Podcasts about Hong Kong

This week on The Business of Watches, we're talking to the man behind one of the more successful new watch brands in recent years, Studio Underd0g. Richard Benc is just 33, and since 2020, he's built his irreverent, approachable-priced, design-driven brand to a significant size, producing about 14,000 watches last year.   And he's done it all, not from Switzerland or Hong Kong, but from the U.K. Benc has grown his business with intent, making strategic investments in his supply chain, including buying full control of the assembly and after-sales service company that builds Studio Underd0g's distinct timepieces. Studio Underd0g is now the biggest assembler of mechanical watches in the U.K. and isn't only selling watches with drops and collabs, but is building up stock to make more watches available on its website. Next up for Benc and his brand is a new physical, public, and retail location. The 'D0ghouse' will open in Maidenhead this month and serve as a public showcase for the upstart brand and its operations. It's another big step for the company that comes with its own set of fresh opportunities and challenges. And Benc gives us a tease on what may be coming next - there will be a new 04Series of watches that will take the brand to a place it hasn't been (mechanically) before.  Show Notes  0:40  Business News: Secondary Market Prices Climb, James Marks Jumps To Sotheby's, Christie's Grabs Cartier Watch Record (Hodinkee) 0:50 WatchCharts.com 1:49 The Cartier Crash And The New Value Of Imperfection  (MenWith Magazine) 2:42 This Record-Setting Patek Is The Priciest Watch Ever Sold In Asia (Maxim) 3:28 Visit Brighton (Great Britain) 4:40 Studio Underd0g 6:10 A Minions Children's Watch (eBay)9:17 Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair 9:23 Inside The EPHJ (Hodinkee Swiss 101) 11:33 Studio Underd0g 01Series Watermelon 13:40 Assembled In Great Britain (Studio Underd0g) 17:10 Studio Underd0g Buys Horologium (Watch Pro) 22:30 The Business of Watches Podcast: Christopher Ward CEO Mike France 24:50 Studio Underd0g 02Series 25:08 Studio Underdog 03Series 29:03 A Fresh Passion Fruit Collab From H. Moser And Studio Underd0g (Hodinkee) 41:27 A Quirky Watch Brand Studio Gets Serious (New York Times) 42:54 Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers Bellwether Report

Another good month – investors are giddy. Oil – CRITICALLY LOW inventory (Inside Baseball). Fed governor admits inflation is hard to control. A major name says they are reducing stocks – but are they really? Announcing the Winner of the CTP for Salesforce (CRM). PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? PayPal.Donation.Button({ env:'production', hosted_button_id:'JJJHP2GDEJC7J', image: { src:'https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif', alt:'Donate with PayPal button', title:'PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!', } }).render('#donate-button'); Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Another good month - investors are giddy - Oil - CRITICALLY LOW inventory (Inside Baseball) - Fed governor admits inflation is hard to control - A major name says they are reducing stocks - but are they really? - Announcing the Winner of the CTP for Salesforce Markets - Huge reversal in Software stocks - A few names on the move - and moving BIG! - SpaceX IPO - could drain markets - More AI valuations through the roof Pizza Mouth ! Reversal - Software stocks bounced this week on strong results from Snowflake and Okta, which both recorded their best days on record. - The results signal that investors may have been too quick to declare the end of software with the emergence of artificial intelligence. - Even as AI displaces certain tools and job functions, many software companies continue to show growth, assisted by their own AI products. - The iShares Expanded Tech-Software exchange-traded fund rose 8% this week and closed May up 21%, the best monthly performance for the ETF since October 2001. - With this month's rally, the iShares software ETF is only down 3.8% for the year, still badly trailing the Nasdaq, which has gained 18% in 2026. Snowflake - Amazon said Wednesday that its cloud division has landed a $6 billion spending commitment from Snowflake, which includes the use of the company's custom silicon and chips for artificial intelligence. - Snowflake's purchase of services and technology from Amazon Web Services will occur over five years, according to a press release about the agreement. - Snowflake intends to expand its use of Amazon's Graviton general-purpose chips, as well as cloud-based graphics processing units for AI. - Snowflake and Amazon are frenemies - they compete but also partner with each other. - Stock up 36% on this news DELL!!!!!!!!!!!! - Dell Technologies Inc. shares surged due to an outlook for annual sales that far surpassed expectations on demand for servers that power artificial intelligence work. - Revenue in the fiscal year ending in January 2027 will be about $167 billion, including $60 billion from the sale of AI servers, topping analysts' average estimate of $142.1 billion. - The company booked $24.4 billion in AI orders and generated $16.1 billion in AI server sales in the quarter ended May 1, with Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke saying “The AI opportunity shows no signs of slowing.” - The shares surged 33% to $420.91 at the close Friday in New York, the biggest single-day increase in the more than seven years since the hardware maker returned to the public markets after a five-year hiatus as a private firm. - Up 150% YTD More Dell - New XPS 13 at $699 targets price-sensitive market - Aims to compete with MacBook Neo, lower-end Windows devices - Launch amid global memory chip crunch to gain market share - WINING OVER JCD: -- 13.4-inch screen (very compact footprint) Options: 2K / 2.5K LCD (120Hz) OLED touchscreen (higher contrast)| - Very thin bezels ? almost edge?to?edge screen - Weighs 2.2 lbs - one of the lightes out there and a rival to Apple's Macbook Neo Infighting - OpenAI may release multi-chip AI software, challenging Nvidia's (NVDA) ecosystem advantage, according to The Information - Oh, and NVDA is now releasing a CPU for PCs that is aggrevating Intel and AMD Kaboom! - Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded in a massive fireball while undergoing a test on a Florida launchpad, dealing a major setback to the company. - The explosion is the latest blow to New Glenn's reputation as a reliable alternative to SpaceX's Falcon 9, and Blue Origin's launch schedule is certain to suffer significant delays. - The incident will also affect Amazon's ambitions to build out its Leo satellite network and may delay Blue Origin's role in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the moon. - As important as it will be for Blue Origin to diagnose the cause of the rocket explosion, it could take many months to repair its launchpad in Florida. Taking Down - Really? - BlackRock Inc. is trimming its bet on stocks across its model-portfolio business as US equities surge to record highs following a strong earnings season. - The firm cut its overweight position in equities from 3% to 1%, triggering billions of dollars of flows between BlackRock's exchange-traded funds. - BlackRock remains confident in equities and will maintain positions that bet on growing corporate profits, artificial intelligence and government spending, but is rotating away from longer-dated US debt in favor of global fixed-income and liquid alternatives. Slight - SpaceX is targeting a valuation of at least $1.8 trillion in its initial public offering, according to people familiar with the matter. - The company is seeking to raise as much as $75 billion, which would make it the biggest IPO of all time, and is expected to start formal marketing of its IPO as soon as June 4. -SpaceX had $18.7 billion in revenue in 2025, and the company's pitch to investors shows its evolution into an AI services and infrastructure giant with a total addressable market of $28.5 trillion. - 3-5% of the shares will be floated (TIGHT) Strategy: keep supply constrained, which: supports price discovery maintains founder control creates early scarcity dynamics - - - SpaceX has reserved 5% of the shares ?in its planned initial public offering for certain employees and individuals selected by its executive officers, exempting them from post-IPO lock-up restrictions AND.. Even more Valuations - AI giant Anthropic is now worth more than OpenAI. - Anthropic announced a $65 billion Series H financing at a $965 billion valuation, a round led by Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks and Sequoia Capital. - The financing puts its valuation above that of rival AI lab OpenAI. - The valuation has TRIPLED since February Let's GO! - Shares of LG Electronics surged as much as 24% after the company announced a series of automotive innovations built with technology from Alphabet Inc.'s Google. - The company said its new range of solutions is built on Android automotive operating systems. Its system can control multiple displays with different aspect ratios at the same time by using a single-on-chip, which is different from other conventional in-vehicle display systems, LG said. - But 24% on this news? - More reason that the KOSPI is moving higher No One Care - But... - Inflation has been above the 2% target for 5 years now - Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said Thursday that bringing down inflation in the U.S. remains his top priority, warning that consumer prices are still “much too high.”| - Speaking to CNBC's Kaori Enjoji at the Bank of Japan-IMES Conference, Kashkari said that the U.S. central bank would continue taking a “balanced approach” to its dual mandate of price stability and full employment. - 5 YEARS! ---- What that tells us is that the Fed is totally unable to do anything about inflation .... Are we the only ones that see that? Inside Baseball - From a colegie that will go un-named. --- Let's just say he is someone who knows what they are talking about and runs BIG money ----- This is what he said to me..... - Apparently, oil execs were opining with POTUS in meetings yesterday that oil inventories are at alarmingly low levels and oil prices could soon skyrocket (I might soften that language a bit but they know the oil biz better than me) if SoH does not open soon. - I ran a few numbers on total oil inventories including and excluding the SPR. - Total supplies are 10th percentile vs history (although that includes a period when the SPR ramped from 0 to 600mln barrels in the 1980's). - Today it is 4th percentile if you start from 1990 when the SPR was basically full. - The 4 week net and % draw the last 3 weeks are the largest draws of all time. - And not surprising the 1 week net and % draw of the SPR are also the 2 largest draws of all time the last 2 weeks. Surprised - No.... --- This is another story similar to what we saw a few months ago - Taiwan prosecutors suspect that three individuals smuggled at least one shipment of Nvidia Corp. AI chips to China after first exporting them to Japan. - The trio was detained for allegedly falsifying documents related to exports of Super Micro Computer Inc. servers containing advanced Nvidia chips, which the US has barred from sale to China without a license. - Taiwan authorities seized about 50 servers for which they accuse the trio of preparing fraudulent export documents, but at least one shipment had already gone through Taiwan customs and made it to Hong Kong. Under/Over? - Tesla will be somehow folder/merged or taken over by SpaceX in an all stock deal - Tesla market cap is $1.6 Trillion so that will be a tough one to take on as SpaceX is about equal in size. ---- If this happens, when ? Mini Retirement - Is this a THING? - A mini retirement is when you take a planned break from working, usually for a few months to a couple of years, instead of waiting until age 65+ to fully retire. - Tim Feerris popularized this... (4 day workweek dude) Step 1: Work & save aggressively 2–10+ years Build a specific “freedom fund” Step 2: Take time off 3 months to 2 years Travel, recharge, pursue interests, or experiment with new ideas Step 3: Return to work Same career… or pivot to something new Then repeat if desired.   Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Announcing the THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN for SALESFORCE (CRM)   Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt!     FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS   See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

