Explore every episode of the podcast Commercial Awareness with Watson’s Daily business and financial news

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about the weaponisation of communication - specifically the events surrounding Starlink and Starshield this week. This includes the US ambassador's threats towards Europe regarding the allocation of spectrum and the slowdown of internet speeds in Ukraine.

In this episode, I am joined by special guest Tom Sharpe OBE to talk about how AI is affecting the defence industry and changing war. We go on to talk about his time on The Wargame, which is a SkyOne series.In The Wargame, real politicians and real military experts (which is where Tom comes in!) are presented with highly realistic and very scary scenarios and have to react to them in real time.Given what's going on in the world right now, it makes for compelling watching and is very thought provoking. One thought I was left with was how little training top politicians seem to have versus their military advisers - but it's the politicians who are the ones who have to make the ultimate decisions!This episode is part of a small series on how AI is affecting different industries. I hope you enjoy it!

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about what the UAE quitting OPEC means for OPEC and the Middle East...

Ralph and I talk about three potential scenarios for what we're seeing at the moment...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about Bank of America's massive mistake this week...

In this episode, Ralph and I discuss what's next for Trump's tariffs after the Supreme Court decision late on Friday night...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about the AI bubble that's freaking out investors at the moment and why the sell-off of ALL AI names isn't a good idea...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about what could be behind the collapse in the gold price (and it's perhaps not what you think), the effect of AI on jobs and education and then the implications of SpaceX's acquisition of xAI.

In this episode, Emma Dulinkova and I talk about Amazon's decision to cut 14,000 jobs and whether companies are just using AI as an excuse to sack people they were going to cut anyway...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about the potential for superapps and whether driverless taxis will work in London (and what that might mean).

The chat about superapps was prompted by a story this week about OpenAI's chief pursuing this with increasing functionality of ChatGPT and Elon Musk's previously-stated desire to make a superapp along the lines of WeChat in China.

The chat about driverless taxis was prompted by Waymo coming to London. It'll be in competition with Wayve/Uber and, of course, black cabs among others...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about bubbles in gold, bitcoin and AI as well as the sad decline of the London stock market as a global financial force...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about Trump's new pharma-portal (is it actually as good as it sounds?) as well as the moral and practical implications of AI in grief tech...

This episode was recorded on Sunday 5th October 2025

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about the latest goings-on with US trade tariffs and whether insulting your boss is a sackable offence...

This episode was recorded on Friday 5th September 2025

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about Trump tightening his grip on the Fed and how stellar valuations are being justified for OpenAI...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about Trump's latest assault on the Fed chief and why VPNs are suddenly so popular!

In this episode, Duncan and I look at the ONS's ongoing failure and Xiaomi's amazing new car launch...

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about Pernod Ricard's woes and Musk's desire for X to become a super-app...

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about what Starbucks should do about its declining business in China and whether AI really does make you stupid (an MIT study says it does!)...

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about the latest crypto-related IPO and what's going on with WhatsApp and its decision to show ads...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about whether it's a good idea for businesses to prepare for WW3 in 2027 and what the future of electricity looks like...just your usual light-hearted chat on a Friday afternoon 😁

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about the dramatic developments for Trump's tariffs this week and why they actually matter...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about Trump's centrepiece bill that passed by just one vote. We also talk about UBS using virtual analysts and what that means not just for the equity research profession - but for other professions as well!

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about why Chinese EV tech is winning over customers and whether virtual analysts at UBS are a sign of the future in both finance and other professions...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about whether Trump's "winning" the trade war and how AI could be monetised using Spotify's model...

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about how the new US-UK trade deal will affect farmers and how I think Spotify could potentially use its model to monetise AI...

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about the US-China tariffs and the rise of vintage!

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about why Trump is doing what he's doing re tariffs and trade agreements as well as whether "traditional" search is dead...

In this episode, Carla and I talk about what things to consider when you are buying a property. This is another example of where "commercial awareness" crosses over with personal finances! I hope that this helps you. The first part of this is in Episode 930.

In this episode, Merz survives a very dramatic day while American hotel chains and airlines fret about the outlook...

In this episode, Duncan and I chat about Warren Buffett's retirement and the shock of Trump's film tariffs...

In this episode, I chat with Carla Hoppe, founder of Wealthbrite, about how commercial awareness and your personal finances intersect. We look at how inflation, growth and market movements directly affect what goes into YOUR pocket!

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about leadership succession at Tesla and the consequences of AI in investment banking...

In this episode, Duncan and I talk about the new Ikea store in Oxford Street and the tariff impact on Amazon's actions...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about the amazing development announced by CATL - an EV battery that gives you 520km of juice in a charging time of just 5 minutes - and what the future holds for an embattled Tesla

In this episode, Harshinii and I talk about the slowdown in advertising spend and the potential new OpenAI social media platform...

In this episode, Harshinii and I talk about how Hermes has managed to overtake LVMH and whether you really should "cut out the middleman" and buy your Nike trainers direct from the Chinese factories that make them...

In this episode, Harshinii and I talk about weakening UK business confidence and Neil Woodford's intriguing new venture...

In this episode, Ralph and I talk about why Trump changed his mind on tariffs and we discuss whether an alternative universe being built...

Trump caused a massive worldwide kerfuffle with his sweeping tariff announcements this week. Ralph and I chat about what happened and what the consequences might be...

This week Ralph and I discuss Trump taking on the law and whether the IPO pipeline is living up to the hype...

Did you see today's shocking news about Trump's new stablecoin?? I asked Charlie Morris, crypto and gold expert and CIO of Byte Tree, his thoughts on the president's latest foray into crypto...

In this episode, Ralph and I consider whether the US is becoming uninvestable and whether Tesla is sliding down a very slippery slope...

In this episode, Gabriele and I talk about Trump's cuts in education and the prospects for Musk's companies...

In this episode, Szonja and I talk about Novo Nordisk's disappointing news and how behaviour towards American tourists may change in light of the Trump/Musk onslaught...

In this edition, Ralph and I talk about the reawakening of Europe and why it's SO important to follow what's going on in the world right now!

In this episode, Szonja and I talk about how Europe, Germany and the UK might be able to finance increased defence spending - the new reality!

Last Friday's debacle in the White House showcased Trump in full "negotiation" mode with Zelenskyy. I asked Giles Morgan, founder of Kahvay and negotiation expert, what is actually driving Trump's behaviour. This was a fascinating chat and Giles clarified a lot of things!

Follow Kahvay on https://kahvay.com/

Sign up to the free negotiation blog on https://blog.kahvay.com/

If you want to learn more about how to negotiate go to https://courses.kahvay.com/courses/level-1-negotiation-in-professional-services-and-recruitment

(I'm not earning anything from this - I just thought you'd find this useful!)

Ralph and I recorded this pretty much at the same time as Trump humiliated Zelenskyy in front of a world audience (we didn't know this was going on at the time! We only found out afterwards). What we said here turned out to be VERY true 😱...

In this episode, Gabby and I talk about farmers' woes and why Tesla's on a losing streak...

In this episode, Chris and I talk about what's happening with commercial property and whether there's going to be consolidation on the horizon!