The HC Insider Podcast

Today, we are talking interest rates. The rate of interest, or the price of money, has a profound impact on the energy and commodities sector, influencing the cost of carry, the price of assets and investment decisions. The story we're about to tell is what happens to economies and societies and the energy and commodities sector when interest rates are unnaturally low, as after the global financial crisis. In this episode, recorded just prior to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse in 2023, financial historian Edward Chancellor, joined us to discuss his book “The Price of Time”.   He's noted for his prescient warnings on major economic bubbles, has many awards and accolades, and described by Fortune magazine as one of the greatest financial historians alive.  For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

In this episode, we discuss geomagnetic storms, extreme electromagnetic events known as coronal mass ejections that would destroy every satellite around the planet, wipe out power grids and most if not all of our electronics. The Carrington event that happened in 1859 destroyed the only electrical system at that point, the telegraph, across all of North America. An event such as that now would have catastrophic, even civilization-ending impacts. Scientists predict an event like the Carrington event happens every 100 to every 500 years. And the Carrington event is small compared to pre-history events. Yet despite the profound impact and the likelihood, public awareness remains low, there is little political action, little has been done to harden our power grid or plan for such an event. Since recording this episode in 2024, we have witnessed numerous X-class flares and geomagnetic storms triggering Northern Lights across the Northern Hemisphere. To talk about geomagnetic storms, their impact, the likelihood, the fragility of our global power grids and some solutions, is Distinguished. Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Edl Schamiloglu. Edl is the Distinguished and specializes in extreme electromagnetic phenomena.   For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

In 1859, illumination throughout the major metropolises of the West was powered by whale oil. Whale oil was at the center of international trade (and trade disputes). Prices were at an all time high and great fortunes had been made. Yet, in that same year, Edwin Drake started the oil rush in Titusville, Pennsylvania…and every thing changed. Quickly. What lessons are there in this first energy transition in the modern era? In this episode we dig into the history of whaling and whale oil. Our guest is historian Eric Jay Dolan, author of Leviathan: A history of whaling in America. Eric takes us through the history of whale oil. A history of the first commodity cartels (they failed too), extraordinary entrepreneurs, boom and bust, environmental exploitation and Benjamin Franklin's taste for Spermaceti Candles.  For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today we discuss gold, silver and the platinum group metals. What drove the huge run-up in prices for all of them in 2025 and into 2026, and was the US-Iran war just a setback to those prices or the end of a bull market? Our guest is Nicky Shiels, Head of Research and Strategy for MKS Pamp, a global trading house and refiner for precious metals serving a diverse and global customer base. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today we return to the subject of data centers. Are we in the midst of a huge AI bubble? And building over capacity in data centers that are destined to end up as dusty sheds in the middle of nowhere with huge power supplies attached, or are data centers the rate limiting factor and the crucial midstream of the future industrial age? Here to discuss bubbles and data centers is Eugene McGrane, Executive Managing Director at Cushman Wakefield, servicing all manner of clients with respect to real estate needs for the power and data center sectors. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today, we return to the subject of oil and the impact of the Iran War. How have flows and demand changed and why are prices so relatively low? Is this a function of great PR work on behalf of the US Administration?  Or is something else happening? Why, contrary to all expectations, oil prices remain relatively subdued? And how long can this go on for? Here to answer those questions is David Wech, Chief Economist at Vortexa, the energy and shipping data and analytics firm.  For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today we return to digital assets, quant trading and blockchain infrastructure. Since we last checked in on the space in the wake of FTX's collapse, digital assets, crypto trading, blockchain infrastructure has recovered and gone mainstream. From major institutions and hedge funds having multiple desks to the rise of blockchain infrastructure in settlements and payments - not only in the commodities sector, but across all of industry. What are the latest trends? What is talent demand and for which disciplines? What is the intersection with the commodities sector? Our guest is Joe Miscioscia, Founder and CEO of the Joseph Anthony Group, a recruitment firm dedicated to digital assets, quant trading, and blockchain infrastructure. Visit https://www.josephanthonygroup.com for more, For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

The world is shifting from asset light and infinitely scalable to asset heavy. Across the globe, trillions of dollars are going into assets. Capital expenditure is on the rise. What is driving this? What sectors are we seeing it in? What are the challenges and bottlenecks companies face in delivering on CapEx programs? And how do new technologies and approaches to talent overcome this? Our guest is Erikans Kok, Senior Partner at McKinsey where he leads their Capital Excellence Practice globally. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today we return to the subject of hedge funds in commodities, and metals and mining in particular. How have hedge funds evolved with respect to commodities? What do investors and allocators think about with respect to commodities exposure and the types of investments they want to make? How do hedge funds go about a lasting edge in the commodities sector? And then why commodities and why, in particular, metals and mining? Our guest is Matt Heap, founder and CIO of Forth Fund Management, a sector specialist hedge fund dedicated to metals and mining, launching in Switzerland. Matt has had a phenomenal career in metals trading, both in hedge funds at OrionResource Partners, and then prior to that, as Louis Dreyfus, where he was global head of metals For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

The conflict remains in suspended animation with little concrete progress to support the more optimistic assessments of a return to normality. Commodity markets are on a knife-edge and tanks and strategic supplies are emptying. Aldo Spanjer, Head of Commodity Strategy at BNP Paribas' Markets 360 outlines the pathways from here. Will oil be at $70 or $200? Why does gas face larger risks in a prolonged disruption? And how to cut through the noise and focus on the signals?? For more on BNP Paribas Markets 360 visit https://globalmarkets.cib.bnpparibas/markets-360/ For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Sulfur is a lynchpin commodity, connecting the oil and gas industry to food production and much more. Already in a structural supply deficit, now, nearly half the world's internationally traded sulfur is off the market with the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz. There is no clear line of sight as to how quickly supply could return with potentially catastrophic consequences for the world. What is sulphur (sulfur), how and where is it produced and what is it used for and why is the world not talking about this? Our guest is Meena Chauhan, Senior Manager over sulphur and sulphuric acid research at the consulting arm of Argus Media. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

The dark fleet was on the ropes with enforcement risking military boardings after Venezuelan oil sanctions started to be lifted. Then with the attack on Iran, business started booming again as ships and traders navigated the granting of licenses to Russian and Iranian Oil (for a time). Where are oil sanctions right now? What do they mean for traders and banks - especially the cost and risks? What room is there left to forge a deal with Iran like the former JCPOA? Sanctions and Maritime Compliance expert David Tannebaum, Director at Blackstone Compliance joined me in my Houston office yesterday to discuss the latest on sanctions, their role in the Iran conflict and current ceasefire. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today we have Archie Hunter, journalist at Bloomberg who covers commodities, joining the show to get his take on current events, as well as the recent FT Global Commodities Summit, and compare notes on the key trends that we're seeing. How the current volatility is driving trading house earnings and how too much volatility might cause some challenges but certainly is driving continued consolidation in the sector and why good times for them is not good times for our wallets. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Doomberg returns. The US is mired in a war that it, nor its allies, can afford to escalate. Exposing the fragility of the global economic order, underpinned by delicate energy infrastructure. China, long planning for that fragility, is strengthened and Russia is looking cornered and more dangerous as Ukraine attacks its energy infrastructure. OPEC is shattering. For Doomberg, World War 3 is very much under way and we are in an era of profound change. And maybe AI, the savior of the SP500, wont choose to save us. Doomberg is the largest dedicated energy & finance Substack powered https://newsletter.doomberg.com/ For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Download HC's AI in Commodity Trading Report here:https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com/25059871-5268-018b-05ba-d50770a34566/2d9d6d84-97c4-4c3d-bf30-f3cf71f21ac1/AI%20in%20Commodity%20Trading%20-%20FT-TI%20Report%20-%20FINAL.pdf In this episode, Paul Chapman records his notes and reflections on this year's FT Global Commodities Summit in Lausanne Switzerland from 20-22 April. HC Group were proud to be Silver Sponsors of the event. excellent annual conference where leaders from across the commodities sector come together to discuss the sector's key themes and wine and dine one another. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Register your interest for Bloomberg and HC Group's metals trading event: https://go.bloomberg.com/join/invite/metals-pricing-the-narrative-vs-pricing-the-physical/ Access HC Group's Q1 Market Review: https://www.hcgroup.global/insights/market-reviews/access-q1-market-review-2026 Register for HC Talent Intelligence's Energy Trading Salary Report: https://www.hcgroup.global/reports For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today, we return to the European energy markets, in particular power. How has European power demand fared since COVID and Russia's invasion of Ukraine? What has that done to power markets themselves and the energy mix? And just as European power demand was starting to pick backup, has Israel and the US's attack on Iran upended it? And what has all this volatility meant for power traders and European energy traders more broadly? Our guest is Xavier Veillard, Partner at McKinsey in part of their global energy practice and their lead for power trading.  For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Tungsten is vital for military hardware and industry, including drilling for oil. Yet, prices have risen tenfold in the last year, threatening both.This is a story of production capture by China, now wielded as an economic weapon. What is Tungsten, how is it mined and made and how did we end up her?. And what does it mean for the West? Our guest is William Parry-Jones, founder of Wolfram Advisory, a consultancy supporting client in capturing value across the Tungsten and other critical minerals supply chains. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

In Episode 300, we take two metals - copper and gold - and compare and contrast their price journey. How does the physical supply and demand story compare to the investor narrative that drove prices to an all-time high? And how has the conflict in Iran test or confirm that narrative. In other words, to coin a term, have we seen the “goldification”of copper and other metals? Our guest is Grant Sporre, a senior commodities and equities analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. He has had a long career in commodities, both on the sell-side for banks, as well as in operational roles in mining. This is part one. Part two will be recorded live in Geneva on April 22nd for an HC Commodities podcast live event hosted by Bloomberg Intelligence. This is our 300 episodes of the HC Commodities Podcast. Six years of weekly shows undertaking deep dives into the trends and topics with the commodities trading sector. A huge thanks to all of our guests and supporters who have helped us on the journey. Fina Charleson, our tireless editor and the HC Marketing team and, of course, all our over half a million unique listeners that have listened along the way. And we have a new logo to carry us for the next 300. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

As the Iran War entered its fourth week, Houston hosted S&P Global's CERA Week. Where leaders from across the energy & natural resources sector mingle with policy wonks and senior government officials from around the world. This CERA Week was as noticeable for its last minute absences, doom-scrolling, braves faces and some swagger both from big oil and big clean tech. Nick Kumbleben of Greenmantle gives us his take on the vibe and key discussion points.

500 years ago another group of commodities flowed through the Strait of Hormuz, making those that controlled that vital trade route fabulously wealthy. Those commodities were the spices: nutmeg and cloves. Grown only in two tiny islands in modern day Indonesia and the Philippines, they were worth their weight in gold. Then in 1512 the Portuguese upended that global trade and in so doing created the modern world and the blueprint for how commodity traders operate today (minus the cannons). Joining us is award winning historian Roger Crowley to discuss his latest book: Spice: The 16th-Century Contest that Shaped the Modern World. 

We have moved beyond the duration discussion. The damage has been done and the oil markets will not return to the ante-bellum state any time soon if ever. What happens when financial markets - both for oil and more broadly catch up to the physical reality? Molecule Contagion as our guest for this special episode Jeff Currie of Carlyle puts in. The revenge of the old economy just got teeth and the ramifications are being discounted at best and denied at worst. What are the longer term impacts of the events in the Gulf. Accelerating decoupling, de-dollarization and a shot in the arm for the energy transition. The only safety....HALO stocks.

With the Strait of Hormuz virtually closed, what does that mean for the regions biggest customer - Asia? Tom Reed, VP of Crude and Products at Argus Media joins us to provide a detailed examination on the impact of Israel and the US's joint attack on Iran on crude and product flows from the region. What were the flows prior to the attack? What has it meant for traders, contracts and customers? Is China tapping its Strategic Petroleum Reserve? And will Asian countries start to ban the export of fuels?

Returning today to discuss the latest developments from Israel & US's war with Iran is Nick Kumleben, Director at Greenmantle, the geopolitical risk advisory firm. What are the commodities markets telling us about duration? What are the incentive structures in place? How are traders faring in this period of extraordinary volatility? Is the US Treasury trading and how rumor and innuendo are driving that volatility? What would mines in the strait mean? Would boots on the ground actually lower prices? Why are the equity markets so sanguine? could this, plus a smoldering private credit fund concern, lead us quickly to the global financial crisis?

Today,  we return to US domestic energy supply and private equity. The vibrancy of private capital markets launched the shale revolution and is now unlocking key bottlenecks in infrastructure as the US looks to meet the world's demand for LNG and domestic AI. Where is shale production today?  Are rumors of its demise overstated? Where is demand headed, particularly for natural gas? And how is private equity faring more broadly in a world of higher interest rates and other macro-economic headwinds? And what are the opportunities within energy and its infrastructure? Our guest is Jason Downie, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Tailwater Capital, a private equity firm with over 6 billion in capital and a core focus on energy infrastructure. 

Nick Kumleben, Director of the Geopolitical Risk Consultancy founded by Niall Ferguson, Greenmantle, rejoins us to discuss the latest events in Middle East. What are the short, medium and long-term consequences of Israel and the US's joint attack on global trade and commodities. What are some non-linear effects and why ultimately duration is key.

Today, we discuss how volatility and battery energy storage systems are reshaping clean energy and repairing power markets. What does the domination of clean power do to markets? What are the consequences both for power purchase agreements,  battery storage and traders? What are the nuances in different regulatory regimes? How is Europe diverging from the US and what has happened to the green premium. Our guest to discuss all of this and more is Luca Pedretti, CEO and founder of Pexapark, a pricing intelligence firm for clean energy.

Today, we review energy supply and demand and some of the key sentiments coming out of International Energy Week, not only about where both those curves are headed, but also key associated risks to each. Are our assumptions correct about energy demand in the world of AI? Are our assumptions correct around development curves, especially in the Global South? Is there a hydrocarbon glut out there? And what about the long term? All this comes to us from Claudio Galimberti, Chief Economist at Rystad, and their recently published House View. Rystad is an energy consulting and market analytics firm with over 40 offices around the world and headquartered in Oslo. The House View is available for download here. https://www.rystadenergy.com/house-view-report

AI is already changing commodity trading operating models. And unlocking adjacent technologies such as digital assets and DeFI? That itself is changing the competitive landscape and attracting new participants from outside the sector. Where is that investment going? And how profound is this change going to be? And how quickly is it going to be upon us? Our guest is Eren Zekioglu. Eren has spent a career at hedge funds and at trading houses and at the intersection of trading, operations and technology, including at Glencore and Gunvor.

Food, fuel, geopolitics, great power competition and trade - Soybeans sit at the heart of it all. What are the big macro trends with the commodity? How has trade and geopolitics impacted it? How has new drugs like GLPs impacted it? And what is the outlook? Joining us once again is Walter Cronin, President and Co-Founder of White River Nutrition, a US soy processing company based in Nebraska, which alongside meal and soybean oil produces high -quality soy ingredients.

Today, we discuss the importance of energy, what the growing demand for energy means, and how hard it can be to deliver that energy. To demonstrate that, we are using Texas as a microcosm. Texas produces the greatest amount of energy in the US.  Its mix of energy spans renewables, nuclear, natural gas, coal, and yet its citizens pay some of the highest prices in the Southern States. At the same time, it's ground zero for hyper-scalers and is the epicenter of fracking yielding epochal volumes of hydrocarbon. To discuss all this and more is one of the leading lights in the Texas energy sector, Mike Howard, Founder and CEO of Howard Energy Partners, the largest privately owned mid-streamer in the US. Beyond his business ventures, Mike is a key advocate for energy's role in society and the importance of getting it right, in technology, in physics, in legislation and in investment. www.hcgroup.globalwww.hyperionsearch.com

Gold, copper and silver have gone parabolic. The dollar is falling. And yet, hydrocarbons remain at an inflation adjusted all-time lows. Is the world being complacent due to the narrative of the oil glut, food glut, and natural gas glut. However, as our guest Jeff Currie says "if you have to scrape the data for evidence of a glut, perhaps there isn't one" Are we headed for a great repricing? Are we on the precipice of inflation and macro-economic turmoil. As tech companies plow their free cash flow into assets, will the investors return to hydrocarbons?

https://interactive.hcgroup.global/annual-review-2025-26/full-view.html

What drives global natural gas prices more: power politics or supply and demand? In this episode, we discuss the geo-politicization of natural gas and the challenge that presents to traders and investors alike. Why was 2025 such a difficult year for traders? And what are the most consequential stories in natural gas for 2026? H Returning to the show is Anne-Sophie Corbeau, Global Research Scholar at the Center for Global Energy Policy.

What is the future of commodity trading? Is volatility here to stay and thus the profit pools available continue to grow? What will the market structure look like in 10 years and who will be the privileged few that have built, or are building, commodity trading platforms to be able to capture that future? What will that future look like? Who will participate and which category of participant will have the greatest market share? And what will the teams and skill sets and people look like participating in that world? Our guest is Roland Rechsteiner, partner at McKinsey and the global head of their commodity trading and risk practice. 

Emergency Pod: Nick Kumleben of Greenmantle, the geopolitical risk consultancy headed by Niall Ferguson, joins us to discuss the events in Venezuela, the 'Donroe' Doctrine and what it means for commodities. Is Venezuela an oil story or something else? Is the Donroe Doctrine a structured, intelligible set of principles or just a catchy phrase coined by a New York tabloid ? Intelligible or not, what does it mean for adversaries, allies (Denmark and Greenland?) and the rest of Latin America. Commodities once again sit at the heart of global power politics and it's through that lens we investigate. And what in turn does it mean for commodity markets themselves... can they withstand such unpredictability and government interventions.

Today, we are talking coffee, cocoa and sugar. And in the case of coffee and cocoa, the absolute wild ride they had in 2025.Record prices and extreme volatility. Was it all just a story of tariffs? Or is there something more fundamental going on? Our guest is Kona Haque. Head of Research for ED&F Man, one of the world's largest soft commodity traders that has recently been acquired by Hartree Partners

For a special episode we have the recording of a webinar, David Tannenbaum, the Director of Deep Blue Intelligence, and Carmella O'Hanlon from Blank Rome, discuss the US Coast Guard's seizure of the Skipper, a Dark Fleet vessel, the legal basis underpinning it, and how the administration can enact a “blockade” of Venezuelan oil. They also discuss examples of typologies and red flags relating to Venezuela's Dark Fleet, a what comes next. Please note: This taping occurred prior to the administration's seizure of the Centuries and Bella 1, two other Dark Fleet tankers, on December 20th and 21st respectively.https://www.polestarglobal.com/deep-blue-intelligence/

As we come toward the end of the year, what is the global macro-economic picture. What have been the key themes in 2025 and how have they manifested in energy and commodity markets? And what can we divine about 2026? Are we in for stagflation? Boring commodity markets or is this the calm before the storm….? Our guest is David Fyfe, Chief Economist of Argus, the independent energy & commodity price reporting agency and intelligence firm.

As we begin to wrap up the year, we return to the crude markets. What has been oil's journey in the latter half of 2025? What has all this meant for trader performances after a challenging first half? What is the outlook for 2026 in prices and volatility? Our guest is Homayoun Falakshahi. He leads crude analytics at Kpler, the data and analytics firm for the commodity markets.

In this episode we return to Singapore and commodity trading in Asia. Is Singapore still a must -have hub as part of a global commodity footprint? What are the key commodities traded there? How do those markets differ from Europe and North America? How has the broader Asia-Pacific region fared over the last decade? And what are some of the key challenges, both market and cultural to doing there? And what might the future hold? Our guest is Ian Lawson, who's had a multi -decade career in trading and origination, including heading those functions in Singapore for the likes of BP and Mercuria and is now a senior advisor at Baringa, the management consultancy.

Today, in time for the US Thanksgiving, we discuss wine. From rare Burgundies to commodity wine that is shipped in containers and blended. What is wine? How is it made? What is the market structure and how has that changed with internationalization, changing tastes and climate change. And why is English wine ascendant? Our guest is Nick Brewer, former COO of Noble Group and ECTP and now founder and owner of Oastbrook Winery (where you can stock up for Christmas here https://oastbrook.com/online-shop/).

Today, we are talking agricultural markets and the case for investing in agricultural commodities, particularly in ETFS. And why that case is enhanced in the volatile world of today and the perhaps much more volatile world of the future. Our guest is Jake Hanley, Managing Director at Teucrium, a US -based ETF issuer with a specialisation in agricultural commodities.

Why don't more energy & resource companies have trading arms? For that matter, why don't more sectors trade? Chips, drugs even real estate? Why are CEOs reticent to set up trading platforms and what are the barriers to entry? What sectors would benefit most from trading? And more broadly, how have those firms who have launched trading arms in the energy and commodities trading sector fared over the last five years? How has this development both changed and shaped the opportunities out there? Our guest is Antti Belt, Partner at BCG, focused on commodities, and also a research fellow at the Henderson Institute. We are discussing his paper, alongside his colleagues, the hidden $3 trillion profit opportunity for CEOs, that by learning to think like traders and hedge funds, CEOs can tap value opportunities that are currently left on the table. To read the paper visit:https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/hidden-3-trillion-profit-opportunity-for-ceos

In Part 2, Mark Crandall relives the events that led to the founding of Glencore and Trafigura. Why did Claude Dauphin go his separate way and what was the founding vision for Trafigura? How had Marc Rich already set the vision for the trading houses which would lead to their domination? How has that dominance led to almost insurmountable barriers to entry for aspiring competitors today? And what was it about these singular individuals that led to their success?

Our Global Our Middle & Back Office Salary Report 2025 is now available for purchase. Published by HC Group's Talent Intelligence team. the report covers salary benchmarks for Risk, Legal & Compliance, Corporate Finance (includes STF/Treasury), Finance & Accounting,Technology& Human Resources positions across all commodity trading hubs. The report, created using proprietary data, is designed for HR leaders and company officers to calibrate salaries in this competitive market as we head into business planning for 2026. For more information, visit https://www.hcgroup.global/energy-trading-report or email intelligence@hcgroup.global

Today, we're joined by Mark Crandall, one of the founding fathers of the modern trading house and the commodities sector as we know it today. Mark started his career at Morgan Stanley, where he helped launch its commodities desk, before joining Marc Rich & Co. Mark went on the have a pivotal role in, and ring-side seat to, the machinations that lead to the founding of Glencore and Trafigura. In Part 1, we cover his early career leading up to the famous split at Marc Rich & Co. We discuss the rise of the Wall Street Refiners and what made Marc Rich special and the company he founded shape the industry even today.

On October 1st, at HC Group's Headquarters in London, host Paul Chapman interviewed Colin Bryce and Adi Imsirovic about their new book – Rivers of Money - in front of an invited audience of 100 friends, former colleagues and industry veterans. Why did they write the book, what stories and insights stand out and who received a pickled pig's head at their desk (it later transpired the sender was in the audience)? Which other stories had to be left on the cutting room floor and what are the biggest risks the industry faces today and in the future? If you want to know about future events, sign up at https://www.hcgroup.global/newslettersignup

HC Groups's Q3 Market Review is available to download here: https://www.hcgroup.global/insights/market-reviews/access-market-review-q3-2025400+ notable people moves. An editorial by podcast host Paul Chapman on US talent in turbulent year to date. Articles on APAC liquid fuel trends and how participants are recruiting and training Gen Z and much more.You can also download www.hyperionsearch.com Cleantech and renewables review here: https://interactive.hcgroup.global/hyperion-search-market-review-q3-2025/full-view.html

Today, we are joined by the award -winning author Mark Kurlansky, whose books such as The Big Oyster, Paper, Salt and Cod tell us how commodities have shaped history and in turn the present day. Why commodities sit at the very heart of human history creating cooperation, trade but also war. Mark shares his views on the books and how they fit in with the current world, his views and philosophy on free trade, and how that might be in jeopardy and what his future books porjects are.

The HC Commodities Podcast was invited to host a panel at the excellent Argus Global Markets Conference in London on September 30. We discussed how the commodities world is adapting trading strategies to markets now driven by Truths Socials, algorithmic sentiment, shifting geopolitics and increasing government intervention. A world where the fundamentals of supply and demand are only part of the picture. Is this new or just a reversion to a more normal world? Is it cyclical or structural? What does it mean for skillsets and participants? Our excellent panelists discuss: Saad Rahim, Chief Economist at Trafigura, David Fyfe, Chief Economist at Argus, Nick Kumleben of Greenmantle and Kurt Chapman, legendary oil trader and Director at Levmet.