The Options Insider Radio Network

Latest Episodes:

The Option Block 1433: 2025 Was a Wild Year for Options and Volatility Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

In this year-end finale, the All-Star panel gathers for a definitive look back at a historic 2025. From the "Tariff Tantrum" of April that sent the VIX screaming to 60, to the S&P 500 hitting all-time highs on Christmas Eve, Mark Longo and Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management break down the trends, the traps, and the massive volume records that redefined the options market this year. Plus, a solo trivia battle for the ages and a deep dive into why 2025 was truly the "Year of the Collar."

Episode Highlights

The Trading Block: A comprehensive 2025 post-mortem. The panel discusses the S&P's 1,000-point climb, the volatility spikes that caught traders off guard, and why hedged equity strategies became the essential tool for navigating the year's "madness."
The 15 Billion Milestone: Mark breaks down the staggering 15,000,000,000 contracts traded in 2025—a 3x explosion since 2019—highlighting October 10th as the single busiest trading day in history.
The Metals Mania: Uncle Mike reflects on Silver ($SLV) becoming the "meme stock of precious metals" and explains why he's finally fading the shiny stuff after a 50% gold rally.
Odd Block: Reviewing the best "rolls of the bones" from the year, including activity in Bath & Body Works ($BBWI), steel rebar bets in Commercial Metals ($CMC), and e-commerce plays in VIP Shop ($VIPS).
Strategy Block: Uncle Mike invokes "Miller Time"—explaining why the smartest move for the final week of the year is to "take the money and run" to get some much-needed rest before 2026 kicks off.
Trivia Challenge: Uncle Mike faces off in a solo quest to defend his crown while the Rock Lobster remains MIA on vacation.

Resources & Links

Options Insider Pro: Join the community for exclusive live streams and Q&As at theoptionsinsider.com/pro .
Broker Spotlight: Find out why Investopedia named Tastytrade the Best Broker for Options in 2024: tastytrade.com/podcasts .
Follow the Network: Search "Options Insider Radio Network" on your favorite podcast platform.

The Hot Options Report: 12-26-2025 Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

Hot Options Report: Nvidia & Tesla Lead a Holiday-Shortened Volume Charge

In this post-Christmas episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down a high-stakes, shortened trading week. While the holiday session started light, volume poured into the heavy hitters by the closing bell. We go "around the horn" from Broadcom to Nvidia, tracking the dominant option chains and the "0DTE" expiration trades that won (and lost) the day.

The Top 10 Countdown:

#10 Broadcom (AVGO): Opening call action at the 352.5 strike. Did the late-day rally save the bulls?
#9 Amazon (AMZN): A 232.5 call battle. We analyze the 40-cent premium and why the "Amazonians" were left wanting more.
#8 AMD: 54,000 contracts on the 215 calls as the stock sits a penny shy of the strike.
#7 Netflix (NFLX): 94.5 calls seeing heavy volume for just a dime.
#6 Meta: A rough day for the 665 calls as Facebook's successor slips.
#5 MicroStrategy (MSTR): "The Monster" reverses losses. Why the 160 call sellers are the big winners today.
#4 Apple (AAPL): 128,000 contracts on the 275 calls. A deep dive into the 30-cent premium trap.
#3 Palantir (PLTR): The Trade of the Day. We break down the 190 puts that turned 41 cents into a $1.29 windfall.
#2 Tesla (TSLA): 3.15 million contracts. A massive sweat for the 480 call sellers as Tesla dips 2%.
#1 Nvidia (NVDA): The undisputed king of the tape with 3.25 million contracts. We look at the 192.5 call frenzy.

Market Insights & Education:

Intraday vs. Closing: Why "writing it into the close" was a dangerous game for call buyers this Friday.
Winning Put Spreads: A look at how Palantir's volatility offered the best ROI on the board.
0DTE Dynamics: Analyzing the decay of cheap "lotto ticket" premiums in a post-holiday environment.

Resources & Links:

Free Options Data: Get the professional-grade data mentioned in the show for free at HotOptionsReport.com .
Options Insider Pro: Join the community, get the Pro Trading Crate, and access the upcoming Vol Death Match 2.0 at TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro .
Mobile App: Access the full Radio Network on iTunes and Google Play .

Volatility Views 661: Fun with UVXY plus Year-End Vol Therapy Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

In the final Volatility Views of 2025, host Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX) and Michael Listman (UVXY Trader) to dissect a wild year in the markets. From the "Santa Claus Rally" to the crushing of the VIX, we break down what traders need to know heading into 2026.

In This Episode:

Volatility Review: A look at the S&P 500 hitting all-time highs and the recent "volatility execution." Why did the Santa Rally take so long to arrive?
UVXY Deep Dive: Michael Listman breaks down the UVXY reverse split mechanics. We discuss why liquidity is the best argument for UVXY and how to manage the "beta slippage" game.
The Pairs Trade: Exploring the strategy of pairing UVXY vs. SVXY (or SVIX) to capture slippage while managing directional exposure.
VIX Term Structure: Why the current curve is "steep" and what a 5-point premium in February futures says about 2026 market expectations.
VIX Options Flow: Analyzing the "Jan 17 Puts" and the mysterious ongoing activity in the VIX 200 strike puts.
The Crystal Ball: The team places their final VIX cash predictions for the first week of January 2026.

Key Discussion Points:

The "VIX Wizard": Why volatility arrives precisely when it means to (and how to monetize puts before they expire).
Reverse Split Strategies: Does a 1-for-5 or 1-for-10 split actually change the trade?
The "Weekend Trade": Russell's strategy for holding UVIX/UVXY over the weekend to catch volatility events.

Resources & Links:

Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX): Follow him on X/Twitter @RussellRhoads .
Michael Listman: Follow him on X @UVXYTrader or visit UVXY.pro .
Options Insider Pro: Get the Pro Trading Crate and join the Vol Death Match at TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro .
TastyTrade: Check out advanced tools for options and futures at TastyTrade.com/podcasts .

Options Boot Camp 370: More Trouble With Vertical Spreads Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Options Boot Camp, your drill instructors Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli dive back into the trenches to tackle a recurring nightmare for retail traders: why "perfect" vertical spreads sometimes result in losses. Following up on a "horror story" from a previous episode involving Marvell (MRV), the team breaks down the mechanics of spread books, broker liquidations, and the hidden risks of trading around major events.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The Marvell Meltdown: A deep dive into a listener's trade where a winning call vertical on MRV resulted in a loss due to after-hours volatility and broker liquidation.
The Reality of Vertical Spreads: Why the P&L diagram is only half the story. We discuss why vertical spreads often perform worse than expected prior to expiration and the role theta plays in the final payoff.
Legging vs. Spread Orders: When should you attempt to "leg out" of a spread? Dan and Mark discuss the risks of delta exposure when breaking apart a vertical in a fast-moving market.
Broker Routing & PFOF: How Payment for Order Flow and specific broker "spread books" (like Robinhood's) can impact your execution quality, especially in illiquid names.
Market Maker Psychology: What determines the width of a bid-ask spread? Dan explains how volatility risk and liquidity determine the "toll" you pay to enter and exit a trade.
Mail Call: The team answers listener questions about avoiding spreads during earnings and the rise of prediction markets (binary betting).

Chapters & Key Moments:

00:00 – Introduction and The Quintuple Content Palooza
03:15 – Follow-up: The Marvell Vertical Spread Disaster
07:45 – The pros and cons of "Legging" out of a trade
12:20 – Tips for dealing with unresponsive brokers during liquidations
16:30 – Market Taker Question: What drives the Bid-Ask Spread?
21:10 – Prediction Markets: Is it a trade or a bet?
25:40 – Silver and Crypto: The Question of the Week

Special thanks to our sponsor: TastyTrade.com/podcasts

The Hot Options Report: 12-23-2025 Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to today's episode of The Hot Options Report—your essential guide to options trading and stock market analysis as we head into the holiday break. Host Mark Longo breaks down the day's market volatility, concentrating on the top options trades and key stock movements driving the tape before the holiday.

In this episode, we dive into the massive trading volumes and unusual activity seen across the leaderboard, including a historic day for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and the continued dominance of Tesla (TSLA) and Nvidia (NVDA).

On This Episode, We Discuss:

The NVO "Pill" Pop: Novo Nordisk shares surged following the landmark FDA approval of the oral version of Wegovy. We analyze the explosion in call volume and what this fundamental shift means for the GLP-1 "Weight Loss War" heading into 2026.
Tesla (TSLA) Sentiment: Tesla remains the undisputed king of the tape as it pushes toward key psychological levels. We break down the massive open interest and the "Santa Rally" positioning ahead of the highly anticipated January delivery report.
Nvidia (NVDA) & The China Pivot: With reports circulating about a green light for specific AI chip shipments to China, Nvidia is seeing a massive influx of aggressive call buying. Is the "AI Trade" finding a second wind for the new year?
Broad Market Check: Is the market gift-wrapped for a year-end surge? We look at the sentiment reflected in the major index options chains amidst thin holiday liquidity and record highs for the S&P 500.
Unusual Activity Spotlight: We track the "Hot Trades" of the day, including surprising volume in names like MicroStrategy (MSTR) and Robinhood (HOOD).
Year-End Positioning: A look at why traders are rolling positions and selling premium to capture holiday decay.

Tune in for detailed insights into each options trade, the macro drivers behind today's tape, and the vital implications for active traders.

Get more options data, charts, and analysis at: TheHotOptionsReport.com

Volatility Views 660: It Finally Looks Like December Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Volatility Views on the Options Insider Radio Network, Mark Longo and Dr. Russell Rhoads dive into the shifting landscape of volatility as the final full trading week of 2025 comes to a close.

While much of the market is heading into holiday "hibernation," geopolitical tensions are lighting up the commodity space. The team breaks down why Energy CVOL is pinning the needle to the upside while Treasury and FX volatility are being "taken to the woodshed."

Key Topics Covered:

The Venezuela "Brouhaha": How intensified pressure and crude embargoes are reviving Energy CVOL (WTI) and driving it to weekly highs.
Commodity Volatility Split: A deep dive into the aggregate CVOL levels for Metals, Ags, and the broader Commodities complex vs. the dying volatility in Fixed Income.
The VIX Term Structure: Analyzing the current curve and what the "post-Fed" environment means for the remainder of 2025.
Vol Products in Focus: Performance updates and trade analysis for SVXY, UVXY, and VIX futures.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Anticipated market movers and volatility catalysts for the new year.
Listener Mailbag: Russell and Mark answer your questions regarding volatility products and specific trading strategies.

The Hot Options Report: 12-22-2025 Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

2025 Year-End Review with Nick Howard

Episode Summary: It's the most volatile time of the year! In this Holiday Hot Options Special, Mark Longo and Nick Howard (creator of QuikOptions) break down the massive institutional moves closing out 2025. We dive deep into the top 10 most active options chains—including the heavy hitters like Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), and Broadcom (AVGO)—to see how the "smart money" is positioning for the January 2026 opening.

Inside the Tape: Today's Most Active Chains

We analyze the unusual activity and volume surges in the following names:

The Big Three: Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple.
Semiconductor Heat: Broadcom (AVGO) and AMD.
Growth & Momentum: Palantir (PLTR), Netflix (NFLX), Meta, and Amazon.

QuikOptions Feature Spotlight

Nick Howard walks us through how to use thehotoptionsreport.com to stay ahead of the holiday whipsaws:

Advanced Data Filtering: Finding the signal in the year-end noise.
Custom Watchlists: How to track the "Santa Rally" candidates in real-time.
Earnings Retrospective: Reviewing past earnings moves to project 2026 volatility.

Listener Mailbag: Your Trading Questions

Visualizing the Market: Will QuikOptions be adding Heat Maps soon?
Scanning for Gold: How to find the specific "Hot Option" in a sea of strikes.
IBIT & ETF Scans: Dealing with non-stock symbols in the scanner.

Resources & Links

Access the Tool: thehotoptionsreport.com
The Options Insider Network: theoptionsinsider.com

The Crypto Rundown 302: The Million Dollar Question Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

Holiday Whipsaws & The $90k Bitcoin Battle

Episode Summary: Bitcoin is entering the holiday stretch with a fight for the $90,000 handle following the Fed's final interest rate cut of 2025. Host Mark Longo breaks down the high-stakes leverage building in the crypto markets. We analyze the "sell-the-open" pattern hitting U.S. sessions, the massive open interest in Bitcoin futures, and why the $85,000 floor remains the most critical support level for the end-of-year "Santa Rally."

The Option Block 1432: Canada Hates Hockey...IRBT Demise and More Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

The Option Block: Holiday Havoc, iRobot Reversals, and Year-End RMDs

The All-Star Panel is back to wrap up the year! Host Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and The Rock Lobster Andrew Giovinazzi dive into a festive but frantic market to break down the latest unusual activity and essential year-end strategies.

The Trading Block:

Market Sentiment: How the holiday season is warping typical market movements and what to expect from the "Santa Claus Rally."
Unusual Activity in iRobot ($IRBT): Breaking down the latest heavy flow in the robotics space.
Gap ($GPS) Check-in: Analyzing the recent retail trades as the year comes to a close.

The Strategy Block:

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): Uncle Mike breaks down the critical deadlines and pitfalls for traditional IRAs. Don't let the IRS take a bigger cut than necessary.
Holiday Trading Hours: Insights on the best (and worst) times to put on trades when liquidity is thin.

Around the Block:

Favorite Christmas Movies: The team debates the holiday greats. Is A Christmas Story still the king, or does Elf take the crown? Plus, thoughts on the stop-motion nostalgia of Rudolph.

Check out more from The Options Insider: TheOptionsInsider.com

The Hot Options Report: 12-19-2025 Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

In this special midday edition of the Hot Options Report, host Mark Longo from the Options Insider Network covers the most active options trades of the day. Key highlights include high volumes and significant movements in options for Core Weave, Nike, AMD, Amazon, Oracle, Palantir, Apple, Beyond Meat, Tesla, and Nvidia. The episode emphasizes tracking the top 10 movers in the options market, with detailed insights into the notable contracts driving the day's trading activity.

For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Options Insider Radio Network

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected