Episodes

  • 323 · Alex Temiz - Starbucks Barista to 8-figure Short Selling Strategy

    323 · Alex Temiz - Starbucks Barista to 8-figure Short Selling Strategy
    May 13 2026
    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: 
 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • 322 · Stephen Kalayjian - What 43 Years in the Markets Teaches You

    322 · Stephen Kalayjian - What 43 Years in the Markets Teaches You
    Apr 29 2026
    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:
 Trade The Pool: http://www.tradethepool.com

 Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.00:00 What 43 Years in the Markets Teaches You07:44 Did you know that this is what you wanted to do in life?12:27 Learning about consistency and risk management on his first trade17:10 Learning from his father22:12 Creating a trading software to find the edge26:22 Price leads and Indicators lag30:36 The biggest evolution in 43 years of trading34:58 What’s your day-to-day look like?42:44 What are your thoughts on Prop firms?48:35 How important it is to be in a community54:49 Steve's ultimate message to traders1:01:54 Where can you find @sktradingyoutube

 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • 321 · Eduardo Briceño - $1,900 Small Cap Trader Hit $2.9 Mil in Profits

    321 · Eduardo Briceño - $1,900 Small Cap Trader Hit $2.9 Mil in Profits
    Apr 15 2026
    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” Phase15:40 Worst Case Scenario, “I’ll Just Get a Job”20:23 The Triad Trading Approach31:28 Why You Need to Learn Technicals First37:50 Building an Edge That Fits Your Personality40:50 Why Confidence Is Hard to Teach and Comes From Experience48:26 History Doesn’t Repeat, But It Rhymes55:14 How Eduardo Picks His Stocks59:28 Technical Setups vs Fundamental Confidence1:04:58 His Worst Loss When He was Tilted1:13:03 Why Trading Is Such a Tough Profession1:20:45 Be Disciplined And Stay Adaptable1:25:45 How Having a Family Changed His Trading1:36:00 Advice for Beginner Traders1:38:27 Closing Remarks and Where to Follow @edu_trades

 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 45 mins
  • 320 · Stefan Stadie - Sports Betting and Prediction Markets - Through a Trading Lens

    320 · Stefan Stadie - Sports Betting and Prediction Markets - Through a Trading Lens
    Mar 26 2026
    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 shorting tactics16:53 Entry into predictive markets and sports betting18:23 Arbitrage strategies and OddsJam scanner21:38 Bans from retail sportsbooks and joining Kiro Sports26:37 Polymarket, peer-to-peer exchanges and crypto betting29:04 How prices are set and market-making basics35:32 Market-making tactics, spreads and target returns40:31 Directional positions and daily activity in predictive markets41:43 Parlays, selling parlays and house edge44:10 Growth, regulation and insider-risk in prediction markets49:20 Comparisons with financial markets: liquidity, edge and crowds01:01:54 Gamification, responsible use, psychology and advice for newcomers01:10:00 Closing remarks and contact information 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 17 mins
  • 319 · Sam Gaer - From the Copper Pits to Crypto Derivatives: How Trading Edge Evolves

    319 · Sam Gaer - From the Copper Pits to Crypto Derivatives: How Trading Edge Evolves
    Mar 12 2026
    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: investors@monarq-am.com 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: COMEX runner to copper pit trader06:40 Programming background and early trading automation16:19 TradingGear: pivot to exchange software and NYMEX sale / CIO role21:09 Trading style evolution: scalping to event-driven and electronic trading23:42 High frequency trading, FINRA experience and entrepreneurship25:09 Transition into crypto: Katana Financial and early crypto market making28:01 Crypto derivatives focus: options, convexity and strategies34:19 Recent crypto market decline: causes, liquidations and regulatory uncertainty39:51 Institutional adoption, ETFs (IBIT) and market-structure impacts42:57 Tokenization, real-world assets and digital asset treasuries (DATs) 56:17 Reflections on markets, challenges and use of AI 58:36 Closing remarks and contact information 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 318 · Dave Mabe - The Shift to Systematic Trading — Building Backtested Confidence

    318 · Dave Mabe - The Shift to Systematic Trading — Building Backtested Confidence
    Feb 27 2026
    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 First Backtests 18:40 Backtesting Principles, Sample Size and Common Pitfalls 20:34 Gradual Automation and Live Trading Implementation 22:17 Trading Journal and Reconciling Backtest vs Live 27:27 Scaling through Automation: More Trades, Better Results 29:26 Drawdowns, Psychology and Handling Setbacks 34:14 Tools, AI and Software for Backtesting and Coding 39:56 Common Trading Myths Debunked (Partials, Stops) 48:01 Getting Started: Practical Steps, Resources and Closing 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
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • 317 · John Assaraf - The One That Shows Up — The Identity You Practice

    317 · John Assaraf - The One That Shows Up — The Identity You Practice
    Feb 11 2026
    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 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • 316 · The Turning Points That Shaped Great Traders

    316 · The Turning Points That Shaped Great Traders
    Jan 29 2026
    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 relearning how to live after the grind.05:25 — Peter Brandt - Market tuition, mistakes, and committing fully to a process (Featured in Jack Schwager’s Market Wizards)06:55 — Vincent Bruzzese - How wealth mindset — not strategy — shapes risk and decision-making08:25 — Kristjan Kullamägi - Scaling up, earning the right to push risk, and long-term conviction 09:55 — Jason Shapiro - Contrarian trading, positioning over prediction, and embracing discomfort (Featured in Unknown Market Wizards)11:25 — Patrick Petersson - The lesson learned at absolute rock bottom — and the cost of not cutting losses.12:55 — Lukas Frölich (The Short Bear) - Running trading like a business — and how progress compounds quietly.14:25 — John “Rambo” Moulton - Detaching from money to trade with clarity and consistency15:55 — Sunny Harris - Taking control after realizing professionals can lose, too.17:30 — Closing reflections20:20 — Outro / End 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
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins