In the past week, two major companies have written large checks to buy into what they believe represents the future of their businesses. Time Warner inked the first deal as it paid over $580 million for a 10% stake in Hulu. And just days later, Wal-Mart announced its $3.3 billion acquisition of Jet.com.

If you thought earnings season was coming to a close, think again. Earnings season for high-yield business development companies is just beginning.

Chris Hill joins the podcast to talk about HBO's Silicon Valley and the different aspects of the tech start up world it explores.

Popular culture is replete with examples of evil oil executives – but is their reputation deserved?

The doctors on TV make it look like curing disease is simple and that the hospital industry is exciting, but the reality is far different than the fiction. Also, how one big challenge for charity paid off with a new advance in researching a deadly disease.

Our latest theme week combines pop culture and investing as we look at the business behind cable news networks via HBO’s “The Newsroom”. And taking a page from Michael Lewis, we discuss lesser known companies that can deliver for shareholders like the Oakland A’s surprised baseball fans in his 2003 book, “Moneyball”.

Pop songs might blend into the background of your morning drive – but do they have hidden messages about personal finance?

Tune in to hear Jason Moser, Mark Reeth, and Gaby Lapera weigh in on pre-nuptial agreements, budgeting, and conspicuous consumption.

Apple and Facebook released their quarterly results this week. We run through the headline numbers and dig into each company's report.

Oil Producers have business models that make them unique on Wall Street, here's what you need to know. 

These been-there-done-that leaders are at the helm of four different emerging companies that investors should be paying attention to.

We welcome special guest Rana Pritanjali to give us the latest insights on Unilever, the $1 billion buyout of Dollar Shave Club, a future without Game of Thrones, and more.

On this week’s episode of Industry Focus: Financials, The Motley Fool’s Gaby Lapera and John Maxfield discuss second-quarter bank earnings.

Stock market darling Netflix has had a rough 2016 so far and the company’s recent earnings report didn’t make things any easier for the streaming giant. Simon Erickson hops on the podcast to talk through the numbers and how he’s thinking about the business.

Elon Musk is going all-in on a carbon free future.

What you should know about Juno Therapeutics' recent cancer trial stop and restart. Also, we help you prep for biopharma's second quarter earnings deluge.

With year after year of declining soda sales, increasingly health-conscious consumers seem ready to give up these sugary drinks, but industry leaders Coca-Cola and Pepsi have plenty up their sleeves to deliver another century of success.

Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN ) may be the largest international bank no one really talks about. With a branch network nearly three times larger than Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ) and about $1.5 trillion in assets in geographies that include Spain, the UK, and Latin America, it is undoubtedly one of the world’s most complex retail banking institutions. 

We break down the biggest tech public offering so far in 2016, messaging service Line, and discuss why it’s such an interesting IPO.

Government investigations, Forbes articles, and Twitter arguments abound – but what do Tesla Motors' competitors think of the fateful accident?

Exploring how healthcare companies create demand for their products. What’s legal, what’s not, and what are the key takeaways for investors? Joining in on today’s discussion is Brian Feroldi, a Motley Fool healthcare writers who spent more than a decade working in the industry.

We welcome Seth McNew to detail his experience at the opening ceremony and tour of UA Lighthouse, the company’s newest manufacturing facility in Baltimore, which features some of the high-tech initiatives that Kevin Plank believes will lay the foundation for his company’s future success.

Even though the Federal Reserve has been in existence for over a century, it remains a point of political contention. What is it about the Fed that makes it so controversial? And what does history tell us about the institution’s founding as well as its performance over the first century of its operation?

Roger Lowenstein, author of America’s Bank, which tells the story of the Fed’s establishment, speaks to these issues on this week’s episode of Industry Focus: Financials.

We examine the online dating space and its market share leader, Match Group.

The downturn in oil has forced companies to become even more efficient - and that means they require a lower oil price to make profits.

We compare Biogen's and Celgene's current valuations and consider what might be in store for Gilead Sciences now that its new hepatitis C drug is approved.

We talk value investing in tech to follow up our P/E episode on growth investing. Analyst John Rotonti explains some key metrics he looks at and discusses a few companies he really likes in the tech space.

Volkswagen’s price tag to settle its emissions cheating scandal are now over $15 billion, but is it possible that the worst is behind the German auto maker?

Digesting how the U.K. decision to exit the EU could impact healthcare stocks here and abroad.

Is Sin City losing its edge? Special guest Seth McNew gives us a firsthand account of the evolving economy and landscape in Las Vegas as companies look to opportunities outside the smoky casino floor.

Last week’s vote in the United Kingdom to separate from the European Union is the most important thing to happen on the global stage since the end of World War II, rivaling only China’s moves in the 1970s and 1980s to participate actively in the global economy.

In this episode of Industry Focus: Financials, The Motley Fool’s John Maxfield and Gaby Lapera put the vote in historical perspective and explain why it has hit stock prices so hard. Then, Dan Caplinger and Gaby follow-up with investing strategies for the economic dip.

We wrap up interns ask week with a question Peter Lynch would love and a discussion of how to "invest in what you know."

Land rig counts that drill for oil & gas have risen 3 weeks in a row, is this the first sign of a turnaround in the sector?

Insurers can make or break drug developers, politicians can derail profits, and tax inversions are dead in the water -- should investors avoid healthcare stocks?

The theme for this week of Industry Focus brings Motley Fool’s summer interns into the studio to learn more about different industries and companies. Minashsha Lamisa wants to know: “What are the potential effects of the recent Orlando tragedy on the gun industry?”

It’s interns week on the Motley Fool’s Industry Focus: Financials edition podcast, a special week when this summer’s most Foolish interns have the chance to pepper host Gaby Lapera and analyst Jay Jenkins with all the financial industry related questions they’ve been thinking but never had the chance to ask.  

We run through Microsoft’s $26 billion purchase of LinkedIn, explain the details of the deal and whether or not it makes sense.

Explaining diabetes, its various treatment options, and what the future may have in store for this disease.

Major U.S. automakers trade at historically low valuations despite huge sales success and spectacular profits. How can this be? The Motley Fool’s John Rosevear and Sean O’Reilly dive in.

Coinciding nicely with National Bourbon Day, we look at the latest developments in the alcohol industry from a spin-off at Constellation Brands to the incredible growth of new “beer” categories and a controversial offering from SodaStream.

There’s more to a fund than just its name. Here’s how to do deep due diligence into the mutual funds in your retirement account.

For video highlights of our Fool Fest Digital Pass go to http://digitalpass.fool.com/focus

The video game industry is booming thanks to strong consumer demand, the rise of Esports, and the franchise extensions into other forms of media. Analyst David Kretzman joins us to talk about some trends to watch and his favorite company in the space. 

Elon Musk’s pet project SpaceX is still a private company, but would you invest in it if the situation was otherwise?

What cancer drug companies came out ahead at this weekend's ASCO conference and a closer look at Biogen's recent disappointment.

With massive, multi-billion dollar valuations, unicorn start-ups Uber and Lyft are locked in an intense, sometimes controversial, race to become the ride of choice for users all over the world. We look at the stories behind each company and how their expansion plans are pushing them into complementary industries like delivery and driverless cars, often with the help of industry incumbents. 

Understanding the ins and outs of individual retirement accounts can give your retirement savings a jump-start. 

We discuss the P/E ratio and what it implies. Premium analyst Simon Erickson joins the show to explain how some Fools’ mentality towards the metric is different than most investors.

Tune in to hear why Petrobras and Vale, two Brazilian energy companies that seem to be bottoming out, might not be worth the potential upside amidst seemingly endless corruption scandals.

Also, our analysts look at the most important points from OPEC’s meeting this week, and why 2015 clocked the lowest level of oil finds we’ve seen in six decades.

Investing gurus are snapping up shares in healthcare companies, but investors should do their own research before buying too.

From mental competency hearings to billionaire family trusts and rebelling management, Viacom has become the stage for a very public, very ugly dispute between ailing media mogul Sumner Redstone, his daughter, and the company’s CEO and Board of Directors. But what about the company’s long-term business prospects?

This episode we go inside Apple’s supply chain, explain the contract manufacturing model that the company uses, and highlight a few manufacturers to show how many different pieces go into the iPhone.

It’s found in the ground and winds up in your gas tank – but who makes money making this process happen?  

Walking investors through drug discovery, development, and approval and how to profit at each stage along the way.

For over 20 years, Chipotle has prided itself on fresh, quality ingredients sourced from only the best vendors – in other words, “food with integrity”. Asit Sharma joins Industry Focus to discuss the company’s suppliers, its high standards, and some of the growing pains Chipotle has encountered adapting its supply chain to work for over 2,000 restaurants.

Wearables industry expert and long-time fan of the Fool Ramon T. Llamas joins us to talk about his team’s work at IDC, what’s going on in the smartwatch and fitness wearables markets, and some trends to watch in the next couple quarters.

Shell Oil is feeling the strain of its massive debt load, and just announced plans to do something about it.  

Peter Lynch once said “never invest in any idea you can’t illustrate with a crayon.” Does that hold true in the highly scientific world of biopharma? Find out in this special edition of Industry Focus: Healthcare with Motley Fool healthcare analysts Kristine Harjes and Max Macaluso.

From the apparel industry to your local grocery store, metrics like inventory turnover can tell investors a lot about a company and its operations. But in the words of one of the most well-run retailers today, should management treat inventory as “fundamentally evil”?

After a very difficult first quarter, it’s time to reevaluate the online marketplace model.

On this Financials edition of The Motley Fool’s Industry Focus podcast, host Gaby Lapera and analyst Jay Jenkins go beyond the headlines in their discussion to explain why these problems are much more than a short term speed bump. 

How did these companies get to this low point? What will it take for them to turn it around? Is it ever a good idea to make puns about something as boring as banking? To find out the answers to these questions and more, listen now.

Inspired by a Seinfeld clip, we dive into the topic of write-offs and the different forms they take. A special thanks to Audible for supporting our podcast. Listeners can get a free 30 day trial at audible.com/fool.

Tesla’s sky high valuation prices the company for perfection; is this warranted or should investors beware?

GlaxoSmithKline takes on Pfizer and Biogen battles Celgene in this healthcare edition of Industry Focus.

Big changes are happening in the world of entertainment and coffee consumption, here’s how investors can position their portfolios.

There's reason to believe that they will.

It's been nearly eight years since the financial crisis, yet Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is still earning half as much money as it should be given its size. In this episode of Industry Focus: Financials, The Motley Fool's Gaby Lapera and John Maxfield discuss the role that Bank of America's 2008 purchase of Merrill Lynch plays in its subpar profitability. Thanks to Audible for supporting this episode. Get a free 30-day trial at audible.com/fool.

We discuss stock splits, the strategy behind them, and why Facebook announced they were using C shares to offer investors a 3-to-1 split.

If Tesla Motors plans for growth and its new Model 3 weren't ambitious enough, it now wants to make it all happen by 2018. Plus, earnings from Royal Dutch Shell, BHP Billiton & Vale's nightmare situation, and we dip into the mailbag.

At $3.8 billion, Dreamworks founder and CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg called the buyout “the deal I’d always hoped would come along.” But after a major restructuring and string of box office disappointments for the animation studio, is Comcast getting its money’s worth?

Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting is often referred to as “Woodstock for capitalists.”  Join us to learn why… from someone who was there!

We call on old Industry Focus host Nathan Hamilton to run through Apple’s recent earnings report and provide some perspective on how the company has changed in the past year.

What we got right and what we got incredibly wrong in our predictions for the energy sector two years ago.

Some things never change – and in healthcare, we sometimes feel like we’re talking about the same stuff year in and year out. Join us as we cover some stories that were a big deal in 2014, check in on how they’re going now, and predict some major trends in 2018.

We welcome fellow Fool Mark Reeth this week to look back at some of the top consumer and retail investing stories from his time covering the industry.

Industry Focus: Financials gets in its time machine to check in with David Hanson, one of the former hosts of the show. Gaby Lapera and David chat about his investing hypotheses for mega banks from two years ago and whether or not they still hold up. Is everything different? Have things changed at all? Tune in to find out.

As companies start to report earnings, we take a look at some of the big themes from the energy, industrial manufacturing, and airlines sector. Plus, investors fight back against excessive CEO pay and whether you should be excited about the Saudi Aramco IPO on the New York Stock exchange

Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel are two of the most successful tech investors around; tune in to learn their secrets.

Make more profit-friendly decisions by developing a specific and repeatable process for evaluating stocks.

The sporting goods industry has become the latest example of how competition and disruption are forcing everyone from big box chains to mom and pop stores to adapt to the new world order in retail.

Bank stocks are up, but only because the largest U.S. banks did less bad than Wall Street expected.

On this financials edition of the Motley Fool’s Industry Focus podcast, host Gaby Lapera and analyst Jay Jenkins try to make sense of the good, the bad, and the downright ugly first quarter numbers at the nation’s largest banks.

We swear capital allocation is sexy! On this episode we explain what it is, the different strategies businesses use for maximizing shareholder value, and profile two companies – one that has done a great job... and one that hasn’t.

Peabody Energy's Chapter 11 filing this week has led to many saying "it's the brutal coal market", but we take a look at why there is much more to the story. Plus: dividend cuts at National Oilwell Varco, Alcoa's earnings, and what's on our radar.

Intuitive Surgical's robotic surgery and Illumina's DNA sequencers are reshaping healthcare.

The state of Macau in 2016: a look at how bad the regulations have hurt, and how a few companies are working to recover.

Can improving your writing skills boost your investing returns?

On this episode we recap everything we know about Google’s self-driving car project.

 It is becoming more and more apparent that solar and wind energy is not only changing the way in which we produce power, it's completely upending the whole electricity industry. We take a deeper look at the nuances of investing in the renewable energy field. Plus, Halliburton's deal faces another hurdle and we celebrate national beer day.

The ins-and-outs of Pfizer and Allergan's failed $160 billion merger.

Thomas Staggs joined Disney 25 years ago and has left an impressive mark on the company in his various roles, including CFO and chairman of the Parks and Resorts segment. Just last year, he seemed to be a shoo-in for future CEO, but with his sudden resignation, the company and its investors must now grapple with renewed uncertainty as Bob Iger approaches his 2018 retirement.

Insurance companies can be tremendous investments, if you know what to look for. Here’s the simple breakdown of a very complicated industry.

We unveil our newest product, Motley Fools Rush In and talk with the product manager Ilan Moscovitz. To show off the exciting new investment opportunities available to everyday individuals, we shine a spotlight on one of the platform’s first investment opportunities, Park Slope Pizza Society and chat with the owner Buddy Swole.

We dig into why oil companies haven't been able to replace their production with new reserves lately and the ripple effects it will have a cross the industry. Plus, Sean tests his knowledge of the American power industry with an energy quiz.

Here's how cable companies are thriving when customers are cutting their cords, and what you need to know about spectrum auctions.

Merck, Gilead Sciences, and Ionis get a verdict in their patent suit, and Congressmen call for a patent review of Medivation's Xtandi.

It is no exaggeration to say that banks, and the credit they provide, grease the wheels of the American economy. But a look back at the last 150 years of banking reveals that the path hasn’t always been smooth for the nation’s leading lenders, including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), and Citigroup (NYSE: C).

In this episode of Industry Focus: Financials, Gaby Lapera and John Maxfield trace this past back to the 1860s, when the modern American banking system was established to help the Union Army finance the Civil War.

On this episode we reflect on the tough market conditions from earlier this year and some lessons we learned along the way.

After a recent court decision that puts once sacred pipeline contracts, some contractors are looking to renegotiate more lenient terms. Plus, the trouble with LNG, another bump in the Halliburton-Baker Hughes merger, and answering mailbag questions. 

The Motley Fool discusses how investors might want to think about Valeant Pharmaceuticals' share price tailspin and marijuana drugmaker GW Pharmaceuticals' skyrocketing valuation.

In a surprising move to investors and customers alike, the “Amazon Cable Store” is officially here, offering television, Internet, and phone bundles from Comcast that feature the e-commerce leader’s simple ordering process and a dedicated customer service team.

Meanwhile, Under Armour finalizes its long-delayed stock split as we consider the implications for both current and future shareholders.

 Deciding what age to start getting benefits is a key decision in retirement, and finances are only part of the issue. Find out how to make the right decision for you.

Three interviews from our time on the ground in Austin at SXSW exploring how different businesses are thinking about virtual reality.