

Absolute Return Podcast
Accelerate Financial Technologies Inc.
Your source for stock market analysis, global macro musings and hedge fund investment strategies. Hosts Julian Klymochko and Michael Kesslering aim to bring you the knowledge and analysis you need to become a more intelligent and wealthier investor
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 3, 2025 • 33min
#260 - VC Investing in Emerging Markets with Beyond Capital Ventures’ Eva Yazhari
On today’s show we welcome special guest, Eva Yazhari, the General Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, a women-led impact venture capital firm. On the show, we discuss:
The compelling opportunity for early stage investing in Africa and India
How venture capital differs in emerging markets
What she looks for when investing in a startup
And more

Aug 26, 2025 • 39min
#259 - IPO and Digital Asset Market Trends with Cohen's Head of SPAC Investment Banking, Brandon Sun and Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets, Christian Lopez
On today’s show, we welcome special guests, Brandon Sun, Cohen’s Managing Director and Head of SPAC Investment Banking, and Christian Lopez, Cohen’s Managing Director and Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets. Cohen is a full-service boutique investment bank focused on advising leading and emerging companies across sectors to address their strategic and financial opportunities. On the show, we discuss:
Dynamics driving the momentum in the IPO market
Trends in digital asset capital formation and crypto treasury companies
The evolution of digital assets within the capital markets
What investors can expect for the back half of the year
And more

Jul 21, 2025 • 42min
#258 - Bitcoin as a Core Treasury Asset with ReserveOne’s Jaime Leverton and Sebastian Bea
On today’s show we welcome special guests, ReserveOne’s CEO Jaime Leverton and President Sebastian Bea. ReserveOne is a newly formed, first-of-its-kind digital asset management firm inspired by the proposed U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile. On the show, we discuss:
Their “bitcoin moment” and what initially got them interested in crypto
ReserveOne’s digital asset investment strategy
How ReserveOne differentiates itself from other crypto treasury companies
Reasons why an investor would choose a crypto treasury company over an ETF or holding crypto directly
And more!

Jul 7, 2025 • 39min
#257 - Crypto Treasury Companies with Upexi’s CSO Brian Rudick and Meteora’s CIO Vik Mittal
On today’s show we welcome special guests, Upexi’s Chief Strategy Officer, Brian Rudick and Meteora Capital’s Chief Investment Officer, Vik Mittal. Brian and Vik have been involved in the creation of crypto treasury companies and are experts in the space. Upexi is a Solana Treasury Company. On the show, we discuss:
What is a crypto treasury company and how do they create value long term?
Why should investors buy a crypto treasury company instead of buying the crypto themselves or through an ETF?
How are SPACs and RTOs involved in this dynamic?
How has the regulatory environment changed in the U.S. around digital assets?
And more!

Jul 1, 2025 • 41min
#256 - Quant Investing in Digital Assets with Starkiller Capital CIO Leigh Drogen
On today’s show we welcome special guest, CIO of Starkiller Capital, Leigh Drogen. Starkiller Capital is an institutional investment firm applying quantitative data-driven strategies to blockchain based digital assets. On the show we discuss:
Core tenets of their approach to crypto investing
Trend following and yield farming in crypto
Their approach to risk management
His top emerging trends in the digital asset space to have on your radar
And more!

Apr 2, 2025 • 31min
#255 - Trends in Private Credit with Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund's President Michael Occi
On today’s show we welcome special guest, Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund's President Michael Occi. Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) seeks to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns by investing primarily in directly originated senior secured loans issued by U.S. middle market companies. On the show, we discuss:
Why investors should consider an allocation to private credit
What explains the significant market share growth of private credit in financing buyouts
MSDL’s defensive approach to lending, with a focus on first lien loans
His thoughts on the current market environment for private credit loans
And more

Dec 5, 2024 • 31min
#254 - Gold Investing with American Gold Exchange President Dana Samuelson
On today’s show we welcome special guest, American Gold Exchange President, Dana Samuelson. American Gold Exchange is a leading national precious metals and rare coin company specializing in dealer-to-dealer trading and direct sales. On the show, we discuss:
Why investors should own gold as an investment
If Trump’s election effects the bull case for gold
Whether investors should prefer gold over bitcoin
Risks and reward of owning physical gold
And more

Nov 18, 2024 • 31min
#253 - The Nuclear Revolution with Mirion Technologies CEO Tom Logan
On today’s show we welcome special guest, Mirion Technologies CEO Tom Logan. Mirion designs, manufactures, and provides radiation detection, measurement, analysis and monitoring products to the nuclear power and medical markets. On the show, we discuss:
The path from private equity ownership to the public markets
The macro bull case for the nuclear industry
Mirion’s approach to mergers and acquisitions
His learnings as a long-tenured CEO
And more

Oct 22, 2024 • 50min
#252 - State of the Markets: Navigating Q4 and Beyond
On today’s show, listen to Julian and Mike have a live discussion on the State of the Markets: Navigating Q4 and Beyond.
On the show, we discuss:
The opportunities within global equities, including the sector we are most bullish on
Why investors should stay away from fixed income and which investments allocators should use for yield
The outlook for mergers and acquisitions along with a potential positive catalyst
Why gold is a must own asset and may outperform bitcoin
And more
A point of disclosure, Accelerate funds may have long or short positions in the securities discussed in this episode.

Oct 10, 2024 • 30min
#251 - A Systematic Approach to Crypto Investing with Martin Green of Cambrian Asset Management
On today’s show we welcome special guest, the co-CIO of Cambrian Asset Management, Martin Green. Cambrian is a quantitative investment firm for digital assets. On the show, we discuss:
Cambrian’s approach to crypto investing and how it is differentiated
Navigating crypto’s volatility and macro events including the FTX bankruptcy
Keys to success and staying power in the digital asset space
And more