Markets Unscripted

Markets Unscripted
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2 Traders, 1 Goal - Honest Conversations Markets Unscripted brings together two traders who approach the same world from opposite sides — and still end up finding truth in the same place. Each episode cuts through noise, narrative, and prediction to uncover what’s actually moving markets — the behaviour, psychology, and structure underneath price.

  1. Stocks Are Hanging on the Edge Here

    1 DAY AGO

    Stocks Are Hanging on the Edge Here

    Markets have started to shift — and not just on the surface.In this episode of Markets Unscripted, Matt Caruso and Jason Shapiro break down the growing signs of market fragility: growth stocks rolling over, leaders failing, 52-week lows expanding, liquidity weakening, and why this environment may demand a much more defensive mindset.Jason explains why he’s the most bearish he’s been in years, while Matt walks through the internal market data that shows this is no longer just a normal pullback. They also discuss why “everyone knows the market will bounce” can actually be a major warning sign.If you want a no-fluff, process-driven look at what the market is really doing beneath the surface, this episode is for you.In this episode:Why the market’s character changed last weekThe breakdown in growth leadersWhy 52-week lows matterWhat VIX is really saying hereWhy “cheap” stocks can still get much cheaperSilver, soymeal, and where Jason sees better setupsWhy now may be the time for discipline, not heroicsSubscribe for weekly market analysis, trading insights, and honest conversations about risk, sentiment, and process.Timestamps0:00 – Market weakness accelerates and character starts to change1:31 – Jason says he’s the most bearish he’s been since 20214:57 – Why failing leaders are a major warning sign9:02 – 52-week lows and internal market damage start picking up11:26 – Why VIX is a setup, not a signal33:29 – The April reversal example and what real confirmation looks like45:23 – Final takeaway: this is not the time to be aggressive

    51 min
  2. Why Tom Basso Stays Calm When Traders Panic

    23 MAR

    Why Tom Basso Stays Calm When Traders Panic

    This week on Markets Unscripted, Matt Caruso and Jason Shapiro are joined by legendary trader Tom Basso for a masterclass on position sizing, drawdowns, risk control, and building a trading process you can actually stick with.And if you’ve been listening to the podcast, you already know what Matt and Jason bring to the table: real-world experience, no fluff, and practical process-driven market insight.That’s exactly why the upcoming Markets Unscripted Workshop is such a big opportunity. This is your chance to go beyond the podcast and learn directly from Matt and Jason in a live setting as they walk through the strategies, tools, and frameworks they use to approach the market every day.Get the workshop details here: www.marketsunscripted.comTimestamps00:00 – Tom Basso’s “pothole” analogy for drawdowns00:49 – Intro: why Tom Basso is the right guest for this market01:28 – Position sizing, unrealized gains, and managing snapback risk06:36 – Why rising volatility should force you to reduce size11:00 – Trade the system that fits you, not someone else16:30 – AI in trading: what it should automate and what it shouldn’t24:40 – Combining multiple systems to smooth returns31:30 – Why traders should care more about return-to-risk than big upside36:40 – The “market will do what the market will do” mindset41:30 – Futures, leverage, and why position sizing matters more than the instrument47:00 – Why Tom automated discretionary tasks out of his process50:30 – How to avoid curve-fitting and black-box trading56:30 – Longevity, humility, and ignoring flashy trading culture1:00:00 – Final thoughts and where traders should really focus

    1hr 13min
  3. Oil Panic, Bearish Bets, and a Market That Won’t Break

    16 MAR

    Oil Panic, Bearish Bets, and a Market That Won’t Break

    Markets opened the week higher even with all eyes on the Middle East, and in this episode Matt Caruso and Jason Shapiro break down why.They dig into oil, positioning, bearish sentiment, Bitcoin resilience, bond weakness, and why traders get punished when they try to outsmart price action. This episode is really about one core lesson: the market already knows more than any headline does.They also explain why relative strength matters more than news, why bottoms form when fear is highest, and why most traders are simply sizing too big for the volatility they’re trying to trade.If you want a real-world discussion on trading process, positioning, risk, and how to stay grounded when headlines are screaming panic, this is one of the most practical episodes yet.In this episode:Why markets rallied despite Middle East fearWhat oil price action may really be sayingWhy traders get trapped by narrativesRelative strength names like NBIS, CIEN, PWR and moreWhy Bitcoin has been acting better than many expectedWhat bonds and credit may be signalingThe truth about position sizing and emotional tradingNext week: Tom Basso joins the podcast.Timestamps:00:00 Why markets rallied despite Middle East fear05:15 Why price matters more than your opinion06:10 The better trade: focus on relative strength12:02 Why market bottoms form when news looks worst16:09 Following process over personal bias22:00 Positioning, put buying, and why the market didn’t break30:01 Bitcoin resilience and what it may be signaling33:16 30-year bonds, liquidity, and macro risk41:56 The real reason most traders fail: position sizing45:09 Tom Basso preview and final takeaway

