BlueYard in the Media

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston raises a pint to the global phenomenon that is Guinness. With its recent rise to become the UK’s favourite pint, we hear how Guinness has successfully expanded its consumer base when Mandy talks to Frank McNally. Mandy also looks at the hospitality sector where Irish hotels have undergone significant changes in recent years. With news of three new global players entering the market, there’s a discussion about the current landscape of the industry. Plus with the huge interest in AI among tech leaders in Ireland Mandy examines why this interest hasn’t yet translated…

Local elections over in the UK have led to a surprising conservative loss, with the Labour Party picking up the most council seats. With Tory plans to replace Prime Minister Rishi Sunak all but finished for the moment, what does this mean for the overall political landscape in the UK? Lucy Fisher, Correspondent with the Financial Times, fills us in on the details News of Trinity students protesting and blocking access to the Book of Cells due to their college’s ties with Israeli investments make headlines this week. We’re joined now by journalist and author Vincent Bevins, to ask, “do…

In the US there’s a split-screen election underway with Donald Trump in the dock and President Biden doing his best to tell everyone about it. Lauren Fedor of the Financial Times brings us the latest from the US election campaign. New checks on imports into the UK on Agri and food products were introduced this week. Mandy finds out how they went down with businesses and what it might mean for the consumer. And we dive into the ever-evolving landscape of AI in business & politics, and the efforts of countries vying for control and regulation of this transformative sector.…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston delves into the world of Customer Service when she talks to the Consumer Editor with the FT Claer Barrett about the role of ‘Bots’ and AI when trying to contact companies. As Liz Truss’s new book sparks controversy Mandy talk to Ian Dale of LBC Radio about her tenure and memoir. And, as the Government unveils its economic projections, Economist Dan O’Brien offers his insights on their fiscal strategy. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/is-customer-service-dead-in-the-age-of-ai

The seven most valuable companies are not only linked by their financial success they are linked by Artificial Intelligence and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at the “magnificent seven”; who they are, how much are they valued at, and are they unstoppable in terms of their economic success? Mandy is joined by Karl Schmedders, Professor of Finance at IMD Business School in Zurich. It’s part of our new slot called ‘Tech Scape’ with thanks to PWC. At the other end of all that technology is of course the ‘smartphone’. Mandy discusses the pressing topic highlighted in Professor…

This week on Taking Stock: As Simon Harris prepares to take over at the helm of Government, he’s faced with the tricky task of rearranging his Cabinet – Mandy is joined by John Downing, Political Columnist with the Irish Independent & former government press officer with the Green Party as well as Gerard Howlin, Public affairs consultant, political commentator and former senior government adviser to look back at some of the leaders who have got it wrong in the past. Following the announcement that Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun will be stepping down by the end of the year, Zach Wichter,…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talk to Josh Glancy of the Sunday Times about a recent trip to Taiwan and why it may be the place that reshapes the modern world. What Government needs to do for Tourism; Mandy talks to Eoghan O’Mara Walsh of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and Economist Jim Power about the state of the Hospitality Sector. Plus for the weekend that it is Mandy is joined by Susannah Savage the Commodities Correspondent of the Financial Times to look at the rapidly growing price of Cocoa and what it may mean for your favourite…

She’s arguably one of the most powerful women on the planet and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at Ursula von der Leyen and her life, her leadership, and her bid for another term as President of the EU Commission. Suzanne Lynch of Politico joins Mandy to give us a profile. Across the water Rishi Sunak started the week with a warning shot across the bows of his party. But will he last long enough to pull the plug himself? Mark Paul of the Irish Times tells us what’s going on in the Tory Party. Plus we venture into…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston has something a little different when she takes a look at the Irish Music, Movie Makers and Visitor Attractions that have proved the most lucrative. She has assembled a crack team of Newstalkers! https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/the-irish-musicians-movies-and-attractions-that-have-made-the-most-money

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Stephen O’Leary of Olytico and Mark Corcoran of Taxback about how the Revenue Commissioners are starting to turn their attention to social media influencers.  Mandy delves into the Russian security services’ use of poisoning with Financial Times special correspondent Courtney Weaver. Plus Joshua Oliver discusses his latest book, ‘The Hype Machine; The Ultimate Guide to the Crypto Boom and Bust.” https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/taxing-times-for-influencers

Melania Trump has been somewhat absent from her husband’s side of late. But who is the woman behind the man who is fighting to return to the White House. This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Washington Post and author of ‘The Art of Her Deal’ Mary Jordan. John Mooney of the Sunday Times explores Ireland’s role as a hub for dangerous drug cartels from all over the world. Plus Richard Spencer of the Times discuss China’s economic shifting fortunes. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/wheres-melania

There was a lot of ‘football’ news in the last few days and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston takes a look at the money going into sports stadiums around Ireland and the League of Ireland’s sudden surge in popularity with wealthy business people. Water may be the next big issue for Irish Business and Mandy talks to Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times about how our supply is drying up.  Plus Caroline Vakil from the Hill in Washington tells us about what’s next in the Trump melodrama across the water. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/irish-soccer-water-and-trump

 As International Women’s Day approaches Mandy Johnston tries to unravel ‘imposter syndrome’. It’s often linked to women but it is something that 70% of people experience at some point in their lives. It was once Europe’s economic engine. But are the wheels about to come off the Germany economy? Plus, where do you get your news and entertainment? Core media join Mandy to tell us about the latest media trends and what that means for advertising in 2024. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/are-you-an-imposter

On Tuesday, 13th of February 2024, the Irish University Associations held their Future of Ireland event, in the Alex Hotel ‘Why Universities Matter for Foreign Direct Investment’. Mandy Johnston hosted the event with impactful discussions with Michael Lohan CEO of IDA Ireland, Professor David FitzPatrick, President of Technological University Dublin and Michael Beary former Country Manager Ireland for Amazon Web Services.

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston takes a deep dive in the business of Michelin Stars with food writer Tom Doorley and asks what a star really means for a restaurant? Mandy talks to the co-author of ‘Eavesdropping on Millionaires’ to find out what makes those people tick financially and personally. Plus as Ryanair buys houses and planes Mandy talks to Aviation Expert Gerry Byrne. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/michelin-stars-and-millionaires

A recent and intriguing case in the UK shines a light on the problems that some employers face in convincing their employees to return to the office and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Michael O’Dwyer, Chief UK Business Correspondent at the Financial Times and Chris Kane, author of “Where is My Office” about the lengths some companies are prepared to go to. It looks like Donald Trump has this week guaranteed his position as the Republican nominee. Mandy talks to Caroline Vakil from The Hill about all that happened in the Primaries this week. Plus why…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston chats to Leela de Krester of Reuters who is in Davos to get a handle on what really goes on at the snowy Think-Tank. Russian’s Brain Drain; Mandy hears from journalist Jason Corcoran about all the qualified people leaving Russian and what Putin is doing to try and make them stay. And with the Houthi Rebels seeming to dominate affairs in the Middle East we hear from Anna Gordon of TIME about the group who are changing Global Trade. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/can-bankers-and-billionaires-solve-the-worlds-problems-at-davos

What’s going at the Irish Stock Exchange as some of the biggest companies leave Ireland for the UK and the US? This week on Taking Stock Mandy talks to the man in charge, Daryl Byrne CEO of Euronext Dublin, who explains why some of our biggest companies delisted last year.  Housing is still the only game in town, Aoife Brennan is Head of Research and Development at Lisney takes Mandy through their housing and commercial property predications for 2024.  And finally – a pathfinder and a visionary is how he was described this week by those who knew him, we’ll look…

This week om Taking Stock Mandy Johnston takes a deep dive into the state of American Politics and European politics.  She is joined by Simon Tisdell Foreign Commentator with the Guardian who looks at the divided state of American and UK politics. Mandy also chats to Naomi O’Leary the European Correspondent with the Irish Times who details the growing movement of Far-Right parties across Europe. Back home in Ireland Jennifer Kavanagh Law Lecturer tells us about the various referendums and possible election that we have in store in 2024. And for the week that’s in it Mandy also chats to…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy has some festive fun when she is joined by Newstalk ‘Family’ Jess Kelly, Henry McKean and John Fardy to chat about the best-selling toys, songs and movies of all time. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/the-best-selling-christmas-toys-songs-and-movies

Christmas came early at the Department of Finance as exchequer figures revealed a bounce back in corporation tax take – Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times gives us his assessment and looks at the wider economy as we end the year. Best-selling author and New York Times journalist, Rob Copeland, joins Mandy to talk about his book ‘The Fund’ which looks into the notorious hedge-fund giant Ray Dalio. Caroline Vakil, Campaign Reporter with The Hill talks us through this week’s Republican presidential debate.

Our dilemma over Data Centres continues – with some warning that Ireland risks a ‘Brexit moment’ as companies look elsewhere for their base. This week on Taking Stock Mandy John talks to John Collins of the Currency about the emotive issue of how many Data Centres Ireland should have. What the world wants! – there’s a new global study of consumer behaviour.  Mark Curtis, Global Head of Innovation and Thought Leadership & Sustainability Lead for Accenture Song looks at  the new 2024 Life Trends report from Accenture. And finally the cost of war – as Israel raises billions in a  borrowing bonanza…

This week on the Taking Stock Podcast: Mandy speaks to freelance journalist, Josefina Salomon about the election of Javier Milei, Argentina’s new far-right president; Over the last few days Everton football club was hit by a 10-point deduction after an independent commission’s ruling, Mandy is joined by Martin Lipton, Chief Sports Reporter at The Sun to explore the implications for the club and for the Premier League as a whole; and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman has announced his return to OpenAI just days after he was fired by the board, tech journalist Chris Stokel-Walker joins Mandy with the details.

David Cameron was catapulted back into British politics this week; what does it say about Rishi Sunak/s leadership struggles and what now for the embattled Tory Party? This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Sir John Curtice about the state of the British Government. Ireland is struggling to cut emissions to say the least. But what can be done? David Mc Gee from PwC and Muireann Lynch from the ESRI share their views. And ‘Buying Silence; How Oligarchs, Corporations and Plutocrats use the law to gag their critics’ the author of a new book on the subject David…

Trump on Trial; this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Joe Miller of the Financial Times to hear what it was like in court in NYC this week. Things sound like they are ‘Maxed-out’ at Dublin Airport and likely to stymie airlines’ growth in 2024; Mandy looks behind the facts and figures with Ellie Donnelly of the Business Post Plus, the ‘WeWork’ story; Mandy looks at what it says about the cult of the CEO and about office culture in 2023 when she chats to Elliot Brown Co-author of ‘The Cult of We’. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/trump-on-trail-and-the-cult-of-we

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston asks are we really trying to get away from Fossil Fuels? With news of a Mega Oil deal in the US Mandy asks what does it tell us about the transition to green energy when she talks to Energy Editor at the Financial Times Jamie Smyth. As comic legend John Cleese takes up a role with GB News and Boris Johnson set to become a presenter soon, we look at the people and finance behind the controversial opinion-led station when Mandy talks to Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster Steven Barnett.…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston takes a look at the eventful first year in power for Italian PM Giorgia Meloni when she chats to Mark Lowen the BBC News Southern Europe correspondent. Mandy also looks at the use and misuse of social media in the Israel/Palestine conflict when she talks to Sophia Khatsenkova the Tech and Disinformation Correspondent for Euronews. And with more and more people eschewing typical ‘retirement’ Mandy talks to Michael Skapinker a leadership educator and Louisa Meehan a workplace expert about changing the narrative around ‘stopping work’. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/retiring-retirment

Last week, a political bombshell dropped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his independent run for the US Presidency in 2024 and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Michael Wendling of the BBC about what it means for the race. With businesses all around the world facing many difficult global tensions companies are turning more and more to former diplomats, politicians, and civil servants for advice at the board level. Could this trend be linked to the growing number of politicians choosing to exit the political stage here in Ireland? Mandy talks to Michael Dwyer from the Financial…

With the sad passing of Chuck Feeney this week on Taking Stock Mandy Jonston examines the life and generosity of the billionaire who gave away a fortune, much of it here in Ireland when she speaks with former Diplomat Ted Smyth. Is the Taxman about to get tough on debtors? Jon Ihle of the Sunday Times tells Mandy how the Revenue are cracking down on a blasé attitude to tax that took hold during the pandemic. As hostilities in Israel and Gaza intensify, Mandy examines the origins of the conflict and look at the geo-political interests of everyone in this…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at the British Party Conference season which never fails to entertain and this week was no different. Lucy Fisher who is the Financial Times Whitehall Editor tells us all about the Tory Party conference this week. Crypto Goes on Trial as Sam Bankman-Fried Faces his reckoning and we hear the latest from WIRED’s Joel Khalili. There were unprecedented scenes in the House of Representatives as their speaker is unceremoniously sacked and Mandy is joined by the US Guardian correspondent Joan Greve to find out what happens next. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/when-tories-dance

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston delves into the geopolitical landscape as Poland heads into an election. The war in Ukraine has cast a long shadow over the political arena and Mandy asks if Ukraine is being used as a political pawn and the implications that might hold. We hear from Joe Millar of the FT in New York who gives us an exclusive preview of what’s in store for Donald Trump’s upcoming court hearing next week. And there’s also the topic that’s on everyone’s minds – housing. With Budget 24 around the corner, Mandy takes a 360-degree view…

With less than a month to go to Budget 2024 Mandy Johnston takes stock of the warnings, wish lists and promises that we have been hearing all summer long with Business Post Editor Daniel Mc Connell & Economist Jim Power. A new book claims that many of us are walking around in a state of BLUR and that information overload is much more acute than we think. The author of that book – BLUR: Clear the Way Ahead – Susan Ford Collins joins Mandy. Credit Suisse has been in the news a lot recently having been bailed out by Government…

This week on Taking Stock Joe Lynam is in for Mandy Johnston and he looks at the tangled narrative of Brexit when he talks to author Josh White whose book ‘Goodbye United Kingdom: Descent into Chaos 2015-2022’ chronicles the Brexit crisis and all that that it has meant since. With Minister for Finance Pascal Donohue telling people they are free to deposit their money in foreign banks for better interest rates we take a look at what’s available and how easy or hard it is when Joe talks to Sinead Ryan, And finally news this week from the CSO has…

Tackling the supply side of the drugs market will never be enough; that’s the conclusion of the Currency who have been looking into the issue of drug use in Ireland. This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined by Thomas Hubert to take us through what they found.   Now we know that culture eats strategy every time, Frank Devine, specializes in creating a High-Performance culture and he talks to Mandy about his new book ‘Rapid Mass Engagement’.   And finally – Elon’s at it again. As Musk threatens to take on Ireland in the courts we’ll catch up with…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined by Congressman Brendan Boyle, rising star in the Democratic party to talk about his recent trip to Ireland where he addressed Dail Eireann and he’ll be giving us his take on the US political landscape as they prepare for Primaries.  Boundless changes in boundaries this week as the Electoral Commission sets out the map for the next election and while it may not be a starting gun the bullets are now loaded. Gary Murphy of DCU and Jennifer Kavanagh Constitutional Law Expert takes us through what they mean. Germany the economic…

Coming up on this week’s Taking Stock Podcast: Your home may have become your office thanks to the pandemic, but could empty office space become new homes? Shane Duffy, Director of Office Agency with Savills joins Mandy to discuss the possibilities. Who is Keir Starmer? Oliver Eagleton, author of ‘The Starmer Project’ joins us to shed some more light on the man tipped to be the next UK PM. And, Engineering Industries Ireland (EII) has launched its Budget 2024 submission, calling on the Government to use Budget 2024 to enhance competitiveness, innovation, sustainability, and skills in the engineering sector. To…

On this week’s Taking Stock Podcast: Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times explains why mega projects like the MetroLink and the Children’s Hospital take so long and cost so much in Ireland. Nigel Doolin, co-founder and managing director at Core Bullion joins Mandy to explain the value of holding your money in gold and why is it one of the most stable assets to have. And the banking sector in Ireland has revealed massive profits in recent weeks, Sean Keyes of the Currency takes us through their latest set of bumper results. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/the-enduring-value-of-gold-irelands-infrastructure-woes-bumper-banking-profits

