Episodes
Jan. 3, 2024
2024 Predictions (EP.341)
On today's show we discuss 2023 market performance, a bunch of 2024 predictions, our favorite historical stock market return series, the high quality of restaurants, paying off your mortgage early, the downsides of behavioral...
Dec. 27, 2023
What Will Perform Best in 2024? (EP.340)
On episode 340 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Christmas arguments, green shoots in prices, 1940s vs. 1970s inflation, why we're not worried about index funds, how to save & invest in middle age, w...
Dec. 25, 2023
Talk Your Book: International Growth Investing
On this episode, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Todd Morris, International Growth Portfolio Manager and Analyst for Polen Capital to discuss: reasons for the valuation discrepancies between international stocks...
Dec. 20, 2023
The Most Crowded Trade on Wall Street (EP.339)
On episode 339 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: mission accomplished from the Fed, what comes after a soft landing, new highs in the stock market, small caps breaking out, the best thing we've built...
Dec. 18, 2023
Talk Your Book: What Is Private Credit?
On this episode of Talk Your Book, Ben Carlson and Michael Batnick are joined by, Marco Hanig, Managing and Founding Principal of Alternative Fund Advisors and former Principal at AQR to discuss: the basics to Private Credit,...
Dec. 13, 2023
Dunking on Doomers (EP.338)
On episode 338 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: good news on the economy, why the stock market loves lower inflation, did Elon Musk help kill inflation, getting bullish on consumer sentiment, Netfli...
Dec. 11, 2023
Talk Your Book: The Companies Are Fine
On today's Talk Your Book, Ben Carlson and Michael Batnick are joined by Alex Morris, CIO and President of F/m Investments to discuss: F/m Investments Opportunistic Income ETF, interest rate risk vs. credit risk, market cap w...
Dec. 6, 2023
The Ben Carlson Top (EP.337)
On episode 337 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Charlie Munger, how much the Fed really matters, negativity bias in America, the blame game for inflation, why you don't invest based on the headlines...
Dec. 4, 2023
Talk Your Book: High Prices Cure High Prices
On today's Talk Your Book, Ben Carlson and Michael Batnick are joined again by Sal Gilbertie, CEO of Teucrium to discuss the golden grain cycle, the cost of production and expected long term returns for commodities, how every...
Nov. 29, 2023
$525k to be Happy (EP.336)
On episode 336 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why people keep spending so much money, long droughts between new highs in the stock market, the best upside AI hedge, intelligence vs. pessimism, den...
Nov. 27, 2023
Talk Your Book: Strategic Income
On today's show, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Nuveen Portfolio Manager Nick Travaglino about the bond market, the Fed, fixed income yields, and what's goin on with interest rates! Find complete show notes on ...
Nov. 22, 2023
You Can't Quantify Happiness
On episode 335 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the blowout year for the Nasdaq 100, how experience shapes investment decisions, transitory inflation arguments, where prices have risen the most, who...
Nov. 15, 2023
People Love to Complain
On episode 334 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the Fed's victory over inflation, what Americans get wrong about inflation, the price of iPhones is actually going down, when we get the first Fed rat...
Nov. 13, 2023
Talk Your Book: Bitcoin Fundamentals
On today's show, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Chris Kuiper, Director of Research at Fidelity Digital Assets to discuss: fundamental reasons Bitcoin is outperforming in 2023, illiquid Bitcoin values and supply...
Nov. 8, 2023
Finally, a Slowdown
On episode 333 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the cooling labor market, why the 60/40 portfolio looks more attractive now, why the Fed is in a tough spot, why everyone hates this economy, how to b...
Nov. 6, 2023
Talk Your Book: Betting on Duration
On today's show, Michael and Ben are joined by Alex Morris, Co-Founder and CIO of the US Benchmark Series to discuss: making bets on duration, risks on the short and long end of the treasury curve, finding asymmetries in the ...
Nov. 1, 2023
The Biggest Rug Pull of Our Lives (EP.332)
On episode 332 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why so many people hate this economy, anecdotes vs. data, a depression in the mortgage industry, the good news about falling stock prices, small caps ...
Oct. 30, 2023
Talk Your Book: Investing in Luxury
On today's show, Michael and Ben are joined by Brendan Ahern, CIO of Kraneshares to discuss: the creation of Kraneshares Luxury ETF , demographic trends and utilizing the wealth affect, challenges in investing in internationa...
Oct. 25, 2023
Higher for Longer (EP.331)
On episode 331 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: higher growth and higher rates vs. lower growth and lower rates, why there is so much focus on 60/40 portfolios, bears vs. doomers, the annoyance econ...
Oct. 23, 2023
Talk Your Book: Equities With Guardrails
On today's show, Michael and Ben are joined by Hamilton Reiner, MD, PM, and Head of US Equity Derivatives at J.P. Morgan Asset Management to discuss: how hedging ladders provide downside protection, the goal of the HELO ETF, ...
Oct. 21, 2023
Talk Your Book: The State of Venture Capital
On today's show, Michael and Ben are joined by Samir Kaji, CEO, President, and Co-Founder of Allocate to discuss: what start-up prices look like today, if the free money era is gone forever, VC return dynamics and the power l...
Oct. 18, 2023
Does Government Debt Matter? (EP.330)
On episode 330 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: inflation coming down, the continued strength of the US consumer, Howard Marks on investing for a sea change, the risk-reward in bonds, what would hap...
Oct. 16, 2023
Talk Your Book: The All-In-One Home Equity Loan
On today's show, Michael and Ben are joined by Jason Anderson, Regional Vice President of Northpointe Bank to discuss: the All-In-One Loan, how interest rates affect home equity lines of credit, who this product may or may no...
Oct. 11, 2023
The Worst Bear Market Ever (EP.329)
On episode 329 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why long-term bond yields are rising, the worst bond market sell-off in history, when good news is bad news for the economy, continued strength in the...