The Options Insider Radio Network

Latest Episodes:

TWIFO 508: It's All About Weird Verticals Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Weird vertical spreads are popping up all over the futures options markets this week!

Host Mark Longo is joined by Scott Bauer of Prosper Trading Academy to break down the latest options activity across the CME Group markets, including some unusual 500-point Nasdaq verticals, massive put activity in WTI crude oil, strange spreads in silver and gold, and the latest action in natural gas.

They also discuss the surge in out-of-the-money Nasdaq calls, whether crude oil volatility may be getting too cheap, the renewed strength in precious metals, CME Group's return to single stock futures, and much more.

The Hot Options Report: 08-06-2026 Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

NVIDIA dominates the options volume leaderboard while SpaceX bounces back following its first earnings report.

On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names across the options market, including NVIDIA (NVDA), SpaceX, Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), Micron (MU), Microsoft (MSFT), Hertz (HTZ), Intel (INTC), Amazon (AMZN), and Palantir (PLTR).

We also kick things off with a look at the Golden Sweeps, where big-money options activity is lighting up SPY and AMD.

Which trades are working, which short-dated options are running out of time, and where is options paper placing its bets heading into Friday? Find out on The Hot Options Report.

For more options activity, unusual options flow, sweeps, scans, and analytics, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The Option Block 489: POETs, Psychedelics and Broken HNGEs Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of The Option Block, we break down the latest action in the options market, including what's driving the major indices, the latest moves in VIX, another big month for options volume, and activity in some of the market's most-watched names.

Then it's time to get weird in the Odd Block with unusual options activity in Compass Pathways (CMPS), Hinge Health (HNGE), and POET Technologies (POET). We dig into psychedelic options flow, a Hinge trade that wasn't quite what it first appeared to be, and a sea of short-dated POET calls lighting up the tape. Plus, we revisit a previous Chime (CHYM) trade after the stock's huge earnings move.

We also discuss the latest action in AMD, AMZN, PLTR, INTC, MSFT, MU, TSLA, AAPL, SpaceX, NVDA and more.

Featuring: Mark Longo, Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw.

Wide World of Options: Using a Scalpel, Not a Sledgehammer: The Rise of Derivative ETFs Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Host Mark Benzaquen sits down with Sara Levin, Managing Director, ETF and Derivative Trading at WallachBeth Capital, for her very first podcast appearance. Fresh off moderating a panel at the Options Industry Conference, Sara breaks down the rapid growth of derivative ETFs — from buffer and defined outcome strategies to FLEX options and box ETFs. She explains how the ETF wrapper has made sophisticated derivatives accessible to both retail and institutional investors, why education remains essential as these worlds collide, and what it really means to take a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer to the market.

The Futures Rundown 86: Slinging Futures From the Batcave Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

What happens when one of futures trading's most active voices joins us live from a secret "Batcave?" Plenty of market insight—and more than a few laughs.

This week, Mark Longo is joined by Jermal Chandler (tastytrade) to break down the biggest stories moving the futures markets, including:

Crude oil's wild reversal and why headlines continue to drive energy markets
Gold, silver and palladium showing renewed strength
Bond futures dominating trading activity as traders watch the Fed
Nasdaq futures, tech volatility and the latest AI-driven market rotation
The return of Bloomberg's B100 futures
Are traders actually embracing the new Single Stock Futures?
VIX volatility fades following another blockbuster earnings season
Plus, the hottest futures products of the week, year-to-date leaders and laggards, and what active futures traders are watching next.

The Hot Options Report: 08-05-2026 Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

SpaceX crashes while AMD's post-earnings rally fizzles. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down another action-packed day in the options market as traders react to a wave of earnings-driven volatility.

AMD briefly pushed back above the $500 level after earnings before reversing sharply, while SpaceX suffered a brutal post-earnings selloff in its first earnings report as a public company. NVIDIA once again dominated the options tape with more than 6.3 million contracts traded, including over 1 million contracts on a single strike.

You'll also get a look at today's most active options names, unusual activity from QuikOptions, and a breakdown of the biggest trades across:

NVIDIA (NVDA)
SpaceX (SPCX)
Tesla (TSLA)
Apple (AAPL)
Amazon (AMZN)
AMD (AMD)
Alphabet (GOOGL)
Micron (MU)
Intel (INTC)
Microsoft (MSFT)

Plus, we highlight unusual options activity in LOVE, XPEL, and GERN using the powerful scans available at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Options Boot Camp 402: Double Calendars and the Fall of Constantinople Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

What do double calendar spreads and the Fall of Constantinople have in common? More than you might think.

On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli use a memorable historical analogy to explain one of Dan's favorite advanced options strategies: the double calendar spread.

The discussion covers:

What a double calendar spread actually is
Why it can be viewed as a "strangle swap"
How Dan structures weekly double calendars
When he typically enters and exits the trade
Why wider breakevens aren't always guaranteed
A recent SPX double calendar example
Managing profits and avoiding common mistakes

Then it's time for listener questions covering:

Selling cash-secured puts versus covered calls near market highs
Trading calendars and diagonals during earnings season
Whether buying options into earnings still makes sense
Scaling into positions
Weekly SPY options and whether traders are sacrificing edge for more opportunities

The Crypto Rundown 234: Summer Slump or Setup? Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Is the crypto market simply cooling off for the summer, or are traders quietly positioning for the next big move?

This week on The Crypto Rundown, Mark Longo breaks down a quieter week across the digital asset landscape as Bitcoin and Ethereum pull back from recent highs, implied volatility remains subdued, and options traders continue hunting for inexpensive upside exposure.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Bitcoin's retreat from recent highs and what it could mean for the weeks ahead
Why traders are still buying upside calls in IBIT despite lower volatility
MicroStrategy's latest earnings, massive Bitcoin holdings, and unusual options activity
Ethereum, ETHA and the continued search for value in crypto options
Options flow and volatility in BitMine (BMNR), Circle (CRCL) and PER
A look at the latest crypto market cap rankings, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, BNB, Hyperliquid, DOGE and more
The biggest options trades, volatility levels and unusual activity shaping the crypto markets

The Hot Options Report: 08-03-2026 Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Kick off August with another action-packed edition of The Hot Options Report as Big Tech Extends Its Rally and options traders pile into the market's biggest names.

This episode breaks down the most active names in the options market, including NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Micron, Intel, Alphabet, and PG&E, along with unusual sweep activity in Devon Energy, PG&E, and GameStop.

You'll hear:

NVIDIA climbs back above $200 as traders swarm same-day calls.
Tesla powers higher with nearly 3 million contracts traded.
Apple extends its post-earnings slide as traders keep chasing a rebound.
Amazon and Microsoft continue to build on last week's blockbuster earnings rallies.
Meta surges after its sharp reversal in sentiment.
The hottest options trades, unusual flow, and what stood out across the tape.

Plus, we kick things off with a look at the latest QuikOptions sweep scan featuring DVN, PCG, and GME, highlighting where smart money may be positioning before diving into the day's biggest options movers.

For even more unusual options activity, advanced scans, and professional-grade analytics, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The Option Block 488: Putting Lipstick on SPCE Pigs Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Markets roared back to start the week as earnings optimism, cooling oil prices, and renewed geopolitical hopes sent stocks sharply higher while volatility took another hit.

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi to break down the biggest stories shaping the options market.

This episode includes:

A rally fueled by Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and the broader AI trade
Is the "Lag Seven" becoming the "Mag Seven" again?
Why VIX plunged back into the 15-handle
What traders should watch ahead of SpaceX's first earnings report
The latest unusual options activity in Hartford Financial (HIG)
Speculative call buying returns to Virgin Galactic (SPCE)
Strategy Block: Momentum trading versus buying the dip—which style fits you?
Around the Block: SpaceX earnings, AI spending, rates and what could drive markets next

Plus, the panel debates AI capital spending, volatility, market leadership, and whether investors are simply "putting lipstick on SPCE pigs."

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Options Insider Radio Network

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected