The Options Insider Radio Network

Latest Episodes:

Options Boot Camp 379: AI Round 3 -Earnings Trading Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the "drill instructors" Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli return for Round 3 of their battle against the machines. With Nvidia (NVDA) earnings taking center stage, they put a premium AI model to the test: can a chatbot actually teach you how to trade the "volatility crush," or is it just repeating bad habits?

In this episode, you'll learn:

The AI Framework: Analyzing the 6-step checklist for earnings success.
The Volatility Crush: Why buying "cheap" weekly calls is often a trap.
Strategy Showdown: Comparing Iron Condors and Credit Spreads vs. Long Straddles.
Risk Management: Why the 1% to 3% rule is the only way to survive earnings season.

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The Futures Rundown 67: Who the Hell Knows about Crypto, Coffee, Cocoa and More? Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

The futures markets are moving fast this week. From a 20% surge in Lithium to the continued "annihilation" of Cocoa bulls, Mark Longo and Dan Gramza break down the top 15 most active contracts and the year-to-date movers you need to watch.

In this episode:

Crypto Uncertainty: Why Bitcoin and Ether are struggling to find sustainable footing despite recent bounces.
Agricultural Deep Dive: Exploring the global supply chains of Coffee (Arabica vs. Robusta) and the unique production systems of Cocoa in West Africa.
Energy Outlook: Why Crude Oil is currently an "anticipation market" rather than a supply-demand story.
Metals Momentum: Is Silver finally ready to lead Gold, or is it just a byproduct of industrial demand for solar cells?

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The Hot Options Report: 02-25-26 Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Host Mark Longo breaks down today's "Retail Giant" scan, highlighting high-volume retail activity in Sony (SONY) and Unilever (UL). We dive into the massive 8% rally in MicroStrategy (MSTR), volatility shifts in AMD and Meta, and the high-stakes positioning in Nvidia (NVDA) ahead of their major earnings announcement.

Key Highlights:

Retail Scans: Sony, Unilever, and MercadoLibre.
The Monster: Analyzing the MSTR $130 call surge.
Earnings Watch: Breaking down the NVDA $200 par strike.

Visit TheOptionsInsider.com for more.

The European Market Brief 19: Rocking & Rolling in Rates Feb 25, 2026

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The trading day doesn't start at the bell—it starts with the data. In this episode of The European Market Brief, Mark Longo heads across the pond to dive deep into the mechanics of the European rates market.

He is joined by an expert panel featuring Dr. Russell Rhoads (Indiana University), Rex Jones (Eurex), and Mingyue Xin (Deutsche Bank) to break down one of the most critical yet misunderstood periods in the derivatives calendar: The Roll.

Inside this episode:

The "Jelly Roll" Debate: Why the transition from March to June is a "subculture" unto itself in the rates market.
The Art & Science of the Roll: Finding the "sweet spot" for execution and avoiding the pitfalls of being a late roller.
US vs. EU Rates: Structural differences in delivery dates and how they impact your portfolio.
Basis Trading 101: Why hedge funds are fixated on the basis trade and how to understand "Net Basis."
Cheapest to Deliver (CTD): Understanding the delivery basket and the conversion factor for Bund, Bobl, and Schatz.

Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the rates complex, learn how to navigate the cross-border volatility and innovation that makes the European marketplace so fascinating.

The Hot Options Report: 02-24-26 Feb 24, 2026

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Is the AI chip war shifting? On today's Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down a wild Tuesday on the tape where AMD stole the spotlight with a massive 9% rampage following a blockbuster deal with Meta (META). While the "Golden Sweeps" at The HotOptionsReport.com flagged seven-figure bets in Nvidia (NVDA) and the SPX, all eyes were on the dramatic recovery in Hims & Hers (HIMS).

We dive into the Top 10 most active options chains to see who is buying the dip and who is fading the rip:

HIMS Post-Earnings: After a "sweaty" morning drop to $13.75, HIMS battled back. We analyze the 25,000 $16 calls expiring Friday.
AMD's Meta Moment: A $17.25 gain in a single day. Was the paper buying or selling the 187.5 puts?
The Tech Giants: Exploring the "freight train" momentum in Apple (AAPL) and the struggle for Palantir (PLTR).
Tesla (TSLA) at #1: Traders pile into the 400-strike "par" puts as Tesla reclaims the top spot.
The Golden Sweep Newcomer: Why is someone dropping over $1M on EWY (South Korea ETF) puts?

Get the edge at:

Pro Analysis: theoptionsinsider.com/pro
Live Scans: the hotoptionsreport.com

The Hot Options Report: 02-23-26 Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Market volatility took center stage this Monday as traders pivoted their focus toward macro indexes, leaving single-name options volume fighting for the spotlight. Join Mark Longo of the Options Insider Radio Network as he breaks down the top 10 most active names on the tape.

From Tesla's battle at the $400 level to Microsoft's continued struggle and Nvidia's defiance of the broader sell-off, we analyze the specific strikes and paper flow dominating the day. Discover where the "smart money" was overriding calls in Alphabet and why Netflix bulls are taking a speculative flyer on a recovery.

In this episode, we cover:

The surprise volume leader outshining Nvidia.
Tech heavyweights: Meta, Amazon, and Apple's intraday swings.
The "Token Dividend Play" making a splash in J&J.
Deep dives into Palantir and the impact of new Monday weeklies.

Get the data you need to "kick the tires and light the fire" on your trading strategy.

Check out more at: TheHotOptionsReport.com

Upgrade your trading game: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro

The Crypto Rundown 309: Is Skew Showing the Sky is Falling? Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Is the crypto "retail wave" finally drying up? This week on The Crypto Rundown, Mark Longo and Greg Magadini (Amberdata) dive into a "blood-red" market as Bitcoin slips below $65k and Ethereum struggles to hold key support levels.

We break down the dramatic shift in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) skew, analyzing why the 25-delta risk reversal is hitting extreme negative levels not seen since the FTX or Terra Luna collapses.

Key Topics Covered:

The "Incremental Buyer" Problem: With VCs and ETFs already positioned, who is left to buy the dip?
Volatility Analysis: Why implied volatility (IV) remains "hunched" while skew is screaming "danger."
Ibit Options Impact: Analyzing the 1 million contracts per day milestone and the heavy flow on 35-strike puts.
Altcoin Universe: Deep dives into Solana, Dogecoin, and the "wreckage" in Ethereum (ETH).
MSTR & MSTU Strategies: Managing "lottery trades" when the underlying goes underwater.

Resources:

Get granular on-chain data: Amberdata
Follow the network: @Options on Twitter/X

The Option Block 1446: Easy Rice, Bloody Markets and Looming Canadian Invasions Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

The sea of green has officially evaporated. On this episode of The Option Block, the All-Star Panel breaks down a brutal Monday as markets leak oil and geopolitical risks shift from the Middle East to Mexico. From the "0DTE-ification" of the major indices to unusual moves in the real estate sector, we're breaking down all the action from the pits to the screen.

The Trading Block:

Weekend Risk Realized: Market bloodletting in the S&P, Dow, and NASDAQ. Is this a "buy the dip" opportunity or the start of a volatility regime shift?
VIX & Vol: Analyzing the VIX cash surge to 21.5 and the backwardation in the front-end term structure.
Tech Churn: Why AI has become a "millstone" around the neck of the Mag Seven.
Earnings Intel: Pricing the "Pizza Vol" for Domino's ($DPZ) and the drama in Himms ($HIMS).

The Odd Block:

Compass ($COMP): A familiar face returns with a massive 16,000-contract put buy. Are they hedging or bracing for a real estate wreck?
PayPal ($PYPL): Takeover rumors swirl as the stock gets a rare shot in the arm.

Strategy Block:

Perfectionism is the Enemy: Uncle Mike breaks down why rigid adherence to strikes is impossible and how a JP Morgan ($JPM) covered call turned into a 4.5% "gift."

Around the Block:

State of the Union Preview: Will Tuesday night's address spark a tariff-driven frenzy?
Canadian Invasions: Why the US victory in hockey might have the Rock Lobster checking his northern border.

The Hot Options Report: 02-20-26 Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

The options tape was scorching this Friday as we wrap up a dense week of trading. Host Mark Longo breaks down a massive session where it took over 714,000 contracts just to crack the Top 10. From Nvidia's staggering volume at the $190 strike to Alphabet's 4% rally that erased its yearly losses, we analyze the biggest movers in the game.

We dive deep into the intraday volatility of Micron, the "untamed beast" of 2026, and track the heavy flow in Tesla's $415 calls. Whether you're tracking Palantir, AMD, or Microsoft, we highlight where the smart money was sweating and where the premium buyers got burned at the close.

In this episode:

The Top 10 Countdown: A breakdown of the most active underlying products today.
Winner of the Day: How Alphabet (GOOGL) bulls capitalized on the $310 calls.
The Nvidia Monster: Analyzing the 515,000 contracts traded at the $190 strike.
Weekly Recap: Insights from the Volatility Death Match and what's next for the crypto and equity markets.

Volatility Views 669: Flashing Warning Signals? Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

Is the market teetering on the edge of a "seminal collapse"? On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian (the "Meatball"), and Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX) break down a chaotic week in the vol markets. From the aftermath of a legendary "V-Death Match" on the Pro network to the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs, the team explores why the VIX is hovering near 20 despite indices sitting near all-time highs.

Inside This Episode:

The Volatility Review: A deep dive into the "weird" market reaction following the Supreme Court tariff ruling, spicy PCE data, and the decoupling of the Mag Seven from the rest of the market.
The Private Credit Fiasco: Mark Sebastian sounds the alarm on cross-asset margining, Bitcoin's "teetering" state, and the potential for a Michael Saylor "apology tour."
The VIX Mothership: Analysis of the massive call buying in March, April, and even May 70/80 strikes. Is someone hedging for a black swan?
Russell's Weekly Rundown: Breaking down the "best option trade ever seen" using July 100 calls to finance downside protection.
The Weekend Trade: With carrier groups moving in the Gulf and geopolitical tensions rising, is it time to load up on UVIX?

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