Business Daily

Sites offering wild theories, and unsupported claims, are increasingly the stuff of modern online discourse. But what's the business model that's fuelling their rise? Alex Jones, the prominent radio host, is pretty much America's best known conspiracy theorist. As well as warning of a deep state conspiracy against the President, he's also claimed that the government is controlling the weather, that demons are taking over America, and that school mass shootings including the 2012 attack on the Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 small children dead, was in fact a hoax involving child actors. Such comments, offensive to many in the US, have recently seen his shows removed from Facebook and YouTube and suspended on Twitter, saying he's violating their rules around community reporting. Apple and Spotify have also taken down his podcasts. We hear from James Bridle, the author of a book called New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future, on why conspiracy theories are flourishing in the internet age, and from Filipo Menczer, Professor of Informatics and Computer Science at Indiana University, and Charlie Warzel, a news reporter at BuzzFeed, who has been looking at how these sites can now raise tens of millions of dollars, largely by selling medications to followers. Plus Professor Joseph Uscinski, a political scientist and fake news expert at Miami University in Florida who says that conspiracy theories have now themselves become part of the mainstream.(Credit: Stevanovicigor, Getty Images)

Xavier Font, Prof. of sustainability marketing, discusses overtourism with locals in Rome, Edinburgh, and Amsterdam. They explore challenges of mass tourism, impact on villages, balancing city life, and the need for better management to address the negative effects of excessive tourism.

Mining in the developing world still sparks violent protests - so what has the industry learned?Grace Livingstone reports from the Tintaya copper mine in Peru, owned by mining giant Glencore, where local people are angry over the pollution of waterways, and two protesters have been shot. Why do these things still happen? Vishala Sri-Pathma speaks to Henry Hall of mining consultants Critical Resource.Plus, meet "Dr Copper" - the copper market's reputation as a bellwether for the global economy. But why is the market price falling at a time when the world continues to boom? We ask Charlie Durant of commodities analysts CRU Group.(Picture: Miners take a break at the Cabeza de Negro copper mine in Peru; Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Football finance expert Rob Wilson and retailer Doug Bierton discuss the financial aspects of elite football clubs, such as player transfers, sponsorships, and merchandising. They also talk about the nostalgic value of vintage sponsors on football shirts and how clubs maximize revenue through multiple sponsors. The podcast explores the impact of sponsors on sports leagues and clubs, including the debate on their effectiveness and value.

There's trouble brewing in India's tea industry. Tea production is one of India's biggest industries. But it's struggling in the face of increased competition from Africa. Rahul Tandon reports from the tea estates of Assam, where tea pickers demand higher wages, but producers worry about rising costs and falling global prices for tea.(Photo: Tea pickers in Assam, India, Credit: Getty Images)

The podcast discusses how Whatsapp spread rumors leading to serious consequences in India and Uganda. It explores the app's popularity in lower income countries for socializing and business. Also, the episode examines the impact of social media taxes and government restrictions on the use of Whatsapp in these regions.

How is political turmoil hitting tourism and the economy in Nicaragua, and where will it all end?President Daniel Ortega has faced months of mass protests, which have been met with violence by pro-government paramilitary groups, resulting in some 275 deaths. The president has also lost the support of much of the business community.Caitlin Pierce reports from the troubled country on how the once-booming tourism sector is coping. And back in London, Ed Butler speaks to Manuela Orozco of think tank Inter-American Dialogue, and to Nicaraguan opposition leader Juan Sebastian Chamorro.(Picture: A student wearing a gas mask marches demanding the resignation of President Ortega; Credit: Marvin Recinos/AFP/Getty Images)

Beauty expert Amy Elizabeth and dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto discuss the effectiveness of skincare products. Tim Caulfield explains why people buy beauty products despite knowing their scientific claims are often wrong. The podcast explores skincare marketing strategies, anti-aging solutions, and the influence of marketing on beauty trends.

Louise O'Reilly, a prominent plus-size model, discusses the challenges in the fashion industry for plus-size customers. Topics include the high costs of making larger clothes, the importance of self-confidence, and the evolving attitudes towards the plus-size market. The podcast explores the shift towards inclusivity in fashion, the evolution of plus-size clothing industry, and the rise of the plus-sized fashion market.

Organisational psychologist Tim Judge discusses how to spot office narcissists. Author Karlyn Borysenko shares coping strategies. Professor Don Moore warns against overconfidence in businesses and politics.