Podcast
The Bottom Line
Hosted by BBC Radio 4 · EN
Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show with people at the top giving insight into what matters
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Twenty Years in Business
2d ago00:44:25Tap to summarizeThe Bottom Line has been on BBC Radio 4 for twenty years. The programme was first broadcast in 2006. Back then smartphones weren't on sale, Facebook had only just gone public and people still went to Blockbuster to rent videos and DVDs. Tony Blair was prime minister, a litre of fuel cost 90p and interest rates stood at 4.5 per cent. Since then there's been a financial crash, we've had energy price shocks, Brexit and a pandemic. Evan Davis is joined by a panel of guests, who first appeared in the early years of the show, to reflect on how the business landscape has changed over that period of time. Guests: Nicola Horlick: CEO of Money & Co Robin Wight: Advertising Guru Kim Winser: Luxury Brand Consultant Alex Cheatle: CEO and founder of Ten Lifestyle Group PlcPresenter: Evan Davis Producer: Sally Abrahams & Nick Holland Sound: Dave O'Neil Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison Editor Sam Bonham
Transcribe →Imposter Syndrome
1w ago00:33:16Tap to summarizeSuccess doesn't always bring confidence. In fact, some of the most accomplished people privately worry they're not as capable as everyone believes. They live with a nagging fear that one day, they'll be exposed as a fraud. It’s often called imposter syndrome, and can affect anyone, at any stage of their career.Evan Davis and guests explore what imposter syndrome really is, why it happens and how it can hold people back. And they'll share practical tips and strategies for quietening that inner critic and building confidence. Guests: Andy Ransom, former CEO, Rentokil and now chair designate, Teenage Cancer Trust Katy Leeson, former MD, Social Chain and founder of Courageous Dr Valerie Young, co-founder, the Imposter Syndrome Institute Production team: Presenter: Evan Davis Producers: Sally Abrahams and Nick Holland Production co-ordinator: Liam Morrey Sound engineer: Dave O’Neill Editor: Justine Lang
Transcribe →The Costs and Benefits of Business Regulation
2w ago00:34:21Tap to summarizeFew disagree we need business regulations to protect the rights of workers and consumers, ensure markets operate fairly and set standards for a whole host of industries. However, one thing some business owners get frustrated about is the amount of regulation they have to comply with. It's not just that we over-regulate, they also complain that we're slow to regulate too, causing unnecessary and expensive delays. Evan Davis explores the nature of the regulatory landscape in the UK and assesses whether we fairly weigh up the costs and benefits. Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Sally Abrahams & Nick Holland Sounds: Neil Churchill and Rod Farquhar Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison Editor: Sam BonhamGuests: John Fingleton: CEO of Fingleton Consultancy Polly Dhaliwal: COO of Enterprise Nation David Buttress: Co-Founder of Just Eat
Transcribe →Digital Nomads
3w ago00:33:43Tap to summarizeA laptop, reliable wifi and a visa, the formula that has allowed millions to work from almost anywhere in the world. It’s a lifestyle that promises freedom and flexibility: one month in Lisbon, the next in Bali. But after years of countries competing to attract digital nomads, with special visas and tax breaks, some destinations are rethinking the welcome mat. As governments tighten requirements and scrutinise remote workers more closely, Evan Davis and guests examine the economics of life on the move and consider whether the lifestyle really delivers on its promise. Guests: Christa Romano, founder of Digital Nomad Life Academy; Diego Bejarano Gerke, CEO and founder of Wifi Tribe; Emily Bratt, journalist and brand communications consultant; and Dave Cook, anthropologist at University College London.Production team: Presenter: Evan Davis Producers: Nick Holland and Sally Abrahams Sound engineers: Dave O’Neill and James Beard Editor: Sam Bonham
Transcribe →When brands collaborate
Jun 1800:33:59Tap to summarizeWhether it’s McDonald’s and Cadbury or H&M and Karl Lagerfeld, brand collaborations are booming. From food to fashion, homeware to movies, why are partnerships having such a moment and what makes some 'collabs' succeed while others fail? Evan Davis and his guests explore the deals, the strategies and the creative thinking that turn collaborations into commercial successes. They also consider the consequences of what happens when things don't go to plan? Guests: Karen O’Rourke, Managing Director, H&M, UK and Ireland Gill Williams, head of partnerships, tpf Rita Clifton, branding expert, former London CEO, Interbrand Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Nick Holland and Sally Abrahams Sound engineers: James Breard and Andy Garratt Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Editor: Sam Bonham
Transcribe →How the oil industry works
Jun 1100:37:53Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to drill oil out of the ground and then refine it into petrol, jet fuel or other petrochemical products? The world currently uses about a hundred million barrels of oil a day. However, the daily flow has been affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A fifth of the global supply normally passes through the waterway in tanker ships, but it's been blocked since the end of February 2026. How has the industry adapted?Guests: Nick Bone, Fuels Industry UK Luke Johnson, Director of OPC Edward Hayden-Briffet from Onyx CapitalPresenter: Evan Davis Producers: Sally Abrahams & Nick Holland Sound: Dave O'Neill & James Piper Production Coordinator: Katie Morrisson Editor: Sam Bonham
Transcribe →Trainer Wars
Jun 400:36:46Tap to summarizeThe 2026 London Marathon saw new world record times set in both the men's and women's events. Eyes weren't just on the winning athletes but also on the Adidas trainers they were wearing. So what goes into designing and making a pair of trainers and why have some of them become so expensive to buy? Global sales for trainers are in the tens of billions of dollars with hundreds of new styles being produced every year. How does the industry keep up with demand and stay on trend? Giant companies like Nike and Adidas, who dominated the industry for decades, can no longer take anything for granted. Newer brands like On and Hoka have managed to break through and are shaking things up. How have they managed to do it? Evan Davis gets some insights and answers from people who work in the industry.Guests: Tony Evans: Managing Director of Jacobson Group Tom Astrella: Co-founder The Footsoldiers Wayne Edy: Founder and CEO of Inov8Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Sally Abrahams & Nick Holland Sounds: Dave O'Neill and Frank McWeeny Editor: Sam Bonham
Transcribe →Entrepreneurs: Your Questions Answered
Mar 500:36:34Tap to summarizeEvan is joined by a panel of top entrepreneurs to answer your listener questions. How do you make your business stand out in a crowded market? Where can you find the information you need to start your own business? Why don't we hear about the failures along the way to success? And how do you know which risks are worth taking? Evan and his guests answer listeners' questions and discuss the ins and outs of starting your own business, as well as the unique challenges of being an entrepreneur. Guests: Trinny Woodall, CEO and founder of Trinny London Sarah Willingham, CEO and founder of Nightcap Brent Hoberman, serial entrepreneur and investorProduction team: Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Mhairi MacKenzie Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound engineers: Jack Graysmark and Dave O'Neill Editor: Matt Willis The Bottom Line is produced in partnership with The Open University
Transcribe →Product Innovation: Better, Or Just New?
Feb 2600:32:12Tap to summarizeFrom smartphones to trainers, confectionary and cleaning products, we live in a culture of constant updates. Companies reformulate, redesign and refresh their products in a continuous race to stay ahead. But how are those decisions made? What counts as meaningful improvement and how much is designed to make last year’s version feel old? Evan Davis and guests discuss how products evolve and why standing still is the fastest way to fall behind.Guests: Tom Moody, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, P&G (Proctor & Gamble) Northern Europe Dr Garry Moppett, Senior Director of Research & Development at Mars Dave Ward, UK and International Managing Director, Amazon Ring. Production team: Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Sally Abrahams Sound engineers: Lee Wilson and Donald MacDonald Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Editor: Matt Willis The Bottom Line is produced in partnership with The Open University
Transcribe →How Do You Deal with a Workplace Bully?
Feb 1900:32:23Tap to summarizeAcross our professional careers, many of us will come into contact with a difficult colleague or hard-to-please superior. But what happens when difficult behaviour crosses over into bullying at work? What effect does this have, not only on our wellbeing, but on our workplace as a whole? Evidence suggests that bullying may be on the rise in the UK. A 2025 survey of British workers conducted by ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) found that 44% of respondents had experienced conflict at work in the last 12 months. And on the global stage, the resurgence of ‘strong man’ leadership has reignited a debate: does bullying behaviour get you what you want? Evan and the panel look at what workplace bullying is, when and why bullying can occur, and the steps individuals and organisations can take to tackle this behaviour in the workplace. Guests: Jason Warner, Managing Director (UK and EMEA) at SBS Kevin Rowan, Director of Dispute Resolution at ACAS Kara Ng, Senior Lecturer in Organisational Psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester Production team: Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Mhairi MacKenzie Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound engineers: James Beard and Neil Churchill Editor: Matt Willis The Bottom Line is produced in partnership with The Open University
Transcribe →