Kontrarian Korner

Ben Kelleran
  • 4.4 (16)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Conversations on Investments, Finance, Macroeconomics, and Current Events https://www.kontrariankorner.com www.kontrariankorner.com

  1. Kontrarian Korner #88 - Moritz Bierling

    1D AGO

    Kontrarian Korner #88 - Moritz Bierling

    Yesterday I had Moritz Bierling on the podcast for the first time. We talked about the competing elite factions, how the conflict between the US and the British Empire has evolved, and where the world will go from here. He also got into the importance of having a positive vision for the system that should be built, and several other civilizational and cultural topics that are top of mind for anyone paying attention to the rapid changes that have been happening since 2020. It was a great conversation for anyone interested in the high level view for where the West is headed over the next couple decades. You can find Moritz on his website, Modern Minuteman, and on Twitter. Podcast Summary * The different groups in the upper class, and how they are distinct and what incentives they have. * The competing elite factions, and the different groups in the US and Europe. * How the remnants of the British Empire have used soft power and influence after WWII. * Why the right wing has to develop a positive view of what should replace the current system. * How the conflict between the US and Britain has changed since the Revolution. * The deterioration across the West after WWII, and how losing a huge portion of that generation’s men in the war has had ripple effects that we feel today. * Why it’s important for people to understand the history and the cultural and legal foundations of their civilization. * The problems with the legal system, and how people should examine the local court system to see where some of the problems are in their area. * How 2020 and COVID is the dividing line from the before times, and how the Overton Window has been shifting rapidly in recent years. * Elon Musk, the connections between the technology companies and the existing power structure, and how he has the potential to be the first of this generation’s robber barons. * Book Recommendation: Tribal Future Of The West by Mike Maxwell. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    1h 14m
  2. Kontrarian Korner #87 - Craig Tindale

    MAR 4

    Kontrarian Korner #87 - Craig Tindale

    Yesterday I had Craig Tindale on the podcast for the first time. For anyone interested in commodity and physical supply chains, it’s a must listen. We dove into the recent events in Iran and their impact on supply chains (not just for energy), and how insurance plays a role in global shipping markets. We also talked about China’s Unrestricted Warfare approach to global commodity supply chains and refining, and what the US needs to do to catch up. Then we spent some time on bottlenecks for the AI and data center buildout, and which commodities investors should keep an eye on with everything going on. You can find Craig on Twitter, and his Substack is below. Podcast Summary * The recent events in Iran, the impact on global supply chains, and how the Strait of Hormuz is kind of the jugular vein of the global trade system. * How the global trade system has gotten more complex over the last several decades, and where that leaves us with the West trying to decouple some of these systems from China. * The shipping insurance industry and the US DFC plans to step in to insure ships traveling through the Strait. * The massive copper demand for building data centers and transmission lines, and the bottlenecks in the West for copper production and the smelting/refining capacity. * How the Chinese have used economic warfare to take control of several important supply chains over the last couple decades, and how that has hollowed out industrial capacity across the West. * How the economic models we currently use can be improved and connected to the real economy. * The AI CAPEX boom, and how the companies involved don’t know if they will see a return on that investment over the next five years. * How Nvidia could run into issues with their new chips as far as deployment and the supply chains for the metal inputs. * Why he’s watching silver, and how you could have a hierarchy of demand with what price different customers are willing to pay. * How Western commodity markets evolved as paper and derivative markets, while the Chinese markets are designed for physical delivery. * Some of the different applications for rare earths, and how the US could address the bottlenecks we currently face. * How the financial economy is extractive of the material economy, and why the material economy is way more important than the financial economy. * Book Recommendation: Secret of the Veda by Sri Aurobindo. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    1h 6m

  3. MAR 1

    Andina Copper Deep Dive w/ Jordan Webster

    Yesterday I had Jordan Webster (Geólogo Trader 🇦🇺) on the podcast for the first time to discuss Andina Copper, where he is VP of Technical Communications. He has a background as a geologist in Australia before moving to Argentina several years ago. We got into each of the company’s assets and the exploration plans they have, along with some of the recent drill results and assays that are pending. We also talked about the recent financing that was upsized. You can find Jordan’s Substack below, but he’s also worth a follow on Twitter. The podcast will be available to everyone on Sunday morning. Podcast Summary * How Jordan ended up in Argentina and how he got involved with Andina Copper. * The 30,000 foot view of the company and how they acquired Rugby Resources. * The Cobrasco Project in Colombia. * The logistics involved in restarting exploration in an area of Colombia that is isolated in the jungle. * Recent drill results, the assays pending, and the geology in the area. * How the area is very underexplored, and the benefits of having Rio Tinto as a neighbor. * The Piuquenes Project in Argentina. * Closeology to Aldebaran’s Altar deposit, and other nearby projects. * Recent drill results, the assays pending, and the geology in the area. * What they have done at the project during this drill season, and how the snow limits access to the project. * The different parts of the project in the North, Central, and East sections. * The Mantau Project in Chile. * Closeology to Marimaca’s project, other nearby projects, and the existing infrastructure that is nearby. * Why they are focusing primarily on the other two projects for now. * The recent financing that was upsized from $20M to $27.5M, and how it sets the company up for the next year. * Podcast Recommendation: The History of the Grasberg Mine. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    55 min
  4. Kontrarian Korner #86 - Jason Perz

    FEB 24

    Kontrarian Korner #86 - Jason Perz

    Yesterday I had Jason Perz on the podcast for the first time, and we discussed the different trends going on in the financial markets. We talked about the commodities complex and which areas he finds most appealing right now, along with the reasons to avoid large cap tech and bonds as we move through this inflationary regime. It was a fun conversation and I’ll definitely be having him back on to discuss how these trends have developed over time. You can find him on Twitter, Substack, along with his YouTube. Podcast Summary * The changing investment environment and what it means for stocks, bonds, and commodities. * The concentration in megacap tech stocks, and how it mirrors past cycles. * How rising energy prices create issues for the broader equity market, and why he thinks the trend for the sector is just getting started. * The different things to look for when it comes to news failures and mean reversion, and how that feeds into a setup for a trade. * How sector equities moving ahead of a commodity signify risk on for that sector. * The gold to oil ratio and why he thinks it will rubber band back to something closer to a historical relative valuation. * Why the trend in the precious metals complex has time to run, and why we could see the move in the miners continue from here. * Copper being one of the biggest opportunities right now, and why he prefers to get exposure through the major ETFs. * Why nickel has the most upside out of all the industrial metals, and why he avoids the LME. * His exposure in the uranium space, and why his current exposure is in the juniors. * Agricultural commodities being the next space to move. * Book Recommendation: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    1 hr
  5. Kontrarian Korner #85 - Giacomo Prandelli

    FEB 17

    Kontrarian Korner #85 - Giacomo Prandelli

    Yesterday I had Giacomo Prandelli on my podcast for the first time. He has an interesting vantage point as a commodities trader in Switzerland when it comes to geopolitics and commodities markets. We talked about the geopolitical chessboard and the tensions between the US, Europe, China, and Russia. We also got into the commodities complex and talked about where he sees opportunities and why it’s important to look at the global picture for each commodity. You can find him on Substack, Linkedin, and Twitter. Podcast Summary * The setup for the geopolitical chessboard, and the increasing tensions between the US, Europe, China, and Russia. * Why he doesn’t think Europe will prioritize the production capabilities for oil, gas, and other commodities, and the fragility of European supply chains. * Why copper and oil are top of mind for him right now. * How he occasionally expresses a view on a certain commodity with directional exposure. * Why it’s important to look at the global picture for the different commodities. * Why he pays attention to shipping, and why he thinks the rising rates in certain subsectors is more due to geopolitical factors than rising demand. * His view on the precious metals complex. * Opportunities in smaller commodities that are off the radar, including nickel and rare earths. * Book Recommendations: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli and The World For Sale by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    1h 6m
  6. Transocean Acquires Valaris

    FEB 16

    Transocean Acquires Valaris

    Yesterday I had Tommy Lee on the podcast to talk about Transocean’s $RIG acquisition of Valaris $VAL . For anyone interested in energy, Tommy is an expert on the deepwater subsector of offshore oil services, and we dove into the transaction, how it deleverages RIG’s balance sheet, and the potential synergies between the two fleets. We also talked about other subsectors of offshore oil services, but our conversation was a good look at the transaction and where the sector is headed over the next several years. You can find Tommy on Twitter, but he’s also working on a service over at Deepwater Insight that he is close to launching. He also has his Substack that is definitely worth a follow. The podcast will be for paid subscribers for now, but it will be available to everyone on Sunday morning. Podcast Summary * How this transaction deleverages the balance sheet for Transocean, and accelerates the potential for capital returns. * Why he doesn’t think the transaction will lead to problems with antitrust issues. * The synergies between the two fleets, and why the estimated cost savings might be a little high. * How the jackup fleet fits into the new company, and why they might look to sell some or all of the fleet in the future. * The view on day rates, new builds, future scrapping, and the potential for more consolidation in the future. * The jackup market and what it means for Borr, and some color on what is going on in Saudi Arabia and Mexico. * OSVs, Tidewater, and expectation for M&A in that sector. * Seismic, subsea equipment manufacturing, and other overlooked opportunities in and around the offshore oil services sector. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    54 min
  7. Kontrarian Korner #84 - Mark Mitchell

    JAN 22

    Kontrarian Korner #84 - Mark Mitchell

    Yesterday I had Mark Mitchell of Rasmussen Reports on the podcast for the first time. He’s an independent pollster and a very entertaining follow on Twitter. We talked about his expectations for the midterm elections, geopolitics, and how the generational divide is going to be one of the most important topics for determining the future of the US over the next decade. If you’re not following his work, you should be, and you can also find him on YouTube. Podcast Summary * His thoughts on the midterms, why he thinks it will be ugly for the Republicans. * The Republicans as the party of beautiful losers. * The generational divide and the different perception of the economy, and how that will play a big role in politics over the next decade. * How the US is in a cold civil war right now, and the impact of gerrymandering on the upcoming elections. * America’s view on deportations and immigrations, why the Trump administration hasn’t done enough, and how they could use laws on the books to go after employers * Cultural enshittification, the offshoring and his experience in the tech industry with H-1B visas, and how H-1Bs are a logic trap. * How the feminization of our culture has impacted the US, and what it might take to return to a more concrete hierarchical culture. * The difference between doing things that look good and doing things that are right. * Why he thinks the US and the rest of the world is gearing up for war. * Why he thinks Vance is sitting in a good position for a Presidential run 2028. * Book Recommendation: Stolen Elections by Ralph Pezzullo Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    1h 5m
  8. Everything, Everywhere, All At Once

    JAN 19

    Everything, Everywhere, All At Once

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.kontrariankorner.com I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend, and I wanted to do a quick update on all of the stuff going on recently, from the talk about Greenland and Canada to the upcoming World Economic Forum and Trump’s speech set for Wednesday. It has been everything, everywhere, all at once on the geopolitical stage so far in 2026, and it’s worth keeping an eye on as this year develops. I also talked about news updates from several companies that I own, along with some talk on silver and the disconnect for the miners. For anyone that prefers to read instead of watching the video, the transcript should be a quicker way to roll through the updates. I also included a link to the podcast I mentioned in the video below. Whirly Bard Interview on Contrarian Codex (for anyone interested in LibertyStream) The first half is on LibertyStream (LIB.V), and the second half is on Comstock $LODE (no position).

    8 min
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About

Conversations on Investments, Finance, Macroeconomics, and Current Events https://www.kontrariankorner.com www.kontrariankorner.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Kelleran
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kontrarian Korner
  • Show Website
    Kontrarian Korner

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