Episodes
March 18, 2026
The Perfect Price of Oil (EP. 456)
On episode 456 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why oil prices aren't higher, complacency in the markets, energy stocks, oil as the new meme stock, geopolitical events vs. the stock market, why AI isn't a bubble, bitcoin isn't dead yet, housing affordability is improving, private credit redemptions, the case for PE stocks, who orders DoorDash, there is no ret...
March 16, 2026
Talk Your Book: After-Tax Alpha
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Erkko Etula, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Brooklyn Investment Group, to discuss tax advantaged long/short SMAs. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Commo...
March 11, 2026
Will AI Displace Financial Advisors? (EP. 455)
On episode 455 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are live from Future Proof Citywide in Miami talking with Michael Kitces and Phil Huber about the wealth management business in the age of AI, the private credit crisis of confidence and a very special Animal Spirits roast. This episode is sponsored by Teucrium and Janus Henderson Investors. Find out more at https://teucri...
March 9, 2026
Talk Your Book: What's Working in the Stock Market?
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Franklin Templeton's Chris Galipeau to discuss: a broadening out of stock market leadership, what's working, what's not working, how AI is impacting markets and much more. To hear more from Chris Galipeau and the Franklin Templeton Instit...
March 4, 2026
A Wave of Redemptions (EP. 454)
On episode 454 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the geopolitical impact on markets, inflationary risk, when risk goes off, concentration risk, AI vs. white collar workers, the optimistic case for AI, falling and rising bond yields, inheriting a house from your parents, the private credit crisis of confidence, the loneliness epidemic and more. This episode is spon...
March 2, 2026
Talk Your Book: The Bull Market in Real Assets
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by David Schassler from VanEck to discuss: the case for owning real assets, the gold bull market, how AI is fueling the demand for energy and materials and how the world will look different going forward. Important Disclosures from VanEck: https...
Feb. 25, 2026
Everyone Hates AI (EP. 453)
On episode 453 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the AI doom scenarios, the value of human relationships in a digital world, housing as an AI hedge, the AI backlash, a very weird stock market, the global bull market, consumers keep spending money, Bitcoin is a software stock, the Blue Owl fiasco, the perfect movie run time and more. This episode is sponsored by Be...
Feb. 23, 2026
Talk Your Book: Investing in Next Gen Tech Stocks
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Paul Schroeder from Invesco to discuss: the Invesco NASDAQ Next Gen 100 ETF, the broadening out of market leadership this year, where investor flows are going and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
Feb. 18, 2026
Is AI a Mistake? (EP. 452)
On episode 452 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the software apocalypse, stock market blow-ups, AI fear-mongering, how AI will impact your job, in defense of SaaS, the ex-US trade is working, a bull market in Japan, Gen Z loves the stock market, prediction markets, a takedown of The Millionaire Next Door, middle-aged dad milestones and more. This episode is sponsored...
Feb. 16, 2026
Talk Your Book: Why Commodities Are Working
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Greg Sharenow from PIMCO to discuss: the boom in real assets, the role of momentum in trading commodities, how to gain exposure to real assets and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of C...
Feb. 11, 2026
What Would You Do With $3 Million? (EP. 451)
On episode 451 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss how the bull market is changing shape, software stocks getting slaughtered, it's finally a stock picker's market, Anthropic changed the AI narrative, ex-Mag 7 is finally working, the case for emerging markets, the crypto bloodbath, the best airline and more. This episode is sponsored by Pacer ETFs and YCharts Learn more ab...
Feb. 9, 2026
Talk Your Book: The 3 A's of the U.S. Economy
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Bill Mann, Chief Investment Strategist at Motley Fool Asset Management to discuss: asset prices, artificial intelligence, affluent consumers and what it all means for the stock market. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
Feb. 4, 2026
Gold's 1987 Moment (EP. 450)
On episode 450 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the never-ending news cycle, the gold/silver crash, how the Internet changed markets forever, the commodities supercycle, emerging markets are on fire, the new Fed chair, the chart of the century, crypto feels dead again, the government doesn't want to build more homes for young people, DoorDash discourse and more. This episode...
Feb. 2, 2026
Talk Your Book: Investing in a Concentrated Stock Market
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Matthew Bartolini from State Street Investment Management to discuss: stock market concentration, the S&P 493 vs. the Mag 7, dividends vs. share buybacks and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealt...
Jan. 28, 2026
Hi-Yo Silver! (EP. 449)
On episode 449 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss snow days, government debt vs. household debt, the wealth effect, diversification is working again in 2026, stocks vs. earnings, Jeremy Grantham, the dollar is falling, Silver is the new meme stock, gold is crushing bitcoin, housing market inflation, Dry January for spending and much more. This episode is sponsored by Invesco. Visi...
Jan. 26, 2026
Talk Your Book: How to Fix the Plumbing of the Financial System
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Ryan Lovell from Chainlink to discuss: how blockchains and defi can make the financial markets less costly, more efficient and a better experience for the users. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A ...
Jan. 21, 2026
Small Caps Are Back (EP. 448)
On episode 448 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss geopolitical risk in the markets, rising bond yields, why small caps are breaking out, running the economy hot, household balance sheets are in good shape, the end of money, the great real estate wealth transfer, the bottom 50% wealth gains, Netflix movies and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts and ClearBridge Investments....
Jan. 19, 2026
Talk Your Book: Structured Notes in an ETF
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Jeff Schwarte from Simplify ETFs to discuss: barrier options, how structured products work in an ETF, creating regular income and how equity income funds can fit into a portfolio. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
Jan. 14, 2026
Is the Stock Market Invincible? (EP. 447)
On episode 447 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss Jerome Powell, credit card rates, the institutional ownership of homes, lowering mortgage rates, how to fix the housing market, AI vs. the labor market, the broadening out of the bull market, the growth in sports gambling, where housing is still affordable, circular private equity deals, why TVs are so cheap and much more. This episode...
Jan. 12, 2026
Talk Your Book: The Bull Case for China With Brendan Ahern
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Brendan Ahern from KraneShares to discuss: the differences between China and the United States, the state of Chinese Internet stocks and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense...
Jan. 7, 2026
Tax the Billionaires (EP. 446)
On episode 446 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss 2026 predictions, the risk of a bear market, why valuations should be higher, why international stocks outperformed, recession risk in 2026, AI hallucinations, self-driving cars, Disney stock, where to find cheaper housing, an appreciation for Keanu Reeves and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts. Subscribe to YCharts’ Advisor Pu...
Dec. 31, 2025
The Best Performing Stocks of 2025 (EP. 445)
On episode 445 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the best and worst S&P 500 stocks this year, 2025 investing lessons, why silver is going vertical, international small caps are crushing it, family offices are booming, sentiment is still broken, over-optimization is a problem, how millennials got rich, when to spend more in retirement, the best video game of all-time and more. This ep...
Dec. 29, 2025
Talk Your Book: Teucrium's Sal Gilbertie on Commodities & Crypto
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Sal Gilbertie from Teucrium to discuss: why oil prices are falling, how agricultural commodities work, why farmers need bailouts, why crypto is a commodity and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Com...
Dec. 24, 2025
The Biggest Risk in 2026 (EP. 444)
On episode 444 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss what a normal year in the stock market looks like, time traveling through drawdowns, the case for small/mid cap stocks, how many stocks double each year, record cash balances, the economy keeps growing, financial nihilism, gambling, illiquidity risk in private investments and much more. This episode is sponsored by TradePMR & Fabric b...