Chat With Traders

Peter Robbins is the author of The Trader’s Journey. He entered the financial markets 50 years ago with nothing but a dream, his friend, and a parental signature to trade the markets, surviving decades of tectonic shifts to navigate the transition from outcry trading to the digital age. After starting out at age 15 and carrying the weight of massive commission costs back in the 1970s, Peter developed a deeply disciplined, business first framework across multiple asset classes from day trading futures to position trading ETFs. Today, now retired, his edge is built on five decades of experience and an unwavering focus on self awareness, using strategy to outline his trades while deep psychological clarity gives him the execution resilience required to survive. In this conversation, Peter pulls back the curtain on his 50 Year Market Evolution, sharing the hard truths that allowed him to achieve true longevity in a game where most do not last. He breaks down the true mechanics of a trader’s edge, the absolute necessity of aligning strategy with personality, and how he transitioned from chasing the "Holy Grail" to mastering his own internal battle. In this episode, we explore:·        The Hard Truths of a 50 Year Trading Career·        The mechanics behind the two sides of a true Trader’s Edge·        Why it’s important to treat trading exactly like a serious business·        The importance of building an edge that matches your personality·       How Peter views position trading and selects industry leaders today·       Lessons learned from his early "Aha Moment" of learning to take small losses·       His advice for beginner traders caught up in false guru expectations About Peter Robbins:Peter is a veteran professional trader and mentor known for his remarkable market longevity and transparent approach. Starting his journey at just 15 years old, he has documented and shared his hard-earned insights across five decades of trading full-time, part-time, and in retirement. He specializes in longer-term position trading in ETFs and U.S. stocks, focusing heavily on trader psychology, limiting beliefs, and the structural discipline required for sustainable market success. Links + Resources:X (Twitter): https://x.com/prrobbinsAmazon (The Trader's Journey): https://www.amazon.com/Traders-Journey-Navigating-trading-success/dp/1804091669 Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:Trade The Pool: http://www.tradethepool.com Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00 The Hard Truths of a 50 Year Trading Career 05:20 Peter's Introduction into Trading at 15 Years Old 12:15 The Real Reason Why Most Traders Fail 16:58 The Aha Moment 23:43 We're All Humans 31:21 Why Most Failures Are Execution Failures 35:46 Finding and

Alex Temiz turned a $2,000 account into over $16 million in trading profits, starting from nothing as a part-time Starbucks barista. In this episode, he breaks down the real journey: the years of losing, how he transitioned from long breakouts to short selling, and the mechanical "guardrails" he used to survive long enough to succeed. After selling the rims off his car just to fund one last attempt at the markets, Alex discovered his edge in the volatility of momentum exhaustion. Today, his approach is built on extreme transparency and a deep respect for risk management, specifically through his "First Red Day" framework. In this conversation, Alex pulls back the curtain on his evolution from an aggressive gunslinger to a disciplined professional, sharing the psychological shifts and specific setups that allowed him to scale from four figures to eight figures. In this episode, we explore:·        How Alex Turned $2,000 into $16M+ in Trading Profits·        His transition from working as a Starbucks barista to full-time trading·        The mechanics of the First Red Day strategy·        Why he ignores his "average" to focus on adding to winning trades·        Using broker-level guardrails to protect yourself from ego-driven losses·        How Alex selects the stocks he shorts ·        His advice for traders struggling with the psychological pain of risk About Alex Temiz:Alex is a professional short-seller and the co-founder of My Investing Club (MIC). Known for his "First Red Day" setup and high-stakes momentum trading, Alex has documented over $16 million in verified profits. He is a vocal advocate for transparency in the trading industry, frequently sharing live trading recaps to help retail traders develop a process-driven approach to the markets. Links + Resources:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexTemizMICX (Twitter): https://x.com/AT09_TraderInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_temiz Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:Trade The Pool: http://www.tradethepool.com Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.
 00:00 How Alex Turned $2,000 into $16M+ Day Trading06:48 Working as a barista while trading10:08 Discovering Short Selling and finding his edge 15:13 Developing a healthy approach to trading20:31 When ego takes over a trade 25:18 Capitalizing on the once in a quarter A plus set up28:55 Becoming comfortable adding to your winner33:56 Why adding to losers is adding gasoline to a burning house37:12 Scaling out of size42:49 The mechanics of the First Red Day46:03 Still learning from other traders52:57 What winning looks like for you now56:06 Where can you find Alex Temiz
 Trading Disclaimer:

Steve Kalayjian started his journey on the floor of the American Stock Exchange in 1983, a time when the noise of the pits was the only heartbeat of the market. Over the next four decades, he didn’t just witness the evolution of trading, he conquered it, trading nearly two billion shares of U.S. stocks and surviving every major market cycle. From the high-pressure floors of the NYSE and COMEX to trading billions in capital for family offices, Steve’s career is a masterclass in longevity and adaptation. Today, he combines forty years of intuition with his proprietary software to identify the trends and reversals that others miss, proving that while technology changes, the core principles of price action remain the same. In this conversation, Steve pulls back the curtain on his 43-year journey, sharing the wisdom gained from his very first trade and the lessons passed down from his father. He breaks down the day-to-day routine of a veteran pro, and why building a community is the ultimate edge in a profession that can often feel like a solo battle.
 In this episode, we explore:·        Steve’s 43-year evolution from the American Stock Exchange trading floor to digital markets·        Growing up in a trading family and the lessons learned from his father·        The importance of consistency and risk management ·        The creation of his proprietary software to find the edge·        Steve’s perspective on the rise of Prop Firms ·        The daily routine and mindset required to trade·        Why being part of a trading community is vital for long-term success·        The biggest changes in market structure over four decades About Steve Kalayjian:Steve is a legendary market veteran with over 43 years of professional trading experience. Having traded nearly 2 billion shares over his career, he is a specialist in technical analysis and market forecasting. He is the founder of his own research and software firm, and has appeared on major networks like Fox Business and CNBC, and a dedicated mentor to traders worldwide through his YouTube channel and community.

 Links + Resources:
 Website: https://sktrading.live/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sktradingyoutubeX (Twitter): https://x.com/SteveKalayjianInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialstephenkalayjian 

 Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:
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Eduardo Briceño came to America from Venezuela with nothing but a dream, survived years of trading under survival-mode pressure, and turned $1,900 into $2.9 million in profits. After starting with a micro account and carrying the weight of supporting his family, Eduardo developed a disciplined approach to the most volatile corner of the market: small caps. Today, his edge is built on experience and his Triad Trading approach, using technicals to guide his decisions while fundamentals give him the confidence to take the trade. In this conversation, Eduardo pulls back the curtain on his Survival to Success Arc, sharing the specific setups that allowed him to scale a four-figure account into seven figures. He breaks down the fundamentals of his strategy, the penny stock framework, and how he transitioned from trading for rent to trading for generational wealth.

 In this episode, we explore: ·        How Eduardo Turned $1,900 into $2.9M Day Trading Small Caps ·        Eduardo’s move from Venezuela to the U.S. and trading under extreme financial pressure
 ·        How he survived the “survival mode” phase without blowing up his account
 ·        The mechanics behind his Triad Trading approach
 ·        Why it’s important to learn technical analysis first
 ·        The importance of building an edge that fits your personality
 ·        Why confidence in trading is difficult to teach and must come from experience
 ·        How Eduardo selects the stocks he trades ·        Lessons learned from his Biggest Lost ·        His advice for beginner traders About Eduardo Briceño 
 Eduardo is a professional small-cap trader known for his remarkable consistency and transparency. Starting with just $1,900, he has documented his journey to $2.9 million in profits over six years. He specializes in momentum strategies and intraday volatility, focusing on the intersection of technical patterns and trader psychology.

 Links + Resources:
 X (Twitter): https://x.com/edu_trades Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edu_tradesYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@edu_trades Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:
 Trade The Pool: http://www.tradethepool.com

 Time Stamps:
 Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.
 00:00 How Eduardo Turned $1,900 into $2.9M Day Trading Small Caps07:57 When Eduardo Decided to Move to the U.S.12:23 Surviving the “Survival Mode” Phase1

Stefan Stadie is a professional sports trader at Kero Sports whose work sits at the intersection of equities, sports betting, and prediction markets. After starting his trading journey in equities, Stefan evolved toward a more process-driven approach focused on price, liquidity, and market behavior. Today, his edge comes less from predicting outcomes and more from identifying mispricing, capturing inefficiencies, and operating across multiple markets in real time. In this conversation, Stefan shares how the same principles—crowd psychology, liquidity, and price discovery—show up across different environments, from stocks to sports to decentralized prediction markets. He also walks through his transition into arbitrage and market making, how he approaches risk, and what it takes to stay disciplined when operating in fast-moving, competitive markets. This episode offers a different lens on trading—one that challenges traditional thinking around prediction, edge, and where opportunity actually comes from. In this episode, we explore: ·        Why trading principles can transfer across completely different markets ·        The role of liquidity and crowd behavior in shaping price ·        Moving from directional trading to arbitrage and market making ·        How mispricing creates opportunity across fragmented markets ·        The reality of being limited or banned by sportsbooks ·        Differences between traditional financial markets and emerging prediction markets ·        Managing psychology and discipline in fast-moving environments ·        Why focusing on price—not opinion—can change your approach to trading About Stefan Stadie: Stefan is a professional sports trader at Kero Sports, specializing in market structure, arbitrage, and market making. He also trades equities and participates in prediction markets, applying a consistent framework centered on liquidity, psychology, and price discovery across different trading environments.   Links + Resources: ·        X (Twitter):  https://x.com/BronzeBeardd   Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:  ●       Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com   Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.  00:00 Introduction 04:39 Early life, education and entry into oil & gas06:18 2020 oil crash and negative crude prices08:14 Early trading career, swing trades and going full-time09:18 Trading mistakes, position sizing and risk management11:33 Trading during the COVID crash and learning resources12:41 Transition to short selling and strategy shift14:14 Liquidity events and sho

Sam Gaer’s career spans several major shifts in market structure — from the open-outcry pits of COMEX to high-frequency trading and now crypto derivatives. Sam began his career as a teenage runner on the COMEX floor during the gold boom of the early 1980s before becoming a copper pit trader himself. While most traders relied purely on instinct, Sam was already experimenting with technology — building early pricing tools that helped identify inefficiencies in spread markets. His path eventually led beyond the trading floor into exchange technology and market infrastructure, including building trading software that was later acquired by the New York Mercantile Exchange. In recent years, Sam has focused on crypto markets, where he applies traditional derivatives frameworks to volatility, options, and digital asset trading. In this episode, Sam shares insights from decades of experience across multiple market regimes and discusses how trading edge evolves as markets and technology continue to change. In this episode, we explore: · Getting introduced to markets as a teenager · Life inside the COMEX copper trading pits · Early use of computers to price commodity spreads · Inefficiencies in open-outcry markets · Building exchange technology and selling Trading Gear to NYMEX · The transition from pit trading to electronic markets · Market structure lessons from traditional derivatives markets · Why Sam shifted his focus to crypto markets · Opportunities in crypto options and derivatives · Convexity, volatility, and institutional trading frameworks in digital assets About the guest: Sam Gaer, Chief Investment Officer of the Directional Strategy at Monarq Asset Management, has more than three decades of experience across derivatives trading, exchange technology, and quantitative strategy development. He previously served as Chief Information Officer of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), where he helped modernize the exchange’s trading infrastructure. Earlier in his career, he was a floor trader on the COMEX commodities exchange and later founded Trading Gear, a technology firm whose trading software was acquired by NYMEX. Sam has also launched and managed quantitative trading strategies focused on derivatives and volatility markets, and today works on institutional trading approaches within digital asset markets. Links + Resources: · Website:  https://www.monarq-am.com · Email:  [email protected] Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:  Trade The Pool:  ⁠http://www.tradethepool.com Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00   Intro and Background 01:48   Early career: C

When Dave Mabe backtested his strategy, it outperformed his own discretionary trading — and changed how he approached everything. In this episode, we discuss gapping breakouts, expectancy, systematic trading, drawdowns, and the reality gap between backtests and live execution. A practical conversation for traders serious about building durable edge. In this episode, we explore: ·        How Dave got introduced to markets: From early exposure to investing through his family to actively seeking more control over his capital and moving from swing trading into day trading. ·        Why rules matter: The transition from discretionary decisions to systematic frameworks — and why trading without a process is a fast path to inconsistency. ·        Backtesting as a “superpower”: What backtesting really does for strategy development and confidence in your edge. ·        Reconciling backtests with real life: Practical realities of execution, slippage, and market structure — and how to build a feedback loop so your live results get closer to your simulations. ·        Drawdowns and mindset: How to handle periods where a strategy doesn’t behave as expected, and why many traders quit in drawdowns rather than at all-time highs. ·        Scaling a trading business: The difference between scaling size versus scaling breadth — and why uncorrelated strategies matter. ·        Practical first step for systematic traders: How to start adding structure to your trading with backtesting, even if you’re not a programmer.   About the guest:   Dave has been a professional trader and technologist for over two decades. As a former CTO of Trade-Ideas, he has unique experience at the intersection of algorithm design, real-time market data, and automated execution. Outside trading, he writes a popular daily newsletter on backtesting and systematic strategy development, and hosts the Line Your Own Pockets podcast focused on systematic approaches to markets. Links + Resources: · Link to Better Backtesting —Dave’s free multi-day email course on building strategies and improving them over time. · Trade-Ideas, Amibroker, RealTest — examples of backtesting and strategy development platforms discussed in context.   Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:  Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00 Intro and Background 08:29 Stock Selection and Systematic Trading Rules 11:32   Position Sizing, Expectancy and Risk Management 16:50   Discovering Backtesting and F

