Best Books Tonic Podcasts (2026)

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As digital scams surge, who’s responsible? 32:58

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2h ago32:58

32:58

The surge in scams, phishing attacks and digital fraud is raising serious liability questions. So who should be doing more? In this live recording from this year’s FT Global Banking Summit, Michela poses that question to executives from Citi, KPMG and Open Banking Excellence. The conversation was recorded on December 2, 2025. The FT does not use ge…

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Ep 52 Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction: On Location at Reckless Town Distillery — From “Take Care of Maya” to “The Unknown Number” 1:14:01

1d ago1:14:01

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Full video available on Patreon This week on the Medical Media Mixer Podcast, we’re recording on location at Reckless Town Farm Distillery 🍸 for a relaxed, unfiltered chat about stories that prove truth really is stranger than fiction. Tara and Nicole dive into four standout documentaries and true stories — the devastating Take Care of Maya, the ex…

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The Economics Show: What economics gets wrong about human behaviour, with Richard Thaler 34:04

1d ago34:04

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Economists like to model people as rational creatures who make self-interested decisions. But humans don’t act that way. Why do investors, politicians and ordinary people act against their best interests – and how can they be nudged into making better decisions? To find out, FT economics commentator Chris Giles speaks to Richard Thaler, the foundin…

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Ep 51 The Sleighbell Spritz and The Blue Christmas: A Medical Deep Dive Into Santa, Stress, Seasonal Health, and Holiday Wellness 51:55

3d ago51:55

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In this festive episode, we raise a glass to two holiday cocktails — The Sleigh Bell Spritz and The Blue Christmas — while taking a smart, humorous look at Santa’s health through the lens of medicine, media, and modern wellness. We compare classic and modern portrayals of Santa (Miracle on 34th Street, The Christmas Chronicles), then step into a pl…

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Our BOOKS OF THE YEAR (2025) - Jesus, Cheese & Forbidden Soup 1:15:10

8d ago1:15:10

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Books that caught our eye this year include Schott's Significa (yes, 'forbidden soup' is as grisly as it sounds), The Cheese Connoisseur's Handbook (yum) and Wine, Soil and Salvation in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament (biblical). This is a show of generous proportions. Partly to give you a chance for some extra listening indulgence. But also to …

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The quiet success of Fidelity Investments 21:57

8d ago21:57

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Despite its relatively low profile, Fidelity Investments is a sprawling beast when it comes to financial services. Last year, the firm’s revenues surpassed the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, by more than 50 per cent. The FT’s Emma Dunkley explains how Fidelity has come to dominate the sector, the secrets behind its success, and what hurd…

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Ep 50 The Shrinking Violet Cocktail: The Shrink Next Door — manipulation, blurred boundaries, and toxic trust 58:11

10d ago58:11

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In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, we explore the unsettling true story behind The Shrink Next Door — both the hit podcast and the Apple TV+ miniseries starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd. We examine how a trusted therapist exploited his patient for decades, manipulating boundaries, finances, and emotional control — blurring the line between c…

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Our WINES OF THE YEAR (2025) 47:03

14d ago47:03

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Treats galore in this show! Because not only are we announcing our stellar Wines of the Year, we're also launching a HUGE giveaway to celebrate Wine Blast topping ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS. It's a major milestone for the pod so we wanted to say thanks to you for making it possible. Up for grabs are prizes worth more than £1,000 - from a set of Jancis R…

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Whistleblowing in the UK, Ep. 2: Is it ‘British’ to pay whistleblowers? 19:36

10d ago19:36

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In the UK, whistleblowers are encouraged to report wrongdoing, but often at cost to their livelihoods and careers. One solution would be to pay corporate whistleblowers for coming forward. However, many in government have held the idea for years that doing so is not very “British.” But now, longtime opposition to the idea seems to be shifting. Suzi…

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Business Book of the Year: Author Stephen Witt on Nvidia’s rise 29:44

18d ago29:44

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In this special episode of Behind the Money, the FT’s senior business writer Andrew Hill interviews author Stephen Witt about his book The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World’s Most Coveted Microchip. Witt and his book won the FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year for 2025. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podca…

