The Options Insider Radio Network

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TWIFO 485: From the Equity Put Spread Craze to Meme Stock Metals & Crude's Inflection Point Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

In this action-packed episode, Mark Longo and Scott Bauer of Prosper Trading Academy dissect a market where standard playbooks are being thrown out the window. From "meme-style" moves in Silver to heavy hedging in the S&P 500, we break down the institutional flow and retail frenzy.

The Equity Craze: Why everyone has put spreads on the brain. We analyze the heavy volume in the E-mini S&P 500 March 6600/6500 vertical and the "frothy" volatility return to the Russell 2000.
Energy Inflection: WTI Crude is at a crossroads. We discuss the $5-$10 move potential based on geopolitical headlines and the "Grand Slam" reversal in Natural Gas.
Meme Stock Metals: Triple-digit volatility in Silver has transformed it into a meme-trader's paradise. Are the April 125 calls a total YOLO, or is there method to the madness?

The Hot Options Report: 02-19-26 Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

On today's episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down a unique session where volume wasn't "explosive," but the nature of the flow was certainly "weird and wild." From a massive influx of deep-in-the-money (ITM) puts to the "Petroleum Div Day" dominating the energy sector, we're dissecting the tape to see where the big money is moving.

On the Docket Today:

The Dividend Play: Why Shell (SHEL) and BP hit the top 10 with massive in-the-money call action.
Crypto & MSTR: MicroStrategy catches a bid—is the $4.00 premium for the 130 calls a smart play or a sacrifice to the crypto gods?
The Deep ITM Put Mystery: Unusual heavy put flow in AMD, Palantir (PLTR), and Amazon (AMZN).
The Big Three: Breaking down the late-session fades in Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Tesla (TSLA).
Nvidia (NVDA): Sitting at the #1 spot on light volume—can it threaten the 190 strike before the week is out?

The Option Block 1445: FIG's Post-IPO Rollercoaster & The Silver Magnet Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo, Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Kevin Nichols (Cboe Global Markets) to step into the arena. With the VIX flirting with the 21 level, the panel explores whether the bullish run is finally hitting a wall and if it's time to embrace the "dark side" of the markets.

On the Docket:

The Trading Block: A look at the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000. Plus, why everyone—from the pros to the "amateurs"—is suddenly obsessed with Gold and Silver.
The Odd Block: Unusual activity in Figma (FIG) following earnings and a look at the massive flow in Newmont (NEM).
The Mail Block: Mike Tosaw faces the heat from the Pro Chat: Will he ever buy SLV again, or is he waiting for the 30-handle?
Around the Block: Predictions for Tesla (TSLA) as it gets squeezed between moving averages and what to watch for the rest of the week.

Go to https://tastytrade.com/podcasts

The Futures Rundown 66: The Madness of Metals, Crypto, Cocoa and More Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

The futures markets are living multiple lifetimes in just a few short weeks! Join host Mark Longo from the Options Insider Radio Network and special guest Carley Garner of DeCarley Trading as they navigate the volatile landscape of the early 2026 markets.

In this episode, the duo dives deep into the "symmetrical madness" of the week, analyzing why thin markets like Oats and Orange Juice are leading the charge while heavy hitters like Bitcoin and Cocoa face massive pullbacks. Is the Bitcoin double-top signaling a broader correction for the Nasdaq and S&P 500? And is Coffee poised to follow in the footsteps of Cocoa's historic boom-and-bust cycle?

Highlights include:

The Trading Pit: Breaking down the 16% surge in OJ and the surprising resilience of Oats.
Crypto & Equities: Carly discusses the correlation between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq—and why $30,000 might be on the horizon.
The Ags & Softs: A deep dive into the 45% year-to-date crash in Cocoa and why "Coffee is the new Cocoa."
Energy Update: Why the "textbook" Nat Gas trade actually worked this year.
The Active 15: A look at the volume leaders, from the Japanese Yen to the Treasury five-year note.

Guest: Carley Garner, DeCarley Trading

Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group

This episode is brought to you by tastytrade. Recently named the #1 Options Trading Platform for 2026 by StockBrokers.com and the Best Overall Options Broker by Investopedia. Go to https://tastytrade.com/podcasts.

The Hot Options Report: 02-18-26 Feb 19, 2026

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The Vol Death Match Hangover: Micron Rallies While Zero-Day Sellers Feast

One day after the legendary Vol Death Match 2.0, the options tape is heating up with massive moves in semi-conductors and a heavy dose of 0DTE (Zero Days to Expiration) risk harvesting. In this episode of the Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the top 10 most active names dominating the tape, including a wild 33% year-to-date run for Micron (MU) and the "artist formerly known as Facebook" showing resilience despite regulatory headlines.

On Today's Countdown:

The Semi Surge: Why Micron is the talk of the tape after a $21 leap and what it means for those $420 calls.
Big Tech Breakdown: Analyzing the flow in Meta, Apple (AAPL), and Amazon (AMZN) as Warren Buffett trims his stakes.
The 0DTE Game: Are traders getting bold? We look at the massive selling of near-dated premium in Microsoft (MSFT), Tesla (TSLA), and Nvidia (NVDA).
Dark Side Activity: Why the $195 Puts were the "Hot Option" in AMD today.
Dividend Distortions: A deep dive into the massive volume spike in DHT Holdings.

Check out the Data: Run your own reports and kick the tires on the best data in the biz at https://www. HotOptionsReport.com.

Go Pro: Want to see the Vol Death Match 2.0 replay? Visit https://www. TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro to join the community.

