Synopsis
The Options Insider Radio Network is the premier audio destination for options traders. The network provides access to a vast array of popular programs including The Option Block, Options Boot Camp, The Advisors Option, The Long and Short of Futures Options, Volatility Views, Options Insider Radio and much more. Join the thousands around the globe who turn to The Options Insider Radio Network for options information, analysis and education.
Episodes
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The Option Block 1364: Eureka! Let's Talk Some Options!
24/03/2025 Duration: 58minThis episode of the Options Insider Radio Network dives into recent options trading activity, covering notable stocks such as Northern Dynasty Minerals (NAK), Truist Financial Corp (TFC), and Wolverine Worldwide (WWW). Hosts Mark Longo, "Uncle" Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management), and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi (The Option Pit) analyze various market trends and trading strategies, including a detailed look at the collar strategy. The show also features lighthearted moments with an 80s trivia challenge and updates on upcoming earnings for companies like GameStop and Lululemon. 01:28 Meet the Hosts and Co-Hosts 02:46 Kickoff with 80s Trivia Challenge 05:37 Trading Block: Market Analysis and Trends 17:58 Options Trading Insights and Strategies 28:22 Earnings Season Highlights 28:44 GameStop and Meme Stocks 30:06 Lululemon and Other Earnings Reports 31:02 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 31:44 Northern Dynasty Minerals: The Knack 38:26 Truist Financial Corp: Bank Calls 43:57 Wolverine World
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Volatility Views 625: The Quick and the Dead
21/03/2025 Duration: 01h48sIn this episode of Volatility Views, host Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhodes, aka Dr. Vix, and Andrew Giovinazzi, aka The Rock Lobster. They dive into a wide range of topics related to volatility trading. The episode covers the current flat volatility curve, its implications, and the challenges and strategies for trading in such an environment. The team also discusses recent activity and trade ideas in VIX options, including unique trades like a short put stupid. Additionally, they touch on the new entrants in the inverse volatility product space. The episode closes with bold predictions for the upcoming week’s volatility. 01:54 Meet the Hosts 04:21 Volatility Review 05:22 Market Analysis and Insights 09:25 VIX Curve and Trading Strategies 12:07 Challenges in the Current Volatility Market 24:20 Flat VIX Curve Implications 33:59 Analyzing the VIX Super Stupid Trade 35:01 Russell's Weekly Rundown 35:24 Intriguing VIX Weekly Options 36:12 Strange VIX Put Stupid Trade 38:17 VIX Market Activity Recap 46:35
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TWIFO 442: Equities, Energy and a Taste of Crypto
21/03/2025 Duration: 57minThis episode of 'This Week in Futures Options' features Mark Longo and guest Dan Gramza from Gramza Capital Management. The discussion covers a variety of futures options markets, including equities, crude oil, and crypto. Key highlights include an in-depth analysis of the E-mini S&P 500 trades, the current market sentiment, and the put options trend in crude oil. Listeners are also introduced to CME Group's new Solana futures and Dan Gramza provides insights into market behaviors and expectations. 02:41 Show Kickoff and Market Overview 03:32 Guest Introduction: Dan Gramza 04:32 Movers and Shakers Report 08:27 Exploring CVAL and Market Volatility 12:15 Equity Market Analysis 28:20 Consumer Sentiment and Economic Indicators 29:00 Real Estate Market Dynamics 29:35 Market Predictions for the S&P 31:13 Energy Sector Insights 32:33 Crude Oil Market Analysis 35:37 Global Oil Production and Trade 48:45 Crypto Market Developments 52:00 Conclusion and Resources
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The Option Block 1363: Secret Cabals, Monsters and the Gamma of Vega
20/03/2025 Duration: 01h01minIn this episode, Mark Longo, Henry Schwartz from Cboe, and Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management discuss the latest trends and activities in the options market. Highlights include a rundown of volume and activity in VIX, SPY, SPX, RUT, and QQQ, as well as specific stocks like BABA, AMD, META, TESLA, and NVIDIA. The episode also dives into unusual call buying activity in SNAP, options trading in the new CBOE Mini Bitcoin ETF Index (MBTX), and updates on recent trades in Southwest Airlines (LUV). Additionally, a listener's question about SPX calendars and the behavior of VIX is addressed, offering educational insight into the complexities of volatility trading. The show concludes with a look at what the hosts will be monitoring in the coming days. 03:18 Market Analysis and Recent Trends 06:05 Trading Block: Latest Topics and Trades 09:01 Market Reactions and Volatility 23:27 Single Stock Highlights 31:29 Earnings Reports: Nike and FedEx 32:22 Micron and GameStop: Upcoming Highlights 32:38 Micron's Ma
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The Futures Rundown 26: Riding the Solana Wave: A New Era of Futures
20/03/2025 Duration: 44minIn this episode, host Mark Longo and co-host Carly Garner (DeCarley Trading) discuss the latest updates in the futures markets, including the introduction of new CME Solana Futures contracts. They cover the most active futures contracts of the week, highlight significant year-to-date movers such as gold and natural gas, and analyze trading activity in various sectors including metals, agriculture, and energy. They also touch on macroeconomic factors impacting futures trading, particularly the effects of Federal Reserve announcements on market dynamics. Additionally, listener questions about trading volumes and strategies are addressed. 04:03 Market Movements and Trading Insights 04:24 Diving into the Trading Pit 06:58 Analyzing Top Futures Trading Activity 09:48 Economic Developments and Market Reactions 18:58 Year-to-Date Movers and Trends 22:16 Market Performance Recap 22:53 Solana Futures Market Update 23:22 Orange Juice Market Analysis 24:37 New Futures Product: Solana 25:01 Solana Futures Contract Sp
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Options Boot Camp 330: Falling to the Dark Side of Futures Options
19/03/2025 Duration: 42minIn this episode of Options Bootcamp, host Mark Longo, alongside Dan Passarelli from Market Taker Mentoring and Katie McGarrigle from TastyTrade, dive deep into the world of futures options trading. They discuss the nuances of futures versus equity options, identifying key differences such as expirations and unique skews. Various starter strategies and products are outlined, emphasizing defined-risk approaches for newcomers. The episode also highlights listener insights on the BTFD strategy and the interest in 24-hour trading. Additionally, Katie and Dan provide updates on their platforms and new endeavors, including Dan's upcoming book and podcast. 00:00 Welcome to Options Insider Radio Network 03:40 Meet the Hosts: Mark Longo, Dan Passarelli, and Katie McGarrigle 05:52 Diving into Futures Options 07:55 Challenges and Strategies in Futures Options 14:41 The Evolution of Trading Platforms 19:06 Exploring Skew in Futures Options 21:48 Nuances of Trading: Research and Preparation 22:03 Starter Products for New
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The Crypto Rundown 269: Crypto Wild Cards
17/03/2025 Duration: 47minThis episode of the Crypto Rundown explores the latest trends, activities, and developments in the crypto derivatives markets. Hosted by Mark Longo and featuring guest Greg Magadini, Director of Derivatives at Amber Data, the show covers a broad spectrum of topics including the ongoing volatility in key cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, the growing interest and trading volumes in IBIT, and the launch of Solana futures by CME. The discussion also delves into the opportunities present in Bitcoin and Ethereum skews, risk reversals, and trading strategies, while highlighting the recent performance of various altcoins. Key insights are shared about the potential future trends and the intriguing 'wildcards' within the crypto market, such as Solana. The show also offers resources for accessing comprehensive market data through Amberdata's free newsletter, enhancing the listeners' ability to navigate and leverage the evolving crypto ecosystem. 01:24 Welcome to the Crypto Rundown 03:57 Special Guest: Greg
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The Option Block 1362: Amen to the Options Market
17/03/2025 Duration: 58minIn this episode, host Mark Longo is back in the Chicago studio after attending the Futures Industry Association conference. The team, including Uncle Mike Tosaw and Andrew Giovinazzi, discuss the mixed market activity and the upcoming Fed meeting, where a rate pause is highly anticipated. The show delves into unusual options activities, focusing on large trades in Vodafone and HUYA. Uncle Mike provides insights on active versus passive hedging strategies, and the episode concludes with 'Around the Block' highlighting what to watch for the rest of the trading week. The listeners are also engaged through a poll on whether to buy or sell Vodafone calls. 01:59 Mark Longo's Return and FIA Insights 03:45 80's Trivia Challenge 07:19 Market Analysis and Trading Block 10:01 Uncle Mike's Market Observations 16:53 Rock Lobster's Market Insights 27:25 VIX and SPY Trading Activity 30:19 Market Overview: Small Caps and QQQ 30:59 Single Names: Top Ten Contracts 31:36 Spotlight on Quantum Straddles 33:34 Amazon and Palant
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Volatility Views 624: The Volatility Vortex of Tariffs, Hantavirus, Posh Spice and the Number of the Beast
14/03/2025 Duration: 01h06minThis episode of Volatility Views dives into the current state of the volatility market, with insights from hosts Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian, and Russell Rhodes. The discussion includes the latest developments in volatility products such as VIX futures, VOLI, VVIX, UVIX, SVIX, and UVXY, highlighting notable market activities and trends. The panel discusses the tariffs impact on the markets, and also includes some talk about the hantavirus and the Spice Girls, particularly Posh Spice. The show concludes with the Crystal Ball segment, where the hosts predict future volatility levels next week.
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TWIFO 441: Gassy Meats
13/03/2025 Duration: 38minWe look at the movers and shakers in the futures options markets and in the CVOL Indexes for this past week including energy (nat gas), ags (live/feeder cattle), and much more. With your host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Radio Network
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The Option Block 1361: The Revenge of the Spice Girls
13/03/2025 Duration: 01h05minIn this episode, the hosts, led by Mark Longo, delve into the current market volatility, the dynamics of the options market, and strategies for navigating today's financial landscape. Joined by guests like Uncle Mike Tosaw and Flowmaster Henry Schwartz, they discuss the influence of tariffs, unusual options activity, and the state of various financial indices. They also explore specific trades and positions, such as in LUV, XRX and NFE. They also engage with listener questions on topics like whether the BTFD trade is dead and whether this spice in the market has legs. The show combines expert insights, market analysis, and a lively discussion on who is everyone's favorite Spice Girl.
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The Futures Rundown 25: Crude Oil Faceoff: WTI vs Brent
12/03/2025 Duration: 16minIn this episode of the Futures Rundown, we break down the differences between Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures. Jermal Chandler from Tasty Live joins the discussion to help traders understand key nuances in contract specifications, market behavior, and pricing. The episode covers contract sizes, tick values, settlement types, and the geographical distinctions between Brent (Europe) and WTI (Texas). The show also touches on trading volumes, liquidity, and occasional anomalies like the negative pricing event in April 2020. 03:38 Futures 101: WTI vs Brent Crude 05:30 Contract Specifications and Trading Insights 09:06 Brent vs WTI: Market Dynamics and Trading Strategies 13:45 Final Thoughts
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Options Boot Camp 329: Hedging Strategies and Gamma Scalping Demystified
12/03/2025 Duration: 29minIn this episode of Options Bootcamp, hosts Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli address various listener questions related to options trading. The episode covers the differences between institutional and retail portfolio hedging strategies, the relevance of liquidity when choosing options contracts, and the complexities of gamma scalping for retail traders. They also discuss the significance of advanced order types like OCO orders and the challenges of trading in less liquid markets. The show features special segments on rolling options positions and the interaction with listeners via chat and email.
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Volatility Views 623: Flirting with the Danger Zone
07/03/2025 Duration: 01h02minThis episode of Volatility Views dives into the current state of the volatility market, with insights from hosts Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian, and Russell Rhodes. The discussion kicks off with the latest developments in VIX futures and options trading, highlighting notable market activities and trends, such as the overwhelming volume of VIX trading and the specifics of some substantial trades. The panel addresses the rise in volatility, characterized by increased daily market movements and backwardation in the VIX futures curve. Special emphasis is placed on volatility strategies and the continued importance of monitoring geopolitical and macroeconomic factors. The episode also delves into related volatility products like S-VIX and U-VIX, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities they present. The show concludes with the Crystal Ball segment, where the hosts predict future volatility levels, providing a comprehensive overview for volatility traders and enthusiasts. 01:05 Welcome to Volatility V
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TWIFO 440: Revenge of the Metals & The Sum of All Fears in Equities
07/03/2025 Duration: 55minHost Mark Longo and guest Uncle Mike Tosaw discuss a variety of topics in the world of futures options. The main discussion focuses on precious metals, specifically silver and gold, where Uncle Mike rebuts recent criticisms suggesting that trading these is unwise. The episode also delves into the movers and shakers report featuring commodities, such as Kansas City wheat and class III milk futures, to highlight significant market changes. The conversation extends to a detailed look at equity indices, where the recent sell-off and market volatility are scrutinized, and then moves on to interest rates, particularly the 10-year note. The episode ends with listener questions, prominently addressing strategies like leveraging longer-term collars in precious metals trading. 01:22 Welcome to This Week in Futures Options 02:30 Showtime: Latest Futures Options Trading Activity 04:19 Movers and Shakers Report 09:43 Volatility Breakdown 13:11 Debate on Silver: Hopes and Dreams or Good Trades? 25:37 Gold's Meteoric Ris
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The Option Block 1360: The Flowmaster Unleashed!!!!
06/03/2025 Duration: 01h02minIn this episode, the hosts, led by Mark Longo, delve into the current market volatility, the dynamics of the options market, and strategies for navigating today's financial landscape. Joined by guests like Uncle Mike Tosaw and Flowmaster Henry Schwartz, they discuss the influence of tariffs, unusual options activity, and the state of various financial indices. They also explore specific trades and positions, such as in Birkenstock and Deutsche Bank, and engage with listener questions on topics like the need for a strategic crypto reserve. The show combines expert insights, market analysis, and a lively discussion on where the VIX might be headed by the end of the month. 03:08 Market Overview and Analysis 04:15 Deep Dive into Market Movements 07:31 Trading Block Insights 11:14 Options Trading Strategies and Opportunities 15:46 Impact of Tariffs on the Market 24:31 Single Stock Analysis and Trends 32:09 Retail Earnings Recap 32:51 Kroger's Earnings Breakdown 33:37 Marvell's Market Reaction 33:55 Macy's Earni
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Wide World of Options: Volatility: Turning Chaos into Potential Opportunities
06/03/2025 Duration: 30minIn this episode, show host Mark Benzaquen welcomes Brian Overby of OptionsPlaybook.com to discuss the downfalls and potential opportunities for profits in the wake of volatile markets.
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The Futures Rundown 24: Buy the Dip and Sell the Rip!
06/03/2025 Duration: 31minThis episode of the Futures Rundown dives into the latest movements in the futures markets, exploring top gainers like VIX, Nat Gas, and Coffee, as well as the biggest losers including Ether and OJ. Host Mark Longo and guest Jermal Chandler from Tasty Live analyze the impact of geopolitical factors on commodities, discuss the current state of equity futures, and the broader implications of tariffs. Key topics include crypto volatility, the performance of various ag products, and the enduring debate around buying market dips. 01:07 Introduction to The Futures Rundown 04:04 Meet the Guest: Jermal Chandler 05:40 Market Analysis and Trading Strategies 23:06 Year-to-Date Market Trends 27:31 Conclusion and Upcoming Events
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Options Boot Camp 328: Riding the Trading Wave and Mastering Covered Calls
05/03/2025 Duration: 33minIn this episode, hosts Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli discuss the explosive growth in options trading, particularly single name equity options, which have seen a significant rise. They delve into the role of retail traders, the impact of the pandemic, and the rise of zero-day options. The episode features insights into options trading metrics, strategies like covered calls, cash-secured puts, and market volatility influenced by economic events such as tariffs. Also discussed are listener questions and opinions on market trends, 24-hour trading, and the concept of a strategic crypto reserve. 01:09 Welcome to Options Bootcamp 01:38 TastyTrade: Tools for Traders 02:53 Options Bootcamp: Education and Resources 05:49 Options Market Trends and Analysis 14:39 Mail Call: Listener Questions 16:03 Market Taker Question of the Week 19:53 Market Volatility and Predictions 23:08 Crypto Market Insights 30:18 Final Thoughts and Substack Promotion
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The Crypto Rundown 268: Strategic Reserve Meltdown
04/03/2025 Duration: 53minIn this episode of the Crypto Rundown, Mark Longo and guest Mr. Bill Ulivieri from Cenacle Capital dive into the latest developments in the ever-volatile world of crypto. They discuss the wild trading activity of Bitcoin and altcoins like Ethereum, Solana, and XRP, particularly in light of recent news about a U.S. strategic crypto reserve. Discussions also cover the performance and strategic roles of various cryptocurrencies in both individual and institutional portfolios. 01:23 Welcome to the Crypto Rundown 03:37 Guest Introduction: Mr. Bill Returns 04:21 Bitcoin Breakdown: Market Trends and Analysis 06:32 Strategic Crypto Reserve: Market Reactions 15:04 Bitcoin Volatility and Skew Analysis 26:06 Altcoin Universe: Beyond Bitcoin 27:21 Crypto Market Overview 27:32 Top 10 Cryptocurrencies This Week 28:50 Strategic Reserve and Altcoins 31:46 ETH's Wild Ride 32:34 Volatility and Skew Analysis 36:31 Altcoin Performance Review 43:05 Crypto Questions and Poll Results 45:40 Future of Crypto and Final Thoughts