The Bottom Line

by BBC Radio 4
19

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.

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Recent Episodes
  • Decisions That Made Me: Sophie O’Brien (Pollen Careers, CEO)
    Apr 24, 2025 – 13:40
  • Decisions That Made Me: Sir Kenneth Olisa (technology entrepreneur)
    Apr 17, 2025 – 15:27
  • Decisions That Made Me: Chris May (Mayden, Founding Director)
    Apr 10, 2025 – 14:10
  • Decisions That Made Me: Claire Daniels (Trio Media, CEO)
    Apr 3, 2025 – 13:57
  • Decisions That Made Me: Julian Metcalfe (Itsu and Pret A Manger)
    Mar 27, 2025 – 15:11
  • Decisions That Made Me: Sonnaz Nooranvary (House of Sonnaz, upholsterer)
    Mar 20, 2025 – 13:49
  • Decisions That Made Me: Alan French (Thomas Cook, CEO)
    Mar 13, 2025 – 14:46
  • Running a Business: The Bottom Line Answers Your Questions
    Mar 6, 2025 – 35:22
  • Self-checkouts: Have Shops Reached Peak Self-Scan?
    Feb 27, 2025 – 29:19
  • London's Stock Exchange: why aren't companies listing in Britain anymore?
    Feb 20, 2025 – 37:14
  • Repairs: How Can Businesses Make Money From Fixing Things?
    Feb 13, 2025 – 32:56
  • DEI: Are Businesses Dumping Workplace Diversity?
    Feb 6, 2025 – 29:35
  • Robots On the Doorstep: Is This The Future Of Food Delivery?
    Jan 30, 2025 – 34:31
  • Unbossing: Can We Work Without Managers?
    Jan 23, 2025 – 35:11
  • A Four Day Week: Less Work for More People?
    Jan 16, 2025 – 46:37
  • Decisions That Made Me: Sir John Hegarty (The Garage Soho, Founder)
    Jan 12, 2025 – 13:49
  • Networking: Will It Actually Help Me Get a Job?
    Jan 9, 2025 – 34:06
  • Decisions That Made Me: Dana Denis-Smith (Obelisk Support, CEO)
    Jan 6, 2025 – 14:03
  • Decisions That Made Me: Jordan Brompton (Myenergi, Co-founder)
    Dec 18, 2024 – 14:40
  • Decisions That Made Me: Julian Douglas (VCCP, Global CEO)
    Dec 17, 2024 – 14:47
  • Decisions That Made Me: Rob Law (Trunki Suitcases, Inventor)
    Dec 17, 2024 – 14:46
  • Decisions That Made Me: Tom Pellereau (Stylideas, Inventor)
    Dec 12, 2024 – 16:30
  • Decisions That Made Me: Elmarie Marais (GoCrisis, Founder)
    Dec 5, 2024 – 13:48
  • Ideas: How To Turn Your Dreams Into Business Reality
    Nov 7, 2024 – 33:16
  • Marketing: How Effective Is Fear In Advertising?
    Oct 31, 2024 – 34:04
  • Google: The Couple That Took On The Tech Giant
    Oct 24, 2024 – 37:32
  • Evacuation: How to Rescue a Business From a War Zone
    Oct 17, 2024 – 38:21
  • Debt: Do Collectors Deserve Their Bad Reputation?
    Oct 10, 2024 – 32:11
  • Side Hustles: What's It Like Balancing Two Jobs At Once?
    Oct 3, 2024 – 31:39
  • New Tech: How Smart Is the Smart Energy System?
    Sep 26, 2024 – 35:03
  • The Bottom Line (unofficial) Business Awards
    Jul 25, 2024 – 37:12
  • The business of private schools
    Jul 18, 2024 – 34:06
  • Being the new broom
    Jul 11, 2024 – 30:29
  • The Business of Dying
    Jul 4, 2024 – 33:53
  • Is copyright going wrong?
    Jun 27, 2024 – 32:17
  • Is work getting more intense?
    Jun 20, 2024 – 28:33
  • Hype
    Jun 13, 2024 – 33:34
  • Electric Cars: Made in China?
    Jun 6, 2024 – 32:40
  • The Decisions That Made Me A Leader: Dragon's Den's Duncan Bannatyne
    May 20, 2024 – 43:10
  • The Decisions That Made Me A Leader: I Started My Business From Mum's Spare Bedroom
    May 20, 2024 – 40:45
  • The Decisions That Made Me A Leader: The Depop Story
    May 20, 2024 – 44:40
  • The Decisions That Made Me A Leader: Lastminute.com's Martha Lane Fox
    May 20, 2024 – 46:22
  • The Decisions That Made Me A Leader: How Ice Saved My Life
    May 20, 2024 – 38:42
  • The Decisions That Made Me A Leader: How To Retire Before 30
    May 20, 2024 – 39:34
  • In the eye of a crisis
    Mar 7, 2024 – 41:33
  • Rethinking retirement
    Feb 29, 2024 – 33:11
  • Where's the life in nightlife?
    Feb 22, 2024 – 35:21
  • Navigating the Say-Do Gap
    Feb 15, 2024 – 41:13
  • Feedback
    Feb 8, 2024 – 34:36
  • Meat
    Feb 1, 2024 – 33:55
Recent Reviews
  • vitalej17
    SO NEEDED RIGHT NOW!!
    This is one of the most important podcasts that can exist right now because of today's divisive climate. It brings an important voice to the issues of inclusivity and diversity within business ownership, as well as other necessary topics that speak to being a MORAL business owner and not just a successful one. Worth a listen to say the least!
  • The Original, SP
    More please
    I love this show. Wish there were more.
  • VOC_Nagasaki
    Great podcast
    Very thorough coverage of the important business topics we hardly read elsewhere.
  • becks221322
    Fascinating
    Fascinating subjects with interesting guests. Learn something from every episode.
  • Davo91
    Great podcast! Love every episode of it.
    Great podcast! Love every episode of it.
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