The Curve is a platform to learn more about money. To change the stereotype that these conversations are typically boring, and only for men in suits. Victoria has worked in the finance and investing world for 13 years, and Sophie is a total novice. Learn alongside her as she asks all the questions you're thinking, but might feel a little embarrassed to ask. This podcast will give you all the tools and knowledge to achieve financial freedom, as well as (hopefully) having a laugh along the way.
New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday!
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.
6 Oct 2026
Why Oura pulled its $15BN IPO + is AI making us dumber?
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.
4 Oct 2026
The Weekly: Women do the work, but men have the power
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.
Who has been a guest on The Curve
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Melissa Browne
Amy Fraser
Jordan Rondel
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
97,411
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
96
Social presence
0
YouTube
85
Engagement
0
Contact The Curve
Guest appearances
Books guests
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Questions about The Curve
Who hosts The Curve?
Soph and Vic host the show. Published by The Curve Platform.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does The Curve take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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