Sinopsis
Animal spirits is a show about markets, life, and investing. Join Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson as they talk about what they're reading, writing, listening to and watching.Look for new episodes every Wednesday morning.
Episodios
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Is the Stock Market Invincible? (EP. 447)
14/01/2026 Duración: 01h18minOn episode 447 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss Jerome Powell, credit card rates, the institutional ownership of homes, lowering mortgage rates, how to fix the housing market, AI vs. the labor market, the broadening out of the bull market, the growth in sports gambling, where housing is still affordable, circular private equity deals, why TVs are so cheap and much more. This episode is sponsored by Innovator. Learn more at https://www.innovatoretfs.com/pdf/ddq_product_brief.pdf Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thec
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Talk Your Book: The Bull Case for China With Brendan Ahern
12/01/2026 Duración: 31minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Brendan Ahern from KraneShares to discuss: the differences between China and the United States, the state of Chinese Internet stocks and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https://idon
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Tax the Billionaires (EP. 446)
07/01/2026 Duración: 01h15minOn episode 446 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss 2026 predictions, the risk of a bear market, why valuations should be higher, why international stocks outperformed, recession risk in 2026, AI hallucinations, self-driving cars, Disney stock, where to find cheaper housing, an appreciation for Keanu Reeves and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts. Subscribe to YCharts’ Advisor Pulse, LinkedIn newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7163920704407552000 And start your free YCharts trial through Animal Spirits (new customers only) at https://go.ycharts.com/animal-spirits Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s
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The Best Performing Stocks of 2025 (EP. 445)
31/12/2025 Duración: 56minOn episode 445 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the best and worst S&P 500 stocks this year, 2025 investing lessons, why silver is going vertical, international small caps are crushing it, family offices are booming, sentiment is still broken, over-optimization is a problem, how millennials got rich, when to spend more in retirement, the best video game of all-time and more. This episode is sponsored by TradePMR. Find more details on TradePMR by visiting: https://hubs.li/Q03XS3Sj0 Learn more about Fidelity Trader+ at: https://www.Fidelity.com/TraderPlus Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor
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Talk Your Book: Teucrium's Sal Gilbertie on Commodities & Crypto
29/12/2025 Duración: 31minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Sal Gilbertie from Teucrium to discuss: why oil prices are falling, how agricultural commodities work, why farmers need bailouts, why crypto is a commodity and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop:
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The Biggest Risk in 2026 (EP. 444)
24/12/2025 Duración: 01h06minOn episode 444 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss what a normal year in the stock market looks like, time traveling through drawdowns, the case for small/mid cap stocks, how many stocks double each year, record cash balances, the economy keeps growing, financial nihilism, gambling, illiquidity risk in private investments and much more. This episode is sponsored by TradePMR & Fabric by Gerber Life. Find more details on TradePMR by visiting: https://hubs.li/Q03XS3Sj0 Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at: https://meetfabric.com/SPIRITS Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s
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Talk Your Book: A Tactical Strategy That Actually Works
22/12/2025 Duración: 33minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Dan Russo from Potomac Fund Management to discuss: the bear market in diversification, trend-following, quantitative tactical asset management and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https://idontsh
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All-Time Highs Should Feel Better Than This
17/12/2025 Duración: 01h18minOn episode 443 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the stock market rally is broadening out, no one wants an AI bubble, the return outlook for 2026, Howard Marks on how to invest today, hedging an AI bubble, concentration risk, financial markets don't care about labor markets yet, the worst part about inflation, data centers in space, the housing outlook for 2026 and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts and Vanguard. This episode is sponsored by YCharts. download Charts That Defined 2025, and start your free YCharts trial through Animal Spirits (new customers only) at https://go.ycharts.com/animal-spirits Learn more about Vanguard at: https://www.vanguard.com/audio Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of
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Title: Talk Your Book: The Anti-AI Portfolio
15/12/2025 Duración: 37minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by John Neff, portfolio manager and CIO at Akre Capital Management to discuss: the firm's concentrated stock portfolio, how to hold stocks for the long-run, beating the S&P 500 and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop:
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Netflix vs. Paramount (EP. 442)
10/12/2025 Duración: 01h08minOn episode 442 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss huge losses in the Nasdaq 100, 2026 outlooks, OpenAI, 401k millionaires, consumer spending vs. a slowing labor market, money without meaning, price cuts on housing are accelerating, baby boomer riches, Netflix and Paramouns vie for Warner Brothers and more. This episode is sponsored by NEOS Investments, Exhibit A, and Fidelity Trader+. Explore NEOS Investments’ award-winning lineup at https://neosfunds.com. To book a 20 minute demo of Exhibit A with Chart Kid Matt, click this link: https://calendly.com/matt-exhibitaforadvice/20min. Or, start a risk free 7-day free trial: https://exhibitaforadvice.com/register. Learn more about Fidelity Trader+ at: https://www.Fidelity.com/TraderPlus Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on
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Talk Your Book: Investing in Real Estate Credit
08/12/2025 Duración: 33minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Charlie Rose from Invesco to discuss: investing in private real estate, credit in real estate as an asset class, the different types of real estate investments and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https://idontshop.com
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The Age of Discontentment (EP. 441)
03/12/2025 Duración: 01h12minOn episode 441 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss why boring plain vanilla portfolios are hard to beat, predicting the 2026 stock market, Robinhood is Netflix, teens investing in stocks, all-time highs in rich people, the case against an AI crash, the crypto crash, how expensive housing is changing behaviors, ranking the best Disney rides, YouTube is eating TV, the joys of homeownership and more. This episode is sponsored by YCharts and Fabric by Gerber Life. Register for the December 9th Charts That Defined 2025 webinar with Josh Brown, here https://get.ycharts.com/resources/webinars/the-charts-that-defined-2025/ And start your free YCharts trial through Animal Spirits (new customers only) at https://go.ycharts.com/animal-spirits Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at: https://meetfabric.com/SPIRITS Sign up for The Compo
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Talk Your Book: The Psychology of Income
01/12/2025 Duración: 24minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Troy Cates, Co-Founder, Managing Partner at NEOS Investments to discuss: options-based income ETFs, why investors love yield so much, how to hedge using options and more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https://idontshop.com
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Talk Your Book: The State of the Housing Market
29/11/2025 Duración: 29minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Logan Mohtashami to talk about first-time homebuyers, how to fix the housing market, housing myths, how often housing prices fall and much more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https://idontshop.com Investing involve
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Wait, Are We in a Recession??? (EP. 440)
26/11/2025 Duración: 01h04minOn episode 440 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss stocks moving on no news, reasons today's market is not like the 90s, the Fed needs to cut, Google's breakout, thoughts on Disney, Cembalest's favorite movies, and much more. This episode is sponsored by Invesco & KraneShares Visit https://www.invesco.com/ to learn more. Invesco. Let’s rethink possibility. To learn more about KraneShares’ KOID ETF visit, https://kraneshares.com/etf/koid/?adsource=compound Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any fe
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Talk Your Book: Staking Your Crypto For Yield
24/11/2025 Duración: 29minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Krista Lynch, Senior Vice President, ETF Capital Markets at Grayscale to discuss: the crypto ETF landscape, how staking works, what's coming next in this space and much more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https://idontshop.com I
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Is the AI Trade Over? (EP. 439)
19/11/2025 Duración: 01h13minOn episode 439 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss: the Degen Dow pain trade, the lack of euphoria, AI skepticism, long bear markets, Michael Burry's crash calls, the great stuff transfer, the Bitcoin crash, first-time homebuyers, Blue Owl and much more. This episode is sponsored by Nuveen & YCharts Invest like the future is watching. Visit https://www.nuveen.com/future to learn more. Register for the November 19th webinar with Nick Maggiulli here: WEBINAR REGISTRATION and get 20% off your initial YCharts Professional subscription HERE when you start your free YCharts trial through Animal Spirits (new customers only). Animal Spirits audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P6T79NB Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth o
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Talk Your Book: Will the Bubble Get Bigger?
17/11/2025 Duración: 38minOn this episode of Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson are joined by Michael Arone, Chief Investment Strategist and Managing Director at State Street Investment Management to discuss: government spending, bailouts, S&P 500®, stock market concentration, the AI bubble and much more. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https:/
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Animal Spirits Take Las Vegas
15/11/2025 Duración: 46minOn this episode of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson keynote the financial planning association’s annual event. Find complete show notes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendations, or ideas for future topics of conversation. Check out the latest in financial blogger fashion at The Compound shop: https://idontshop.com Investing involves the risk of loss. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be or regarded as personalized in
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Is a 50 Year Mortgage a Good Idea? (EP. 438)
12/11/2025 Duración: 01h10minOn episode 438 of Animal Spirits, Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson discuss the problem with the K-shaped economy narrative, are young people screwed, the benefits of bubbles, the rate cutting cycle, OpenAI, Las Vegas, how to fix the housing market, restaurant stocks are getting killed, the degen economy and more. Today's show is brought to you by Xtrackers by DWS Find out more at https://xtrackers.com Animal Spirits audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P6T79NB Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Find complete show notes on our blogs: Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor Feel free to shoot us an email at animalspirits@thecompoundnews.com with any feedback, questions, recommendatio