Hugh O Connell, Deputy Political Editor with the Irish and Sunday Independent and Aileen Hickey Barrister and CEO of Parentline join Mandy Johnston for the top stories hitting the headlines this morning. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/on-the-record-with-gavan-reilly/on-the-record-newspaper-panel-august-6th

Hannah Daly, Professor in Sustainable Energy and Energy Systems Modelling at UCC joins Mandy to discuss the government’s National Hydrogen Strategy. In the political arena, the debates surrounding rail and road options have caused much debate leaving both policymakers and the public in a state of confusion. Mandy gets the insights of Edgar Morgenroth, Professor of Economics at Dublin City University Business School. We discuss new research that discloses an alarming trend in the United States which shows a growing acceptance of violence as a means to achieve political objectives. Kira Lerner, Democracy Editor for Guardian US joins us to…

As a raft of big companies leave the Irish Stock Exchange, this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston asks why they are leaving and explores the importance of having a stock exchange here in Ireland with Donal MacNameee from the Business Post. While Vladimir Putin was clearly prepared for the initial economic impact of the war in Ukraine, the conflict has dragged on far longer than he expected. As Putin runs out of options Mandy talks to Melissa Lawford of The Daily Telegraph about what it means for the future of the war. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez engineered a…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to the Financial Times’ Legal Correspondent Joe Miller about Donald Trump’s latest possible Indictment. Linda Daly of the Sunday Times chats to Mandy about why Approved Housing Bodies might be the future of home building in Ireland. And finally Mandy talks to James Mayger, China Economy Editor at Bloomberg about China’s economic wobble. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/trumps-never-ending-indictments

This week on Taking Stock as Irish Universities make major gains on the QS World Rankings Mandy Johnston examines their relevance as Irish students are making their choices this Summer. As the world of work continues to change and evolve post- Covid many tech titans like Apple, Google, Meta have demanded staff show up to the office at least three days a week as new research shows that contrary to what we have come to believe, working from home is not as productive as being at work. Mandy talks to Chris Kane the author of Where is My Office? Reimagining…

Numbers loomed large this week, in the economy and the Government published their summer economic statement, so this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at inflation, spending and what lies ahead for hard pressed families with Economist Jim Power. In France protests continued on the streets and protests have repeatedly dogged the President’s term in office. Mandy ponders what all this says about Emanuel Macron and his tenure as President of France with Elizabeth Pineau the Reuters political correspondent. And finally, as the debate about the importance of public service broadcasting rumbles on Mandy look at the issue of…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston discusses the relationship between RTE and politicians when she chats to former Communications Minister Denis Naughten and asks how that works in real life! In the US there are now multiple whistle-blowers with high clearances coming forward to disclose information about their direct UFO knowledge. Mandy chats to Science Journalist Jeff Wise about what’s really going on. Plus we get a sense of who and what the Wagner Group in Russia are when Mandy hears from Jen Kirby of Vox. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/how-should-the-government-handle-rte

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston Mandy discusses just how hard or easy it is to set up a new political party. We hear from Political Consultant Stephen O’Byrnes and from Frank Fitzgerald from UL. Newsgroups are in the grip of a long-term battle to retain their audiences, that’s according to the latest Reuters Institute Digital News Report. Liam Collins a former news editor for the Sunday Independent and Emer Connolly is an academic who has looked at the media landscape here in Ireland and they join Mandy to examine the plight of journalists caught up this struggle. Plus…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston exploreS a special investigation by the Financial Times that uncovered shocking allegations of sexual assault and harassment within a prominent London hedge fund company. The FT’s Antonia Cundy tells us more about the investigation and the fallout. Mandy also dives into the captivating world of leadership discussing why figures like Trump and Boris Johnson remain popular. Neil Jurd, OBE, renowned author and former Army Officer shares his insights. Plus, as Dublin Airport unveils its plans for massive expansion Ellie Donnelly from the Business Post and Paul Hackett President of the Irish Travel Association…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Pilita Clark of the Financial Times and Sinead English the founder of Hilt Careers about how the modern worker is drowning in emails and what you can do about it. In the US things are hotting up in the race to decide who the Presidential candidates will be. Ted Smyth of the Clinton Foundation joins Mandy from America to take stock of the current runners and riders. Plus, Mandy talks to the former BBC Royal Correspondent and broadcaster Jennie Bond about this week’s Prince Harry Court Case as well as the…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Mark Paul the London Correspondent with the Irish Times about how Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s honeymoon period is well and truly over as Boris is still looming large as are the myriad of complications from Brexit. And staying in the UK Mandy talks to Lucy Fisher of the Financial Times about the proposed price cap in British Supermarkets. Plus what Jack Dorsey the Twitter founder did next. We hear from Chris Stokel-Walker. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/its-brexit-stupid

As the dust settles on last week’s local elections in Northern Ireland Mandy Johnston looks at the real figures and what they mean for the re=establishment of the Assembly and is joined by Tommie Gorman the former RTE Northern Ireland Editor who now writes on politics north and south for the Currency In San Francisco’s a crisis of homelessness, drug abuse and crime threaten the city’s future. Tabby Kinder leads the Financial Times’ coverage in Silicon Valley and across the US West Coast and she talks us through the latest developments in the city that seems at breaking point. Plus…

With the Covid Emergency now being officially deemed ‘over ‘many countries are now assessing how they managed their response to the Pandemic. This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Jack Horgan-Jones and Hugh O’Connell about their book ‘Pandemonium: Power, Politics and Ireland’s Pandemic’. Often seen as a ‘dirty word’, Sales has a bad reputation in the business world – but selling is a fundamental skill for any founder to successfully drive revenue and business growth. Mandy talks to Rob King the author of ‘Selling Creativity: How Creatives and Agencies can Grow their Business through the Art of Sales’…

On this week’s Taking Stock, Harry Dempsey, commodities correspondent for the Financial Times joins Mandy to discuss Chile’s move to take state control of important lithium projects and together they explore what that might mean for it and other South American economies in the years to come. Mandy speaks with Will Hutton, Political economist and writer for the Observer and the Guardian about how the British people’s relationship with the monarchy has changed over the decades and asks how relevant the institution actually is in a 21st-century UK. Dr. Ashley Morgan, Senior lecturer in the School of Art and Design,…

What’s going on with Global Sport? This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined by Nathan Murphy from ‘Off the Ball’ to discuss if the incredible levels of investment in sports nowadays actually make us consumers rather than fans. Mandy talks to the author of “Beyond the wall” – a new book which chronicles the short life of East Germany. It’s a book that’s getting rave reviews and reveals a colourful history that is full of surprises. And finally, as Tucker Carlson exits Fox News stage right Mandy examines the man, his influence, his departure and what might happen…

It’s shaping up to be the great question of our time; AI is moving at a pace that its creators never really expected. This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston asks can we control it before it controls us when she talks to Sarah Mayer West of the AI Now Institute. And back home, as organised crime featured large in the news this week, Mandy looks at the figures involved and where and how criminal gangs are stashing their money in the modern era with John Mooney of the Sunday Times. And finally bumper revenues and exports were outlined this…

This week on Taking Mandy Johnston takes a closer look at fraud in the art world, where counterfeit work now accounts for one fifth of all art in circulation. Mandy chats to Barbara Dawson the Director of the Hugh Lane Gallery. This week the International Monetary Fund issued a warning of a possible “hard landing” for the global economy if higher inflation keeps interest rates keep going. Mandy talks to Colby Smithy the US Economics Editor of the Financial Times. Plus after the recent Beijing ‘simulated’ bombing raids on the island of Taiwan Mandy talk to Amy Hawkins of the…

It seems the skies over America are in a strange state and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is talking about UFOs and Chinese Balloons and Aerial Mysteries – with Jeff Wise a scientific journalist about the strange goings on in American skies. And back on the ground Donald Trump was in the dock and Mandy talks to Joe Miller of the Financial Times in NYC who had a front row seat. And author Helen Edwards talks about her new book ‘From Marginal to Mainstream,’ where she examined 50 behaviours to understand why some business ideas take off and…

It’s not personal, just business! This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston chats about the hit series everyone is glued to; ‘Succession’ and explores the history of family business in the media and beyond. Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times discusses the ESRI’s & Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s recent musings on the Irish economy and why the Government are considering a ‘top-up tax’ for big business. Mandy also talks Tom Wainwright of the Economist magazine about their major study that looks at how prevalent ‘gaming’ is now in our economy and society. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/keeping-business-in-the-family

Boris was back in the dock this week. The Ex-PM was hauled in front of the parliamentary privileges committee as part of the investigation into whether he had deliberately misled the Commons. This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Stephen Castle who is the London Correspondent for the New York Times to get the low down on the testimony Boris gave. Mandy also discusses the issue of losing a very high profile job; being made redundant can be a difficult experience for anyone, but when it happens to those in the C-Suite, it can be very public. And…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Howard Schneider the Federal Reserve correspondent with Reuters about the chaos being caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Former Ambassador to the US Michael Collins chats to Mandy about what President Biden’s visit to Ireland means metaphorically and logistically. Plus Mandy talks to Ciara Sugrue who is the head of Festivals and Events with Fáilte Ireland about the changing nature of the Irish Festival. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/trouble-at-the-fed-bidens-visit-and-the-power-of-festivals

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston delves into the world of Silicon Valley and the ongoing saga of Sam Bankman Fried with Joshua Oliver of the Financial Times. Staying stateside Rupert Murdoch testifies that Fox commentators endorsed Trump’s 2020 Election. Jeremy Peters of the New York Times tells us all the latest news on the trial that’s gripping America. Plus Mandy takes a closer look at the gender pay gap as we approach International Women’s Day and how Irish businesses are faring with new reporting requirements when she chats to Doone O’Doherty Tax Partner, People & Organisation with PwC…

Are you curious about the future of cash? This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at the Bank of England’s plans to design a digital pound. Financial expert Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan from the Financial Times explains the details. Mandy will also be discussing the recent overhaul in Whitehall, as PM Rishi Sunak creates four new Government Departments. She is joined by Frank Fitzgerald of the University of Limerick and Marc Collison of Bangor University to debate whether Ireland should be following in the UK’s footsteps. And finally Mandy takes a look back at the one-year anniversary of the invasion of…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Rana Foroohar about the phenomenon known as ‘Shadow Working’ where we’re becoming increasingly responsible for doing those small jobs that companies used to do for us. 100 days of a leader’s reign are said to be crucial, and this certainly holds true for Elon Musk’s new position at Twitter. We’ll be hearing from journalist Chris Stokel-Walker and getting his assessment on how Musk has fared during this period. And finally, with the European Parliament’s decision to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, we’ll be discussing the current state of…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston chats to James Politi of the Financial Times about the current state of President Joe Biden’s political career and his potential bid for a second term. As the tech industry continues to make headlines announcing worldwide layoffs it reminds us that losing your job can be a difficult and stressful experience. So Career Consultant Sinead English talks about how to deal with redundancy and getting back on track. Finally Mandy chats to Martin Lipton Chief Sports reporter with the Sun about all that’s going on with the Economics of the Premier League. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/bidens-seconing-coming

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at cost and benefit of Saint Brigid’s day; with the first bank holiday of the year happening she asks what’s bill to the exchequer and the workforce? Mandy is joined by Elizabeth Bowen the acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Mandy will also be discussing the EU’s recent announcement of a comprehensive plan to support new investment in ‘Green’ sectors. With the US making a push to attract green investment, we’ll see how this plan could potentially enhance investment in green energy here in Ireland. Mandy talks to Javier Espinoza the…

As the UK marks the three-year anniversary of its exit from the EU this week, on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston asks if the country is living up to the “golden age” promised by the Conservative leaders and she is joined by Hanna Ziady, a writer for CNN Business in London, Mandy also looks at the current issues facing the medication supply chain and talks to Kathy Maher of the IPU about how you can protect yourself from buying counterfeit drugs online. Mandy also delves into the state of the housing market, exploring the impact of the “Bank of Mum and…

This week on Taking Stock as global leaders gathered in the Swiss Alps, Mandy Johnston looks at the origins of the conference – and finds out what its all about with Jon Sopel of the News Agents Podcast. And over at Disney the Executive Chairs were spinning like a merry go round. Mandy chats to the Financial Times’ LA Chief Christopher Grimes about all the drama in the boardroom of one of the world’s largest media companies. And finally we ask why so many new Chinese investors are flocking to the Emerald Isle? https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/from-davos-to-disney-this-weeks-taking-stock

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to journalist Jeff Maysh about the strange story of what happened when he went to be buy his wife a Rolex Watch. Mandy also chats to Former Diplomat Ted Smyth about why Ireland can’t take the special relationship between Ireland and the US for granted. Plus Marian Ryan on Taxback tells us about all you should be claiming back. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/the-murky-world-of-the-grey-economy

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Federica Taccogna an International Anti-Financial Crime expert about taking down the Mob and why Financial Crime is so widespread. Mandy asks leading Economist Cormac Lucey if Ireland, Europe or the US are headed for a recession in 2023? Plus the Tourism Industry Confederation CEO will be joining Mandy to explain why he thinks the sector will not fully recover from the pandemic until 2026! https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/investigating-the-italian-mafia

There’s a Special Taking Stock this week when Mandy Johnston talks to some of her regular contributors about the best business and politics books they read this year. You’ll hear from the likes of Mick Clifford and Will Hutton. You might get some last minute gift ideas for the news-obsessed person in your life. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/the-best-business-and-politics-books-of-the-year

The bounce back from Covid lockdowns is over. Growth is slowing and we can’t rule out a recession here in Ireland. But it is not showing up in the exchequer figures, with an extraordinary surplus of €12 billion reported for the first 11 months of the year last week. This week on Taking Stock Mandy chats Dan O Brien, Chief Economist for the Institute of International and European Affairs and columnist for the Sunday Business Post about why despite being awash with cash, the Government needs to tread carefully. And so too do CEO’s navigating business in these uncertain times…

A UK Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish government does not have the legal authority to hold an independence referendum without agreement from Westminster and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined by Minister Ivan McKee of the SNP who is Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise in Scotland This week saw unprecedented protests against President Xi Jinping and his zero-Covid policy in China. Mandy talks to Cindy Yu the Assistant Editor at The Spectator and she will tells us what lies beneath the uprising. And finally, a new study shows that over 600,000 people who…

He’s the man with a plan to halt Donald Trump’s bid for re-election – but who is Ron DeSantis? This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Bernd Debusmann Jr who is a BBC journalist based in Washington to talk about DeSantis the man, his mission and his meteoric rise within the Republican Party. And the man with no plan at all – Sam Bankman Fried, the owner of collapsed crypto exchange FTX. is facing multiple charges of company fraud in the US. Mandy talks to the Financial Times journalist Joshua Oliver about the extraordinary rise and fall of…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston look at the historic nature of the mid-term reshuffle which is due to take place here in Ireland next month and takes a deep diver into the Government; how it was formed, how it has performed and what is likely to happen when the changes are made by Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar. They’ll be switching places as they try to deal with everything that entails including a cost of living, energy and housing crisis. Mandy is joined by three experts who watch politics here in Ireland to give us all their views…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks our eating and travel habits post pandemic, because we have gone back to both with great gusto. Ryanair this week reported pre-tax profit of €1.4bn for the six months of the year. How did it recover so well and what are its plans for the future? Mandy chats Sean Keyes of the Currency about the secret of Ryanair’s success. Back on the ground here in Ireland, how we eat and when we eat has changed, and we hear from Maureen Gahan of Bord Bia about our new post pandemic dining-out habits And…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined from Washington by Financial Times Journalist Lauren Fedor to talk about how the US midterms will the first referendum on Joe Biden’s administration and they will also reveal the level of support for Trump style politics in the Republican party. Raging against his own machine; Elon Musk finally takes the helm, the Board and the kitchen sink at Twitter. Digital Cultural Expert Chis Stokel-Walker joins Mandy from London with his take on what’s going on behind the scenes at Planet Musk. Plus Irelands forestry Industry could provide the Government with significant…

On the 7th of October 2022 at the IMRO Awards in Kilkenny, Blue Yard’s CEO, Mandy Johnston picked up gold for the Gay Byrne award for Best Newcomer.

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined by former Justice Minister Nora Owen and by Caitríona Gleeson, CEO of Women For Election to look at the issue of Quotas on election ballots and ask if the landscape for prospective female politicians has changed. Mandy also chats to Sports Columnist with the Examiner Ian Mallon about the commercial and sponsorship value of Women’s Soccer in Ireland. And with the appointment of Rishi Sunak as UK Prime Minister Mandy is joined by renowned political economist Will Hutton to assess where UK politics goes now. https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/women-in-politics-and-sport-NDZmOWEwMGY2MDdjYjFkM2VmMmY3MWZhYzNkY2E0MWQ=

This week’s Taking Stock is coming to you from the IBEC HR Leadership Summit at Croke Park sponsored by Irish life health. Irish companies are hiring on all cylinders and Mandy Johnston talks to some of the HR leaders and their central role in strategically driving their business forward. You’ll hear from Maeve McElwee who is director of Employee Relations at IBEC about the main issues facing HR post Covid. The CEO of the Laura Lynn Foundation Kerry McLaverty talks about how HR has changed in the charity sector. Plus Megan Reitz from Hult Business School on staff feeling psychological…

The IMF warned this week that 2023 will feel like a recession as it cuts global growth forecasts for the fourth time this year. This Week on Taking Stock Mandy talks to Economist Jim Power who helps to decipher what it means for us here in Ireland. Pennies from Heaven; the halo effect that a Penny’s store can bring with it. Sunday Times journalist Linda Daly had done a deep dive and she joins Mandy to tell all. Clothes Shopping used to be an occasional event but that has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. Mandy is joined by…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy chat to Award-Winning journalist Marina Hyde about her new book ‘What Just Happened’ which reflects on her writings over the last number of years during which time she charts the incredible times in UK history. Government this week published a master plan to overhaul An Board Pleanála – but exactly how does the agency work and who are people making major decisions about the pace of building houses and key infrastructure in Ireland? Mick Clifford of the Irish Examiner joins Mandy to explain all. Staff retention has become a significant issue for lots of…

This week the “cost of living budget” doled out a record breaking 11 Billion. This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks macro and micro taxation with Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times and Marian Ryan, Consumer Tax Manager with Taxback Across the water the UK Budget received a scathing review from the IMF and calls for a rethink to its 45Billion pound debt funded tax package, Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde is here to unpick the political and economic implications for the Liz Truss Government. And when it comes to housing did the…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston asks if the United Kingdom can survive the death of Queen Elizabeth? She talks to the renowned Will Hutton of the Observer and the Guardian Big Pharma took a big hit on the stock market as US President Joe Biden declared the end of the pandemic. Mandy talks to Jamie Smyth of the Financial Times in New York to hear how it all affected the Stock Exchange And drama is guaranteed as the Italians head to the polls. Mandy examines if this could be the first time since World War II that Italy’s…

Flat packing its way to billions, Ikea’s journey in Ireland has been a lucrative one for the company, and on this week’s Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at why they are doing so well out of Ireland’s generous tax landscape and is joined by Thomas Hubert of The Currency Jackie King, Executive Director International Business of IBEC joins Mandy to give us her take on how our business leaders are coping with geopolitical difficulties and what IBEC want to see from Budget 2023 Plus it seems there’s no end in sight to grocery inflation as the rate at which food…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at the phenomena of “quiet quitting” where workers do less while still keeping their jobs. She chats to HR expert Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite. As the EU takes on the challenge of cleaning up the internet to make it safer for us all, Financial Times journalist Javier Ezpinoza takes us through the efforts being made by the big platforms to stave off more EU regulations. And why is Germany the barometer of the European project and are its current woes indicative of what countries are facing all over Europe? Mandy…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined by the author and financial journalist Philip Coggan who has just written a new book called Surviving the Daily Grind’ and he’ll give us all the tips on how to get through your working week. Twitter is back in the headlines as a whistle-blower emerges and Elon Musk is still creating impossible levels of drama for the company. Mandy talks to the technology correspondent with the Guardian Kari Paul Comeback Kings – Dara Calleary is back in Government. But who else has made it back from the political wilderness in Irish…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston analyses what was left in the wake of the departure of Ulster Bank and KBC and is joined by Sean Keyes from the Currency who takes a deep-dive into the state of Ireland’s Banking Sector. As Dublin Airport opened its third runway The Shannon Airport Group had a big rebrand this week and Mandy talks to CEO Mary Considine about the possibility for Shannon in a post-Covid economy Hope or hype? This week the Tánaiste said it will be about a decade before Hydrogen energy is a fuel source in Ireland. Mandy is…

How does a novel set in 1860s, published in the 1930s relate to America in 202? This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnson talks to Author Sarah Churchell about her new book ‘The Wrath to Come’ which looks at the mythmaking that sprung up following the Civil War right through to the current debates about racism and the far right in the United States. Just how many people find feedback in the workplace helpful and does it work? Mandy talks to The Deputy Editor of the Financial Times Magazine Esther Bintliff. And Mandy chats to Tax Expert Marian Ryan of…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy explores the complexities of university life both inside and outside of the lecture hall by getting the perspective of those that run our third-level institutions, as well as those that study there. Mandy speaks with Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of Galway University to get his insights into the Irish University landscape as a whole. Dr. Declan Raftery, Chief Operations Officer at Dublin City University, and Lewis Purser, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Academic Affairs from the Irish Universities Association, discuss the key issues facing universities going into the next academic year. Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich,…

A new report by PwC looks into whether old media is on the way out as the competition for our attention sends advertisers over the top and into the palms of our hands. Brianna Parkins of TheJournal.ie and Conor Forde, Director of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications at PwC join Mandy to discuss. Taking a sabbatical from work? Author of ‘Radical Sabbatical’, Emma Rosen joins Mandy to explain why more people are taking time out to find the answers to deeper career questions. And, the President of Italian soccer’s league Serie A, Lorenzo Cabrini, joins Mandy to explain exactly why there…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Sabah Meddings of the Sunday Times about the history of Starbucks and why it’s rumoured that it may be selling up its UK operation. Mandy is also joined by Thomas Hubert of the Currency who tells us how Multinationals here in Ireland are starting to prepare for the change in Corporation Tax Plus Mandy is joined by Professor John Doyle of DCU and by Senator Mark Daly to look at the possible costs of Irish Unification. https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/coffee-wars-multinational-tax-an-NzQ4NWI2YmRmZDkxOTk2MTc1ZDQwOWU1ODhjZTE5MTU=

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston discusses the dichotomy of dealing with climate change during a global energy war with Prof Michael Grubb from ULC in London Have you ever thought about getting in on ‘crypto’? The online currency is a risky business, but Sean Keyes from the Currency tells us all about it – and why investing in it is not for the faint-hearted. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has resigned, throwing Italy into political chaos. What might it also mean for the EU? Mandy discusses who is to blame for the resignation with Hugo McCafferty an Irish…

As the Euro fell below parity with the dollar for the first time in twenty years on this week’s Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times about what that means for the ECB’s approach to raising interests’ rates. Commercial property in Ireland has bounced back to almost pre-Covid levels. Shane Duffy of Savills explains exactly why commercial and office space in Ireland is still in high demand – despite all of the fundamental changes to our working lives. Plus Mandy looks at QAnon; the strange and subterranean group and why after two years of silence…

This week the massive spike in the rate of inflation has meant the Government has had to revise its plans for Budget 2023. Their own spending guidelines have now been set aside –– and it is clear that the budget will involve a big increase in spending. But is pumping so much into the economy at a time of such high inflation the right thing to do? This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston will be asking economist Austin Hughes for his views. Mandy is also joined by ICTU General Secretary Patricia King to look at union membership here in…

Concerns for Ireland’s energy security gather apace with some ominous reports this week that Britain may stop supplying gas to mainland Europe if the country is hit by extreme shortages in the coming months and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston will be discussing the potential implications of this and the wider issues with Paul Deane from UCC & Mark Varian, Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee with the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. PwC has called for greater clarity on new rules that oblige larger companies to report and publicly explain their gender pay gap. Mandy is…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston is joined by Daniel Susskind, Fellow in Economics at Balliol College, Oxford & co-author of ‘The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts’ to discuss the impact technologies are having on the way we work now and will continue to do so in the years to come. Trócaire CEO, Caoimhe de Barra & Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland discuss the battle they faced during the pandemic, pivoting their models to accommodate the drastic changes throughout that time and where the sector is now. And according to…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Martina Lawless of the ERSI about a possible looming trade war between the UK and The EU and what that might mean for Ireland. Author Bernard Marr talks about his latest book which has been named as Business Book of the year for 2022; ‘The 25+ Trends That Are Redefining Organisations’. And we hear about the Committee examining last year’s attack on the US Congress when Mandy is joined by Financial Time journalist Kiran Stacey from Washington to tell us about what has been happening and what does it all say…

Are we working harder than ever before? This week on Taking Stock Johnston hears how the 9 to 5 job is a dim and distant memory as she chats to Sarah O’Connor from the Financial Times who has written about the growing trend of seemingly never-ending work. Mandy chats to Journalist Erik Sherman about Global Supply Chain Problems and what’s really going on and how business can guard against future supply chain shocks. Plus Danny McCoy of IBEC on where the Irish economy is at now and what the Irish business sector want from Government as they struggle to deal…

No room at the inn for tourists coming into Ireland; this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Mark Paul from the Irish Times to hear his views on why supply and pricing is a big issue and who is to blame. Online Bullying; Mandy talks to Dr Tijana Milosevic of the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre and ask if we are making any advances or becoming conditioned to living with online negativity. Plus Simon Kuper from the Financial times joins us to discuss his new book ‘Chums; How a Tiny cast of Oxford Tories Took Over the UK’ https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/taking-stock/boris-chums-are-we-anti-hotel-building-and-not-letting-the-trolls-win

Banter in the workplace is often harmless in nature but in some cases it may be disguising a toxic work culture. This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks to Clinical Psychologist Anna Eliatamy about how to deal with a difficult work environment as an employee. Irish holiday makers are stuffing their wheelies and taking to the skies again with gusto, but where are they going? and how are international energy prices and supply chain issues affecting the cost of global travel and your summer breakaway? Mandy Chats to Paul Hackett, CEO of Click and Go and Travel Journalist and…

This week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston talks about the economics of golf; as the PGA Championship kicks off this weekend she is by journalist Fionn Davenport to discuss the mind boggling figures on offer to players for a breakaway tournament sponsored by money from the Middle East. A study of Irish Business has thrown up some very interesting information. It seems Irish companies are good at revealing gender diversity but not so much when it comes to disability or sexual orientation. We’ll hear about a new study which raises the question – Have we made the progress we think…

Brexit is back in the news in the aftermath of the Northern Ireland elections and this week on Taking Stock Mandy Johnston looks at the lesser known ‘Brexit Freedom Bill’ and what it might mean for Irish businesses. As Opinion polls and Market Research become more and more prevalent in your news cycle Mandy is joined by Richard Red Colwell the CEO of ‘Red C’ to find out more about how they are conducted and also by Sunday Times journalist Stephen O Brien who has been watching the changing landscape for research of this type for many years Plus as…