigns, AI tools, and job boards. In a tough job market, with companies cutting staff due to artificial intelligence and rising costs, is this the way to get ahead? We talk to job seekers about whether these tools really help and share what you can do to find …

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The two-year Tesla strike 19:38

1M ago19:38

19:38

We head to Sweden where a handful of mechanics are taking on one of the world’s richest companies - and the world's richest man Elon Musk. The strike at Tesla’s workshops has now reached its second anniversary. It’s a clash of ideologies, in which each side has much at stake. And after two years there is still no prospect of a resolution. Presenter…

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Nightmare Island - Shakira Bourne (Barbados) 15:38

1M ago15:38

15:38

Twelve year-old Serenity Noah has never told anyone about her recurring nightmares -- the haunting images of silver butterflies whose flapping wings drive away all sound, leaving only suffocating silence in their wake. Her parents already favor her "perfect" younger brother, Peace, and she doesn't want to be seen as the "problem" child. Instead, Se…

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The Fix - Alexia Tolas (Bahamas) - Winner 2022 BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean 12:08

1M ago12:08

12:08

Winner 2022 BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean “The Fix” is a story of love, obsession, and obeah that follows a young woman as she seeks advice from an obeah practitioner. She has fallen in love with her neighbor, but rather than compete with his current lover directly, she looks to magic to steal him for herself. The obeah wo…

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A Million Aunties - Alecia Mc Kenzie (Jamaica) 10:17

1M ago10:17

10:17

Alecia McKenzie is a Jamaican writer based in France. Her first collection of short stories, Satellite City, and her novel Sweetheart have both won Commonwealth literary prizes. Sweetheart has been translated into French (Trésor) and was awarded the Prix Carbet des lycéens in 2017. Her most recent novel is A Million Aunties - longlisted for the 202…

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Business Daily meets: Pinterest CEO Bill Ready 17:28

1M ago17:28

17:28

Bill Ready started his working life in his parents' auto repair shop. Now, his world looks very different as CEO of the social media platform, Pinterest. It's an app where you can search for things like recipes, home decor, and fashion. Pinterest has enjoyed strong growth since the company was launched in 2010. The platform has been valued at more …

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The Americans investing in British football 18:39

1M ago18:39

18:39

From private equity Mega funds to Hollywood actors and hip hop stars, we look at the appeal of British football. More than a third of clubs in England's professional football leagues are now owned in part or entirely, by US investors. So why do so many Americans seem to want to invest in UK football clubs and what makes the so called ‘beautiful gam…

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Why are medical students going to Bulgaria? 17:45

1M ago17:45

17:45

We head to the Eastern European country to find out why it's become so popular with people from the UK and elsewhere in the world, who are going there to study medicine. And we hear how Bulgaria is dealing with its own issues in retaining healthcare workers, as it faces a 'brain drain' to other countries and sectors. Produced and presented by Gill …

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Can China’s debt problem be solved? 17:41

1M ago17:41

17:41

As China’s Communist Party conclave gets underway, we take a look at one of the biggest things affecting the country’s economy; debt. 2024 saw an estimated 25 - 34 million people default on their personal loans while household debt has now reached more than 60% of GDP. With the government using subsidies and handouts to get people spending, can Chi…

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Business Daily meets: Lamborghini's Stephan Winklemann 17:29

1M ago17:29

17:29

The president and CEO of Lamborghini doesn’t just sell supercars, he sells a symbol of status, speed, and style. But what does it take to lead one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands? Theo Leggett meets Stephan Winklemann at a Lamborghini showroom in London, UK, to explore his journey from paratrooper to CEO of some of the top automobile compa…

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God in your pocket 21:24

1M ago21:24

21:24

Can your smartphone bring you spiritual fulfilment? We look at the growth of religion-based apps, as the “faith tech” industry sees rapid growth. Much of the tech charges a fee to use it, but not everyone is convinced. Produced and presented by Rob Young (Image: The "Text With Jesus" chatbot app which has thousands of paying subscribers. It lets pe…

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What's going on with Indonesia's economy? 17:28

1M ago17:28

17:28

Indonesia’s president has now been in power for a year but having won the election on policies to support the lower classes, the economy is struggling. That struggle led to violent protests across the country making global headlines. We speak to businesses, young people and families about the changes they’ve seen in the past year and discuss whethe…

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Has Canada lost its trade war with the US? 17:55

2M ago17:55

17:55

The country has dropped tariffs on a wide range of US products, a major U-turn in the trade war. It comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney said he had reached a “new economic and security relationship” with US President Donald Trump. But with almost 40% of small Canadian businesses warning they might not survive another year under tariffs, and the …

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Thailand’s debt spiral 17:28

2M ago17:28

17:28

Thailand has one of the highest levels of consumer debt in the world as a proportion of its GDP. We hear from people who have borrowed and cannot pay back. They are struggling to get regular work to make payments and cover interest. We also speak to a private money lender - are they helping people or making the problem worse? Producer/presenter: Ed…

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Business Daily meets: Fani Titi, Investec CEO 17:27

2M ago17:27

17:27

The South African grew up under the racist apartheid system as one of 14 children. He looked set for a life in farming, until a chance event took him down a different path – ultimately becoming CEO of the multinational banking group, Investec. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at [email protected] Presenter: L…

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Small country: Big tariffs 17:30

2M ago17:30

17:30

We head to Switzerland, a small but very successful country with a population of just 9 million. And now coping with some of US President Donald Trump’s highest tariffs. In August the original threat of 31% tariffs was raised to 39%. Two months on, efforts to negotiate with Washington have proved fruitless and the Swiss economy, regularly ranked as…

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Should we expect more airline delays? 17:28

2M ago17:28

17:28

By BBC World Service