Chris Pariseault hosts the first episode of "Alternative Angles," a podcast series on alternative investments, featuring David Gaito of Fidelity Investments and Ariel Goldblatt of StepStone Group. They discuss the direct lending market, which is a $1.2 trillion segment of the $1.8 trillion private debt market. Direct lending involves private debt issued by small and mid-sized companies, often due to inaccessibility to public markets. The conversation highlights the importance of culture, the inefficiencies in the market, and the need for a disciplined approach to investment. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities in the current market environment, including the impact of rising interest rates and the importance of diversification. Here is a breakdown of this episode: