The Trader's Journey

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with Max Ganik, Senior Trader at SMB Capital, to discuss his path into professional stock trading.

Max was introduced to markets at an early age, started trading options as a teenager, and eventually chose prop trading over the traditional sales & trading route after graduating from the University of Michigan.

Max walks us through his first year on the desk in 2020, the wild momentum markets that shaped his early edge, and how he evolved from small-cap scalper to options-focused large-cap and idea trader. He breaks down his framework for grading his trades, overcoming drawdowns, how he thinks about risk tiers, and much more.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with Dave Mabe – computer scientist, trader, and former CTO of Trade Ideas – to unpack how backtesting and automation can transform a "good idea" into a rules-based, data-backed trading system.

Dave shares his path from journaling trades and thinking like an engineer, to running formal backtests, stress-testing strategies, and eventually automating execution. Whether you're a discretionary trader curious about data, or already running systems and looking to avoid curve-fitting disasters, this episode gives you a blueprint for turning ideas into robust strategies.

From losing money on his first account in 1987 to compounding 1,400% in a single Tesla trade in his personal account, Charles Harris has lived through every extreme a trader can face. Handpicked by William O'Neil to manage money as a portfolio manager, Charles shares his raw journey of wins, losses, and the psychology that defines true trading success. This episode is filled with lessons on confidence, risk, and balance that every trader needs to hear.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony Nieto speaks with Dr. Brett Steenbarger, the world's leading trading psychologist, performance coach to hedge funds and proprietary firms, and author of landmark books including The Psychology of Trading and The Daily Trading Coach.

Dr. Steenbarger shares how curiosity, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and new technologies can help shape trader success — and why every trader already has the "seed" of success inside them.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with David Capablanca (@reverse_long) — a trader known for his relentless short-selling investigations into some of the market's most questionable companies. David has built a reputation by uncovering red flags, publishing deep-dive research, and sharing his findings across social media and YouTube.

What makes this episode unique is that David doesn't just talk about activist short-selling — he shares his screen with us, walking step-by-step through trading setups, research, and execution behind his most memorable trades. From the space (MNTS) to cannabis (FLGC) industries and beyond, David takes us directly inside his process for spotting potential frauds, structuring trades, and managing risk in a world where retail hype often collides with reality.

This is a must-watch conversation for anyone who wants to understand how professional short-sellers think, investigate, and execute in volatile markets.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, I sit down with Abdullah Rasheed — engineer turned trader and founder of ProfitX. Abdullah shares how his technical background shaped his trading approach, the role of data in building a repeatable edge, and why most traders underestimate the power of process and discipline.

We cover his favorite setups, risk management strategies, and how documenting every trade helped him evolve into a consistent, confident trader. If you've ever wondered how to combine technical skill with trader psychology, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, we sit down with David Keller, President and Chief Research Officer at Sierra Alpha Research, former President of the CMT Association, and host of the Market Misbehavior and CHART THIS podcast.

David's journey from Bloomberg to leading research firms is defined by his thoughtful combination of technical analysis and behavioral finance. With a background in music and psychology, he offers a refreshing perspective on how mindset, routine, and market observation can provide traders with a true edge.

Whether you're a chartist, a discretionary trader, or someone battling internal bias, this conversation offers timeless lessons for navigating modern markets with clarity and purpose.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Ryan Sellers (@OpenOutcrier) shares experience and knowledge from his trading journey — from the floors of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) where he worked as a market maker to today where he trades his own capital while serving as a respected voice in the retail trading community.

In this conversation, Ryan walks us through the wisdom he's learned over the decades to become a successful trader: the institutional foundation, the changing market cycles and painful transition to solo trading, the evolution of mindset, and so much more. If you're overwhelmed by the noise of financial Twitter or unsure who to trust, this episode is a breath of honest, grounded wisdom.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down to chat with Tapereader – a veteran trader who transformed an initial stake of $4,000 into over $16 million across a 29-year career. TapeReader shares the realities behind long-term trading success: from his humble start trading out of an Air Force barracks in the 1990s, through surviving the dot-com bubble and 2008 market crash, to achieving financial independence. In 2010, at age 34, he "retired" after hitting eight-figure profits, choosing to take a 10-year sabbatical from the markets to raise his four young children. Tape returned to trading a decade later with a fresh perspective.

In this episode, he candidly discusses the mid-life realization that chasing endless profits can be a trap, and how stepping away helped him find greater purpose, and how he chooses to teach his son to trade while he prepares to retire for a second time, focused on family legacy and life beyond the screen. This episode's focus isn't about hype or quick wins – it's a rare look at the patience, resilience, and life balance behind a successful multi-decade trading journey. We consider this a must-watch for anyone seeking long-term success in trading while building a meaningful life and legacy.

In this special group episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony moderates a high-impact discussion with professional traders Neil O'Donnell and Dan Beardsley, along with world-class high performance coach Dr. Tom Crawford. Together, they explore the hidden cost of success, the mental game behind elite performance, and how to build a sustainable, long-term career in trading. From managing pressure to navigating burnout, this conversation delivers raw, real, and actionable insights for any trader serious about lasting success.