We have a skills shortage, and AI can't save us

Podcasting has grown from a niche format into a mass medium. Michael Thompson speaks with Tim Burrowes from Mumbrella and Unmade about why podcasts succeeded where other digital formats stalled, how advertisers are using them, the shift toward video, and whether AI poses a threat. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years in the shadows, Australian small caps staged a comeback in 2025. But can it continue? Sean Aylmer speaks with Roger Montgomery from Montgomery Investment Management about why small caps began outperforming, and why not all small caps are created equal. Roger explains what to look for, and runs through several small-cap names that highlight the themes driving the sector. For more information, visit www.montinvest.com or call 02 8046 5000.Follow Roger’s insights at www.rogermontgomery.com This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. This episode is brought to you by Montgomery Investment Management. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Film investing sounds glamorous, but it can be brutally risky. Michael Thompson talks with Stefan von Imhof from Alts.co about why taking equity stakes in movies can disappoint, even when the film feels like a hit, thanks to “Hollywood accounting” and unpredictable box office outcomes. Stefan explains why horror can be a more profitable genre (cheap to make, strong upside), and explores an alternative way to invest in films. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business investment shapes the future of productivity, from machines and software to buildings and infrastructure. Sean Aylmer speaks with Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis about how business investment has tracked over the past year and what’s driving the next phase. Luci explains why confidence and demand matter so much, what’s happening beyond the volatile mining sector, and why data centres and cloud computing are about efficiency as much as AI. This episode is brought to you by Westpac. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WiseTech Global is one of Australia’s most successful tech companies, and one of its most controversial. Gaurav Sodhi, Deputy Head of Research at Intelligent Investor, joins Sean Aylmer to unpack why governance issues at WiseTech have become impossible for investors to ignore. From allegations surrounding founder Richard White, to aggressive accounting practices, Gaurav explains why a world-class product isn’t enough on its own. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needsFind out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s skills shortage isn’t a short-term problem - it’s driven by demographics. Sean Aylmer speaks with Simon Kuestenmacher, co-founder and director of The Demographics Group, about baby boomers leaving the workforce, smaller generations coming through, and why demand for workers is still rising. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will be the must-have tech of 2026? Michael Thompson is joined by Stephen Fenech, editor of techguide.com.au, to preview the gadgets shaping the year ahead (spoiler alert - smart glasses are going to be big in 2026). This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High-frequency trading and arbitrage sound mysterious, and largely inaccessible. Sean Aylmer talks to Roger Montgomery from Montgomery Investment Management about how high-frequency trading really works, why legendary investor Jim Simons built one of history’s greatest fortunes this way, and why most investors can't access these strategies. Roger explains how arbitrage works, and how one Australian fund has opened a small window into this otherwise closed world. For more information, visit www.montinvest.com or call 02 8046 5000.Follow Roger’s insights at www.rogermontgomery.com This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. This episode is brought to you by Montgomery Investment Management. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 was the year of gold: record prices, soaring miners, and plenty of FOMO. Sean Aylmer talks to Morningstar equity market strategist Lachlan Halloway about what drives gold cycles, what history tells us after big peaks, and why Morningstar’s long-run gold price forecast sits well below today’s levels. Lachlan also explains what “peak frenzy” looks like, and whether there’s any value left in gold miners. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular business news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another year of house price growth has been welcome news for homeowners, but a challenge for would-be buyers. Sean Aylmer is joined by Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis to unpack how the housing market finished 2025 - and what Westpac expects to see for national house prices in 2026. This episode is brought to you by Westpac. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.