The Curve

The US stock market is officially back in its hot girl summer era, and we’re here for it. This week, Vic and Soph break down why markets have jumped nearly 20% (hint: a temporary US-China tariff truce that’s more “situationship” than solid relationship). We also dive into Warren Buffett’s big bets on Japan and why investors are suddenly flocking to the Land of the Rising Sun. Meanwhile, over in ph...

You've probably heard that investing in the stock market is the best way to build long-term wealth - but what about fixed income? In this episode, Soph chats to Gaby and Ali, the founders of Blossom , about why more investors (including themselves) are putting their money into fixed income products like bonds. They break down what fixed income actually is, how it compares to shares, and when it mi...

Vic’s Roman holiday was less Eat Pray Love and more Eat Pray Calculate, as she breaks down the economics of the Colosseum (€1.4 billion a year, no biggie), how the Trevi Fountain is basically a coin-powered charity machine, and why the Vatican might secretly be the hottest hedge fund in town. Plus, we bid an emotional arrivederci to Warren Buffett as he steps down from Berkshire Hathaway - if you’...

Who needs a prenup when you’ve got trust, shared bank accounts, and four properties post-divorce? In this juicy, hilarious, and heartwarming chat, Soph sits down with radio legends turned podpreneurs, JJ Feeney and Dom Harvey to unpack what happens when the romance ends but the finances (and friendship) stay very much entangled. Expect honest talk about quitting high-paying jobs for happiness, pod...

Billionaire beef is sizzling, and it’s not just egos getting grilled. This week on The Curve Weekly, Vic and Soph unpack Amazon’s bold move to start showing tariffs at checkout and what that means for consumers. Spoiler: it’s not great for your wallet, and it could be a warning sign for rising inflation. We break down the ripple effects: how inflation hits your savings, why BP is scrambling to sta...

You know that feeling when you just know you’re being underpaid but have no idea how to tackle the awkward money convo? Meggie Palmer is here to save the day. In this electric episode from the archives, Meggie (founder of PepTalkHer and actual negotiation ninja) shares how she discovered she was being paid a lot less than her male peers - and what she did about it. Expect practical tips on negotia...

Heads up: This episode opens with a conversation about egg freezing and fertility - if you’d prefer to skip that part, jump ahead to 5:09 . Tesla just posted its worst financial results in years - so why did the share price go up ? In this week’s episode, Vic and Sophie dive into the unexpected investor reaction and what Elon’s renewed focus on the company might really mean. Plus, we cover Bitcoin...

We cannot actually believe this happened – the woman who created Sex and the City, the real-life Carrie Bradshaw, Candace Freakin’ Bushnell, joined us on the pod. If that name alone hasn’t made you hit play already, here’s what you’re in for: the truth behind the Carrie and Mr. Big dynamic (spoiler: she wanted to be Mr. Big, not marry him), the power of female friendships, what it takes to make it...

This week, Soph broadcasts live from her parents’ kitchen (with some White Lotus background noise), armed with a paloma and a whole lotta feelings about egg freezing, the cost of being a woman, and why her Gossip Girl rewatch is the only hormone-free coping strategy she can actually afford. Expect big convos about the tariff tit-for-tat between China and the U.S., including why Apple stock soared...

This episode is a full-course meal of money chats, career pivots and laugh-out-loud moments with the glorious Polly Markus (aka Miss Polly’s Kitchen ). We talk real estate burnouts, spending blowouts (yes, including a Celine bag situation), and the chaos of being your own one-woman content empire. Polly spills on her investing flops (Rivian, we're still not over it), the emotional hangover of...

This episode is all about demographics - what they are, why they matter, and how they’re quietly reshaping our economies. Zoe from Tempo unpacks the global trend of falling birth rates, what that means for governments, and how it could impact the stock market in the long term. We explore why women are choosing to have fewer (or no) children, how countries are trying - and failing - to reverse that...

Trump’s been on the mic again - and the stock market’s feeling it. A sudden U-turn on tariffs sent US markets soaring nearly 10% in a day (yep, a day ), and now economists are whispering the R-word. We break down what this week’s chaos means for inflation, interest rates, global growth and whether your term deposit is about to start ghosting you. Vic’s got investing whiplash, Soph’s halfway to del...

Content note: This episode contains occasional strong language, and includes open discussion around grief, death, and eating disorders. Please take care while listening. What does success really look like when you're not following the traditional path? In this honest and empowering conversation, Soph sits down with Lucy Blakiston - founder of Shit You Should Care About - to talk about building a g...

Hold onto your investing hats (and maybe your Shein sparkle tops), because this week’s Curve Weekly is a wild ride through the chaos of Trump’s new mega tariffs. We break down how the former president’s dramatic attempt to “make America wealthy again” is sending global markets into a tailspin, whacking small countries with 40%+ tariffs, and giving TikTok a starring role in what feels like an econo...

Ever wonder why you feel so good when you buy a new outfit but not when you pay your electricity bill? Blame it on dopamine. In this episode, we chat with clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis about the science behind impulse spending, why tech companies make shopping way too easy, and how to hack your brain to save instead of splurge. We also unpack everyday addictions (yes, your late-night...

Okay okay - we’ll admit it, this episode starts off light on finance and heavy on ski trip chaos, family drama, and… onsens. If you’re just here for the money chat, skip ahead to 17:15 . From there, we dive into the EV race heating up as BYD overtakes Tesla in revenue (huge), unpack a surprise IPO hitting the market soon, and look at what’s behind the skyrocketing price of eggs in the U.S. (spoile...

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...