In this episode, Brian Young shares some observations of what it was like to be the CFTC’s most recent Director of Enforcement, his time leading the CFTC’s Whistleblower’s program, early entry into the derivatives space from his time at the DOJ, and more!

Brian’s tenure as Director of Enforcement overlapped with the CFTC’s recent enforcement sprint, and Brian shares some observations about how the DOE actioned on the CFTC priorities to make that sprint successful and industry’s response.

Tune in to hear how the ‘crucible of trial,’ early mentors, and experiences as an Acting Director at the Department of Justice helped solidify Brian’s view that a successful enforcement action was one that led to just results, with no winners or losers. 

Along the way, Brian discusses the importance of appreciating where you are in the moment, the importance of the Whistleblower program, and some tips of how to conquer the learning curve into this space. 

Enjoy the discussion and as always - Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you’d like to see featured on the Podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

In this episode, Carl Kennedy shares his observations about the recent Futures and Derivatives Law Report Digital Asset Leadership Summit that he helped put together, his work as the managing editor for the 2025 Chambers Global Overview on Derivatives, and more!  

Listen in to hear some perspectives and reflections from Carl’s initial entry to this space, from learning an almost new language while working with ISDA to leading the CFTC’s cross-border jurisdiction guidance in the wake of the Dodd-Frank Act and moving to private practice. 

Digital assets and what to expect next from the CFTC at this pivotal moment in its history are top of mind as Carl also shares some candid observations gleaned from his fireside chat with Acting Chairman Pham at the recent leadership summit. 

Enjoy the discussion and as always - Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you’d like to see featured on the Podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

In this episode, Rob Schwartz shares his take on recent CFTC and SEC regulatory harmonization. Along the way, the 16th General Counsel of the CFTC describes his first foray into the derivatives industry, milestone moments during his tenure at the agency, and excitement for the future for our favorite agency (#CFTC).

Newcomers to the derivatives space - this may be your time to join and learn up quickly! Listen in to hear Rob's take on why and how.

Enjoy the discussion and as always - Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you’d like to see featured on the Podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

In this episode, we sit down with Pamela Geraghty of MPD fame to talk about her background, some of the exciting parts of her tenure at the CFTC, and specifically focus on the Operational Resilience Framework for Futures Commission Merchants, Swap Dealers, and Major Swap Participants that she had a large part in putting together and has recently been withdrawn by the CFTC, and what that means to the industry now.

Pamela also shares some early career memories, impactful mentors, and appreciation for the close-knit derivatives bar.

Enjoy the discussion and as always - Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you’d like to see featured on the Podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

In this episode, Renato Mariotti shares parts of his journey from working on the first spoofing case as an AUSU, the Flash Boys, and bunking in at an FIA conference to learn more about the derivatives space, to now being on the front lines of advising industry participants on “getting used to the new normal” at the CFTC as it undergoes a “reconceptualization of priorities” under Acting Chairman Pham. 

Enjoy the discussion of advice received and dispensed to early entrants to the derivatives space, including the quick hit list of areas to focus on and the need for a growth mindset, the crypto sprint, and what recent CFTC press releases may be signaling to the industry beyond the page. Enthusiasm for the CFTC as an agency certainly abounds now as it seems poised to expand its remit, and hopefully its resources as well, in the near future.

As always - Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you’d like to see featured on the Podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

In this episode, we sit down with De’Ana Dow to discuss her extensive experience in the derivatives space from the time she joined Huddleston’s K Street Office a few years after the CFTC started, to her early work on the Hunt Brothers case and CFTC rulemaking related to dual trading prohibition and audit trail requirements, to later working in various Commissioner offices and her drafting of impactful rules and regulation, including the predecessor regulation to the CFMA. 

Enjoy the discussion of the similarities and differences between the CFMA’s impact and the ongoing discussions surrounding the legislative and regulatory approaches for digital assets and other innovative market developments. 

Along the way, De’Ana reflects on some advice she received early in her career that has stayed with her and shares helpful guidance to newcomers to the complex and continuously developing CFTC space. 

De’Ana also shares her excitement for the industry moving forward, and the new CFTC leadership tasked with helping it flourish safely. 

As always - Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you’d like to see featured on the Podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

Ever wonder what copper ingots have to do with crypto and digital assets? Tune in to the latest Podcast episode with Peter Malyshev to find out!

In this episode, we sit down with Peter Malyshev to discuss his version of a crash course in Derivatives as well as a six-step framework for assessing new matters in the derivatives space, from defining a commodity to substantive law and enforcement. 

We also discuss Peter’s background and the many waves of the derivatives industry that he has experienced, from the nascent markets in post-soviet Russia, OTCs and the Dodd-Frank Act, and now crypto and digital assets.  As Peter teaches his derivatives students, the themes and trends of derivatives, commodities, and market dynamics have long been a part of history, stretching all the way back to ancient Babylon and continuing until today.  

Lastly, we discuss Peter’s views on the current trends in the derivatives industry and optimism for the future. 

As always, Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you'd like to see featured on the podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

In this episode, we sit down with Ryne Miller for an exciting discussion ranging from Ryne’s recommendation for the four principles needed for a crypto regulation one-pager to a lookback at his first foray into the derivatives industry as an associate for the financial products of his firm’s oil and gas clients in Oklahoma, and the many experiences along the way. 

The conversation considers the parallels between what Congress and the CFTC accomplished with the Dodd-Frank Act as a response to OTCs and the 2008 financial crisis and what Congress and the CFTC may do to regulate crypto, digital assets, and new technology impacting market structure moving forward.

Other topics include FIA Boca 2025 and the trend towards 24/7 trading, admiration for the public servants who work in the CFTC, including the incoming CFTC leadership, and developing market structures.

Ryne also describes his goal of keeping his career centered around market structure innovation and advises newcomers to the industry to try to put in the time to master the subject matter of whatever project is in front of you.

As always, Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you'd like to see featured on the podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

Join our fascinating discussion as Gary DeWaal reflects on how he got started in the derivatives industry from wearing his scarlet badge and learning the business as a CFTC enforcement officer in the trading pits to leading the Katten Financial Markets and Regulation Practice and the many experiences along the way.

Some of the timely themes discussed include some of Gary's observations on DOGE and streamlining the agency, the trade off of the CFTC’s principles based regulations and enforcement authority, crypto and blockchain and the potential impact on financial markets, quantum computing, and some of exciting things to look forward from the CFTC going forward under Acting Chairman Pham and the nomination of Brian Quintenz. In Gary’s words, “we’re at the cusp of potentially very exciting regulatory developments” — join us as we continue to explore these developments and so much more!

Follow, like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC or derivatives related content. If there is someone you'd like to see featured on the podcast or a specific topic you want discussed, send your comments and suggestions our way!

In this first Podcast, we sat down with Josh Sterling, former CFTC Division Director and currently partner in private practice. Josh shared a bit about his background and how he got into the derivatives space (a derivative of what he was working on at the time as it were), advice to newcomers to the derivatives space, and some memorable experiences. Listen to the full episode to hear Josh's perspective on the changes to CFTC leadership and agency rule-making in the context of recent Executive Orders and shifting federal landscape, as well as some of the biggest challenges the CFTC industry will likely have to manage.

Like, share, and subscribe for more great CFTC related content! If there is someone you'd like to see featured on this podcast or a specific topic you want analyzed, send your comments and suggestions our way!