Volatility Views

In this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX), and Scott Nations dive deep into a massive divergence brewing under the surface of the equity indexes. While S&P 500 volatility is sitting quietly at seasonal lows, Nasdaq 100 volatility tells a completely different story as tech and AI anticipation ramps up ahead of Microsoft's pivotal earnings report. Key Topics Covered: The Volatility Revie...

The vol market might be caught in a midsummer lull between truncated holiday weeks, but underneath the surface, there is plenty of drama to slice and dice. In this episode, host Mark Longo welcomes back "Dr. Vix" Russell Rhoads (Indiana University) and Bill Luby (Luby Assessment Management) to dissect a market that seems to be trapped in an anticipatory holding pattern. The guys dive deep into: Th...

A truly wild week in the markets culminated in the historic SpaceX IPO, sending shockwaves through the trading landscape. In this episode, host Mark Longo is joined by special guest Henry Schwartz (The Flow Master, Cboe) and Mark Sebastian (OptionPit) to break down a massive week of intraday swings and shifting volatility structures. The panel dives deep into the market mechanics behind the $75B S...

After months of warning that volatility was being ignored, Dr. VIX finally gets a little revenge. With the Nasdaq suffering its worst selloff of the year, VIX surging back toward the 20 handle, and volatility returning to the market, Mark Longo and Russell Rhoads break down what sparked the move and whether this is just another dip-buying opportunity or the beginning of a larger shift in sentiment...

Volatility continued its retreat this week as equities marched higher and the VIX flirted with the 15 handle. On this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads, and Mark Sebastian break down the latest volatility landscape, including unusual VIX weekly trades, the ongoing debate around SVIX options liquidity, heavy put buying in semiconductor ETFs, Robinhood's AI-fueled rally, and what changing day-trad...

The markets keep rallying, volatility keeps fading, and traders keep asking the same question: what could possibly go wrong? This week on Volatility Views, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX), and Jim Carroll of Ballast Rock Private Wealth dive into the "don't worry, be happy" market regime, VIX refusing to break higher, massive VIX weekly call activity, surprising market resilience in the face o...

Summer has officially arrived in the vol markets. In this episode, Mark Longo and Russell Rhoads break down a week where the markets seemed to ignore everything from Middle East conflict to hot inflation numbers—until a Friday sell-off finally brought a splash of red to the screen. The guys dive deep into the curious case of the "Unchanged Universe," where SVIX, UVIX, and VXX are sitting almost ex...

In this episode of Volatility Views , host Mark Longo checks in from the road at the Options Industry Conference (OIC) to break down a week of relentless market rallies and "upside crashes." Joining the show is Hans Albrecht from Option Pit, who steps into the hot seat to discuss why volatility isn't dropping despite the S&P 500 blowing past 7,300. The duo explores the shifting market structure—fr...

The bulls are charging, and volatility is getting "taken to the woodshed." Join Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (the "Volatility Closet" resident), and Mark Sebastian (the "Greasy Meatball") as they break down a massive week in the markets. From the "mother of all tech earnings weeks" to the generational spending on AI, the crew explores why the VIX remains under pressure despite global geopolitical tu...

Is the traditional volatility conference a dying breed? This week on Volatility Views , host Mark Longo and the "Once, Future, and Present Dr. VIX," Russell Rhoads , dive into the shifting landscape of institutional trading events—from the legendary "swag mazes" of the CBOE Risk Management Conference (RMC) to the distinct lack of retail-friendly education in the space. The duo breaks down a week o...

Is it "opposite day" in the financial markets? In this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX), Andrew Giovinazzi from Option Pit, and Scott Nations from Nations Indexes to deconstruct a wild week where bad news for the world seemingly became fuel for a massive equity rally. The team dives deep into the "Bizarro" nature of the current landscape—where a blockad...

On this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (the "Dr. VIX"), and Andrew Giovinazzi of Option Pit dive into a wild week in the vol markets. After a massive relief rally triggered by ceasefire headlines, the crew explores whether the "guns going silent" has permanently dampened the VIX or if we're just in a "hurry up and wait" market. In this episode, we cover: The Ceasefire Surge: How the S&P 500 r...

The "warm turns" mid-week as the post-Iran conflict pattern continues to haunt the markets. In this episode, Mark Longo , Mark Sebastian , and Dr. Russell Rhoads break down why the VIX is finally showing its teeth and whether the 30 handle is the new normal. Inside this episode: The Volatility Review: A deep dive into the "Weekend Trade" dynamics, the spike in VVIX, and why the "bus drivers" of th...

In this episode of Volatility Views, the crew breaks down a week of intense market swings driven by escalating Middle East conflict and a stunning shift in the Fed's long-term rate outlook. We also pay tribute to the legendary Chuck Norris (1940–2026) and discuss why his passing—and the spirit of Lone Wolf McQuade —is the perfect metaphor for today's "fighting" markets. Key Topics Covered: The 202...

It's a spooky Friday the 13th on the Options Insider Radio Network! This week, the panel gathers to dissect a market that is being haunted by more than just superstitions. From explosive moves in energy to a bond market that is sending shockwaves through the 60/40 portfolio, the "murderers' row" of vol experts covers it all. On the Docket: The Energy "Memification": Mark Sebastian breaks down the...

The VIX is screaming higher, hitting a 27 handle as the "Danger Zone" officially reopens. On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads , Andrew Giovinazzi , and Matt Amberson to break down a chaotic week fueled by active conflict in the Middle East and a "charitably termed" terrible non-farm payrolls number. Plus, the legend himself, Kenny Loggins , returns to the pr...

Tech wreckage is cutting the knees off the market, and the volatility panel is seeing red. This week, Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian, and Russell Rhoads dive into why the VIX is firming up despite the market sitting near all-time highs. Topics Breakdown: The Inflation Ghost: Why hotter inflation data is spooking the vol curve and keeping VIX above 20. The March 35 Calls: Why is this strike dominating...

Is the market teetering on the edge of a "seminal collapse"? On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo , Mark Sebastian (the "Meatball"), and Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX) break down a chaotic week in the vol markets. From the aftermath of a legendary "V-Death Match" on the Pro network to the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs, the team explores why the VIX is hovering near 20 despite indices sitt...

The "Buy the Dip" mentality was put to the test this week. Host Mark Longo is joined by Dr. Russell Rhoads (the "Once, Future, and Present Dr. VIX") and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Rock Lobster) to break down a wild week that saw the VIX touch the 22 handle before a massive intraday reversal. In this episode, the crew dives into: The Volatility Review: Analyzing the impact of the rare midweek non-farm...

The market witnessed a wild week of price action, shifting from a tech-led "bloodletting" to a massive Friday reversal. In this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX), and Mark Sebastian (The Greasy Meatball) break down the carnage in the Mag Seven, the "memification" of Bitcoin assets like MSTR, and why the VIX is struggling to hold onto its gains despite the chaos. Inside This Episode: Vo...

A historic rout in the precious metals markets steals the spotlight this week on Volatility Views . From silver's massive 25% intraday drop to the naming of a new (and hawkish) Fed Chair nominee, the panel breaks down why the "Metals Apocalypse" might be a canary in the coal mine for the broader equity markets. Join Mark Longo , Dr. Russell Rhoads , and Mark Sebastian as they navigate a high-veloc...

The Council of Elders Reconvenes: The Greenland Siege and the Power of Gamma In this episode of Volatility Views , the Council of Elders—Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads, and Mark Sebastian—gather at the Hall of Wisdom to break down a week of market madness that would make Skeletor blush. From VIX spikes driven by "Greenland Siege" headlines to the massive $100 breakout in Silver, the team analyzes the...

In this episode, Mark Longo is joined by Dr VIX Russell Rhoads and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Rock Lobster) to conduct a "post-mortem" on 2025 and break down the surprising trends defining the start of 2026. The team dives deep into the VIX/SPX correlation breakdown , exploring why the traditional inverse relationship failed many traders last year. Russell brings the hard data, revealing how 2025 near...

It is a New Year in the volatility markets! Host Mark Longo is joined by "Dr. VIX" Russell Rhoads and Mark Sebastian of Option Pit to break down a wild 2025 and peer into the crystal ball for 2026. From the "tariff tantrums" and "taper tantrums" of last year to the rise of 0DTE options and the recent "face ripper" ratio spreads, the team analyzes why the VIX median stayed elevated even without maj...

Happy New Year, Vol Maniacs! Mark Longo kicks off 2026 by welcoming Jim Carroll (The Vixologist) to the first Volatility Views of the year. Jim helps us close the books on 2025. From the "Tariff Tantrum" to the birth of the proprietary "VIX Mix," we break down the trends, trades, and traps that defined the volatility landscape over the last 12 months. Volatility Review: The 2025 Autopsy The Tariff...