UK mortgage rates have hit 6% for the first time since Liz Truss’s mini-budget, yet the Bank of England hasn’t raised rates. So who’s pushing them up, and why does it matter even if you don’t own a home?

With Vic on her way home to New Zealand, our lead investor Nicole Bremner steps in alongside Soph to explain.

Then, the race to turn weight-loss jabs like Ozempic into a pill. It could more than double the number of people using them, and Nicole shares how to invest in a trend like this without having to pick the one winning drug.

Plus, a listener is losing money every month on a house she bought with her brother. Nicole has been in the same position with one of her own properties, and explains why so many of us hold on to bad investments for far too long.

Wondering whether an investment actually lines up with your values? 👉 Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM 

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Vic Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Coming up in this episode …
• 00:00:56 Pathfinder x The Curve
• 00:01:22 In the red or the green?
• 00:04:47 What’s happening to mortgage rates?
• 00:14:09 Community Question
• 00:22:40 Pathfinder x The Curve
• 00:23:16 How to ride the peptide boom?
• 00:36:46 Thanks for listening!
• 00:39:06 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

It’s time to talk about "looksmaxxing," the internet's term for optimising everything about your appearance, and why so many of us are quietly pouring hundreds (or thousands) of dollars every month into it. Soph is joined by Hanna Horvath, author of the money and culture Substack ‘Your Brain on Money’. Together they dig into why Love Island contestants are the extreme end of a spectrum we're all on and why the return on investment for looking good is way blurrier than we like to admit. We also get into the psychology of impulse beauty spending and how to actually start pulling yourself off the hot girl hamster wheel.

Hanna’s links …

Substack (https://yourbrainonmoney.substack.com/)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yourbrain_onmoney/?hl=en)

TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@yourbrainonmoney)

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright

Producer: Emily Rigby

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/)

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3)

⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)

Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/)

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Coming up in this episode …
• 00:01:02 Are we low-key Love Island contestants?
• 00:10:10 Hot girl hamster wheel
• 00:14:07 What's the ROI on tweakments?
• 00:23:04 Where did “looksmaxxing” come from
• 00:27:57 How to opt out
• 00:49:16 Thanks for watching
• 00:49:46 Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

First up, Oura was about to go public. It was looking to raise $2.2 billion at a valuation of more than $15 billion, then pulled out at the last minute. We break down what an IPO actually is and why companies wait for a sunny market before they list. Plus, why Oura's subscription model could make it one to watch when it finally does go public.

Then, Meta's new AI agent Muse can book, buy, and email on your behalf. We reveal how the Curve community is using AI, from budgeting to building apps. But with new MIT research finding ChatGPT users' brains were 55% less active, what are we losing when we outsource our thinking? We get into why your brain needs friction and how to use AI without losing your edge. Plus, Soph shares how The Curve uses AI to run a tiny team with a huge output.

Not sure how to incorporate AI into your business? Discover Out Source, our recommended AI automation partner https://thecurve.out-sauce.ai/refer/out-sauce

Look out for The Curve audience AI survey results on our Substack https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Emma's article rec: David Robinson's essay in The Atlantic on why he resigned from OpenAI's safety team https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/10/openai-safety-team-resignation/688881/

Thanks so much to Generate for making The Curve Weekly possible. Generate has a really impressive 10-year track record, to find out more about their performance click here: generatekiwisaver.co.nz/performance. But remember, a great track record doesn’t guarantee future returns! If you’d like to speak to an advisor, to see if Generate is right for you, you can book time with someone here: https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/curve

Credits:

Host: Sophie Hallwright & Vic Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Coming up in today’s episode
• 00:00:54 Generate x The Curve
• 00:01:12 Where’s Soph in the world?
• 00:07:34 Oura’s IPO back step
• 00:28:30 Generate x The Curve
• 00:29:03 What Meta’s new drop means for AI
• 00:57:10 Thanks for listening!
• 00:57:47 Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Generate’s Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider License can be found here: GenerateKiwiSaver.co.nz/disclosures.

*Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey March Quarter End 2026. The Generate Focused Growth Fund returns have ranked in the top three of NZ Multi Sector Aggressive Category Funds for 10 year returns every quarter since becoming eligible in June 2023. Most recently the fund ranked 2nd out of 10 funds for 10 year returns to 31 March 2026.

We're back from our break, and we're kicking things off with not one but two personal updates. Soph opens with some very happy news, and Vic's comes right at the very end, so make sure you stick around.

Trigger warning: this episode discusses the Cornell University sexual assault case. We look at who holds the power and the purse strings at elite universities, why donors could be the key to real change, and why this is exactly why we do what we do. Women do the work, men have the power, and money is a big part of that.

Then, Nvidia writes the biggest cheque in US corporate history and makes it out to itself. We break down what a share buyback actually is and why Vic calls it the greenest flag of all time. Plus, its closest rival AMD becomes the first company led by a woman to hit US$1 trillion, and we look at what happens when a household name like Nike stops innovating.

Interest in The Curve Investments? Read more info here: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/?srsltid=AU7gw4UndzAS-IYAxL0y4DggVR25nsl3fQyGTqIo_B6OK8_lhga1UROt

Check out the scary AI consciousness article from The Economist: https://www.economist.com/interactive/briefing/2026/08/20/the-search-for-consciousness-inside-llms

Wondering whether an investment actually lines up with your values? 👉 Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM 

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Vic Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Coming up in today’s episode
• 00:00:46 Pathfinder x The Curve
• 00:01:11 Soph’s got BIG news!
• 00:16:04 The financial repercussions for Cornell University
• 00:26:35 Pathfinder x The Curve
• 00:27:17 Heated chipmaker rivalry
• 00:42:15 Vic’s got BIG news
• 00:45:14 Thanks for listening
• 00:45:53 Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

What is a share price, how is it actually set, and what makes it move up or down. This episode breaks the stock market down to its most basic level, buyers and sellers in a marketplace, and explains why getting emotionally attached to a stock (much like a bad relationship) is one of the easiest ways to make a bad decision. A great primer before you buy your first share.

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Welcome to The Curve Throwbacks
• 00:00:57 Soph’s intro
• 00:01:57 Beginners guide to stocks
• 00:24:56 Thanks for listening!
• 00:25:23 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Diversification is one of those words that sounds boring until it saves your portfolio. This episode breaks down what it actually means to spread your risk, why the stock market works like any other marketplace, and why falling in love with a single investment can be one of the most costly mistakes you make. Comes with a story about a company that no longer exists, and why that matters.

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Welcome to The Curve Throwbacks
• 00:00:57 Soph’s intro
• 00:06:30 Beginners guide to diversification
• 00:26:27 Thanks for listening!
• 00:26:55 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Risk is one of those words that sounds terrifying until you understand what it actually means. This episode walks through how to think about your own risk appetite, why investing and gambling are not the same thing, and why checking your investments constantly can do more harm than good. A solid one for anyone who feels anxious about the idea of investing before they've even started.

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Welcome to The Curve Throwbacks
• 00:00:57 Soph’s intro
• 00:07:36 The fundamentals of risk
• 00:30:32 Thanks for listening!
• 00:31:00 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

There are four main asset classes: cash, bonds, property and stocks, and this episode ranks them from safest to riskiest and explains why. Property in particular gets a reality check here, since it's the asset most people assume is "safe" without really questioning why. A useful one for understanding where your money is sitting and what that actually means for your risk.

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Welcome to The Curve Throwbacks
• 00:00:57 Soph’s intro
• 00:04:28 The four asset classes
• 00:20:58 Thanks for listening!
• 00:21:25 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Before anything else in investing makes sense, you need to understand return, volatility and why Einstein rated compound interest so highly. This episode breaks down what people actually mean when they talk about "the return" on an investment, and why different types of investments move up and down at different rates. If you've ever nodded along in a finance conversation without fully following, start here.

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Welcome to The Curve Throwbacks
• 00:00:57 Soph’s intro
• 00:07:57 Investing 101
• 00:27:34 Thanks for listening!
• 00:28:03 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

The Curve is pausing new episodes for the next couple of weeks. Soph's away and Vic is in the middle of moving back to New Zealand to run the fund, so rather than rush new episodes out, the feed is taking a breather. In its place, five of the very first episodes ever recorded are being re-released, the ones that cover the absolute fundamentals of investing. If you're new here or you want a refresher on the basics, this is the perfect entry point. Regular programming is back on 5 October.

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Holly's back in the studio (this time in person) for another round of Curveballs, real listeners’ submitted property stories sent in after her last two episodes went viral. Soph & Holly unpack a family vacation home at the centre of five and a half years of conflict, a couple who split renovation labour and income unevenly with nothing in writing, and two very different relationships where one partner brings significantly more wealth, inheritance or equity into the picture. Sophie also gets refreshingly honest about her own situation navigating an uneven income dynamic with her partner. If you want to hear some juicy property stories that might hit a little close to home, this one's for you.

Listen to part one with Holly here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IlXIaBpV5gidULo4GxB4l?si=9b0fe5b041164b91

Listen to part two with Holly here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oHlPINatebG4R3dO8mRyf?si=Md-5eOF2QfmRGzfihRWQ9g

Submit your anonymous property curveball story here: https://form.typeform.com/to/DQf0F07b

Want to get your own affairs in order? Holly at Succession NZ can help with everything from wills to trusts. Use code THECURVE at checkout on Succession.nz for a special discount.

Holly’s links

Succession.nz

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/succession.nz/)

TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@succession.nz)

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ, who know that home ownership isn’t a straight line. Sometimes life throws curveballs, and BNZ is all about supporting you through the hard stuff, not just the highlights. Whether you’re planning ahead or needing a bit more support right now, BNZ’s home loan experts have the tools and people ready to help you find a way.

👉 To learn more, head here: http://bnz.co.nz/home-loan-partners-spotify-ep14

BNZ home loans are subject to BNZ’s lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees. An establishment fee of up to $150 may apply.

Credits:

Hosts: Sophie Hallwright

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en

Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/

Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/

The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/

⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw

⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Coming up in this episode …
• 00:01:38 BNZ x The Curve
• 00:01:52 Catch up with Holly
• 00:15:06 Steph’s Curveball
• 00:20:15 Tash’s Curveball
• 00:24:18 BNZ x The Curve
• 00:24:40 Mia’s Curveball
• 00:35:18 Lucy’s Curveball
• 00:43:26 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.