Interview recorded - 22nd of May, 2025On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I have the pleasure of welcoming back Michael Pento. Michael is the President & Founder of Pento Portfolio Strategies.During our conversation we spoke about Michael's thoughts on the economy, tariff negotiations, inflation, Doge, bond market issues, growth of debt issues, what would turn Michael bullish and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction1:15 - Overview of the economy4:20 - Tariff negotiations6:41 - Inflation9:25 - Doge shift10:36 - Bond market issues15:41 - Volatility trading19:49 - Grow out of debt issue24:45 - Rotating in commodities/agriculture?26:16 - What would turn bullish?30:01 - One message to takeaway?Michael Pento serves as the President and Founder of Pento Portfolio Strategies (PPS). PPS is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm (RIA) that operates like an actively managed fund without all the expenses. The Model Portfolio uses a proprietary macroeconomic model to determine when and how to invest across an inflation/deflation and economic cycle spectrum. The 20-component model is used to determine the two most important factors when it comes to successful investing: the second derivatives of growth and inflation.Michael Pento - Website - https://pentoport.com/Twitter - https://twitter.com/michaelpento?lang=enLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-pento-a1882917b/WTFinance Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseasThumbnail image from - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/article-next-up-for-markets-a-crisis-of-confidence-in-the-us-dollar/

Interview recorded - 12th of May, 2025On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Michael Every. During our conversation we spoke about the shifting geopolitical tides, what Trump negotiations mean, mass imports, issues with free trade, who will lose and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction1:10 - What are we seeing in the world?4:34 - Trump negotiation?6:12 - Mass imports8:05 - Geopolitical shifts11:24 - BRICS12:44 - Republican shift15:14 - Issues with free trade?21:06 - Who wins?22:34 - US worse off than China?24:42 - Shift away from China25:44 - Impact on markets?28:34 - European issues30:34 - One message to takeaway?

Michael Every is a Global Strategist at Rabobank. He analyses major financial developments and contributes to the bank’s various economic research publications for internal and external customers and to the media.Michael has over two decades of experience working as an Economist and Strategist. Before Rabobank, he was a Director at Silk Road Associates in Bangkok, Senior Economist and Fixed Income Strategist at the Royal Bank of Canada in both London and Sydney, and an Economist for Dun & Bradstreet in London.Michael holds a Masters degree in Economics (with distinction) from University College London and speaks a smattering of languages, including Thai.

Michael Every -

Website - https://www.rabobank.com/knowledge/our-experts/011085368/michael-every

LinkedIn - https://sg.linkedin.com/in/michael-every-38983214

WTFinance -

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfn

iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-fatseas-761066103/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Interview recorded - 23rd of April, 2025

On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I have the pleasure of welcoming on G.Edward Griffin. G.Edward is the author of the “Creature from Jekyll Island”.

During our conversation we spoke about the creation of the FED, the goals of the Federal Reserve, concentration of wealth, their true purpose and more. I hope you enjoy!

0:00 - Introduction
1:48 - Creature from Jekyll Island
16:50 - Goals of Federal Reserve
20:37 - Concentration of wealth
22:55 - Inevitable issue?
30:07 - One message to takeaway?

G.Edward Griffin is a writer, documentary film producer, and Founder of Freedom Force International. Listed in Who’s Who in America, he is well known because of his talent for researching difficult topics and presenting them in clear terms that all can understand.

He has dealt with such diverse subjects as archaeology and ancient Earth history, the Federal Reserve System and international banking, terrorism, internal subversion, the history of taxation, U.S. foreign policy, the science and politics of cancer therapy, the Supreme Court, and the United Nations.

His better-known works include The Creature from Jekyll Island, World without Cancer, The Discovery of Noah’s Ark, Moles in High Places, The Open Gates of Troy, No Place to Hide, The Capitalist Conspiracy, More Deadly than War, The Grand Design, The Great Prison Break, and The Fearful Master.

Ed is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he majored in speech and communications. He is a recipient of the coveted Telly Award for excellence in television production, the creator of the Reality Zone Audio Archives, Publisher of Need to Know News, and is President of American Media, a publishing and video production company in Southern California.

He has served on the board of directors of The National Health Federation and The International Association of Cancer Victors and Friends and is Founder and President of The Cancer Cure Foundation. He is the Founder of Freedom Force International and creator of Red Pill University, Red-Pill Expos, and Rabbit-Hole Expeditions. The mission of these Red-Pill and Rabbit-Hole endeavors is far more serious than they may sound. It is to popularize a global coalition for the victory of individualism over collectivism and liberty over tyranny.

G.Edward Griffin -

Books - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001KMN0ZE/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=b1eec423-031e-4b54-bc55-36a468ab30a2
Political reading - https://g-edward-griffin.aweb.page/p/6aa8c83b-e074-4d45-a899-c75e28acecd6

WTFinance -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfn
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Thumbnail image from - https://www.fairobserver.com/economics/horrific-jobs-report-suggests-that-a-us-recession-now-looms/

Interview recorded - 23rd of April, 2025

On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming on James Lavish. James is the Managing Partner at The Bitcoin Opportunity Fund and writer at the Informationist newsletter.

During our conversation we spoke about his thoughts on the markets, economic uncertainty, higher interest rates & inflation, debt challenges, Bitcoin federal reserve and more. I hope you enjoy!

0:00 - Introduction
1:39 - What is James seeing in markets?
3:35 - Economic uncertainty
10:28 - Higher interest rates inflationary
13:01 - Tariffs
14:43 - Resolution to debt issues?
17:38 - Debt challenges
24:18 - Realignment away from US Dollar
26:12 - Eurodollar market
27:28 - Swap lines
29:12 - Bitcoin federal reserve
33:50 - BRICS buying gold
37:35 - One message to takeaway from our conversation

James Lavish has over 25 years of institutional investing experience and is Managing Partner of the Bitcoin Opportunity Fund, a hybrid investment fund that makes public and private investments in the Bitcoin ecosystem. He is also the author of The Informationist, a newsletter with over 35K subscribers that simplifies one financial concept weekly.

James graduated Yale University in 1993, and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

James Lavish:

X - https://x.com/jameslavish
Newsletter - https://www.jameslavish.com/
Bitcoin Opportunity Fund - https://www.bitcoinopportunity.fund/

WTFinance -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfn
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Interview recorded - 21st of April, 2025

On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I have the pleasure of welcoming on Brent Johnson. Brent is the CEO of Santiago Capital, has twenty years experience in financial markets and is well known for coining the “Milkshake theory”.

During our conversation we touched on the Milkshake theory, the risk of a sovereign crisis, what this means for the markets currently, realignment of the world worder, who are the losers and more. I hope you enjoy!

0:00 - Introduction
1:22 - Milkshake theory
4:15 - Sovereign crisis
7:20 - All things link back to debt & dollar?
9:14 - China worse than the West?
11:28 - Misallocation of capital?
16:40 - Swap lines
20:31 - What is happening in the economy?
24:16 - Foreigners selling US assets?
26:31 - Dollar shortage
28:39 - Realignment of world order
32:09 - Who is the loser?
35:31 - Impact investment approach?
38:56 - One message to takeaway?

Brent Johnson brings over twenty years of experience in the financial markets to his position as CEO of Santiago Capital. Prior to that, Brent enjoyed more than nine years as a Managing Director at BakerAvenue Asset Management, a multi-billion dollar asset manager and wealth management firm. He was the lead advisor for several of the firm’s largest clients. Before joining BakerAvenue, Brent spent nine years at Credit Suisse in their private client group. He got his start as part of the training program at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) which became part of Credit Suisse in the fall of 2000. Brent regularly gives interviews and speaks at conferences regarding financial markets & macroeconomic trends. His views have been quoted in numerous print, online and television outlets.

Brent Johnson -

Fund - https://santiagocapital.com/
X - https://x.com/SantiagoAuFund
Newsletter - https://macroalchemist.com/
YouTube - @MilkshakesPod

WTFinance -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfn
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Interview recorded - 17th of April, 2025

On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Matthew Piepenburg. Matthew is a Partner of Von Greyerz AG.

During our conversation we spoke about the current state of the economy, tariffs, why all problems lead to debt and liquidity, a complete shift in the world order, collapse of the FIAT currency and more. I hope you enjoy!

