The AlphaMind Podcast

Strength, Conditioning and Performance Coach for the New York Yankees, Dana Cavalea, shares insights into high performance and habits of champions, applicable in various domains. Topics include mindset, player assessment, mindfulness, discipline, visualization, and preparation.

Benis is a partner and behavioural scientist with 'Final Mile', the world’s leading Behavioural Architecture Consultancy. Behavioural Architecture seeks to solve complex issues and problems where conventional approaches fall short. It does this by exploring issues through the lens of Cognitive Neuroscience, Behavioural Economics, and Design Concepts. Benis heads Final Mile's Financial Market arm which seeks to help businesses and people engaged in financial markets to make improvements which lead to improved decision-making and stronger performance. In this fascinating interview Benis tells us about Final Mile's philosophy and approach to problem solving around human performance in financial markets. We explore key behavioural findings that have emerged in their work, how we as human are impacted by biases, and how we largely absolve and avoid trying to understand and correct these.  This interview moves beyond the normal discussions on biases, emotions and systematic behavioural limitations to explore at a much deeper level how these impact trading and investing performance and how people can start to address these.You can find out more about Final Mile's outstanding and highly impactful work in many fields on their website at https://finalmile.inAlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

This week’s guest is Carol Harmer. Carol started as a trader working for Midland Bank markets (which later became HSBC Markets), in the early 1980s on the LIFFE (London International Financial Futures Exchange) in London.  She started using charts, at a time when few people were using technical analysis, to help her with her trading.  Over a lifetime in the markets, Carol worked for Midland Banks, Nomura Banks, Credit Suisse, and her own business, Charmer Trading.  AlphaMind podcast host Steven worked with Carol in the 1990s in the trading room at Credit Suisse in London. By then, as well as trading Carol was providing analysis and advisory based on her technical analysis work. Carol was never afraid to make a big call and had a fantastic eye for markets. Her work and philosophy about markets and price action were to have a big influence on Steven's work and career as a trader. Carol now produces an outstanding technical analysis advisory service on many markets to thousands of subscribers around the world including; Banks, Hedge Funds, Asset Management Firms as well as to Private and Retail Traders. In addition, Carol trains and mentors’ traders and continues to trade for herself. In this interview Carol talks about being a Technical Trader, her passion for markets and how she uses technical analysis as a tool to find value in markets. Carol also talks about the way the industry treats, serves, markets to and in many cases rips-off retail traders.Carol has a unique style and is extremely outspoken and forthright in her opinions. In this podcast she doesn’t hold back, firing from the hip and at those who mislead retail traders. This is a great interview which will educate and enthral traders and analysts at all levels, across all markets. To know more about Carol and her work: Her website is: http://charmertrading.co.uk/Her YouTube Channel is in collaboration with Markets.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQDjlcwUhOk Her Twitter Handle is @charmertradingShe can be also be found on FX Street https://www.fxstreet.com/author/carol-harmer AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

James Brodie has been in and around trading for almost 3 decades. Starting in the early 90s, James worked on trading desks at leading investment banks, started his own hedge fund, built trading systems, taught people and educated himself about technical analysis, behavioural finance, coding, and currently creates and writes algorithmic trading systems for a hedge fund, whilst still trading for himself. This conversation covers a broad range of topics and themes about trading, markets, human behaviour, mindset.behavioural finance, performance, technical analysis, coding and systems, psychology, self-development and learning.  It is a veritable gold-mine of nuggets which will fascinate and enthral.AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

Greg Gossett, a seasoned retail trader with over 24 years of experience, shares vital trading insights and lessons learned throughout his journey. He discusses the importance of emotional control, position sizing, and patience as key elements for success. Greg passionately explains the power of reflection in decision-making. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as they explore the cognitive benefits of chewing gum in trading and sports, including its role in enhancing performance and focus. A truly enlightening dialogue filled with actionable wisdom!

This is the second part of the interview Mark and Steve conducted with retail trader JJ aka vwaptrader1.  In the first part of this interview JJ shared stories of his time as a Penny Stocks MarketMaker in a world immortalised in the movie ‘Wolf of Wall Street’. JJ talked about his rise and fall in that world and some of the scandalous behaviours and practices which were part of that world. He also detailed his move into retail trading, his initial struggles and the shock to the system being ‘on the other side’.  In the latter part of this interview, JJ goes far more into the soul of retail trading. He discusses the concept of tape reading and how this ancient art is still the skill which lies at the core of trading. This led to a more detailed talk with JJ opening up about what he learned about himself through trading and how it tested him by sparking the demons within.  This was a fascinating chat which moved towards discussions on personal psychology, ego, dealing with stress and anxiety, using practices to help you cope with this and the value of having a support network around you.  This chat will prove insightful and informative to traders at all levels who will recognise many of JJ’s own experiences and to new and novice retail traders keen to learn some of the potential pitfalls and challenges which they need to be aware of. AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

