Animal Spirits Podcast

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. See our disclosures here - https://ritholtzwealth.com/podcast-youtube-disclosures/

Business
Investing
News
626
Stockpiling Cash (EP.104)
On this week's show we discuss Airbnb's need to IPO, WeWork's latest PR nightmare, rich people raising cash, why now is one of the hardest investing environments ever, do interest rates impact private markets, Disney Plus, why no one will ever buy...
44 min
627
Michael's Brain Fart (EP.103)
On this week's show, we discuss how to pass the CFA exam, the range of performance in S&P 500 companies, factor crashes, why quants matter more than index funds, influencer ghostwriters, understanding IRRs, what Amazon could do next, the best...
44 min
628
Economically Unattractive (EP.102)
On this week's show we discuss the passive bubble talk, private market bubble talk, credit cards, stocks vs the economy, people who own the market, Jeremy Renner's social media experiment, student loan forgiveness, and much more. Find complete...
37 min
629
Who Are the Losers? (EP.101)
On this week's show we discuss how flows affect the market, why there is no passive bubble, why small caps are always underfollowed, financial literacy differences between men and women, the Peloton IPO, why the Fed is not our savior, the Rock's...
48 min
630
Best Case Recession (EP.100)
On this week's show we discuss the finances of having kids, the best case scenario for the next recession, is anyone bullish right now, hedging out the end of the world, Michael's worst take ever, Ben's student loan story, Joe Rogan, trading options,...
33 min
631
Re-Kindled: Amusing Ourselves to Death (EP.99)
On this edition of Re-Kindled, Michael and Ben discuss Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. Find complete shownotes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s Michael Batnick’s Like us on And feel free to shoot us an email at with any feedback,...
23 min
632
Paycheck to Paycheck (EP.98)
On this week's show we discuss yield curve inversions, why everyone is always predicting recessions, RV indicators, bonds are expensive, who buys negative rate bonds, our new noobwhale t-shirts, VC pump & dumps, how many people live...
44 min
633
Talk Your Book: Invest like a Hedge Fund with T...
On today’s animal Spirits Talk Your Book, Michael and Ben talk to Clay Gardner of titan invest. Titan is on a mission to democratize hedge fund investing. Go to for more information. Find complete shownotes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s Michael...
43 min
634
Business in a Box (EP.97)
On this week's show we discuss what to make of negative interest rates, who is buying these bonds with negative rates, the new Apple credit card, the growth in takeout food, why fly swatters can't be disrupted, how Planet Fitness hacked human nature...
41 min
635
The Bankrupt Barber (EP.96)
On this week's show we discuss how stocks have reacted to past Fed rate cuts, why is the stock market falling, why aren't there more unicorn companies in Japan, nature vs. nurture in your finances, why Michael bought a Peloton, Noobwhale t-shirts, can...
45 min
636
Re-Kindled: Superforecasting (EP.95)
On this edition of Re-Kindled we discuss Philip Tetlock's masterpiece on prediction, Superforecasting. Find complete shownotes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s Michael Batnick’s Like us on And feel free to shoot us an email at with any feedback,...
30 min
637
Rush For the Exits (EP.94)
On this week's show we discuss intellectual shaming, power laws in the stock market, the insane number of stocks that end up losers, why are fewer people driving minivans, what would happen if the USD lost reserve currency status, will there ever be...
40 min
638
Broke & Overweight (EP.93)
On this week's show we discuss why are fewer people subscribing to Netflix, will we ever really reach peak podcast, how many people own their home outright, what is the chance your home will go down in value over 5 years, Elizabeth Warren's plan to...
41 min
639
Shielded Alpha (EP.92)
On this week's show we discuss the upside to social media, zombie VC companies, podcasting at , bubbles and career risk, using credit card reward points, where couples meet these days, the contradictory nature of having skin in the game, influencing...
46 min
640
Talk Your Book: Agricultural Commodities
On this week's Talk Your Book, Michael and Ben sat down with Sal Gilbertie, CEO and founder of Teucrium Trading, an ETF provider of agricultural commodities products. Find complete shownotes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s Michael Batnick’s ...
40 min
641
The Next Big Short? (EP.91)
On this week's show we discuss does all the high-frequency trading at the start and end of the day matter, what trends will die off with the baby boomer generation, is Rich Dad, Poor Dad real, visualizing wealth inequality, Walmart's competition with...
36 min
642
Talk Your Book: The Acquirer's Multiple
On this episode of Talk Your Book, we talk with Toby Carlisle, portfolio manager of the new Acquirer's Fund ETF about deep value investing. Find complete shownotes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s Michael Batnick’s Like us on And feel free to...
34 min
643
A Single Push-Up (EP.90)
On this week's show we discuss why comedy movies are dying, therapy for social media, lower rates on savings accounts, Amazon as a shipping company, negative yielding debt, context around student loan debt, bank overdraft fees, how many Americans can...
44 min
644
Talk Your Book: Global Factor Investing
On this week's Talk Your Book, Michael & Ben sat down with Vincent De Martel of Invesco to discuss how institutional investors are using factor investment strategies and what this means for the space going forward. Find complete shownotes on...
39 min
645
The Great Depression of 2073 (EP.89)
On this week's show we discuss why Michael is getting back into trading, Facebook's new cryptocurrency, is it a good thing more professional investors are buying up starter homes, should Vanguard get into private equity, why Harry Dent says there will...
40 min
646
The Four Most Dangerous Words in Podcasting (EP...
On this week's show we discuss are there more unicorns now because there's more money in venture capital, why we're bullish on the next gen of retirement savers, Mary Meeker's most important trends on the Internet, is the personal finance industry a...
36 min
647
Talk Your Book: Trading with MarketSmith
Michael & Ben sat down with Irusha Peiris to discuss the psychology behind trading, why it's so difficult to become a full-time trader, the types of stocks that can be big winners over time and much more. Find complete shownotes on our blogs......
41 min
648
Dad Cat Bounce (EP.87)
On this week's episode we discuss our chart crime of the year candidate, the staggering amount of student loan debt, managing money for NBA players, paying for time, why the home buying decision is so personal, contradictory bubble data, does anyone...
42 min
649
Talk Your Book: The Net Lease REIT ETF
On today's Talk Your Book, Michael & Ben sat down with Chris Burbach & Alexi Panagiotakopoulos to discuss investing in REITs and their new net lease REIT ETF. Find complete shownotes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s Michael Batnick’s Like...
31 min
650
The Influencer Bubble (EP.86)
On today's show we talk about the influencer bubble, causes of death, peak smart phone, and the intelligence of the bond market.  Find complete shownotes on our blogs... Ben Carlson’s Michael Batnick’s Like us on And feel free to shoot...
25 min