The Curve

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟

We start this episode with a public apology… and that’s all we’re saying on that for now. Once we’ve addressed the situation, Vic and Soph get into what’s actually moving markets this week: oil prices swinging wildly as ceasefire hopes creep in, why airline stocks are suddenly perking up, and the slightly chaotic world of prediction markets (aka: investing or betting… still unclear). They also break down why Universal Music is catching takeover attention (turns out owning Taylor Swift’s back catalogue is a pretty nice business), how weight loss pills could send the GLP-1 trend into overdrive (and boost a whole bunch of unexpected industries along the way), and why Elon Musk vs OpenAI is shaping up to be the courtroom drama no one asked for but everyone will watch…. strap on in!

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
Stagflation – High prices + low growth. Economy = struggling.
Prediction Markets – Betting (sorry… “investing”) on future outcomes.
Insider Trading – Making money from secret info. Very illegal.
Takeover – One company buying another. Big money moves.
Shareholder – Someone who owns a piece of a company.
Royalty Revenue – Earn money every time something’s used (like a song).
Hedge Fund – High-risk investing aiming for big returns.
Long / Short – Long = wins if it goes up. Short = wins if it goes down.
GLP-1 Drugs – Weight loss drugs turned investing trend.
Forward-Looking Markets – Markets move on future expectations, not now.

Credits:
Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright
Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:01:12) We Need to Apologise…(00:04:14) Watch us on YouTube!(00:06:01) War, Oil & What It Means for Markets(00:20:22) Why Universal Music Is in Play(00:33:05) The GLP-1 Boom Just Got Bigger(00:40:13) Musk vs OpenAI Begins(00:43:51) We’ve Decided the New Schedule!(00:45:05) Thanks for Listening!(00:45:43) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟

If you’ve ever thought “I should probably understand crypto… but I have no idea where to start”, this episode is for you. 
Sophie sits down with Danielle Lukins, founder of Crush Circle (https://crushcircle.com/applynow?utm_source=Substack) and a trusted crypto educator and expert to break everything down in a way that actually makes sense, even if you’re a total beginner.
They cover what crypto is (in plain English), the difference between Bitcoin and other coins like Ethereum, Solana and XRP, and why people are starting to see this as a serious investment. Danielle explains how crypto works, what blockchain actually means, and the real-life ways it could change things like banking, payments, and moving money globally (this part = slightly mind-blowing).
They also get into how crypto goes up and down, why it moves in cycles, and why some people think now could be an interesting time to start learning (and potentially investing) while prices are lower. Plus: where to start, how to keep it simple, common beginner mistakes, and how to build confidence without going all in.
Danielle’s Links
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cryptocrushshow/)
CrushCircle.com (https://crushcircle.com/applynow?utm_source=Substack)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-lukins-944137234/)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CRYPTOCRUSHSHOW)

Credits:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Danielle Lukins
Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Episode Introduction(00:02:49) Meet Danielle Lukins & Crush Circle(00:07:06) Crypto vs Bitcoin Explained(00:07:53) Danielle’s First Bitcoin Investment at 17(00:14:05) Why Crypto Is Male-Dominated(00:16:44) What Crypto Actually Is (and How It Works)(00:19:35) Understanding Different Cryptocurrencies(00:21:52) Borrowing Money Using Crypto(00:26:24) The Future of Crypto(00:30:39) How to Start Investing in Crypto(00:33:47) The Role of Bitcoin(00:35:26) Why Bitcoin Is So Volatile(00:39:32) Danielle’s Outlook on Bitcoin(00:48:18) How Danielle Buys and Sells Crypto(00:50:14) Where to Buy Crypto(00:51:51) Common Beginner Mistakes(00:53:24) Why Danielle Focuses on Education(00:54:33) How to Stay Up to Date(00:56:31) Thank You For Listening!(00:56:56) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟

Markets are back, headlines are chaotic, and somehow Donald Trump is still moving investor sentiment with a sentence and a spray tan. Vic and Sophie unpack what’s going on, one year after the tariffs shook everyone up, and why short-term market drama can make investing feel a bit too much like gambling. They also dig into the spectacular collapse of Allbirds, from sustainability darling to a 99% wipeout, and the very real lesson in “diworsification” when a brand strays too far from what made it work in the first place. Plus, the upcoming SpaceX IPO that could become one of the biggest companies in the world overnight, why fitness tracker brand Whoop is booming, what the wearable tech space says about where health investing is headed, and why the most boring investing strategy is still annoyingly one of the best.

🗳️ CAST YOUR VOTE (https://form.typeform.com/to/FRD3BIcS) on our new episode schedule and help us decide what works best for you: https://form.typeform.com/to/FRD3BIcS

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
Tariffs – Tax on imports to make foreign goods pricier.
Dead Cat Bounce – A fake recovery before markets drop again.
GDP – Total value of a country’s economy.
IPO Hype – The buzz (and chaos) when a company first goes public.
Market Cap – What a company’s worth on the stock market.
Diworsification – Expanding… but making things worse.
Commodities – Raw stuff like gold, oil, wheat.
Volatility – How wildly prices swing up and down.
Forward-Looking Markets – Markets reacting to the future, not now.
Wearables – Tech you wear that tracks your body.
Diversification – Spreading your money to reduce risk.

Credits:
Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright
Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:01:34) We accidentally sound drunk…(00:03:43) Markets are back (but why?)(00:08:26) BP’s new CEO moment(00:13:09) 1 year since the tariffs!(00:26:25) Allbirds: rise and fall(00:38:12) Whoop and the IPO buzz(00:44:08) The SpaceX IPO is coming...(00:48:34) Your investing question answered(00:54:16) We need your help!(00:56:52) Thanks for listening(00:57:30) Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟

What does “enough” actually look like when it comes to money and why is it so weirdly hard to answer? In this episode, Sophie sits down with Friends That Invest (https://friendsthatinvest.com/) founder Simran Kaur to talk about growing up with a scarcity mindset, how our childhood shapes the way we spend and save, and why having more money doesn’t magically fix your relationship with it. Simran also breaks down how she built a seven-figure portfolio before 30, what’s actually in it, and the simple formula she uses to figure out her “enough number. Expect an honest conversation about money shame, investing, identity, the financial habits we inherit from our parents, and practical advice that might finally help you put a number on what “enough” looks like.

Sim’s links:
friendsthatinvest.com
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/friendsthatinvest/)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@ms.simrankaur)
Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/friends-that-invest/id1529887342)
Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4jWkbLYqVv93FjLkAcvZ1y?si=e044232efa4c424b)

Credits:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Simran Kaur
Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Episode preview(00:01:05) Meet Simran Kaur(00:02:46) From optometry to building a business(00:06:22) How Sim got into investing(00:09:45) The start of Friends That Invest(00:12:29) Understanding your relationship with money(00:14:56) Sim’s earliest money memory(00:17:43) Moving from India to New Zealand(00:21:26) How Sim’s money mindset changed(00:25:02) What being “rich” really means to Sim(00:28:12) Sim’s first investment(00:29:33) Inside Sim’s investment portfolio(00:33:49) Private investing, angel deals and property(00:34:50) What does “enough” actually look like?(00:38:46) How to figure out your own “enough” number(00:41:56) Sophie calculates her number(00:44:22) Thank you for listening!(00:00:00) Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

⁠🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟⁠

Vic and Soph are both back in London and straight into the chaos - because the markets are wobbling, oil prices are rising, and everyone’s asking the same question: should you be panicking? They break down what’s actually going on with inflation, why pulling your money out of the market might do more harm than good, and what’s really driving all this uncertainty. They also dive into a major social media lawsuit that could change the industry, unpack the rise (and risks) of private credit, and debate whether prediction markets are investing… or just gambling in a blazer. Plus, why your skincare obsession might secretly be an investing opportunity, and a listener question that shows just how switched on (and seriously impressive) this community is when it comes to building wealth.

Check out the B416 campaign here. (https://b416.co.nz/)

We’re thinking about rebranding The Curve Weekly, drop your ideas in the comments or DM us, we’d love your input!! 💭

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
Inflation – Prices go up, your money buys less.
Interest Rates – What you earn on savings or pay on debt.
Market Dip – Prices fall for a bit. Normal, even if it feels scary.
Timing the Market – Trying to buy low, sell high perfectly. Good luck.
Forward-Looking Market – Prices move on expectations, not current news.
Private Credit – Loans from non-banks. Higher risk, higher return.
Liquidity – How quickly you can get your money out.
Defaulting – When a borrower can’t pay back a loan.
Prediction Markets – Betting on outcomes dressed up as investing.
Renewable Energy – Power from wind, solar, etc. Big future focus.
Dollar Cost Averaging – Investing little and often.
Return – What you make (or lose) on an investment.

Credits:
Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright
Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in the episode...(00:01:12) We're back in London!(00:08:34) Oil, inflation and the market dip(00:22:43) The social media lawsuit everyone’s talking about(00:31:24) Why the beauty industry is booming(00:37:45) Private credit (and why people are worried)(00:47:35) A message on The Curve Hotline!(00:54:30) We need your help 👀(00:55:28) Thank you for listening to The Curve Weekly!(00:56:06) Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.