In the first of a two-part series, The Fin podcast talks to the critics around the Financial Review newsroom to get their recommendations for film, television, books and music.

Further reading:

The 10 best albums of 2024 (if Taylor Swift isn’t your jam)
Soulful singer songwriters, rising indie superstars, Australian up-and-comers and a floor-filling techno god. Welcome to the year’s best sounds.
12 books fiction lovers will give (or hope to receive)
We asked prominent Australian writers, readers, tome-buyers and page turners to tell us what they are most hoping to get – and send to others.
This might be the most explosive tennis movie ever made
Challengers packs a punch.

In the first of a two-part series, The Fin podcast talks to the critics around the Financial Review newsroom to get their recommendations for film, television, books and music.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/sound-reasoning-the-10-best-albums-of-2024-20241203-p5kvkw" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/sound-reasoning-the-10-best-albums-of-2024-20241203-p5kvkw" data-sk="tooltip_parent">The 10 best albums of 2024 (if Taylor Swift isn&rsquo;t your jam)</a> Soulful singer songwriters, rising indie superstars, Australian up-and-comers and a floor-filling techno god. Welcome to the year&rsquo;s best sounds. <a href="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/the-fiction-lover-s-guide-to-christmas-gifting-20241023-p5kkt3" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/the-fiction-lover-s-guide-to-christmas-gifting-20241023-p5kkt3" data-sk="tooltip_parent">12 books fiction lovers will give (or hope to receive)</a> We asked prominent Australian writers, readers, tome-buyers and page turners to tell us what they are most hoping to get &ndash; and send to others. <a href="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/this-might-be-the-most-explosive-tennis-movie-ever-made-20240419-p5fl9d" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/this-might-be-the-most-explosive-tennis-movie-ever-made-20240419-p5fl9d" data-sk="tooltip_parent">This might be the most explosive tennis movie ever made</a> Challengers packs a punch.

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.

Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.
Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter.

The Fin

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts. 

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts.&nbsp;

Latest episodes 

Summer special: AFR critics on what to watch, read and listen to this summer

This week on The Fin podcast political editor Phillip Coorey and NSW political correspondent Paul Karp on the carnage at Bondi, what is being done to make sure it never happens again and whether it’s enough.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading: 

‘When is the shooting gonna stop?’ 9 minutes of terror on Bondi Beach
At first, the crowd thought it was fireworks; but as the bloodied bodies dropped around them, they realised this was a shooting and they were the targets.
Minns wants new laws to block protests after terror attacks
The NSW government has recalled parliament to legislate caps on gun ownership and new protest restrictions, despite federal Nationals rejecting a gun crackdown.
Just like that, the nation grew accustomed to antisemitism
The government did act to ward off “the long shadows of the past” for Jews, but not enough. And for that, it is exposed.

This week on The Fin podcast&nbsp;political editor Phillip Coorey and NSW political correspondent Paul Karp on the carnage at Bondi, what is being done to make sure it never happens again and whether it&rsquo;s enough.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.acenda.com.au/">Acenda</a>&nbsp;
Further reading:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/when-is-the-shooting-gonna-stop-9-minutes-of-terror-on-bondi-beach-20251215-p5nnqj" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/when-is-the-shooting-gonna-stop-9-minutes-of-terror-on-bondi-beach-20251215-p5nnqj" data-sk="tooltip_parent">&lsquo;When is the shooting gonna stop?&rsquo; 9 minutes of terror on Bondi Beach</a> At first, the crowd thought it was fireworks; but as the bloodied bodies dropped around them, they realised this was a shooting and they were the targets. <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/nsw-parliament-recalled-as-federal-nationals-reject-guns-crackdown-20251217-p5noda" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/politics/nsw-parliament-recalled-as-federal-nationals-reject-guns-crackdown-20251217-p5noda" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Minns wants new laws to block protests after terror attacks</a> The NSW government has recalled parliament to legislate caps on gun ownership and new protest restrictions, despite federal Nationals rejecting a gun crackdown. <a href="https://www.afr.com/opinion/just-like-that-the-nation-grew-accustomed-to-antisemitism-20251215-p5nnoi" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/opinion/just-like-that-the-nation-grew-accustomed-to-antisemitism-20251215-p5nnoi" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Just like that, the nation grew accustomed to antisemitism</a> The government did act to ward off &ldquo;the long shadows of the past&rdquo; for Jews, but not enough. And for that, it is exposed.

'Too dangerous to run': After Bondi, Australia grapples with division

This week on The Fin podcast: Greg Bearup and Carrie LaFrenz on what’s behind Australia’s retail crime wave, why Victoria is ground zero and whether facial recognition technology is the answer. 

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading:
We met a professional shoplifter to understand this crime’s popularity
Retailers are contending with a new type of player in their industry. Here’s how such offenders became a nationwide phenomenon and scourge of the country.
Facial recognition tech vital to protect staff and shoppers: retailers
Business leaders are ramping up efforts to combat surging crime rates, but their use of new tech is running up against privacy concerns.
Victoria accounts for half the rise in crime at Woolworths stores
The supermarket giant is the latest retailer to use profit season to highlight an increase in crime and aggression against staff.

This week on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afr.com/podcast/thefin" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/podcast/thefin" data-sk="tooltip_parent">The Fin&nbsp;podcast:</a> Greg Bearup and Carrie LaFrenz on what&rsquo;s behind Australia&rsquo;s retail crime wave, why Victoria is ground zero and whether facial recognition technology is the answer.&nbsp;
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.acenda.com.au/">Acenda</a>&nbsp;
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/how-shoplifting-became-the-crime-of-the-nation-20250827-p5mqa0" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/how-shoplifting-became-the-crime-of-the-nation-20250827-p5mqa0" data-sk="tooltip_parent">We met a professional shoplifter to understand this crime&rsquo;s popularity</a> Retailers are contending with a new type of player in their industry. Here&rsquo;s how such offenders became a nationwide phenomenon and scourge of the country. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/facial-recognition-tech-vital-to-protect-staff-and-shoppers-retailers-20250918-p5mw2e" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/facial-recognition-tech-vital-to-protect-staff-and-shoppers-retailers-20250918-p5mw2e" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Facial recognition tech vital to protect staff and shoppers: retailers</a> Business leaders are ramping up efforts to combat surging crime rates, but their use of new tech is running up against privacy concerns. <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/victoria-accounts-for-half-the-rise-in-crime-at-woolworths-stores-20250827-p5mqdh" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/politics/victoria-accounts-for-half-the-rise-in-crime-at-woolworths-stores-20250827-p5mqdh" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Victoria accounts for half the rise in crime at Woolworths stores</a> The supermarket giant is the latest retailer to use profit season to highlight an increase in crime and aggression against staff.

Why Australia is in the middle of a shoplifting crime wave

Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and technology editor Paul Smith on the multi-trillion dollar AI investment boom, where the opportunities are for Australia and what happens if it goes wrong.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading: 

OpenAI in Australian blitz as it woos start-ups, corporates
The Silicon Valley giant behind ChatGPT will offer free services to major venture capital-backed tech companies as it attempts to steal a march on rivals.

Burry, Buffett and boomers: How markets drive our ugly generation gap
While investors love the contrarian wisdom of Michael Burry and Warren Buffett, capital-soaked markets mean the world they won in is gone, creating deep societal problems.

Reasons the AI bubble doesn’t look like the dotcom crash (yet)It’s the biggest spending spree in history. Is the AI boom a bubble, and what does it mean for investors and the Australian economy if it bursts?

Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and technology editor Paul Smith on the multi-trillion dollar AI investment boom, where the opportunities are for Australia and what happens if it goes wrong.
This podcast is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acenda.com.au/">Acenda</a>&nbsp;
Further reading:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/openai-in-australian-blitz-as-ai-giant-woos-start-ups-corporates-20251202-p5nk44" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/technology/openai-in-australian-blitz-as-ai-giant-woos-start-ups-corporates-20251202-p5nk44" data-sk="tooltip_parent">OpenAI in Australian blitz as it woos start-ups, corporates</a> The Silicon Valley giant behind ChatGPT will offer free services to major venture capital-backed tech companies as it attempts to steal a march on rivals.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/wealth/investing/burry-buffett-and-boomers-how-markets-drive-our-ugly-generation-gap-20251120-p5ngxa" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/wealth/investing/burry-buffett-and-boomers-how-markets-drive-our-ugly-generation-gap-20251120-p5ngxa" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Burry, Buffett and boomers: How markets drive our ugly generation gap</a> While investors love the contrarian wisdom of Michael Burry and Warren Buffett, capital-soaked markets mean the world they won in is gone, creating deep societal problems.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/4-reasons-the-ai-bubble-doesn-t-look-like-the-dotcom-crash-yet-20251029-p5n6cy" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/4-reasons-the-ai-bubble-doesn-t-look-like-the-dotcom-crash-yet-20251029-p5n6cy" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Reasons the AI bubble doesn&rsquo;t look like the dotcom crash (yet)</a>It&rsquo;s the biggest spending spree in history. Is the AI boom a bubble, and what does it mean for investors and the Australian economy if it bursts?

Summer special: AFR critics on what to watch, read and listen to this summer

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