Stand Up! Business

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LIVE RECORDING: The future, the election and the rugby

2024-10-2223:34

For the first time in front of a live audience, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the latest turn of events in the South African Rugby Union buyout saga, the twists and turns in the US election and the surprising similarities - and differences - between the state of the equity markets in 2024 with those in the dot com era of 2000. And we take questions from the audience of some of Johannesburg’s most influential lawyers and bankers brought together by leading business rescue house Metis.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Springboks for sale; the forces of nature and technology

2024-10-1519:26

This week, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the proposed sale of a stake in the Springboks (skande!) and the politicisation of the weather (double skande!). It turns out the weatherman is not out to get you, but maybe the weather authorities are - particularly if you live in Johannesburg.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Should the PIC split, and the world unite?

2024-10-0819:52

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss whether the state pensioners’ fund manager, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) which now has R2.7-trillion under management, should be split up. Also, does the GNU mean SA will stop drifting into the ambit of authoritarian regimes? And finally, is sports betting a financial risk to sports enthusiasts or a financial boon to sporting codes. Or both!Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Chickens and China ...

2024-09-3021:05

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the importance of chickens and China this week, in light of the application for VAT-exempting chicken. This leads to a proposal by Mark that we dispense with tax entirely other than VAT, which could see feathers flying. Moving on to our authoritative knowledge on other topics, we discuss who South Africans would prefer to be the next US president and conclude anyone other than Trump would probably be fine.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Diamonds, the weather, municipalities: the challenge of adapting to change

2024-09-2322:02

Are diamonds really forever? This is just one of the questions we chat about this week. There are so many changes taking place, as the dramatic snowfall in KZN underlines, it raises the question of how do you roll with the changes. Adaption is harder than many imagine, and small problems can become very big, very fast, as SA's failing municipalities show. But some things don't change: we will always have the braai - happy heritage day.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Our pet subject: the interesting things about interest rates

2024-09-1619:33

Pets, specifically cats and dogs, suddenly became a topic of international interest after they somehow contrived to make an appearance at the debate between former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Pity the poor town of Springfield, Massachusetts whose city officials now have to investigate whether legal Haitian immigrants are “eating the cats”. It's our pet topic, as is international interest rates which will start coming down this week. What are the consequences and who loses, who gains? We discussed another pet topic, immigration, but this time a recent survey of African youth, who now want to leave the continent in eye-popping numbers.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Financial skullduggery and ineptitude from VBS, to the construction mafia to Transnet.

2024-09-1019:46

Lots of important financial news came tumbling out this week concerning Transnet, the Post Office, Eskom, the construction mafia and VBS. Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the difference - and the similarities - between fraud and ineptitude, which actually quite often go together. We also talk about the extent to which wealth has grown around the world (it has, by leaps and bounds) and where it grew the most. There is also a sports riddle.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

The magic of Trillion $ companies and a couple of pots

2024-09-0216:38

Investment banker Mark Barnes and business journalist Tim Cohen discuss the ongoing financial scandals revealed over the past week, include the potential bankruptcy of water boards and ongoing "Red Roses" PPE tender scandal. We also discuss the inauguration of the two-pot system for retirement savings, which leads to large discussion about the nature of debt. We consider the concept of trillion, companies with market capitalisation of over a trillion dollars, and particularly Nvidia and its future.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

No consensus on the census | Reviving Joburg city centre | the ROI of university courses

2024-08-2618:45

Mark Barnes and Tim Cohen consider the consequences of a failed census. They are probably a lot more serious than most people think. Disputes about the validity of SA's 2022 census will complicate services provision, and highlight the degree of semi-gration out of Johannesburg. Another fire in downtown Joburg underlines once again the need for decisive, informed, and active leadership. Also, what financial benefits do you get from which university degree? Calculations on the return on investment of American degrees reveal that your education investment could result in losing money, particularly if you study acting. But engineering and tech are of course winners. Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

When will the political merry-go-round settle | Is working from home working

2024-08-1919:41

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick Editor Tim Cohen discuss the end of the EFF bromance between new MK member Floyd Shivambu and EFF leader Julius Malema, and wonder about when the politics will settle. The move is emblematic of a new era in SA politics as a result of the end (for the time being anyway) of single party dominance. The result is that political affiliations are becoming more variable and loyalties will probably be less enduring. The same is true of municipal politics as Johannesburg gets yet another new mayor. On another topic, what's happening with drinks after work? Why are they not happening any more and do they affect cohesion at work.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Are government and business NBF’s: the real numbers about the olympics

2024-08-1220:18

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick Editor Tim Cohen discuss the reasons why government and business are becoming new best friends - and the limits of the new relationship. Why is it happening, and what are the consequences? They also discuss why it is that the phrase “per capita” explodes on Google search in New Zealand during the olympics. The olympics came to and end the past Sunday, and the medal count tells an interesting story about how the world is developing. South Africa did well comparatively during the event, but there is still an open question about whether SA athletes get sufficient support from our Olympic Committee.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Hundred metre dash | Volatility | Crowd wisdom

2024-08-0623:17

This week we discuss the sporting spirit of the Olympics, the stock market correction and volatility likely to follow, and whether common purpose finally prevailsProduction and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Olympics, the GNU starts well and the retailers race for market share

2024-07-2919:06

Did you know how much actual gold there is an Olympic gold medal? (Hint: not much.) 2024 is the year of elections with huge numbers of voters expressing their choices. And how is it going so far. You have to say pretty well. And what about the important process of shopping. How is retail changing. Its all in our podcast today.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Biden takes our advice, SA's cities, and handbags at dawn

2024-07-2522:19

Time in the Marketshttps://foord.co.za/insights/publications-1https://foord.co.za/sites/default/files/2021-04/Foord_Time%20in%20the%20Markets_Digital.pdf Teach Your Child to Investhttps://foord.co.za/insights/publications/teach-your-child-to-invest Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Sport, success, and succession

2024-07-1518:31