PodcastsBusinessTop Traders Unplugged

Top Traders Unplugged

Niels Kaastrup-Larsen
Top Traders Unplugged
Latest episode

925 episodes

  • Top Traders Unplugged

    IL48: The Misunderstood Economics of Africa ft. Joe Studwell

    29/04/2026 | 1h
    In this episode Kevin Coldiron is joined by bestselling author Joe Studwell who speaks about his new book How Africa Works: Success and Failure on the World’s Last Development Frontier. We discuss why many of our perceptions about Africa are wrong - why one big problem has been too few people, not too many and why the continent isn’t as resource-rich as we think. Joe talks us through some surprising success stories - like Rwanda’s emulation of Singapore and Botswana’s success in avoiding “the resource curse”. This is the time to begin researching and understanding the opportunities in a continent that has more land mass than the US, China and India combined and will eventually be home to the majority of the world’s young people.
    -----
    50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
    -----

    Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
    IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
    And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
    Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
    Send your questions to [email protected]
    And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
    Follow Kevin on SubStack & read his Book.
    Follow Joe on LinkedIn and read his book.
    Episode TimeStamps:
    00:01 - Introduction to the episode and guest
    02:04 - Why the book was written and initial motivation
    05:50 - Outsider perspective and reactions in Africa
    07:22 - The core idea: population density and development
    08:22 - Why Africa’s growth lagged historically
    14:23 - Population growth and changing economic potential
    15:39 - Colonialism in Africa vs Asia
    20:14 - Land, agriculture, and development differences
    23:55 - Rise of private sector and food production
    25:57 - Resources and the limits of extractive growth
    29:56 - Botswana and managing resource wealth
    36:21 - Rwanda’s development model and governance
    44:41 - Ethnic dynamics and future stability
    50:24 - China’s role and manufacturing potential
    56:04 - Investing in Africa and long term outlook
    Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
    ----
    PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
    1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
    In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
    2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
    One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
    3. Other Resources that can help you
    And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer
  • Top Traders Unplugged

    SI397: The Market Isn’t Free Anymore, It’s Being Managed ft. Cem Karsan

    25/04/2026 | 1h 11 mins.
    Today Cem Karsan and Niels Kaastrup-Larsen examine a market environment where politics, geopolitics and liquidity are becoming harder to separate. Cem argues that recent market strength is not just a reaction to better news, but part of a broader effort to manage risk, support collateral values and prepare for deeper geopolitical stress. From rising military spending and the Strait of Hormuz to treasury demand, QIS growth, AI and the next inflation wave, this conversation is about what happens when markets stop being passive observers and become tools in a larger strategic contest.
    -----
    50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
    -----

    Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
    IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
    And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
    Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
    Send your questions to [email protected]
    And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
    Follow Cem on Twitter.
    Episode TimeStamps:
    00:00:01 - Introduction to Top Traders Unplugged
    00:00:35 - Niels and Cem reconnect and set the stage
    00:01:51 - Truth, narratives and the blurring of reality
    00:04:15 - Fed independence, politics and credibility
    00:07:45 - The rise of QIS and demand for alternative strategies
    00:12:52 - Trend following update and current market performance
    00:15:23 - Framing the disconnect between markets and reality
    00:20:09 - Liquidity, market rallies and strategic positioning
    00:25:08 - Are markets being actively managed
    00:34:51 - The real geopolitical battle and the role of China
    00:40:32 - What investors may be underpricing
    00:52:55 - Why markets can rise despite growing risks
    00:55:56 - Treasury demand, intervention and future policy paths
    00:58:04 - Inflation, debt monetization and long term outlook
    01:02:16 - AI, deflation and the political response
    Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
    ----
    PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
    1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
    In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
    2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
    One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
    3. Other Resources that can help you
    And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer
  • Top Traders Unplugged

    UGO11: Fiscal Dominance, Dollar Power, and the Politics Driving Markets ft. Lyn Alden

    22/04/2026 | 1h 11 mins.
    Today, Cem Karsan sits down with Lyn Alden for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces quietly shaping markets beneath the surface. From the persistence of fiscal dominance to the role of populism, demographics, and global power shifts, they explore why the current macro regime may be far harder to reverse than many expect. The discussion moves beyond economics into politics, examining how inequality, globalization, and technological change feed into inflation dynamics and policy decisions. They also tackle the future of the dollar, the risks to its global dominance, and the complex role of crypto in a system defined by power, incentives, and control.
    -----
    50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
    -----

    Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
    IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
    And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
    Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
    Send your questions to [email protected]
    And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
    Follow Cem on Twitter.
    Episode TimeStamps:
    00:00:00 - Introduction to the episode and trading floor setting
    00:01:28 - Cem introduces Lyn Alden and frames the macro discussion
    00:02:23 - Lyn outlines her framework and the rise of fiscal dominance
    00:05:31 - Multipolar world and shifting reserve currency dynamics
    00:06:20 - Why debt cycles lead to persistent fiscal expansion
    00:13:42 - Debate on debt, modern monetary theory, and dollar privilege
    00:18:29 - Populism, inequality, and political drivers of inflation
    00:24:25 - Trade deficits, globalization, and domestic consequences
    00:30:20 - What happens if dollar dominance weakens
    00:34:16 - Comparing today to the 1940s vs the 1970s
    00:41:47 - Democracy, authoritarian drift, and rule of law
    00:44:17 - AI, productivity, and inflationary policy responses
    00:56:08 - Lyn’s views on Bitcoin, stablecoins, and crypto markets
    01:03:34 - Debate on the long term sustainability of crypto
    01:09:42 - Closing thoughts on power, money, and the macro outlook
    Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
    ----
    PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
    1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
    In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
    2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
    One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
    3. Other Resources that can help you
    And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer
  • Top Traders Unplugged

    SI396: Markets Look Calm… But Are They? ft. Rob Carver

    18/04/2026 | 1h 20 mins.
    Today, Rob Carver joins us to reflect on a market environment that appears calm on the surface but feels increasingly fragile underneath. From oil market distortions and muted reactions to geopolitical risk to the steady resilience of equities, the conversation questions whether price action is telling the full story. Rob shares insights from his own performance, including why slower trend signals have recently dominated and why he is running lower risk despite positive returns. The discussion moves into portfolio construction, return stacking, and the growing role of ETFs, alongside a candid look at where complexity adds value in systematic investing and where it does not.
    -----
    50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
    -----

    Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
    IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
    And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
    Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
    Send your questions to [email protected]
    And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
    Follow Rob on Twitter.
    Episode TimeStamps:
    00:00 - Intro & current market backdrop
    04:30 - Oil market dislocations and futures vs physical pricing
    10:00 - Equities hitting highs despite geopolitical tension
    13:30 - ETFs, fees, and structural shifts in investment vehicles
    17:00 - Trend following performance update and April results
    20:30 - Rob’s year-to-date and 12-month performance breakdown
    25:00 - Why slow trend signals outperformed
    27:30 - How to evaluate large CTA managers
    31:00 - Where PhDs add value in systematic investing
    43:00 - Signal weighting, crisis alpha, and portfolio construction
    52:00 - Return stacking and diversifying equities
    01:06:30 - Managed futures ETFs vs replication strategies
    01:18:00 - Final thoughts and wrap-up
    Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
    ----
    PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
    1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
    In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
    2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
    One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
    3. Other Resources that can help you
    And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer
  • Top Traders Unplugged

    TTU152: Where is the Open? ft. Toby Crabel

    15/04/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
    Markets are not stable systems. They evolve, adapt, and quietly erode the edges traders rely on. In this episode, Toby Crabel reflects on decades of experience navigating that reality, from the early days of Opening Range Breakout strategies to today’s fragmented and highly competitive landscape. He explains why momentum behaves differently now, how liquidity has shifted across sessions, and why execution has become a defining edge. The conversation also explores the limits of AI, the persistence of technical principles, and the importance of adapting without overfitting. At its core, this is a discussion about humility, uncertainty, and staying relevant as markets change.
    -----
    50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE
    -----

    Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.
    IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.
    And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.
    Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.
    Send your questions to [email protected]
    And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.
    Follow Alan on Twitter.
    Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
    Find out more about DUNN Capital
    Follow Crabel Capital Management on LinkedIn.
    Episode Timestamps:
    00:00 - Markets are probabilistic and inherently uncertain
    01:40 - Introduction to Toby Crabel and his career
    03:01 - From tennis to trading and early market exposure
    06:10 - Opening range breakout and early momentum edge
    08:04 - Why momentum strategies have deteriorated over time
    14:21 - The disappearance of the “open” in modern markets
    17:53 - Are markets changing or just the participants
    20:34 - Liquidity events and large player behavior
    24:14 - The role and limits of technical analysis
    32:44 - Model decay and adapting systematic strategies
    39:17 - Execution as a primary source of edge
    40:40 - AI, automation, and the future of trading
    51:18 - Effort vs result and the meaning of volume
    56:56 - Are we entering a 1970s style macro regime?
    Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved
    ----
    PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:
    1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about
    In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here
    2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score
    One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here
    3. Other Resources that can help you
    And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer

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About Top Traders Unplugged

Top Traders Unplugged is where the world’s best investors come to share how they think - not just what they trade. Hosted by Niels Kaastrup-Larsen, the show goes deep into systematic trend following, global macro, and the principles that drive long-term success. No forecasts. No fads. Just real conversations with hedge fund managers, economists, authors, and allocators - revealing the timeless ideas, mental models, and risk frameworks behind robust performance. If you're building resilient portfolios, allocating capital, or simply looking to cut through the noise - this is your edge. Clear thinking. Deep insights. Real experience. 🎧 New episodes weekly. Explore all episodes at toptradersunplugged.com https://toptradersunplugged.com
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