Reviews

Just kidding, truly enjoy the show every week. You guys do a great mix of content instead of honing in on one topic every episode so it doesn’t drag out. Makes the work day go by much faster when listening to a broad range of topics. Keep up the great work!

Who would have thought a recommendation from a coworker slinging Telsa options would have turned into a multi-year listening journey. Michael and Ben are to personal finance podcasts what Matt Levine is to legal finance journalism.

Michael and Ben do a wonderful job of teaching, entertaining, and have great banter which makes for an awesome podcast listen. From stocks, investing, the markets, and pop culture, they turn what would be normally be dry material, into an extremely interesting. They just seem like good peeps. I’ve recommended this podcast to almost every person I know who has 1. Reco’d me a stock 2. Thinks they’re the next Warren Buffett 3. Has a slight interest in investing. Great casual listen! 10/10 recommend.

Just one of the best investing/finance based podcasts out there. Michael and Ben work so well together. Very funny while also being extremely informative.

Michael and Ben are great hosts that are very entertaining.

Great way to stay up to date on various finance and other news. Hosts are likable and don’t take themselves too seriously.

If you are relatively new to starting to invest you could not find a better Square 1 to start you journey. Fans of other Compound podcasts will love Animal Spirits in which Mike + Ben muse on the latest going on’s capital market, stock headlines of the week, and the best segment (imo) what they are consuming media wise. These sessions are usually a chance for Michael Batnick to recognize and incorporate the steady mid-western sensibility of Ben Carlson and reconcile the rest of the USA into his New York/Long Island frame of mind. Seriously, you’ll learn much from the hosts. In an age where information is cheap, these 2 give meaning to the markets and as investors if we are going to make better decisions with our money, we need a perspective where the voices we tune into are not afraid to refine and update their opinions.

Enjoyable podcast about investing, life and what they are watching and reading. Investing conversations are very interesting and they’ve had a few guests on to talk about diversification that I haven’t read about before. I enjoy the podcasts because you are never sure what they’ll be talking about. Maybe have a pen and paper handy to jot down ideas and things to read and watch. It’s probably in the show notes but I’ve never cared to look for those.

I look forward to this show every Wednesday, and it’s a perfect duration for my lunchtime walk. It’s like ESPN for stocks; it’s entertaining but even more informative!

Michael and Ben are informative and fun to listen to. I always start my Wednesday with Animal Spirits.

Great weekly podcast for an average schmuck like me. I’m not a finance guy by trade, so I listen to Michael and Ben (and The Compound Show) to enlighten myself. Like I said, I have no finance background but I can still easily keep up with the topics. I will credit this podcast with keeping me in the right mind frame during the pandemic induced sell off.

Aptly named because the term “animal spirits” has long been used to describe the psychological and emotional factors that influence investors during high levels of volatility in the markets. This is a perfect way to describe the content that Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson bring to light on their show. I have learned more in 6 months listening to this show than I did in the 6 years prior. No surprise considering it was recommended to me by an acquaintance whose job title is Certified Financial Planner. These are the investment advisors that your investment advisors listen to. Need I say more? No. But I like to hear myself talk so I’ll add just a few more words. Both of the hosts are Certified Financial Analysts and hold positions at a well-regarded wealth management firm. They’re young too so you can be sure they aren’t giving you outdated advice while not being so young that they haven’t seen enough boom and bust cycles to know what to do during them. Between the sarcasm of Ben and the high-speed rebuttals by Michael, these guys are the perfect duo to break down complex financial ideas. I’d say you should be financially literate to understand the concepts they discuss, but even if you aren’t, they make sure you’ll walk away with the right data and the right perspective on topics ranging from homeownership to inflation and even portfolio comparisons with specific examples. Another reason this is my favorite podcast is that both of these guys author and update their own financial commentary websites. Highly recommend that in addition to listening to their show, you also subscribe to their newsletters. They put out timely content with relevant ideas and the data to back them up. Finally, and most importantly, they don’t pretend to have all the answers. Sometimes knowing that even the professionals don’t have a good answer helps the most. It’s so refreshing in a world where everyone is trying to sell you something.

Enjoyable and entertaining but also very good sound advise—- learn something new every week

I look forward to their episode every Wednesday and the talk your book podcast on Fridays. They both are insightful and bring different personalities to the podcast. Just trolling, Michael :) Jake

Always look forward to your Podcast’s every week. Insightful and funny. Just need more of Michael saying “Sir, Sir”, makes me laugh every time

You’ll learn more from Michael and Ben than anything in school or rip off paid course. Michael “I’d rather listen to The Rewatchables than watch the movie” Batnick. Ben “I almost returned a punt in high school” Carlson. Practicable (and comical) commentary on the important aspects of personal finance and investing.

A finance show that understands you’re not a spreadsheet

These guys are hilarious and fun to listen to. As a retail investor, I don’t have many people in my life to share my investing hobby with. Though it excites me to talk, think and read about, my wife and most of my friends could care less. This podcast gives me an outlet. Though it’s not a two way conversation, the guys fulfill my weekly need, keeping my passion for this hobby alive!

Who would have thought that investing and financing could be so enjoyable to listen to. Michael and Ben have made this sometimes complicated subject an easy and enjoyable listen. Your two personalities compliment each other and keep the novice investor informed, upbeat and even laughing. Congratulations

These guys present an interesting look at finances, stock market, society and a plethora of other unique factors in an easy to understand and entertaining discussion. Thank you

Long time listener. Owe you guys a review. Keep doing what you’re doing. I feel like thanks to you guys pounding it into my head I am almost a halfway responsible and diversified long-term investor. Always room for improvement, but hopefully not $500k worth. Of course, you are also more than mildly entertaining. Stay up fellas!

What makes this one work is the quick interplay between hosts and topics. It is the only podcast I can’t multitask during because if you lose focus they are on to the next thing. You can also miss the subtle humor and call backs from earlier shows. Pay Attention!

Smart and funny. One of the best podcasts in finance

Entertaining and informative. Infotainment done right!

Burton Malkiel argues for indexing due to market efficiency, yet he advocated picking stocks with high yields to replace bonds?

I want to know how you accomplish all the research-writing & viewings for recommendations in your time frame! Appreciate all the knowledge & fun tho- Thks!

Con Air is a bad movie. So they got that wrong. Other than that. Good financial stuff. Highly recommend.

Michael and Ben bring joy to my day, ears, brain, and portfolio. They make complex concepts easy, they don’t take themselves too seriously, and they are anti-survey. I was sad when they dropped down to 1 a week but am pumped to hear they’ll be back with 2 days a week. Highly recommend.

These guys will be the first to tell you when they don’t know something for certain: and it’s the humility with which they approach questions pertaining to life and investing (and book or Netflix recommendations) that makes this podcast so good. Just because something might be unknowable does not mean one shouldn’t strive to know more. Their observations on things like Michael’s plumber’s portfolio, or dissecting the various chart crimes committed in the world, or making the case that Almost Famous IS a classic film, these guys give intriguing perspectives based on more than just the ephemeral...they dig for precedents and in this day and age that means they pretty much come up empty, and yet you don’t hate them for it. Truly a fun pod to listen to.

Favorite podcast of all time 💯