Alan Shaw, founder of the Market Technicians Association and former managing director of the technical research department at Smith Barney, tells Bloomberg View columnist Barry Ritholtz that he's happy he's not working today: It's much more difficult to be a technician and be in institutional sales than it was when he was working.\u0010\u0010(Note: This is a podcast extra which will not air on Bloomberg Radio.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg View columnist Barry Ritholtz interviews Ed Thorp, one of the most storied people in finance. A math professor at MIT and UC Ivine, Thorp figured out how to beat Las Vegas at blackjack and baccarat, created statistical arbitrage, and ran a hedge fund that not only beat the market by a wide margin, but never had a losing quarter. He is the author of several books, including "Beat the Dealer" and "Beat the Market"; his latest book is "A Man for All Markets." Thorp tells Ritholtz that the secret to beating the market is having an edge that's specific, definable and mathematical. If you don't, you should be in index funds instead. This interview aired on Bloomberg Radio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.