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Has the World Cup broken dynamic pricing? Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

This week, Michelle, Rahul and Will explore the world of dynamic pricing, where prices go up when demand is high and come down when demand drops. It’s already standard in travel and hospitality. Now, it’s expanding into live events, and this year, it reached the World Cup. Supporters say it’s simple economics, charging what people are willing to pay. Critics argue it risks pricing ordinary fans out of the experiences they love. So how does dynamic pricing really work? Why has it become one of the most controversial trends in live entertainment? And as organisers push to maximise revenue, are we seeing the future of events, or the point where fans push back?

Hosts: Will Bain, Michelle Fleury and Rahul Tandon Producer: Rebecca Smyllie

(Picture: The 2026 FIFA World Cup logo is placed over the original logo of the Hard Rock stadium in Miami, Florida, USA. Credit: CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock)

The blurring of K-beauty Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Renowned for its multi-step skincare routine and its foundation in the ever trendy Korean culture, K-beauty has become a multi-billion dollar industry across the globe.

The term covers a wide range of skincare, make-up and cosmetics from South Korea and is lauded for its quality and value.

But as demand grows, tens of thousands of companies are claiming to be K-beauty, and not all of them are based in South Korea. This has raised questions about its identity and authenticity.

In the midst of its identity crisis, counterfeiters are now getting involved.

So, what puts the K in K-beauty?

We hear from manufacturers, retailers and industry bodies who might have an idea.

Presented and produced by David Cann Sound mix: Ben Houghton

[This episode was first broadcast on 28 October 2025]

(Picture: A young Asian woman applying a moisturising cream in front of a mirror. Credit: Getty Images)

Why is Spain's youth unemployment still so high? Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Many graduates are reluctant to work in the country’s large tourism and service sectors, looking instead for roles that match their university skills. That can make finding a first job after graduating a real challenge.

Presenter/producer: Ashish Sharma

If you’d like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

(Picture: Spanish Secretary of State for Labour Joaquin Perez Rey speaking about how unemployment in April 2026 fell below 2.4 million people for the first time since June 2008. Credit: JAVIER LIZON/EPA/Shutterstock)

Are content creators invading public spaces? May 31, 2026

Show notes

From cafes and gyms to supermarkets and restaurants, content creators are moving into everyday spaces, searching for attractive backdrops for their photos and videos. But as the influencer economy grows, their presence is dividing companies, customers and creators. Megan Lawton speaks to business owners, influencers and digital culture experts about what the rules should be.

Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet

(Photo: Tony Marks, owner of the Starfish and Coffee cafe in Brighton in the UK; Credit: Megan Lawton)

The woman trying to fix Nigeria's medicine gap May 28, 2026

Show notes

Nigeria pharmacist Abimbola Adebakin tells us how a failed start-up and the struggle to access essential medicines inspired her to build Advantage Health Africa, a company connecting pharmacies and helping deliver medicines across Nigeria.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer Amber Mehmood

(Photo: Abimbola Adebakin. Credit: Studio 24)

Prediction markets: are they fuelling insider trading? May 27, 2026

Show notes

This week, Michelle, Rahul and Will explore prediction markets — online platforms where people can bet on future events, from elections to pop culture and even world conflicts.

Concerns about insider trading are on the rise and platforms are being banned in an increasing number of countries. So as talk of regulation increases, we try to predict the future of the prediction market.

Presenters: Michelle Fleury, Rahul Tandon and Will Bain

Producer: Rebecca Smyllie

(Photo: Getty/Yuichiro Chino)

The Iran war oil shock: Is there worse to come? May 26, 2026

Show notes

When the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz's closure disrupted global oil supply, some experts predicted crude oil prices as high as $150, or even $200 per barrel. That hasn't happened. Why not? And is it because the way the global oil markets work mean the pain for households and businesses is still to come?

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Josh Martin

(Photo: Getty/matejmo)

Biohacking: Where fad meets finance? May 25, 2026

Show notes

Biohackers say they are making their bodies and brains run better by hacking their biology. And it is not just kitchen counter experimentation anymore. There is now an entire industry promising to optimise you with supplements, treatments and increasingly strange gadgets. Are these expensive, unproven “hacks” worth the investment?

To get in touch with the team, send an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez

(Photo: North America Business correspondent Michelle Fleury and Midtown Biohack owner Chuck Morris, standing over a client trying out a red light therapy headset)

Can the global economy go plastic free? May 24, 2026

Show notes

It is an invaluable material that has enabled global trade and modern medicine, but experts say our reliance on plastic has created a problem the planet is struggling to manage. With plastic waste threatening landscapes and our health, we meet innovators from the UK, Ecuador and India who are trying to get the global economy off its reliance on plastic.

Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton

You can email us on businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

(Picture: A view of the sewage line covered with plastic waste and other litter in Mumbai, India, 22 April 2026. Credit: Photo by DIVYAKANT SOLANKI/EPA/Shutterstock)

The ex-ballerina betting big on prediction markets May 21, 2026

Show notes

On Meet the Founders, we meet Luana Lopes Lara, creator of Kalshi, a prediction markets startup that allows users to trade on the outcome of real-world events - from inflation and interest rates to elections and geopolitics.

Kalshi drew attention for showing Zohran Mamdani as a favourite in the NYC mayoral race, as prediction markets gain traction as political barometers. But the wider industry has also faced scrutiny: a trader on rival platform Polymarket reportedly made nearly half a million dollars betting on the capture of Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro before it was announced.

The controversy around prediction markets has placed Lopes Lara and her company at the centre of a growing regulatory and ethical debate in the US. In this episode, the Brazilian founder explains how the discipline and resilience of ballet has shaped her approach to building a business, and why she believes markets can often forecast the future better than experts.

(First broadcast/podcast on 06 February 2026)

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Amber Mehmood Sound mix: Toby James

(Picture: Luana Lara Lopes, founder and Chief Operating Officer of Kalshi.)

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