Everyone keeps comparing the AI boom to the dot-com era — so we decided to go down the rabbit hole and see what really happened.

In this episode, Jess and I take you back to the 1990s — when optimism was sky-high, money was cheap, and anything with “.com” in its name could send Wall Street into a frenzy. We unpack the perfect economic storm that built the bubble, the wild timeline of events that burst it, and the investor psychology that made even the smartest people believe this time was different.

Because before you can understand today’s market manias… you’ve got to understand the first one.

Key Takeaways:

• The 1990s were the perfect setup for a bubble: Low inflation, low interest rates, and a booming economy gave investors confidence — and cheap money — to chase risk. The Internet added excitement, fueling the belief that a “new economy” had begun.
• Technology changed everything — and everyone wanted in: The commercialization of the Web and the rise of companies like Netscape, Amazon, and Yahoo! made it feel like endless growth was guaranteed. IPOs exploded, valuations skyrocketed, and profits stopped mattering.
• Investor psychology took over the market: FOMO and hype replaced fundamentals. The phrase “irrational exuberance” wasn’t just clever — it described the collective mindset that pushed prices higher simply because they were already rising.
• The media amplified the mania: Financial news networks turned investing into entertainment. Analysts became influencers before social media existed, and market updates sounded more like sports commentary than financial analysis.
• The bubble wasn’t just about tech — it was about people: It was a story of optimism, greed, and belief. Investors convinced themselves “this time is different,” proving that markets run on emotion just as much as data.

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Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective.

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Welcome to Market MakeHer - a stock market education podcast making financial literacy accessible to all, but taught from Her perspective. 

Does the world of investing seem confusing and unreachable to you?  Have you ever felt kept in the dark from understanding how to invest in the stock market yourself?  
 
Jess Inskip and Jessie DeNuit created a podcast that breaks down complex investing topics in an easy-to-understand manner, empowering listeners to navigate the market with confidence. Join us as we break barriers and make a mark in the finance world together!

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Market MakeHer provides inclusive and accessible investing education for women and anyone who has ever felt kept in the dark from learning how to invest in the stock market by breaking down complex topics in an easy-to-understand, relatable manner - from Her perspective. We provide educational investing content, not advice. Investing involves risk - we are here to teach you how to navigate and understand the stock market.