Equity Mates Investing Podcast

Big Tech is spending at a scale we’ve never seen before to build the infrastructure behind AI, but investors are still trying to answer the trillion-dollar question: will the returns justify it? Alec is joined by T. Rowe Price portfolio specialist Sam Ruiz to unpack what earnings season has revealed, where the AI bottlenecks are shifting, and why the hardware supplying the boom may be an easier question to answer than picking the eventual AI winners.

In this episode:
00:00 Is the AI Boom Sustainable?
03:52 Big Tech’s Trillion-Dollar AI Bet
06:58 AI Revenue Is Surging
09:17 Who’s Funding the AI Boom?
12:19 The World Needs More Compute
15:55 Why AI Stocks Swing Wildly
20:01 Can AI Earnings Last?
24:37 China’s AI Threat
29:36 AI’s Battle for Your Ecosystem
33:10 Did Apple Miss AI?
37:40 Best Ways to Invest
42:35 Protecting Against an AI Bust

ETFs and stocks mentioned: Alphabet (GOOGL / GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Oracle (ORCL), Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD), Intel (INTC), SK Hynix (000660.KS), Samsung (005930.KS), Vertiv (VRT), Siemens (SIE / SIEGY), Caterpillar (CAT), Palantir (PLTR).

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Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bryce is back from 5 weeks in Europe and markets have been anything but quiet. AI stocks plunged & rebounded, leverage wiped out some huge trades, Big Tech delivered monster earnings, and markets pushed back towards record highs despite a shaky macro backdrop. Back home, Australian property prices are finally softening…

In this episode:
00:00 - Bryce’s holiday recap & a wild month in markets
04:20 - The AI trade gets a reality check
08:48 - Leverage, margin calls & Leopold Aschenbrenner
12:30 - Is the AI spending boom sustainable?
14:48 - Earnings season delivers blockbuster numbers
21:46 - The companies crushing expectations
25:34 - Iran, inflation & the global macro picture
28:44 - Australia: rates, property prices & staying invested

Stocks & ETFs Mentioned: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), AMD (NASDAQ: AMD), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), SpaceX, Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV), MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI), Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), IBM (NYSE: IBM), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Betashares Global Banks ETF (ASX: BNKS), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Chevron (NYSE: CVX)

Finfest 2026 Tickets still available, to secure yours head to https://equitymates.com/finfest-2026/

Check out our NEW SHOW: How I Got Started - https://equitymates.com/series/how-i-got-started/

+ Plus, check our our NEW CHANNEL: Equity Mates Explains - https://www.youtube.com/@EquityMatesExplains

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Tech is pouring unprecedented amounts of capital into AI infrastructure, but is it a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity or the beginning of an expensive arms race? Loftus Peak CIO Alex Pollak joins Ren to unpack why hyperscalers continue to spend despite growing bond market concerns, whether AI models will become commoditised, and how investors should think about semiconductors, disruption and portfolio construction as the AI race evolves.

In this episode:
00:00 – Has AI moved beyond the bubble debate?
03:03 – Why semiconductor stocks are falling despite record AI spending
09:10 – The bond market, debt and funding the AI buildout
14:31 – Will AI models commoditise or remain valuable?
21:01 – The AI arms race and the prisoner's dilemma
24:43 – Meta, Oracle and the next phase of AI infrastructure
27:12 – How Loftus Peak is managing disruption investing today
34:38 – Beyond AI: biotech, batteries and the next wave of disruption

Stocks & ETFs Mentioned: Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), OpenAI, Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), AMD (NASDAQ: AMD), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), ASML (NASDAQ: ASML), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), SpaceX, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), CATL, Walmart (NYSE: WMT), John Deere (NYSE: DE)

This episode has been sponsored by Loftus Peak - https://www.loftuspeak.com.au/
Support from partners like Loftus Peak help us keep all our content free.
If you want to learn more about Loftus Peak’s Global Disruption active ETF (ASX: LPGD) head here: https://www.loftuspeak.com.au/loftus-peak-global-disruption-active-etf/

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rich are getting richer, and they're spending in ways that are reshaping entire industries. In this episode of The Decade Ahead, Bryce & Ren unpack why rising wealth inequality could become one of the biggest investing themes of the next decade. From luxury brands to Formula One, VIP experiences & ultra-premium travel, they explore where the world's wealthiest are directing their money, the companies positioned to benefit, and the risks investors need to watch.

In this episode:
00:00 – Why wealth inequality is creating a luxury boom
03:54 – The numbers behind the luxury economy
09:50 – From luxury goods to luxury experiences
15:02 – Why the US is replacing China as luxury's growth engine
17:53 – The biggest risks facing luxury investing
24:41 – Listed luxury brands and experience businesses
30:33 – Why luxury ETFs have struggled
33:34 – Final takeaways from The Decade Ahead series

Stocks & ETFs Mentioned: LVMH (EPA: MC), Hermès (EPA: RMS), Ferrari (NYSE: RACE), Prada (HKG: 1913), Christian Dior (EPA: CDI), Richemont (SWX: CFR), Formula One Group (NASDAQ: FWONK), Madison Square Garden Sports (NYSE: MSGS), Madison Square Garden Entertainment (NYSE: MSGE), Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV), Viking Holdings (NYSE: VIK), Ten Lifestyle Group (LSE: TENG), Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), SpaceX, Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL)

This episode of Equity Mates - The Decade Ahead is brought to you by ANZ Business Start Right https://www.anz.com.au/business/business-hub/starting-business/start-right/

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Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world can't create more farmland, but it does need to feed more people. From AI-powered cattle collars and autonomous robots to precision irrigation and gene-edited crops, this episode explores the technologies transforming agriculture. Bryce & Ren unpack why AgTech could become one of the defining investment themes of the next decade, the companies leading the charge, and the risks investors need to understand before backing the future of farming.

In this episode:
00:00 – Why agriculture is one of the decade's biggest opportunities
03:47 – Agricultural innovation & feeding a growing population
05:41 – AI, robotics & smart farming transform the paddock
13:19 – Genetics, CRISPR & the next generation of high-yield crops
15:57 – Cold chains: the overlooked technology reducing food waste
17:52 – The biggest risks facing agriculture and AgTech investors
25:31 – Companies & ETFs investing in the future of agriculture
31:55 – Final thoughts: where investors should look for opportunity

Stocks & ETFs Mentioned: John Deere (NYSE: DE), Kubota (TSE: 6326), Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB), Corteva Agriscience (NYSE: CTVA), Bayer (XETRA: BAYN), Betashares Global Agriculture ETF (ASX: FOOD), VanEck Agribusiness ETF (NYSE: MOO), iShares MSCI Global Agriculture Producers ETF (NYSE: VEGI), Global X AgTech & Food Innovation ETF (NASDAQ: KROP)

This episode of Equity Mates - The Decade Ahead is brought to you by ANZ Business Start Right https://www.anz.com.au/business/business-hub/starting-business/start-right/

———

Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a message

And come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.

———

Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.

Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)

We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis Points

Listen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)

Watch on YouTube

Read the monthly email

———

Looking for some of our favourite research tools?
Download our free Basics of ETF handbook
Or our free 4-step stock checklist
Find company information on TIKR
Research reports from Good Research
Track your portfolio with Sharesight

———

This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.