The Wall Street Skinny

Send us a textWe’re recording from New York City, fresh off one of the most surreal weeks of our lives — attending the Season 4 premiere of HBO’s Industry,  interviewing the cast and creators on the red carpet, and watching the episode in a packed theater alongside the people who made it.In this episode, we share what it was like to meet the writers and actors behind Industry, why this show has become our ultimate passion project, and how analyzing every line has changed the way we think about finance, literature, ambition, identity, and work. We talk about the warmth and generosity of the cast, the shock (and humor) of seeing the premiere with a live audience, and why Industry is so much more than a finance show.We also give first reactions to the Season 4 premiere, including early themes around power, betrayal, regulation, hedge funds, identity, and the cost of building something meaningful. From Harper’s evolution to Eric’s return, from fintech chaos to personal ambition, this episode sets the stage for what promises to be a huge season.This is a teaser episode — we’ll be dropping full, line-by-line breakdowns every week immediately after each episode airs, plus more interviews and behind-the-scenes conversations.Thank you for supporting this wild passion project. We’re just getting started.Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

Send us a textWe are recording LIVE from New York City, just hours before interviewing the cast and creators on the red carpet of the Season 4 premiere! And we're recapping what might just be the best television finale of all time...for a series that is NOWHERE near finished!In this episode, we find our characters in the aftermath of Al-Miraj's last minute rescue of Pierpoint, as they all come face to face with the consequences of their decisions. While Pierpoint the institution we came to know, love, and fear may no longer exist, has the "institution" writ large still survived intact? Has Yasmin transcended a life of material comfort and social status to take a flier on Robert and the proverbial lotto ticket of his startup venture? Or will she ultimately end up wedded to the same patriarchy that has abused her for as long as she can remember? And will Harper be able to find happiness at the helm of a hedge fund full of peers who respect and cherish one another? Or is she still the ruthless "psychopath" Eric threw to the wolves at the end of last season? Is there any room for generosity at all in the cutthroat world of high finance? Or is the idea of "infinite largesse" incompatible with the world we've built here? Get all caught up ahead of the Season 4 premiere, which we can't wait to share our initial thoughts on the moment the episode airs!Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

Send us a textWe started our careers at the epicenter of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008: the trading floor Lehman Brothers and the CDO Structuring desk at Morgan Stanley. And now, we get to watch our favorite characters reenacting all the drama of the Lehman bankruptcy through the lens of Industry.  We dissect the chaotic "war room" dynamics as executive leadership scrambles for a lifeline, debating the merits of a strategic capital injection from Mitsubishi (mirroring the real-life rescue of Morgan Stanley) versus a total buyout by Barclays (the ultimate fate of Lehman). We explain the critical financial concepts at play, including the mechanics of "good bank/bad bank" splits, dispelling common myths about how government "bailouts" actually worked, and the reality of liquidity crises where "too big to fail" meets "moral hazard."All of our characters' ambitions and come to a head as they jockey for power and profit with everything on the line. Who will emerge victorious from the boardroom coup? How did a financial error end up in the pitch deck? Who is stabbing whom in the back? And who will ultimately be our useful idiot?This is an exceptionally technical recap, and we explain topics like counterparty credit risk, employee stock options, insider trading, and converts...as well as a detailed blow by blow of the real events underlying one of Industry's all time best episodes!!!Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

Send us a textIn this episode, we see that friendship and loathing truly are two sides of the same coin. While everything is collapsing for Eric and Yasmin personally, professionally, and morally, Harper is finally ascending into her full power --- at both of their expense.We finally learn what really happened to Yasmin's dad, drawing uncomfortable parallels to chilling real-world headlines. And speaking of real-world headlines, Pierpoint's descent evokes the ghosts of Lehman Brothers and the 2008 global financial crisis. Harper's emergence as the architect of a potentially catastrophic short of the bank's stock shatters the fragile friendship between her and Yasmin. And Eric's failures to be a proper father figure to the "women in his life" help force the central question of the episode: are these characters in fact becoming the worst things they fear about themselves? Or were these monsters always lurking beneath the surface, waiting for their moment to strike?It isn't all steak and martinis...get caught up on your favorite show with us before Season 4 drops in January!Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

A public inquiry into a £2bn bailout reveals the dangers of institutional self-protection, with lawyers prioritizing firms over employees. Tension rises as a trading-floor risk model uncovers a collapsing IPO pipeline tied to risky ESG investments. Amidst this turmoil, fears of a Lehman-style fallout loom, stemming from Pierpoint's own misguided bets. Political maneuvering and personal tensions add layers to the narrative, while private credit concerns surface, hinting at larger systemic risks beyond traditional banking.

This discussion dives deep into the blurred lines between trading and gambling. Rishi's struggle with debts and addiction echoes the real-world chaos of the Liz Truss crisis. The hosts explore themes like class dynamics during a Christmas gathering and the impact of a collapsing IPO. As Rishi navigates a treacherous financial landscape, they question if trading is simply a game of luck. The title 'White Mischief' resonates with colonial themes, highlighting privilege and power in modern Britain. A riveting blend of personal drama and economic commentary unfolds!

Send us a textIn this episode we sit down with Liz Myers, Global Chair of Investment Banking and Capital Markets at J.P. Morgan for an Equity Capital Markets deep dive. We get into IPOs vs follow-ons, primary vs secondary proceeds (and why sponsor-backed IPOs often use proceeds differently), convertibles and the reality of price discovery. Liz breaks down the modern IPO process — from test-the-waters investor education to the order book build — and explains the newer concepts that didn’t exist until recently like cornerstone investors, why they matter, and how banks think about allocating “precious” shares to create the right long-term shareholder base. We also get into market timing (their internal “IPO dashboard”), what makes the window feel open vs shut, and why the market loves certainty more than anything.Liz Myers, Global Chair of Investment Banking and Capital Markets, J.P. MorganLiz Myers is Global Chair of Investment Banking and Capital Markets at J.P. Morgan, where she has worked for over 30 years. Prior to her current role, she served as Global Head of Equity Capital Markets where she led the team responsible for advising J.P. Morgan’s corporate clients on equity capital raising (IPOs, follow-ons and convertible issuance) in the Americas, Europe and Asia. She has been named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker magazine and one of Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance.Myers serves on the Executive Committee of Women on the Move at J.P. Morgan, which supports women employees and women-run businesses. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Princeton University and the Advisory Boards of the Bendheim Center for Finance at Princeton University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Myers is a National Board Member of the Posse Foundation, which expands the pool from which top universities can recruit young leaders. She is also a Board Member of New Yorkers for Children, a nonprofit with a focus on youth in foster care.Myers graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1992, with a major in Economics. She received an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1997.Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

Kristen and Jen dive deep into the intense bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery. They explore the peculiarities of Paramount’s $108 billion bid, highlighting its leveraged buyout nature and financing strategies. The discussion then shifts to the Fed’s recent rate cuts, emphasizing a significant transition in liquidity support and its historical context. Additionally, they discuss upcoming tax changes that could benefit charitable donations, making donor-advised funds particularly notable for high earners.

Send us a textJoin Morgan Stanley alums Jen and Kristen as we decode the finance behind Industry Season 3, Episode 3, "It" which takes place at the COP conference in Switzerland. We break down the aftermath of the IPO and why pressuring a research analyst for a buy rating isn't just frowned upon—it’s illegal. We also analyze the mechanics of Petra and Harper’s attempt to launch their non new ESG fund at a climate conference, and why Harper’s calling herself a former "trader" rather than a salesperson is was so interesting.This episode is also a hedge fund goldmine. We geek out on the famous "golden handcuffs" war between Chris Rocos and Alan Howard (Brevin Howard), explaining how non-competes actually work on the buy-side and what it takes to spin out and launch a rival fund. We also dissect the brilliant, layered writing around the COP climate conference, analyzing the show’s sharp critique of ESG hypocrisy and the difference between greenwashing vs. savvy investors actually making real moneyBeyond the finance, we dig into the psychological horror of the episode—from Eric’s glitter-covered spiral into a midlife crisis to the trauma-bonding between Yasmin and Henry Muck (Game of Thrones' Jon Snow). We discuss the reality of IPO lockup periods, the dynamics between banking / sales and trading and research. Jen also gets to put that Princeton English degree to work helping us explore the literary references to King Lear and Leviathan that foreshadow the power struggle between Harper, Petra, and Otto Mostyn.Finally, we debate the double meaning of the episode title "It"—is it a reference to Stephen King horror, or simply who has the "It factor" to survive on Wall Street?Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

Send us a textSarah Kapnick literally trained under John Nash at Princeton, went from structuring catastrophe bonds at Goldman during Hurricane Katrina, to serving as Chief Scientist at NOAA, and is now Global Head of Climate Advisory at JPMorgan. She’s part mathematician, part climate scientist, part Wall Street insider – and the godmother of The Wall Street Skinny, the person who first convinced Jen to go into finance. This interview has been two and a half years in the making, and it’s easily one of the most full-circle, “how is this one person real?” conversations we’ve ever had.We get into the math of predicting the future: how fluid dynamics and game theory show up in Black-Scholes, what “1-in-100 year events” actually mean over a 30-year mortgage, and why climate risk isn’t a political side quest but a massive driver of returns, insurance pricing, and portfolio construction. Sarah explains cat bonds in plain English, walks through physical vs. transition risk, and connects wildfires, hurricanes, nuclear, fusion, and geothermal to the way capital is being allocated right now. If you care about making or losing money over the next few decades, this is not optional listening.We also talk mentorship, careers, and what it looks like to build a non-linear, insanely high-impact path across science, government, and Wall Street while raising a young family. Sarah shares how she decides when to leave a prestigious job, what she tells the next generation of math and science nerds curious about finance, and how she translates hardcore climate science for CEOs, investors, and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Even if you think “climate isn’t for me,” this episode will change how you think about risk, opportunity, and the future.Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.