Lead-Lag Live
Welcome to the Lead-Lag Live podcast, where we bring you live unscripted conversations with thought leaders in the world of finance, economics, and investing. Hosted by Melanie Schaffer each episode dives deep into the minds of industry experts to discuss current market trends, investment strategies, and the global economic landscape. In this exciting series, you'll have the rare opportunity to join Melanie Schaffer as she connects with prominent thought leaders for captivating discussions in real-time. The Lead-Lag Live podcast aims to provide valuable insights, analysis, and actionable advice for investors and financial professionals alike. As a dedicated listener, you can expect to hear from renowned financial experts, best-selling authors, and market strategists as they share their wealth of knowledge and experience. With a focus on topical issues and their potential impact on financial markets, these live unscripted conversations will ensure that you stay informed and ahead of the curve. Subscribe to the Lead-Lag Live podcast and follow @leadlagmedia on X to stay updated on upcoming live conversations and to gain exclusive access to a treasure trove of financial wisdom. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and brightest minds in the business. Join us on this journey as we explore the complex world of finance and investments, one live unscripted conversation at a time. Be sure to like, comment, and share the Lead-Lag Live podcast with your network to help others discover these invaluable insights. Stay tuned for the latest episode of the Lead-Lag Live podcast, and remember to turn on notifications so you never miss a live conversation with your favorite thought leaders. Happy listening!
Episodes
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Ethan Penner — independent candidate for California governor and a trailblazer in U.S. commercial real-estate finance — to break down what he calls the “collapse of competent governance” in California.
From a radical tax overhaul to fixing housing and energy costs, Penner outlines how he’d reverse decades of political decay — and why he believes Gavin Newsom’s policies have left the ...
Imagine the internet’s 20-year curve compressed into a few years: costs plummet, capabilities skyrocket, and adoption leaps from novelty to necessity. That’s where AI stands today. In this episode, we go deep into the evolution of reasoning models—how chatbots are transforming into agents that plan, code, and act across real workflows. Then, we explore the next frontier: physical AI, humanoid robots designed to operate in human spa...
Join me as I sit down with Greg Jensen, Founder of OptionsAnimal, and Eric Hale, Founder of Trader Oasis, to break down the foundations of smart options trading. After our last deep dive into the collar strategy, we’re going back to basics to answer the biggest questions every trader faces.
Greg and Eric explain when it’s appropriate to buy long options, why naked calls are among the riskiest trades you can make, and how to think th...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Alex Shahidi, Managing Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Evoke Advisors, to explore why traditional portfolio construction is failing investors.
From lost decades in the S&P 500 to the dangers of overconcentration, Alex lays out why diversification is more than a buzzword—and how risk parity creates a framework that can withstand both growth and inflation shock...
A record high without the roar—gold has climbed to new territory while the crowd looks elsewhere. We sit down with GraniteShares founder and CEO Will Rind to unpack why this is the most interesting precious metals cycle in years: a quiet surge powered by falling real yields, relentless debt growth, and a decade‑long shift by central banks toward gold as the de facto alternative to the dollar. Will brings rare perspective from build...
Rate cuts change the math on income, but your cash flow doesn’t have to shrink. We invited Will Rind of GraniteShares to unpack a practical way to keep payouts steady as short-term yields slide: a diversified basket of pass-through securities inside the HIPS ETF that aims for an all-weather stream of monthly income. We dig into how REITs, MLPs, BDCs, and fixed income–oriented closed-end funds each respond to different growth and in...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Kai Wu, Founder and CIO of Sparkline Capital, to break down the AI-driven capital cycle reshaping markets.
From Nvidia’s record-shattering deals to hyperscalers pouring trillions into infrastructure, Kai explains why today’s AI boom echoes past capital cycles—and why investors may be missing the real risk.
In this episode:
– Why mega-cap tech is shifting from asset-light to asset-...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, to unpack why the Fed keeps getting it wrong—and how investors can actually benefit from the new rate-cutting cycle.
From outdated shelter calculations to overlooked leading indicators, Jay explains why monetary policy needs modernization and where the next opportunities lie as markets adjust.
In this episode:
– Why the Fed’s r...
Learn how professional traders use the collar strategy to protect against downside while keeping upside potential alive. In this session, Greg and Eric from Options Animal break down:
How collars act as a dynamic “insurance policy” for your portfolio
Why risk management matters more than stock picking
Real trade examples with Apple & Nvidia
How to think about diversification beyond “more tick...
Join me live as I sit down with Derek Yan, Director at KraneShares, to explore how the AGIX ETF is reshaping AI investing by giving everyday investors exposure to private AI unicorns like Anthropic and xAI—companies powering the foundation models behind the next wave of enterprise AI.
In this expert-led discussion, Derek explains how AGIX combines public equities with late-stage private companies, the proprietary AI scoring system t...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Brandon Thor, CEO of Thor Metals Group, to challenge the narratives that have sidelined gold in modern portfolios.
As gold hits fresh highs amid rate cut bets, soaring debt, and a weakening dollar, Brandon explains why less than 1% of investors actually hold it—and why that may be the biggest oversight in wealth protection today.
In this episode:
– Why Wall Str...
During this webinar, Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital, cuts through the noise around jobs revisions, Fed policy, and where investors should be positioning now.
From outdated government data to the bond rally and the fate of small caps and REITs, Hatfield explains why the real risks are different from the headlines — and how investors can navigate a slowing economy without overreacting.
In this webinar:
– Why BLS jobs d...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with David Busch, CFA and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Trajan Wealth, to cut through the noise after Powell’s Jackson Hole speech and the latest inflation data.
With CPI softening, PPI still hot, and Fed policy hanging in the balance, David explains how investors should think about rates, risk, and portfolio allocation as volatility looms into the fall.
In this episode:
– How Powell’...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Brendan Ahern, Chief Investment Officer at KraneShares, to separate narrative from data on non-U.S. and emerging markets.
From index-construction quirks to the impact of a weaker dollar, Brendan lays out why headline EM returns can hide powerful growth — and how investors might be looking in the wrong places.
In this episode:
– Why headline EM returns can mask ...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with William Rhind, Founder and CEO of GraniteShares, to dig into the firm’s YieldBOOST ETF lineup, a strategy designed to generate high weekly distributions by selling options on volatile assets like Tesla, Bitcoin, and Coinbase.
We break down how these funds work, the real risks behind the high yields, and why demand for weekly-paying income ETFs is surging in today’s market.<...
In this episode of Lead‑Lag Live, I sit down with Seth Cogswell, Founding Partner and Portfolio Manager at Running Oak, to cut through the hype and examine what’s really underpinning today’s market momentum.
From zombie companies to the staggering dominance of passive investing, Seth lays out how fundamentals no longer align with price—and why the next correction may be bigger than it looks.
In this episode:
<...
Join this powerful and heartfelt panel discussion on how American veterans are stepping up to support Ukraine's fight for freedom. Featuring inspiring stories from Adam Kishleski, a retired Marine and CEO of MLB Outdoors, and Irina Vashchuk, founder of Revived Soldiers Ukraine, this video highlights the incredible resilience of Ukrainian soldiers and the crucial role of U.S. veterans and charities in providing medical aid, reh...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Paul Baiocchi, CFA, Head of Fund Sales and Strategy at SS&C ALPS Advisors, to explore the strategies shaping today’s ETF landscape.
We dig into how ALPS differentiates itself in a crowded market, the role of innovation in fund design, and where investors should be looking for opportunities as flows shift and volatility stays elevated.
In this episode:
- Wha...
In this episode of Lead-Lag Live, I sit down with Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, to talk about the biggest risks shaping markets right now — from sticky inflation to ballooning government debt.
We dig into why markets may be underestimating the Fed, how high interest costs could push the U.S. closer to a debt crisis, and whether equities can hold up in a higher-for-longer environment.
In thi...
Start your adventure with TableTalk Friday: A D&D Podcast at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts! Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/l...
Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgB6B-mAeWlPM9KzGJ2O4cU0-m5lO0lkr&si=W_-jLsiREjyAIgEs
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75YJ921WGQqUtwxRT71UQB?si=4R6kaAYOTtO2V
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