Episodes
May 7, 2025
There Will Never Be Another Warren Buffett (EP.411)
On episode 411 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss Warren Buffett's legacy, no one can guess where the market is going, a 9 day win streak for stocks, Americans love to buy the dip, the next recession is going to be wild, Wall Street is very bearish, retail is bullish, Bi…
May 5, 2025
Talk Your Book: The CLO Playbook
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Shiloh Bates, Partner and CIO of Flat Rock Global to discuss the relationship between income and volatility, how CLOs pe...
April 30, 2025
The Most Confusing Rally of All Time (EP.410)
On episode 410 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: a wild month of stock market performance, bear market rallies, a shift in tariffs, Amazon fighting back, an update on earnings, thoughts on conference...
April 28, 2025
Talk Your Book: Equal Weight Investing
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Nick Kalivas, Head of Factor & Core Equity Product Strategy at Invesco to discuss the research behind equal weighting, conce...
April 26, 2025
Talk Your Book: Derek Thompson Feels Like He's Taking Crazy Pills
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson speak with Abundance author Derek Thompson about his new book, what it means in the current environment, why the supply chain is so import...
April 23, 2025
So Bearish It's Bullish (EP.409)
On episode 409 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: some 1929 and 1932 comparisons, the impact of tariffs on small businesses, supply chain problems are coming, putting the dollar's move into perspectiv...
April 21, 2025
Talk Your Book: Interest Rates Go Kablooey
On this two-part episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson speak with Jason Greenblath of American Century Investments about short duration fixed income, remaining active during recessions, in...
April 19, 2025
Talk Your Book: How Not To Invest Like Buffett
On this special two-part episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson speak with Barry Ritholtz to discuss his new book, How Not To Invest. Barry is the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of...
April 16, 2025
The Dollar Dump (EP.408)
On episode 408 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the tariff tantrum, why a falling dollar matters, yields are rising, betting markets on recession predictions, sentiment is falling off a cliff, buyin...
April 14, 2025
Talk Your Book: Elevator Growth in Mid Caps
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick , CFA and Ben Carlson , CFA are joined by Matt Bartolini, CFA, CAIA, Managing Director at State Street Global Advisors and Head of SPDR Americas Research Team...
April 9, 2025
The Stock Market Crashed. Now What? (EP.407)
On episode 407 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the chaos surrounding tariffs, Dan Ives getting cautious, possible affects on the economy, fake headlines moving markets, cabanas are getting out of co...
April 7, 2025
Talk Your Book: International Stocks, So Hot Right Now
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Rahul Sharma, Portfolio Manager and Executive Director at Schafer Cullen to discuss the catalyst for recent international outper...
April 2, 2025
Ben's Bearish (EP.406)
On episode 406 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: auto tariffs, binary outcomes on Liberation Day, rising uncertainty, why household debt is going to rise, the Mag 7 bear market, the pros and cons of ...
March 31, 2025
Talk Your Book: Floating Rate Income
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Fran Rodilosso, Head of Fixed Income ETF Portfolio Management and Bill Sokol, VP and Director of Product Management to discuss w...
March 26, 2025
Did Trump Blink? (EP. 405)
On episode 405 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: how to become indispensable at work, the stock market comeback, the wealth effect, international stock outperformance, who owns the US stock market, 1...
March 24, 2025
Talk Your Book: A Better Money Market Fund
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Alex Morris, CEO and Mark Spindel, Senior Advisor for F/m Investments to discuss how TIPS work, why it was so hard to hedge infl...
March 19, 2025
Live From Miami
On episode 404 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: a bear market in Mag 7 stocks, one of the fastest corrections ever, surveys gaslighting investors, a possible consumer slowdown, more travel stories a...
March 17, 2025
Talk Your Book: How Private Credit Works
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Phil Baur, SVP and Portfolio Specialist at Calamos Investments to discuss how private credit differs from high yield, intricacie...
March 15, 2025
Talk Your Book: How to be a Supercommunicator with Charles Duhigg
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by author Charles Duhigg to talk about his book, Supercommunicators. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealt...
March 12, 2025
The Tariff Tantrum (EP.403)
On episode 403 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: a healthy correction in the stock market, growth stocks getting slaughtered, bonds are working again, recession worries are back on the table, interna...
March 10, 2025
Talk Your Book: A Better 60/40 Portfolio
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by JD Gardner, CIO and Founder of Aptus Capital Advisors to discuss who Aptus is, shifting to riskier portfolios using options, usi...
March 5, 2025
Is a Recession Coming? (EP.402)
On episode 402 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: GDP growth rolling over, the probability of a recession is rising, timing a bear market, Ray Dalio's crash calls, the crypto strategic reserve, the bu...
March 3, 2025
Talk Your Book: Custom Portfolio Protection
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Matthew Radgowski, CEO of Halo Investing to discuss the difference between buffered ETFs and structured notes, Halo's new struct...
Feb. 26, 2025
Time to Get Bearish? (EP.401)
On episode 401 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the potential for an economic slowdown, Steve Cohen gets bearish, the labor market is slowing, giving the US economy the benefit of the doubt, the top...