Episodes

Sept. 3, 2025

A National Housing Emergency (EP. 428)

On episode 428 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss rich people everywhere, why this isn't like the dot-com bubble, the markets don't care about bad vibes, junk bonds are on a tear, there are more ETFs than stocks, Reddit loss porn, American exceptionalism, what would actually fix housing, the S&P 500 is outperforming private equity, 7 year auto loans, the 9-9-6 lifestyle and more. This episode is sponsored YCharts and Fa...
Sept. 1, 2025

Talk Your Book: How to Invest in Commodities

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Don Casturo, CIO at Quantix Commodities LP and Kristof Gleich, President & CIO at Harbor Capital to discuss: how to invest more thoughtfully in a broad basket of commodities, how investors typically allocate to commodities as an asset class, why the index doesn't make sense anymore and how commodities can hedge more traditional portf...
Aug. 27, 2025

State of the American Investor (EP. 427)

On episode 427 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss what happens to the stock market after Fed rate cuts, is this 1996 or 1999, why value stocks need a recession, investors love options, how people invested before the Internet, why we need a correction and much more. This episode is sponsored by Invesco. To learn more about Invesco’s income advantage ETFs. Visit https://www.invesco.com/income-advantage Sign up for The Compou...
Aug. 25, 2025

Talk Your Book: Creating Monthly Income From Your Portfolio

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by John Burrello, Senior Portfolio Manager at Invesco to discuss: their Income Advantage suite of ETFs, how options work, the risks involved in big payouts and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Irrelevant Investor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
Aug. 20, 2025

Buy the Porsche (EP. 426)

On episode 426 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss why the stock market is getting boring, S&P 493 vs. the Mag 7, are small caps dead, it's tough being a contrarian, healthcare stocks are cheap, the K-shaped food industry, the tariff impact is coming, renting vs. buying, million dollar houses and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts. Visit https://go.ycharts.com/animal-spirits and Get 20% off your initial YCharts Professio...
Aug. 18, 2025

Talk Your Book: How to Invest in Futures

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Craig Bewick, Head of Retail Education for the CME Group to discuss: how futures contracts work, why retail investors are becoming a bigger part of the futures market and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Irrelevant Invest...
Aug. 13, 2025

Measuring the Wealth Effect (EP. 425)

On episode 425 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss 1990s nostalgia, the growing importance of the stock market on the economy, the Nifty Fifty vs. the Mag 7, buying Nike as a falling knife, the K-shaped economy, flying private, Tom Lee likes ETH, the 50/30/20 rule and more. This episode is sponsored by Pacer ETFs and Fabric by Gerber Life Learn more about COWG at http://paceretfs.com/ Join the thousands of parents who trust Fa...
Aug. 11, 2025

Talk Your Book: The People's Index

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Matt Bartolini, Managing Director at State Street Investment Management to discuss: investing in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a history of the Dow, how it compares to the other indexes, and more! Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The ...
Aug. 6, 2025

Wall Street Strikes Back (EP. 424)

On episode 424 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss: how AI bailed out the stock market and economy, a history of capex bubbles, the Carvana comeback, investors are trading everything, the labor market debate, vibes vs. data, $1 billion job offers, where home prices are falling, Michael buys a new house, condos are crashing, FAFO parenting and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts and Vanguard. Get 20% off your initial YCha...
Aug. 4, 2025

Talk Your Book: Finding Tax Alpha in Fixed Income

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Alex Morris of F/m Investments to discuss their new Compoundr ETF Series, diversifying your bonds and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Irrelevant Investor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel free to shoot us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠animalspirits@th...
July 30, 2025

This Is the Dumb Money (EP. 423)

On episode 423 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss an AI bubble floor under the market, when to sell NVDA, strategies that don't work anymore, how the housing market is impacting the stock market, the trade war is over, the summer crypto trade, investors are still buying homes, a bad idea for your 401k, Happy Gilmore 2 and more. This episode is sponsored by Vanguard. Learn more at: https://vgi.vg/3GbOsYM Sign up for The Compound ne...
July 28, 2025

Talk Your Book: How to Hold the Biggest Winners

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: buy & hold investing, owning 10-bagger stocks, the Motley Fool 100, managing investor behavior and much more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Irrelevant Inve...
July 23, 2025

What is Upper Middle Class? (EP. 422)

On episode 422 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss: why stock market returns can't be 15% per year forever, putting the Mag 7 into context, small caps are cheap, retail runs the show now, Opendoor is the new meme stock, investing is easy, owning 50% of a single stock in your Roth IRA, explaining Bitcoin, the Midwest real estate boom, losing your iPhone and more! This episode is sponsored by Vanguard and YCharts Learn more about Van...
July 21, 2025

Talk Your Book: How We Got a Bitcoin ETF

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Dave LaValle, Senior Managing Director, Global Head of ETFs at Grayscale Investments to discuss: how a bitcoin ETF was approved, what’s coming next in crypto, how to think about the volatility of investing in these assets, and more! Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’...
July 16, 2025

There Are Too Many Rich People (EP. 421)

On episode 421 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss a nervous stock market rally, U.S. corporate exceptionalism, how the stock market bottoms, the worst decade ever for bonds, rich people who don't feel rich, Apple vs. Meta, Bitcoin's market cap, the upper middle class is getting too crowded, private equity vs. youth sports and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts and Flat Rock Global. Get 20% off your initial YCharts Professional...
July 14, 2025

Talk Your Book: Option Income Is So Hot Right Now

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Garrett Paolella, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of NEOS Investments to discuss losing upside to cover downside, surviving bull markets, volatility across indices, fitting these strategies within a portfolio, and much more! Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T...
July 12, 2025

I Want To Be An Advisor, What Do I Do?

On this special episode of Animal Spirits at the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss best practices on starting a career in the modern world of finance, their own backgrounds on how they arrived at Ritholtz, how to navigate the current state of the industry, the importance of developing your niche, what jobs will (and won't) survive AI, and more! Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecom...
July 9, 2025

A 25 Year Bull Market (EP. 420)

On episode 420 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss faster recoveries in the stock market, the potential for an even longer bull market, pros and cons of deregulation, zooming out on the dollar, why taxes never rise, a weak jobs market for college grads, life in 1776, making $250k a year and still not feeling rich, the worst housing market in America, $1,000 car payments and more. This episode is sponsored by Cache Financials and Fabric by G...
July 7, 2025

Talk Your Book: Autocallable Income

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Matt Kaufman, Senior Vice President and Head of ETFs at Calamos to discuss the Calamos Autocallable Income ETF (CAIE), a first-of-its-kind fund bringing institutional-style structured notes to the ETF world. They explore what makes CAIE structurally unique compared to traditional autocallable notes, including how its laddered structure offers investors a differ...
July 5, 2025

Talk Your Book: How Public’s Winning the Great Wealth Transfer

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Leif Abraham, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Public to discuss updates in fintech, the brokerage industry, and an evolving investor landscape. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Irrelevant Investor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel free to shoot us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠animalspirits@thecompoundne...
July 2, 2025

The Top 10 Risks to the Stock Market (EP. 419)

On episode 419 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss recession hypotheticals, all-time highs in the stock market, the death of the permabear, international outperformance, a crashing dollar, the automatic investing revolution, yield magicians, fast food price inflation, AI vs financial advisors, the potential for a housing market correction and more! This episode is sponsored by Vanguard. Learn more at: https://vgi.vg/3GbOsYM Sign up for The Com...
June 30, 2025

Talk Your Book: What Even Is Infrastructure?

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Scott Litman, Portfolio Manager at GCM Grosvenor to discuss types of infrastructure investments, revenue drivers within infrastructure, the risk/return profile for infrastructure investments, thoughts around liquidity, and much more! Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Ir...
June 25, 2025

The Nothing Ever Happens Market (EP. 418)

On episode 418 of Animal Spirits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ discuss why investors are ignoring scary headlines, war vs the stock market, a slowdown in the labor market, not every bad thing is a crisis, all stock markets are concentrated, it's getting more expensive to own a car, Mark Zuckerberg is desperate, the stablecoin opportunity set, baby boomers are never selling their houses and more! This episode is sponsored by CBOE and YCharts. To learn more about I...
June 23, 2025

Talk Your Book: Turning Capex Into Cashflow

On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Carlson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Sean O'Hara, Director at Pacer Financial and President at Pacer ETFs to discuss why free cash flow is important, how the index is constructed, how momentum works, valuations within growth stocks, and much more! Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Wealth of Common Sense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Batnick’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Irrelevant Investor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel...