Episodes

This week on Fundamentals Unfiltered, Matt breaks down two major stories shaping markets: - The escalating takeover battle for Warner Brothers Discovery Netflix’s $72B cash-and-stock bid sets off an unexpected contest with Paramount/Skydance’s hostile $30-per-share tender offer. Matt breaks down: Why the deal structure matters (cash vs. stock vs. equity stub) Antitrust risks for Netflix Political angles involving the Ellison family and Jared Kushner Why this drama echoes RJR Nabisco and the book...

This episode covers Bitcoin’s sharp reversal, the breakdown of Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin treasury strategy, and why MicroStrategy may be removed from the MSCI index. Matt also examines Jason Zweig’s reporting on illiquidity risks in private real estate funds and shares lessons from Wall Street legend Art Cashin, featured in Bob Pisani’s Shut Up and Keep Talking affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3YbekZT (I can earn from qualifying purchases). Clear insights, real risks, and timeless fundamentals. Ti...

In this holiday-week episode of Fundamentals Unfiltered, Matt reflects on the life and legacy of Charlie Munger—Warren Buffett’s longtime partner and Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, who died at age 99 in late November 2023. We walk through Munger’s path from Omaha to University of Michigan, Caltech (studying meteorology during WWII), Harvard Law School, and eventually into law, real estate development, and investing. Matt explains how Munger and Buffett used Blue Chip Stamps, See’s Candies,...

This week, Matt breaks down The Economist’s “Seven Deadly Sins of Corporate Exuberance,” covering crypto-leveraged balance sheets, meme-driven valuations, circular AI investment loops, debt-gluttonous M&A, patriotic capital allocation, and the fraud cycle that always follows a boom. We also examine why recessions have become ultra-rare, how heavy global deficit spending masks true economic weakness, and what it means for future downturns. Matt explains Joseph Schumpeter’s “creative destruction,”...

Jeff Gundlach’s macro outlook, Warren Buffett’s quiet farewell, and the rising age of first-time homebuyers — Matt explores what these signals mean for investors and the broader economy. Plus, a Buffett-approved book recommendation: The Most Important Thing by Howard Marks, a timeless guide to risk, valuation, and mindset. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:34 Jeff Gundlach Interview 02:36 Interest Rates, The Presidents Opinion, & Gudlachs 04:43 Private Credit & Liquidity Risk 08:55 Warren Buffett Goes ...

Matt breaks down the Fed’s 25 bp rate cut and the end of quantitative tightening — what it means for liquidity, inflation, and credit markets. Then he dives into The Financial Times piece, “Big Tech’s Market Dominance Is Becoming More Extreme,” explaining how eight companies now drive most of the S&P 500’s gains and profits. Plus, a classic book spotlight: The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham — Warren Buffett’s guide to fundamentals, market discipline, and margin of safety. Mentioned: Jer...

Gold tumbles after a record run, inflation lingers, and AI reshapes the job market — Matt explains what it all means for investors. Gold’s sharp reversal, the Fed’s coming rate cut, and the rise of AI-driven business strategies — Matt breaks down how momentum trades detach from fundamentals, why 3% inflation still matters, and what it all means for investors. Plus, lessons from Thinking in Bets on making smarter decisions amid uncertainty.

In this episode of Fundamentals Unfiltered, Matt breaks down how artificial intelligence is reshaping financial markets — and what it could mean for investors long-term. He explores how the AI ecosystem, led by OpenAI, is becoming deeply interconnected financially, with companies like Nvidia, AMD, Oracle, and others committing trillions in capital. But as debt financing creeps in through special purpose vehicles (SPVs), the question becomes: are we building the next big credit bubble? Then, Matt...

In this episode of Fundamentals Unfiltered, Matt dives into Kevin Warsh’s recent Barron’s interview, exploring what his views could mean for the future direction of the Federal Reserve. Warsh—one of the leading candidates to replace Jerome Powell in 2026—has been outspoken about the Fed’s loss of inflation-fighting credibility and the blurring of lines between fiscal and monetary policy through quantitative easing. Matt unpacks Warsh’s monetarist perspective, his ties to Stan Druckenmiller, and ...

In this episode, Matt unpacks key stories from The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Barron’s, and The Economist—connecting macro trends to real investment risks. He covers the economic ripple effects of the government shutdown, unreliable labor data, and the Federal Reserve’s policy challenges. The discussion highlights rising distress in private credit markets, drawing on insights from Barron’s and The Economist, and features analysis from short-seller Jim Chanos, whose Financial Times int...

In this week’s episode, Matt dives into market headlines from September 30, 2025, highlighting the looming government shutdown and its muted impact on markets. The main focus is on "The Credit Market is Humming, and that Has Wall Street on Edge" (Wall Street Journal), exploring record-low risk premiums in investment grade and junk bonds, private credit market risks, and the rise of payment-in-kind interest—a warning for investors as default rates climb. Matt also covers Daniel Weiner’s guest pie...

In this episode of Fundamentals Unfiltered, Matt unpacks the Fed’s recent quarter-point rate cut and what it reveals about the central bank’s dual mandate—price stability vs. maximum employment. With inflation still above target and labor markets showing signs of strain, the Fed faces its toughest balancing act yet. Matt also breaks down the resurgence of IPOs, highlighting how today’s offerings differ from the dot-com era and what retail investors should consider around access and risk. We’ll a...

In this episode, Matt from Fundamental Investing Institute dives into the latest FOMC news, discuss the implications of the Charlie Kirk tragedy, analyze the roles of Lisa Cook and Stephen Myron, and unpack Katie Martin’s Financial Times editorial on private equity’s liquidity challenges. The conversation covers the market’s anticipation of a 25-basis-point rate cut, ongoing core inflation above 3%, and the positive effects of declining long-term bond yields on housing. We also debate the presid...

During a relatively slow news week, Matt discusses how many influencers highlight the upside of small business acquisitions while downplaying the risks. Drawing on his own experience as a fractional business owner, he breaks down the role of leverage, the difficulty of sourcing quality deals, and why finding the right operator is often the single biggest factor in success. This episode gives investors a grounded view of the opportunities—and the realities—of putting capital to work in small busi...

In this episode, Matt from Fundamental Investing Institute discusses some reasons why markets haven't reacted more aggressively to the President's attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Also, why are private equity funds expanding into 401Ks?

In this podcast, Matt from the Fundamental Investing Institute discusses the Federal Reserve Chairman’s recent speech at the Kansas City Fed’s annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and what it means for the future of monetary policy.

In this episode, I unpack the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports — and what the mixed inflation data means for interest rates going forward. I then dive into the growing risks in private markets, specifically the danger of investing in real estate and private deals through online investment platforms created under the JOBS Act. Using recent reporting from CNBC and Jason Zweig (Wall Street Journal), we look at how platforms like YieldStreet structure their of...

With the President announcing a nominee to the Federal Reserve Board, Matt discusses the need to understand the Federal Reserve as an institution, and provide a primer on the structure and functions of the Fed. Matt also discusses the role that inflation expectations play in credit markets.

In this kickoff episode of Fundamentals Unfiltered, host Matt begins with an introduction and a personal story about a conversation with a friend, and a the lesson in using lived history to cut through today's information overload. You’ll hear how that simple framework can help you make smarter decisions — not just in investing, but in how you read the news, understand business strategy, and grow your financial literacy throughout the podcast series. Matt also dives into two timely articles abo...