Alice Han and James Kynge break down Huawei's bold new strategy to challenge Nvidia and the future of AI chips. They explore the rise of Huawei's influential "chip queen" He Tingbo, the company's attempt to move beyond Moore's Law, and what it could mean for the global semiconductor race. Then, tensions between China and Europe are heating up. With record trade deficits, growing concerns over Chinese imports, and new efforts to protect European industries, Alice and James examine whether a full-scale China-EU trade war is beginning to take shape. Finally, Hong Kong has officially overtaken Switzerland as the world's largest offshore wealth hub. They discuss what's driving the surge in cross-border wealth flowing through Hong Kong, why China's ultra-rich are increasingly keeping assets closer to home, and the risks that come with tying so much wealth to the fortunes of mainland China. Subscribe to China Decode on Substack for weekly analysis, livestreams, and deep dives into the biggest story shaping the global economy: chinadecode.profgmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on another encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are continuing a theme from last week's episode (and the week prior) with guest Carrie Mithchum, daughter of actor Christopher Mitchum and granddaughter of the towering figure Robert Mithcum. So what's the theme? Well, Carrie is related to guest Suzanne Lloyd and right after our conversation with Suzanne, she asked us if we wanted to talk to Carrie and welp, here we are. So thanks Suzanne. Like her father and grandfather (as well as her son, her uncle, brother) Carrie Mitchum began her career as an actress and as we learn, she pivoted to a career as a chef after a stint at the Cordon Bleu in Paris. She's also a philanthropist since our last chat launched a website, Mitchums Kitchen with recipes, merch, a blog and much more. Carrie talks to us about growing up around acting with her dad Christopher as they travelled around the world as he tool parts that took him to foreign countries like Thailand and Hong Kong for films like H-Bomb and Spain for a film called Nightmare City. Her story about her youth on sets in the middle of nowhere are fascinating. We also speak to Carrie about what it was like spending time with her grandfather on the set of the film, That Championship Season as well as discussing his time as riding the rails before he became an actor, his poetry, his music career with albums like Calypso – Is Like So and That Man Robert Mitchum…Sings. We discuss Mitchum's favorite food, the dreaded tabloids, the Harold Lloyd collection and her love of animals. Take a listen to this encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast.

I record from Hong Kong and provide an update on the future of the podcast, the relaunch of the Supporters Club private feed, and several new projects including Eastbound, the Run With Me app, and the Globe Runners Thailand experience in Phuket. Links Join Supporters Club and access advisory and second podcast feed: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ My coaching: www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ My Instagram: www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ My Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Join me in Phuket for a running experience of a lifetime: https://www.thegloberunners.com/phuket-running-experience Recording from an Airbnb in Hong Kong, I explain some upcoming changes to the podcast and Supporters Club. The private feed will be returning with weekly 30-minute training and Q&A episodes alongside regular conversations focused on elite training, racing, coaching, and the professional side of the sport. I also discuss why the Luke co-hosted podcast came to an end, why the Mick Fox series has been paused for now, and what listeners can expect from future episodes and guests. Along the way, I answer a wide range of listener questions covering Chinese running shoes, supplements, marathon versus 5K training, LT1 and LT2 workouts, Ozempic, doping conversations within the sport, and some of the best-value trainers currently coming out of China. Later in the episode, I provide updates on several projects I am involved in. These include Eastbound, a new online retailer that will distribute Dynafish and other Chinese running brands, the Run With Me app being developed by Mia to help runners build accountability through paid group runs, and the Globe Runners Thailand experience taking place at Thanyapura in Phuket from September 4-7. I also share a brief update on my comeback training, current fitness, and marathon plans later this year. Topics 00:00 - Hong Kong Setup 00:23 - Podcast Catch Up 00:57 - Jake Hacked Story 02:09 - Supporters Feed Plan 02:47 - Why Luke Left 04:22 - Mick Scheduling Issues 06:15 - New Guests Ahead 08:45 - Travel Stress Reality 11:54 - Supporters Club Value 12:52 - Shoe Questions Intro 13:15 - Eastbound Shoe Startup 16:07 - Run With Me App 19:09 - Thailand Camp Plug 21:40 - Thailand Training Camp Plans 21:55 - Runners You Miss Most 24:15 - Frank Schauer Kenya Memories 25:08 - Marathon vs 5K Debate 27:10 - Supplements and One Percenters 27:53 - Ozempic and Doping Talk 29:17 - LT1 LT2 Training Advice 30:02 - Nick Bester Controversy 30:58 - Best Budget Chinese Trainers 33:45 - Hong Kong Relocation Thoughts 35:28 - Projects and Training Update 39:11 - Supporters Club Wrap Up

The Hong Kong-born novelist and journalist talks us through his new novel "City on Fire," a whodunnit thriller set against the 2019 protests.The China Books Podcast is a companion of China Books Review, a project of Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations and The Wire China. For any queries or comments, please write to info@chinabooksreview.com.

Dawn Friedman welcomes Dr. Melissa Giglio, a CBT therapist and director of Central Health Partners Child Development in Hong Kong, to discuss selective mutism (SM). Giglio explains SM as an anxiety disorder in which children who speak fluently at home are persistently unable to speak in specific settings, often mistaken for stubbornness, and distinguishes shyness from social anxiety and SM using persistence and functional impairment. They emphasize collaborating with schools, using gradual exposure without “rescuing,” helping children habituate, and coaching parents to stay calm, supportive, and non-accommodating while building distress tolerance and confidence. The conversation addresses anxious parents, concerns about traumatizing exposure, demand avoidance and providing perceived control with continued expectations, common comorbidities (including ADHD), when medication may help, and the need for evidence-based, systemic treatment involving parents and schools. Giglio shares resources (Bravery Grows book, a six-month journal) and intensive one-to-one camps in Hong Kong and Maine, plus outcomes when SM is untreated.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:17 Meet Dr Giglio01:47 What Is Selective Mutism02:44 Why The Name Changed03:37 Misconceptions And Oppositionality04:22 How Parents First Notice05:23 Shy Vs Social Anxiety06:53 When Anxiety Becomes Persistent09:43 Supporting Exposure Without Rescue11:55 Handling Meltdowns And Tiny Steps13:27 Anxious Parents And Trauma Fears16:12 PDA And Demand Avoidance Nuance20:00 Comorbidity And Medication Questions22:23 Overlearning Through Exposure22:54 Finding Proper SM Treatment23:47 Parents As Co Therapists27:08 Coaching Without Accommodating28:15 Books And Journals Tools31:25 Intensive Exposure Camps33:37 Wins And Progress Stories35:16 Risks Of Late Identification37:23 Let Kids Do Hard ThingsWorking with Dr. Giglio at Main Child Therapy CenterGrab her book, Bravery GrowsFollow her on Instagram

Ike Ejiochi reports from New York, a United plane diverts after a passenger allegedly tried to repeatedly breach the cockpit; Britt Clennett reports from Hong Kong, four miners trapped in a flooded cave crawl to safety in Laos; Ian Pannell reports from Jerusalem, five Americans, including U.S. troops were injured in an Iranian missile strike on a U.S. base in the Middle East and more on tonight's broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In filmmaker Belinda M. Wilson's video introduction to the BLACK MAMBA DVD, she claims the film is inspired by a real life encounter with a mysterious woman at Wilson's own family reunion who never aged, could never prove her relation to the family, and was suspected of putting curses on people she disagreed with. This reverence for the supernatural forces that guide our day to day lives is powerfully captured in BLACK MAMBA, one of the most impressive DIY auteur films we've ever seen, that deserves to be seen by all film lovers who prioritize work that exists outside of the Hollywood machine. The film was officially released by Bleeding Skull as part of a three film compilation called "Backyard Bloodbaths." We highly recommend purchasing this film via that collection, but also humbly request that BLACK MAMBA be eventually given its own release with a focus on Wilson and her career. BLACK MAMBA stars writer/director Wilson as the titular character, a powerful and evil witch living in an ordinary house in Los Angeles's Crenshaw neighborhood. Structured like a horror anthology, the film revolves around different characters showing up to Black Mamba's door requesting spells and potions to fulfill their earthly needs. The spells never go quite right, mostly due to the recipient's pride, and the consequences are intense and disturbing. We notice this structure is typical to the "black magic" thrillers emerging from the Hong Kong film industry in the 1970s and 80s, where humans delve into magical worlds beyond their understanding, unable to stop the forces once regret inevitably sets in. BLACK MAMBA's punishing scares are technically impressive considering Wilson is creating them with a small team; mutilated genitals, rotting corpses, and trapped souls are used to gag-inducing effect, inserted manically between comedic episodes. Her fast-paced editing keeps visual interest throughout by drawing the eye to demonic apparitions in mirrors, hallways, and bottles. BLACK MAMBA is a wildly entertaining film with an interesting take on spirituality, showing that the punishment for trying to outdo God is swift and dangerous. Purchase BLACK MAMBA via Bleeding Skull's compilation "Backyard Bloodbaths": http://bleedingskull.com/backyard-bloodbaths-bs-010/ View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

Rod Lockwood reveals his $50 billion plan to transform Belle Isle into a tax-free, self-governing city — and what it means for Detroit real estate investors.In this episode of RealDealChat, Jack Hoss sits down with Rod Lockwood, a second-generation Detroit real estate developer and founder of the Belle Isle Freedom City project — a bold proposal to turn a 1,000-acre island in the Detroit River into a privately funded, tax-free, self-governing city of 50,000 people.Rod breaks down:Why Detroit went from the richest city in the world in 1950 to the poorest major city todayThe 99-year lease structure modeled after Hong Kong's revivalHow Belle Isle would operate with no income tax and a land value tax systemWhy 46,000 Detroiters would commute to the island daily, paying full state and federal taxesThe estimated $5 to $6 billion infrastructure investment and $50 billion total build-outHow Detroit land at $7 to $10 per square foot becomes attractive to international entrepreneursThe Formula One racetrack concept and car-free designWhy a commissioned poll showed Detroit residents support the project by a plus 41% marginHow Rod is using AI for cost modeling and document prep across the projectThis episode is for investors watching the Detroit market, anyone interested in special economic zones, and real estate developers thinking about large-scale opportunity and urban policy.

In this episode, we host Sam Goodman to explore China's global campaign of transnational repression, shadow policing, and pressure against critics abroad. Drawing on his work on Hong Kong, UK-China relations, sanctions, the BN(O) community, and economic transnational repression, Sam explains how Chinese and Hong Kong authorities project power beyond their borders through surveillance, diaspora intimidation, legal pressure, financial coercion, and attempts to silence pro-democracy voices far beyond China and Hong Kong.We discuss the recent UK National Security Act case involving two men convicted in London for assisting a foreign intelligence service in a case centred on Hong Kong authorities, pro-democracy activists, and alleged shadow policing on British soil. Sam explains why this case matters, what it reveals about the vulnerability of open societies, and how Chinese state-linked activity can move through trade offices, former police networks, private security actors, immigration systems, community intermediaries, and financial institutions.The conversation also explores the everyday impact of transnational repression on Hong Kongers and other diaspora communities in the UK, including fear of infiltration, pressure on family members back home, self-censorship, and the chilling effect on civic participation. Sam also explains why economic transnational repression remains under-recognised, from frozen bank accounts and blocked pension access to professional disqualification, tax pressure, lawsuits, and compliance systems that can turn Western institutions into unwitting enforcers of authoritarian political objectives.Sam Goodman is Senior Policy Director at the China Strategic Risks Institute and co-founder of the New Diplomacy Project, a Labour-focused foreign policy think tank. He was previously Policy and Advocacy Director at Hong Kong Watch, where his work focused on Hong Kong, UK-China policy, sanctions, the BN(O) community, and responses to the Hong Kong National Security Law. He is also the author of The Imperial Premiership: The Role of the Modern Prime Minister in Foreign Policymaking 1964–2015. His recent work at the China Strategic Risks Institute examines economic transnational repression and how the PRC and Hong Kong authorities can use financial pressure, bank accounts, pension access, professional qualifications, tax claims, and compliance systems to coerce dissidents abroad.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked!

Tech salaries trends to watch Irish tech roles now command salaries that compete with – and often exceed – those in other key global economies and tech markets, reinforcing the country's position as a top-tier destination for skilled professionals, according to the latest Hays Tech Talent Explorer. While much of the global conversation around Artificial Intelligence has focused on job displacement, the research highlights how AI is instead reshaping tech roles. Routine and administrative tasks are becoming increasingly automated, allowing professionals to focus on complex, high-impact work. In Ireland, this shift is contributing to continued salary growth as demand rises for professionals who combine technical expertise with critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making skills. Ireland's Growing Global Competitiveness The research benchmarks Ireland against other key international markets, focusing on salaries in each economy across a range of tech roles. Ireland maintains a significant pay advantage in several key roles, such as Data Engineers and Solutions Architects. When compared to markets like the UK and Germany, Ireland performs strongly, with overall tech salaries in those countries trailing by 17% and 19% respectively. While the United States remains the global leader in compensation – with average tech salaries reaching approximately €108,387 compared to €81,338 in Ireland – the data reveals a tightening gap in specialised fields such as Data Scientists. The findings suggest Ireland offers employers access to highly skilled technical talent at a more sustainable cost base. Furthermore, salary benchmarks in Ireland remain closely aligned with major global markets like Australia and Singapore, while contractor day rates rival major hubs including Luxembourg and Hong Kong, reflecting the country's strategic importance as a centre for global tech operations. Despite broader economic uncertainty, Irish tech wages continue to be driven by sustained demand for advanced, future-ready skill sets rather than AI-led disruption. Senior Managing Director for Hays Ireland, Barney Ely, said: "Ireland is no longer just a European branch office for major tech companies, it is now a primary engine of global tech innovation. We are seeing a shift where AI is enabling tech professionals to move away from routine tasks and towards work that is more strategic and globally impactful. "We've recently seen layoffs at major players across the tech industry, but the continued strength of salaries demonstrates the resilience of the Irish market. "For talent, Ireland offers a landscape where technical skills are met with high-value rewards. For employers, the challenge is no longer just finding people – it's partnering with experts who can navigate an increasingly AI-enhanced environment." See more breaking stories here.

Over the years, we've spent a lot of time on this show talking about the grid, why it needs to expand, where it's falling short, and what it will take to meet growing demand. We've talked about improving how the grid gets planned and built, and the bottlenecks that slow projects down. But even if those bottlenecks are resolved, the system itself is becoming harder to manage. Demand is rising fast, driven by electrification and data centers powering AI. At the same time, the grid is getting more complex. Distributed resources, extreme weather, and aging infrastructure are making it harder to plan, predict, and operate. And the tools utilities rely on weren't built for this kind of system. Our guest today has spent his career inside that problem, from working at a utility to building one of the early software platforms for managing distributed energy. Josh Wong is the founder and CEO of ThinkLabs AI, a Powerhouse Ventures portfolio company. We co-led ThinkLabs' $5 million seed round in 2024. ThinkLabs is building an AI copilot for the electric grid, helping operators understand and manage the system in real time. Using physics-informed models, the platform can compress analyses that once took weeks or months into minutes. Josh was born in Hong Kong and raised in Toronto. He began his career at Toronto Hydro, where he saw firsthand how difficult it is to operate the grid in practice. That experience led him to found Opus One, a company focused on helping utilities manage increasingly complex power systems, which was later acquired by GE. Josh kept coming back to the same underlying problem: utilities need to move faster, but the tools they rely on make that nearly impossible. ThinkLabs is his answer. In our conversation, Josh walks me through his journey, and what it takes to build in one of the most complex and risk-averse industries in the world. Today, ThinkLabs has raised more than $30 million from investors including NVIDIA and Energy Impact Partners, and is working with partners and customers including Southern California Edison, and other major ISOs. About Powerhouse Innovation and Powerhouse Ventures Powerhouse Ventures backs seed stage founders building the future power system across energy, infrastructure, and AI. If you are thinking about building something in this space, get in touch with our team. Powerhouse Innovation is a best in class consulting firm, powered by the strongest energy innovation network, data and team in our industry. We partner with world's leading corporations, investors, and utilities to source and evaluate disruptive startups shaping the future of energy and industry. To hear more stories of founders building our energy abundant future, hit the “subscribe” button and leave us a review.

In this episode of One Vision, Theodora Lau sits down with Hay Yip, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff at FundPark in Hong Kong, for a conversation that spans heritage, working capital, and what it really takes for SMEs to scale in an uncertain world.Hay shares his journey from a commercial banking career at HSBC — spanning both London and Hong Kong — to the electric pace of a fintech startup, and why he now goes to bed "with one eye open." Born in Hong Kong and grew up in the UK, his story comes full circle as he returns home to help the small businesses he's always been drawn to.At the heart of the conversation is the often-overlooked engine of commerce: working capital. Hay makes the case that cash flow is the "bloodline" of any growing business, and explains how FundPark uses data and analytics to serve e-commerce merchants who are not just underserved by traditional banks, but in many cases entirely unserved. Theo and Hay explore the founders' origin story, why entrepreneurs deserve more credit for their courage, and how global supply chain fragility shows up in the everyday lives of merchants and the customers who depend on them.Tune in for a candid look at the unglamorous but essential side of fintech, and FundPark's vision of "scale up as a service" — helping ordinary people behind real businesses thrive.

On this wildly unfiltered episode of Undressed with Pol' and Patrik, we sit down with fan-favorite couple Mark Romain and Brett Hamby from The Amazing Race for one of the funniest, most emotional, and unexpectedly deep conversations we've had in a long time with two hot guys! From surviving the chaos of reality television to navigating love, honesty, identity, and career crossroads, this episode takes us everywhere. Brett reveals the terrifying childhood accident that left him with a broken femur after being hit by a car in Pacifica (Bay Area) and how gymnastics and acrobatics became part of his healing journey. Meanwhile, Mark spills all the tea about dancing for icons like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Kesha — plus the hilarious story of Pol' accidentally talking to Christina Aguilera for 45 minutes without realizing who she was at Adrienne Maloof's Halloween party. We dive into their unforgettable experience competing on The Amazing Race, including producer drama, getting pulled over during filming, losing money in Hong Kong, surviving five intense weeks together, and learning how pressure exposes every crack — and strength — in a relationship. The conversation turns deeply personal as Mark and Brett open up about honesty in relationships, why they refuse to lie to each other, and how communication ultimately became the secret to surviving life together. Things get extra outrageous when we discuss RuPaul's Drag Race, Pol's traumatic experience appearing in drag years ago, and the hysterical story of RuPaul getting denied entry into his own premiere party because no one recognized him out of drag. We also get into queer friendships, gay relationship stereotypes, open relationships, dating shows, and why gays can sometimes be “the bitchiest people alive.” Then comes the Armenian Coffee Reading… and things take a shocking turn. Pol' immediately identifies a major emotional split in Mark's life connected to his twin brother, authenticity, and years of suppressing who he really was before embracing his true self. The reading becomes incredibly emotional as Mark admits he spent years trying to force himself into a life that never fit him. Pol' then reveals that Mark is standing at the edge of a massive life shift and urges him to reconnect with the creative calling he abandoned long ago. Brett's reading goes even deeper, uncovering unresolved emotional wounds and a hidden sadness he has spent years covering with “band-aids.” The moment becomes hauntingly emotional when Brett quietly reveals the heart shape in his coffee cup reminds him of his late mother. Between hysterical one-liners, relationship confessions, reality TV secrets, and one of the most powerful coffee readings we've had yet, this episode is funny, raw, emotional, chaotic, and completely unforgettable. Subscribe to our audio: linktr.ee/undressedpod Follow Pol' Atteu:  Instagram: @polatteu  TikTok: @polatteu  Twitter: @polatteu ⁠ Pol' Atteu Beverly Hills⁠ Follow Patrik Simpson:  Instagram: @patriksimpson  TikTok: @patriksimpson ⁠ Patrik Simpson Official Website⁠ Follow SnowWhite90210:  Instagram: @snowwhite90210  Twitter: @SnowWhite9010 ⁠ SnowWhite90210⁠ Watch Gown and Out in Beverly Hills on Prime Video. ⁠ Gown and Out in Beverly Hills⁠ #UndressedPodcast ⁠Armenian Coffee Reading⁠ ⁠ SnowWhite90210 SnowBubu is a Perfect gift!⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick is joined today by award-winning Racing Post journalist Jonathan Harding to discuss the latest from around the racing world. Nick talks at some length in this show to Haydock Clerk Daniel Cooper about the ramifications of Saturday's hole-in-the-ground incident, which has caused this weekend's fixture to be moved, The discuss the immediate future for the track, the current findings, the work taking place, and the many issues that surround ensuring the safety of the surface. Also today, Prince AA Faisal tells us why Oxagon has been supplemented for the Prix du Jockey Club, owner-breeder Jennifer Dorey lives the Derby dream with Rebel Rocker, Tom Goff outlines plans for Friendly Soul and tonight's Kempton hopeful Water to Wine, and JA McGrath has the latest from Hong Kong.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Adrian Day to the show. Adrian Day is CEO of Adrian Day Asset Management & Manager of EuroPacific Gold Fund. Day sees the recent weakness in oil as a potential buying opportunity, particularly if a peace deal triggers a further short-term drop. He argues that beyond temporary disruptions, the underlying supply picture is bullish because oil has been chronically underinvested for years. With US shale production peaking and no clear new major source of global supply to meet consistent demand growth, he views a sustained move above $150 per barrel as a plausible base case. He is waiting for exaggerated drops in oil stocks to build positions, favoring companies with strong balance sheets. Broadening the discussion to the wider commodity complex, Day notes that resource stocks are near 100-year lows relative to the equity market. He identifies a long-term cycle shift where foreign markets are beginning to outperform the US after 15 years of underperformance, a trend he expects to continue for years. This rotation out of large-cap US tech into international value creates opportunities in deeply undervalued markets like the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Regarding precious metals, Day believes gold and gold stocks currently offer the best risk/reward. Central bank and institutional buying remains price-agnostic and robust, driven by a strategic desire to diversify away from the dollar. While short-term interest rate narratives have held back some buyers, he argues that an eventual peace deal would allow rate cuts, which is very positive for gold. Valuations across royalty companies and mid-tier producers are historically attractive on free cash flow metrics. He advises clients with existing large allocations to hold firm, while those new to the sector should consider building substantial positions. Overall, Day sees gold as the best commodity to own now, even as other hard assets may eventually begin to outperform within the broader cycle. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:43 – Oil Supply Disruption Analysis 00:02:51 – Oil Price Projections Scenarios 00:11:05 – Oil Producers Valuations Review 00:15:47 – Fertilizer and Commodity Disruptions 00:21:45 – Gold and Silver Stocks Outlook 00:23:00 – Foreign Markets Outperformance Trends 00:30:30 – Gold Risk Versus Reward 00:39:00 – Gold Miners Valuations Discussed 00:47:40 – Silver Market Analysis Today 00:49:30 – Commodity Super Cycle Thesis 00:55:00 – Coal and Supply Security 00:57:30 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://adrianday.com/ Adrian Day is considered a pioneer in promoting the benefits of global investing in the United Kingdom. A native of London, after graduating with honors from the London School of Economics, Mr. Day spent many years as a financial investment writer, where he gained a large following for his expertise in searching out unusual investment opportunities around the world. He has also authored two books on the subject of global investing: International Investment Opportunities: How and Where to Invest Overseas Successfully and Investing Without Borders. His latest book, widely praised by readers, is Investing in Resources: How to Profit from the Outsized Potential and Avoid the Risks (Wiley, 2010). Mr. Day is a recognized authority in both global and resource investing. He is frequently interviewed by the press, domestically and abroad. He is a popular speaker and is frequently invited to lecture at financial conferences and seminars around the world. His pleasures include fine dining, reading (especially history), and the opera.

Doug McHoney (PwC's International Tax Services Global Leader) is joined by Will Morris, PwC's Global Tax Policy Leader, at PwC's Asia-Pacific Global Tax Symposium in Hong Kong. Will previously chaired the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) Tax Committee for 10 years. Doug and Will discuss the acute uncertainty surrounding Pillar Two filing readiness as initial 2024 calendar-year deadlines approach, including the OECD's May 18, 2026, common understanding document, GIR central filing, local filing portals, XML schema differences, penalty relief, safe harbor elections, QDMTT and top-up tax returns, taxpayer outreach to BIAC, the OECD, and national governments, the OECD implementation toolkit, 52/53-week fiscal-year UTPR guidance, and unresolved dispute resolution questions. 

Nick is joined today by award-winning Racing Post journalist Jonathan Harding to discuss the latest from around the racing world. Nick talks at some length in this show to Haydock Clerk Daniel Cooper about the ramifications of Saturday's hole-in-the-ground incident, which has caused this weekend's fixture to be moved, The discuss the immediate future for the track, the current findings, the work taking place, and the many issues that surround ensuring the safety of the surface. Also today, Prince AA Faisal tells us why Oxagon has been supplemented for the Prix du Jockey Club, owner-breeder Jennifer Dorey lives the Derby dream with Rebel Rocker, Tom Goff outlines plans for Friendly Soul and tonight's Kempton hopeful Water to Wine, and JA McGrath has the latest from Hong Kong.

Do you ever wonder who makes those chalkboard signs at Trader Joe's? Well, that's how Benjamin Soto got started—drawing Trader Joe's signs by day and designing band merch at night for Fearless Records.In 1998, Ben was recruited by Paul Frank to help kick off the massive millennial pop-culture brand Paul Frank Industries. Ben managed the brand creative for about 10 years, which meant involvement with character designs, the tee and fleece program, pajama prints, photoshoots, trade show booths, retail spaces, collaborations/licensed products. They even let him voice Julius the Monkey on the pilot show of Yo-Gabba-Gabba.In 2008, Disney Animation called and gave Ben the job of helping to create and Art Direct a cartoon based on Evel Knievel's daredevil culture. The Emmy nominated show Kick Buttowski had 52 episodes and aired between 2010-2012. Ben eventually left Disney to partner up with some other entrepreneurs to start the next creative adventure: C-Preme. They had captured "lightning in a bottle" with their 3-D youth bicycle helmet brand, Raskullz. Within three years, they had sold over 3 million helmets and countless other outdoor products. C-Preme sold to Bell Helmets (Easton Bell Sports) in 2014.Ben stayed on working for Bell Helmets until the next idea hit: a colorful cooler manufactured like a bicycle helmet. Target accepted a huge order; patents were in the works, and before the dust settled, they sold their company to Igloo Products Corp. in 2016. Ben is still at Igloo, managing creative for the cooler brand. You might've seen a little bit of Ben in the VW Playmate bus, retro coolers, eco coolers, licensed coolers, and the packaging and marketing of the brand. Igloo sold to Dometic in 2021 for a lot more money than anyone ever dreamed of.Michelle and Ben dive into Ben's amazing career, from Paul Frank to Igloo, and his extensive experience with graphic design. Ben shares stories from past trade shows (before the days of social media) and the wild ride that was Paul Frank in the early days. Michelle and Ben also discuss his transition to Disney, then Igloo, living in Hong Kong, and where Ben looks for inspiration.What's Inside:How Ben got started at Paul Frank and stories from the early days.Ben's experience working at Disney and Igloo.How Ben finds his inspiration.This week's episode is sponsored by @salesproducersinc, a progressive business to business company representing Gift, Lifestyle, Fashion, Personal Care, & Kids lines selling to retail stores with a mission to create long lasting, profitable relationships by adding significant value to our Customer, Vendor, and Team partners. For more information, check out their social media or website www.salesproducersinc.comMentioned In This Episode:Benjamin Soto portfolioPaul FrankKick ButtowskiRaskullzIglooSupport the show

S&P futures are up +0.2% and pointing to another higher open, following yesterday's record closes in the S&P and Nasdaq. Asian markets were mixed Wednesday. Tech gains led Korea, Japan, and Taiwan higher, while broader indices were weaker. Hong Kong and Mainland China were the notable underperformers, driven by continuing broker crackdowns. European stocks are higher following a weak session on Tuesday. Companies Mentioned: IREN, Warner Bros. Discovery, Lululemon

The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:   What Is Invoice Lifecycle Management? Maximizing ROI & Minimizing Risk (Jason Kurtz, CEO of Basware) Your Biggest Fraud Risk Is Right After Go-Live   We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.   Learn more about Basware here: https://hubs.ly/Q04g-2pz0  

Iaros Belkin caught up with Owen Healy at ETHCluj, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in what turned into one of the more honest conversations I've had at a crypto conference this cycle. Healy is the Founder and Director of Owen Healy Blockchain Talent, a boutique Irish recruitment firm that has placed lots of people from 25+ countries into blockchain projects since he entered the space in early 2021. He built the whole thing from a standing start during COVID, living in rural Ireland, unemployed, with nothing but a LinkedIn account and a genuine curiosity about the technology. That backstory matters. It means when Healy talks about the current market, he isn't protecting a fund position or managing a narrative. He's telling you what he actually sees from the candidate and employer side simultaneously. And right now, what he sees is sobering. On AI and job displacement The WEF Future of Jobs report projects 92 million roles displaced and 170 million created by 2030. Net positive on paper. Healy isn't buying the framing. "There are a lot of companies that historically would have been over-bloated and overstaffed, and they're conveniently using AI as an excuse to conduct layoffs," he told me. "AI is replacing jobs, but maybe not to the extent that the corporate world would like you to believe." He's equally clear that nobody is immune. "Everyone is using the benefits of AI and suffering the consequences of it at the same time." On developers Developers who were comfortable at €150K two or three years ago are now accepting €120K. Healy is direct about why: the market is an employer's market, full stop. Location matters more than it did. The US and Asia are moving; Europe is quiet. And developers are being pushed up the stack regardless. "People are being forced to effectively do more and leverage the best AI capabilities. Sometimes it's reasonable, sometimes it's not." On institutional money arriving This is the part of the conversation that surprised me most. Healy's read is that institutional entry is changing the candidate profile the industry actually wants. "We're entering an industry where hoodies are less in demand and suits are in more demand." For years, TradFi professionals were crypto-curious but couldn't stomach the risk of leaving stable, pensionable careers for a space where ten-year jobs are rare and use cases can be murky. That's changing. JP Morgan, BlackRock, and others are doing blockchain-related hiring now, and it's pulling a cohort of talent that was always interested but never had a comfortable entry point. London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore: that's where institutional-adjacent hiring is concentrated. On EthCC feeling like a funeral It was an offhand remark that landed harder than most prepared conference soundbites. "EthCC felt like a funeral in many respects," Healy said. His reasoning is rooted in what he sees from the inside: projects that look fine externally, companies still putting on a brave face while quietly running out of runway. He mentioned Code4rena winding down as one example, a business he described as legitimate and genuinely useful to the space. "Nobody's going to invest in you or use your services if you're anticipating you'll run out of business in six months." The one piece of advice he offered for a bear market Go to events. Build the relationships now that pay off when conditions improve. He did it in 2023. He's doing it again. Practical. Unglamorous. And coming from someone who built a 100-placement recruitment business from a rural Irish village during a pandemic, probably worth listening to. Iaros Belkin is a founder of Belkin Marketing, a boutique agency serving as Strategic Advisor to Deep Tech, Web3 and AI Founders. Two decades of experience navigating high-stakes global markets and orchestrating everything a good venture team needs: from grants and key partnerships to VVIP events elevated experience. See more breaking stories here. Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publ...

Our Chief Asia Economist Chetan Ahya looks at why spending not only on AI, but also on energy and defense, could drive Asia's strongest industrial cycle in decades.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Chetan Ahya, Morgan Stanley's Chief Asia Economist. Today – why Asia is headed toward its strongest industrial cycle since the mid-2000s. It's Tuesday, May 26th, at 2pm in Hong Kong. The market narrative in Asia has been narrowly – almost exclusively – focused on artificial intelligence. But AI is just one aspect of a much broader shift across the region. We think Asia is entering an industrial supercycle. And this is being driven by a sustained rise in capital expenditures across AI, energy, defense and [the] broader industrial sector. The numbers behind this are substantial. We forecast Asia's total investment could rise from about $11 trillion today to $16 trillion by 2030. So this implies a 7 percent annual growth rate over the next five years, which is triple the pace of the past two years, making it quite significant. And for the high growth sector such as AI, energy, defense and broader industrial sector we expect capex to grow at an even faster runrate of about 16 percent a year. Now let's talk about the drivers. No doubt, the first big driver behind this momentum is AI. Asia needs to invest more in AI infrastructure. At the same time, Asian chipmakers and memory producers are lifting capex to meet demand of U.S. hyperscalers for building data centres. The second driver is energy. Asia needs to invest in the energy sector for three reasons – for powering AI, energy transition and energy security. The power demand for AI compute is growing exponentially. On top of that, economies are having to shift towards renewables, and that needs more investment in grids, storage, and power generation equipment. Moreover, the recent geopolitical tensions have made energy security a bigger policy priority, especially for Asia which is dependent on imported energy. The third driver is defense. Now, even before the recent escalation in the Middle East, defense budgets across Asia were moving higher. This year, China has planned their defense spending to grow at a pace faster than its GDP growth. Meanwhile, India has raised budgetary allocations for defense capex by 18 percent this year. At the same time, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are aiming to lift their combined defense spending from about 1.7 percent of GDP to 3 percent. The fourth driver is broader industrial sector investment. Every economy in the region is working to secure their supply chains and focused more on onshoring of critical inputs for their domestic production. So what does this mean for Asia? The region stands to reap the benefits of a rise in capex [spending] twice over. First, the increase in Asia's capex will fuel its industrial cycle. Second, you have to consider [that] Asia is the world's production house. And as rest of the world is increasing capex investment in the areas I identified earlier, Asia benefits from feeding this global demand. Already, the evidence of a strong industrial cycle is visible. We prefer to look at capital goods imports as a proxy for capex. And that has been growing at an impressive rate of 27 percent on a year-over-year basis in dollar terms. Industrial production [growth] is nearing a four-year high. And non-tech exports, which are important from industrial production perspective, have staged a strong recovery since the fourth quarter of last year. So which Asian economies will benefit? As such, all of them. But China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are the biggest beneficiaries because they are meeting both domestic and export demands. On the other hand, India's industrial sector benefits primarily from its own domestic capex cycle. The pickup in Asia's industrial production is pushing industrial commodities prices higher, helping Australia and Indonesia, the two biggest commodity exporters in the region. This next chapter of Asia's growth story will filter through – from capex to jobs and income growth, and then through to the consumer. That's why this is not just an AI story. It will become a broader economic recovery across the region. Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share Thoughts on the Market with a friend or colleague today.

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Brian Coon, Chief Clinical Officer at Pavilion, for a thoughtful conversation about identity, purpose, and redefining success on your own terms. Brian shares what it was like growing up overseas in Hong Kong before moving to rural Illinois as a teenager, how his early love of marine biology unexpectedly led him into psychology and addiction treatment, and why he has remained in the field for nearly four decades despite the high burnout rate in the profession.Together, Joanna and Brian explore the pressure many young adults face to follow a predetermined path, the value of learning through mistakes, and the importance of finding trusted mentors and allies outside the family system. Brian's perspective as both a clinician and storyteller offers a grounded, deeply human conversation about curiosity, growth, and building a life that reflects your own values instead of someone else's expectations. Brian's Resources:Pavilion Treatment CenterPavilion AdmissionsPavilion on FacebookConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #PavilionRecovery #TraumaInformedCare #PavilionTreatmentCenter #AddictionCounseling 

In this episode of One Vision, Theodora Lau sits down with Hay Yip, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff at FundPark in Hong Kong, for a conversation that spans heritage, working capital, and what it really takes for SMEs to scale in an uncertain world.Hay shares his journey from a commercial banking career at HSBC — spanning both London and Hong Kong — to the electric pace of a fintech startup, and why he now goes to bed "with one eye open." Born in Hong Kong and grew up in the UK, his story comes full circle as he returns home to help the small businesses he's always been drawn to.At the heart of the conversation is the often-overlooked engine of commerce: working capital. Hay makes the case that cash flow is the "bloodline" of any growing business, and explains how FundPark uses data and analytics to serve e-commerce merchants who are not just underserved by traditional banks, but in many cases entirely unserved. Theo and Hay explore the founders' origin story, why entrepreneurs deserve more credit for their courage, and how global supply chain fragility shows up in the everyday lives of merchants and the customers who depend on them.Tune in for a candid look at the unglamorous but essential side of fintech, and FundPark's vision of "scale up as a service" — helping ordinary people behind real businesses thrive.

Impact investing may have originated in the West. Its future is being shaped in the East.  From Singapore to South Korea, Japan to Hong Kong, investors in a mosaic of Asia-Pacific markets are leaning into Asia's distinctive edge in the global impact investment ecosystem: patient capital, intergenerational stewardship and disciplined innovation.The driver: a rising, intergenerational “now generation” steering the region's innovative operating businesses and investment portfolios toward sustainability and social impact.“There's this undercurrent of energy and willingness to try and come together,” Katy Yung, who leads the Hong Hong-based Sustainable Finance Initiative, tells ImpactAlpha's Dennis Price on the latest Agents of Impact podcast. “The reality is it has to be an intergenerational effort.”

I grew up shy, introverted, and terrified of public speaking.A bookworm in Hong Kong. A wallflower who couldn't hold a room. A kid who went into investment banking because that's where smart people were supposed to go, not because it was right for me.So I walked away.Professional football. BBC radio. The Premier League. A microphone. A stage.And somewhere along the way, the worst public speaker in the room became one of the most sought-after communication coaches in the world.But here's what I'll tell you: it wasn't talent. It was never talent.It was one conversation with a stranger every single day, for years.What I discovered through football, banking, 15 years on stage, and six years coaching some of the most senior executives on the planet is this: communication is not a gift. It is a skill. And most leaders are operating at seven out of ten of their potential without even realizing it.The expertise is there. The knowledge is there. The years of experience are there.But if you can't make people feel something, none of it lands.I sat down with Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment Group and host of the HR L&D Podcast, for one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations I've had on communication, leadership, and influence.We go deep on public speaking, the art of listening, why preparation is the only thing that separates great communicators from average ones, and why in a world flooded with AI-generated content, the human touch has never been more valuable.Nick and I unpack the real reason most presentations fail, why following your passion is terrible career advice, what every great leader he's ever interviewed has in common, and the one question you should ask before you build your next deck.This is one of the most practical and honest conversations I've been part of on communication and leadership.I hope it changes the way you speak.Apply to work with me: https://www.michaelxcampion.com/Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelxcampion/This episode is from the HR L&D Podcast hosted by Nick Day.Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Learn more about JGA Recruitment Group: https://jgarecruitment.com/I'm a Hong Kong-born, UK-based professional speaker, executive coach, and corporate trainer with over 15 years of experience on the global stage. Before stepping into this world, I worked in investment banking and played professional football, representing the Hong Kong national team and competing in the Premier League.Today, I help senior leaders and high-performing teams unlock their communication potential. I'm also a Partner and Head of Corporate Training at Quinlan and Associates, working with organizations across Hong Kong, Singapore, London, and the Middle East.My one-line thesis is simple: talent is practice in disguise.(00:00) Why Communication Is the Skill Every Leader Is Missing(01:26) Human First, Not Resource First(02:23) From Banking to Professional Football, Michael's Story(07:56) Talent Is Practice in Disguise(09:35) Curiosity Beats Chasing Passion(15:58) The Communication Gap Most HR Leaders Don't Know They Have(21:07) Preparation Is the Only Thing That Earns Confidence(23:41) The Art of Listening on Stage(40:09) AI and the Rising Value of Human Connection(44:38) Design Emotion, Not Slides

Crypto investment products from firms including BlackRock, Fidelity Investments, and 21Shares recorded around $1.47 billion in outflows last week, marking the second straight week of withdrawals. This comes as the U.S. hit Iranian missile sites and boats near the Strait of Hormuz overnight, and Iran's Revolutionary Guard is threatening to retaliate, calling it a ceasefire violation. A deal is close but stuck on wording around Iran's nuclear stockpile and when $24 billion in frozen assets gets released. Israel is escalating separately. ~This Episode is Sponsored by OKX~ Trade RLUSD/XRP on OKX + claim the new user offer! Deposit and trade $200 to unlock $100 ➜ https://bit.ly/OKXRP Use code: paulbarron *Terms Apply* 00:00 Sponsor: OKX 01:00 Negotiations 01:50 Wednesday 02:10 Peace odds rising 03:00 S&P bubble 03:30 Oil price chart 04:30 UBS: Iran growing stronger the longer we don't have a deal 05:45 Quincy Institute: The biggest wild car 07:00 CLARITY odds 08:00 Mike Novogratz Bull case doesn't sound bullish 09:30 Senate still on vacation 10:20 Thom Thillis might demand Hegseth fired 11:30 Texas primary 12:15 SEC delay 12:30 ONDO CEO unexpected passing 13:00 Market potential 13:40 Robinhood finally acquires wonderful 14:00 Hong Kong moving faster 14:40 Bad year for bitcoin 15:00 MetaPlanet collapsing 15:30 Discounts on crap 16:10 M2 clearly not helping 17:00 Government (taxpayer) funding AI 17:50 Charts ~Iran Deal vs Crypto

The Bay closed. Frank and Oak shuttered. Insolvencies have been climbing for years and the narrative everyone's repeating is that retail is in trouble. David Lui has a different read. Retail isn't dying. The operating model is. And the brands going under aren't the ones customers stopped loving, they're the ones whose people, product, and place stopped working.As CEO of Kit & Ace and co-founder of Unity Brands, David is doing almost the exact opposite of what you'd expect. He's buying beloved Canadian brands that almost didn't make it, and he's opening stores.In this episode, Marc and V sit down with David, a former colleague from their Canadian Tire days, to unpack what changes when a marketer crosses over to the P&L seat. We get into why every store opening is a bigger marketing spend than any ad campaign, the P's most marketers consistently underrate, what David learned scaling Korite into China through live-streaming when North America wasn't ready for it, why he calls his stores billboards, and the metric he ignored as a CMO that he refuses to take his eyes off as a CEO.If you've ever defended a budget, sat through a quarterly review, or wondered why a brand you loved quietly disappeared, this one's for you.Timestamps00:00 Cold open and intro: the Canadian retail paradox03:34 David's origin: Hong Kong factories and a counselor who got it wrong10:25 Canadian Tire days and the move to Mark's15:11 Selling Korite in China: live-streaming before North America was ready19:51 Kit & Ace's origin story and the DNA Unity Brands kept22:32 Building the Unity Brands portfolio: Tilley, Mastermind, and operational synergy28:02 From marketer to operator: the P&L reframe30:23 Why every store opening is the single largest marketing spend33:08 The P's marketers underrate: people and place35:06 The metric David ignored as a CMO and refuses to lose as a CEO40:34 Premium positioning and why fast fashion is fading43:36 What the next Canadian challenger brand has to get right46:24 Where Canadian retail is headedAbout DavidDavid Lui, CEO, Kit & Ace; Co-founder, Unity BrandsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidymlui/Kit & Ace: kitandace.comTilley: tilley.comMastermind Toys: mastermindtoys.com

EPISODE #482-- We go back to Hong Kong with the classic horror/kung fu/folk tale mash-up A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987), directed by Ching Siu-tung. It's a banger. Great film. Good episode. Listen to it! We also chat about John Frankenheimer's GRAN PRIX (1966), Kurosawa's SCANDAL (1950) and THE IDIOT (1951), as well as Carol Reed's NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH (1940) and Howard Hughes' HELL'S ANGELS (1930). Lots of good stuff, folks. LINKS-- Join the cause at Patreon.com/Quality. Follow the us on on Bluesky at kislingconnection and cruzflores, on Instagram @kislingwhatsit, and on Tiktok @kislingkino. You can watch Cruz and show favorite Alexis Simpson on You Tube in THEY LIVE TOGETHER. Thanks to our artists Julius Tanag  and Sef Joosten. The theme music is "Eine Kleine Sheissemusik" by Drew Alexander. Also, I've got a newsletter on Substack, so maybe go check that one out, too. Listen to DRACULA: A RADIO PLAY on Apple Podcasts, at dracularadio.podbean.com, and at the Long Beach Playhouse at https://lbplayhouse.org/show/dracula And, as always, Support your local unions! UAW, SAG-AFTRA, and WGA strong and please leave us a review on iTunes or whatever podcatcher you listened to us on!

On this edition of The Catered Quiz, writer, actor and fight choreographer Ben Soto joins the show to answer questions about Star Trek and Hong Kong Action Cinema. We also talk about Blockbuster, Silent Night Deadly Night Part 2 and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Ben's books are available for purchase on his Amazon Author page. Follow Ben on Instagram.

These are 4 of the top headlines in military news. NOTE: All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  Today I cover these 4 headlines:  -Navy Reservist David Varela Captured In Hong Kong! -Justice For Sahela Sangrait/Pending Trial of Charles Chappelle -Manhunt for Craig Berry (Found) -Murder of Starmichael Tucker (Charles Carson-Dowdy Guilty Plea) ⸻

New Year's Eve in Sydney is more than the 12 o'clock show. It is an event that takes over an entire city. Fireworks are launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, there are barges positioned across the Harbour, there are rooftops around the city with pyrotechnics, as well as lighting projections on the boats on the harbour, Luna Park and the bridge pylons. It is a year in the planning and one family has been designing the fireworks for this spectacular night for the last 25 years. Foti Fireworks is an award winning pyrotechnics family business originating in 1793 in Italy. They still have family members operating today, not only in Italy, but in Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia, bringing joy and hope to people all over the world. Regina Botros spoke with Fortunato Foti and other artists who together paint the canvas of the Sydney skyline for millions the world over

My guest this week is the actor Oliver Platt. You know him from The Bear, Chicago Med, The Three Musketeers, Beethoven, The West Wing, Frost/Nixon — honestly, the list goes on forever. He's one of those rare actors who somehow exists in every lane at once: beloved by movie people, television people, theater people, and apparently menswear guys too. We talk about growing up as the son of a diplomat, moving from Hong Kong to Japan to Washington D.C., discovering acting as a survival mechanism, early days in New York with Stanley Tucci and Hank Azaria, body image, GLP-1s, Paul Smith, Japanese denim, heritage workwear, and why sometimes you need to “give yourself the fuzzies.” * Sponsored by Bezel - the trusted marketplace for buying and selling your next luxury watch Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they hear tips and tricks to manage drought, grass, flies and cows.  Plus updates on beef exports and imports, retail beef prices, market recaps and lots more wrapped into this all-new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Managing Cattle & Grass In A Drought It is that time of year that many producers are moving cattle to summer grazing.  But drought is plaguing many and it continues to worsen.  According to drought.gov, as of May 5th, 60.92% of the country is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, largely concentrated in the Southeast, High Plains, and West. There are strategies for managing drought, or I should say how we manage grass and forage uptake in the cowherd to get through drought.  Trevor Burian from Killdeer North Dakota joins us today.  Trevor has been a student of grazing, plant management, regenerative ag, and cattle efficiency and profitability his entire life. Cattle Industry News China & U.S. Beef Trade According to Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, the role of China in global beef markets has changed rapidly in the last two decades.  China, including Hong Kong, was not a player at all in global beef markets as little as 15 years ago but has risen rapidly to become the largest beef importer in the last decade. For many years, China was a large beef producing and consuming country but had almost no presence in global beef markets. Starting about 2013, rising beef consumption in China began to exceed domestic beef production, leading for the first time to significant beef imports. Although per capita beef consumption in China remains relatively low — roughly 13 pounds compared to 59 pounds in the U.S. — the large population means that small increases in beef consumption represent large amounts of beef in total. According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation President CEO Dan Halstrom, China's reentry into the market for U.S. beef exports will have a significant and rapid price feedback to the American industry from other markets.  He called it a “hidden benefit” from China's renewal of registrations for U.S. beef facilities as well as hoped-for resolution of suspensions of a significant number of plants. Most of the registrations were abruptly declared expired in March 2025 before being listed as renewed last week following a meeting in Beijing between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.  REFERENCES:  https://meatingplace.com/peel-the-importance-of-china-in-global-and-us-beef-markets/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260518017&utm_date=20260519-0300 https://meatingplace.com/usmef-chinese-importers-clamoring-for-us-beef/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260518017&utm_date=20260519-0300 https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/peel-the-importance-of-china-in-global-and-u-s-beef-markets Texas Joins DOJ Beef Packing Antitrust Probe An announcement came late last week that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into the beef industry over potential anticompetitive conduct among the nation's largest meatpackers. Paxton said the investigation would be conducted alongside a separate antitrust probe announced by the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump's administration. The investigation is focused on the highly concentrated beef packing sector, where four companies — JBS S.A., Tyson Fresh Meats, Cargill and National Beef Packing Co. — collectively control more than 85% of U.S. beef processing capacity, according to Paxton's office. The attorney general cited reports alleging the companies may have used their market power to suppress cattle prices paid to ranchers while increasing beef prices for consumers. REFERENCE:  https://meatingplace.com/texas-joins-doj-beef-packing-antitrust-probe/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260517014&utm_date=20260518-0300 New World Screwworm Surveillance Update The number of New World screwworm cases reported in Mexico continues to grow, prompting USDA officials to intensify surveillance and carefully manage the limited supply of sterile flies used to contain the pest's spread. USDA says sterile fly dispersal efforts are currently concentrated along the Gulf coast of northern Mexico, with additional drops occurring within roughly 50 miles of the Texas border. Officials say the agency is relying heavily on predictive modeling and real-time surveillance data to determine where those flies are deployed. USDA says those decisions are being made in coordination with the agency's Agricultural Research Service, using predictive analytics designed to anticipate where the pest could spread next, not simply where cases are currently confirmed. REFERENCE: https://www.rfdtv.com/usda-expands-new-world-screwworm-surveillance-as-cases-rise-in-mexico-and-sterile-fly-supply-stays-limited U.S. Beef Imports Projected To Top 6 Billion Pounds U.S. Beef Imports are projected to top 6 billion pounds for the first time in history — Up 166% Since 2010.  Last week's USDA WASDE report projected 2026 U.S. beef imports at 6.1 billion pounds, the highest level in history and the first time beef imports have ever exceeded 6 billion pounds.  The projection would mark an increase of 638 million pounds, or 11.7%, from 2025 levels and continue a trend that has seen beef imports increase every year since 2017. Since 2010, U.S. beef imports have climbed from 2.3 billion pounds to more than 6.1 billion pounds, an increase of roughly 3.8 billion pounds, or nearly 166%. The sharp rise in imports has coincided with declining U.S. cattle inventories and historically tight domestic beef supplies. Retail Beef Prices Rocket Higher Retail beef prices continued their sharp climb in April as all 12 major beef categories increased from March levels, with 9 of the 12 cuts establishing new all-time record highs. The Retail Beef Price Composite increased from $8.93/lb in March to a record $9.28/lb in April, rising $0.35/lb in just one month. Ground beef prices continued pushing higher across every category. Ground Chuck increased from $6.68 to a record $6.92/lb, while Ground Beef climbed from $6.70 to $6.90/lb. Lean & Extra Lean Ground Beef jumped $0.31 to a record $8.51/lb, and All Uncooked Ground Beef increased to a record $7.06/lb. Roast values posted some of the largest monthly increases. Chuck Roast, USDA Choice Boneless surged $0.66 to a record $9.50/lb, while Round Roast, Choice Boneless climbed $0.51 to a record $8.98/lb.  Only three categories failed to establish new all-time highs during April. Round Steak, USDA Choice increased from $9.61 to $9.83/lb but remained below its February 2026 record high of $10.09/lb. Beef for Stew, Boneless rose from $8.41 to $8.65/lb but stayed below its November 2025 record of $9.172/lb. All Uncooked Other Beef increased from $7.68 to $7.92/lb, still below its November 2025 record high of $8.20/lb.  Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry Trevor Burian - Burian Rangeland Services, LLC Follow On Facebook: @trevor.burian Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ EquineMarket.Com: https://www.equinemarket.com/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view LivestockMarket.Com: https://www.livestockmarket.com/ RanchChannel.Com: https://ranchchannel.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Sire Buyer: https://www.sirebuyer.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/  

On Episode #252 of World Awakenings: The Fast Track to Enlightenment, we welcome intuitive soul guide and spiritual wellness expert Tania Ho. Tania Ho helps people awaken to their true spiritual power through intuitive guidance, energy healing tools, mindfulness practices, and soul-alignment coaching designed to restore harmony between the heart, mind, body, and soul. Her work empowers individuals to gain clarity, confidence, emotional healing, and deeper spiritual awareness so they can live in alignment with their soul purpose and authentic self.Originally from Hong Kong and now residing in Chiang Rai, Thailand, Tania is the founder of Museflower Retreat & Spa, an all-inclusive vegetarian wellness retreat center offering transformational yoga retreats, meditation programs, spa therapies, soulful healing experiences, and holistic wellness practices in the peaceful mountains of northern Thailand. She is also the host of the podcast Embrace Your Sacred Nature, where she shares spiritual insights, energy tools, self-healing techniques, and inspiring real-life stories to help listeners reconnect with their sacred nature and inner wisdom.In this inspiring conversation, Tania discusses spiritual awakening, intuitive development, energy healing, conscious living, emotional balance, mindfulness, meditation, and how to reconnect with your authentic self in today's chaotic world.Make sure to watch World Awakenings on the brand-new TV network, New Reality TVTo find out all about Tania Ho just go to her website https://taniaho.me/For innformation on Tania Ho's Museflower Spa & Retreat in Thailand just click this link.If you would like to do an online session with Tania Ho click this link https://taniaho.me/free-gift/ to receive 10% offSHOW TIMELINE:0:00 – Introduction to Episode #2522:10 – Meeting intuitive soul guide Tania Ho5:45 – Tania's spiritual awakening journey11:20 – Leaving Hong Kong & creating a new life in Thailand16:05 – Understanding soul purpose & alignment22:30 – Intuition, inner wisdom & energy tools29:15 – Healing emotional imbalance & restoring harmony35:40 – Meditation, mindfulness & conscious living41:55 – Creating Museflower Retreat & Spa in Chiang Rai47:10 – Embracing your sacred nature52:20 – Advice for people seeking clarity & purpose56:45 – Final thoughts with Tania Ho59:00 – Closing remarks

The first of 7 director interviews Wilson conducted at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival. Mary Stephen is a legend in world cinema, having worked as an editor for Éric Rohmer and Ann Hui, and being a celebrated film director in her own right. Wilson chats with Mary about her latest film, the personal documentary PALIMPSEST: THE STORY OF A NAME — its twisty narrative structure, its relationship to memory and family, and her deep ties to the city of Hong Kong. They also dig into her remarkable career as an editor, from switching between film and digital, to her creative collaborations with Rohmer, Ann Hui, and Jessey Tsang, and what she carries from that work into her own filmmaking.Links:Trace your roots in our  FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:08 Mary presenting her film to Hong Kong audiences05:03 Palimpsest's twisty narrative07:04 How being an editor influenced her filmmaking 08:25 Narration and narrative in the film10:27 Unused archive footage 12:27 Mary's relationship with her family15:11 Mary's relationship with Hong Kong17:33 Editing: Switching from film to digital19:20 Working with Eric Rohmer30:13 Collaborations with Ann Hui and Jessey Tsang35:41 Working with collaborators as a director herself38:43 Closing

Michael McFaul analyzes how China's "Century of Humiliation" profoundly shapes Xi Jinping's drive for national strength and order. He observes that Xi is significantly more autocratic than his predecessors, utilizing modern surveillance technology to repress pluralism. McFaul explains how Xi is moving away from the market ideas that fueled China's growth, potentially stifling the economy through increased state control. Despite this repression, McFaulbelieves a demand for freedom persists in places like Hong Kong and Tibet. He argues that the West must recognize the systemic competition between democratic innovation and autocratic control. (4/8)1900 BRUSSELS

Stijn Schmitz welcomes back Simon Hunt to the show. Simon is a consultant on the global economy, China, and the copper industry. The discussion opens with the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and its profound implications for global energy supplies. Hunt explains that Saudi Arabia is attempting to broker a new regional architecture involving China, Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey, partly in response to Iran's demonstrated military capabilities. He assesses only a fifty percent chance of success, warning that even if a ceasefire is reached, reopening the strait to normal traffic could take months, and oil stockpiles in Asia, Europe, and America may be exhausted by mid-July. This supply crunch, he argues, makes a global recession nearly certain by year-end, deepening significantly in the following year. The conversation shifts to China's strategic positioning. Hunt notes that China anticipated American geopolitical moves and has diversified its energy sources through pipelines from Russia and Kazakhstan, alongside massive domestic coal and renewable capacity. This allows China to withstand the Hormuz closure indefinitely, unlike Western nations. The discussion then turns to the evolving global monetary order, where Hunt describes a BRICS-led effort to create a multipolar system anchored in physical gold. He details China's construction of Shanghai Gold Exchange vaults in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, enabling trade settlement in non-G7 currencies convertible to gold. While he sees gold prices reaching double-digit thousands in five years, he cautions that America is unlikely to revalue its gold reserves and warns of potential government confiscation during crises. On commodities, Hunt challenges the prevailing supercycle narrative, calling it premature. He predicts that a deep recession will cause physical demand to collapse, outweighing current supply constraints. He specifically highlights copper, noting that NVIDIA's shift to photonics could eliminate copper from data centers by 2028, undermining a key demand thesis. Strategic stockpiling of critical minerals by governments will eventually follow, but processing capacity remains a bottleneck controlled by China. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:00 – Middle East Conflict Origins 00:03:46 – New Gulf Security Architecture 00:06:05 – Oil Supply Disruption Impacts 00:08:06 – Straits of Hormuz Reopening 00:08:37 – China Trump Trade Dynamics 00:12:25 – Oil Prices Futures Disparity 00:14:14 – Fertilizer and Food Crisis 00:16:10 – BRICS Monetary System Shift 00:22:51 – Bond Yields and Instability 00:25:02 – Recession Outlook and Assets 00:30:40 – Commodity Supercycle Analysis 00:33:00 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: E-Mail: mailto:simon@shss.com Website: https://simon-hunt.com/ Report: https://www.theinstitutionalstrategist.com/products-and-services/frontline-china/ Simon Hunt began his career in 1956 in Central Africa as a PA to the Chairman of Rhodesian Selection Trust, one of the two large copper companies in what was then Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. In 1961, he came back to London and joined Anglo American Corporation of South Africa as a PA to one of the Board Directors, followed by being part of a small sales and marketing team for copper. From there, he helped start up a new copper development organization, CIDEC, financed by copper producers, which he then joined, focusing on conducting end-use studies of copper in Europe. He then went into the City to gain financial experience and founded Brook Hunt in 1975. He was instrumental in setting up the company’s cost studies and end-use analyses. Simon appeared as material witness and consultant in two ITC anti-dumping cases in 1978 and 1984, winning both at the commission level. He has spent 2-4 months every year in China since 1993, and until a few years ago would be visiting some 80 wire and cable and brass mill factories across the country every year. He now restricts these factory visits to a smaller number, all of which he has known for many years. Simon also spends many weeks each year traveling around Asia. The focus of the company’s services is on the global economy, including the changing geopolitical and financial structures, China’s economy and its copper sector, and then the global copper industry as each part is interconnected. Simon is the author of the “Frontline China Report Service,” which is marketed by the TIS Group. The Service provides regular reports on China’s economy, politics, and financial outlook. Simon established this company in January 1996.

Join us for a special AAPI Month program featuring prominent Bay Area Asian American elected officials. We'll hear from BART Board Director Janice Li, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, and San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee member Uma Rao Krishnan. What drives them in the ultra-competitive Bay Area political scene? What are their goals, and how do they go about achieving them? About the Speakers Janice Li was first elected to the BART Board of Directors in November 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. Li served as president of the Board in 2023, and as vice president in 2022. Janice was born in Hong Kong and moved to the U.S. at a young age. In 2013, Li moved to San Francisco and began working at the SF Bicycle Coalition. Li currently works at Chinese for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco-based organization that has led Asian American civil rights advocacy for over 50 years. She leads the Coalition for Community Safety and Justice, a local coalition that addresses hate and violence targeting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities through community-based programs. David Chiu is the city attorney of San Francisco, the first Asian American to lead one of the country's top municipal law offices. Previously, he represented the half million residents of eastern San Francisco as a State Assemblymember for seven years. For six years, Chiu served as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Before holding elected office, he served as law clerk to Judge James R. Browning of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, a civil rights attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, a criminal prosecutor at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, Democratic Counsel to the U.S. Senate Constitution Subcommittee, and general counsel to a public affairs technology company. A founding member of API Equality, he also served as president of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area.Uma Rao Krishnan is a Gen Z activist, organizer, and engineer bridging the worlds of technology and politics. She holds a B.A. in computer science with a minor in public policy from UC Berkeley and is currently pursuing her Master's in data science there, with a focus on the tech-civics intersection. Krishnan is the co-founder and president of the SMC AAPI Alliance, an organization dedicated to empowering San Mateo County's AAPI community in civic engagement and political action, most recently leading Prop 50 mobilization efforts and anti-Trump actions, including No Kings, where she has served as emcee. First elected as an ADEM delegate at just 21 years old and the highest vote-getter in county history, she has since been re-elected twice and also serves as a member of the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee and board member of the California Democratic AAPI Caucus.    See more  Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the dads tackle Wilson Yip's SPL: Kill Zone — part crime thriller, part tragedy, part full-contact martial-arts clinic. Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam carry a film that's interested in corruption and consequence as much as it is in breaking bones on camera.First though: Top Five Dons. Unsurprisingly, this goes everywhere. Corleone, TV Dons, gaming Dons, football Dons, and assorted nonsense all make appearances before the lads finally get to the main event.Top Five segment highlights:Classic mob-boss royalty and the unavoidable Godfather referencesDon characters from prestige TV and old-school comedyCurveballs from animation/gaming cultureA healthy amount of side-questing into football and pop-culture triviaOn the main feature:The setup: A terminally ill inspector and his squad target a triad boss after a witness case collapses.The tone: Bleak, cynical, and morally compromised from the jump — this is not a clean heroes-villains story.The action ramp: The dads note it takes its time, then cashes in hard late.The alley fight: Widely discussed as the technical standout (knife vs baton, terrifying pace, almost no wasted movement).The finale: Heavy, vicious, and emotionally costly — no easy triumph, no neat bow.What worked bestPhysical, high-commitment choreography that still holds upSammo Hung as a genuinely intimidating antagonistA darker dramatic spine than many equivalent action filmsReservations discussedPacing in the first stretch can feel deliberate-to-slow depending on moodSome narrative beats are more functional than elegantFinal verdict:Strong recommend. If you're into grimy Hong Kong crime/action hybrids with serious impact, SPL absolutely earns a watch.You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

Senior Editor Michael Feinberg sits down with Daniel Bell, a professor at the University of Hong Kong, who recently wrote, “Why Ancient Chinese Political Thought Matters: Four Dialogues on China's Past, Present, and Future.” They discuss the ongoing influence of ancient Chinese political theory on the contemporary policies of the PRC and its domestic debates.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shot on a shoestring in six wild weeks, CHUNGKING EXPRESS is the movie that put legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai on the international map—along with his star, pop diva Faye Wong...and her Cantonese cover of The Cranberries's hit "Dreams."In this classic episode form our archives, host Rico Gagliano learns how the song, the director, and the singer all came together to capture Hong Kong at a moment of anxiety and hope—and how the tune still unites people in karaoke bars across Asia.Featuring Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan, Hong Kong-born indiepop star Emma-Lee Moss (aka Emmy The Great), "Chungking" score co-composer Roel A. Garcia, and NPR critic-at large John Powers—the author, with Wong Kar Wai, of "WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai."CHUNGKING EXPRESS is now streaming on MUBI in Italy, the Netherlands, Latin America, and many other countries.Wong Kar Wai's full new series BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI is exclusively streaming on MUBI in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Latin America, and many other countries. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI's curators.

“Wisdom is a little bit more than just knowledge or experience; it’s a felt sense of truth and what reality is, and it’s a very tricky thing, because no one really has the final say on some of these things.” – Tyson Fok  When philosopher, designer, innovative creator, and Hoffman Process grad, Tyson Fok, tells his story, he weaves together his life experiences with his joyful pursuit of wisdom, an open sense of wonder, and a deeper quest for understanding. In doing so, he reveals a thoughtful retelling of a dynamic life path. There are many powerful threads to this conversation with Tyson and Sadie. What stands out is Tyson’s way of navigating the world and relationships with his fellow human beings. Since he was young, Tyson has explored his curiosity and sense of wonder. The question of ‘Why?’ has been at the heart of this exploration. He came to the Hoffman Process in 2019, having completed a ten-day silent retreat prior. Tyson touches on multiple outcomes from his Process. One is a deeper relationship with his wife. Another is the desire to leave awareness hell and venture into an active exploration of turning his ideas into reality. And a third is a profound understanding of his parents’ stories, separate and together, which helped him express his appreciation and love for them. Tyson shares, “My mother is an immigrant from Macau. My father’s family is from Hong Kong. And it’s such a different reality than what I grew up with. And to understand their story, where they came from, has given me just a whole different level of appreciation of my life. That was a huge shift for me that came out of Hoffman.” After the Process, and during COVID, Tyson decided to start a podcast. Eventually, his podcast morphed into what it is now, Mixtape Memories. The podcast has blossomed into a physical card game and an app. We hope you enjoy this wise and wonderful exploration of the question of ‘Why?’ with Tyson and Sadie. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify More about Tyson Fok: Tyson Fok is an interior designer, podcast host, and creative producer working at the intersection of space, story, and human connection. His design practice centers on creating environments that are not only visually compelling, but deeply aligned with the lives people want to live—spaces that function as both backdrop and catalyst for meaningful experience. He is the creator of Mixtape Memories, an ongoing storytelling project that explores identity through the music that shapes us. Through its podcast, Songversation card game, and companion app, the project invites people to reflect on their lives through song—transforming personal memory into a shared language of connection. Across his work, Tyson is driven by a core question: how do we design for a more intentional, connected life? This inquiry extends beyond interiors into the gatherings and communities he builds. As a community and event organizer, he creates spaces—both physical and social—where people can engage more honestly with themselves and each other, often blending elements of storytelling, design, and facilitated conversation. His approach is interdisciplinary but precise: remove noise, surface what matters, and design environments—whether a room, a conversation, or an experience—that make those priorities tangible and actionable. Follow Tyson on Instagram. As mentioned in this episode: The Mormon Church The Boy Scouts, now called Scouting America Japanese Buddhist Temple in Sebastopol, California 10-Day Meditation Retreat: This is usually a reference to a Vipassana Meditation retreat taught by S.N. Goenka. Awareness Hell: At the Hoffman Process, when we’re in awareness hell, we know we are aware of our patterns and the things we do we wish we didn't do, but we are still unable to change. We understand, but feel stuck in this place of hell, even though our awareness keeps expanding.  To get out of awareness hell, our work to grow and transform must include three additional steps for change to take place. These three steps are Expression, Compassion, and New Ways of Being. All four make up the Cycle of Transformation. Mixtape Memories: Mixtape Memories is an ongoing storytelling project that explores identity through the music that shapes us. This is Water, David Foster Wallace’s Commencement Speech A Songversation Game Mixtape Memories App 1980’s Culture Mixtape MTV Macau Hong Kong Peace Piece, by Bill Evans •   Listen to Peace Piece  

Nick is joined by Jane Mangan to look at today's racing news from around the world. On toady's show, trainer Ed Walker explains why Sunday is such an important staging post in the career of his stable star Almaqam, whose racecourse returns - feels the trainer - have not matched his ability. Also today, Richard Hughes on talking on "monster" True Love with America Queen. Plus, Anthony Bromley explains to Eva O'Neill why the feted and pioneering Million in Mind syndicate is drawing to a close this week in Doncaster.JA McGrath has the latest from Hong Kong, US owner Jim Hilton explains why the Tatts Ireland breeze-up is such a rich source of success, while the Jockey Club's Anna Metekohy talks about last weekend's Equine Wellbeing Seminar, Behind the Bridle.

Victoria Lai has lived several careers in one lifetime: presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, entrepreneur, and now business advisor and nonprofit COO. But her biggest pivot came when she nurtured her passion for making ice cream on nights and weekends while working a serious government job. In this extra sweet episode, Victoria walks us through how a $25 Craigslist ice cream maker and a promise to herself led to Ice Cream Jubilee, the award-winning DC-area business celebrated by Food & Wine, the Washington Post, and Thrillist, and what it felt like to eventually sell the business she'd spent nearly a decade building. She also opens up about her family's Chinese immigrant history and how it shaped both her flavors and her sense of purpose, and why she considers her latest pivot back to mission-driven work the most fitting chapter yet. Chapters: 00:00.160 Welcome to She Pivots 00:28.360 Guest Introduction: Victoria Lai 01:58.160 Childhood Memories and Family Influences 06:57.320 The Path to Law School and Government Work 10:58.576 Finding Inspiration in New York City 13:02.754 The Birth of Ice Cream Jubilee 26:36.392 Taking the Leap: From Government to Ice Cream 32:46.677 "Ice cream-preneurship" 36:07.043 Achieving Success and Letting Go 39:02.320 A New Chapter: Coaching and Personal Growth 44:18.680 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude 44:40.626 Podcast Credits You can keep up with Ice Cream Jubilee at their website, www.icecreamjubilee.com Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast.Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump returns from China a broken man, with his tail between his legs, having accomplished nothing — no trade deal despite bringing dozens of American businesses with him — no deal to stop China's funding through Hong Kong of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, no deal on Taiwan, or on China support for Russia against Ukraine— NADA. Popok reports on how China literally manhandling Trump enablers and roughing them up demonstrates how little China fears Trump, and how they use Hong Kong brokers and traders to get oil revenue, arms and cash to the Iranian Regime, while laughing at Trump. Pocket Hose: Text LEGAL to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. Message and data rates may apply. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: New intelligence assessments suggest Iran may still retain significant missile capabilities despite weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes, as the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz continues disrupting global shipping and energy markets. Bill Roggio from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies joins us to break down the latest developments and what they could mean moving forward. We take a closer look at President Trump's summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping following a high-stakes visit to Beijing this week. Steve Lance of NTD News joins us to discuss what came out of the meetings and what the talks could mean for the future of U.S.-China relations. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Support Jimmy Lai: Free Jimmy Lai: Stand with the 78-year-old entrepreneur facing a life sentence for defending democracy in Hong Kong—visit https://supportjimmylai.com to take action now. Fox One: Sign up at https://fox.com to watch The PDB show and more on-demand with FOX One. Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://Mengotomars.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newt talks with Weifeng Zhong, of the America First Policy Institute, about President Trump’s visit to Beijing and his meetings with Xi Jinping. They describe Chinese diplomatic style as highly choreographed, such as the airport reception and elaborate youth choirs that are used to project confidence and set the stage for pressing core issues like Taiwan. Zhong argues that China’s slowing, export-dependent economy and severe demographic pressures from the one-child policy make closer economic ties with the U.S. necessary. Trump’s large delegation of top U.S. business leaders, especially from technology, semiconductor, and AI sectors, is seen as both a bid for market access and a reflection of where U.S.– China tensions are most acute. Their discussion turns to Chinese dishonesty in areas such as arms transfers to Iran, support for Russia in the Ukraine war, fentanyl exports, COVID transparency, and propaganda in state-controlled media, emphasizing the need to read beyond official narratives. On Taiwan, Zhong argues that Xi’s lack of major achievements and the loss of Hong Kong as a credible model make “reunification” with Taiwan central to the Chinese Communist Party’s search for legitimacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.