0:00 - Introduction
0:57 - What are you seeing in the economy?
8:39 - Tariffs impact on liquidity
20:14 - Complete shift in the world order?
29:49 - Collapse of FIAT currencies
41:14 - One message to takeaway from our conversation?

Matt began his finance career as a transactional attorney before launching his first hedge fund during the NASDAQ bubble of 1999-2001

Thereafter, he began investing his own and other HNW family funds into alternative investment vehicles while operating as a General Counsel, CIO and later Managing Director of a single and multi-family office. Matthew worked closely as well with Morgan Stanley’s hedge fund platform in building a multi-strat/multi-manager fund to better manage risk in a market backdrop of extreme central bank intervention/support. The conviction that precious metals provides the most reliable and longer-term protection against potential systemic risk led Matt to join VON GREYERZ.

The author of the Amazon No#1 Release, Rigged to Fail, Matt is fluent in French, German and English; he is a graduate of Brown (BA), Harvard (MA) and the University of Michigan (JD). Along with Egon von Greyerz, Matthew is the co-author of Gold Matters, which offers an extensive examination of gold as an historically-confirmed wealth-preservation asset.

Matthew Piepenburg -

LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/matthewpiepenburg
Website - https://vongreyerz.gold/

WTFinance -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfn
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Interview recorded - 7th of April, 2025

On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Jason Shapiro. Jason is a hedge fund manager and trading legend with 30+ years of trading experience. He was also featured in the book "Unknown Market Wizards".

0:00 - Introduction
1:20 - What are we seeing?
3:12 - Comparison to other periods?
7:53 - Who is selling?
12:30 - Contrarian investors.
16:03 - Current investor positioning
17:08 - Markets more volatile?
19:46 - Assets Jason is watching?
22:43 - Long time to learn trading
26:08 - Largest mistakes traders make
28:13 - What is a bad decision?
30:08 - What would make you change your strategy?
32:38 - Human nature
34:12 - Bad news, no reaction
36:48 - One message to takeaway?

With over 30 years of trading experience, Jason has gone through most markets a trader should see in their career. From the crazy rallies during the 90s, the tech bubble pop in early 2000s, the 2008 market crash and the latest bull run starting in 2009. Through the last 20 years of his career, he has used a contrarian approach which has been very successful to him and his clients, as verified by Jack D. Schwager in his latest MARKET WIZARDS BOOK. Jason has managed large sums of money from a few million to several hundred million and learned a great deal about the Futures markets, from Equities, Currencies and Fixed Income to Currencies and Precious Metals.

Jason Shapiro -

Website - https://www.crowdedmarketreport.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Crowded_Mkt_Rpt
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-shapiro-53674994/
YouTube - @crowdedmarketreport

WTFinance -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfn
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Interview recorded - 14th of April, 2025

On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Peter Boockvar. Peter is a CNBC Contributor, Chief Investment Officer of Bleakley Financial Group & Editor of the Boock Report.

During our conversation we spoke about what he is watching, Tariffs, DOGE, impact on the stock market, inflation, a bifurcating world, assets to perform and more. I hope you enjoy!

0:00 - Introduction
0:45 - What is Peter watching?
1:26 - Tariffs
3:53 - DOGE
7:27 - MAG7 impacted
9:01 - Inflation
14:29 - Bonds
14:48 - Bifurcation of global world?
18:21 - Wealth divide
22:39 - Commodities
24:16 - One message to takeaway?

Peter Boockvar is an independent economist and market strategist. The Boock Report is independently produced by Peter Boockvar. Peter Boockvar is also the Chief Investment Officer of Bleakley Financial Group, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser. The Boock Report and Bleakley Financial Group, LLC are separate entities. Content contained in The Boock Report newsletters should not be construed as investment advice offered by Bleakley Financial Group, LLC or Peter Boockvar. This market commentary is for informational purposes only and is not meant to constitute a recommendation of any particular investment, security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy. The views expressed in this commentary should not be taken as advice to buy, sell or hold any security. To the extent any of the content published as part of this commentary may be deemed to be investment advice, such information is impersonal and not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person. No chart, graph, or other figure provided should be used to determine which securities to buy or sell. Consult your advisor about what is best for you.

Peter Boockvar -

X - https://x.com/pboockvar?lang=en
Substack - https://peterboockvar.substack.com/

WTFinance -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfn
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas