The Bottom Line
BBC Radio 4
The definitive business podcast from the BBC. Each week, the BBC's Evan Davis is joined by bosses, entrepreneurs and industry experts, to lift the lid on how their businesses work, and what it’s like to be in charge. They discuss a big issue, a big challenge, or a big question facing their industry. From managing AI to managing millennials, from supermarkets to supercharging a new product.And our guests will share their stories of success and failure along the way. Podcasts are published every Thursday. And as well as being a podcast, we are also available every Thursday afternoon and Tuesday evening on BBC Radio 4. You can now also listen to The Bottom Line on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Bottom Line”. It works on most smart speakers.The Bottom Line has published a spin off series - Decisions That Made Me - where Evan asks entrepreneurs and business leaders about the most crucial moments in their lives and careers. You can watch these episodes here: https://t.ly/oJ8lW. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with Evan and the team on email at bottomline@bbc.co.uk.The Bottom Line is produced in partnership with The Open University and is an EcoAudio certified production.
Episodes
Mentioned books
12 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 37min
Entrepreneurs: Your Questions Answered
Brent Hoberman, serial entrepreneur and investor who co-founded lastminute.com. Sarah Willingham, hospitality founder behind Nightcap with experience scaling bars. Trinny Woodall, TV-turned-beauty founder of Trinny London. They tackle standing out in crowded markets, funding and startup support, handling loneliness and resilience, and how to weigh risks and adapt to rapid change.
16 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 32min
Product Innovation: Better, Or Just New?
Dave Ward, Ring MD who built consumer home-security hardware; Dr Garry Moppett, Mars R&D leader in confectionery innovation; Tom Moody, P&G Northern Europe head driving household product R&D. They debate product refresh frequency. They compare fast software tweaks with five-year pipelines. They discuss privacy-aware smart features, consumer research methods and why continual upgrades fend off disruption.
Feb 19, 2026 • 32min
How Do You Deal with a Workplace Bully?
Kevin Rowan, Director of Dispute Resolution at ACAS, advises on workplace disputes and prevention. Kara Ng, organisational psychology lecturer, studies bullying and workplace exclusion. Jason Warner, MD at SBS, speaks about culture and personal experience. They discuss what bullying looks like, how leaders and cultures spread it, prevalence data and legal duties, and practical steps bystanders and employers can take.
11 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 35min
Private Renting: Who Wants to Be a Landlord?
Polly Simpson, head of multi-family development at Savills, sources institutional capital for large-scale rental schemes. Andy Graham, portfolio landlord and HMO specialist, runs the HMO Podcast and manages shared homes. They discuss the rise of institutional build-to-rent, how HMOs work and their returns, regulatory and tax pressures on small landlords, and whether legal changes will shrink private rented supply.
9 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 35min
Dynamic Pricing: Who Profits?
Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy for Business, explains agile tariffs that shift with wholesale prices. Marco Bertini, marketing professor and behavioural economist, explores how people perceive changing prices. Richard Howle, ticketing strategist, discusses pricing for live events and perishable seats. They debate surge, time-of-use and transparent pricing, and how dynamic models can be used ethically and effectively.
9 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 33min
What Happens When Brands Change Hands?
Farshid Azadegan, M&A researcher who has lived through ~19 deals. Pip Hulbert, agency leader who has led cultural and operational integrations. Vittorio Colao, telecoms CEO with deep dealmaking experience. They explore why deal-making is rising. They recount defining mergers, cultural clashes, communication and trust, handling people changes, and practical tips for making integrations work.
Jan 22, 2026 • 33min
Airport Lounges: For the Many or the Few?
Mignon Buckingham, CEO of Airport Dimensions, Claude Roussel, VP of Delta Sky Clubs, and Nicky Kelvin, Senior Director at The Points Guy, discuss the booming demand for airport lounges post-COVID. They explore the evolution of lounges from elite spaces to shared-use models and the challenges of maintaining exclusivity while growing customer bases. Key insights include the importance of lounge design, the impact of travel trends, and future innovations like spas and gyms, as well as strategies for managing overcrowding and enhancing customer experience.
6 snips
Jan 15, 2026 • 36min
Boom And Bust: Is AI The New Dotcom Bubble?
In a captivating discussion, Ernst Malmsten, co-founder of boo.com, shares insights from the dot-com era, revealing the highs and lows of launching a leading online fashion retailer. Gretchen Morgenson, an esteemed financial journalist, highlights the rampant euphoria and valuation hazards of the time. David Pringle offers a comparative look at the US and European tech landscapes. Together, they explore whether today's AI enthusiasm mirrors that explosive bubble, emphasizing crucial lessons on timing, investment strategies, and the inevitability of market corrections.
9 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 32min
USPs: What Is The UK Good At?
Ric Lewis, a property investment guru, Kate Bingham, a biotech venture specialist and former vaccine task force head, and Shona McCarthy, an arts leader with deep festival roots, dive into Britain's strengths. They discuss the UK’s creative industries, highlighting the economic impact of the Edinburgh Fringe and the Premier League as cultural exports. Bingham sheds light on the life sciences sector's success, driven by education and AI innovation. The guests call for a national focus on true centres of excellence to build on these strengths.
7 snips
Jan 1, 2026 • 14min
The Decisions That Made Me: Ben Branson (Seedlip)
Ben Branson, the visionary founder of Seedlip, shares his journey from kitchen experiments with herbs to creating a global non-alcoholic spirits brand. He reveals how a childhood on a farm fueled his passion for produce and led to an unexpected career in distillation. Branson candidly discusses leaving a stable job, investing his life savings into Seedlip, and the adrenaline rush of launching in Selfridges. He also introduces his latest project, Silver, an innovative aged non-alcoholic spirit poised to make waves.
