Episodes
June 15, 2026
Talk Your Book: The Case for Investing in Emerging Market Bonds
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Eric Fine from VanEck to discuss: how emerging markets have changed, geopolitical risk, currencies, AI and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
468
June 10, 2026
The Teflon Economy (EP. 468)
On episode 468 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: NBA Finals ticket prices, AI's lack of impact on the labor market, one day of carnage in the stock market, prices drive the narrative, the Mag 7 is underperforming, tech is eating the stock market, the SpaceX IPO, the first $1 trillion ETF, the retail trading boom, the cry...
June 8, 2026
Talk Your Book: Diversification in Private Assets
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Danielle Singer from Invesco and Ben Linder from LGT Capital Partners to discuss: investing in private markets, portfolio construction, illiquidity and more. Find complete show n...
467
June 3, 2026
The Biggest Short Squeeze of All-Time (EP. 467)
On episode 467 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: peak FOMO, chip stocks going nuclear, 1990s stock market flashbacks, trillion dollar IPOs, the AI trade is global, the bear case, a tale of two bull markets, bad luck in the real estate industry, South Korea's boom, movies are back and more. This episode is sponsored by: Inve...
June 1, 2026
Talk Your Book: Why Rising Rates Won't Hurt You Anymore
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Ben Barber from Franklin Templeton to discuss: investing in municipal bonds, how to think about rising rates, misunderstandings of the muni bond market and more. To learn more about Frankl...
466
May 27, 2026
A Fire Alarm For Interest Rates (EP. 466)
On episode 466 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the SpaceX IPO, index fund bag holders, the pros and cons of rising bond yields, the markets got the war right, how consumer sentiment broke, the Bezos tax plan, AI optimism, did crypto miss its moment, the coming renovation boom, dad books and more. This episode is spon...
May 25, 2026
Talk Your Book: Investing in the Rise of the Robots
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Derek Yan from KraneShares to discuss: the investment opportunity in humanoid robots, how far away we are from a more robotic world, the implications for investors, workers, an aging population and more...
465
May 20, 2026
The Fat Pitch For Bears (EP. 465)
On episode 465 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: what can stop the stock market, Nvidia is too big, the boy who cried wolf predictions, market timing reminders, Michael Burry crash calls, AI portfolio strategies, AI is the new Netflix, the robots are coming, rich people who aren't happy, Harrison Ford, Martin Short and more. Th...
May 18, 2026
Talk Your Book: Is the Nasdaq 100 in Another Bubble?
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Mark Marex from Nasdaq to discuss: the differences between now and the dot-com bubble, the fundamentals of the Nasdaq 100, AI's impact on the stock market and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben...
464
May 13, 2026
This Won't End Well (EP. 464)
On episode 464 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Ben's new book Risk & Reward, an epic melt-up in the stock market, semiconductor stocks going berserk, why this isn't a bubble (yet), South Korean stocks, AI portfolios & advisors, why young people are so angry, soccer dads & crypto, longevity risk and more. This episode is sponsored...
463
May 6, 2026
The Stock Market Is Doing Something We’ve Never Seen Before (EP. 463)
On episode 463 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Paul Tudor Jones on market valuations, how many people own stocks, mind-boggling numbers from the hyperscalers, a lost decade for bonds, why higher gas prices sting, some macro prediction rules, government debt levels, Jevon's Paradox, prediction market winners and losers and much more. ...
May 4, 2026
Talk Your Book: Animal Spirits Live with F/m Investments
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Alex Morris from F/m Investments for a live show recorded in Washington D.C. that covers inflation, the Fed, AI, tax alpha and much more. Definitions of terms from the episode - AG Index: Evaluates the performance...
462
April 29, 2026
Paycheck-To-Paycheck on $500,000? (EP. 462)
On episode 462 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: how AI will impact wealth management, a stock market boom for the ages, why the Fed never created a financial crisis, an ode to Tim Cook, the world's biggest ETF, ridiculous car payments, AI job market winners and losers, surveys are broken, the dreaded mid-life crisis and more. This epi...
April 27, 2026
Talk Your Book: Consternation About Concentration
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by State Street's Michael Arone to discuss: the origin story of SPY, what's driving ETF adoption, geopolitics vs. AI, potential economic risks and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
April 22, 2026
Investing Isn't Supposed to Be Fun
On episode 461 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why the stock market feels like it makes no sense, stocks are the smart money, the speed of market moves, an epic bull market run, a new inflation regime, Hyperliquid, what Austin got right on housing, consumers are still spending, Michael's number one rule of investing and more. This ep...
April 20, 2026
Talk Your Book: Juicing Your Returns
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Matt Kaufman from Calamos to discuss: how autocallable ETFs work, the structured products boom and a new way to target growth in your portfolio. To learn more about amplified, long-term wealth accumulation visit: www....
460
April 15, 2026
Everyone Back in the Boat (EP. 460)
On episode 460 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Tax Day, the benefits of writing, energy vs. tech, a confusing labor market, a rite of passage for younger generations, millennials vs. boomers, AI uncertainty, Bitcoin vs. software stocks, the downfall of Nike and more. This episode is sponsored by Goldman Sachs and Janus Henderson Investo...
April 13, 2026
Talk Your Book: The Biggest Active ETF
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by J.P. Morgan's Hamilton Reiner to discuss: creating income via options and how covered call strategies work. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Weal...
April 8, 2026
$1 Million is the Worst Amount of Money (EP. 459)
On episode 459 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: he psychology of stock market losses, the Mag 7 impact on returns this year, value is beating growth, the upper middle class is growing, why rich people don't feel rich, the impact of higher gas prices, houses in America are getting older, Airbnb's economic impact and more. This episode is sponsored...
April 6, 2026
Talk Your Book: Income and Momentum
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson have two guests. First up is Bill Mann from Motley Fool Asset Management to talk about the momentum factor. Next is Kevin Lynyak from Morgan Stanley to discuss preferred securities. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’...
April 1, 2026
Home Buyer's Remorse (EP. 458)
On episode 458 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: recession fears, the stock market is bad at recession predictions, why this is an orderly sell-off, earnings are still rising, stocks rarely finish the year down, there are so many rich people, wealth inequality vs. socialism, house money pits, private credit redemptions and more. This episode is sponso...
March 30, 2026
Talk Your Book: Navigating Fixed Income in a Crazy World
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Invesco's Stephanie Larosiliere to discuss: how to diversify your bonds, AI's impact on the economy, hedging higher inflation and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
March 25, 2026
The Best Stocks in History (EP. 457)
On episode 457 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: how markets are controlling the war, the cost of higher energy prices, why the stock market isn't falling more, why the Fed shouldn't raise rates, the Forrest Gump market, why gold is down 20%, the not-so-K-shaped economy, AI is making us work more, accidental landlords, how to create a good business and mor...
March 23, 2026
Talk Your Book: What's the Latest in Crypto?
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Krista Lynch from Grayscale to discuss: crypto legislation, stablecoins, ETFs, in-kind creations and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense...