Behind the Money

In recent weeks, satellite business EchoStar has clinched multibillion-dollar deals with SpaceX and AT&T. It may sound like boom times for founder Charlie Ergen, but these deals illustrate something different: the abandoning of an ambitious, decades-long quest to build his own mobile phone network. The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap and US trading and crypto correspondent Jill R Shah explain how Ergen’s fortunes changed, and the role Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump played in that. Clips from CNBC, Reuters, Yahoo Finance, Echostar/Vimeo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: How a deal with Elon Musk helped a telecoms tycoon save his company from bankruptcy Trump forces billionaire to fold Charlie Ergen: Media mogul at a Sprint - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Behind the Money has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Money & Finance category! It's a Listener Choice award, which means we need your help. Vote for us to win here. We appreciate your support! Follow Sujeet Indap on X (@sindap), or on Bluesky (@sindap.bsky.social). Follow Jill Shah on X (@jillrshah). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump has pledged to “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars”, China could send its first crewed mission to Mars within a decade, and Elon Musk wants people to actually settle on Mars, transforming the human race into an interplanetary species. In a new series of Tech Tonic, the FT’s Peggy Hollinger asks if we’re really about to land, and even live, on the red planet. Free to read: Musk’s mission to Mars Three days with America’s rocket chasers Tech Tonic is produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The senior producer is Edwin Lane. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India’s tech hub Bangalore has experienced huge growth of companies and employees in the past two decades. But the city’s infrastructure is not keeping up with such rapid growth. With the tech sector contributing more than $300bn to the nation’s economy, what happens to the country’s growth if Bangalore can’t solve its issues? The FT’s Mumbai bureau chief Chris Kay and Mumbai correspondent Krishn Kaushik travelled to Bangalore to try to find out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: The unsustainable boom in India’s Silicon Valley Multinationals turn to India’s back offices for AI engineers Indian IT shares fall over fears from Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Behind the Money has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Money & Finance category! It's a Listener Choice award, which means we need your help. Vote for us to win here. We appreciate your support! Follow Chris Kay on X (@christopherkay) or on Bluesky (@christopherkay.ft.com), and Krishn Kaushik on X (@Krishn_) Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Money has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Money & Finance category! It's a Listener Choice award, which means we need your help. Vote for us to win here. We appreciate your support! And while you're at it, vote for some other FT podcasts that have also been nominated. The FT News Briefing podcast was nominated for best daily podcast category. Vote here. And our Tech Tonic podcast was nominated for best technology podcast. Vote here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The recent collapse of Tricolor Holdings, a subprime auto lender in Texas, has left a trail of losses and questions from Wall Street to low-income immigrant communities throughout the American south-west. The FT’s US banking correspondent Akila Quinio, and Amelia Pollard, US investment correspondent, explain what they’ve found. Clip from Fifth Third - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Tricolor collapse sparks concern about health of US subprime auto sector Debt linked to collapsed subprime auto lender Tricolor tumbles JPMorgan and Fifth Third face losses tied to collapsed subprime car lender - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Amelia Pollard on X (@ameliajpollard) and Bluesky (@pollard.bsky.social) and Akila Quinio on X (@akilazoe). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ecommerce start-up Jumia was supposed to become the “Amazon of Africa”. Its prospects seemed promising after raising close to $800mn prior to its IPO in 2019 — more than any African start-up. But in the years since, things haven’t gone the way investors probably hoped. The FT’s west and central Africa correspondent Aanu Adeoye explains Jumia’s plans to turn the business around, and what its challenges say about applying western business models in Africa. Clip from New York Stock Exchange - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Is there a future for the ‘Amazon of Africa’? ‘Amazon of Africa’ Jumia fights to rebuild investor trust Complaints that Jumia is not African ring hollow - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Aanu Adeoye on X (@aanuadeoye). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The natural diamond industry is facing an existential threat: lab-grown diamonds. They’re chemically and physically identical to natural stones, and they're just a fraction of the price. Eleanor Olcott, the FT’s China technology correspondent, travelled to the epicentre of lab-grown diamond production in the central Chinese province of Henan to see how they’re made. While the FT’s natural resources editor, Leslie Hook, explores what the sale of leading natural diamond producer, De Beers, could mean for the future of the sector. Clip from Arnold Worldwide - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: How the diamond industry lost its sparkle The sparkle is fading in Africa’s diamond heartland Taylor Swift hands diamonds a moment to shine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Leslie Hook on X (@lesliehook) and Eleanor Olcott on X (@EleanorOlcott). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this summer, energy supermajor Chevron secured access to one of the most valuable oilfields in the world. It was the culmination of a months-long battle that pitted America’s second-largest oil company against the largest, ExxonMobil. The FT’s US energy editor, Jamie Smyth, looks at what Chevron aims to do next, and how it plans to take on its larger rival. Clips from CNBC, Bloomberg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sign up for the FT Weekend Festival at ft.com/festival and use the promo code “FTPodcasts” for 10 per cent off. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Chevron prepares for US oil supermajor battle with Exxon Chevron seals $53bn Hess takeover after Exxon fails to torpedo deal For further listening … Our Behind the Money episode on Guyana from 2024: Will Exxon make or break Guyana? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Jamie Smyth on X (@JamieSmythF) and Bluesky (‪@jamiesmythft.bsky.social‬). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI music generators - platforms that use artificial intelligence to create new, original music from scratch - can make songs that are almost indistinguishable from human creations. For some musicians, they’re the next frontier in music-making technology. But for others, they represent a grave threat, flooding the world with low-grade AI music, stealing the jobs of working musicians, and even spelling the end of the creative process as we know it. Is this just technophobia, or is music facing AI annihilation? In a new two-part series of Tech Tonic, the FT’s pop critic Ludovic Hunter-Tilney explores the emerging world of AI music, and the impact it could have on the industry. Tech Tonic is presented by Ludovic Hunter-Tilney. The producers are Lulu Smyth and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Edwin Lane is the senior producer, Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original Music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa and Topher Forhecz are the FT’s acting co-heads of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're sharing an episode from, Unhedged, another podcast from the FT network. The annual meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is supposed to be an intellectual retreat. Instead, it was overshadowed by personal and political attacks on US Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook. Today on the show, Katie Martin talks to US economics editor Claire Jones about her reporting from Jackson Hole and what might happen if the central bank falls under the president’s control. Also, we attempt to go long and short but are interrupted by a fire alarm. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer. You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at unhedged@ft.com. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Palantir shares have soared this year, making the data analytics company one of the most valuable listed US tech groups. The FT’s Tabby Kinder explains how a paradigm shift in Silicon Valley helped propel Palantir to new heights and why many think it will be among the biggest winners of more US federal spending on national security, immigration and space exploration – even as others have started questioning its valuation. Clips from Bloomberg, CNBC, FOX Business, HBO, More Perfect Union, Newsweek, TechCrunch, Palantir Vision, The 92nd Street Y, New York - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Palantir becomes a ‘Trump trade’ as investors bet on higher defence spending How Donald Trump’s spending bill will boost Silicon Valley’s defence companies Palantir lifts outlook as AI boom sends quarterly revenue to $1bn Palantir’s ‘revolving door’ with government spurs huge growth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Tabby Kinder on X (@Tabby_Kinder) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed) or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the popularity of cigarettes has slid in the past couple decades, Big Tobacco has been searching for a new hit product. Now, they think they’ve found it: nicotine pouches. FT reporters Clara Murray and Mari Novik explain how nicotine pouches became popular, and whether they’ll become the sector’s newest addiction or if they will be snuffed out. Clips from ABC News, ABC4 Utah, CBS Mornings, Theo Von Podcast, Time, TikTok - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: The new nicotine hit that could save Big Tobacco Big Tobacco stock rally reveals uncomfortable truth Big Tobacco will take heat on its smokeless transformation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Clara Murray on X (@clara__murray) and Bluesky (‪@claradoodle.bsky.social‬). Follow Mari Novik on X (@marinoevik) and Bluesky(@marinovik.bsky.social‬). Saffeya Ahmed is on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or you can follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two summers ago, hedge fund manager Bobby Jain set out with a huge goal: build a hedge fund that can rival the likes of industry giants Citadel and Millennium. But in the year since his firm started trading, Jain has found the going tough. FT hedge fund correspondents Amelia Pollard and Costas Mourselas explain what difficulties he has encountered, and whether building a true rival in this space is possible. Clip from Bloomberg TV - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading & listening: Big launch, small gains: Bobby Jain struggles to match hedge fund giants The next Millennium’s slow start Citadel and Millennium outshone by smaller hedge fund rivals after trade war turmoil 🎧 Hedge fund pioneers face signs of a reckoning - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Amelia Pollard (@ameliajpollard), Costas Mourselas (@CostasMourselas) and Saffeya Ahmed (@saffeya-ahmed) on X, or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re sharing an episode from Fixable, a podcast from TED. In it, hear about the resurrection of Barnes & Noble. Chief revival architect and CEO James Daunt joins hosts Anne Morriss and Frances Frei to discuss the unconventional leadership strategies that helped him navigate through the pandemic and keep bookstores alive in the age of Amazon and e-books. Anne and Frances explore James’s non-hierarchical approach to team building, dive into the challenges he faced on his mission to revitalise the company, and discover the principle at the heart of his strategy. Listen to Fixable wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The competition for junior talent between private equity and Wall Street banks reached a new peak this summer. That’s thanks to a controversial recruiting practice that is causing both industries to find talent earlier and earlier. Now, powerful figures such as JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon are publicly decrying the strategy. The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap and banking editor Ortenca Aliaj explain the origins of this friction and what it says about the future of Wall Street and private equity’s top firms. Clip from the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Wall Street vs private equity: can anyone stop the grad recruitment creep? Is investment banking still a jewel in Wall Street’s crown? Private equity abandons early recruiting after Jamie Dimon fightback - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Ortenca Aliaj on X (@OrtencaAl) and Bluesky (‪‬‪@ortenca.bsky.social‬), and Sujeet Indap on X (@sindap) and Bluesky (‪@sindap.bsky.social‬‪‬). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Tim Cook save Apple from the trade war? Has Mark Zuckerberg really been a fan of Donald Trump all along? And is the bromance between Elon Musk and the president really over? In a new season of Tech Tonic, Murad Ahmed explores the relationships between Trump and some of the titans of the tech world. What is really driving those relationships, and what might they mean for the future of technology in the US and beyond? Free to read: ‘He is power’: billionaires line up for Donald Trump’s inauguration Donald Trump lashes out at Apple over plan to ship US iPhones from India How Jeff Bezos made peace with Donald Trump What has Elon Musk’s Doge actually achieved? How Joel Kaplan became Mark Zuckerberg’s most trusted political fixer How Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley funded the sudden rise of JD Vance This season of Tech Tonic is presented by Murad Ahmed and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Flo Phillips. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music, Manuela Saragosa and Topher Forhecz are the FT’s acting co-heads of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Top consulting firms have repeatedly found themselves facing a reputational crisis. The most recent example was in early July, when a Financial Times investigation revealed that Boston Consulting Group had modelled a plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza after entering into a multimillion-dollar contract to help launch an aid scheme for the enclave. In this week’s episode, the FT’s US accounting editor, Stephen Foley, explains his reporting and examines what these events say about how effective the consulting industry’s ability to avoid reputational scandals is. Clips from the UN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: BCG modelled plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza Inside Gaza’s ‘death traps’ The little-known group poised to take over Gaza’s aid BCG gets caught up in a scandal in Gaza - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Stephen Foley on X (@stephenfoley) and Bluesky (‪@stephenfoleyft.bsky.social‬). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been exactly 90 days since US President Donald Trump paused most of his ‘reciprocal’ tariffs. With just a 10 per cent blanket tariff on all imports and a higher tariff on China, economists predicted the American economy would feel the heat pretty quickly. But the sky hasn’t fallen yet – the world’s largest economy is holding strong. The FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones explains why that is and when markets may start to feel the effects of Trump’s tariffs. Clips from CBS News, CNBC, TODAY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Donald Trump renews threat to hit trading partners with steep tariffs Tariffs on household goods bring home costs of Trump’s trade wars US tariff receipts surge in Donald Trump’s trade war US narrows trade focus to secure deals before Donald Trump’s tariff deadline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Claire Jones on X (@senoj_erialc) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Iran attacked a US airbase in Qatar – a response to strikes on its nuclear facilities – many feared a global war may be imminent. But there was one market that didn’t break a sweat: oil. It’s typically a commodity that surges at the first sight of conflict in the Middle East. This time though, oil traders bet that the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US would be short-lived. The FT’s energy editor Malcolm Moore explains how traders called the outcome correctly. Clips from ABC News, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, CBS News, Fox 9 Minneapolis St Paul, ITV News, KTLA 5, NBC News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: How oil traders called the Middle East conflict Fuel and fury: energy becomes a Middle East battlefield Why oil traders are watching the Strait of Hormuz Why is the oil price not surging? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Malcolm Moore (@MalcolmMoore) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Royal Bank of Scotland was once the biggest bank in the world. Then, hubris got the best of it. During the financial crisis the UK government spent £46bn to bail out the bank. Seventeen years and a rebrand to NatWest Group later, the government just sold its last shares in it and officially ended the country’s “bailout era”. The FT’s Akila Quinio analyses what this means for the economy and for NatWest. Clips from ABC News, BBC, NBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: The RBS story: how the world’s biggest bank was nationalised and then reborn NatWest’s freedom dividend has already been cashed NatWest must not forget its chequered past - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Akila Quinio on X (@akilazoe). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.