    47 min
  4. War, Oil, and a Dangerous Market Setup

    9 MAR

    War, Oil, and a Dangerous Market Setup

    Markets are being shaken by rising oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and increasingly erratic price action. In this episode of Markets Unscripted, Matt Caruso and Jason Shapiro break down the key signals traders should be watching right now — and why this environment may be far more dangerous than most investors realize. Instead of guessing headlines, they focus on what the market itself is telling us through liquidity, positioning, and price behavior. Topics covered include: • The QQQ vs Consumer Staples (XLP) ratio and what it says about market risk • The Up/Down Volume Ratio used by William O’Neil to identify buying vs selling pressure • Why traders are getting trapped in both directions • The role of oil prices and geopolitical tensions in driving market psychology • Warning signals coming from credit markets and liquidity • Why patience and risk management matter more than predictions They also look at historical examples — including the 1990 Gulf War market, Cisco’s early leadership, and Amazon after the dot-com crash — to show how major opportunities often emerge during chaotic markets. If you’re trying to navigate volatile conditions, this episode focuses on the signals that actually matter. Subscribe for weekly market discussions, trading insights, and real conversations about how professionals approach the market. 00:00 Markets rattled by oil spike and geopolitical tensions 01:03 The QQQ vs XLP ratio: a warning sign for difficult markets 02:40 Why traders keep getting stopped out in this environment 03:35 William O’Neil’s Up-Down Volume indicator explained 05:56 Jason’s take: positioning data and why there’s “no edge” right now 08:30 Why modern markets may be more efficient than ever 10:40 Risk management when nothing seems to work 12:30 The dangerous psychology of volatile markets 14:40 Why strict trading rules keep professionals out of trouble 16:00 Oil spikes and the strategic reserve debate 18:00 Lessons from the chaotic 2011 market environment 20:40 Why real trends require falling volatility 21:50 The psychology of oil and stock market reactions 25:40 Growth stocks sending warning signals 27:00 Historical comparison: the 1990 oil shock and market drop 29:00 “Patience, then pounce” – why traders should wait for opportunity 31:20 Positioning extremes in energy and commodities 33:00 Credit markets and liquidity warning signals 36:00 Why shorting the stock market is so difficult 40:00 The Cisco example: spotting early market leaders 43:30 Amazon after the dot-com crash: how huge winners begin 47:00 Listener question: why traders don’t just “take the opposite side” 50:00 The myth of high win-rate trading strategies 53:30 Key indicators to watch next week

    55 min
  5. Buy When the Missiles Fly: Understanding Market Logic

    2 MAR

    Buy When the Missiles Fly: Understanding Market Logic

    Markets opened on major geopolitical headlines… and then did what markets love to do: the opposite of the consensus trade.In this episode, Matt Caruso and Jason Shapiro break down why “logical” trades can be the most dangerous, how to read the market reaction across assets (oil, gold/silver, bonds, dollar, crypto), and why a rangebound index can still be a stock-picker’s market.They also get practical: how support/resistance gets reinforced (not “magical”), why laggards often warn you early, and how to throttle intensity when it’s not your environment.Timestamps:00:11 Weekend shock vs Monday reality: “consensus trade” breaks down01:20 The expected playbook (oil up, stocks down, crypto down) — and what actually happened05:00 War premiums, liquidity, and why markets re-price after uncertainty clears08:00 Market logic vs real-world logic (housing stocks vs housing prices)15:15 Why ranges get “too clean” — and why failed moves get fast21:17 A market going nowhere… with huge winners and losers24:12 The most underrated skill: forgive yourself + protect capital when it’s not your environment34:50 EOS(E) as a live example: sector strong, stock weak = “something’s wrong”40:02 Jason’s definition of tape reading: what should happen vs what did happen51:04 Liquidity watch: AI spend, private credit, war — and the risk if markets stop responding to liquidity1:00:01 Names on the radar (FCX, SCCO, CCJ, optical/AI infrastructure) + what “acting well” looks likeLinks:Caruso Insights: www.carusoInsights.comCrowded Market Report: www.crowdedMarketReport.com

    1hr 7min
  6. Why the Market is Stronger Than You Think (+ Our Fav Books)

    23 FEB

    Why the Market is Stronger Than You Think (+ Our Fav Books)

    Macro headlines are loud again — tariffs, inflation data, and “AI doomsday” research making the rounds — but the market’s message is a lot more nuanced.In this episode of Markets Unscripted, Matt Caruso and Jason Shapiro break down why Friday’s strength mattered (even with ugly macro prints), why we’re still stuck in a range-bound tape, and why dispersion (long/short + relative performance) remains the real trade in 2026.They also tackle the viral “2028 AI crisis” narrative and explain why traders can’t live inside forecasts — the market will signal the truth before the headlines feel “obvious.” From there, they get tactical: shortages vs disruption, credit spreads as a core macro tell, commodity positioning, and a few stock/ETF charts that are acting right even on weak market days.Finally, they shift gears into a rapid-fire trading book list — the titles that actually shaped how they think, execute, and stay sane.• Market Wizards by Jack Schwager• How to Make Money in Stocks by William O'Neil• Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas• Intermarket Analysis by John Murphy• Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets by John Murphy• Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefèvre• The Perfect Speculator by Brad KoteshwarConnect With Us• Matt Caruso (Caruso Insights): https://www.carusoinsights.com• Jason Shapiro (Crowded Market Report): https://www.crowdedmarketreport.com#stockmarket2026 #tradingmindset #marketwizards #mattcaruso #JasonShapiro #MarketsUnscripted #TradingBooks #AIInvesting

    1hr 15min
  7. Why This Isn't the Bear Market You're Looking For

    18 FEB

    Why This Isn't the Bear Market You're Looking For

    Markets have been under pressure, with a weird twist: AI is hitting both sides of the market. “Legacy” businesses are getting repriced on disruption fears, while the mega-cap tech leaders are slipping on CapEx / return concerns. Matt and Jason break down what that actually means for positioning right now—why chop can still be opportunity, how to avoid getting pulled into “X narratives,” and why the market’s message matters more than opinions.They also hit the biggest debate of the week: Michael Burry vs. Palantir, why “being right” can still be expensive, and what matters most when a former leader stops acting like a leader. Finally, they close with a new weekly scoreboard idea (Matt vs. Jason) featuring Texas Instruments (TXN) vs. Sugar (CANE) as the setups to watch next week.Chapters00:00 Markets weak, AI “destroyer vs savior” contradiction01:06 Jason’s key level: why Thursday’s market action matters03:03 Matt’s framework: dot-com style rollout (1995–96) + washout thesis07:09 Winners vs losers: why long/short is working in chop11:14 Liquidity, positioning, and why a deep bear case is harder16:45 Palantir + Burry: market signals vs “X narratives”23:08 Returns debate: Buffett, benchmarks, and the “needle-mover” approach30:49 AI trading bots: why trading can’t be “solved”38:26 Futures corner: Sugar crowding, WASDE, and the signal Jason needs42:17 EDGE Report mention + why leadership lists matter43:40 Scoreboard begins: TXN breakout level vs Sugar trigger47:15 Closing: where strength is hiding + question box for next week

    49 min
  8. AI Is the Theme — Leadership Is the Edge

    18 FEB

    AI Is the Theme — Leadership Is the Edge

    In this episode of Markets Unscripted, Matt Caruso and Jason Shapiro break down a market that “goes nowhere” on the index level—but is wildly different under the surface. They dig into relative strength vs. weakness, why “the tape is everything,” how context changes what signals actually matter, and why the real opportunity often sits in the unpopular places (materials, energy, industrial inputs, and the “behind-the-scenes” AI supply chain).They also walk through Jason’s current commodity focus (sugar), what crowded positioning can and can’t tell you, and how to think about risk so you can stay in the game long enough to catch the big ones.Websites:Matt: www.carusoInsights.comJason: www.crowdedMarketReport.comQuestions: www.marketsUnscripted.comTimeStamps00:00 Why a flat index is misleading02:10 Relative strength vs. hidden weakness under the surface07:39 Crypto breaking down while stocks refuse to follow10:32 Bitcoin vs. Nasdaq — the tape leads the narrative13:54 “There’s no reason it’s going down” is a trader’s trap16:03 Context beats indicators (Micron example)19:27 Breakouts on good news vs. breakouts on no news23:14 Why not understanding AI can actually be an edge30:49 The real “rules of the game” for staying alive35:29 Sugar: the most crowded trade in the world37:08 What a true news-failure setup looks like46:12 The real AI winners: energy, materials, and inputs56:37 The “tell” — what’s strong when it shouldn’t be

    1 hr
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About

2 Traders, 1 Goal - Honest Conversations Markets Unscripted brings together two traders who approach the same world from opposite sides — and still end up finding truth in the same place. Each episode cuts through noise, narrative, and prediction to uncover what’s actually moving markets — the behaviour, psychology, and structure underneath price.

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  • Creator
    Markets Unscripted
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Markets Unscripted
  • Show Website
    Markets Unscripted

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