Painting the Tape – Episode 9: The Mental Game PT:2

Hosts: Leo, AJ, Stowe

[00:00] Introduction & Banter The hosts catch up on life—babies, moving, and casino stories—setting a relaxed tone before diving into the mental side of trading.

[03:25] Topics for Part 2 Leo outlines the focus: accepting risk, moving on from stop outs, going on tilt, handling ruts and drawdowns, and managing hot streaks.

[04:13] Accepting Risk AJ leads a discussion on what it really means to accept risk in trading. The group shares stories about cutting trades too early, the importance of conviction, and learning to be comfortable with being wrong.

[13:06] Moving On from Stop Outs The hosts talk about the emotional aftermath of stop outs—anger, frustration, and how to shift focus to the next opportunity. They share personal strategies for not letting losses linger and the value of a short memory.

[23:00] The Psychology of Multiple Stop Outs They reflect on how repeated stop outs can shake confidence, especially for newer traders, and how experience and conviction in your strategy help build resilience.

[27:00] Going on Tilt A candid conversation about tilt: how it manifests for each host, the warning signs, and the snowball effect of mistakes. They discuss the importance of daily loss limits and taking breaks to reset mentally.

[46:00] Handling Drawdowns & Hot Streaks The group shares practical strategies for managing drawdowns—sizing down, returning to fundamentals, and building back confidence brick by brick. They also discuss the psychological traps of hot streaks, overconfidence, and the dangers of pressing too hard when things are going well.

[1:03:00] External Pressures & Life Events Stowe and AJ talk about how outside stressors—like family or financial pressures—can impact trading mindset, and the importance of taking breaks or finding ways to reset.

[1:14:00] Wrap-Up & Looking Ahead The hosts reflect on the deeply personal nature of the mental game, the value of community, and tease a return to more actionable trading topics in future episodes. They close with humor, gratitude for listeners, and a lighthearted take on potential podcast sponsors.