In this episode of Trading Takes, Sam sits down with Steven Place — a trader who turned an unconventional path into a remarkable career. From cell phone hacking and defense contracting to trading through the chaos of 2008, Steven has spent 15 years mastering momentum and options flow.

Steven explains why Palantir surged, how option flows truly drive price action, and what’s next for small caps, banks, and AI stocks. Packed with lessons on liquidity, narratives, and risk management, this is an episode every serious trader needs to hear.

In this episode of Trading Takes, Sam sits down with elite trader Matthew Monaco to unpack one of the hottest small cap months in recent memory. From crypto PRs to WallStreetBets revivals, Matt shares his top trades in July—especially OPEN and FIG—and the psychology behind both his wins and the trades he cut too early. This is a tactical breakdown of setups, emotional discipline, and recognizing market cycles before they shift.

In this episode of Trading Takes, Sam speaks with Jeppez, a trader who’s endured staggering drawdowns — at one point down 73% — only to come back stronger and grow his account from $400,000 to over $2 million. Jeppez shares how he blends algorithmic systems with A+ discretionary setups, why position sizing and uncorrelated strategies matter, and how he’s built a trading life that prioritizes freedom and longevity over quick wins.