In this episode, Ian sits down with John Assaraf, entrepreneur, behavioral neuroscience educator, and founder of NeuroGym, for a conversation about the invisible forces that shape performance — long after planning, analysis, and good intentions are in place. John shares his personal journey from a turbulent upbringing to building multiple multimillion-dollar businesses, and the pivotal moment at age 19 that reframed how he thought about success, identity, and commitment. From there, the discussion moves into the neuroscience behind habits, automatic behavior, fear, and why people often snap back to familiar results — even when they know what to do. This is not a trading tactics episode. It’s a conversation about execution, follow-through, and the human side of performance — in trading, business, health, and life. About the guest: John Assaraf is a serial entrepreneur who has built multiple multimillion-dollar companies, including helping scale a real estate organization to over $4 billion in annual sales and co-founding a technology company that later went public on the NASDAQ. He is the founder and CEO of NeuroGym, where he focuses on applying neuroscience to performance, habits, and behavior change. John is also the author of several New York Times bestselling books, translated into dozens of languages, and has been featured in films such as The Secret, where many people were first introduced to his work.   Links + Resources:  Free eBook: The Power of Visualization    Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:  Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com   Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.   00:00   Intro and Background 11:16   Mindset Shift: Interested vs. Committed 11:46   Behavioral Neuroscience and Goal Achievement 16:17   Conscious vs. Subconscious Mind 17:12   Creating Permanent Behavioral Changes 21:22   Emotional Regulation and Decision Making 25:30   Overcoming Self-Sabotage 35:20   AddressingFear in Decision Making 42:37   Inner Size: Exercising the Mind 44:27   Self-Sabotage and Financial Set Points 48:21   The Science of Goal Setting 50:17   Visualizing and Embodying Goals 54:40   How to reach John   Trading Disclaimer: Trading in th

Over the years, we’ve recorded hundreds of conversations with traders across different markets, strategies, and generations. And while no two trading paths look the same, certain moments tend to repeat — not moments of big wins or dramatic calls, but quieter turning points. The moments where something shifts internally. Where progress depends less on the market… and more on how the trader evolves. In this special episode of Chat With Traders, we revisit excerpts from past conversations with traders who reached those inflection points — moments that reshaped how they thought about risk, discipline, accountability, and longevity. It’s a collection of turning points — the decisions, realizations, and hard lessons that changed the trajectory of a trading career. Links + Resources: Episode039     Tom Dante      Episode236     Lance BreitsteinEpisode249     Jack KelloggEpisode036     Peter BrandtEpisode255     Vincent BruzzeseEpisode212     Kristjan KullamägiEpisode286     Jason ShapiroEpisode260     Patrick PeterssonEpisode259     Lukas Frölich (The Short Bear)Episode163     John “Rambo” MoultonEpisode250     Sunny Harris Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.  00:00 – Intro and Background 01:10 — Tom Dante - A moment of accountability that forced change — and lit a competitive fire.02:35 — Lance Breitstein - Why the best traders bet exponentially when the odds are truly skewed.04:00 — Jack Kellogg - The cost of obsession, burnout, and relearni

We’re joined by Jamaal Ghauri, a trader and fund manager who began his journey unusually early — first exposed to crypto markets as a teenager during Bitcoin’s early adoption phase, before moving into stocks and eventually options. Jamal walks through the full arc of his development as a trader: early overconfidence, aggressive options bets, a rapid run-up followed by a major drawdown, and the hard lessons that ultimately forced him to rethink risk, position sizing, and process. From there, he explains how he rebuilt by focusing on more structured setups, volatility awareness, and consistency over time. We discuss the evolution of his core strategies — including swing trades, breakout-style setups, and short-term options structures — and how those approaches are now applied within a multi-strategy fund he launched in 2025. Jamal also shares how he thinks about trade distribution, win rates versus loss severity, and why discipline and risk management ultimately mattered more than finding the “perfect” setup. As always, this conversation is about understanding how a trader thinks, how strategies evolve over time, and how real-world risk shows up differently than it does on paper. Links + Resources: Connect with Jamaal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamaal-ghauri-282947172/ Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00 – Intro and Background 02:37 – Early Interest in Financial Markets 07:08 – Transition to Stock Trading 08:46 – Early Stock Trading Experiences 09:37 – Shift to Options Trading 10:32 – Learning Options Trading 11:22 – Developing a Trading Strategy 14:51 – First Successful Trades 19:04 – Account Growth and Setbacks 21:00 – Impact of the COVID Crash 32:06 – New Trading Strategies Post-Crash 37:24 – Becoming Profitable 38:22 – Performance in 2022 and 2023 41:07 – Establishing a Hedge Fund 44:40 – Hedge Fund Strategies 50:34 – Current Challenges and Advice Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast: Trade The Pool:  ⁠http://www.tradethepool.com⁠ Trading Disclaimer: Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A quiet, end-of-year reflection on the middle stage of trading — where progress is subtle, patterns are familiar, and the real work happens internally. Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast: ●       Trade The Pool:  ⁠⁠⁠http://www.tradethepool.com⁠⁠ Trading Disclaimer:  Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we examine what actually happens when crypto markets break — how leverage builds beneath the surface, liquidity disappears, and liquidation cascades turn volatility into systemic failure. Doug Colkitt, a quantitative trader and DeFi builder whose experience spans both traditional finance and crypto market structure. Doug began his career on Wall Street at Citigroup before moving into high-frequency trading at Citadel during the 2008 financial crisis. He later built and traded his own systems across futures, volatility products, and international equities, including running a major market-making operation in Turkish stocks. Today, Doug focuses on crypto and DeFi infrastructure, working with perpetual futures, liquidation mechanics, and exchange design. We discuss why traders still get wiped out when they think they’re hedged, how liquidation cascades accelerate, and what recent market failures reveal about leverage and market structure under stress. Links +Resources: Ambient Finance on X (Twitter): @AmbientFinance Website: https://ambient.finance Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast: ●       Trade The Pool:  ⁠⁠http://www.tradethepool.com⁠⁠    Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00:00  Intro and Background 00:03:43  Starting Individual Trading and High Frequency Systems 00:04:09  Focus on Index Futures and Competitive Markets 00:06:15  Michael Lewis's 'Flash Boys' and HFT Accuracy 00:07:00  Impact of HFT on Smaller Traders 00:09:13  Market Makers and Price Competition 00:09:37  HFT Evolution and Market Dynamics 00:11:24  Trading VIX Futures and Market Inefficiencies 00:13:08  Transitioning to Medium Frequency Trading 00:13:34  Trading Turkish Equities and Market Makings 00:15:35  Exploring Cryptocurrency Trading 00:18:32  Diving into Decentralized Finance (DeFi) 00:20:06  Arbitrage Opportunities in Crypto Markets 00:22:00  Flash Loans and Risk-Free Trading 00:22:48  Adjustments to Trading Bots Over Time 00:25:11  Criteria for Trusting Decentralized Exchanges 00:28:46  Liquidity Providing and Yield Opportunities 00:29:16  Volatility and Risks in Liquidity Provisioning 00:31:47  Understanding Perpetual Contracts in Crypto 00:36:04  October 10, 2025 Crypto Massacre Overview 00:37:36  Leverage and Market Dynamics 00

