The Curve

AI investing - too hot to handle or just heating up? In this episode, we bring in Zoe Wallis from Tempo for a Temperature Check on the AI boom. Sophie, Vic, and Zoe dive into whether AI is still the golden ticket or if the train has already left the station. Plus, the all-important question: how do you actually invest in AI without just throwing your money at the next shiny tech stock? We talk Nvi...

Blast from the past alert! We’re dusting off an oldie (but a very, very goodie) with the legendary Frances Cook – finance journalist, author, and NZ’s OG money podcaster. In this episode, we dive into the magic of keeping a money diary (it’s a game-changer, trust us), break down the whole good debt vs. bad debt debate (spoiler: your wardrobe might not be an "investment"), and unpack the satellite...

Rachel’s back in the hot seat for the second week running and she’s really earning her finance pro stripes - juggling a four-month-old, economic chaos, and a serious amount of market news. From gold hitting record highs and Nvidia flexing a chip 40x faster than its last one (casual), to Tesla’s rocky week and Formula 1 becoming the Real Housewives of sport, there’s a lot going on. Plus, Sophie and...

Buckle up - because things are getting interesting in the markets. In this first episode of our Tempo Temperature Checks mini-series, we’re joined by investing expert Zoe Wallis from Tempo to unpack what’s happening in the U.S. economy, why Trump’s policies are shaking things up, and how it all impacts your investments. Should you be panicking? Selling everything? Stuffing cash under your mattress...

What happens when two financial advisors - married to each other - have completely different money personalities? Meet Carissa, the self-proclaimed "procurement officer" (aka, the spender), and Tim, the meticulous planner (aka, the squirrel). They run a financial advice company, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to money misalignments in their own marriage. From arguments over household budgets...

A quick note: we do touch on pregnancy and miscarriage in the first part of the episode. If that’s not something you’re up for today, feel free to skip to 12:16 , where we dive into the finance chat. <3 With Vic off skiing in Japan (and taking a well-deserved break from Sophie’s market rants), we’ve recruited a temporary co-host from The Curve community - and she’s a total star. Meet Rachel, a...

Sophie’s flying solo today (send help), but she’s got an exciting update! The Curve is working on something BIG - like Diary of a CEO big. But perfection takes time, so no full episode this week. Instead, Soph dives into a listener’s career dilemma: how do you navigate job hunting when you’re newly pregnant? When do you tell your employer? And why does this still feel like such a tricky convo in 2...

This week, we’re unpacking the economic drama that’s making headlines - because, honestly, the stock market has been messier than a bad spray tan. We’re talking tariffs, and why new trade barriers between the US, Canada, Mexico, and China have investors sweating. Plus, Prada is thriving while other luxury brands struggle (Miu Miu, we see you), and we’ve got an update on TikTok’s fate - spoiler: Se...

Sophie’s got big news (no, not a baby - though the social media post might’ve fooled you). She’s officially pre-approved for a mortgage! 🎉 But what does that actually mean? In this episode, Soph and Vic dive into the wild world of property investing, the difference between buying a home vs. an investment property, and why NZ’s housing market is such a beast. Plus, they break down the power of lev...

No proper episode this week because… we’re working on something BIG. Like, Stephen Bartlett-watching-our-trailer big. Yep, you read that right. We’ve been given the incredible opportunity to pitch The Curve to Flight Studio - the trailblazing studio behind Diary of a CEO - and let’s just say, we are not taking this lightly. This opportunity means everything, and we want to get it right. So, no pro...

Warren Buffett is sitting on a record-breaking $334 billion in cash - but why? This week, we dive into what the legendary investor’s latest moves reveal about the stock market and whether we should be cautious right now. We also break down Tesla’s dramatic drop, the impact of Elon Musk’s political moves, and whether the stock is becoming a bargain or a brand to avoid. Meanwhile, YouTube has offici...

We took Raising the Curve live with Trade Me Property to talk all things property - because let’s be honest, buying a home isn’t as easy as it used to be. From market trends to mortgage stress, we cover how to get your foot in the door, what to consider before buying, and whether stretching yourself for a bigger home loan is really worth it. Vic shares her journey from first-time buyer to investor...

Just a heads up - this episode contains a fair bit of swearing (because sometimes money and career talk gets  passionate ). If you're listening with little ears around, you might want to pop in some headphones! We’re throwing it back to June 2023 for this gem of an episode - because career smarts never go out of style. In this one, we chat with the incredible Sharyn Casey about the financial side...

Well, well, well… Tesla’s stock is on a wild ride, and it’s got nothing to do with self-driving cars. This week, we’re diving into why Elon Musk’s political antics are spooking investors and why some Tesla owners are slapping bumper stickers on their cars that basically scream, “I bought this before I knew he was nuts.” Plus, we chat about whether this st...

Ever wondered how people make money from buying and selling houses? It’s called flipping , and no, it doesn’t mean turning a house upside down. Enter Alex Harper (aka @handy__honey ), a total pro at turning rundown spaces into cash-worthy homes. She breaks down the flipping basics - how to find a great deal, what to ask the seller, and why buying smart is the key to making money. We also chat abou...

So, you set a budget in January… but have you actually stuck to it? Sophie hands over her bank statements (risky move) to Dani for a very honest financial check-in. From accidental gym memberships (oops) to short-term money goals, they break down how to tweak your spending without killing the fun. Expect chats about term deposits, cutting sneaky subscription costs, and the real struggle of balanci...

Elon Musk wants to buy OpenAI for a casual $98 billion - but Sam Altman basically replied with “lol, no.” Meanwhile, the NZ property market might be heating up, which is either thrilling or terrifying depending on your bank balance. Over at Goldman Sachs, they’ve decided diversity efforts are just too hard (insert dramatic eye roll), and Soho House is in the middle of a billionai...

Buying a home is supposed to be an exciting milestone, but for many, it’s an emotional minefield - especially when the system isn’t built for them. In part one of this three-part property series, Soph opens up about her long-awaited mortgage meeting, only to be met with disappointment instead of a celebratory “yes.” After years of saving, investing, and doing everything right, being told not yet f...

Ever felt like money was some exclusive club you weren’t invited to? Sonia Kaurah did too - until she decided to crash the party. In this episode, we chat about how culture shapes our financial habits, why women (especially women of colour) get the short end of the investment stick, and how Sonia went from knowing nothing about investing to sitting in rooms with top venture capitalists - jus...

Buckle up, because this week, we're diving into two massive stories shaking up the financial world. First up, Trump is back with a fresh batch of tariffs, sending markets into a tailspin and making investors everywhere question what’s next (and yes, avocados are at risk). We break down why global trade drama affects your portfolio and how companies are scrambling to keep up. Then, we tackle&...

Okay, bad news first: millennials are the first generation in history to be worse off than their parents (yep, studies confirm it). With homeownership rates down 28% compared to boomers at the same age and wages barely keeping up with inflation, the traditional path to wealth - buy a house, retire rich - is looking real shaky. But what if there was another way? Enter Avion Gray, co-founder of fint...

AI just shook the stock market hard . Nvidia - aka the golden child of AI investing - lost $600 billion in a day, thanks to a mysterious new player from China. What is Deep Seek? Why is it supposedly 27 times more powerful than ChatGPT? And does this mean Nvidia’s reign is over? We break down the chaos, what it means for investors, and whether this is a buy-the-dip moment or a warning sign....

In this throwback episode, we chat with Alec and Bryce, the dynamic duo behind Equity Mates, and our first-ever male guests! They spill the beans on avoiding lifestyle creep (you know, that sneaky habit of spending more when you earn more) and why your 20s are pure gold for investing. Bryce shares his textbook-perfect childhood money lessons (spoiler: he started saving at five!), while Alec talks...

This week, we’re popping bottles - but not of champagne because shipments are down, and we’re not about to splurge on bubbly when everyone’s tightening their wallets. Today, we're unpacking why luxury brands and Puma are struggling while Netflix casually crushes records with 19 million new subscribers (thanks, password crackdown). We dive into Trump’s latest antics, from fe...

Meet Nina Mohanty, one of the most inspiring guests we’ve ever had on the pod. She’s a fintech founder, an investing trailblazer, and someone who can explain why immigrant communities are reshaping economies with more grit and innovation than most of us could dream of. Did you know immigrants in the US and UK are 5x more likely to start a business than native-born citizens? It’s...