Options Boot Camp 378: The Real-World Costs of Hedging Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Options Boot Camp, hosts Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli break down the real-world price tag of portfolio protection. Using current market examples, they walk through what it costs to hedge SPY with puts across different strikes and timeframes, why "insurance" isn't free, and how volatility levels can dramatically change the math.

They also tackle the evergreen debate: SPY/SPX puts vs VIX calls—and why VIX products may behave more like a speculative "kicker" than a true one-to-one hedge. Plus, a listener-driven roundtable on hedging with gold and metals, the clash between 0DTE and potential 24/5 trading, and a practical primer on volume vs open interest (and why the bid/ask spread often tells the real story).

Key topics include:

The real cost of hedging SPY (near-term vs longer-dated puts)
Strike selection, "deductibles," and the insurance analogy
How elevated volatility impacts hedge pricing
VIX calls as a hedge (and why timing matters more than ever)
Hedging with metals: correlation, pros/cons, and when it fails
0DTE vs 24-hour trading: are these trends incompatible?
Volume vs open interest for liquidity (and what to check first)

Hosts: Mark Longo (The Options Insider Media Group) & Dan Passarelli (Market Taker Mentoring)

This episode is brought to you by tastytrade — check them out for powerful options trading tools, education, and low pricing at tastytrade.com/podcasts.

The Hot Options Report: 02-17-26 Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

The trading week kicks off with a high-velocity tape as Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple dominate the options chains.

In this edition of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down a truncated holiday trading week where it took over 450,000 contracts just to break into the Top 10. We analyze the heavy put action in Nvidia (NVDA), the battle for the "Par Strike" in Tesla (TSLA), and a massive $8 recovery in Apple (AAPL).

Today's Highlights:

The Big Three: Deep dives into NVDA, TSLA, and AAPL.
Tech Pressure: Why Microsoft and Alphabet are struggling with weekly expirations.
The Dividend Play: Why Conoco Phillips (COP) made a rare appearance in the Top 10.
0DTE Madness: Breaking down the high-risk flows in Amazon and Palantir.

For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The Hot Options Report: 02-13-26 Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Nvidia pulls back, Coinbase pops, and the "Fruit Company" faces a software horror show. It's Friday, February 13th, 2026, and the options market is living up to the date. In this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down a high-volume session where it took over 700,000 contracts just to crack the Top 10. We dive deep into the unusual activity in Microsoft, the massive earnings-driven move in Coinbase, and why "Paper" was sweating on Tesla's $420 calls.

In this episode, we cover:

Nvidia ($NVDA): Coming back to earth after hitting $193—is the AI honeymoon over?
The Crypto Duo: Coinbase ($COIN) and MicroStrategy ($MSTR) catch fire as crypto sentiment shifts.
Apple ($AAPL): Regulatory headwinds and Siri delays lead to its worst slide since April.
The Dividend Plays: Why UPS and Chevron ($CVX) distorted the volume leaderboard today.
Microsoft ($MSFT): "Mr. Softy" struggles to find green despite a wild 405-strike battle.

For more options data, go to: TheHotOptionsReport.com.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Don't miss Vol Death Match 2.0 on Tuesday, Feb 17th! The Flowmaster vs. Scott Nations. Two men enter, one man leaves. Sign up at TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro .

Volatility Views 668: CPI Spikes, AI Jitters, and the Road to Vol Death Match 2.0 Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

The "Buy the Dip" mentality was put to the test this week. Host Mark Longo is joined by Dr. Russell Rhoads (the "Once, Future, and Present Dr. VIX") and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Rock Lobster) to break down a wild week that saw the VIX touch the 22 handle before a massive intraday reversal.

In this episode, the crew dives into:

The Volatility Review: Analyzing the impact of the rare midweek non-farm payrolls and the latest CPI data on market sentiment.
AI Narrative Shift: Is the "AI is good for everything" bubble finally bursting? A look at multiple compression in the Mag Seven and the "Grizzly Adams" view of the market.
Russell's Weekly Rundown: Dr. Russell Rhoads breaks down the "clown show" trades in the weeklies, the impact of the VIX bid-ask spread on morning spikes, and why the current correlation data suggests 2026 is behaving like a different beast.
Crystal Ball: The team places their bets on where the VIX will settle next week as we head into a holiday-shortened trading session.

Plus: A massive announcement regarding Vol Death Match 2.0: The Flow Master vs. Scott Nations. Find out how you can submit topics and judge the victor at TheOptionsInsider.com/pro .

Check out Tastytrade: https://www.tastytrade.com/podcasts

TWIFO 484: Equity Corrections and Silver Stampedes Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Is the early 2024 equity rally finally facing a reality check? Join Mark Longo and Kevin Green, Senior Markets Correspondent at Schwab Network, as they break down a wild week in the futures options markets. From "rotation trades" in the indices to the aftermath of a "Black Friday" in silver, we cover the moves that matter.

In this episode, we dive into:

Equities: Is the recent pullback a healthy correction or the start of something deeper? We analyze the massive 0DTE flow in the E-mini S&P 500 and a curious 22-day downside hedge in the 6,500 puts. Plus, a look at the carnage in small caps and concerning trends in commercial real estate.
Metals: We recap the "blow-off top" in Silver. With implied volatility hitting near triple digits, is the stampede over, or are traders just reloading for the next run? Kevin shares his boots-on-the-ground experience from the physical silver market.
Agriculture: Soybeans are back on the menu! We explore the spike in July soybean calls and how South American production targets are shifting the narrative for 2026.

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