🎧 Episode Description – SPX 0DTE Risk-Free Profit Forest

In this episode, Eric breaks down a risk-free SPX trade using the “Profit Forest” approach—where the focus is on locking in gains and building multiple profit zones on the risk graph, rather than chasing max reward with max risk.

📺 Watch the full video version of this trade on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ONQCRfjrMZ0

📹 Also check out these related videos on risk-free 0DTE setups:

SPX Market Outlook, FOMC Setup & This Week’s Trade Ideas"

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric breaks down the current SPX market setup heading into a big week of economic events, including Wednesday’s FOMC meeting. After last Friday’s selloff, the market rallied hard on Monday—highlighting the continued volatility.

Eric recaps last week’s inflation data (CPI, PPI), stronger-than-expected consumer sentiment, and why these may give the Fed room to ease up. He also walks through this week’s AlphaCrunching forecast, revealing a potential shift toward late-week weakness and how that...

The S&P 500 is closing in on all-time highs, but is momentum starting to fade? In this episode, Eric O’Rourke breaks down the key SPX levels to watch, including major option walls, falling volatility, and upcoming economic events like CPI and PPI that could shake things up.

You'll also get a look at this week’s Alpha Crunching trade ideas and market forecast, plus how Eric is managing a mix of put and call credit spreads to stay balanced as the uptrend continues.

🔹 Get 50% off Alpha Crunching tools with code SPX50 at AlphaCrunching.com

🔹...

In this episode, I’m joined by longtime trader and retiree Brian Terry to talk about the realities of trading in retirement. We cover how trading can keep your mind sharp, add structure to your day, and become a fulfilling part-time income stream. Brian also shares practical tips for managing risk, avoiding overtrading, and staying consistent—especially when you’re no longer working a 9–5.

👉 Come join the free community at StockMarketOptionsTrading.net where Brian and I hang out and discuss trades in real time. You’ll also find on-demand courses and our private trading group where we post trade al...

In this week’s episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric recaps last week’s pullback in SPX, driven by fresh EU tariff headlines, and how the forecast data from Alpha Crunching has responded. He highlights the shift in market tone based on the Average Strength Deviation (ASD) metric, which has now gone negative — a potential warning sign for deeper weakness ahead.

👉 You can access the Average Strength Deviation (ASD) indicator and all Alpha Crunching forecast tools at https://AlphaCrunching.com — use code SPX50 for 50% off your first plan.

Eric also walks through a potential...

This week on the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, I'm joined by fellow trader Brian Terry as we break down the market’s reaction to the Moody’s U.S. credit downgrade, recent economic data, and the relentless uptrend in the S&P 500. We dive into current market sentiment, the Fed’s role this week, and a few trade setups we’re watching closely—including a bullish broken wing butterfly on DASH and a 7-day SPX put credit spread from the AlphaCrunching.com trade ideas tab.

We also touch on using tools like SpotGamma levels, Truflation, and how we're...

📈 Volatility, Indicators, and the SPX Weekly Forecast | Episode 151

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, I cover how volatile price action can distort technical indicators—and what that means for traders. Using Alpha Crunching’s SPX Weekly Forecast as an example, we look at how past outlier moves (like the recent tariff news spike) are dropping out of the data and shifting indicator readings.

I also walk through:

📈 First Video Podcast, SPX Forecast After 9-Day Rally, Iron Condor Adjustments & Market Forecasts

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Pk22BcCBfn0

Welcome to episode 150 of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast! 🎉

This week’s special episode marks our very first video podcast — now available on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms like Apple and Spotify. If you're watching on YouTube, don’t forget there are 149 audio-only episodes full of SPX options strategies, technical analysis, and educational content.

In this episode, Eric breaks down:

🔴 Why he’s wearing a red shirt (hint...

Welcome back to the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast! I'm your host, Eric O'Rourke, and in this episode I break down the latest market action, key technical levels, and how I’m trading SPX options during this volatile stretch.

📉 This week, the S&P500 dropped over 2% to start the week as uncertainty around tariffs continues to dominate headlines. I talk through how I’m navigating the range-bound market with iron condors and why I'm keeping trades short and wide.

📊 I also share insights from Alpha Crunching’s Weekly Triumph Rate (WTR), which remains below 50% across the board —...