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Ep 49 The Loco Unicorn: Death of a Unicorn, Healing Horn Myths, and the Medicine Behind the Magic 48:52

17d ago48:52

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This week on the Medical Media Mixer Podcast, we’re stepping into the magical and the medicinal. First, we break down the A24 film Death of a Unicorn (starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega), a dark comedy where myth collides with modern greed. Then, we journey through history to explore how unicorn horns—or “alicorns”—were once treasured as universal…

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Whistleblowing in the UK, Ep. 1: The cost of speaking up 30:21

18d ago30:21

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For years, corporate whistleblowers in the UK have found themselves in an unenviable predicament. They’re encouraged to report wrongdoing, but at the same time they often feel like they’ve risked everything: their careers and livelihoods in exchange for little. In this special two-part series, we explore why critics think this system is failing whi…

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Coming soon: The cost of corporate whistleblowing in the UK 1:01

21d ago1:01

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For years, corporate whistleblowers in the UK have found themselves in an unenviable predicament. They’re encouraged to report wrongdoing, but at the same time they often feel like they’ve risked their livelihoods in exchange for very little in the end. The fallout from whistleblowing can cost them their careers or worse. Starting next Monday, Behi…

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Business History: The Secret of Southwest’s Success 52:23

23d ago52:23

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This week we’re sharing an episode from Business History, a podcast from Pushkin Industries. Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith explore what the businesses of the past can teach us about commerce today. In this episode, Goldstein and Smith look at how Southwest Airlines developed a winning formula that forced its competitors…

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Mr Campion's Christmas with Mike Ripley 54:58

24d ago54:58

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Send us a text Mike Ripley joins Tea, Tonic & Toxin to discuss Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion novels, along with his latest novel in the series, Mr Campion’s Christmas. Mike Ripley completed the third Albert Campion novel left unfinished on the death of Pip Youngman Carter (Margery Allingham’s husband) in 1969. Mr Campion’s Farewell was publish…

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Ep 48 The Clone Club Martini: Celebrating Orphan Black’s Science, Sisterhood, and Identity 57:53

24d ago57:53

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This episode dives into the world of Orphan Black, exploring its blend of science fiction, bioethics, and identity. We unpack themes of human cloning, genetic engineering, and bodily autonomy through the lens of the Clone Club — a community of clones navigating control, individuality, and sisterhood. Paired with our Clone Club Martini, we discuss r…

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Rock and Rhône: from Côte-Rôtie to Cairanne via The Clash 48:44

1M ago48:44

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What do Hermitage, The Sex Pistols, Tavel and Pink Floyd have in common? They all, ahem, featured at a particularly funky recent London tasting of top Rhône wine appellations, or Crus, aimed at reminding us how delicious and diverse these wines can be. And how fun, too. So join us as we explore the best wines of the Rhône Valley, from Côte-Rôtie to…

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KKR, Bain and private equity’s push into Japan 21:43

30d ago21:43

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When international private equity groups first entered Japan at the turn of the 21st century, newspapers criticised them as vulture funds and politicians steered clear of public contact. Today, it’s a different story. Dozens of buyout groups have set up in the country and the establishment is courting them. The FT’s Tokyo correspondent David Keohan…

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Coming soon from Tech Tonic: Defying death 1:30

1M ago1:30

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Investors are spending billions of dollars on novel ways to extend human life through inventive treatments, therapies, and even manipulating our genes. And increasingly, it seems as though anti-ageing efforts have moved from the super rich to a mass market consumer industry. In this series, we’re covering the past, present and future of the longevi…

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Ep 47 Friendsgiving Fizz: Exploring Friends’ Thanksgiving Episodes and Common Holiday Health Risks 54:34

1M ago54:34

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In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, we raise a glass with our Friendsgiving Fizz cocktail while celebrating the chaos and comedy of Friends Thanksgiving episodes. From Joey’s iconic turkey hat to Monica’s culinary disasters, we recap the most memorable moments and fan-favorite episodes. Then, we get serious about holiday health, exploring commo…

