In episode 424 of the BE SMART podcast, Jared and Cameron discuss why EJ Antoni is not the “perfect guy at the perfect time to run the BLS,” as well as the Federal Reserve chair search and how Trump may have found his Caligula’s horse in Handsome Jim Bullard. They also get into CPI and the likelihood for a rate cut next month, the pause on US-China tariffs, and where things stand with gold, the AI craze, and crypto as the summer winds down.

Jared and Cameron discuss some of the highlights of their recent trip to Nashville before shifting to market insights, including discussions on the Federal Reserve and what to expect for the next chairman, private assets in 401(k)s, the mainstreaming of crypto and Bitcoin’s future, and how small-cap value is suffering from “benign neglect.”

From recent book releases to market updates, economic indicators, and competitive hotdog eating, Jared and Cameron cover it all in episode 422 of the BE SMART podcast. They discuss stocks hitting new highs, job market trends, the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF’s (IBIT) first 341 days of explosive growth, the Fed’s path to rate cuts, the continued gamification of financial markets, and the current political climate regarding wealth disparity.

In this episode of the BE SMART podcast, Jared discusses his hot-off-the-press book, RULE 62, before tackling the impact of geopolitical tensions on the economy. Also on deck: the recent decline in oil prices, the dollar’s performance amid potential interest rate cuts, shifts in investor sentiment away from large tech stocks, and the emerging trend of “revenge saving” as Americans focus on building their savings in uncertain economic times.

In episode 420 of the BE SMART podcast: Student loan collections are causing significant declines in credit scores, the housing market is experiencing a stalemate with more sellers than buyers, investors are making portfolio decisions based on political views, and commodities are currently undervalued compared to financial assets. Jared and Cameron discuss oil and geopolitical risks, gold’s haven bid and flirtation with its all-time high, and platinum’s cocoa-like breakout this year.

In episode 419 of the BE SMART podcast, Jared and Cameron discuss the recent feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the outlook for Tesla, market sentiment regarding stocks after the S&P 500 hit 6,000 points following the recent jobs report, the “most unloved bonds” out there, and their thoughts on commodities and inflation. 

In episode 418, Jared and Cameron discuss Las Vegas and the current state of sports gambling, the US-China trade war and the frustrating new reality of constant tariffs news, and the implications of private equity on small businesses. They also touch on the dynamics of the gold and silver markets before Jared shares his insights on upcoming economic indicators.

Are you a Kindle person interested in Jared’s upcoming essay collection? Preorder RULE 62 here: https://www.amazon.com/Rule-62-Meditations-Success-Spirituality-ebook/dp/B0F7RPZYV3?ref_=ast_author_dp

Back from a short hiatus, Jared and Cameron discuss a range of political, economic, and creative topics, including Joe Biden's recent cancer diagnosis and the scrutiny he is facing, Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and Moody’s US credit downgrade, gold versus Bitcoin for the remainder of 2025, whether companies such as Walmart will eat Trump’s tariffs, Jared's recent writing retreat, and his upcoming DJ gig in Las Vegas. If nothing else, you should get some good book recommendations here—i.e., check out Barry Hannah, Raymond Carver, et al.

In episode 416 of the BE SMART podcast, Jared and Cameron discuss the recent DirtCon conference (for Daily Dirtnap subscribers), upcoming changes to the event, and key market headlines, including Warren Buffett’s retirement and the implications for Berkshire Hathaway. They explore the effectiveness of DOGE in economic policy, Trump's controversial tariff proposals, and the shifting economic landscape in Latin America. The conversation wraps up with investment strategies in emerging markets and predictions for the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting.

In episode 415 of the BE SMART podcast, Jared and Cameron discuss how The Economist’s covers often signal market turning points, economic predictions, and the impact of tariffs on the US economy. They also dive into Tesla’s recent performance, Trump’s frustrating tax proposals, and the potential for a recession before touching on the systemic risks that private equity is facing. To wrap it up, they go through 10 of the most popular finance movies and the upcoming economic data that will be crucial for market direction.