Tby Today

Ever wondered how that bottle of Georgian red made it from Kakheti to your kitchen? Curious about the difference between Lebanese and Turkish rosés? Then listen closely this week as the team explores emerging market wine industries, asking why sparkling wine is growing in popularity and arguing over just who invented the stuff to begin with!

Turkey barely leaves headlines these days and growth of over 7% in 2017 surprised many. Just what are Turkey's economic growth engines and are they sustainable?

How closely are literacy and economic growth connected? Is the literacy gender gap closing? We take a closer look at Turkey, the Arab world, the former Soviet space, and more to find out.

This week, the team looks at the politics and pragmatism behind the emergence of defense industries in emerging markets, with an eye on Turkey, Brazil, and China. Does having your own military hardware really pay off?

From abortion rights in the US, to empowering women in business and politics in the Muslim world, to unpicking the whats and whys behind Ghana’s outstanding female entrepreneurial streak, we discuss the challenges and opportunities facing female populations across the world. Plus, Islamic finance in Kazakhstan, FDI in Istanbul, and 1 million ways to expose your colleagues’ lack of literary knowledge live on air.

What’s on the cards for the future of the global gambling market? This week, we explore developments changing the face of the USD450 billion industry, from more relaxed regulations sweeping the globe to the rise of online gambling and crypto casinos. Plus, electric cars in Mexico, coca-cola’s alcopops, and more reasons to celebrate international women.

As Innovation Month comes to a close in the UAE, we take a look at how the government is keen to leverage innovation and culture to drive growth and attract investment, while also examining the country's close ties with India and the state of religious plurality.

With elections in Nigeria just one year away, we take a look at how the administration has handled the economy's worst recession in recent memory, evaluate the success of anti-corruption measures, and examine the rise of Nollywood in the context of soft power.

As the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang wrap up, we take a look at how sport has a history of both uniting and dividing. Just what was the most politically charged Olympics in history?

This week, we ask why the Mexican president is so unpopular and what is behind the rise of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. We then head south to look at the evangelical challenging the establishment in Costa Rica, before looking at what Rex Tillerson is hoping to achieve on his tour of Latin America.

This week, we take a look at approaches to drugs legalization in Portugal, Jamaica, and the US, before attempting to untangle the opioid crisis unfolding in the US. Is there too much of a good thing?

This week, we discuss why Portugal is no longer the "new Greece," head across the Atlantic to Jamaica to find out what is behind a recent security alert in Montego Bay, and wrap up with a debate on just what is fair in a camel beauty contest.

Risk can come in many shapes and sizes. This time, the podcast crew discuss the challenges Colombia is facing as it looks to reintegrate former FARC rebels, examine the hurdles the EU faces as Poland and Hungary go off script, and ponder how China and Russia may clash over Central Asia.

This week, the podcast crew run down a series of increasingly unlikely predictions for 2018, from the mass conversion of Israel's Palestinian population to Judaism, the eruption of the super volcano that lies under Yellowstone national park, and more.

This week Leland and Peter are joined by a cast of TBY characters to look at a few of our favorite recent articles on thebusinessyear.com. Managing Editor for Middle East and Africa Gill Harris talks about women in fintech (or the lack thereof); Writer/Editor Evan Pheiffer looks at the legacy of the Soviet Union on the 100th anniversary of the October revolution; and Regional Director Paul Loomis tells us how the corruption crackdown in Saudi Arabia looks from ground.

The meteoric rise of cryptocurrencies is raising interest, scrutiny, and questions about the role of money in civilization, all in equal measure. Meanwhile, initial coin offerings—crowdfunding via cryptos—are outpacing equity funding, blockchain is changing the way business is done, and regulators are reversing the way their national economies approach digital currencies. This week, we take a step back to discuss how it all works and what it all means. Plus, hard forks, USD50 million pizzas, and the consolidated autocracy of the digital-ledger age.

We step back from a frenetic economic news cycle to talk with the people behind our most popular articles from the week. Leland and Peter are joined by Paul Loomis, Regional Director for Asia, to discuss Saudi Arabia's decision to allow women to drive; Associate Editor Emily Casswell talks about the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum; and Latin America Regional Editor Han Le and Mexico Country Editor Andres Melendro give a first-hand account of September’s massive earthquake.

On the heels of Steven Bannon’s paradoxical speech to a Chinese state-owned brokerage in Hong Kong, we take stock of the Trump administration’s tough talk with China, consider the possibility of a trade war, and look at historical examples to understand what such a retaliatory cycle might mean for the global economy. Plus, St. Louis as an FDI magnet, Indonesia under water, and the so-called bitcoin bubble.

Leland, Evan, and Liz welcome renowned economist Paul De Grauwe to talk about his latest book, "The Limits of the Market: The Pendulum Between Government and Market." Plus, we lie to our colleague Shireen in a new segment called Fake News.

Recording from Lagos, Leland Rice is joined by TBY's Silvia Lambiase and Gabriele de Leva to discuss Nigerian FinTech, oil, and the 419.