It’s Boxes and Lines Lite, where we break down the biggest market stories in just 10–15 minutes. This time, we’re tackling the DeepSeek disruption—the surprise AI breakthrough out of China that sent Nvidia’s stock plunging, erased $600 billion in market value, and wiped nearly $100 billion from tech billionaires’ fortunes. Ronan and JR break down why markets reacted so dramatically, how DeepSeek’s low-cost, high-performance AI models are shaking up the industry, and whether this is just another dot-com-style overreaction or a real shift in the AI arms race. 

 Dave Nadig, veteran ETF expert and self-styled “financial futurist,” returns to Boxes and Lines to look into his crystal ball and let Ronan and JR know what he sees in the cards for finance in 2025. First things first: It’s going to be a deeply weird year, Nadig predicts (there’s a reason why a telepathy podcast recently topped the charts over Joe Rogan). Beyond that, Nadig predicts we are about to enter a “corpostate,” batten down the hatches of “fortress America”  with tariffs galore and see the dawn of “Private Markets for Grandma.” He unpacked what all this means and more with the guys on our first episode of the year.

In this special episode of Boxes and Lines, Ronan and JR are answering your questions. We’re airing listener voicemails and emails, taking on everything from the future of the SEC under new leadership to the feasibility of 24-hour trading. Along the way, we brainstorm replacements for Wall Street’s iconic bull, assemble the ultimate finance industry dinner guest list, and see right through a "mystery caller’s" thinly disguised voice. Tune in for lots of insights and enough banter to keep you questioning how this podcast ever won an award. Plus, find out how you can send us your questions for a chance to be featured on a future episode.

In this episode of Boxes and Lines, Ronan and JR sit down with Rusa Goletiani, a chess champion turned FX trader at BlackRock. Rusa shares her incredible journey from learning chess as a young girl in Georgia (the country, not the state!) to fleeing her war-torn homeland with nothing but her beloved chess notebook in the early ‘90s. Hear how chess helped her escape and thrive, how it influenced her career in finance, and why she believes decision-making under pressure is the secret cause for both chess and trading. Plus, you’ll get Rusa’s thoughts on her favorite pre-game rituals, and how she coaches the next generation of players, especially girls.

AI could change how businesses operate forever – but do executives truly understand how to harness its power and uncover patterns in their data? Former KX Managing Director Conor Twomey stops by to discuss how his new venture, AI1, will help businesses make the right AI investments to capitalize on the technology. Conor also covers the finer points of building an AI prompt, what’s really going on behind “hallucinations,” and what the Christopher Nolan masterpiece “The Prestige” says about the AI revolution.

In this special episode of Boxes and Lines, we’re switching things up. Guest host Jayme Abrahamsen from IEX’s business development team takes over the mic to chat with Patrice Meagher, founder of MilkMate. Patrice shares the story behind MilkMate , a company dedicated to providing solutions for nursing mothers in the workplace. Tune in as Jayme and Patrice take a closer look at how industries like finance—often male-dominated—can benefit from adopting more inclusive parental support policies.

Emil Framnes, the Global Head of Equity Trading and Transition at Norges Bank Investment Management, discusses how Norway's sovereign wealth fund, valued at $1.7 trillion, manages investments across 40 countries. He dives into the intricacies of market structure, the importance of risk management, and the trade-offs of liquidity in European versus U.S. exchanges. In a lighter moment, Emil playfully agrees that chocolate could serve as currency, showcasing the fun side of finance amidst serious investment strategies.

This week, JR, a former SEC insider, joins Ronan to dissect the world of penny stocks. They delve into why these low-priced stocks are notorious for being both risky and misleading. JR shares his insider perspective on the recent surge of penny stocks and the regulatory challenges that have arisen. The discussion highlights Virtu's recommendations for stricter regulations, focusing on insider dilution and market manipulation. Tune in for an engaging chat that uncovers the complexities of these tiny tickers!

JR and Ronan interview IEX interns Annie, Shay, Alex, and Rory from our class of Summer 2024 with a twist: the interns are also asking some questions. As the co-hosts get in the hot seat, we hear what kept Ronan and JR up at night early in their careers, as well as their advice for the interns as these budding pros build their career paths.

In this episode of Boxes and Lines, we’re joined by Patrick Young, trader, media pundit and author of late nineties fintech harbinger "Capital Market Revolution." Two decades after predicting the digitization of finance, Patrick reflects on how his forecasts have played out and what he got right, wrong, and how his lateral thinking has been both a blessing and a curse. Ronan and JR get his thoughts on AI handwringing, comparing it to the Y2K fears of the past, and explore how today’s technological anxieties and millennial solipsism might shape tomorrow’s markets. Patrick also shares insights from his daily newsletter, Exchange Invest, where he delivers a cheeky take on the latest in market infrastructure. Hit play and look for Patrick the next time you’re watching House Hunters International.