Returning guest Vincent Bruzzese — trader, former statistics professor, poker player, and former Hollywood behavioral analyst — joins Tessa for a candid discussion about navigating one of the most narrative-driven markets in years. Known online as “Hari Seldon” in the Real Day Trading community, Vincent is recognized for posting his trades live and delivering multiple years of standout performance, with returns north of 60% and even 80%.  In this episode, Vincent talks about why traders are struggling with discipline, how sentiment and storylines are overpowering both fundamentals and technicals, and what separates structured trading from gambling. He also shares how tools like his walkaway analysis help reinforce better habits and improve decision-making. Tessa and Vincent dig into mindset, process, relative strength, risk management, and how he rebuilt after blowing up his account twice. They also explore the emotional side of trading in a market that often feels disconnected from reality — and how traders can stay grounded despite the chaos.   Links +Resources:  ●      Follow Vincent on Reddit:  ⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/RealDayTrading/⁠ ●      Follow Vincent on X:  ⁠@RealDayTrading⁠ ●      Vincent on CWT ⁠Episode 255⁠ ●      Vincent can also be found in the OneOption Chat Rooms Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:   ●       Trade The Pool:  ⁠http://www.tradethepool.com⁠    Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.   ●     00:00:00  Intro and Background ●     00:07:13  Market Analysis and Trading Strategies ●     00:09:00  Trading Mindset and Emotional Challenges ●     00:11:07  Market Trends and Skepticism ●     00:13:08  Market Irrationality and Future Predictions ●     00:14:41  Valuation Concerns and Institutional Influence ●    00:15:19  Psychological Aspects of Trading ●    00:16:30  Narratives and Market Bubbles ●    00:18:00  Passive Income Strategies in Trading ●    00:21:57  Long-term Investment Strategies ●    00:21:25  Personal Trading Experiences ●    00:24:08  Learning from Trading Losses ●    00:25:12  The Journey to Becoming a Trader ●    00:25:58  Mindset and Trading Psychology ●    00:30:45  Identifying and Avoiding Bad Trades ●    00:32:58  Overcoming Trading Challenges ●    00:37:48  Trading Strategies and Market Analysis ●    00:40:52  Current Market Conditions and Trading Decisions ●    00:43:20  Portfolio Management and Trading Style ●    00:46:

Christian Carreon returns to Chat With Traders nearly three years after his first appearance, where he shared his remarkable journey through stage-five kidney failure and the discipline it forged in him as a trader. Today, he brings an even deeper perspective—on markets, on patience, and on the Box Strategy that has become his signature. Christian is a breakout trend trader who waits for compression, defines his levels meticulously, and only commits when price breaks cleanly from the “box” with tight risk and clear direction. In this conversation, he walks us through how his approach has evolved, how he sizes up with confidence, and why patience inside consolidation is the foundation of every edge he has. From day-trading futures for cash flow to swing-trading leading stocks for growth, Christian shares the discipline, structure, and gratitude that guide both his trading and his life.   Links + Resources:  ●      Follow Christian on X:  @trading_boxes ●      Christian on NinjaTrader Live ●      Christian on CWT Episode 254   Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:  ●       Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com   Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. ● 00:00 Intro and Background ● 05:23 Kidney Donation Journey ● 06:37 Recovery Process After Transplant ● 09:45 Mental Focus During Recovery ● 12:51 Trading Goals and Adjustments ● 12:09 Risk Management in Trading ● 12:38 Sizing Up and Position Management ● 15:24 Identifying Trading Opportunities ● 16:23 Market Conditions and Trading Strategy ● 17:28 Support and Resistance Analysis ● 19:00 Using Indicators for Trading ● 22:48 Influence of News on Trading ● 24:00 Box Strategy Overview ● 27:18 Adapting Trading Strategies ● 29:40 Trading Discipline and Limits ● 32:10 Managing Investor Funds ● 33:15 Handling Market Events ● 36:03 Investor Mistakes and Adaptation ● 47:04 Reflections on Trading Journey ● 50:34 Catch up with Tessa Trading Disclaimer: Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices"

Dr. Efrat t Levy is a cybersecurity expert with a PhD in Computer Science and AI from Ben-Gurion University—one of Israel’s top tech institutions. After years studying how to detect hackers through side-channel signals, she applied the same logic to trading. In this conversation, Dr. Levy explains how she uses machine learning to map non-repainting key levels that reveal the hidden order flow—the subtle timing and volume clues that expose the real intent of big players. She shows how correlated markets often move together at these key levels and how that insight helps her trade with precision and low drawdown. We discuss filtering noise, managing psychology, and bridging cybersecurity thinking with market analysis—exploring how data and discipline can uncover the quieter forces shaping market behavior. Links + Resources:  ●      Dr. Levy’s website:  https://ctpacademy.com/ ●      Dr. Levy’s email: [email protected] ●      Dr. Levy on youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@EGIndicators ●      Dr. Levy’s linktree: https://linktr.ee/efrat.levy   Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:  ●       Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.  ●   00:00 – Intro: From AI why zones mislead ●     22:00 – The correlation filter: 3 of 4 assets hitting together ●     26:00 – Entries redefining “correlation” ●     51:00 – Instruments: indices, gold/silver/copper/platinum ●     56:00 – Psychological tripwires:streaks, missed A+ setups, ego risk ●     1:04:00 – How to reach Dr. Levy ●     1:05:00 – Catch up with Tessa   Trading Disclaimer:  Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a trader from Dallas built consistency—and a simple lifestyle of freedom in Southeast Asia—with a 30% win rate.  Diego Ivan Cortes Lopez grew up chasing perfection on the tennis court, where winning came naturally, but it was trading that taught him how to win by losing. After years of trial, error, and a six-figure setback, studying the methods taught by Oliver Velez, a prominent veteran professional trader, helped him rebuild his approach - focusing on daily support and resistance, clean reversal signals, and asymmetric risk-to-reward. Now trading large-cap stocks from Vietnam on a single 13-inch laptop with uncluttered charts and limiting his sessions to the first hour of the market open, Diego shows that real consistency and freedom come from mastering the math of risk and reward—and keeping both trading and life simple. Links + Resources:  ●      Diego’s Instagram:  diegoivan__7 ●      Diego’s Email: [email protected]    Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com TastyTrade:  https://tastytrade.com/ Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.  ●    00:00 – Early Life consistency over perfection ●     46:00 – Struggles, losing streaks, and long-term confidence ●     50:00 – Brief chat with Tessa   Trading Disclaimer:  Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined by Jack Schwager—author of the legendary Market Wizards series and co-founder of FundSeeder—along with his partner and fellow co-founder & CEO, Emanuel Balarie. Jack shares what it really takes to be considered for a Market Wizards book: not one formula, but a mix of standout performance, disciplined risk, and an almost obsessive commitment to process and adaptation. Along the way, we dig into why survival so often hinges on position sizing and pre-planned exits, whether strategies like trend following can still hold up today, and the paradox of how fundamental convictions can actually work against risk management. Emanuel then explains how FundSeeder discovers talented but undiscovered traders worldwide, using analytics to measure performance and the FundSeeder Rise accelerator (now part of RQSI) to help top performers make the leap from trading their own accounts to managing outside capital. Think of it as a “farm system” for the next generation of fund managers. Few will ultimately make the cut, but every great manager starts somewhere—and if you’ve been honing your craft and building a real track record, this episode might spark the thought: why not you? Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00 – Introduction and background 10:50 – What qualifies as “Market Wizards” performance 15:20 – Longevity vs. hot streaks 17:20 – Position sizing & cutting losses 19:20 – Obsession level + trainee mindset 24:20 – When edges die (index adds, VIX pattern) 27:20 – Trend logic vs. whipsaw reality 32:20 – Fundamentals vs. risk management 38:20 – “Know your exit before entry” 39:50 – FundSeeder origin story 42:20 – Evaluating traders (quant + qual) 48:20 – Why the Rise accelerator exists 52:20 – RQSI’s role in seeding talent 55:20 – Free analytics & benchmarking for traders 57:20 – How to apply / contact Trading Disclaimer: Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Links + Resources: FundSeeder: https://fundseeder.com FundSeeder Rise (accelerator): https://www.fundseeder.com/rise FundSeeder on X:  h

A former competitive gamer, Mario Dimitroff from Bulgaria got his start on a local trading floor before discovering that the U.S. premarket session best fit his skills. Now trading for a living and doing nothing else, his news-driven, event-based scalping focuses on low-liquidity movers. Leveraging gaming-honed speed and pattern recognition, he quickly decides whether to ride momentum or fade to mean, enters/exits fast, sizes within liquidity, and sustains his edge by cutting losers quickly, avoiding drawdowns, and stacking small consistent wins. In this episode, you’ll hear how Mario turned his competitive gaming instincts into an all-in commitment to the markets and full-time trading career. Links + Resources: Mario’s YouTube Channel:  The Wall Street Cat - YouTube Sponsors of this episode of the Chat With Traders Podcast: Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com TastyTrade:  http://tastytrade.com/podcasts Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 01:30 Introduction and background 03:50 Early Experiences and Learning from Failure 07:38 Return to Trading During COVID-19 08:38 Working on a Trading Floor 10:51 Trading Strategies and Market Insights 11:14 Imposter Syndrome and Mental Challenges in Trading 14:57 Career Decisions and Trading Philosophy 18:49 Finding Trading Edge and Style 20:39 Scalping and Pre-Market Trading 21:40 Meme Stocks and Market Euphoria 24:07 Navigating Market Downturns 25:49 Understanding Euphoria and Market Psychology 43:54 Avoiding Drawdowns and Maintaining Profitability 45:48 Scalping Strategies and Risk Management 51:56 Biggest challenges as a trader 59:15 How to reach Mario 59:30 Chat With Tessa Trading Disclaimer: Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Online funding prop firms have captured the attention of traders in recent years. In this episode, the CEO of Trade The Pool, Michael Katz, joins the podcast to answer key questions and offer perspective from inside one of the leading firms. The conversation explores how these firms operate, what they mean for traders, and the common debates surrounding them.  The goal is not promotion of prop firms, but to pull back the curtain and provide a clearer understanding of the role prop firms play in today’s trading landscape.   Links + Resources:  ●     Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com   Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: ●      Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com ●       Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉https://us.plus500.com Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.   Time Stamps: Please note - Exact times will vary depending on current ads.   ●     00:00   Introduction and background ●     05:02   Attraction to Funding Prop Firms ●     06:06   Risk Management and Evaluation Fees ●     10:08   Misconceptions About Prop Firms ●     11:58   Education and Community Support ●     15:35   Trading Evaluation Process ●     18:47   Success Rates and Trader Psychology ●     20:04   Adjusting Strategies for Prop Trading ●     22:07   Rules and Boundaries in Trading ●     27:51   Success Stories and Learning Curves ●     28:58   Psychology of Funded Trading ●     31:52   Trader Retention and Patterns ●     33:54   Scaling and Risk Management ●     38:42   Payout Rules and Compliance ●     40:29   Adapting Rules for Trader Success    Trading Disclaimer:  Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in Germany without a financial background, Julian Komar became fascinated by stocks as a teenager. He moved past complex German trading products to concentrate on U.S. equities. Specializing in momentum and growth stocks on the daily timeframe, he blends fundamentals, technicals, and story analysis to uncover opportunities that put him in the best position for high-potential setups and riding powerful trends. As a disciplined breakout trader, he prioritizes risk control, market trends, and intuition gained through decades of experience. About Julian Komar Julian is a trader, mentor, and entrepreneur. With over 20 years of stock trading experience, he trades growth and momentum stocks using a systematic strategy, holding winners for weeks to months and cutting losers within days — a style that perfectly matches his personality. Julian’s passion lies in uncovering innovative companies with the potential to grow sales rapidly and achieve significant long-term success. He devotes 95% of his energy to research, searching for the next potential “super stock.” Trading Disclaimer Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Links + Resources Follow Julian on X:  https://x.com/BlogJulianKomar Julian’s Website: https://julian-komar.com/contact/ Time Stamps Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00 Introduction and background 10:20 Fundamentals and technicals 17:30 Sister stocks 28:30 Trading the GFC 34:02 Worst drawdowns 33:00 The setup for the trade 43:00 Position sizing 52:30 Trading performance 1:08:35 How to reach Julian 1:09:00 Tessa Chats with Julian Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉⁠https://us.plus500.com⁠Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Trade The Pool:  ⁠http://www.tradethepool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From academic struggles at SUNY Albany to holding the world record for the largest prop firm payouts—roughly $4.5 million in total, Kyle Ng a.k.a. JadeCap’s journey started out like many aspiring traders. Sparked by a childhood friend's success in forex about 14 years ago, he found his way into the financial markets.  Like many traders, he went through the pain, losses and sacrifices and struggles, but at the same time he’s also unlike many traders, slowly building his edge through discipline, risk management, and a long-term mindset. Over the years, he’s leveraged prop firms to scale his returns, transitioning fluidly between forex and futures while adapting his approach to changing market conditions. Influenced by ICT’s teachings, his style blends patience, adaptability, and the wisdom to step back when the market calls for it. In this episode, we dive into the mindset behind the milestones, the real-life lessons from his trading evolution, and what it truly takes to thrive in trading. Trading Disclaimer Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Time Stamps Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. 00:00 Introduction and background 10:25 Early trade experiences 12:30 Evolving strategies 16:55 Blowing up accounts 21:10 Evolving into a full time trader 25:55 Utilizing online prop firms to minimize risk 01:55 The real money is made with processes 35:05 ICT trading system 39:40 Success tied to intuition? 43:30 When to put the foot on the gas 50:00 Resisting the urge to change strategies 56:05 What Kyle struggles with 58:20 How to reach Kyle 58:40 Bonus Section:  Tessa Chats with Kyle – more on prop firms Links + Resources Reach Kyle on X:  https://x.com/jadecap_ Kyle’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JadeCap Kye’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jadecapofficial/?hl=en Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉https://us.plus500.comTrading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. <

What happens when a teenager growing up without TV in rural Canada stumbles across CNBC in a college dorm and sees people making $100,000 in a day? For Chris Vermeulen, that moment changed everything—and kicked off a 25-year journey of trading triumphs, painful losses, and profound strategy shifts. In this episode, you'll meet a trader who’s lived through the tech bubble, the 2008 financial crisis, and everything in between. Chris doesn’t chase headlines or hype—he follows price, momentum, and something most traders overlook entirely: vibration and cycles. From blowing up accounts to walking away from day trading altogether, Chris now rides the market’s waves with a calm, calculated edge—making just 5 to 12 trades a year, knowing exactly when to sit still and wait for the right wave. His approach might challenge what you believe about risk, emotion, and even diversification. About Chris Vermeulen: Chris is a seasoned position trader with over two decades of experience navigating market cycles—from the tech bubble to the 2008 financial crisis and beyond. He’s the author of Technical Trading Mastery and the newly released Asset Revesting, where he introduces a disciplined, momentum-based strategy for managing risk and maximizing returns. He also founded The Technical Traders. Rejecting traditional buy-and-hold thinking but also having moved away from day trading, Chris believes that true portfolio growth comes from owning assets in confirmed uptrends and rotating out of those losing strength. His approach emphasizes technical analysis, price action, and timing over diversification, aiming to protect capital while achieving above-average returns. Links + Resources:  ●      How to reach Chris – Visit The Technical Traders Website: https://thetechnicaltraders.com/   Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: ●        Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉https://us.plus500.com Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. ●        Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dylan Maltman, an intraday futures and forex trader and founder of Apex Capital, must have had exceptional clarity starting at a young age. Introduced to the markets in a high school presentation by a prop firm, Dylan caught the passion for the potential of the markets and persuaded his way into a position at the firm. Learning about back testing, he became obsessed with dissecting every nuance of past data so as to create a system with high returns with minimal drawdowns by understanding where edge can be found, as evidenced in the performance of the algorithmic strategies. Emphasizing the significance of order flow analysis and robust back testing, he offers important insights for algorithmic, systematic, and discretionary traders. Links + Resources:  ●      How to reach Dylan – Visit Apex Capital Website: https://www.apexcptl.com/ Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉 https://us.plus500.com/en/multiplatformdownload?product=Futures&id=138516&tags=version2&pl=2 Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com/?afmc=1am Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erik Smolinski returns to Chat With Traders after his first appearance on episode 272, joining Tessa for a trader-to-trader conversation about the intricacies of options trading, a topic Erik is deeply passionate about. In this episode Erik digs into one of Tessa’s own options strategies, offering thoughtful feedback and sharing his expertise and experience from years in the game. With so many myths floating around about options, their discussion clears up some of the biggest misconceptions and gives listeners a practical perspective on how to approach this trading style. About Erik Smolinski: Erik is a Marine veteran, options trader, and investor in both real estate and startups. It started when a high school teacher introduced him to investing in 2007, which then changed the direction of his life. Over the years, he’s put in more than 30,000 hours to master his craft and became a first-generation millionaire before turning 30. From his school days to his time in the Marines and his work as a trader, Erik has always set his own standards instead of following the crowd. That independent approach—what he calls the Outlier mindset—has shaped his life. Investing lets him spend time on things he cares about, like traveling, working on cars, training, and helping others learn what he knows. Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉 https://us.plus500.com/en/multiplatformdownload?product=Futures&id=138516&tags=version2&pl=2 Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Trade The Pool:  https://tradethepool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we catch up with Patrick Petersson, who returns two years after his first interview on Chat With Traders on episode 260, where he shared his incredible story of overcoming hardship to attaining success in trading as a professional trader. Patrick has become best known for his intuitive, price-action, news-based, scalping trading style. Shifting from trading as a lone wolf to collaborating with others, Patrick shares his personal transformation that he underwent by mentoring and guiding other aspiring traders to realize their greatest potential. In a refreshingly blunt conversation, Patrick shares practical, real-life trading topics and issues that traders are experiencing today, including the psychological and practical challenges of trading, and the role community and engagement plays in one's trading development. He also shares his thoughts on the sharp divide between traders risking their own capital and those cycling through prop firm evaluations, and the shortages of honest guidance for traders, and so much more. More about Patrick Petersson: Patrick has over 20 years of experience in the U.S. stock and futures markets. As a retired professional trader, he now guides traders of all levels and has been a driving force in trading communities such as the Chat With Traders and MenthorQ communities. Currently at MenthorQ, he developed the MenthorQ Blindspots and Trading Roadmap principles, which aim to simplify trading with the principle: Keep It Super Simple. He also hosts MenthorQ TV, where he interviews guests and shares trading strategies. Additionally, he is a father of two and resides in Dubai with his family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Martin, raised in a hardworking blue-collar community, embraced the same ethic. An entrepreneur at heart, he hustled from cutting grass when he was 12 to working all types of jobs including golf caddying and waiting at restaurants to starting businesses. Determined to transition into the white-collar working world and being at the right place at the right time, he was exposed to the financial markets.   He subsequently worked on Wall Street, managing commodity accounts. Despite the significant commissions, he realized that he could potentially earn more through an incentive fee. After three years at a brokerage firm, he started his own CTA. Emphasizing the importance of risk management, discipline, and emotional intelligence, and maintaining a mental edge in trading, he discusses his early experiences with commodities, the evolution of his trading strategies, and the significance of networking and mentorship. This episode of Chat With Traders is sponsored by Plus 500 and Trade The Pool. Click here to learn more about Plus500 and Trade The Pool. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christian Mayer, with an institutional trading background, transitioned from equities to forex, focusing on fixed sized mean-reversion strategies with fundamental correlations where structural edge is statistically likely. His initial losses led him to a research and systematic-driven approach, and back testing. He trades with fixed position sizes, wide stop losses, and avoids compounding to minimize exposure to fat-tail risks and black swan events. Emotionally disciplined yet honest about the psychological strain of prolonged drawdowns, Christian blends rigorous quantitative methods with thoughtful strategy design. With a successful track record, including a second-place finish in one of the World Cup Trading Championships in the Forex category, he also created GlobalFXanalytics.com to respond to the demands of traders wanting to understand more about his forex strategy and view his strategy’s performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A former engineer turned successful options trader, real estate investor and entrepreneur, Cody Yeh shares his incredible journey from the 9-to-5 grind to achieving financial freedom through smart investing and calculated risk-taking.We unpack his options trading strategies, mindset hacks for building wealth, and how he helps others escape the rat race and take control of their financial futures. Whether you’re a trading newbie or a seasoned investor, Cody drops pure gold you won’t want to miss.About Cody Yeh:Cody Yeh is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and YouTuber who left his corporate job to pursue full-time trading and coaching. Known for his transparent and no-fluff approach, Cody has helped thousands gain clarity on their financial goals and take practical steps toward financial independence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few people understand the minds of traders like Dr. Brett Steenbarger. As a psychologist who trades actively himself, he brings a rare combination of clinical expertise and practical experience to the world of financial markets.You might know him from his dynamic presentations at SMB Capital, where he breaks down the psychology of trading with remarkable clarity. His willingness to evolve his views over the years through his extensive work with professional traders and hedge fund portfolio managers, has shaped his own trading approach too. His upcoming book, "Positive Trading Psychology," promises to share fresh perspectives drawn from these years of experience. Set for release this year, it adds to his already impressive collection of articles and books that have helped countless traders understand the psychological dimensions of market success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Ruffley transitioned from a highly competitive trading floor environment to trading professionally as a retail trader. His entrance into trading was unplanned - a mix of ambition, timing, and the right connections. After leaving university early, he took a finance job and then moved to Gibraltar, where he met traders running a new trading floor. Intrigued, he joined their intense graduate program, enduring six weeks of brutal tests where failure meant dismissal. The trading floor was an adrenaline-fueled world - rows of screens, high-stakes trades, and a culture of camaraderie and competition. This experience undoubtedly shaped his trading mindset, philosophy, and technique, where risk is not a dirty word, and size and speed are essential. Steve is also a trading mentor and the author of his latest book, “The Pro Retail Trader”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Haber’s trading philosophy is built on growth-focused strategies, heavily influenced by William O'Neil. Combining both technical and fundamental analysis, Ross emphasizes the importance of identifying leaders in strong market sectors and adapting to market cycles.  Optimizing the use of relative strength, moving averages, and volume analysis, and tailoring it to each stock’s unique personality combined with his ability to manage risk through strategic scaling techniques and sell stops has been one of the cornerstones of his success. About Ross HaberDuring his tenure as Portfolio Manager at William O'Neil & Company from 1998 to 2001, Ross played a pivotal role in the firm's remarkable growth. As part of an elite investment team, he helped transform a $15 million portfolio into an impressive $850 million in assets under management. Ross has since co-founded Trader Lion, where he continues to apply his extensive market expertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick Bandazian Jr., a seasoned trader with over 15 years of experience in event-driven and merger-arbitrage strategies, reflects on transitioning from an analyst at JP Morgan and First New York Securities to establishing himself as an independent trader. Rick emphasizes his deep expertise in anticipating market moves based on nuanced corporate actions and his methodical approach to understanding catalysts. Despite the fast-paced nature of his work, Rick maintains consistency by staying disciplined, even during market lulls. Beyond trading, he’s a volunteer firefighter, driven by a strong sense of community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laurens Bensdorp's trading journey began with years of losses as a discretionary trader. Frustrated by inconsistent results and mounting stress, he embarked on a mission to develop systematic trading approaches. His goal was simple but ambitious: create reliable systems that would deliver steady returns while minimizing losses.This transformation wasn't overnight. Through years of careful development and testing, Bensdorp gained deep insights into the cyclical nature of his trading systems - understanding when they were likely to generate profits or face losses. His persistence paid off. By eventually creating and implementing over 55 different trading systems, he achieved what seemed impossible: better returns, smaller drawdowns, and remarkably, less time spent managing his trades.About Laurens BensdorpLaurens Bensdorp launched his finance career at a Dutch venture capital firm in 2000, where he discovered his passion for trading. After years of studying successful investors' methods, he developed automated trading platforms that maximize profits while minimizing time investment.Featured in Van Tharp's "Trading Beyond the Matrix," Bensdorp went on to author two international bestsellers: "The 30 Minute Stocktrader" (2017) and "Automated Stock Trading Systems" (2020). Both books have been translated into multiple languages.As the pioneer of personality-based automated trading systems, Bensdorp now co-hosts seminars with renowned trader Tom Basso and mentors elite clients. Through his foundation, Fundación Albenco, he supports educational initiatives for underprivileged children in Colombia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inspired by the impact of predictive analytics on sales at Sam Miesse's tech company, he became interested in applying quantitative analysis to the small cap market. Spending nearly 2 years collecting data and observing how money moved into and out of many small cap stocks convinced him that there were repeating patterns which could be statistically exploited. After many back tests Sam finally had a system which processed over 10,000 small caps and produced 20-40 actionable daily opportunities. Starting with an experimental $10,000, his rigorously back-tested system gave him the confidence to stick with the signals, despite suffering a $500,000 daily drawdown along the way to growing his account to $3.8 million in less than 3 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Ritchie II shares insights from his trading journey, shaped by disciplined risk management and a strong focus on price action and fundamentals. Growing up with a renowned trader father, Mark’s passion for trading developed later in life through hands-on experience. He prioritizes finding stocks in long-term uptrends, identifying low-risk entries, and refining his edge over time. Emphasizing the importance of controlling emotions, Mark advocates starting small, scaling up only when confident in a strategy’s effectiveness. His trading approach adapts to varying market conditions, using timeless principles to maintain capital efficiency and manage risk, helping him navigate both bull and bear markets successfully.About Mark Ritchie II:Mark Ritchie II is a swing and growth trader, investor, and manager. He leads RTM Capital Advisors as a Managing Partner and CIO, a company that manages investments in U.S. stocks. He became well-known for winning Mark Minervini’s Triple Digit stock challenge in 2010 by making over triple digit returns in under six months. Between 2010 and 2014, he grew his managed funds tenfold, consistently compounding his portfolio year after year. This impressive traction earned him a feature in Mark Minervini’s Momentum Masters roundtable interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alfonso Peccatiello’s (also known as MacroAlf on X) approach to the financial markets is rooted in macroeconomic insights, identifying market imbalances, and disciplined risk management. Having managed a $20 billion fixed-income portfolio, Alf has seen firsthand how understanding market dynamics and timing can unlock significant value. His strategies focus on spotting crowded trades, leveraging market dislocations, and carefully sizing positions to maximize returns while minimizing risk.About Alfonso Peccatiello:Alfonso is the founder and CEO of The Macro Compass, a firm dedicated to democratizing access to professional macro analysis, tools, and portfolio strategies. Leveraging his extensive experience managing large institutional investment portfolios, The Macro Compass provides unparalleled financial education, unique macroeconomic insights, and actionable investment strategies. Prior to launching The Macro Compass, Alfonso served as the head of investments for ING Germany, overseeing a $20 billion portfolio. He also launched a discretionary global macro hedge fund, Palinuro Capital, in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We caught up with Steve B, a seasoned professional independent trader with 10+ years of experience in the financial markets we got to know closely through the Chat With Traders Community. Steve teamed up with our community cohost and mentor at the time, Patrick Petersson (featured on episode 260) to run the CWT Community Live Trading Room. They mainly traded futures on major indexes. Many community members were interested in their futures trading approach and streamlined looking charts with key levels derived from options market data, which helped build their trading roadmap. Alongside Patrick, Steve has been an influential mentor inside our community. He is known specifically for his "Confluence Trading" approach, which you'll learn about soon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're joined today by Robb Reinhold, the Head Trader at Maverick Trading. Robb shares insights from a captivating trading experiment that's sure to intrigue both novice and experienced traders alike. The Flat Earth Trading Society experiment was a year long experiment testing the power of consistent position management and following a systematic trading process. Using random stock selections, Robb and his team implemented a rigid position management strategy to prove that disciplined exits and managing losses are more crucial than well thought out entries. Tune in as Robb walks us through the strategy, execution, and key takeaways from this unique trading experiment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s Contrarian Trading and then there’s Consistent Contrarian Trading. Can you really make money by consistently going against the crowd? Does it take a certain type of personality to be able to trade this way? Jason Shapiro was featured in “Unknown Market Wizards” by Jack Schwager and he returns to Chat With Traders for an update after two years since we last spoke with him. We delve deeper into his countertrend trading philosophy, learning about how he identifies overcrowded trades, and how market positioning and sentiment, rather than price, guide his trades, and focusing on the underlying mechanics that drive market moves.About Jason Shapiro:Jason has over 30 years of trading experience, navigating various markets including the 90s rallies, the 2000s tech bubble, the 2008 crash, and recent volatility in the last few years. His contrarian approach has made him a successful hedge fund manager, and he was featured in one of Jack Schwager’s recent Market Wizards books. He has managed money ranging from a few million to several hundred million dollars, gaining extensive knowledge of futures markets. Jason currently runs a one-man hedge fund using the CMR process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Magadini began his career as a proprietary trader for DRW Trading and Chopper Trading in Chicago and traded with SMB Capital as well. He later took a bold step, venturing out to trade his own book, bootstrapping crypto volatility with options and turning $50,000 into a staggering $1.3 million in consistent profits over nine years.In addition to his trading success, Greg co-founded Genesis Volatility – a crypto options analytics company, which caught the attention of Amberdata and resulted in an acquisition. Today, Greg serves as the Director of Derivatives at Amberdata, continuing to leverage his expertise in the derivatives space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often hear that having “Discipline” is the key to trading success. But many of us traders continue to struggle developing discipline and good habits for trading no matter how hard and how long we’ve tried. Could there be a deeper reason for this?As fellow human traders, we are commonly faced with our own programming that we are often unaware of. In this special episode, Sam Daghash, a professional coach and cofounder (alongside cofounder David Capablanca, featured on Chat With Traders Episode 257) of the Conscious Trading Academy specializing in helping traders overcome mental barriers, dive into aspects of a trader’s mindset. If we cannot think greater than we feel, then this would compel us to be more aware of our mental states which can sabotage our trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael shares his journey from aspiring NFL athlete to successful day trader. After a sports injury dashed his football dreams, he turned to day trading, teaching himself the ropes and overcoming early financial losses with the encouragement of his entrepreneurial mother. His trading strategy evolved over the years, focusing on short-selling highly volatile small-cap stocks after discovering his knack for it in 2021. His discipline, honed from years of football, helps him execute trades like a sniper—waiting patiently for the perfect setup before striking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Greer, a Long Island native, ventured into Wall Street trading inspired by his father. With a background in business management from Cornell University, he honed his skills at Sumitomo Bank, UBS, and Goldman Sachs. He and his team meticulously diagrammed every aspect of the markets, from liquidity to potential swings, which allowed him to exploit edges in his trading playbooks. Running multiple commodity books, including gold and platinum, was like piloting the Millennium Falcon—quoting prices to global banks and witnessing monumental market moves. He eventually ventured out on his own to day trade. From tech stock investments to day trading strategies, he emphasizes pattern recognition and trend analysis. Tony shares insights on risk management, recommended readings, and the importance of adaptability in the ever-changing market landscape.About Tony GreerFounder of TG Macro - Merging 25 years of trading expertise with 15 years of newsletter writing, providing fundamental, technical, and behavioral analyses. With experience at Sumitomo Bank, Union Bank of Switzerland, and Goldman Sachs, Tony is a seasoned professional.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting in classical violin and computer programming, Marsten Parker's path took a transformative turn when he ventured into trading. Despite a rocky start, his disciplined, algorithm-driven approach led to consistent returns, earning him recognition in Jack Schwager's book, "Unknown Market Wizards". We get to learn about his transition from discretionary trading to systematic trading, emphasizing the importance of statistical analysis over emotional decision-making. Marsten used his programming skills to create fully automated trading systems to take advantage of breakouts, mean reversion, IPO opportunities, and other strategies.About Marsten ParkerMarsten has been a full-time individual systematic trader for over 20 years. He is featured in Jack Schwager's book, Unknown Market Wizards.Marsten is also the designer and developer of RealTest, a multi-strategy portfolio-level backtesting software. He has continued to evolve RealTest over the years as his primary tool for researching trading strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trading commodities since 14 years old, Professor Hanke started learning the importance of closely following macro economic factors which impact the prices of currencies, commodities and consumer goods. His evidence-based approach uncovers the deeper forces driving inflation and market fluctuations and challenges prevailing narratives as it relates to economics. By exploring macro topics often overlooked by the mainstream, Professor Hanke broadens our collective understanding and invites us to think more deeply and critically about the economic forces shaping our world.About Steve Hanke:Steve Hanke is an American economist and professor of applied economics at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Steve is known for his work as a currency reformer in emerging-market countries and served on President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers. Very recently, Washingtonian magazine recognized Steve Hanke in their annual list of Washington, D.C.'s 500 most influential figures in shaping public policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saad Filali, worked for Goldman Sachs, specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions, then left and became a Trader. Understanding the thinking and trading styles of the many different market players is key to his trading, including those of institutions, sell side brokers, CTA’s, retail, and meme stock traders. Studying how they trade the volatility and news releases helps Saad to predict market movements and calculate suitable entry and exit points in his trades.Saad now manages his own fund, called Fiat Elpis Macro Fund, and relies on news flow and research. He looks for discrepancies between market pricing and fundamental valuations and considers the impact of different market participants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlock the secrets to superior mental sharpness and explore groundbreaking strategies to boost your cognitive function, from nutrition hacks and exercise tips to innovative biohacking techniques. Ben Greenfield, a renowned expert in the health and fitness sphere, reveals his top methods for optimizing brain health. Whether you seek to enhance focus, memory, or overall brain power, this discussion offers valuable insights and practical advice to elevate your mental game for peak performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The lure of the markets seduced a successful musician into full time trading at a prop firm. Collaborating with other traders, Garrett Drinon learned the market signals, and other ingredients which go into great setups. Wanting to expand his reach, he uses his programming skills to create new algos which help him and his colleagues find the Unicorns and manage a larger portfolio than he could normally handle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a risk officer with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Will Gogolak was setting margin requirements and saw a wide variety of traders’ accounts and what separated the winning traders from the losing ones, before leaving to pursue his own trading and obtaining a PHD in finance and share his knowledge of quantitative analysis and market experience with students at Carnegie Mellon University. Combining his market experience with knowledge of statistics helps William create his custom buy the dip strategy with futures and leveraged ETFs, and focusing on probabilities and determining market direction for informed trading decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Experiencing the noticeable communication differences between his childhood culture and his new home in the U.S., William Lam was driven to become aware of how his limiting thoughts imprinted from his family drove unhealthy unconscious actions. Learning how to shape his mental thought process played key roles in fulfilling big desires and creating a richer life. Hear how our minds are like operating systems to which we can influence for better or worse. We’re just scratching the surface in this episode, but it’s enough to get us to reconsider our thoughts and behaviors from a fresh perspective.  About William Lam:William is an expert in strategic mental and micro behavioral programming and founded UPGRD. He provides support to elite investors, traders, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals, assisting them in visualizing and organizing the data and functionalities of the human mind which can lead to improved mental efficiencies and optimal performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices