The Wall Street Skinny

Send us Fan MailSarah Kapnick literally trained under John Nash at Princeton, went from structuring catastrophe bonds at Goldman during Hurricane Katrina, to serving as Chief Scientist at NOAA, and is now Global Head of Climate Advisory at JPMorgan. She’s part mathematician, part climate scientist, part Wall Street insider – and the godmother of The Wall Street Skinny, the person who first convinced Jen to go into finance. This interview has been two and a half years in the making, and it’s easily one of the most full-circle, “how is this one person real?” conversations we’ve ever had.We get into the math of predicting the future: how fluid dynamics and game theory show up in Black-Scholes, what “1-in-100 year events” actually mean over a 30-year mortgage, and why climate risk isn’t a political side quest but a massive driver of returns, insurance pricing, and portfolio construction. Sarah explains cat bonds in plain English, walks through physical vs. transition risk, and connects wildfires, hurricanes, nuclear, fusion, and geothermal to the way capital is being allocated right now. If you care about making or losing money over the next few decades, this is not optional listening.We also talk mentorship, careers, and what it looks like to build a non-linear, insanely high-impact path across science, government, and Wall Street while raising a young family. Sarah shares how she decides when to leave a prestigious job, what she tells the next generation of math and science nerds curious about finance, and how she translates hardcore climate science for CEOs, investors, and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Even if you think “climate isn’t for me,” this episode will change how you think about risk, opportunity, and the future.For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Kristen and Jen dissect the jaw-dropping $72 billion Netflix–Warner Bros. deal. Netflix will snag HBO, Max, and Warner Bros. studios but leave cable networks behind. They delve into the bidding war dynamics, exploring why Netflix triumphed amidst competition from Paramount and Comcast. The pair also clarify complex M&A terms like 'collar' and discuss the implications of the deal on the streaming landscape. Will HBO maintain its renowned quality under Netflix? Tune in for insightful analysis and engaging conversation!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Skinny on Wall Street, Kristen and Jen unpack the story stirring up markets: Michael Burry’s latest warning that Big Tech is overstating earnings by extending the “useful life” assumptions on their GPUs. The conversation becomes a real-time teach-in on depreciation, useful life estimates, GAAP vs. tax depreciation, and how a small shift in an accounting estimate can meaningfully inflate EPS—especially for mega-cap tech stocks that trade heavily on P/E multiples. Kristen walks through exactly how depreciation affects valuation, and why some metrics (like EBITDA) and methodologies (like the DCF) are untouched by the choice of useful life. The big question the duo wrestle with: is Burry identifying a real risk, or is this a nothingburger amplified by market paranoia? From there, Jen shifts to the fixed income landscape ahead of the December Fed meeting—one the central bank must navigate without key data (payrolls and CPI) that won’t arrive until after the rate decision. She breaks down how Powell is managing optionality near the end of his term, how the market is pricing a December cut, and what a likely dovish successor (Kevin Hassett) could mean for rates in 2026. They also dig into credit markets: years of high coupons have fueled relentless reinvestment demand, but an uptick in issuance—especially from AI-heavy hyperscalers—may finally rebalance supply and demand. The duo look abroad as well, analyzing the UK’s newly announced national property tax and what it signals about global fiscal stress.The episode wraps with big updates from The Wall Street Skinny: the long-awaited launch of their Financial Modeling Course, the continued fixed income course presale, and new January 2026 office hours, plus the return date for HBO’s Industry (January 11!). To get 25% off all our self paced courses, use code BLACKFRIDAY25 at checkout!For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, we're talking about AI, the Fed, crypto, and housing --- and how those stories all suddenly collided this week. Nvidia’s huge earnings beat briefly sent markets higher, but the rally fizzled fast as investors grew more anxious about a potential AI bubble. We walk through why valuations increasingly assume massive job displacement and unprecedented productivity gains, and why Oracle has become the market’s “AI downside” hedge as its stock price collapses and its credit spreads blow out.Zooming out to the macro picture: delayed economic data finally hit, with job growth surprising to the upside, suggesting the Fed might not be delivering a December cut after all. Combine that with softening AI sentiment, and we’re seeing a classic risk-off move: equities selling and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin showing the most stress. Even though headline data looks fine, the real-world "vibes" (sorry, couldn't help ourselves) feel recessionary, with people struggling to find jobs while prices (especially housing prices) remain painfully high.That leads us into the debate over 50-year mortgages. We explain why extending mortgages just means paying interest for decades, barely building equity, and ultimately bidding home prices even higher. The idea of a transferable 50-year mortgage makes even LESS sense. It breaks basic collateral math and would require higher rates, not lower, to actually facilitate implementation. Sign up for our FREE LIVE Excel & Financial Modeling Masterclass here: https://courses.thewallstreetskinny.com/Nov2025-FMmasterclass-registration-page-1For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Michael Gatto, Head of private-side investing at Silver Point and author of The Credit Investor's Handbook, dives into the intricate world of distressed debt investing. He explains how it differs from equity investing and why creditor negotiations are crucial. Gatto discusses 'liability management exercises' and the chaotic landscape of private credit, emphasizing that distressed investors can be misunderstood as vultures. He also analyzes the current credit cycle and shares insights into career building in credit investing, outlining key skills and networking tips.

In a captivating conversation, Shane Clifford, Head of Global Wealth at Carlyle, clarifies the role of private market capabilities for individuals. He explains why the term 'alternatives' is outdated and discusses new fund structures like perpetual funds. The importance of education and transparency in democratizing access to private markets is emphasized, along with the potential for retirement investment. Shane also shares insights on how firms can connect with Gen Z and the strategic growth areas for Carlyle, including credit expansion and insurance.

The podcast dives into the Fed's recent 25 basis point rate cut and Powell's surprising press conference, leaving markets shaken. A fascinating discussion unfolds about Meta's $30 billion Hyperion data center project, revealing innovative financing structures and off-balance-sheet mechanics. The hosts explore the implications of firms morphing into multi-faceted entities, raising concerns about systemic risk. They also share humorous Halloween anecdotes and the chaotic realities of parenting, adding a light-hearted touch to the serious financial topics.

Send us Fan MailThis week, we’re joined by Paul Dodd, Senior Operating Partner and Head of Go-to-Market Operations at Sixth Street, one of the most respected private credit and private equity firms in the world. This episode is Part 2 of our Business Operations 101 series, and we’re digging into how firms like Sixth Street actually create value inside the companies they invest in. Paul specializes in helping tech and SaaS businesses scale efficiently, so instead of talking about dealmaking, we’re talking about what happens after the deal closes: how to turn strategy into growth.Paul walks us through what “go-to-market” really means in practice, from aligning sales and marketing to optimizing customer retention and pricing. He explains how small operational improvements, like shortening onboarding time or using AI to coach sales teams, compound into massive enterprise value during the investment period. We also get into how Sixth Street’s operating and deal teams work hand-in-hand, why culture and process discipline matter as much as capital, and how flexibility in capital structure allows them to back great companies through every stage of growth.And finally, we tackle the viral headline of the week: OpenAI is hiring ex–investment banking analysts and MBAs to remove the "drudgery" of junior banking work. We break down whether AI can really replace analysts, why building financial models is still critical to learning the business, and what it means for the future of entry-level Wall Street jobs.Paul Dodd is a Go-to-Market, Operating Partner at Sixth Street focused on providing core expertise to organizations in order to maximize revenue generation and profitable growth.Before joining Sixth Street, Paul served as Chief Growth Officer at SecureLink, SVP of Sales for Compeat Tech, Head of Sales for the GA360 Measurement Suite at Google, and previously served as Vice President of World Wide Sales at Adometry, a leading provider of multi-touch attribution & cross-channel intelligence, acquired by Google in 2014. Before Adometry, Paul served as Vice President of Sales for Retail at Bazaarvoice and as Chief Strategy & Global Sales Officers for Design Reactor/6Connex.He holds an MBA from Baylor University-Hankamer School of BusineFor a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Don Kieffer, a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan and operations expert, discusses his work improving company performance through strategic system design. He shares his five-principle framework to drive operational excellence, emphasizing the importance of solving the right problems and observing real work on the shop floor. Kieffer warns against firefighting cultures that hinder capability growth and advocates for small, effective experiments over disruptive changes. He also explores the critical balance between automation and human systems in achieving sustainable business outcomes.

Gold is soaring to record highs due to sticky inflation and central-bank buying, challenging common portfolio strategies. The discussion shifts to the alarming bankruptcy of First Brands, highlighting suspected fraud and financial mismanagement. Train wrecks emerge from a trader's leveraged bond short that led to staggering losses for Wall Street. The hosts also tackle a lawsuit regarding sleep accommodations in banking, reflecting on mental health in high-pressure finance environments.