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Mike Ripley Talks Margery Allingham and Albert Campion 48:29

1M ago48:29

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Send us a text Tea, Tonic & Toxin is a history of mystery book club and podcast. We’re reading the best mysteries ever written and interviewing some of the world’s best contemporary mystery and thriller writers. Traitor’s Purse (1940) by Margery Allingham is a mystery thriller classic that masterfully combines psychological tension with a high-stak…

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What’s the deal with OpenAI's deals? 26:05

1M ago26:05

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OpenAI is entering a new era. It's restructured to add a for-profit arm to its business and has signed more than a trillion dollars’ worth of deals to secure chips and build out data centres. But those huge financial commitments also raise massive questions: How will a heavily loss-making company fund $1.4tn worth of deals with some of the biggest …

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Ep 46 The Psychic Potion: Where Paranormal Meets Psychology 56:25

1M ago56:25

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Medical Media Mixer is your go-to health and wellness podcast, shaken with cocktails and stirred with entertainment and media. In this episode, we sit down with psychic medium Nicole Angel to explore the fascinating intersection of psychology, parapsychology, and the paranormal. From the science of noetics to the psychology of intuition, we dive in…

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Top of the Pops: Classic Fizz Beyond Champagne 53:35

2M ago53:35

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We all know champagne - but what if you fancy a wine like champagne but maybe less pricey, more fruity or just different? The good news is: there's never been more choice, as production blossoms in regions as diverse as Serbia, China and India. Our stellar guide to the intriguing world of traditional-method sparkling wine beyond Champagne is Essi A…

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Traitor's Purse by Margery Allingham! 1:05:29

1M ago1:05:29

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Send us a text TRAITOR’S PURSE (1940) by Margery Allingham is a mystery thriller classic that masterfully combines psychological tension with a high-stakes plot. Suffering from amnesia, amateur sleuth Albert Campion races to stop a wartime national security threat. The novel’s unique premise and tightly woven narrative create a sense of urgency and…

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Pfizer and Novo Nordisk’s $10bn battle over weight-loss drugs 26:03

1M ago26:03

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Pharma juggernauts Pfizer and Novo Nordisk are struggling in the obesity drug race.The two companies are searching for their next moneymaker, and that search recently spun out into a ferocious, multibillion-dollar battle for control of biotech start-up Metsera. The FT’s US deals and activism correspondent Oliver Barnes walks through the tussle that…

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Ep 45 The Tranquillum Tonic: Psychedelics, Trauma, and Therapy Ethics in Nine Perfect Strangers 49:52

2M ago49:52

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Episode Summary: In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, we sip on the Tranquillum Tonic, a serene-yet-sinister cocktail inspired by Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, while diving into the psychological and ethical complexities of psychedelic-assisted therapy. We explore how the show’s fictional wellness retreat reflects real-world debates about psilo…

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The $17bn nuclear start-up without any revenue 23:28

2M ago23:28

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Publicly-listed Oklo sits at the intersection of two hot areas for Wall Street: artificial intelligence and energy companies. This year alone, Oklo’s share price has jumped more than 400 per cent. But the business hasn’t generated any revenue. It hasn’t built a nuclear reactor, and it hasn’t secured any binding contracts with customers. The FT’s US…

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Ep 44 HIIT & Sip – The Biggest Loser, Weight Loss Myths, and Safe Approaches to Obesity Management 39:15

2M ago39:15

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Show notes In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, we turn up the heat with our featured cocktail — the HIIT & Sip: High-Intensity Iced Tea (Spicy Burn Edition) — while breaking down the truth behind The Biggest Loser and Netflix’s documentary Fit for TV. We uncover the hidden realities of extreme weight loss shows, sharing shocking statistics on m…

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The Story of The Billionaire's Vinegar - Part 2 42:56

2M ago42:56

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We're in the middle of, 'the mystery of the world's most expensive bottle of wine.' We've seen the auction, met the protagonists, got a vivid taste for the heady wine-boom time of the 1980s and 90s...hell, the cork has even dramatically dropped out already (an appropriate metaphor if ever there was one). That's all in Part 1. Now we get stuck into …

