The ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. The WGA, a labor union representing over 11,500 writers in the US, is locked in a dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a trade association of more than 350 US television and film production companies. The core issues at the heart of the strike have been brewing for quite some time, with the evolution of the entertainment industry playing a...

Argentina is currently grappling with an economic crisis that has seen inflation rates skyrocket to over 100%. This has placed Argentina among the countries with the highest inflation rates globally, surpassed only by Zimbabwe and Venezuela. In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan delve into the factors contributing to this crisis, the government’s response, and its impact on the Argentine population.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, Tesla continues to make waves. Recently, the company announced plans to open a new factory in Shanghai, China, aimed at producing its Megapack storage units. This move is set to double Tesla’s worldwide production of the Megapack, further solidifying its position as a leader in the EV market. Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan unpack Tesla’s ambitious plan to double its worldwide production of the Megapack, a large capacity...

In part 2 of our conversation, Steve talks about how Memrise has implemented AI technology in their learning platform and what benefits it offers to the language learner. He also gives his views on what place AI has in the language learning process. Will we even need to study second languages in the future in order to communicate with each other?

In this episode of Down to Business English, we’re joined by Steven Toy, the CEO of Memrise, a leading online language learning platform. Steven takes us through how AI and GPT technology have been integral to Memrise’s success, their unique approach to language learning, and what it means for the future of the industry. With over 23 languages available and a user base of 65 million learners, the platform has become well-known for its innovative use of AI. From their humble beginnings to...

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba and one of China’s most prominent businessmen, has recently returned to China after spending two years maintaining a low profile abroad. This event has not only reignited interest in Ma’s activities but also coincides with a series of important changes within the Alibaba Group. Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan discuss Jack Ma’s return to China and Alibaba’s restructuring. Why was Jack Ma keeping a low profile over the past two years? What are the details...

While the beef industry’s impact on climate change is a global phenomenon, Brazil’s industry is unique and has specific environmental concerns. Samantha Vega and Skip Montreux discuss the Brazilian beef industry and its impact on the environment. They start by highlighting the size and importance of the industry in Brazil, and also discuss the major concern of the industry’s role in deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. How big is this industry? How is it contributing to the...

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan delve into the history and sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Although not a household name, SVB was well-known among venture capitalists and tech start-ups for their specialized banking services. Why did Silicon Valley Bank bank fail? How did high interest rates and social media play a role? And what other banks have met the same fate as SVB? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega explore the caste system, its origins, and the impact it has in tech hubs like Seattle and Silicon Valley. What is the caste system, its origins, and how has it made its way to the United States, particularly in tech hubs like Seattle and Silicon Valley? How has Seattle addressed caste discrimination, and what impact has this groundbreaking law had on other states, such as California? What are the criticisms surrounding the anti-caste discrimination...

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan discuss the top e-commerce platforms in various regions worldwide. Where is Amazon not the biggest player in the market? Who are the competitors giving them a run for their money? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan report on Air India’s record breaking purchase of aircraft from AirBus and Boeing. How many aircraft did Air India purchase? How does this sale compare to previous orders in the aviation industry? Why is Air India upgrading their fleet of airplanes? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Dez Morgan and Skip Montreux discuss the results of Brand Finance’s Global 500 2023 Report. How does Brand Finance calculate the value of a brand? What are some of world’s top 10 most valuable brands? What are the most valuable brand sectors? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan report on the US dollar and discuss why it is such a strong currency. We also take a close look at the impact a strong dollar has on economies around the world. Why is the US dollar so strong at the moment? How does a strong US dollar affect global trade? What impact does a strong US dollar have on developing and emerging economies? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega report on the European Union’s proposed ban of Forever chemicals What are Forever chemicals? Why is the EU considering banning them? What will the ramifications of a ban be for manufacturers who use Forever chemicals in their products? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan report on how changing demographics around the world will impact economies in the years to come. How do demographics shape a country’s economy? What do demographics tell us about the world today? What will the impact be of China’s falling birthrate and population? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Samantha Vega and Skip Montreux report on the alarming rate wind turbines have been collapsing and malfunctioning around the world. Why are newly built wind turbines suddenly collapsing? How is the industry responding to this issue? Will this problem prevent governments from achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

In part three of a four-part interview, Skip Montreux interviews Gregory Kostiuk, the President and Founder of StratEx Sales. Greg talks about defining your target market, tracking, setting SMART goals, and team compensation. How do you identify your target customer? What are SMART goals and how do you use them? What should compensation to your sales team be tied to? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega talk about OpenAI and their disruptive AI powered chat box—ChatGPT. What is OpenAI and ChatGPT? What is ChatGPT capable of? Could this new AI technology be a game changer across a wide range of industries? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega update some of the stories D2B reported on in 2022. What has been Elon Musk’s impact on Twitter since becoming CEO? Has Will Smith resurrected his career since ‘The Slap’ incident at the Academy Awards in April? What happened to Lisa LaFlamme and Bell Media after her firing in September? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Dez Morgan and Skip Montreux report on the financial reform package announced by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt in Edinburgh, Scotland. What do these financial reforms entail? Why are these reforms being implemented? How will they change the UK’s financial industry? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan report on the economics of lotteries. How important is lottery revenue for governments? Why was the recent Powerball lottery in the US historic? Who gets the most benefit from lotteries? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan discuss the business side of the World Cup being hosted in Qatar. How did the World Cup end up in Qatar? What were the financial and human costs involved in hosting the event? What is sportswashing? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Skip Montreux speaks with Lindsay McMahon of the All Ears English podcast about her journey from English teacher to podcaster & entrepreneur. After their conversation, Samantha Vega joins Skip to talk about some of the vocabulary used in the interview. What is Lindsay’s background? How did she come up with the idea for All Ears English? What are the challenges and benefits to working with a team remotely? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Dez Morgan reports to Skip Montreux on the Merger and Acquisition between Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster that was recently blocked by a US court. Why were the two publishers trying to merge? Why did a US court prohibit the merger? Will the companies appeal the decision? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

In part 2 of the Canva story, Skip Montreux tells Samantha Vega about Canva’s journey from small graphic design company to the giant Unicorn they are today. How did Canva approach raising capital in Silicon Valley? Who is Bill Tai and how did he help Canva get started? What is Canva worth today? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.