

The Options Insider Radio Network
The Options Insider Radio Network
The Options Insider Radio Network is the premier audio destination for options traders. The network provides access to a vast array of popular programs including The Option Block, Options Boot Camp, The Advisors Option, The Long and Short of Futures Options, Volatility Views, Options Insider Radio and much more. Join the thousands around the globe who turn to The Options Insider Radio Network for options information, analysis and education.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 10, 2026 • 11min
The Hot Options Report: 4-10-26
The options market waits for no one! Mark Longo wraps up a wild trading week for Friday, April 10, 2026, with a deep dive into the top 10 most active names lighting up the tape. From Intel's massive 33% monthly surge to a bizarre price-action swing in Palantir sparked by social media from the White House, we break down where the paper was flowing and who was sweating the Friday expirations. On this episode, we cover: NVIDIA's massive volume: Is index-level activity the new normal? Intel & Core Weave: The momentum names defying the sellers. Palantir's Rollercoaster: How a presidential tweet sent the 130 calls on a wild ride. The "Fruit Company" Shrug: Why Apple stayed flat despite a $3 intraday range. Tech Giants: Action in Meta, AMD, and the "Amazonians." Check out the full data at TheHotOptionsReport.com to kick the tires and light the fires on your own trades.

Apr 10, 2026 • 58min
Volatility Views 675: Did the Ceasefire Kill Volatility?
On this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (the "Dr. VIX"), and Andrew Giovinazzi of Option Pit dive into a wild week in the vol markets. After a massive relief rally triggered by ceasefire headlines, the crew explores whether the "guns going silent" has permanently dampened the VIX or if we're just in a "hurry up and wait" market. In this episode, we cover: The Ceasefire Surge: How the S&P 500 roared back past 6,800 and what it meant for VIX cash and Volley. Volatility Review: A breakdown of the 10-point VIX drop in two weeks and the "spicy" CPI numbers hitting the tape. The Weekly Rundown: Russell breaks down a "Hall of Fame" trade—turning 9 cents into $1.60—and the rise of deep-in-the-money put spreads. Futures & Curves: Is the return of contango an opportunity or a trap? Plus, a look at the October "Midterm Vol" and the front-month April futures. The Crystal Ball: The team places their bets on where the VIX will land next week. Will we see a sub-20 handle or a weekend reversal? Check out more from the Options Insider Radio Network: * Pro Q&As and Exclusives: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro Trading Tools: Tastytrade.com/podcasts

Apr 10, 2026 • 58min
TWIFO 492: Crude Slides and Stocks Soar on Iran Deal
Here are two SEO-optimized show descriptions for TWIFO 492: Crude Slides and Stocks Soar on Iran Deal, tailored for Libsyn and YouTube. Is the energy rally finally running out of steam? In this high-octane episode of This Week in Futures Options, host Mark Longo is joined by Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management. Together, they dissect a massive reversal in the markets as crude oil takes a double-digit tumble while equities stage an aggressive relief rally following headlines of a potential U.S.-Iran ceasefire. From the shifting volatility in WTI to the surprising resilience of small caps, we break down the institutional flow and retail sentiment across the CME Group complex. In this episode, we cover: The Movers & Shakers: A look at the "dark side" dominated by Energy (WTI, Brent, and Heating Oil) versus the "light side" led by Bitcoin and the Russell 2000. Equities (S&P 500 & Russell 2000): Analyzing the 24-hour market's reaction to geopolitical news and the aggressive rotation back into small caps. Energy Deep Dive: Why WTI volume is 2x the normal average and what the "par" strike (100) tells us about future price action. Plus, a look at the bizarre "volatility flip" between Crude and Natural Gas. Interest Rates: Examining the 10-year note, the disappearance of the inverted yield curve, and why puts are back on the menu for rates traders.

Apr 10, 2026 • 58min
The Option Block 1459: Rallies for Days
Is the market finally out of the woods, or is this just a massive relief rally? On this episode of The Option Block, Host Mark Longo is joined by "Uncle Mike" Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management for "Uncle Mike Spotlight Week." The panel breaks down a market that seems determined to buy every dip following the de-escalation of hostilities in the Persian Gulf. In this episode, we dive into: The Trading Block: The S&P 500 eyes the 6,845 level as it nears positive territory for the year. We analyze the "truth" found in the charts versus the news cycle and look at the VIX as it exhales toward the 20 handle. The Odd Block: A deep dive into unusual activity in Photronics (PLAB) with June 55 calls, a massive swing for the fences in Satellogic (SATL) April 9 calls, and a post-mortem on the heavy volume in Terawulf (WULF). Big Tech Breakdown: Momentum shifts in Amazon (AMZN) and Meta, a surge in Intel (INTC), and why Palantir (PLTR) is seeing red despite the broader market green. Mail Call: We review the "Question of the Week" regarding the long-term market impact of Middle East conflict and settle the debate: Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Micron (MU). Around the Block: What to watch for as we approach the weekend, including WD-40 (WDFC) earnings and the critical technical resistance levels for the major indices.

Apr 9, 2026 • 11min
The Hot Options Report: 04-09-26
The closing bell on Thursday, April 9th, 2026, rings in a green session as geopolitical headlines trigger a massive relief rally across the equity markets. On today's Hot Options Report, we break down a high-volume session where over 617,000 contracts were required just to crack the Top 10. We dive deep into the massive 33% five-day run for Intel (INTC) and a potential "grand slam" exit in the June 40 calls. Meanwhile, Micron (MU) and AMD continue their wild journeys, and Tesla (TSLA) bulls finally find a foothold. On Today's Countdown: The Tech Titans: Deep dives into heavy flow for Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), and Meta (META) ahead of tomorrow's weekly expiration. The Big Winner: Analyzing the massive profit-taking in INTC and the momentum in Amazon (AMZN). Nvidia & Tesla: Tracking the "at-the-money" battleground as paper hits the bid on TSLA puts and rolls the bones on NVDA calls. The Outlier: Why Palantir (PLTR) struggled to join the party, dropping 7% despite the broader market rally. Whether you're looking for the most active strikes or trying to decode institutional paper, we've got the tape covered. Get more at TheHotOptionsReport.com or become a Pro member at TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro .

Apr 8, 2026 • 32min
Options Boot Camp 385: Double Calendar Madness
Can you handle the Double Calendar? In this episode of Options Boot Camp, the drill instructors tackle a strategy never before discussed on the network. Mark Longo is joined by the "Calendar King of Chicago" himself, John Kmiecik from Market Taker Mentoring (MTM), to break down the Double Calendar Spread. John reveals how the addition of Monday and Wednesday expirations for heavy hitters like Nvidia, Apple, and Tesla has completely shifted the risk-reward profile of time spreads. The guys also dive into the "Viceroy Special"—the definitive answer to when you should stop trading options and just buy the stock. On the Drill Floor: The Double Calendar: How to trade two ranges at once with lower cost and risk. The Mid-Week Edge: Leveraging new Monday/Wednesday expirations to your advantage. Spicy Volatility: Strategies to lean into (and which to avoid) when the VIX hits 30. The Rate Cut Debate: Is the market pricing in a pivot or more pain? Whether you're looking to harvest premium or survive a market whipsaw, this episode turns complex concepts into actionable drills. Genius Loves Company: See why Investopedia named Tastytrade the best broker for options in 2024. Get low pricing, elite education, and a support team that actually gets how traders trade at tastytrade.com/podcasts .

Apr 6, 2026 • 58min
The Option Block 1458: The Juice, The Kardashians, and the Bloody Battlefield of VRDN
In this episode of The Option Block, Host Mark Longo and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management dive into a wild Monday market. With "The Rock Lobster" hitting the slopes, the duo navigates a landscape filled with geopolitical headline risk, 80s sports trivia, and significant technical sell-offs. The Trading Block: The panel analyzes the "Monday Rally" following a weekend of geopolitical tension. We look at the VIX hanging near 24, the impact of non-farm payrolls on a closed market Friday, and the massive volume in Tesla (TSLA) as it dips below the $350 level. Plus, a breakdown of the top 10 most actives including Intel (INTC), Apple (AAPL), and Nvidia (NVDA). The Odd Block: It's a "blood-red" day for Veridian Therapeutics (VRDN). We examine the massive 22% drop and the suspicious put activity leading into May earnings. We also revisit Enovix Corp (ENVX) call buying and a "lose-lose" expiration scenario in Magna Corp (MAGN). Strategy & Mail Block: Uncle Mike discusses Strike Price Selection for covered calls in a high-volatility environment—should you go for the "juice" at-the-money or play it safe? We also reveal the results of our "Gun to your Head" poll: Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Micron (MU).

Apr 3, 2026 • 14min
TWIFO 491: Crude Oil Surges & Small Cap Volatility Amid Iran Conflict
In this episode of This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo dives into a wild week of trading dominated by headlines surrounding the Iran conflict. From massive moves in WTI Crude to a fascinating rotation in the Russell 2000, we break down the movers and shakers lighting up the tape at CME Group. In this episode, we cover: The Movers & Shakers: Why WTI Crude Oil topped the list with an 18% move while Natural Gas continued its slide to the "dark side." Safe Havens vs. Risk Assets: A look at Gold, Silver, and Platinum's performance during geopolitical uncertainty. Equities & Small Caps: A deep dive into the Russell 2000 (RTY), exploring the 2300 put spreads and why puts dominated the tape despite a late-week rally. Volatility & Skew: Analyzing the 7-point drop in small-cap volatility and how skew is shifting in the April contracts. Whether you're a veteran trader or a newcomer, tune in for the data-driven insights you need to navigate today's volatile futures options marketplace. This episode is brought to you by CME Group.

Apr 2, 2026 • 57min
The Option Block 1457: The Super Sexy World of Soup Options
Market volatility is mirroring the spring weather—swinging from 80 degrees to 40 in a flash. Host Mark Longo is joined by "The Flowmaster" Henry Schwartz of Cboe and Uncle Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management to break down a record-shattering month in the options market and find out why everyone is suddenly trading... soup? On this episode, the crew dives into: The Trading Block: A look at a massive "Red Thursday." We recap the overnight sell-off fueled by geopolitical tensions and the surprising intraday recovery. Volume Records: March was a "banger." We break down the OCC numbers showing over 1.5 billion contracts traded—the spiciest month in history. The Odd Block: * Campbell Soup (CPB): Why is there aggressive call buying in a stock the CEO allegedly caught on a hot mic disparaging? Marathon Digital (MARA): Deciphering the massive roll in the 8.5 calls as crypto miners pivot to AI data centers. Replimune Group (REPL): A 300% IV biotech play that has "wild" written all over it. Around the Block: Predictions on the long-term market impact of Middle East conflicts and what to watch for in a truncated holiday week.

Apr 2, 2026 • 26min
Wide World of Options: Path Dependency: When Getting from Point A to Point B Isn't Always a Straight Line
In investing, we're often fixated on outcomes, where a stock starts and where it ends up. But how a stock gets from one price to another can matter just as much as the destination itself. In this latest episode of the Wide World of Options podcast, host Mark Benzaquen welcomes guest Jay Soloff of Investor's Alley to discuss Path Dependency and how it can shape risk, investor behavior, and real-world returns in ways that a simple beginning and ending price can never fully capture.


