Let’s Talk Forex with Alison and Chris

Most Forex traders fail not because their strategy is bad, but because they never test whether it actually works over time. In episode 162 of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison and Chris explain how to backtest properly, why expectancy matters more than win rate, and how backtesting builds discipline through drawdowns and losing streaks. You’ll discover the biggest beginner mistakes, how to avoid overfitting, and why manual repetition improves execution and confidence. This is an essential guide for traders who want to stop guessing and start trading with evidence. Watch the podcast on YouTube here! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Why do so many Forex strategies look amazing on YouTube, only to fall apart when traded with real money? In episode 161 of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison and Chris break down the real reasons popular online strategies fail in live markets. They explore cherry-picked examples, survivorship bias, backtest overfitting, real-world trading costs like spread and slippage, missing risk management, and the psychology challenges traders face when real money is on the line. This video gives traders a practical checklist to evaluate any strategy they see online and explains what actually makes a strategy tradable, sustainable, and realistic in real market conditions. Watch the podcast video here! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Where should you start as a complete beginner in Forex trading? In episode 160 of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison is joined by Erik, a real beginner trader, to break down Forex from the ground up. We explain what Forex trading actually is, how currency pairs work, why the market moves, and the most common mistakes beginners make when starting out. You’ll also learn why demo trading, focusing on one currency pair, understanding risk, and keeping things simple are essential for building a solid foundation before trading live. This video is ideal for anyone new to Forex who wants a clear, practical introduction without hype or overcomplication. Watch the full video here! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

How does a Forex broker really work behind the scenes? For this in-depth interview, Alison headed to Cape Town for a sit down with Lethu Lushaba, Senior Market Analyst at HFM to break down broker regulation, liquidity providers, execution speed, slippage, and how client funds are actually handled. Lethu also shares his personal trading journey, hard lessons on psychology and risk management, and why discipline and education matter more than any strategy. We explain how STP brokers operate, why traders aren’t “trading against the broker,” how segregated accounts protect client funds, and the red flags every trader should watch for when choosing a broker. This video is essential viewing for Forex, CFD, indices, and Gold traders who want transparency, safer trading conditions, and a clearer understanding of how modern brokers operate. If you wish you can also watch the interview on YouTube! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Some market moves in 2025 were simply too well-timed to ignore. In this season finale (episode 159), Alison and Chris break down the trades that weren’t illegal, weren’t confirmed, but were almost impossible to explain without someone knowing something early. We unpack the SPY 0DTE explosion hours before a tariff announcement, the volume spikes before major Bitcoin treasury buys, the crypto “leaks” that hit FX instantly, and the hedge funds whose macro predictions were just a little too accurate. You’ll also learn why retail traders often get caught in the volatility that follows these perfectly timed moves and why 2025 has become the year of “plausible deniability.”This isn’t a conspiracy. It’s understanding how modern markets really react: hyper-connected, hyper-reactive, and sometimes a little too convenient. Watch the full video here! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

December and early January are some of the strangest weeks on the FX calendar, and there are real economic reasons behind it. In episode 157  of Let's Talk Forex, Alison and Chris pull back the curtain on the Christmas effect in forex trading. Discover how holiday spending, e-commerce flows, international travel, low liquidity, and corporate year-end repatriation all combine to push currencies into unusual seasonal patterns. We also break down how 2025 macro forces, from AI-driven capital flows to the December Fed rate cut expectations, Japanese bond volatility, and Trump’s pro-risk policies, are amplifying the moves this year. Perfect for traders looking to stay ahead of December volatility, USD seasonality, and January reversals. Watch the full video here!🎥 FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.  

Most traders use the RSI completely backwards, and it costs them money. In episode 156 of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison and Chris break down what the Relative Strength Index actually measures, why the classic “sell at 70, buy at 30” approach fails in real markets, and how to use RSI like a grown-up trader. You’ll learn how to read RSI in context, use RSI zones to time pullbacks, avoid false divergence, and combine RSI with clean market structure. If RSI keeps getting you into trouble, this episode will show you exactly how to fix it. Watch the full video here! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.  

Regulators are finally cracking down on “finfluencers” in 2025, and traders need to understand what’s changing. In episode 155 of Let’s Talk Forex, Chris is joined by Erik and breaks down why regulators like the FCA and ASIC are targeting financial influencers, real enforcement cases (including James Pereira, Tyson Scholz, and the Abe Lim impersonation scam), and how young traders are being misled online. They also explain the rise of clone brokers, where the line is between education and illegal financial advice, and practical steps you can take to protect yourself. Whether you’re new to trading or simply tired of TikTok gurus, this episode gives you the context you need to stay informed and stay safe. Watch the episode on YouTube here! Further reading: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-leads-international-crackdown-illegal-finfluencers https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/australian-regulator-cracks-down-finfluencers-over-unlawful-financial-advice-2025-06-12/ https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/the-rogue-finfluencers-pushing-risky-investments-to-young-followers https://www.businessinsider.com/finding-dora-influencer-instagram-pig-butchering-scams-victim-images-stolen-2025-7 https://home.barclays/news/press-releases/2025/10/influence-or-illusion--one-in-four-feel-under-pressure-to-act-qu/ https://www.financemagnates.com/forex/pepperstone-ceo-having-to-take-down-scam-websites-on-an-almost-daily-basis/ FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Most traders slap Bollinger Bands on a chart and hope for the best, and that’s exactly why they fail. Alison and Chris help you break down how professional traders actually use Bollinger Bands to read market conditions, spot high-quality opportunities, and size trades using volatility instead of guesswork. Learn when to fade moves, when to follow them, and how to avoid the biggest Bollinger Band traps. If you’ve ever been burned by fake reversals or late breakouts, this episode is for you. You can watch the full video and get all the visual examples on YouTube! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

New to Forex trading? Start with the three simplest strategies every beginner should learn. In episode 153 of Let's Talk Forex With Alison And Chris, they  break down the Bull Flag breakout, the 20-SMA pullback, and the VWAP Magnet setup. Easy, repeatable strategies that help you trade with confidence and structure. No confusing indicators — just clear, step-by-step setups that actually work. Ideal for anyone seeking to establish a solid trading foundation. Prefer video over audio? Watch this episode here! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Forget signals and hype. In this episode of Let's Talk Forex, Alison and Chris walk you through how to use AI to analyse daily ranges, opening volatility, and session tendencies so you can trade with confidence. From exporting your data to building a one-page playbook, you’ll learn how to make ChatGPT your trading assistant and finally see your market in context. Watch the full video here! Daily frame: “Using this CSV of [instrument] data, compute daily high–low ranges for the last 60 sessions. Report min, max, mean, and a rounded mode.” Opening range: “For each session, find the first 15-minute high–low range from [session open]. Report min, max, mean, mode, and note which quartile today’s opening range falls into.” Correlation check: “Measure the correlation between the first 15-minute range and the full-day range. Explain in plain trading language how I should adapt my targets.” FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.  

Most beginners lose trades not because they can’t spot a trend, but because they don’t know when to enter. In this episode of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison and Chris reveal a simple, rule-based strategy using the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) that helps you trade pullbacks with confidence. Learn how to spot clean trends, time your entries, and manage risk. Perfect for beginner traders who want a structured, repeatable way to trade with the trend. Watch it on YouTube here! FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Episode 150 of Let’s Talk Forex is special. Professional trader Sam Morton from Actual Forex Trading joins Alison and Chris to reveal the truth about Forex trading in 2025. Sam shares his proven trading strategies, how he got started, and his thoughts on financial influencers shaping the market. They discuss why 2025 has been one of the toughest years for traders, key Forex trends and market insights, and how to navigate what’s next.  Watch the podcast on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/lpbxQ7saWCk  You can find Sam on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCe-KW8-piz5SGonnkGkQOcw and visit his site here to learn more: https://www.actualforextrading.com Visit us here for anything Forex related: https://fxscouts.com/ Join us on our social media channels: FxScouts on Facebook: https://t.ly/CAjgH FxScouts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fxscouts/ FxScouts on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fxscouts FxScouts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fxscouts/ FxScouts DISCLAIMER: 75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. Any information discussed here is solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

New to Forex trading? This beginner-friendly episode of Let’s Talk Forex explains why every trade starts in the red and what the spread really means for your profits. Alison is away, so Chris is joined by Erik, who is a complete beginner in the Forex world. Chris breaks down how spreads work, why they change, and how to find brokers with low trading costs. Perfect for beginners who want to understand the basics and trade smarter from day one. Broker images in the video version of this podcast this week are from Pepperstone, a broker with seriously low spreads! If you think you're paying too much to trade, check out Pepperstone here: https://bit.ly/4mRyMJf As always, the video verison of this podcast can be found on YouTube  FxScouts Disclaimer: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk, and between 75–90% of retail traders lose money. Before trading, carefully consider whether you understand how leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. The information shared in this podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice.

Has Bitcoin peaked at $124,000, or is this just the start of a bigger rally? In this episode, Chris and Alison break down the 2025 crypto outlook — exploring Bitcoin’s recent pullback, the Fed’s policy decisions, and how inflation and global risk appetite are shaping the market. They also look at Ethereum and altcoins, and explain why crypto may be shifting from hype to maturity. Whether you’re a Bitcoin believer, an Ethereum watcher, or just trying to understand where crypto is headed in 2025, this conversation will give you the insights you need to stay ahead. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/7kuOtU_3HyI  FxScouts Disclaimer: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk, and between 75–90% of retail traders lose money. Before trading, carefully consider whether you understand how leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. The information shared in this podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice.

You know your trading rules. You wrote them down. And yet, in the heat of the moment, you move that stop, chase that move, or double your size. Why do disciplined traders keep sabotaging themselves? In this episode of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison and Chris dig into the psychology of broken rules, the hidden triggers that trip us up, and the simple systems you can use to outsmart your instincts. From checklists and automation to friction hacks and accountability, you’ll walk away with a practical toolkit to finally trade the way you meant to. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5MwhJFj-kPM  FxScouts Disclaimer: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk, and between 75–90% of retail traders lose money. Before trading, carefully consider whether you understand how leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. The information shared in this podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice.

Gold has surged past $3,700 to new record highs in 2025—but what’s really driving XAU/USD? Join Alison and Chris as they break down the key forces behind the rally: central bank buying, safe-haven flows from geopolitical risk, Fed rate cuts, ETF inflows, and supply trends. They also explore what could derail the run and how traders can approach XAU/USD at these record levels. Whether you’re a forex trader or investor, this 15-minute episode gives you the insights you need to understand why gold is soaring and what might come next. Watch the full episode on YouTube here: Link And don’t miss our LIVE Q3 Forex Market Wrap on Friday, September 26th! Aaron Hill, Chief Market Analyst at FP Markets, joins us for a fact- and data-packed session covering the biggest moves and outlook for Q4. Set your reminder here Which Q3 market move impacted you the most? Cast your vote in our FX survey today! Take the survey (Closes Friday, September 26, 3PM CET) FxScouts Disclaimer: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk, and between 75–90% of retail traders lose money. Before trading, carefully consider whether you understand how leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. The information shared in this podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice.

Prop trading firms are everywhere in 2025—but can you actually pass the challenge and collect a payout? In this Let’s Talk Forex video podcast, Alison and Chris break down prop firms in plain language: funded account rules, the 3–1–1 risk plan to improve your pass rate, KYC and payout pitfalls, one-step vs two-step challenges, trailing vs static drawdown, and whether a futures or forex prop path fits you. If you are searching for “best prop firms 2025,” “how to pass a prop firm challenge,” or “forex prop firms South Africa,” this episode gives you the rulebook and routine you need to trade cleanly and get paid. What you will learn: What a prop firm is, how profit splits work, and why risk management rules matter. The core rule set in 2025: daily loss limit, max drawdown, news rules, consistency, and banned strategies. The 3–1–1 plan: set the stop first, risk 0.25%–0.5% per trade, and stop for the day at −1%. A simple pre-trade checklist and one-line post-trade journal to keep you consistent. Payouts and KYC: how to match documents and avoid rejected withdrawals. One-step vs two-step challenges; trailing vs static drawdown—and how each changes your risk. Futures vs forex prop firms: schedules, costs, and which suits your lifestyle. Regulatory risks and recent headlines, plus practical record-keeping and tax reminders. Enjoy the audio or watch the full video here if you prefer: https://youtu.be/w8Cj3aCA2tc  FxScouts Disclaimer: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk, and between 75–90% of retail traders lose money. Before trading, carefully consider whether you understand how leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. The information shared in this podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice.

Most traders do not fail because their systems are bad—they fail because they cannot execute consistently. In this episode of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison and Chris unpack trading psychology, overconfidence, and discipline, showing why your behaviour—not your indicators—usually decides your P/L. What you will learn: The myth of the “perfect” strategy and why consistent execution beats brilliance done badly. The emotions that sabotage traders: fear, greed, FOMO, and the revenge-trading loop—and how to break them. Overconfidence after hot streaks: size creep, widening stops, and “anticipating” entries. Practical discipline: a pre-trade checklist, fixed risk rules, daily loss limits, and process metrics that actually improve results. A simple case study (Trader A vs Trader B) that proves the system wasn’t the problem. A one-week discipline sprint to tighten your process fast. Who this is for: Day traders, swing traders, and Forex/CFD traders who want steadier results through better execution, not new indicators. If this helped, share it with one trader who needs to hear it, and subscribe for more clear, practical trading insights.   You can also watch the YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU5hWzZQb1g    FxScouts Disclaimer: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk, and between 75–90% of retail traders lose money. Before trading, carefully consider whether you understand how leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. The information shared in this podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice.

Think Forex is all about finding the perfect strategy, getting rich overnight, or that anyone can do it? Think again. In this episode of Let’s Talk Forex, Alison and Chris bust the biggest myths that keep traders stuck, frustrated, or losing money. From the truth about strategy and psychology, to why risk management matters more than flashy setups, this is the real talk every trader needs to hear. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why strategy is only 20% of the game (and psychology is the other 80%) Why not everyone is cut out for trading—and how to know if you are The reality behind “easy money” promises in Forex How proper risk management keeps you in the game long enough to win Whether you’re a beginner or already trading, this episode will help you see Forex for what it really is—and what it takes to succeed.   If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you can (as always) find the episode on YouTube as well: https://youtu.be/FIowqtLDFAU    FxScouts Disclaimer: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk, and between 75–90% of retail traders lose money. Before trading, carefully consider whether you understand how leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. The information shared in this podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice.