Chat With Traders

In this episode, we examine what actually happens when crypto markets break — how leverage builds beneath the surface, liquidity disappears, and liquidation cascades turn volatility into systemic failure.

Doug Colkitt, a quantitative trader and DeFi builder whose experience spans both traditional finance and crypto market structure. Doug began his career on Wall Street at Citigroup before moving into high-frequency trading at Citadel during the 2008 financial crisis. He later built and traded his own systems across futures, volatility products, and international equities, including running a major market-making operation in Turkish stocks.

Today, Doug focuses on crypto and DeFi infrastructure, working with perpetual futures, liquidation mechanics, and exchange design. We discuss why traders still get wiped out when they think they’re hedged, how liquidation cascades accelerate, and what recent market failures reveal about leverage and market structure under stress.

Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:

●       Trade The Pool:  ⁠⁠http://www.tradethepool.com⁠⁠

 Time Stamps:

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

00:00:00  Intro and Background

00:03:43  Starting Individual Trading and High Frequency Systems

00:04:09  Focus on Index Futures and Competitive Markets

00:06:15  Michael Lewis's 'Flash Boys' and HFT Accuracy

00:07:00  Impact of HFT on Smaller Traders

00:09:13  Market Makers and Price Competition

00:09:37  HFT Evolution and Market Dynamics

00:11:24  Trading VIX Futures and Market Inefficiencies

00:13:08  Transitioning to Medium Frequency Trading

00:13:34  Trading Turkish Equities and Market Makings

00:15:35  Exploring Cryptocurrency Trading

00:18:32  Diving into Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

00:20:06  Arbitrage Opportunities in Crypto Markets

00:22:00  Flash Loans and Risk-Free Trading

00:22:48  Adjustments to Trading Bots Over Time

00:25:11  Criteria for Trusting Decentralized Exchanges

00:28:46  Liquidity Providing and Yield Opportunities

00:29:16  Volatility and Risks in Liquidity Provisioning

00:31:47  Understanding Perpetual Contracts in Crypto

00:36:04  October 10, 2025 Crypto Massacre Overview

00:37:36  Leverage and Market Dynamics

00:41:23  Impact of Liquidations on Market Sentiment

00:41:43  Market Maker Behavior During Crises

00:43:45  Liquidity Issues in Centralized Exchanges

00:44:53 Hyper Liquid Vault and Liquidation Dynamics

00:45:55 Market Making Strategies and Risk Management

00:49:15 Insurance Fund Models in DeFi

00:51:43 Ambient Finance Project Overview

00:53:08 Separation of Exchange and Clearinghouse

00:54:14 Innovations in Perpetual Trading

00:55:46 Takeaways from the October 10th Massacre

00:57:03 Future Plans for Insurance Fund Integration

00:58:28 Real World Assets and Crypto Integration

Trading Disclaimer:

 Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Returning guest Vincent Bruzzese — trader, former statistics professor, poker player, and former Hollywood behavioral analyst — joins Tessa for a candid discussion about navigating one of the most narrative-driven markets in years. Known online as “Hari Seldon” in the Real Day Trading community, Vincent is recognized for posting his trades live and delivering multiple years of standout performance, with returns north of 60% and even 80%. 

In this episode, Vincent talks about why traders are struggling with discipline, how sentiment and storylines are overpowering both fundamentals and technicals, and what separates structured trading from gambling. He also shares how tools like his walkaway analysis help reinforce better habits and improve decision-making.

Tessa and Vincent dig into mindset, process, relative strength, risk management, and how he rebuilt after blowing up his account twice. They also explore the emotional side of trading in a market that often feels disconnected from reality — and how traders can stay grounded despite the chaos.

Links +Resources:

 ●      Follow Vincent on Reddit:  ⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/RealDayTrading/⁠

●      Follow Vincent on X:  ⁠@RealDayTrading⁠

●      Vincent on CWT ⁠Episode

●      Vincent can also be found in the OneOption Chat Rooms

●       Trade The Pool:  ⁠http://www.tradethepool.com⁠

 Time Stamps:

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

●     00:00:00  Intro and Background

●     00:07:13  Market Analysis and Trading Strategies

●     00:09:00  Trading Mindset and Emotional Challenges

●     00:11:07  Market Trends and Skepticism

●     00:13:08  Market Irrationality and Future Predictions

●     00:14:41  Valuation Concerns and Institutional

●    00:15:19  Psychological Aspects of Trading

●    00:16:30  Narratives and Market Bubbles

●    00:18:00  Passive Income Strategies in Trading

●    00:21:57  Long-term Investment Strategies

●    00:21:25  Personal Trading Experiences

●    00:24:08  Learning from Trading Losses

●    00:25:12  The Journey to Becoming a Trader

●    00:25:58  Mindset and Trading Psychology

●    00:30:45  Identifying and Avoiding Bad Trades

●    00:32:58  Overcoming Trading Challenges

●    00:37:48  Trading Strategies and Market Analysis

●    00:40:52  Current Market Conditions and Trading

●    00:43:20  Portfolio Management and Trading Style

●    00:46:39  Trading Preparation and Daily Routine

●    01:01:25  Navigating Market Volatility and Uncertainty

●    01:05:41  Final Thoughts on Trading and Market Dynamics

Trading Disclaimer:

 Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christian Carreon returns to Chat With Traders nearly three years after his first appearance, where he shared his remarkable journey through stage-five kidney failure and the discipline it forged in him as a trader. Today, he brings an even deeper perspective—on markets, on patience, and on the Box Strategy that has become his signature.

Christian is a breakout trend trader who waits for compression, defines his levels meticulously, and only commits when price breaks cleanly from the “box” with tight risk and clear direction. In this conversation, he walks us through how his approach has evolved, how he sizes up with confidence, and why patience inside consolidation is the foundation of every edge he has.

From day-trading futures for cash flow to swing-trading leading stocks for growth, Christian shares the discipline, structure, and gratitude that guide both his trading and his life.

Links + Resources:

 ●      Follow Christian on X:  @trading_boxes

●      Christian on NinjaTrader Live

●      Christian on CWT Episode 254

Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:

 ●       Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com

Time Stamps:

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

● 00:00 Intro and Background

● 05:23 Kidney Donation Journey

● 06:37 Recovery Process After Transplant

● 09:45 Mental Focus During Recovery

● 12:51 Trading Goals and Adjustments

● 12:09 Risk Management in Trading

● 12:38 Sizing Up and Position Management

● 15:24 Identifying Trading Opportunities

● 16:23 Market Conditions and Trading Strategy

● 17:28 Support and Resistance Analysis

● 19:00 Using Indicators for Trading

● 22:48 Influence of News on Trading

● 24:00 Box Strategy Overview

● 27:18 Adapting Trading Strategies

● 29:40 Trading Discipline and Limits

● 32:10 Managing Investor Funds

● 33:15 Handling Market Events

● 36:03 Investor Mistakes and Adaptation

● 47:04 Reflections on Trading Journey

● 50:34 Catch up with Tessa

Trading Disclaimer:

Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Efrat t Levy is a cybersecurity expert with a PhD in Computer Science and AI from Ben-Gurion University—one of Israel’s top tech institutions. After years studying how to detect hackers through side-channel signals, she applied the same logic to trading.

In this conversation, Dr. Levy explains how she uses machine learning to map non-repainting key levels that reveal the hidden order flow—the subtle timing and volume clues that expose the real intent of big players. She shows how correlated markets often move together at these key levels and how that insight helps her trade with precision and low drawdown.

We discuss filtering noise, managing psychology, and bridging cybersecurity thinking with market analysis—exploring how data and discipline can uncover the quieter forces shaping market behavior.

Links + Resources: 

●      Dr. Levy’s website:  https://ctpacademy.com/

●      Dr. Levy’s email: [email protected]

●      Dr. Levy on youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@EGIndicators

●      Dr. Levy’s linktree: https://linktr.ee/efrat.levy

Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:

 ●       Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com

Time Stamps:

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

 ●   00:00 – Intro: From AI & cyber to trading

●     01:20 – PhD background, domains where AI applies

●     04:30 – First market exposure: anomaly detection for derivatives

●     07:45 – Side-channel analysis: uncovering hidden intent

●     12:10 – “Hidden order flow” and fingerprinting big players

● 18:30 – Single-tick levels vs. zones; why zones mislead

●     22:00 – The correlation filter: 3 of 4 assets hitting together

●     26:00 – Entries & stops: lowest drawdown mindset

●     30:30 – Managing trades by other markets’ levels

●     33:45 – Timeframe-agnostic approach; redefining “correlation”

●     51:00 – Instruments: indices, gold/silver/copper/platinum

●     56:00 – Psychological tripwires:streaks, missed A+ setups, ego risk

●     1:04:00 – How to reach Dr. Levy

●     1:05:00 – Catch up with Tessa

Trading Disclaimer:

 Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a trader from Dallas built consistency—and a simple lifestyle of freedom in Southeast Asia—with a 30% win rate.  Diego Ivan Cortes Lopez grew up chasing perfection on the tennis court, where winning came naturally, but it was trading that taught him how to win by losing.

Links + Resources:

 ●      Diego’s Instagram:  diegoivan__7

●      Diego’s Email: [email protected]

Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast:

Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com

TastyTrade:  https://tastytrade.com/

Time Stamps:

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

 ●    00:00 – Early Life & Tennis

●     04:30 – Tennis Coaching & Business Success

●     09:00 – Early trading and the six-figure drawdown

●     14:00 – Rebuilding & Moving Aboard

●     20:00 – Finding Oliver Velez, relearning

●     27:00 – Today’s playbook: daily levels, 5-min entries, first-hour focus

●     34:00 – Risk, sizing, psychology, and “becoming a great loser”

●     40:00 – Living/trading in Asia; consistency over perfection

●     46:00 – Struggles, losing streaks, and long-term confidence

●     50:00 – Brief chat with Tessa

Trading Disclaimer:

 Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined by Jack Schwager—author of the legendary Market Wizards series and co-founder of FundSeeder—along with his partner and fellow co-founder & CEO, Emanuel Balarie. Jack shares what it really takes to be considered for a Market Wizards book: not one formula, but a mix of standout performance, disciplined risk, and an almost obsessive commitment to process and adaptation. Along the way, we dig into why survival so often hinges on position sizing and pre-planned exits, whether strategies like trend following can still hold up today, and the paradox of how fundamental convictions can actually work against risk management.

Emanuel then explains how FundSeeder discovers talented but undiscovered traders worldwide, using analytics to measure performance and the FundSeeder Rise accelerator (now part of RQSI) to help top performers make the leap from trading their own accounts to managing outside capital. Think of it as a “farm system” for the next generation of fund managers. Few will ultimately make the cut, but every great manager starts somewhere—and if you’ve been honing your craft and building a real track record, this episode might spark the thought: why not you?

Time Stamps:

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

00:00 – Introduction and background

10:50 – What qualifies as “Market Wizards” performance

15:20 – Longevity vs. hot streaks

17:20 – Position sizing & cutting losses

19:20 – Obsession level + trainee mindset

24:20 – When edges die (index adds, VIX pattern)

27:20 – Trend logic vs. whipsaw reality

32:20 – Fundamentals vs. risk management

38:20 – “Know your exit before entry”

39:50 – FundSeeder origin story

42:20 – Evaluating traders (quant + qual)

48:20 – Why the Rise accelerator exists

52:20 – RQSI’s role in seeding talent

55:20 – Free analytics & benchmarking for traders

57:20 – How to apply / contact

Trading Disclaimer:

Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Links + Resources:

FundSeeder: https://fundseeder.com

FundSeeder Rise (accelerator): https://www.fundseeder.com/rise

FundSeeder on X:  https://x.com/fundseeder

Jack Schwager: https://x.com/jackschwager  | http://www.jackschwager.com/

Emanuel Balarie: https://x.com/emanuelbalarie

Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast:

Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A former competitive gamer, Mario Dimitroff from Bulgaria got his start on a local trading floor before discovering that the U.S. premarket session best fit his skills. Now trading for a living and doing nothing else, his news-driven, event-based scalping focuses on low-liquidity movers. Leveraging gaming-honed speed and pattern recognition, he quickly decides whether to ride momentum or fade to mean, enters/exits fast, sizes within liquidity, and sustains his edge by cutting losers quickly, avoiding drawdowns, and stacking small consistent wins. In this episode, you’ll hear how Mario turned his competitive gaming instincts into an all-in commitment to the markets and full-time trading career.

Links + Resources:

Sponsors of this episode of the Chat With Traders Podcast:

Time Stamps:

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

01:30 Introduction and background

03:50 Early Experiences and Learning from Failure

07:38 Return to Trading During COVID-19

08:38 Working on a Trading Floor

10:51 Trading Strategies and Market Insights

11:14 Imposter Syndrome and Mental Challenges in Trading

14:57 Career Decisions and Trading Philosophy

18:49 Finding Trading Edge and Style

20:39 Scalping and Pre-Market Trading

21:40 Meme Stocks and Market Euphoria

24:07 Navigating Market Downturns

25:49 Understanding Euphoria and Market Psychology

43:54 Avoiding Drawdowns and Maintaining Profitability

45:48 Scalping Strategies and Risk Management

51:56 Biggest challenges as a trader

59:15 How to reach Mario

59:30 Chat With Tessa

Trading Disclaimer:

Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Online funding prop firms have captured the attention of traders in recent years. In this episode, the CEO of Trade The Pool, Michael Katz, joins the podcast to answer key questions and offer perspective from inside one of the leading firms. The conversation explores how these firms operate, what they mean for traders, and the common debates surrounding them.  The goal is not promotion of prop firms, but to pull back the curtain and provide a clearer understanding of the role prop firms play in today’s trading landscape.

Links +

●     Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com

Sponsors

●      Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com

●       Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉https://us.plus500.com

Time

Please note - Exact times will vary depending

●     00:00   Introduction and background

●     05:02   Attraction to Funding Prop Firms

●     06:06   Risk Management and Evaluation Fees

●     10:08   Misconceptions About Prop Firms

●     11:58   Education and Community Support

●     15:35   Trading Evaluation Process

●     18:47   Success Rates and Trader Psychology

●     20:04   Adjusting Strategies for Prop Trading

●     22:07   Rules and Boundaries in Trading

●     27:51   Success Stories and Learning Curves

●     28:58   Psychology of Funded Trading

●     31:52   Trader Retention and Patterns

●     33:54   Scaling and Risk Management

●     38:42   Payout Rules and Compliance

●     40:29   Adapting Rules for Trader Success

 Trading

Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in Germany without a financial background, Julian Komar became fascinated by stocks as a teenager. He moved past complex German trading products to concentrate on U.S. equities. Specializing in momentum and growth stocks on the daily timeframe, he blends fundamentals, technicals, and story analysis to uncover opportunities that put him in the best position for high-potential setups and riding powerful trends. As a disciplined breakout trader, he prioritizes risk control, market trends, and intuition gained through decades of experience.

About Julian Komar

Julian is a trader, mentor, and entrepreneur. With over 20 years of stock trading experience, he trades growth and momentum stocks using a systematic strategy, holding winners for weeks to months and cutting losers within days — a style that perfectly matches his personality. Julian’s passion lies in uncovering innovative companies with the potential to grow sales rapidly and achieve significant long-term success. He devotes 95% of his energy to research, searching for the next potential “super stock.”

Trading Disclaimer

Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Links + Resources

Follow Julian on X:  https://x.com/BlogJulianKomar

Julian’s Website: https://julian-komar.com/contact/

Time Stamps

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

00:00 Introduction and background

10:20 Fundamentals and technicals

17:30 Sister stocks

28:30 Trading the GFC

34:02 Worst drawdowns

33:00 The setup for the trade

43:00 Position sizing

52:30 Trading performance

1:08:35 How to reach Julian

1:09:00 Tessa Chats with Julian

Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast:

Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉⁠https://us.plus500.com⁠Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.

Trade The Pool:  ⁠http://www.tradethepool.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From academic struggles at SUNY Albany to holding the world record for the largest prop firm payouts—roughly $4.5 million in total, Kyle Ng a.k.a. JadeCap’s journey started out like many aspiring traders. Sparked by a childhood friend's success in forex about 14 years ago, he found his way into the financial markets.  Like many traders, he went through the pain, losses and sacrifices and struggles, but at the same time he’s also unlike many traders, slowly building his edge through discipline, risk management, and a long-term mindset.

Over the years, he’s leveraged prop firms to scale his returns, transitioning fluidly between forex and futures while adapting his approach to changing market conditions. Influenced by ICT’s teachings, his style blends patience, adaptability, and the wisdom to step back when the market calls for it.

In this episode, we dive into the mindset behind the milestones, the real-life lessons from his trading evolution, and what it truly takes to thrive in trading.

Trading Disclaimer

Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

Time Stamps

Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads.

00:00 Introduction and background

10:25 Early trade experiences

12:30 Evolving strategies

16:55 Blowing up accounts

21:10 Evolving into a full time trader

25:55 Utilizing online prop firms to minimize risk

01:55 The real money is made with processes

35:05 ICT trading system

39:40 Success tied to intuition?

43:30 When to put the foot on the gas

50:00 Resisting the urge to change strategies

56:05 What Kyle struggles with

58:20 How to reach Kyle

58:40 Bonus Section:  Tessa Chats with Kyle – more on prop firms

Links + Resources

Reach Kyle on X:  https://x.com/jadecap_

Kyle’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JadeCap

Kye’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jadecapofficial/?hl=en

Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast:

Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉https://us.plus500.comTrading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.

Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices