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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About Us 🌚🌞
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.

Important Disclosures:
Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

🎉 Season 3 is officially here.

After a long hiatus, Market MakeHer is back with a whole new season and a major upgrade.

Launching February 18, this season goes deeper, wider, and smarter.

Expect rabbit holes (the good kind):

• How the Federal Reserve was formed and how it actually works
• A full breakdown of the dot-com bubble
• Index funds, ETFs, and how to truly “index fund and chill”
• Advanced topics like repo markets… explained in plain English

This is investing education without the gatekeeping.

Hosted by Jessica Inskip and Jessie DeNuit, Market MakeHer follows a teacher–learner format. Jess brings the experience. Jessie brings the questions. And together, they slow things down, cut the jargon, and translate finance from foreign language to real life.

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to level up, this podcast is designed for the self-directed investor who wants to understand the market, not just react to it.

History. Strategy. Basics. Advanced concepts. Real context.

Because the market doesn’t need to be mysterious. It just needs to be explained.

Welcome back to Market MakeHer.Season 3 starts February 18. 🎧✨