We're Hiring!

Second Foundation Partners is looking to hire for three new positions!

Please check out Careers at Epsilon Theory for more details, and please distribute the link to anyone you think might be interested!

ET Pro Geopolitical Conflict Monitor

Why Am I Reading This Now? 11.20.23

By Harper Hunt | November 20, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Days of Theater

By Ben Hunt | November 17, 2023 | 0 Comments

Every macroeconomic data release will be parsed and presented by Wall Street and the White House to pressure the Fed to lower the price of money. That storytelling effort will be particularly strong when everyone is paying attention on a Day of Theater.

Like a CPI release.

Cursed Knowledge #24: Hollywood Accounting

By Harper Hunt | November 17, 2023 | 1 Comment

We know that Hollywood is a multibillion dollar industry that shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. So then why do so many studios report that their movies failed? Especially when most of these movies are incredibly popular and by all accounts should be financially successful. Well turns out Hollywood has some tricks up their sleeves and, as The Producers taught us, under the right circumstances you can make more money with a flop than a hit.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 11.13.23

By Harper Hunt | November 13, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Breaking News #8: When Narrative Doesn’t Matter | The Israeli Strategy of Total War

By Harper Hunt | November 9, 2023 | 19 Comments

People traditionally look at war as something that is fought on a battlefield. And that is certainly true. But it is also fought in the world of narrative. The stories that are told by both the combatants in a war and other parties outside the war with a vested interest in its outcome can play a major role in how it plays out. In this episode, we look at the current Israel Hamas war through a narrative lens and how that is impacting the conflict.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 11.06.23

By Harper Hunt | November 6, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Cursed Knowledge #23: Mega Disasters

By Harper Hunt | November 2, 2023 | 1 Comment

Earthquakes, storms, volcanos, oh my. It seems the earth is always trying to kill us one way or another. These are dangerous powerful spectacles that can literally reshape the world. It’s understandable that we’re so fascinated by them. But why aren’t we afraid of them?

The Yen Narrative Domino

By Ben Hunt | November 2, 2023 | 0 Comments

Earlier this week, the BOJ ‘tweaked’ their YCC policies again, this time eliminating their hard commitment to buying unlimited amounts of 10-year JGBs to maintain a 1% cap on rates. Instead, 1% is now just “a reference”, not a hard and fast target. And with that, the yen blew past 150, weakening to 151 and change.

And now the story-telling begins.

The Rick Rubin Of Advice: How To Have A Creative Second Act

By Matt Zeigler | October 30, 2023 | 21 Comments

The weirdest question I was ever asked, maybe in my entire life, was, “Can you make this sound more yellow?” The weirdest answer I’ve ever given to the weirdest question was, “Yes.” I replay that conversation in my head all of the time. There’s a perfectly good and teachable reason I was able to answer it. But to teach you that magic trick, we have to talk about Rick Rubin.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 10.30.23

By Harper Hunt | October 30, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.