The New Barbarians Podcast

Most people are using AI to find out what time it is. A smaller group is building clocks. The difference compounds — and it's the only distinction that matters for anyone trying to use these tools to do real work.Mark Connors and Bill Mann hit record mid-conversation and never really stopped. No guest, no agenda — just two capital markets veterans who've been living inside AI workflows for years comparing notes in real time, with the Global Scorecard live on screen and the macro read flowing underneath.Inside this episode, you'll discover:⚡ Why the clock builder / time teller distinction is the only AI framework that matters for practitioners⚡ How memory files and persistent context turn a chat window into a compounding intelligence system⚡ What Bill is actually building in Claude Code — and why a two-person shop can outwork a Goldman AI panel⚡ Mark's CLI workflow: three memory layers, 10,000 stories synthesized, three words delivered: Hormuz is hot⚡ Why Jensen Huang's advice to spend half your salary on tokens is a man talking his book⚡ The one macro sentence that explains every monetary and fiscal headline in 2026⚡ AMD +83% in a month, Sandisk +100% — the AI infrastructure build is in the factor returns, not the headlines⚡ Bitcoin 2026: why the cycle is curtailed but intact, the 54% drawdown was not the 80%, and why fall is the trigger windowIf you care about AI adoption, macro markets, energy infrastructure, Bitcoin strategy, or how small teams can outcompete large institutions with the right workflows — this one is for you.📇 Bill Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williammann/🌐 Harmonic Insights: https://www.harmoniqinsights.com/📇 Mark Connors on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrconnors/🌐 Risk Dimensions: https://riskdimensions.io/📊 Global Scorecard (live macro dashboard): https://global-scorecard.riskdimensions.io/₿ Unchained (Sponsor): Interested in learning how to acquire and custody bitcoin? Hit the link here, https://www.unchained.com/newbarbspod and use this code, NewBarbPod10, to get a 10% discount off your first purchase. In the FWIW column, this is how Mark custodies his bitcoin.🔗 Follow Our Work:📜 Substack: New Barbarians Podcast — https://substack.com/@newbarbarians📜 Substack: The Macro Case for Bitcoin — https://substack.com/@markrconnors📜 Harmonic Insights (Bill Mann & Chris Rosa) — https://www.harmoniqinsights.com/📜 SSRN Practitioner Quant Research — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2035436📜 SmartKarma — Bill Mann — https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/william-mann-88ce6ae0-716e-4511-98ee-65b1af2765ff/research🐦 Twitter — thenewbarbarianspodcast (@thenewbarbpod) / X⏱ Timestamps:00:00 Cold open — no guest, just Mark and Bill mid-conversation01:00 May quant returns; equity factors, oil, hedge fund record April02:53 Bitcoin had a good April03:09 Bill crosses the Rubicon: chat window to Claude Code terminal03:50 Stage 1 vs. Stage 2 AI — call-and-response vs. building05:47 The file system leap — what Claude Projects actually do07:41 Which foundational model for which job08:36 Cursor, vibe coding, and the IDE moment10:43 Mark's CLI workflow: three memory layers, frameworks in markdown12:33 What the command line interface is — and why it matters14:13 Memory files as compounding machines — the core distinction15:52 Goldman AI panel: big firm problems vs. two-person shop22:17 "I would put up what we know against anyone in that room"24:04 The wrong way to use AI: "I have a problem, AI will solve it"43:27 Bare metal vs. cloud; Apple silicon for local AI workloads44:37 Markets live: Global Scorecard — energy dominates year to date47:24 Hormuz is hot. Three words. 10,000 stories.49:17 AMD +83% in a month. Sandisk +100%.52:17 Warsh's workaround: banks hold Treasuries at zero capital requirement52:48 "We don't do recessions anymore" — long only, run it hot

An American founder is taking the surplus-food market away from a 1,700-person Danish incumbent — one independent restaurant at a time. Eddy Connors is Co-Founder & CEO of Goodie Bag, the marketplace app that connects people to local shops' unsold food at 60-70% off, fighting food waste and food affordability at once. CU Boulder Leeds grad, Techstars alum, $1.3M pre-seed, 350+ partner shops after launching New York City in April 2026.Eddy and Goodie Bag are the definition of a Barbarian: taking on the entrenched incumbent head-on, not invited, not welcome, and not stopping. Part business case study, part Bitcoin philosophy. Why scale isn't a moat when value is hyperlocal. Why the real product is customer acquisition, not discounted disposal. Why "proof of work" — the friction that can't be faked — is the moat in food and in money alike. Plus the public-benefit-corp model, transparency vs. greenwashing, the Wisconsin university pilot, and a lean AI-native operating stack.On food waste: roughly 40% of all food produced in the US is thrown away across the supply chain, while millions of Americans can't afford quality meals. Goodie Bag closes that gap directly — customers get fresh, quality food from local pizzerias, bakeries, and markets at around a 66% discount, food that would otherwise have hit the trash within hours. That's why sales are growing: persistent inflation has made ~80% of Americans deal-hunters, the discounts are real and on good food (not scraps), every order also drives new foot traffic for the small business, and the model spreads by word of mouth in tight local communities. Good food, big savings, less waste, stronger local shops — all in one transaction.David, Goliath, and proof of work — applied to lunch.Hosted by Mark Connors (Risk Dimensions) & Bill Mann (Harmoniq Insights).Full show notes: https://newbarbarians.riskdimensions.io/nbp/ep54-EddyConnors================================================================TIMESTAMPS================================================================00:00 Cold open — barbarians at the TradFi gate01:55 Macro setup: sticky oil, PPI high, 30-year breaches 5%04:00 The affordability gap — 40% of US food wasted06:20 Origin: Bronxville to Boulder to Goodie Bag07:40 Tier-2/3 strategy; 70% of US restaurants are independent09:00 The Danish Goliath: Too Good To Go, 22 countries16:31 Incumbent raids Goodie Bag markets — zero partners switch18:45 The real product is customer acquisition, not surplus25:07 Public benefit corp, B-Corp greenwashing, transparency27:59 The Bitcoin parallel: long game, trustless transparency35:19 The plan: Wisconsin pilot, 100K users, $1M NYC target46:00 Satoshi's "proof of work is the only way" — friction as moat58:46 Eddy's close: download Goodie Bag, code "barbarians"

🔥 The Hidden Pattern Linking Argentina's Currency Collapse, Music Industry, and BitcoinWelcome to the New Barbarians podcast! We're diving deep into how current market events are shaping traditional investment portfolios. We see digital asset management and digital disruption as the future, especially with the rise of AI in finance. These tech trends are fundamentally changing the financial landscape. 🤖What connects Argentina’s economic collapse, the fall of the music industry during the Napster era, and the rise of Bitcoin? At first glance—nothing. But underneath, there’s a powerful hidden pattern that explains how institutions break, evolve, and get replaced.In this video, we explore a firsthand journey through three major disruptions—growing up during Argentina’s currency crisis, working inside the music industry during digital piracy, and later helping build in the Bitcoin ecosystem. The insight? Institutions don’t just fail randomly—they follow a predictable cycle.🧠 The Core IdeaEvery system facing disruption tends to follow the same path:👉 Ignore it👉 Fight it👉 Become itFrom centralized currencies to record labels to information systems, this pattern repeats—and understanding it can give you a major edge in business, investing, and technology.📊 What You’ll Learn in This Video✔️ The real story behind Argentina’s currency collapse✔️ How digital disruption reshaped the music industry✔️ Why Bitcoin emerged from broken financial systems✔️ The concept of information asymmetry and institutional failure✔️ How narratives spread and shape markets✔️ Why we’re better at destroying systems than building new ones🚀 About the GuestGrew up in Argentina during economic instabilityWorked in the music industry during the torrent/Napster disruptionFormer VP Marketing at a Bitcoin infrastructure companyNow building a narrative intelligence platform tracking 1000+ sources across digital assets🔗 Follow the guest:Twitter (X): https://x.com/basedlayerWebsite: https://fernandonikolic.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernandonikolic/ 🎯 Who This Video Is ForThis video is perfect for:Bitcoin & crypto enthusiastsMacro investors & analystsEntrepreneurs & buildersTech and media professionalsAnyone interested in how systems rise and fall🔑 SEO Target KeywordsArgentina currency collapse, Bitcoin origin story, music industry disruption Napster, institutional collapse patterns, crypto narrative analysis, financial system failure, digital disruption examples, Bitcoin adoption, macro trends crypto, information asymmetry markets.💡 Key InsightThe biggest opportunities don’t come from stable systems—they come from watching what breaks, understanding why, and building what comes next.🔔 Stay Connected👉 Like if this perspective made you think👉 Subscribe for more deep dives on Bitcoin, macro, and systems👉 Comment which system you think is next to collapse⚡ Trending Hashtags#Bitcoin #Argentina #EconomicCollapse #Crypto #DigitalDisruption #Napster #MacroEconomics #Blockchain #FutureOfFinance #TechTrends #InformationEconomy

Agentic Finance: Building AI Analysts for the Debasement Trade Era — with Vlad Stanev of QuantlyAs global currencies face increasing debasement pressures, the next evolution in finance is here — Agentic AI Analysts. 💡In this episode, we sit down with Vlad Stanev, Founder of Quantly, to explore how AI-driven financial agents are redefining strategy, analysis, and alpha generation in the new economic era.We discuss:✅ What “Agentic Finance” really means — and why it matters now✅ How AI analysts are transforming trading and portfolio management✅ The role of automation in navigating currency debasement✅ What the future of human + AI collaboration in finance looks likeIf you want to understand where intelligent finance is headed — and how to stay ahead in the AI-driven trading revolution, this episode is your roadmap.More Related Tags:agentic finance, ai analysts, quantly, vlad stanev, ai in finance, debasement trade, financial ai tools, quantitative finance, ai trading systems, algorithmic trading, ai investing, fintech innovation, finance automation, ai portfolio management#agenticfinance #artificialintelligence #quantfinance #systematicinvesting #aiinfinance #fintech #financialmarkets #machinelearning #algorithmictrading #cryptoeconomy #futureoffinance #investing #digitalfinance #tradingstrategy #financeinnovation

Between Markets and Masterpieces Debby Goan on Breaking Barriers and Blending Worlds🌟 Introduction▪️Brief host introduction.▪️Introducing Debby Goan – her journey from Stillwater, Oklahoma, to leading innovation across finance, technology, and the arts.▪️Highlights:▪️Only minority woman with a member seat at the American Stock Exchange▪️Transformational leadership in fintech▪️Deep artistic engagement🧭 Segment 1: Early Life and Personal Journey▪️Growing up as a child of Taiwanese immigrants in Oklahoma and Texas.▪️The influence of multicultural upbringing on identity and ambition. (upwardgallery+1)💼 Segment 2: Career in Finance and Technology▪️Breaking barriers in ETF trading and at the American Stock Exchange.▪️Leading turnarounds and launching data-driven SaaS ventures in finance and insurance.▪️Experiences as Operating Partner and GM at Two Sigma. (linkedin)🎨 Segment 3: Art, Creativity, and Overlapping Identities▪️Transitioning from finance to visual art — or balancing both.▪️Artistic philosophy: communicating emotions and exploring the “space between the theoretical and the actual.”▪️Major artistic milestones, mediums she works in, and notable exhibitions and awards. (upwardgallery+1)🚀 Segment 4: Current Projects and Entrepreneurship▪️Founding Petite Palates – what inspired her and how it connects to earlier leadership. (linkedin+1)▪️Board role at The Art Students League of New York. (artstudentsleague)▪️Mentoring and supporting diverse voices in both tech and arts.🧠 Segment 5: Leadership, Mentoring, and Future Directions▪️Views on leadership — transforming teams and industries.▪️Mentoring advice for minorities, women, and creative technologists.▪️Future projects and aspirations.🔚 Wrap-Up▪️Quickfire Round:▪️Personal fact▪️Favorite piece of art▪️Most important lesson learned▪️Where listeners can connect with Debby’s work online.🎤 Interview Questions🪶 Background & Identity▪️How did your multicultural childhood in Oklahoma and Texas shape your sense of possibility and creativity? (debbygoan+1)▪️Who were your earliest influences—within your family or community—that sparked your interest in both art and finance?💹 Breaking Barriers in Finance/Tech⚡ Quickfire / Personal▪️What are you reading, listening to, or watching right now that inspires you?▪️What’s one lesson—artistic or professional—you wish more people learned early in their careers?▪️Where can our audience see your latest work or reach out to connect?🏢 Debby's Companies▪️Petite Palates | Organic Savory Baby Food▪️HarmoniQ Insights | Elevate Your Strategy🎧 This structure will help ensure a thoughtful, dynamic, and engaging episode that brings out Debby’s unique voice and resonates with your audience. (debbygoan+2)▪️https://www.debbygoan.com/curriculumvitae▪️https://upwardgallery.com/ad/interviews/debby-goan-i-am-often-creating-order-communicate-emotional-heft-moment ▪️https://www.linkedin.com/in/debby-goan ▪️https://upwardgallery.com/artists/2994/6330 ▪️https://www.instagram.com/debbygoan/ ▪️https://www.artstudentsleague.org/resources/board-candidates ▪️https://www.linkedin.com/posts/debby-goan_im-excited-to-introduce-petite-palates-activity-7262895101931143170-BtxE ▪️https://www.debbygoan.com https://www.artsy.net/artist/debby-goan ▪️https://associationforjewishstudies.org/docs/default-source/ajs-perspectives/ajs_perspectives_fall_2021_web.pdf?sfvrsn=5e20f4a3_14#artandbusiness, #creativeentrepreneur, #innovation, #womeninbusiness, #artworld, #successmindset, #leadership, #motivation, #inspiration, #businessgrowth, #creativemindset, #entrepreneurlife, #breakingbarriers, #storytelling, #creativity

Quant Pioneers & The Battle: Bartt Kellermann on Shaping the Future of Systematic InvestingIn this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Bartt Kellermann, founder of Global Capital Acquisition and creator of Battle of the Quants, to explore how systematic investing, AI, and quantitative innovation are redefining modern finance.Discover:✅ How quant strategies evolved from niche to mainstream✅ The balance between human intuition and machine learning✅ The global influence of Battle of the Quants events✅ What the future holds for investors, institutions, and innovators

Aaron Brown: Quantitative Risk, Crypto, and the "Wrong Number" Revolution | New Barbarians PodcastJoin us on the New Barbarians Podcast for a compelling session with Aaron Brown, legendary risk manager and quant strategist. We dive into Aaron’s landmark career bridging professional gambling, hedge fund risk management, and quantitative investing — spanning lessons from Wall Street, the evolution of risk frameworks, and the rise of multi-asset strategies including bitcoin and crypto. Discover how Aaron’s unique background feeds into his latest project, the "Wrong Number" video series, where he unpacks widespread misunderstandings in statistics and research through engaging stories. This episode offers an inside perspective into systemic risk, smart investing, and the future of financial data literacy, presented by one of the field’s most creative minds.In this episode of the New Barbarians Podcast, we sit down with Aaron Brown — a leading thinker in quantitative risk, financial systems, and crypto. Known for his unconventional insights and the idea of the “Wrong Number” revolution, Aaron challenges traditional assumptions about risk, probability, and the future of finance.What you’ll discover:✅ How quantitative risk is reshaping markets✅ Aaron’s take on crypto and decentralized finance✅ Why the “Wrong Number” revolution matters for investors, entrepreneurs, and everyday decision-making✅ Fresh perspectives on uncertainty, strategy, and navigating changeIf you’re interested in the future of finance, crypto, and risk management, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.#AaronBrown, #CryptoInsights, #WrongNumberRevolution, #NewBarbariansPodcast, #FinancialRisk, #CryptoInvesting, #QuantitativeFinance, #BlockchainTrends, #RiskManagement, #CryptoMarket, #FutureOfFinance, #SystematicInvesting, #FinancialEducation, #CryptoStrategy#quantitativerisk, #crypto, #bitcoin, #blockchain, #financialmarkets, #portfolio, #trading, #macroeconomics, #financepodcast, #financialeducation, #quantfinance, #investingtips

Join Bill Mann and Mark Connors in Episode 35 of The New Barbarians podcast with special guest Ehsan Ehsani. Ehsan, Executive Director at Crescendo Partners, Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, and author of "Finding Value in Numbers," shares unique insights on the intersection of generative AI and traditional value investing.In this episode, we explore:- The crucial skills young professionals need to thrive in an AI-powered financial world.- How GenAI enhances classic value investing workflows, from idea generation to preliminary research.- The "buy vs. build" dilemma for fundamental shops adopting AI technologies.- The future of investment research as AI tools become increasingly sophisticated.A preview of the Generative AI in Investment Management Conference at Columbia, where attendees can explore solutions from nearly 20 GenAI providers.Ehsan also discusses his upcoming books, including "How Not to be Replaced by a Spreadsheet that Talks," offering a candid look at adapting to technological change without sacrificing human judgment. This is a must-listen for anyone in finance grappling with the rapid evolution of AI and its impact on careers and investment strategies.Featured Guest:Ehsan Ehsani: Executive Director, Crescendo Partners; Adjunct Professor, Columbia Business School; Author of "Finding Value in Numbers" and "How Not to be Replaced by a Spreadsheet that Talks." Organizer of the Generative AI in Investment Management Conference.Links & Resources:📇 Ehsan Ehsani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehsani/📰 Value Hedgehog Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7099112971280203776/🏟 Generative AI in Investment Management Conference: GAIMConference.com📕 Pre-order "Finding Value in Numbers": https://a.co/d/2ETE84i⛓ Unchained (Sponsor): unchained.com🔗 Follow Our Work:📜 Substack: New Barbarians Podcast - https://substack.com/@newbarbarians 📜 Substack: Mark R. Connors - https://substack.com/@markrconnors📜 Harmonic Insights (Bill Mann & Chris Rosa) - https://www.harmoniqinsights.com/📜 SSRN Practitioner Quant Research - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2035436📜 SmartKarma - Bill Mann -- https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/william-mann-88ce6ae0-716e-4511-98ee-65b1af2765ff/researchTwitter - thenewbarbarianspodcast (@thenewbarbpod) / XChapters00:00 Market Overview and Economic Insights02:57 Quantitative Finance and Systematic Investing05:26 Macro Trends and Employment Dynamics07:48 Generative AI in Investment Management10:14 The Future of Jobs and Skills in Finance12:53 AI's Impact on Investment Strategies15:21 Conclusion and Conference Insights27:56 The Energy Dynamics of Bitcoin and AI30:19 Transitioning from Consulting to Investment Management34:16 The Power of Writing and Networking37:23 Embracing Generative AI in Value Investing43:36 Enhancing Investment Processes with AI50:18 The Future of AI in Investment Management55:52 Build vs. Buy: Strategies for AI Adoption#GenerativeAI #AIinFinance #InvestmentManagement #ValueInvesting #Fintech #AIInvesting #LLMforFinance #ColumbiaBusinessSchool #NewBarbariansPodcast #FinancialFutures #CareerDevelopment #AlphaGeneration #QuantFinance #DigitalTransformation #AssetManagement #EhsanEhsani #FutureOfWork #StockMarket #Podcast #Technology #WealthManagement

Today’s episode spotlights Charlie Marin (CEO, Quanted) on building the “Amazon-meets-Palantir” data bridge for investors—turning idea → feature → backtest into a rapid, agent-driven loop. Bill and Mark frame the macro: rates over equities, MOVE vs. VIX, factor rotations (value/cyclicals), credit spreads, and why point-in-time data & revisions matter. Charlie breaks down vendor onboarding with AI agents, metadata-rich discovery, and how faster feature pipelines change quant research—and the startup journey to Quanted’s upcoming relaunch.Follow Charlie & Quanted:Charlie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-simi/Quanted on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quanted-tech/Book a Meeting: https://www.quanted.com/🔗 Follow Our Work:📜 Substack: New Barbarians Podcast - https://substack.com/@newbarbarians 📜 Substack: Mark R. Connors - https://substack.com/@markrconnors📜 Harmonic Insights (Bill Mann & Chris Rosa) - https://www.harmoniqinsights.com/📜 SSRN Practitioner Quant Research - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2035436📜 SmartKarma - Bill Mann -- https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/william-mann-88ce6ae0-716e-4511-98ee-65b1af2765ff/researchTwitter - thenewbarbarianspodcast (@thenewbarbpod) / XChapters00:00 Introduction to Quanted and Its Mission01:22 Exploring the Startup Journey03:59 Market Analysis and Economic Indicators06:14 Interest Rates and Market Volatility09:12 Understanding Job Market Data and Revisions14:11 Interest Rates and Market Reactions19:04 The Impact of COVID on Economic Cycles23:06 Debt Dynamics and Market Volatility27:28 Comparing Economic Cycles: Past and Present34:06 The Future of Work and Economic Stability40:20 The Data Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities42:58 Streamlining Data Testing and Vendor Engagement45:53 The Role of AI in Data Processing48:17 Building a Predictive Data Ecosystem51:24 Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Hedge Funds56:37 The Future of Investment Processes01:02:22 Startup Journey: Overcoming Challenges in Data Management01:07:17 Looking Ahead: Future Developments for Quantid#NewBarbariansPodcast #CharlieMarin #Quanted #QuantData #AltData #AIinFinance #FeatureEngineering #Backtesting #QuantResearch #Macro #InterestRates #YieldCurve #MOVEIndex #ValueFactor #Cyclicals

In this episode, Bill Mann and Mark Connors sit down with Michael Nadeau, founder of The DeFi Report, to explore the future of digital assets, DeFi, and on-chain research. From macro backdrops to tokenization and the reflexivity of crypto markets, Michael shares how his journey from MIT and LinkedIn posts evolved into one of the most influential Substacks in digital assets.The conversation spans:Market updates and factor rotations in global assetsOn-chain data vs. Wall Street narrativesThe rise of stablecoins and Tether’s surprising role with U.S. treasuriesWhy crypto’s reflexivity can be both powerful and dangerousWeb3’s shift from read/write to read/write/ownInstitutional adoption, tokenization of real-world assets, and privacy in DeFiThe asymmetric bet on public blockchainsHow frameworks from Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow help investors break fixed mindsets Timestamps00:45 – Market Setup & Fed PolicyBill opens with inflation, interest rates, and global asset performance.02:00 – Culture, Movies & NoiseAnimal House quotes → how cultural distractions differ from on-chain truth.07:30 – Jackson Hole: TradFi vs. Digital AssetsDigital asset symposium gains traction alongside the Fed’s annual gathering.12:42 – The Origin of The DeFi ReportMichael’s journey from MIT → LinkedIn posts → Substack → Bankless partnership.14:09 – The Asymmetric BetWhy Bitcoin and public blockchains represented a career-changing investment thesis.21:31 – Politics, Regulation & GenslerLessons from SEC leadership, courts, and the role of regulation in crypto adoption.28:09 – Web3: Read. Write. Own.How new data structures change ownership, content, and payments online.34:28 – On-Chain Data & ReflexivityReal-time transparency, resilience during FTX, and why crypto markets reprice instantly.41:25 – DeFi Is Still Early$900T of global assets vs. $7.5B tokenized today; institutions, KYC pools, and privacy.49:39 – Stablecoins & The New PetrodollarTether’s U.S. Treasuries role, dollar network effects, and the geopolitics of stablecoins.#DeFi #Crypto #OnChain #DefiReport #Stablecoins #Web3 #CryptoMarkets #NewBarbariansPodcast