The Option Block

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The Option Block All-Star Panel breaks down the latest developments in the options market, analyzes unusual options activity, explains cutting-edge options strategies, answers listener questions and much more. Whether you're an active options trader or just getting started in the options market, The Option Block will keep you informed and entertained.

5 HR AGO

The Option Block 1434: 2026 Kickoff Plus a New Champ is Crowned

The 2026 trading year is officially underway! Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi gather for the first full trading week of the year to break down a massive 2025 and look ahead to the new market landscape. In This Episode: The 2025 Trivia Champion Revealed: After a grueling year of 1980s Trivial Pursuit, we finally crown the winner of the 2025 Trivia Challenge. Who took home the title between Uncle Mike, The Rock Lobster, and previous guest Dan Passarelli? The Trading Block: A robust start to 2026! The team analyzes the S&P 500's push toward all-time highs, the sudden surge in Financials (XLF) and Energy (XLE), and why Big Tech (Apple and Nvidia) is showing some early-year weakness. Record-Breaking Volume: We dive into the final 2025 numbers from the OCC. With over 15.26 billion contracts traded last year, we discuss what this explosive growth means for retail traders. The Odd Block: Unusual activity returns with a deep dive into Peloton (PTON) and a massive January 2027 call trade, plus some aggressive short-term upside speculation in Enovix Corp (ENVX). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike explains the "Time Non-Linear Time Decay Differential" and why calendar or diagonal spreads might be your best bet if you expect volatility to rise from these lows. Around the Block: Predictions for the year ahead, the impact of geopolitical headlines on the energy sector, and a look at the upcoming VIX expiration. Get More Options Insider: Pro Analysis: theoptionsinsider.com/pro The Network: Search "Options Insider Radio Network" on your favorite podcast app. TastyTrade: Visit tastytrade.com/podcasts to see why they were named the Best Broker for Options in 2024.

1h 1m
29/12/2025

The Option Block 1433: 2025 Was a Wild Year for Options and Volatility

In this year-end finale, the All-Star panel gathers for a definitive look back at a historic 2025. From the "Tariff Tantrum" of April that sent the VIX screaming to 60, to the S&P 500 hitting all-time highs on Christmas Eve, Mark Longo and Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management break down the trends, the traps, and the massive volume records that redefined the options market this year. Plus, a solo trivia battle for the ages and a deep dive into why 2025 was truly the "Year of the Collar." Episode Highlights The Trading Block: A comprehensive 2025 post-mortem. The panel discusses the S&P's 1,000-point climb, the volatility spikes that caught traders off guard, and why hedged equity strategies became the essential tool for navigating the year's "madness." The 15 Billion Milestone: Mark breaks down the staggering 15,000,000,000 contracts traded in 2025—a 3x explosion since 2019—highlighting October 10th as the single busiest trading day in history. The Metals Mania: Uncle Mike reflects on Silver ($SLV) becoming the "meme stock of precious metals" and explains why he's finally fading the shiny stuff after a 50% gold rally. Odd Block: Reviewing the best "rolls of the bones" from the year, including activity in Bath & Body Works ($BBWI), steel rebar bets in Commercial Metals ($CMC), and e-commerce plays in VIP Shop ($VIPS). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike invokes "Miller Time"—explaining why the smartest move for the final week of the year is to "take the money and run" to get some much-needed rest before 2026 kicks off. Trivia Challenge: Uncle Mike faces off in a solo quest to defend his crown while the Rock Lobster remains MIA on vacation. Resources & Links Options Insider Pro: Join the community for exclusive live streams and Q&As at theoptionsinsider.com/pro . Broker Spotlight: Find out why Investopedia named Tastytrade the Best Broker for Options in 2024: tastytrade.com/podcasts . Follow the Network: Search "Options Insider Radio Network" on your favorite podcast platform.

58 min
22/12/2025

The Option Block 1432: Canada Hates Hockey...IRBT Demise and More

The Option Block: Holiday Havoc, iRobot Reversals, and Year-End RMDs The All-Star Panel is back to wrap up the year! Host Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and The Rock Lobster Andrew Giovinazzi dive into a festive but frantic market to break down the latest unusual activity and essential year-end strategies. The Trading Block: Market Sentiment: How the holiday season is warping typical market movements and what to expect from the "Santa Claus Rally." Unusual Activity in iRobot ($IRBT): Breaking down the latest heavy flow in the robotics space. Gap ($GPS) Check-in: Analyzing the recent retail trades as the year comes to a close. The Strategy Block: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): Uncle Mike breaks down the critical deadlines and pitfalls for traditional IRAs. Don't let the IRS take a bigger cut than necessary. Holiday Trading Hours: Insights on the best (and worst) times to put on trades when liquidity is thin. Around the Block: Favorite Christmas Movies: The team debates the holiday greats. Is A Christmas Story still the king, or does Elf take the crown? Plus, thoughts on the stop-motion nostalgia of Rudolph. Check out more from The Options Insider: TheOptionsInsider.com Follow us on Twitter: @Options

1h 1m
18/12/2025

The Option Block 1431: Silver Thieves, Options Records and Suspicious DJT Trades

The Option Block: Silver Thieves, Options Records & Suspicious DJT Trades The All-Star Panel convenes for the final Thursday of 2025! Host Mark Longo is joined by Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz (Cboe) and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) to break down a wild year-end session. The Trading Block The 15 Billion Milestone: Henry Schwartz predicts when the 15,000,000,000th options contract of 2025 will trade. Silver's Historic Run: Mike Tosaw discusses the "thief in the night" move in SLV as it hits new highs, and why he's finally fading the metal. Market Rotation: A look at the aggressive move back into tech (XLK, Micron, Palantir) following cooler CPI data. The Odd Block DJT "Skullduggery": We analyze suspicious call buying in DJT (Trump Media) immediately preceding a 40% jump on fusion merger news. Leslie's Inc (LESL): Why is someone grabbing thousands of calls in a stock that has dropped 95% this year? Ticker Autopsy: A look back at the failed $210k bet on IPA (now HYFT).

1 hr
15/12/2025

The Option Block 1430: Greedy Pigs of VIX Puts & The Sultans of Options Trading

Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management), and Andrew 'The Rock Lobster' Giovinazzi (The Option Pit) break down the final full trading week of 2025. This high-stakes episode covers the shocking conclusion to the '80s Trivia Challenge, explosive VIX and index flow, and a crucial year-end Tax Strategy discussion. The '80s Trivia Challenge: A Consequential Loss The dramatic conclusion of the year-long contest: Uncle Mike vs. The Rock Lobster. The hosts sweat it out in a high-pressure round of Sports & Leisure trivia. Find out who claims the point and if the "Chicago Politics" conspiracy theories hold up! The Trading Block: End-of-Year Market Breakdown The VIX Cash index is rallying off recent lows. Is this December different from years past? The Rock Lobster confesses his VIX Puts strategy was his "worst product" of the year due to being a "Greedy Pig" and not monetizing the downside swings. The panel also looks at key single-name movers like Apple (AAPL), Broadcom (AVGO), and a roaring Tesla (TSLA). Hot Options Report: VIX Puts & SPY Zero Day Flow Detailed analysis of today's hottest option: The dirt-cheap Dec 15th VIX Puts for $0.04. Plus, a look at the massive flow in SPY (SPY) and SPX (SPX) index options, confirming the zero-day trend, alongside surprising upside action in the QQQ (QQQ) Calls. Strategy Block: Crucial Year-End Tax Planning Uncle Mike provides essential guidance on year-end tax strategies. He details how to use Tax Loss Harvesting to offset gains and reminds traders about the Wash Sale rules. A must-listen segment covers the Mark-to-Market rule for 1256 Contracts (like SPX options) before the December 31st deadline. Around the Block: Silver (SLV) Poll & All-Time Highs The team forecasts whether Silver (SLV) can continue its historic run into 2026. Plus, predictions on if the SPX can hit new All-Time Highs before the new year.

56 min
11/12/2025

The Option Block 1429: Mag 10, Oracle's Plunge Post-Fed and the Santa Rally

On this crucial post-Fed episode, hosts Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Henry 'The Flowmaster' Schwartz (Cboe) deliver expert options trading analysis and strategy. The team breaks down the dramatic Oracle (ORCL) plunge, the latest VIX and index (SPX, SPY, QQQ) volatility, and Henry Schwartz's insights into unusual options flow. Plus, a deep dive into the newly launched Cboe MAG 10 index options and market predictions for the highly anticipated Santa Claus Rally. The hosts also investigate unexpected options activity in names like Sentinel One (S), Rocket Labs (RKLB), and Honda Motor Corp (HMC). Tune in for essential year-end market strategy!

1h 2m
08/12/2025

The Option Block 1428: Battling Twitter Goons while Hunting Polymetallic Nodules

Today, The Option Block dives into the most important topics for active traders: options trading strategies and detailed market analysis. Host Mark Longo, joined by co-hosts Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Option Pit), focuses on VIX trends and how to profit from a changing volatility landscape. We break down the anticipation for the upcoming Federal Reserve announcements and provide key insights into their potential impact on the options market. Plus, get an in-depth analysis of unusual options activity in stocks like Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) and TMC. Market Analysis: Intricate trends in the VIX and strategies for dealing with general market volatility. Trade Breakdown: Unusual activity in WBD and TMC options flow. Upcoming Earnings: Key insights and options trading strategies for major reports from Oracle and Broadcom. Forward Look: A final roundtable on what to watch for in the trading days ahead, especially concerning Fed decisions. Don't miss this essential guide to navigating the current options market landscape.

56 min
05/12/2025

The Option Block 1427: META Pain and Werewolf Parties

In this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo (The Options Insider Media Group) and our expert panel deliver a crucial breakdown of the current options market trends. We dive deep into analyzing unusual options activity, dissecting key index volumes across VIX, SPX, IWM, and QQQ. Our discussion features insights from Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Henry Schwartz (Cboe Global Markets). We cover volatility signals and the explosive growth of binary and prediction markets, debating their future on major exchanges. Plus, we get an exclusive look at new CBOE products and market events. Don't miss our detailed options analysis on individual stocks, including Meta, Gap, United States Antimony Corp, and Intuitive Machines Inc. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps & Key Topics 02:15 | Market Sentiment & VIX Activity Analysis 08:40 | Index Options Volume Breakdown (SPX, IWM, QQQ) 14:55 | Individual Stock Deep Dive: Meta, Gap, United States Antimony Corp, Intuitive Machines Inc. 23:10 | The Binary Markets Debate: Should they be listed on everything? 32:00 | Focus on New CBOE Products and Upcoming Market Events 🔗 Connect & Subscribe Follow The Option Block for weekly options trading insights!

59 min

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The Option Block All-Star Panel breaks down the latest developments in the options market, analyzes unusual options activity, explains cutting-edge options strategies, answers listener questions and much more. Whether you're an active options trader or just getting started in the options market, The Option Block will keep you informed and entertained.