The Trader's Journey

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony Nieto sits down with Jack Schwager, legendary author of the Market Wizards series, and George Coyle, co-author of Market Wizards: The Next Generation. The new book continues one of the most important traditions in trading literature: in-depth interviews with exceptional traders who achieved extraordinary results through unique methods, relentless work, strict risk control, and the ability to adapt as markets change. Jack and George discuss how this new installment came together, what makes this generation of Market Wizards different, and why many elite traders first went through major failures, blowups, and painful learning curves before reaching extraordinary success. They also explore small-cap short selling, option selling, negative asymmetry, adaptability, trader psychology, journaling, playbooks, and the hard work required to compete at the highest level.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with legendary penny stock trader and educator Timothy Sykes. Tim shares how he turned $12,000 of bar mitzvah money into over $1 million, what he learned after more than 25 years in the markets, and why his most important rule is still simple: cut losses quickly. This conversation goes far beyond trading profits. Tim discusses the importance of journaling, studying historical patterns, surviving big losses, trading conservatively, learning from millionaire students, and why giving back through charity has become one of the most meaningful parts of his journey. Whether you're a new trader, a struggling trader, or someone trying to build long-term consistency, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons from one of the most recognizable names in retail trading.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony speaks with David Veprek, CFA about the highs and lows of his multi-million dollar trading career spanning more than two decades. From starting with a $2,000 account, Dave reached massive highs while absorbing career-defining hits like a $1.7M loss — and navigating a multi-year drawdown that tested everything. Learn how he survived and adapted using risk managment, understanding his own limitations, working as a team to build automation tools and strategies, and much more!

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with Peter Robbins, author of The Trader's Journey: Navigating the Path to Trading Success, for a practical, honest conversation about what you need to know about success in trading. Peter shares top lessons from over 40 years of trading experience. He explains why most traders begin with almost no understanding of risk, why the first question should be "Why are you trading—and should you be trading?", and how a gap in mentorship quietly derails even smart, hardworking people. They dig into the foundations that matter: realistic expectations, aligning your trading style with your real life, adapting to changing market regimes, and the uncomfortable truth that psychology—execution under pressure—is often the real edge. If you're tired of vague motivation and want a clear framework for building a sustainable trading career, this episode will help set your standards—and give you a blueprint you can revisit as you grow.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with Max Ganik, Senior Trader at SMB Capital, to discuss his path into professional stock trading. Max was introduced to markets at an early age, started trading options as a teenager, and eventually chose prop trading over the traditional sales & trading route after graduating from the University of Michigan. Max walks us through his first year on the desk in 2020, the wild momentum markets that shaped his early edge, and how he evolved from small-cap scalper to options-focused large-cap and idea trader. He breaks down his framework for grading his trades, overcoming drawdowns, how he thinks about risk tiers, and much more.

From losing money on his first account in 1987 to compounding 1,400% in a single Tesla trade in his personal account, Charles Harris has lived through every extreme a trader can face. Handpicked by William O'Neil to manage money as a portfolio manager, Charles shares his raw journey of wins, losses, and the psychology that defines true trading success. This episode is filled with lessons on confidence, risk, and balance that every trader needs to hear.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with David Capablanca (@reverse_long) — a trader known for his relentless short-selling investigations into some of the market's most questionable companies. David has built a reputation by uncovering red flags, publishing deep-dive research, and sharing his findings across social media and YouTube. What makes this episode unique is that David doesn't just talk about activist short-selling — he shares his screen with us, walking step-by-step through trading setups, research, and execution behind his most memorable trades. From the space (MNTS) to cannabis (FLGC) industries and beyond, David takes us directly inside his process for spotting potential frauds, structuring trades, and managing risk in a world where retail hype often collides with reality. This is a must-watch conversation for anyone who wants to understand how professional short-sellers think, investigate, and execute in volatile markets.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, we sit down with David Keller, President and Chief Research Officer at Sierra Alpha Research, former President of the CMT Association, and host of the Market Misbehavior and CHART THIS podcast. David's journey from Bloomberg to leading research firms is defined by his thoughtful combination of technical analysis and behavioral finance. With a background in music and psychology, he offers a refreshing perspective on how mindset, routine, and market observation can provide traders with a true edge. Whether you're a chartist, a discretionary trader, or someone battling internal bias, this conversation offers timeless lessons for navigating modern markets with clarity and purpose.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down to chat with Tapereader – a veteran trader who transformed an initial stake of $4,000 into over $16 million across a 29-year career. TapeReader shares the realities behind long-term trading success: from his humble start trading out of an Air Force barracks in the 1990s, through surviving the dot-com bubble and 2008 market crash, to achieving financial independence. In 2010, at age 34, he "retired" after hitting eight-figure profits, choosing to take a 10-year sabbatical from the markets to raise his four young children. Tape returned to trading a decade later with a fresh perspective. In this episode, he candidly discusses the mid-life realization that chasing endless profits can be a trap, and how stepping away helped him find greater purpose, and how he chooses to teach his son to trade while he prepares to retire for a second time, focused on family legacy and life beyond the screen. This episode's focus isn't about hype or quick wins – it's a rare look at the patience, resilience, and life balance behind a successful multi-decade trading journey. We consider this a must-watch for anyone seeking long-term success in trading while building a meaningful life and legacy.

In this special in-person episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down for an in-depth conversation with Dan Beardsley, a disciplined and data-driven trader who has carved out a path to elite performance in the markets. In this episode, we unpack Dan's evolution—from majoring in Finance to earning a coveted seat at Trillium, one of the top proprietary trading firms in the country. Dan shares how he found his footing in an unforgiving market, learned from legendary mentors, and eventually became a mentor himself. We dive deep into his process of tracking and reviewing every trade, uncovering hidden patterns in his own behavior, and using those insights to sharpen his edge. Dan opens up about the mental and emotional challenges that come with the territory—and how he's developing routines and boundaries to avoid burnout while maximizing performance. This episode is a must-watch for aspiring traders and those interested in longevity and sustainability in trading.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with Brice Foose, prop trader at Seven Points Capital. Brice's story is one of true resilience—from surviving childhood cancer to working as a pharmacist before walking the long path to profitability in trading. Brice opens up about his early struggles, his worst single trade ever, and the lessons learned the hard way from managing risk, reviewing every day, and rebuilding confidence after deep drawdowns. This is an honest look at the ups and downs of Brice's unique trading journey.

In this special roundtable episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony is joined by Investors Underground traders and moderators Chris Lanzilotti, Nick Kasnett, Stan 'Godfather' Ivanov, and Ariel Hernandez. Together, they dive deep into the debated topic of edge erosion — is it real, or just an excuse traders use when markets shift? The group discusses how adaptability, understanding market cycles, and continuously refining your approach can protect and even enhance your trading edge. They explore how professional traders manage to consistently stay profitable, despite changes in market dynamics and increasing competition.