The Curve

This week, we’re doing what any normal finance podcast would do after seeing Olivia Dean live: immediately investigating her business model. From billion-stream hits to sold-out O2 shows, merch, brand deals and the very juicy question of who actually makes the money behind your favourite artist, we unpack how pop stardom turns into serious cash. We also look at the London Marathon’s massive boost to the UK economy, why the UK’s financial glow-up is looking… less glow-y, what reporting season is telling us about AI, Amazon, Google and Microsoft, and the Lululemon boardroom drama that proves even leggings can come with corporate chaos. Plus, we answer a community question on what to do when you want to start investing but your bank account is giving “absolutely not x”.

👉 Want us to do a deeper dive on the economics of having fewer babies? Vote in the poll. (https://form.typeform.com/to/MaWNoNfz)

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
Royalties – Money paid when music gets used. Tiny stream, tiny coin.
Streaming revenue – Money made from Spotify, Apple Music etc. Billions of plays = actual cash.
Record label – The company behind an artist’s music, marketing and distribution. Also: slice-taker.
Endorsements – When brands pay famous people to make us want stuff.
Shareholder – Someone who owns a bit of a company.
Stock / Share – A tiny piece of company ownership.
Fiscal drag – A sneaky tax rise via frozen tax brackets.
Tax bracket – The income bucket that decides your tax rate.
National Insurance – A UK tax for things like pensions and public services.
Reporting season – Company report card time.
B2B – Businesses selling to other businesses.
Market cap – What the stock market thinks a company is worth.
S&P 500 – 500 big US companies.
FTSE 100 – 100 big UK companies.

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:⁠⁠⁠⁠
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⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode…
(00:01:38) The business of Olivia Dean
(00:13:23) Is the UK in a death spiral?
(00:29:17) Big Tech’s report card
(00:37:13) Lululemon’s identity crisis
(00:44:36) The economics of having fewer babies
(00:47:26) How to start investing when money feels tight
(00:52:55) Thank you for listening!
(00:53:33) 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.

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In this episode of IOU (Some Money Education), we’re talking all about emergency funds - what they are, why they matter, and how much you might want to have set aside. Lucy, Soph and Vic unpack the role an emergency fund can play when life throws something unexpected your way, whether that’s a sudden medical bill, needing to leave a living situation quickly, or covering an essential expense without relying on debt. They also chat through where to keep your emergency fund, how to start building one, and why having that financial buffer can make you feel more in control. Along the way, there are also some memorable listener stories that show just how unpredictable “emergencies” can be.

Check out IOU (The Practical Lessons) here: https://thecurveplatform.com/

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ. There’s an art to starting something new, and like any art form, you need the right tools to make it work. Whether you’re flatting, saving to travel, or making a career move, BNZ has the tools to help you master your money from the get-go.

Credits:
Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Lucy Blakiston
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) Welcome to IOU (Some Money Education)!(00:00:40) Coming up in this episode…(00:01:42) BNZ x The Curve(00:02:09) In the Red or Green?(00:09:59) What is an emergency fund & how much do you need?(00:13:36) Where you should keep your emergency fund?(00:14:36) IOU an Answer(00:23:09) Cash & Burn(00:33:37) Extra Credit(00:37:59) Thank you for joining us for IOU (Some Money Education)(00:38:22) Thank you BNZ!(00:38:52) 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.

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Claude Design just disrupted an entire industry, and markets reacted instantly. We break down what this AI launch actually means, why companies like Adobe and Figma took a hit, and where the opportunity could be for investors as money starts shifting fast. But first… The Curve has had a full rebrand (yes, we’re obsessed, yes we read every comment). Then we get into the oil situation that’s quietly escalating, prices doubling, supply uncertainty, and why this could tip the global economy toward a recession (and what that means for your portfolio). Next: Apple. Tim Cook is stepping down after 15 years, so what happens to one of the world’s most valuable companies now? Is this a risk moment for investors, or the start of a new growth phase? We also unpack why Primark is being spun off into its own company (and how that can unlock value for investors), before ending on Vic’s chaotic comedy night story… which proves not all risks are financial (but equally painful).

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
Whipsaw Market – Prices going up and down fast. Chaotic energy.
Global Recession – When the whole world’s economy slows down. Not ideal.
Commodity – Raw stuff like oil or gold that gets traded globally.
Supply Chain – How things get made and delivered. When it breaks = delays + higher prices.
Share Price – The cost of owning a piece of a company.
Market Cap – Total value of a company. Big number = big company.
IPO – When a company hits the stock market for the first time.
Valuation – What a company is believed to be worth.
Spin-Off – When a company splits into two separate businesses.
Subsidy – Government help to lower costs (you pay for it later in taxes).
Recurring Revenue – Money a company earns on repeat (subscriptions etc). Investors = obsessed.

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

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.

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Frances Cook knows a ridiculous amount about money, but in this episode, she proves that knowing the rules and living them perfectly are two very different things. We get into the real stuff: the money habits shaped by childhood, the scarcity mindset that lingers long after your bank balance changes, why financial independence matters so much in relationships, and how she actually manages her money behind the scenes. There’s talk of KiwiSaver revelations, index funds, business risks, “enough” numbers, and the fact that sometimes even the finance gurus are just out here winging it with a direct debit and a dream. If you’ve ever felt like you should be better with money by now, this is the reset: it’s not about perfection, it’s about direction.

Frances’ Links
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/)
Website (https://www.francescook.co.nz/)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@MakingCentsPod/videos)
Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2xL5BpCt2pKJDlPN0SgbCc)
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz)
Substack (https://substack.com/@francescooknz)

Credits:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Frances Cook
Editor: Lana Byrne
Producer: 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…(00:00:56) Welcoming Frances(00:03:21) Frances’ money story(00:11:11) The moment pay rises stopped feeling enough(00:13:28) The KiwiSaver switch that changed everything(00:17:13) Why money mindset matters more than people think(00:20:00) How Frances thinks about splitting her money(00:24:32) How she manages money with her husband(00:32:16) Frances’ investing strategy explained(00:39:29) Why she avoids crypto(00:43:19) What “enough” looks like for Frances(00:50:51) The reality of building a business with her husband(00:54:28) Frances’ quick-fire money advice(00:55:13) Where to follow Frances(00:55:27) Thank you for listening(00:55:52) 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.

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This week, we kick things off with a 9am tequila shot for Lucy’s probation pass (completely normal workplace behaviour, obviously), before diving headfirst into the business of Coachella, where Justin Bieber’s payday, festival profits, and the money machine behind live music all get unpacked. We also get into the truly bizarre Allbirds plot twist as the struggling sneaker brand pivots into AI, plus what the rise in women-owned businesses says about work, wealth, and why more women are deciding to back themselves instead.

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
Monopoly – One company dominates the market.
Convertible Loan – A loan that can turn into shares.
Share Price – Cost of one share.
Market Cap – Total value of a company.
Sell-Off – Lots of people selling shares fast.
Scalping – Buying tickets to resell for more.
Monetisation – How a business makes money.
Equity – Ownership in a company.

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…(00:00:56) A 9am tequila shot(00:07:29) Bieberchella and the business of Coachella(00:25:04) Allbirds’ wild pivot to AI(00:34:54) Why more women are backing themselves(00:43:20) A listener call-out (and our response)(00:52:09) Thank you for listening!(00:52:47) 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.