S1 E4 – Prices Up, China Reset & Tax Pressure

S2 E3 - SpaceX, Defence Budgets and Difficult Choices

How Money Really Works | Season 2 Episode 3 Peter has finally bought his first shares in SpaceX. But is the world's most talked-about company actually worth its eye-watering valuation? And what does a two trillion dollar company tell us about the state of Britain, global markets and modern capitalism? This week Peter and Stephen discuss: • Peter's new SpaceX investment. • Why investors are so fascinated by Elon Musk. • Whether SpaceX is overvalued. • The comparison with Tesla's historic rise. • What happens if Elon Musk walks away. • The difference between investing and speculation. • Why Britain is struggling to fund higher defence spending. • Whether modern warfare is changing faster than governments can adapt. • The political challenge of paying for defence. • Why the state pension and the Triple Lock remain one of the biggest financial issues facing the UK. As always, this podcast is financial education, not financial advice. Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hmrwpod [https://www.instagram.com/hmrwpod] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howmoneyreallyworks [https://www.tiktok.com/@howmoneyreallyworks] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com [https://open.spotify.com] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com [https://podcasts.apple.com] Have a question for Peter and Stephen? Send it through on social media and it could feature in a future episode.

S2 E2 - Tony Blair, Tax Traps and Torn on Karaoke

Peter and Stephen are back after Sunderland’s European dream became reality… and somehow that led to a pub conversation about capital gains tax. This week on How Money Really Works: • Why political promises always sound simpler than reality • Reform UK’s “tax-free overtime” idea • Wes Streeting, wealth taxes and unrealised capital gains • Why politicians are all a bit weird • Tony Blair’s dramatic warning about Britain’s future • Net zero, energy prices and Britain’s competitiveness • Why long-term planning seems impossible in modern politics There’s also karaoke confessions, Sunderland in Europe, and the launch of Pete’s Portfolio getting one step closer. This is financial education, not financial advice. Follow us: Instagram: @hmrwpod TikTok: @hmrwpod

S2 E1 - Freddos, Fuel Prices and Falling Governments

TITLE Season 2 Episode 1: Iran, Inflation, Bonds and Britain’s Political Meltdown DESCRIPTION How Money Really Works is back for Season 2. Hosted by journalist and foreign correspondent Peter Oliver alongside financial adviser Stephen Hope, the podcast breaks down the biggest economic and political stories in plain English and explains what they actually mean for your money, your mortgage and your future. In this episode: * How the conflict involving Iran is driving up fuel prices and inflation * Why interest rates may stay higher for longer * What bond markets and gilts actually are * Why government borrowing affects ordinary people * The growing pressure on Keir Starmer and what political instability means for markets * Mortgages, household finances and what could happen next Stephen explains inflation through the “Freddo Index,” while Peter looks at the political fallout currently gripping Westminster. As always, this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. FOLLOW US Instagram: @howmoneyreallyworkspod TikTok: @howmoneyreallyworkspod YouTube: @HowMoneyReallyWorks LIVE SHOW TICKETS Peter will be appearing live at the Fire Station in Sunderland for a special live recording of the WTF Sunderland podcast featuring former Sunderland AFC star Carlos Edwards. Tickets available here: Fire Station Sunderland Live Show Tickets [https://www.thefirestation.org.uk/spektrix/ChooseSeats?EventInstanceId=173601ALVLPGRKPMTDLRTHJNNPDTTNBBL] CHAPTERS 00:00 Season 2 begins 06:15 The lost episode and where we’ve been 10:40 Iran, fuel prices and inflation 14:30 What is inflation? 17:10 The Freddo Index 21:00 Why prices go up 24:30 Bonds, gilts and government borrowing explained 31:30 Why bond markets matter 36:30 Mortgages, interest rates and household finances 41:40 Labour leadership pressure on Keir Starmer 47:30 Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting 54:00 Bond markets and political instability 56:40 Ed Miliband, energy policy and net zero 1:03:40 Final thoughts and outro TAGS UK economy, inflation, interest rates, mortgages, bonds, gilts, Iran, fuel prices, Keir Starmer, Labour Party, Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, politics, personal finance, economics podcast, UK politics, How Money Really Works

S1 E7 - Gong Xi Fa Cai, End of Season One

This week’s episode is… slightly stitched together. Peter is in Macau for Chinese New Year. Stephen is in Tenerife on half term. The tech did not cooperate. We move. Despite the “funk on the line”, this emergency episode still tackles some big themes: • Why every new AI launch seems to shake markets • What volatility actually means and why it is not the enemy • The behavioural mistakes investors make during uncertainty • Why Asia is outperforming while parts of the US tech sector wobble • What the Industrial Revolution can teach us about AI today • Diversification, time horizons and staying invested Stephen explains why missing just a handful of the best recovery days can dramatically change long term outcomes. AI may feel like a steam horse in the next field, but reacting emotionally is rarely the winning strategy. As always, this is financial education, not personal financial advice. Investments can rise as well as fall and you may get back less than you invest. Always take advice specific to your own circumstances. This episode also marks the end of Season One. Peter is finishing one book and starting another, and Season Two is already in development with some very special guests lined up. We will be back in around a month. Until then, Gong Xi Fa Cai. May you get rich. ---------------------------------------- WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@HowMoneyReallyWorksPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@HowMoneyReallyWorksPodcast] ---------------------------------------- FOLLOW HOW MONEY REALLY WORKS Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hmrwpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/hmrwpod/] TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@howmoneyreallyworks [https://www.tiktok.com/@howmoneyreallyworks]

S1 E6 - Politics, Power & Money.

Season 1, Episode 6 - Politics, Power & Money. Politics, power and money collide this week as we unpack three big themes shaping confidence, behaviour and markets. First, the renewed political noise around the Epstein-linked revelations in the UK, the spotlight on Peter Mandelson, and what this means for Keir Starmer’s authority. We look at why markets hate uncertainty, how leadership risk feeds into policy risk, and why bond investors pay attention when Westminster starts to wobble. Then, Peter joins from Shanghai to talk about how Starmer’s China visit was seen on the ground, what visa liberalisation actually changes for business travel, and whether warmer signalling can translate into real commercial advantage. We also get into the difference between headlines and long-term exposure, and why face-to-face meetings still matter in Chinese business culture. And finally, when trust feels shaky, where does money go. Gold, silver, crypto, defensive assets and the idea of a “digital hedge”. We talk about why these assets can rise fast, fall fast, and why diversification is usually the dull answer that keeps people sane. As always, this is not financial advice. It is a conversation about how money really works. Follow the show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hmrwpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/hmrwpod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howmoneyreallyworks [https://www.tiktok.com/@howmoneyreallyworks] If you have a question you want us to tackle, send it in the comments or through the socials.