On episode 470 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why diversification is working again, how AI is creating more winners and losers in the stock market, why the Mag 7 is underperforming, the triple-digit club, why investors are holding more cash, rich people who complain too much, what makes America great, AI is di...
Jun 24, 2026•1 hr
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Dr. Ankur Crawford from Alger to discuss: what everyone is getting wrong about the AI trade, why this technology is different, letting the market tell you if you're wrong or right, and how to man...
Jun 22, 2026•30 min
On episode 469 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the desire to call an AI top, the SpaceX IPO frenzy, taking profits, why value is beating growth, why EM is beating the US, the markets were right about the war, agentic trading, 3% mortgages vs. 4% inflation, the politics of AI, the Rule of 55, a Knicks title for Mich...
Jun 17, 2026•1 hr 9 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Eric Fine from VanEck to discuss: how emerging markets have changed, geopolitical risk, currencies, AI and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
Jun 15, 2026•32 min
On episode 468 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: NBA Finals ticket prices, AI's lack of impact on the labor market, one day of carnage in the stock market, prices drive the narrative, the Mag 7 is underperforming, tech is eating the stock market, the SpaceX IPO, the first $1 trillion ETF, the retail trading boom, the cry...
Jun 10, 2026•1 hr 17 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Danielle Singer from Invesco and Ben Linder from LGT Capital Partners to discuss: investing in private markets, portfolio construction, illiquidity and more. F...
Jun 08, 2026•28 min
On episode 467 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: peak FOMO, chip stocks going nuclear, 1990s stock market flashbacks, trillion dollar IPOs, the AI trade is global, the bear case, a tale of two bull markets, bad luck in the real estate industry, South Korea's boom, movies are back and more. This episode is sponsored by: Inves...
Jun 03, 2026•1 hr 7 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Ben Barber from Franklin Templeton to discuss: investing in municipal bonds, how to think about rising rates, misunderstandings of the muni bond market and more. To learn more about Franklin ...
Jun 01, 2026•32 min
On episode 466 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the SpaceX IPO, index fund bag holders, the pros and cons of rising bond yields, the markets got the war right, how consumer sentiment broke, the Bezos tax plan, AI optimism, did crypto miss its moment, the coming renovation boom, dad books and more. This episode is sponsored ...
May 27, 2026•1 hr 1 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Derek Yan from KraneShares to discuss: the investment opportunity in humanoid robots, how far away we are from a more robotic world, the implications for investors, workers, an aging population and m...
May 25, 2026•35 min
On episode 465 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: what can stop the stock market, Nvidia is too big, the boy who cried wolf predictions, market timing reminders, Michael Burry crash calls, AI portfolio strategies, AI is the new Netflix, the robots are coming, rich people who aren't happy, Harrison Ford, Martin Short and more. Thi...
May 20, 2026•1 hr 6 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Mark Marex from Nasdaq to discuss: the differences between now and the dot-com bubble, the fundamentals of the Nasdaq 100, AI's impact on the stock market and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben...
May 18, 2026•30 min
On episode 464 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Ben's new book Risk & Reward, an epic melt-up in the stock market, semiconductor stocks going berserk, why this isn't a bubble (yet), South Korean stocks, AI portfolios & advisors, why young people are so angry, soccer dads & crypto, longevity risk and more. This episode i...
May 13, 2026•1 hr 12 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Mike Laughlin from Janus Henderson Investors to discuss: how securitization works, investing in CLOs, the size of the securitized market, how fixed income investing has changed and much more. Find complete show ...
May 11, 2026•31 min
On episode 463 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Paul Tudor Jones on market valuations, how many people own stocks, mind-boggling numbers from the hyperscalers, a lost decade for bonds, why higher gas prices sting, some macro prediction rules, government debt levels, Jevon's Paradox, prediction market winners and losers and much more. T...
May 06, 2026•1 hr 6 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Alex Morris from F/m Investments for a live show recorded in Washington D.C. that covers inflation, the Fed, AI, tax alpha and much more. Definitions of terms from the episode - AG Index: Evaluates the performance o...
May 04, 2026•57 min
On episode 462 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: how AI will impact wealth management, a stock market boom for the ages, why the Fed never created a financial crisis, an ode to Tim Cook, the world's biggest ETF, ridiculous car payments, AI job market winners and losers, surveys are broken, the dreaded mid-life crisis and more. This epis...
Apr 29, 2026•1 hr 4 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by State Street 's Michael Arone to discuss: the origin story of SPY, what's driving ETF adoption, geopolitics vs. AI, potential economic risks and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
Apr 27, 2026•41 min
On episode 461 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why the stock market feels like it makes no sense, stocks are the smart money, the speed of market moves, an epic bull market run, a new inflation regime, Hyperliquid, what Austin got right on housing, consumers are still spending, Michael's number one rule of investing and more. This epi...
Apr 22, 2026•1 hr
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Matt Kaufman from Calamos to discuss: how autocallable ETFs work, the structured products boom and a new way to target growth in your portfolio. To learn more about amplified, long-term wealth accumulation visit: www....
Apr 20, 2026•32 min
On episode 460 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: Tax Day, the benefits of writing, energy vs. tech, a confusing labor market, a rite of passage for younger generations, millennials vs. boomers, AI uncertainty, Bitcoin vs. software stocks, the downfall of Nike and more. This episode is sponsored by Goldman Sachs and Janus Henderson Investors. To...
Apr 15, 2026•1 hr 12 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by J.P. Morgan 's Hamilton Reiner to discuss: creating income via options and how covered call strategies work. Check out J.P. Morgan's disclosures here - https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/adv/disclosures/talkyour...
Apr 13, 2026•30 min
On episode 459 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: he psychology of stock market losses, the Mag 7 impact on returns this year, value is beating growth, the upper middle class is growing, why rich people don't feel rich, the impact of higher gas prices, houses in America are getting older, Airbnb's economic impact and more. This episode is sponsored ...
Apr 08, 2026•1 hr 4 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson have two guests. First up is Bill Mann from Motley Fool Asset Management to talk about the momentum factor. Next is Kevin Lynyak from Morgan Stanley to discuss preferred securities. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
Apr 06, 2026•38 min
On episode 458 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: recession fears, the stock market is bad at recession predictions, why this is an orderly sell-off, earnings are still rising, stocks rarely finish the year down, there are so many rich people, wealth inequality vs. socialism, house money pits, private credit redemptions and more. This episode is sponsor...
Apr 01, 2026•1 hr 17 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Invesco 's Stephanie Larosiliere to discuss: how to diversify your bonds, AI's impact on the economy, hedging higher inflation and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s ...
Mar 30, 2026•25 min
On episode 457 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: how markets are controlling the war, the cost of higher energy prices, why the stock market isn't falling more, why the Fed shouldn't raise rates, the Forrest Gump market, why gold is down 20%, the not-so-K-shaped economy, AI is making us work more, accidental landlords, how to create a good business and mor...
Mar 25, 2026•1 hr 18 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Krista Lynch from Grayscale to discuss: crypto legislation, stablecoins, ETFs, in-kind creations and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense...
Mar 23, 2026•34 min
On episode 456 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: why oil prices aren't higher, complacency in the markets, energy stocks, oil as the new meme stock, geopolitical events vs. the stock market, why AI isn't a bubble, bitcoin isn't dead yet, housing affordability is improving, private credit redemptions, the case for PE stocks, who orders DoorDash, there is no ret...
Mar 18, 2026•1 hr 19 min
On this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Erkko Etula , CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Brooklyn Investment Group , to discuss tax advantaged long/short SMAs. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Commo...
Mar 16, 2026•33 min