Bangers Only

SpaceX (SPCX) starts trading June 12 in the largest IPO in history, near $1.75 trillion. If you own an index fund, a 401(k), or a Roth, you may already own a piece. Tom Lydon breaks it down with Avery Marquez and Matt Kennedy of Renaissance Capital, the firm behind the first ETF built entirely from new public companies. Inside: the size that breaks your intuition, why only a sliver of SpaceX actua...

Flying cars aren't science fiction anymore. They're flying over Manhattan. Tom Lydon sits down with Riley Rosebee — founder of Godspeed and aerial economy analyst at Stock Market Media — to break down what's actually happening in the eVTOL industry and why the timeline is shorter than most people think. Joby just ran demo flights between Midtown and JFK. Manhattan air taxi service is t...

The ETF founders who actually change how we invest in an asset class are rare. Perth Tolle is in that rare company. Seven years ago, she challenged the entire premise of emerging markets investing. Today, FRDM manages $3 billion, and her conviction has paid off. On the latest Bangers Only, I sat down with Perth, founder of Life + Liberty Indexes and creator of the Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF...

One of the best conversations I’ve had recently was with my neighbor and friend John Bishop on the Bangers Only Podcast.  John and his wife Barbara did something simple, but powerful.  Instead of just leaving money to the next generation…  They decided to help them with the cost of their college education.   Back in 2005, they created a family program that:  Helps younger relatives pursue educatio...

I’ve been around ETFs long enough to recognize a setup when I see one. Brazil has one. And it’s a good one. On February 4th, leaders from across Brazil’s investment ecosystem will gather in São Paulo for the inaugural DEX ETF Summit, hosted at the headquarters of B3 (Brasil Bolsa Balcão). On the surface, it looks like a conference. In reality, it’s something more important: A coordinated effort to...

We kicked off 2026 with a timely conversation that ETF investors should pay attention to. In the latest episode of Bangers Only , I sat down with Mike Akins of ETF Action to break down what ETF flows, asset trends, and market structure are telling us as we move into the year ahead. Here’s what we cover: Will ETF AUM catch mutual funds? The structural advantages that continue to push assets toward...

This Week on the Bangers Podcast: Christmas, Chaos & Family TraditionsMy guest this week is my niece, Caitlin Noyce, and we’re talking about something just as important as markets, ETFs, and macro trends: family, traditions, and how Christmas really works. We walk through our actual Christmas Week itinerary—a finely tuned mix of:- Secret Santa negotiations- Matching pajamas (non-negotiable)- B...

Most people hear “tax efficiency” and immediately think: nap time. Not today. This week on Bangers Only, I sit down with Brent Sullivan — founder of Tax Alpha Insider , taxable-investing specialist, and the only person alive who can make “in-kind redemptions” sound like premium entertainment. We dive into:  ETFs vs. Mutual Funds… and why ETFs keep winning 351 Conversions Options overlay strategies...

Are you and your spouse killing it on your personal financial planning, or are you about to kill each other? Today on Bangers Only, I’m thrilled to welcome personal finance’s power couple — the people actually walking the “love + money” talk — Doug and Heather Boneparth. As one, they wrote, “ Money Together ,” essentially a couple's therapy session but with spreadsheets. This book is different...

This week, I sat down with Brian Portnoy , founder of Shaping Wealth and author of The Geometry of Wealth .  Brian’s big idea? Wealth isn’t about more. It’s about enough. We discussed, The human side of money. What “funded contentment” really looks like in everyday life. Why advisors should be guides to meaning, not just portfolio managers.  And how parents can teach kids about money without passi...

This week, I sat down with Brittany Christensen, Head of Business Development at Tidal Financial Group. If you don’t know Tidal, here’s the quick pitch: they’re the ETF engine room. Tidal helps asset managers take a good idea and actually launch it - with the tech, infrastructure, compliance, distribution, and operational muscle that makes the ETF ecosystem run. Brittany’s right in the middle, hel...

This week’s podcast tackles “Fitness Alpha,” a concept that links health to peak performance. Dr. Phil Pearlman argues that healthier individuals make better decisions, manage stress, and avoid breakdowns - especially relevant for high-pressure professions like finance. He emphasizes the importance of tuning into bodily and emotional cues. This is essential for highly motivated people prone to pus...

Media and communications have changed, and we aren’t keeping up. Companies are rethinking their strategies for communicating with their clients, prospects, and the public.  In this episode of Bangers Only, we dive into what corporate executives need to accept and the changes they need to make to be relevant today.  The good news is it doesn’t have to be costly, time-consuming, or painful.  Ted Mer...

In this episode of the Bangers Only Podcast , I sit down with Gordy Bonker , the man behind Bonkers Cards , to better understand the vintage sports cards industry. We’re talking million-dollar Mickey Mantles, Honus Wagners worth more than some beachfront homes, and much more. Gordy shares why vintage cards like the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and the T206 Honus Wagner may serve as alternative investm...

There’s a network of people around the country who work together to find homes for rescued dogs. Last week, I was able to experience this firsthand.  My college friend, Jamie Dulick , transported a beautiful puppy from Charlotte to a new home in Maine. I was able to be along for the flight in Jamie’s plane as Daisy began her recovery and is being welcomed into a new home.  Hear about this experien...

Watching where investors are putting their money today can give us great insight into what markets might do next.  Why is there a record number ($8 Trillion) in money market funds? What’s up with bonds? Do people not believe the Fed is going to cut interest rates? There are a record number of new ETF launches. New asset managers are bringing active ETFs to market in record numbers. Is this a good...

Rusty Vanneman , formerly CIO at Orion Wealth Management, is my guest on today’s Bangers Only podcast.  The markets couldn’t feel better, but now is the time to identify and act on upgrades to your portfolio.  Certain asset classes are outperforming US equities and are 30-50% on sale. The bond market (and money market funds) are paying you to diversify and reduce risk. Is private equity and privat...

In this podcast, we dive into the good, the bad and the ugly of tequila production, the beverage industry, unhealthy additives, explosive demand and unreasonable pricing. This pod will help guide tequila fans through the “tequila maze” in hope of helping you find the right tequila for the right price backed by trusted experts. Whether you’re a social drinker or a tequila connoisseur, this episode...

In this episode, Tom Lydon sits down with Emily Binder, marketing futurist and founder of Beetle Moment Marketing, to explore what it really means to build a personal virtual brand.  Emily shares practical tips on: The best platforms for building trust and visibility Why being in-person still matters (especially when you’re young) How to get started with content — even if you're unsure The pow...

Life’s short. You have to keep things simple - that’s what Bangers Only is all about.  Today, I’m thrilled to share the first episode of my new podcast, Bangers Only.  In this episode, I’m joined by Todd Sohn, ETF Strategist at Strategas Asset Management.  Todd and I discuss the current state of the market, sentiment, outflows in small-cap ETFs, international outperformance, China’s underperforman...