A new short story for the holidays, from the winner of the 2013 Man Booker International Prize. The reader is Christine Spolar  

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This song has its roots in an ancient refugee crisis and the more recent struggle for racial equality. Over the years, it's been adopted by Fats Waller, The Four Lads and the rapper M.I.A. Written by Helen Brown and read by Anna Metcalfe. Credit: Hit Wonder, Document Records, Diamond Coast, Sinetone AMR and XL Recordings.  

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David Cheal discovers how this hymn to friendship eventually came to divide its creators Simon and Garfunkel, but went on to inspire more than 200 cover versions. Credit: Columbia, RCA, Legacy, Atlantic Records.  

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Ben Lerner is one of the most highly praised and unconventional writers of his generation. The 37-year-old recently met John Sunyer, a commissioning editor on FT Weekend, to talk about why he's 'doomed to write more novels'. Here, he reads one of his favourite poems.  

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How is music streaming changing the experience of listeners? Are the algorithms that guide us through this new world an adequate replacement for DJs, critics and knowledgable record shop owners? Could endless choice paradoxically be making us more conservative in our tastes? Lorien Kite discusses these questions with Spotify's Will Page and FT pop critic Ludovic Hunter-Tilney.  

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Jimmy Webb's mournful ballad became one of the most-covered songs of the 20th century. Sue Norris explores its appeal for artists from Nick Cave to Isaac Hayes. Credit: Imperial, Capitol, Mute, Enterprise  

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Bobbie Gentry's understated ballad was reworked by jazz musicians, the 'rebel-country' movement and Motown - and even parodied by Bob Dylan. Ian McCann traces its history  

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Bob Dylan’s cryptic number is one of the signature songs of the 1960s, signalling a shift in his career. It helped launch The Byrds to stardom and was pivotal in the development of indie rock. Richard Clayton follows its history. Credits: Columbia, Legacy, Spectrum, Naxos  

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Billy Holiday's secular hymn was born out of a blazing family row and its swaying melody went on to become a jazz standard, with versions by Tony Bennett and Sonny Rollins. Mike Hobart follows its history. Credits: Jazz Moon, Saga, Columbia/Legacy, Island, Geffen Gold Mine  

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Janis Joplin achieved a posthumous No.1 hit with a rueful tale of love and loss, written by her old flame, Kris Kristofferson, which in turn helped launch him to stardom. Richard Clayton follows the song's bittersweet success. Credits: Columbia/Legacy, UMC, Top Town Records, Rhino/Warner Bros, Play Digital, Ricordi  

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Bruce Springsteen's bleak ballad of American life has been promoted by politicians from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. David Honigmann examines the song's fraught relationship with power. Credit: Columbia  

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Fiona Sturges follows Patti Smith's lustful 1970s song of youthful abandon. Credits: Arista, Columbia, Coqueiro Verde Records, Stun Volume  

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Gene Wilder died Listening to Ella Fitzgerald’s cover, but it was Judy Garland who brought “Over the Rainbow” to fame. Credits: Spectra Records, Warner Bros, Blackbird, Documents 2  

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It's been the theme tune for the BBC's review series 'Film' since 1971, but Nina Simone's cover turned it into a civil rights anthem. Credits: Universal, Eagle Records, Rhino Atlantic, Decca  

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Greg Lake died this week, and this track remains an enduring Christmas classic. Credit: Syco Music, Universal, Decca, Symphonia  

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For more than 50 years, this ballad's haunting charms have proved irresistible to many of the world's leading musicians. Credits: Firefly Entertainment, Black Sheep Music, X5 Music Group, Manhattan Records, UMC, Mute/BMG, Sony Music Classical, RCA Records Label  

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The singer’s old label boss called the song ‘a morbid mess’, but it shot to number one in the US. Ahead of the 40th anniversary of Elvis’s death in August, FT pop writers Peter Apsden and David Cheal discuss the song's origins, dark appeal and afterlife. Credits: 104pro Media, Legacy Recordings, Entertain Me Ltd, Spectrum, Omnivore Recordings, Vengeance Records  

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What makes a good Christmas song? Should it be cheesy or serious? And why do millennials love them? 

FT pop writers discuss festive classics old and new - from carols to Mariah Carey, Greg Lake to Phil Spector, Sufjan Stevens to Run-DMC. Plus, which 2017's best Christmas song: Gwen Stefani's 'You Make it Feel Like Christmas' or Sia's 'Santa's Coming for Us'?

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When "Wuthering Heights" was released 40 years ago this year, it became the first song written and performed by a woman to reach number one in the UK charts. What was the song's — and Bush's — special appeal? Why have there been more parodies than straight covers? And why is it so popular now, with re-enactments of the music video taking place around the world? FT music writers Jude Rogers, Helen Brown and David Cheal discuss the song and its afterlife.

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From the unstoppable rise of hip-hop to the 'millennial whoop', what does today's new music sound like? And how has social media changed the relationship between artists and fans?

Harriet Fitch Little, India Ross and Griselda Murray Brown discuss Drake, Cardi B and DJ Khaled - in particular 'Wild Thoughts' ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller from 2017, which leans heavily on the melody and mood of Santana's 1999 hit 'Maria Maria', the coming-of-age soundtrack for the oldest cohort of millennials. 

Warning: this podcast contains a live 'millennial whoop'.

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A history of coffee and its role in global capitalism is fact-filled and entertaining if occasionally over-caffeinated

Urgent action needed to avoid human and economic catastrophe

Instructing people to stay at home is to confine millions to cramped housing

Tidjane Thiam lends voice to call for private sector to join debt moratorium 

UN official warns mass deportations risk spread of coronavirus to the region

Africans in Guangzhou evicted from hotels and had passports confiscated, officials say

G20 agriculture ministers urge governments not to disrupt global supply chains

Do you find yourself stumped by questions about how much to put towards your mortgage payment versus your investments? It may be time for a midlife financial MOT. Presenter James Pickford talks to FT reporter Lucy Warwick-Ching about why advisers are targeting people in their forties and fifties. Next, we speak to a woman who cleared credit card debt to the tune of £16,000. And finally, we discuss what's behind Britain's growing tax gap. 

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Facebook plans to shake up the finance world with a new digital currency called Libra - we hear about its pros and cons. Next up, we discover what Moll Flanders, the literary anti-heroine, can tell us about modern day bank fraud. And finally we find out how smaller shareholders can stand up for their rights. 

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Retirement property has a reputation for being a rip off, but several large operators claim to have reinvented the model. The FT's Money Mentor columnist Lindsay Cook joins Claer Barrett to discuss the issues. Next up, is your mobile phone a drain on your finances? Guy Anker from MoneySavingExpert tells us how. And finally, listeners hear from the FT's Rich People's Problems experts about the controversy surrounding his local tennis club.

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If ever there was a word that needed to be retired it's 'retirement'. The kind of images this word conjures up is sunny beaches and no longer having to set an alarm clock, or a stressful feeling about how much longer you will need to work to afford such a lifestyle. This week author Don Ezra talks to FT Money editor Claer Barrett about how best to get to and enjoy what used to be called retirement. Next up, if you're heading off on holiday soon then listen to our top tips on how to get the best deal on your holiday money. 

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As fears of a 'No Deal Brexit' rise, the pound and share prices of UK domestic stocks have tumbled. Some might see this as a buying opportunity - yet others fear there's further to fall. Termed 'The BoJo trade' by investment pundits, Claer Barrett, FT Money editor asks - which side of this trade are you on? Next up on the show - why are some investors moving into defensive stocks? And finally, we hear from our Rich People's columnist, James Max, about the cost of private medical insurance. 

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As research shows modern couples are more likely to keep their finances separate, presenter Claer Barrett and guests debate how women in particular are managing their money. Plus, ahead of the new university term we reveal finance tips for students and their parents, and ask what could emerge as the next consumer misselling scandal after PPI.

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What are the biggest barriers to managing our money? Special guests Martin Wolf, Bobby Seagull and Justin Urquhart Stewart tell presenter Claer Barrett what they would banish to ‘Room 101’ to improve the nation’s finances. This week's podcast comes to you from the FT Money tent at the FT Weekend Festival at Kenwood House. 

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Having a baby is one of the best things that could happen in your life - but sadly it could also be the worst thing that could happen to your finances. We discuss the effects of the gender pay gap. Plus FT Money editor Claer Barrett talks to guests about what kind of investor Adrian Mole could have grown into. And what could happen to the 'best buy' lists used by fund supermarkets in the wake of the Woodford scandal?

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What's the best bank account for students? Who will give you an interest-free overdraft? And how can you get hold of a student railcard? Lucy Warwick-Ching, FT Money digital editor talks to three experts about how to make the most of your money as a student. Plus we hear how your credit rating as a student can affect your ability to get finance long after you've finished studying. And finally Guy Anker of Moneysavingexpert.com tells us why you shouldn't automatically pay off your student loan if you can afford it. 

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It's financial planning week and this year's theme is retirement planning. As part of the initiative, thousands of certified planners are offering a free hour-long session to people wanting help with setting their financial goals. FT Money deputy editor James Pickford talks to the FT's pensions correspondent about retirement planning. Plus we hear from Jackie Lockie, head of financial planning with the CISI, and Patrick Connolly of Chase de Vere, about how best to plan for retirement.

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FT Money editor Claer Barrett and guests discuss how tens of thousands of UK private investors are meeting in pubs, restaurants and private homes to discuss how to beat the market - with tips for anyone thinking of doing the same.

Plus why the wealthy get married in secret, and how banks could do more to help customers with mental health issues. 

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Taxing questions ahead of the General Election - as the spending pledges of the major parties add up, how might the tax rules change to pay for it all? Presenter Claer Barrett talks to Nimesh Shah, a partner at Blick Rothenberg to get the answers. Plus, if you’re already dreading your annual tax return, would you prefer it if computers did it for you? Chris Giles, the FT’s economics editor, has been probing the future shift toward personal tax accounts that could deduct what you owe in real time! And finally, Becky O'Connor from Royal London tells listeners about a host of savings tips and tricks that could help you balance your own budget. 

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Finding suitable childcare is an issue that we know makes many of the FT Money Show listeners bawl so we've invited someone onto the show to try to make sense of it. Today's lead guest on the FT Money Show, Izabella Kaminska, was so struck by the financial complexity of working out the costs of hiring a nanny - from tax, to organising a pension and accounting for various extras - she decided to write about her experiences. On this week's podcast Izzy talks to presenter Claer Barrett about the true costs of childcare.

Plus, we discuss what makes a person more at risk of being scammed.

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Harry Potter will turn 40 in the year 2020, but has he been a wizard with his finances? Presenter James Pickford speculates on his fictional fortune with Moira O’Neill, head of personal finance at Interactive investor - plus we look at the financial impact of a Dry January, and where to find the best deals on gym membership.

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The well-advised wealthy are worrying that pensions benefits could be cut. FT Money Show presenter Claer Barrett asks the FT's pensions expert for the details. Next up we discuss whether it's better to invest in buy to let or a holiday let? And if you're thinking of buying a new car you might change your mind about how you finance it after you listen to this podcast. 

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Student debt in the US is crippling millions of Americans. Last year the amount students owed came to a total of $1.6tn - that's 8 per cent of the country's national income. This week we hear from one of the 45m students paying back debts to the government. FT Money Show presenter Lucy Warwick-Ching talks to FT reporter Alice Kantor about why university is so expensive in the US compared to the UK and whether there is anything that can be done about it.

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Is time running out for pensions tax relief? Chancellor Sajid Javid is reported to be considering a major shake-up of pensions at the Budget in a months time. The FT's pensions correspondent Josephine Cumbo talks to FT Money editor Claer Barrett about what form this could take. Next up, we debate the value of the Winter Fuel Allowance for wealthy pensioners. And finally, our resident property guru James Pickford on how the next property cycle could turn out. 

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It's been a week of shock and awe for UK investors. Wednesday started with an emergency interest rate cut from the BoE. New chancellor Rishi Sunak then delivered a Budget full of emergency "first aid" measures to help workers, the self employed and small businesses survive the crisis - and some very unexpected news for wealthy pension savers. And in the meantime - stock markets around the world continue to experience deep falls as central banks work out how to respond to the coronavirus.

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Claer Barrett and Lucy Warwick-Ching discuss covert and overt ways to interest children in learning about money, and columnist James Max reveals that his biggest problem during the lockdown has been keeping his house clean without his regular cleaner. 

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Reduction is second in under a month as country braces for an extended coronavirus lockdown

President urged to secure rescue deal as economy ‘on verge of collapse’

These governments desperately need financial breathing space to fight the pandemic

An attempt to solve Africa’s poverty riddle