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$12bn of debt: How First Brands Group collapsed 26:37

2M ago26:37

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Some of the world’s biggest financial institutions are reeling after the collapse of a little-known car parts supplier: First Brands Group. The company filed for bankruptcy last month, and since then, FT reporters have shone a spotlight on billions of dollars of hidden debt and a secretive founder whose borrowing habits left creditors exposed. The …

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Ep 43 The Activator: Body Horror, Body Dysmorphia & the Dark Side of Transformation 57:00

2M ago57:00

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In this week’s episode of the Medical Media Mixer Podcast, we dive into The Substance (2024) — a haunting exploration of body horror, identity, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. From Teeth (2007) to Nightbitch (2024), we unravel how film and medicine intersect in their portrayals of body dysmorphia, feminine transformation, and cultural bea…

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Tom Epperson: Baby Hawk 54:09

2M ago54:09

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Send us a text Tom Epperson, a native of Arkansas, headed west to Los Angeles with his boyhood friend Billy Bob Thornton to pursue a career in show business. Epperson’s co-written the scripts for One False Move, A Family Thing, The Gift, A Gun, a Car, a Blonde, and Jayne Mansfield’s Car. His L.A. noir The Kind One was nominated for both the Edgar A…

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Can the world’s largest listed hedge fund rebound? 19:10

2M ago19:10

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The world’s largest listed hedge fund manager, Man Group, is at a crossroads. After years of high flying thanks to its innovative quant trading strategies, the company’s hedge fund unit has been faltering. Recently, the performance of Man Group’s core business has been lacklustre, and some institutional investors have pulled their money. The FT’s h…

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Ep 42 The Hershey Kiss Cocktail: Chocolate’s Sweet Role in Medicine, Culture & the Movie Chocolat 39:31

2M ago39:31

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The Hershey Kiss Cocktail: Chocolate in Medicine, Culture & the Movie Chocolat This week on the Medical Media Mixer Podcast, we indulge in the sweet side of history, health, and pop culture with our featured drink—the Hershey Kiss chocolate martini. Inspired by the iconic Hershey’s treat, this cocktail pairs perfectly with our exploration of chocol…

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The Story of The Billionaire's Vinegar - Part 1 36:05

2M ago36:05

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Picture the scene. Christie's auction house, London, December 1985. A dapper auctioneer is expertly tantalising the stellar audience with a bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite engraved with the initials of US founding father Thomas Jefferson. It duly becomes the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold, going for £105,000 ($156,000). But it's what happens…

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Introducing Untold: Toxic Legacy 2:16

3M ago2:16

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Introducing Toxic Legacy, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. Host Laura Hughes uncovers a lead poisoning epidemic across the UK. You might be living with lead and not know it: the toxin is often invisible to the human eye, but wreaks havoc on our bodies once we’re exposed. The first episode of Untold: Toxic Legacy launches October 22.…

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The meltdown at Nestlé 20:21

3M ago20:21

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From KitKat candy bars to Perrier mineral water, Nestlé owns thousands of brands. But recently the world’s largest food and beverage company has severely underperformed its rivals in the wider consumer goods sector. The business is also emerging from a scandal involving its most recent chief executive. The FT’s consumer industries reporter Madelein…

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Ep 41 The Schizophrenia: A Tale of Lexicography, Madness & Mixology 1:06:26

3M ago1:06:26

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In this episode of the Medical Media Mixer Podcast, we shake up history, psychology, and mixology with our featured drink—the Schizophrenia cocktail. Inspired by the movie and book, The Professor and The Madman, the incredible true story of Dr. William Chester Minor and the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, we explore the fine line between…

3M ago47:07

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In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, we uncover the chilling yet unbelievable story of Natasha Ryan—the Australian teenager who shocked the world when she was found alive after being presumed dead for years. Dubbed “The Girl in the Cupboard,” her case blurs the lines between truth and lies, media frenzy and reality. We also explore broader issue…