Please text and tell us what you like

If the world’s most powerful magnets can move turbines and EVs, what might happen when their supply chain starts to seize up? We take you inside the rare earths story—why these elements are abundant in the ground yet scarce in your portfolio—and connect the dots to AI infrastructure, defense systems, and the global energy transition.

We break down China’s processing dominance and the environmental trade-offs that shaped it, then look at how non-Chinese supply could scale through U.S.–Australia–Canada partnerships. From neodymium magnets in motors to lithium and copper in batteries and grids, we map the materials stack that underpins data centers, wind farms, and advanced manufacturing. Along the way, we examine export controls on gallium and germanium, the espionage pressure around ASML and chip tools, and how supply shocks can reverberate through server buildouts and AI cost curves.

On the market side, we contrast hardware suppliers and data center ecosystem winners with software names facing valuation pressure if deployment slows. We also consider the rise of leaner AI models like DeepSeek, which could reward software efficiency over brute-force compute. Taiwan’s central role in leading-edge chips, the push to expand fabrication abroad, and U.S. constraints around water, labor, and subsidies add more layers to the risk map. Our bottom line: stay invested, but right-size positions, add selective hedges, and keep dry powder for volatility in a frothy fourth quarter.

If this helped sharpen your view on rare earths and AI risk, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what’s the smartest de-risking move you’re making right now?

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None

Please check out our other podcasts:

https://skepticsguidetoinvesting.buzzsprout.com

Disclaimer - These podcasts are not intended as investment advice. Individuals please consult your own investment, tax and legal advisors. They provide these insights for educational purposes only.

Please text and tell us what you like

We unpack gold’s surge, why central banks—especially China—are buying, and how to balance conviction with risk. We share how we trimmed, built a cash buffer, and considered collars to cut downside while staying in the trade.

• Central bank demand as a structural tailwind
• China’s reserve ambitions and gold accumulation
• Dollar and U.S. policy risk shaping safe‑haven flows
• Rate cuts, inflation hedges, and market plateau
• Trimming exposure after parabolic moves
• Cash as optionality and a volatility buffer
• Using collars on GLD to cap downside
• Silver’s link to gold and industrial demand
• Energy and oil debates tied to AI growth
• Practical mindset: avoid FOMO, take profits, redeploy

Please listen in, give us your comments, give us suggestions, and we love producing good material that you want. So let us know.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None

Please check out our other podcasts:

https://skepticsguidetoinvesting.buzzsprout.com

Disclaimer - These podcasts are not intended as investment advice. Individuals please consult your own investment, tax and legal advisors. They provide these insights for educational purposes only.

Please text and tell us what you like

The U.S. government's unprecedented move to take a 10% ownership stake in Intel raises serious questions about the appropriate boundaries between government and private enterprise in American capitalism.

• Government equity ownership in Intel marks a significant shift in U.S. industrial policy
• Argument for equity stakes: if taxpayers provide subsidies, they should share in potential upside
• Critical questions about who manages these positions and how decisions will be made
• No clear infrastructure exists for handling government equity positions
• Concerns about political influence affecting corporate governance decisions
• Government's ability to pick "winners and losers" in the market is questionable
• Intel's struggles against competitors like AMD and NVIDIA make it an unusual choice
• Potential need for a sovereign wealth fund structure to properly manage government investments
• Investors should carefully consider implications of government ownership when evaluating stocks
• Fundamental question: is government ownership a sign of strength or weakness?

Please share your thoughts with us and let us know what other topics you'd like us to cover on future episodes. We appreciate your support through likes, shares, and feedback as we help you on your journey to financial wellness.

Straight Talk for All - Nonsense for None

Please check out our other podcasts:

https://skepticsguidetoinvesting.buzzsprout.com

Disclaimer - These podcasts are not intended as investment advice. Individuals please consult your own investment, tax and legal advisors. They provide these insights for educational purposes only.