Former Penny Stocks Market-Maker, turned Retail Trader, Trader Educator and host of the superb ‘Confessions of a Market-Maker’ podcast JJ aka 'vwaptrader1' talks to Steven and Mark about his colourful career, his time as a stock manipulator, how he helped take companies private, his rise and fall, and his new career retail trading. JJ spent 2 decades working in the mad and crazy world of market-making in penny stocks which was immortalised in the classic film ‘Wolf of Wall Street’.In that time JJ came to accumulate the sort of wealth most people come into trading for, only to see it disappear just as easily. He then suffered the near-death experience of heart attack, followed by a triple heart-bypass. More recently JJ moved into the world of retail trading. His journey into this world was anything but smooth, and he soon found that his 20 decades in market-making was of relatively little value in the challenging world of retail trading. This interview is the first part of two interviews with JJ where he talks candidly about the world he inhabited, the people in it, and the challenges of making it as a retail trader.We discuss some of the learnings and insights he has made since becoming a retail trader, and about what he has learned from some of the great guests he has had on his show. We also discuss the MarketProfile tool and associated methods he uses to help him find value in the markets.AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

Mark and Steve talk with Australian Trader Chris Tate. Chris joined the markets in the 1980s forging a long and very successful career in the Financial Markets. Chris now works with some colleague in a business called ‘the Trading Game’ which focus on educating and training traders in the Psychology of Trading and Behavioural Finance. In this very in-depth interview, we explore a range of themes which at the core explore how people can bring the best of themselves to their work. At the beginning of the interview is an excerpt we have added-in which was part of our post-podcast chat that was not meant to feature in the interview. It was a fascinating and very frank exchange of views about some of the crooks inhabiting the industry and the challenge facing aspiring traders in terms of accessing quality and honest education. After that is the main podcast which explored include themes including ‘beginners’ luck’, developing a ‘growth mindset’, the challenge of using social media for a trader, working with mentors and the struggles of learning how to be a successful trader. This was a great interview which we are sure you will get a lot of value out of. AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

Merritt Black is Head of Proprietary Trading at US firm SMB futures. In this deep and very poignant interview, Merritt shares his reflections and thoughts on a wide array of themes and aspects about the realities of trading and the painful journey which can so often delight, but at times can also rip the very life from you.Merritt does not hold back, he bares his soul in this interview, bringing up painful memories which were vital steps on his journey to trading success.  This interview is so full of wisdom and insight for traders of all levels. New traders will learn so much which will inspire and support them, and will hear some of the harsh realities about trading which they must start to internalise and embrace if they are going to overcome the odds and succeed. Seasoned and experienced traders will resonate with much of what Merritt shares and can use this to contrast their own journeys in the on-going battle with self, ego and markets.Some of the themes which arise include: The battle with self, developing your edge, looking at your successes to find your own source code, how true and deep confidence arise, recovering from failures, unrealistic expectations and misconceptions that there is a linear formulaic approach. The random nature of markets, being self-aware, developing self whilst also making it less about yourself and more about the markets. The pain of trading, how low and worthless trading can make you feel, recovering from those lows and growing stronger.  You will be amazed at how much wisdom is shared in just 45 minutes. You may want to have a pen ready to take down notes, because you will learn things from this interview that will enable you to be wiser and smarter.  AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

In this podcast, we explore the purpose of the AlphaMind project, which aims to help people from across the Financial Markets both new and seasoned to develop and cultivate mindsets for success in their work as traders and investment professionals. We also share out thoughts on some of the amazing interviews we have conducted in recent weeks with the following masters of the markets. Mark Hutchinson -Trading Success against the odds: An FX trader and mentor who has found his own way to success in currency markets and has excelled against the odds.  Garth Friesen - Lesson from a Hedge Fund master: One of the world’s leading Hedge Fund managers, who oversees a $6 billion fund, shares his lessons for traders from over 20 years at the cutting edge of markets.  Adam Nash - 3 Decades of Adaption & Success: Adam is one of the few to traders to successfully adapt from the futures floor of the 90s to screen-based trading and then to continue to outperform in the modern world of the algoes.  Dr Brett Steenbarger - Trading & Spirituality: Brett Steenbarger, the world leading expert on trading psychology explores the human battle between self and ego. Brett also discusses his new free online book for traders; ‘Radical Renewal’.Clive Lambert - A Technical Analysis Master: Clive shares strong opinions about how many people misuse and abuse technical analysis and how this undermines their trading performance. Mandi Pour Rafsenjani – Developing Traders from the Inside & working with a Market Wizard: Trader and coach, Mandi discusses trader development, errors and mistakes, working with Linda Raschke, and women in trading. AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.