In this episode, Eric recaps last week's wild ride in the S&P 500, driven by tariff headlines, a surprise 90-day pause, and a sharp oversold rally. He covers key economic data—including CPI, PPI, and sentiment numbers—and why they paint a mixed inflation picture.

Eric also shares the latest SPX levels he's watching, how he's positioning with an iron condor, and what Alpha Crunching's updated weekly forecast reveals about the current choppy trend. This is still a headline-driven market, and patience remains key.

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke: http...

In this episode, Eric discusses the sharp market selloff following the surprise "Liberation Day" announcement, ongoing tariff drama, and how global markets are reacting. He breaks down key SPX levels to watch (4900, 5000, 5100), headline-driven price action, and what the Fed’s emergency closed-door meeting might mean for traders. Eric also revisits a simple bear market hedge from a previous episode, explains why he's currently sitting in cash, and shares what he's watching for potential long-term buys. It’s a fast-moving week—stay nimble and patient.

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/Op...

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading podcast, Eric welcomes back guest Brian Terry to discuss navigating the current choppy and volatile market. They cover the recent 10% correction in the S&P 500, key economic events for the week (including reciprocal tariffs and Powell’s upcoming comments), and how market levels like the 200-day moving average are influencing trading sentiment.

Brian shares how he's using in-the-money covered calls to generate income with downside protection, even during pullbacks. They dive into sector rotation—highlighting strong performers like gold (GLD), utilities, and dividend stocks—and explain the mechanics behind...

In this episode, Eric recaps the latest market action as the S&P 500 breaks back above the 200-day moving average following a strong Monday rally. He covers key levels from SpotGamma.com, including updated put and call walls, and discusses this week’s major economic events like GDP, Core PCE, and Consumer Sentiment.

Eric also shares a few SPX trade setups from Alpha Crunching, including a bullish 7-day put credit spread using the Weekly Triumph Rate, and explains how he's navigating recent market volatility by staying mechanical.

Use code SPX50 for 50% off your first month at...

📢 Read the full blog post with charts and performance data:

https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/bear-market-hedging-strategy

Summary:

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, we break down a bear market hedging strategy that just triggered given the current market conditions.

Right now, SPX is down about 10%—a textbook correction—but it’s also trading below the 200-day moving average, which we’re using as a key reference point for this strategy. While some traders debate whether this qualifies as a bear market, the real focus is on objective, rule-based...

In this episode of Stock Market Options Trading, host Eric O'Rourke recaps a wild week for the S&P 500, including a sharp sell-off, extreme volatility, and a bounce off key support near SPX 5800. 📉📈

🔎 Key Topics Covered:

✅ SPX range update: 5800-6200 🎯

✅ Bullish trades not triggering and why patience pays

✅ How Eric used iron condors to trade the chop ⚙️

✅ Why the Fed’s rate cut timeline is shifting 📅

✅ Key events this week: PMI, jobless claims, NFP, and Powell speaking 💼💬

💡 Pro Tip: When markets get wild, risk/reward matters more than ever—and Eric explains...

In this episode of Stock Market Option Trading, host Eric O'Rourke breaks down last week's failed SPX breakout and the sharp sell-off on Friday 📉. He recaps key economic events, including FOMC minutes 🏦, jobless claims 📊, and PMI data 📉, and discusses what to watch for this week, such as GDP 📈, jobless claims 💼, and core PCE 💵.

🔥 Options Flow Insights: Eric dives into recent bearish options activity, key market levels, and how Alpha Crunching's trade setups are adjusting to the current conditions.

🚀 Trading Automation Update: Exciting news! Eric shares details on a new automation tool 🤖 he's testing to streamline mechanical trading strategies—...

Click Here for the SPX Income Masterclass discussed in this week's episode.

In this episode of the Stock Market Option Trading podcast, host Eric O’Rourke dives into the key differences between bull call spreads and bull put spreads, breaking down their mechanics, risk-reward profiles, and how to manage them effectively.

Eric explains why bull call spreads, which are debit trades, require a directional move to profit, while bull put spreads, as credit trades, can benefit from time decay. He also discusses strike selection, risk-reward considerations, and win rates, helping traders determine which strategy aligns be...

For the week of February 10, 2025, SPX will likely be driven but Powell's testimony along with core CPI and Core PPI inflation reports.

Mentioned in this episode is trade idea for Tuesday.

Here's the link: https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/7dte-put-credit-spread-strategy-for-spx-weekly-options

Get more S&P500 insights at https://www.AlphaCrunching.com/blog

Join me next week as we navigate the stock market focusing on the S&P500.

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at...

Another bearish Monday on the back of Tariff announcements out of Washington. The market continues to hold up relatively well given these week over week news events. Last week it was AI news out of China and now tariff talk.

Get more S&P500 insights at https://www.AlphaCrunching.com/blog

Economic events, options positioning, and technical indicators to get your ready for the week.

Join me next week as we navigate the stock market focusing on the S&P500.

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke...

Markets dropping hard today on the back of the DeepSeek AI company out of China which has achieved notable results using much less compute and resources that we've seen over the past year or so. NVDA down over 10% on this news and dragging the market down with it.

Get more S&P500 insights at https://www.AlphaCrunching.com/blog

Economic events, options positioning, and technical indicators to get your ready for the week.

Join me next week as we navigate the stock market focusing on the S&P500.

Want to connect...

In this episode, we explore a SPY call-buying strategy with a 53% win rate and a 2:1 risk-reward ratio. This strategy, built on data and technical analysis, is designed for consistent execution and measurable results.

The audio for this show is from a recent YouTube video.

Here's the link if you interested in the video version: https://youtu.be/eTLqr8TWstA

Blog Post: https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/buying-spy-call-options

SPY Call Buying Video Course: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net/spaces/17635818

Key Strategy Highlights:

Position Sizing: The overlooked key to options trading success.

I had a great discussion with John Einar from ThetaProfits.com where discussed one of the most overlooked aspects of trading which is positions sizing.

Check the full episode here: https://www.thetaprofits.com/position-sizing-the-overlooked-key-to-options-trading-success/

Watch the interview on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev-OyVE3heg

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right...

Get more S&P500 insights at https://www.AlphaCrunching.com/blog

Economic events, options positioning, and technical indicators to get your ready for the week.

Join me next week as we navigate the stock market focusing on the S&P500.

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right now where there are daily posts with clues to the where the market may be headed next.

Also...

Get more S&P500 insights at https://www.AlphaCrunching.com/blog

Economic events, options positioning, and technical indicators to get your ready for the week.

Join me next week as we navigate the stock market focusing on the S&P500.

Want to connect? Find me on X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right now where there are daily posts with clues to the where the market may be headed next.

Also...

10 Major Differences Between SPY and SPX Options

SPY and SPX give you exposure to the S&P 500, but these options have key differences you should know before getting started.

Paying Dividends

SPX does not pay a dividend, but SPY does. Dividends may not seem relevant because someone buying options does not own shares. You only receive the dividend if you own the shares before the ex-dividend date.

But the dividend is relevant for options traders. Some traders may exercise SPY options early to be on time for the dividend. An ex-dividend al...

In this special Thanksgiving episode of the SMOT podcast, I want to take a moment to say thank you for being a dedicated listener. Wishing you and your family the very best this holiday season!

Today, we’re diving into a case study on options position sizing. I recently posted a video on YouTube where I compared the same trading strategy across different account sizes and allocations to see how position sizing can dramatically impact performance. In this episode, you’ll hear the audio from that video.

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/ThDgXklMG40

If...

In this episode, we'll cover some thoughts at what to think about the market here has we're hitting new all time highs post US Election. We've got several key economic reports coming this week too around inflation and the labor market.

Want to connect? Find me on LinkedIn or X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right now where there are daily posts with clues to the where...

In this episode, I walk through my recent GOOGL earning trade in which I held shares into the earnings event but added a risk free collar trade for protection. As you'll hear, the collar trade caps my upside but gives some downside protection in case the stock were to rollover.

At the time of this posting, GOOGL was up a little over 5% on an earnings pop and I've since exited most of the trade for profit.

Feel free to reach out to your host Eric O'Rourke on Twitter for any follow up questions, comments, or...

In this episode, we'll dive into an options strategy and compare backtest results of holding the trades to expiration, aka HTE, versus taking profits at 50% of the max gain. We'll discuss some of the less discussed nuances of a strategy like this that may get you thinking about which is best for you and your trading style and risk tolerance.

Here's the link to the video discussed in the episode that explains the strategy:

https://youtu.be/2sM-6QTWWz8

Check out the Alpha Crunching Blog for more strategies like the one in today's...

In this episode, we have Brent Kachuba from Spot Gamma on to discuss their newly released game changing indicator called TRACE.

The TRACE indicator is expertly designed to show options positioning from a dealer's perspective in a heat map form making it so much easier to structure various types of trades.

If you are an SPX weekly options trader, pay close attention to this episode and use this link to learn more:

https://spotgamma.com/trace-the-market-vertical-spread-academy/?aff=VSacademy

Be sure to follow Spot Gamma on X at: https://twitter.com/spotgamma<...

Greats discussion this week around the psychology of automated trading with Co-Founder Mike Christensen of TradersPost.io.

Traders Post allows you to automate trades using buy and sell signals from platforms like Trading View and Trend Spider.

Even though automated trading can reduce human execution errors, the psychology of automated trading is still something traders have to grapple with despite offloading some of the work to an algo rhythm.

Feel free to reach out to Mike or Eric on Twitter for any following questions, comments, or feedback.

Mike Christensen: https://twitter...

Patience and discipline are a big part of trading and when you are executing on a strategy, its important to understand that being in cash and not in a particular trade is part of that strategy.

Want to connect? Find me on LinkedIn or X:

Eric O'Rourke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

Eric O'Rourke: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right now where there are daily posts with clues to the where the market may be headed...

Updated options trading research now available in the SPX Income Masterclass geared towards beginners with small accounts and for those who don't want to watch the market all day. The strategies included in this Lifetime Access and Updates course are mechanical in nature and lend themselves to automated trading which is also discussed in the course.

Here's the link to the SPX Income Masterclass:

https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net/spaces/4688450

In this episode, I discuss something about vertical spreads that options education books typically don't include. We'll explore comparing buying a single call option...

If you trade the S&P500, then this series is for you. In the S&P500 Navigator series, we'll discuss current market conditions including options positions, major economic events, and AlphaCrunching.com's Triumph Rates for trading short term SPX weekly options.

In this episode, we'll talk about a trade idea to express a short term bearish thesis of SPX making a move to its 200sma over the next week or so.

The key takeaway is that you are able to create trade structures with options to express you r idea of what you think the...

Updated options trading research now available in the SPX Income Masterclass geared towards beginners with small accounts and for those who don't want to watch the market all day. The strategies included in this Lifetime Access and Updates course are mechanical in nature and lend themselves to automated trading which is also discussed in the course.

Here's the link to the SPX Income Masterclass:

https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net/spaces/4688450

In this episode, I'll discuss what I think my secret is to staying profitable over time.

Want to connect with myself? Find...

As the market continues to defy gravity and hit new highs every week it seems, you may be thinking about how you can protect any stocks you may be holding.

In this episode, we'll discuss a put spread collar trade which can allow you to get some downside protection while at the same time giving you room for more upside participation.

I came across this trade idea on X and brought Jon on the show to walk us through it.

Here's Jon's Twitter if you want to check him out: https://twitter.com...

If you trade the S&P500, then this series is for you. In the S&P500 Navigator series, we'll discuss current market conditions including options positions, major economic events, and AlphaCrunching.com's Triumph Rates for trading short term SPX weekly options.

Want to connect with myself? Find me on LinkedIn and X:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

X(Twitter): https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

After that, join other listeners at https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right now where there are daily posts with clues to the...

Caitlin Clark is the NVDA of the WNBA and Cathie Wood is Team USA.

In today's episode, we'll go over some similarities between these two powerhouses who both have strong momentum and putting up staggering numbers in their respective domains.

But the decision to leave Clark off Team USA for the 2022 Summer Olympics is like cutting your winners short leaving millions of dollars on the table.

Want to connect with myself? Find me on LinkedIn:

Eric O'Rourke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

After that, join other listeners at...

When researching a new trading strategy, its important to not only look at things like total profit and win rate, but its just as important to look at the P/L curve of the strategy to determine if its something you'll actually be able to trade.

In this episode, we'll discuss some of the nuances that the P/L curve can give you as opposed to just profits, wins, and losses.

Here's the link to System #3 mentioned in the episode to get some context around the P/L curve that was discussed:

Click...

Erik Smolinski is back on the show to talk about applying the concept of First Principles to options trading. Erik is behind the esInvests YouTube channel where he puts out regular content around trading.

I had so much fun in the conversation talking about out approaches to options trading these days, how we have evolved over time, backtesting, psychology, and so much more. I hope you find this show as entertaining as it was to create.

To connect with Erik, check out his links below.

esInvests on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/esinvests<...