The ACID Capitalist Podcast

Send us a textWelcome backThe breeze is talking again. The sea too, whispering something older than the market, more enduring than yield curves. This episode was recorded beneath Saharan skies on the island of St. Barts, during Acid Capitalist Summer Camp 2.0. But what is a camp if not a gathering of searchers. A pause in the trade winds to ask the old questions.I was met by a journalist. Young, wide-eyed, barefoot. She carried a pencil and the memory of a mixtape. She asked me to speak of fear, folly, volatility and love. I answered not with answers but with exhalation. We spoke of exile, of turtles, of the dull ache of markets remembered and misremembered.Just like Johnny Rotten sang, "This is Not a Love Song", in 1983, this is not an investment interview, more a moment.The market is a hallucination. It's also a mirror. I once managed billions. Today, I manage time. There's something here, in this place, that bends the arc of memory. You come to St. Barts to heal, or to vanish. Perhaps both.There is no grand thesis. Only a few half-remembered charts, a Rolling Stones lyric, and the suspicion that finance was never about spreadsheets but about stories.This episode is a love letter. To serendipity. To misfits. To the exquisite loneliness of being early.Draw close to the speaker. Tilt your face toward the trade winds. Pour something cold and forget, for a moment, the noise.The tape begins...Hugh HendryThe Acid CapitalistSupport the show⬇️ Subscribe on Patreon or Substack for full episodes ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/HughHendryhttps://hughhendry.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/hughhendryofficialhttps://blancbleustbarts.comhttps://www.instagram.com/blancbleuofficial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a five star review and comment on Apple Podcasts!🧢 Hats & Merch 📸 Instagram 🐦 Twitter / X📩 Substack👂Listen and 🔥 Subscribe📺 YouTube🎧 ...

Dive into the wild world of Wall Street in 2006, where extravagant parties and outrageous antics ruled the day. Meet Scotty, the last Scotsman, as he hilariously struggles with booze and the chaos around him. Discover the wild attempt to cover the smell of strippers with gasoline and the absurdity of mixing hedonism with high finance. Relive unforgettable nights and memorable characters in a landscape where decorum goes up in smoke. It's a madcap journey through a whimsical and reckless financial era.

Derek Wallis, Head of Equity Execution at Soros Fund Management, shares his thrilling journey through the chaotic world of Wall Street. He recounts a hair-raising moment when he had to inform Stan Druckenmiller about a billion-dollar mistake. Wallis paints a vivid picture of trading sharks like George Soros, whose market instincts are almost otherworldly. The conversation explores the evolution of trading practices leading up to the 2007 financial crisis and offers insights on risk management for personal investing. It's a wild ride through finance!

Send us a textIn this episode of The Acid Capitalist, Hugh Hendry dives into the volatile world of FinTech, analyzing Wise and its market positioning compared to giants like PayPal. He shares insights from an encounter with a young, die-hard value investor, dissecting the risks of stock-picking in a sector riddled with landmines.Are FinTech disruptors truly innovative, or are they just banks in disguise riding the interest rate wave? Hugh breaks down the hidden risks of cash transfer companies, the role of interest income, and why pricing wars could push margins to zero. With PayPal’s stock crumbling and Wise at an all-time high, is this the next big breakout or a ticking time bomb?Join Hugh as he takes a contrarian look at the forces shaping FinTechs, from the battle for profitability to the long-term sustainability. Support the show⬇️ Subscribe on Patreon or Substack for full episodes ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/HughHendryhttps://hughhendry.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/hughhendryofficialhttps://blancbleustbarts.comhttps://www.instagram.com/blancbleuofficial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a five star review and comment on Apple Podcasts!🧢 Hats & Merch 📸 Instagram 🐦 Twitter / X📩 Substack👂Listen and 🔥 Subscribe📺 YouTube🎧 ...

Send us a textWelcome to a Christmas like no other, where I wrestle with the absurdities of modern finance and the strange beauty of human existence. From the quiet shores of St. Bart's, and it’s a quiet one for sure, Christmas morning and i’m about to post this to you all. There’s a cool macro economic essay in there somewhere. I wanted to get something, anything out there for this holiday season; I hope you can forgive the heavy breathing…This is a meditation on what it means to live in a world where financial systems are warped mirrors of reality. Why does the U.S. economy continue to thrive against the odds? What does it mean when a stock doubles in a month, only to face existential doubt the next? Are we all, prisoners of a system that was never truly rational to begin with?I reflect on moments from my own career, like the time I wagered against the optimism of Nokia in 1999 or found myself apologizing to a Carphone Warehouse magnate, my words echoing through the Mayfair offices as traders placed bets on how many times I’d say “sorry.” But this episode is mostly about life. About finding meaning in the noise, about letting go of the need for answers, and embracing the simple act of questioning.  So, as 2024 fades into memory, join me in this moment of quiet reflection. Let’s step away from the screens, the data, the endless rush to predict the unpredictable. Let’s sit with the questions, about markets, about ourselves, and see what they reveal.Because, as I sit here on a stunning Christmas day, staring at the endless blue of the Caribbean Sea, I'm reminded, that you and me, we don't have all the answers. But we've got really good questions. What happens when the Chinese stop buying US risk capital? Does the global stock market music stop?These are THE questions for today. But they're questions worth holding onto as we head into the new year. Answers that will reveal themselves when they're good and damned ready to reveal.So, Good luck, my brothers and sisters.The spirituality of curiosity.I leave it for you to decide.HughSupport the show⬇️ Subscribe on Patreon or Substack for full episodes ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/HughHendryhttps://hughhendry.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/hughhendryofficialhttps://blancbleustbarts.comhttps://www.instagram.com/blancbleuofficial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a five star review and comment on Apple Podcasts!🧢 Hats & Merch 📸 Instagram 🐦 Twitter / X📩 Substack👂Listen and 🔥 Subscribe📺 YouTube🎧 ...

Dive into the unpredictable world of markets while soaking up the sun in St. Barts. Explore how Tesla's rise and Bitcoin's potential tackle the anxiety behind financial trends. Enjoy an absurd tale of a West Hollywood encounter that hilariously parallels market volatility, revealing the unpredictability of life itself. Gain insight on the importance of staying prepared amid economic shifts and discover a moment of mindfulness that angles for clarity among chaos. It's a wild ride of laughter, insight, and engaging tales!

Dive into a wild exploration of today's financial markets and the whimsicality of life. A childhood anecdote about an imaginary kangaroo highlights early lessons in contrarian thinking. The discussion shuffles through market dynamics, examining the rise of stocks like Nvidia and the madness behind MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy. Parallels to the roaring '20s spark insightful reflections on economic trends. Topping it off, a moment of mindfulness encourages listeners to embrace inner peace amidst the market chaos.

Dive into a raw journey of rebellion against life's monotony, drawn from a backdrop of urban gloom. Music emerges as a lifeline, breathing color into dark times. Explore the intertwining of freedom and solitude, inspired by the philosophy of Camus. Discover how creativity flourishes in rebellion, challenging societal norms. Zen metaphors guide us to embrace uncertainty in life and markets. Delve into the concept of 'acid capitalism' to uncover new investment opportunities within chaos.

Dive into the fascinating world of investment psychology through the metaphor of the tunicate, a creature that sacrifices its brain for a sedentary existence. Discover how complacency can spell disaster for investors, especially in volatile markets. The discussion juxtaposes meme stock behaviors with this marine life, stirring both admiration and caution. Plus, enjoy a guided meditation that promotes breath awareness, helping listeners reconnect with their senses and prepare for challenges ahead.

Send us a textMacro Meditation #2Wow. Did you enjoy the Complexity episode? I went full zen on you. Deep breathing, tapping into the god-like forces within. Sounds crazy, right? Except it’s not. You are the god. The universe doesn’t revolve around some external queen bee or king. Nope, it’s you. But modern society? It’s been locking that realization away for centuries, creating gatekeepers, the constant buzz of traffic on the mental highway that runs through your mind. The incessant voices that keep you hustling, second-guessing, never questioning the system. That’s why I lean into serendipity and synchronicity. I’ve found creative rebirth through breathing, through breaking on through to the other side. It’s about reconnecting to the magic kingdom within. Forget the false gods of Wall Street, religion or the carnival of politics. I don’t care who won the election, both sides are just the hapless lions in The Wizard of Oz, prowling around, but without the courage to challenge the status quo.Speaking of which, let’s talk markets. Did you know the S&P has gone up nearly 60-fold since 1980? Fortunes have been made by the money changers, the witches of the east, Wall Street Barrons. Asset prices have soared on the back of globally suppressed labour costs and perpetually low rates. But for the average Joe? Stagnation. Real wages flatlined decades ago, communities frayed. And yet, we cheer every tick higher on the stock index, oblivious to the cost.I want you to be courageous my curious mind warriors. To have the kind of courage that questions, that disrupts. The kind of courage you find when you strip away the noise, quiet the mind, and breathe deeply. So, as I close out this meditation, let me remind you: it’s okay to be a little crazy. Embrace the complexity. Be curious. Be bold. And most importantly, keep being acid capitalists. HughSupport the show⬇️ Subscribe on Patreon or Substack for full episodes ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/HughHendryhttps://hughhendry.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/hughhendryofficialhttps://blancbleustbarts.comhttps://www.instagram.com/blancbleuofficial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a five star review and comment on Apple Podcasts!🧢 Hats & Merch 📸 Instagram 🐦 Twitter / X📩 Substack👂Listen and 🔥 Subscribe📺 YouTube🎧 ...