The Trader's Journey

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 Alex Temiz, co-founder of My Investing Club (MIC), to discuss how he went from being a Starbucks barista funding a tiny account to building over $16 million in verified trading profits—primarily shorting small-cap momentum and failed breakouts. Alex explains the evolution of his edge: why "buy the breakout" didn't work for him, how he learned to identify repeatable patterns, and why the real separator isn't a secret setup—it's process, stock selection, and knowing when to size up. Alex shares some of the most practical risk frameworks in the small-cap world: the Zombie Rule (why he stops trading after 10:30), his 30% VWAP rule, why "fixing your average" is a trap, and how broker-level max loss settings can act as your risk manager when emotions take over. This episode places focus on discipline, data, and knowing which battles are worth fighting.

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 Nick Kasnett (NKaz) to review his incredible account growth for 2025 — over 600% – not as a flex, but as a case study in consistency, journaling, and risk. Nick explains why he came into 2025 with no big expectations, how he finally broke long-standing patterns of big, avoidable losses, and why this year felt different: fewer home runs, more singles and doubles, and an obsessive focus on small losses, price action, and letting go of bias. Nick then lays out the lessons he's taking into 2026 AND shares direct advice for traders who had a career year and for those who had a disastrous 2025 and are trying to rebuild.

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.

In this episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony sits down with Dave Mabe – computer scientist, trader, and former CTO of Trade Ideas – to unpack how backtesting and automation can transform a "good idea" into a rules-based, data-backed trading system. Dave shares his path from journaling trades and thinking like an engineer, to running formal backtests, stress-testing strategies, and eventually automating execution. Whether you're a discretionary trader curious about data, or already running systems and looking to avoid curve-fitting disasters, this episode gives you a blueprint for turning ideas into robust strategies.

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 Nieto speaks with Dr. Brett Steenbarger, the world's leading trading psychologist, performance coach to hedge funds and proprietary firms, and author of landmark books including The Psychology of Trading and The Daily Trading Coach. Dr. Steenbarger shares how curiosity, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and new technologies can help shape trader success — and why every trader already has the "seed" of success inside them.

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, I sit down with Abdullah Rasheed — engineer turned trader and founder of ProfitX. Abdullah shares how his technical background shaped his trading approach, the role of data in building a repeatable edge, and why most traders underestimate the power of process and discipline. We cover his favorite setups, risk management strategies, and how documenting every trade helped him evolve into a consistent, confident trader. If you've ever wondered how to combine technical skill with trader psychology, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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, Ryan Sellers (@OpenOutcrier) shares experience and knowledge from his trading journey — from the floors of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) where he worked as a market maker to today where he trades his own capital while serving as a respected voice in the retail trading community. In this conversation, Ryan walks us through the wisdom he's learned over the decades to become a successful trader: the institutional foundation, the changing market cycles and painful transition to solo trading, the evolution of mindset, and so much more. If you're overwhelmed by the noise of financial Twitter or unsure who to trust, this episode is a breath of honest, grounded wisdom.

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 group episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony moderates a high-impact discussion with professional traders Neil O'Donnell and Dan Beardsley, along with world-class high performance coach Dr. Tom Crawford. Together, they explore the hidden cost of success, the mental game behind elite performance, and how to build a sustainable, long-term career in trading. From managing pressure to navigating burnout, this conversation delivers raw, real, and actionable insights for any trader serious about lasting success.

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 Neil O'Donnell, a seasoned trader who began his career in March 2000—just days after the Nasdaq peak during the dot com bubble. Neil shares his fascinating path from anthropology student and rower in England to professional trader, breaking down the grind, growth, and evolution it takes to succeed across decades of changing markets. From blow-off tops to meme stocks, from trading the news to adapting to AI and algos, Neil delivers raw insight on staying in the game, adapting without ego, and building a career that lasts through drawdowns, dead periods, and everything in between.

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 anonymous yet deeply personal episode of The Trader's Journey, Anthony speaks with veteran proprietary firm trader Goose, whose 12+ year journey has taken him from hopeful trader to becoming consistently profitable and eventually mentoring other traders. Goose shares his full journey—early failures, pivotal trades, mental breakdowns, and recovery—along with the real mindset it takes to survive both the markets and prop firms. From trading earnings, to how he think about reading 'the box' to navigating drawdowns, Goose brings a refreshing, thoughtful take on what trading success really looks like. This episode is packed with wisdom for traders at any level—especially those navigating setbacks or searching for structure.