The compass has arrived. It spins on your screen now, waiting. But before you ask it for direction, consider this: the Kronecker family learned that true north is a mathematical convenience—not a human truth. In this episode, we explore why the most important directions are the ones no instrument can find."The compass is live at kronecker.rondanini.com. Watch it spin. But don't ask where it points—not yet."

Welcome to a special announcement episode of Between the Covers and Beyond.

Today I'm introducing something new: The Trading Floor, a companion podcast series about foreign exchange markets, and the book that inspired it—FX Cash Products: Spot, Forwards, Swaps, and Non-Deliverable Forwards.

THE PODCAST:The Trading Floor is hosted by David Axtell, who brings 35 years of experience across NatWest London, LIFFE, United Saudi Commercial Bank (where he ran Riyal books and helped establish IBOR fixings), Qatar National Bank, HSBC Dubai, SHUAA Capital, and Crown Agents Bank. He's built nostro networks across 120+ currencies and traded through every major market session.

Each episode takes concepts from institutional FX markets and brings them to life with real stories, practical insights, and the kind of tacit knowledge that used to get passed down on trading floors but increasingly doesn't. Episode 1 introduces David and explains why the podcast exists. Episode 2 dives into market structure—why FX is over-the-counter, operates 24 hours, and why the dollar sits at the center of everything.

THE BOOK:FX Cash Products is the first volume in a five-book series covering foreign exchange markets comprehensively. Written for practitioners—corporate treasurers, FX traders, risk managers, finance professionals—it bridges the gap between academic textbooks heavy on theory and practitioner guides that assume you already know how markets work.

Eighteen chapters covering market foundations, spot mechanics, forward pricing, FX swaps, non-deliverable forwards, risk management, and regulatory frameworks. Real institutional examples from JPMorgan, Citigroup, ECB, Toyota. Professional Python toolkit available separately with production-grade implementations.

WHO THIS IS FOR:

• Corporate treasurers managing FX risk and verifying bank pricing
• FX traders early in their careers learning market structure
• Risk managers, asset managers, and consultants operating in FX markets
• Anyone intellectually curious about how global financial markets actually function

THE SERIES:Book 1: FX Cash Products (launching soon)Book 2: FX Options and Volatility TradingBook 3: Cross-Currency Swaps and Basis TradingBook 4: Emerging Markets FXBook 5: Advanced Risk Management and Regulatory Frameworks

The podcast will evolve alongside the books, with new seasons covering each volume's topics.

PUBLISHING APPROACH:Available through Rondanini Publishing at rondanini.com. Digital-first, accessible pricing, no gatekeepers. The podcast is completely free on all platforms. Standard book edition includes full text; professional edition includes the Python toolkit.

WHY NOW:The gap between what gets taught in finance courses and what actually happens in markets is enormous. The tacit understanding that used to flow through apprenticeship and mentorship is fragmenting as people move jobs faster and trading floors shrink. This project preserves and systematizes institutional knowledge—creating resources we wish existed when we were learning.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TRADING FLOOR:Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. Weekly episodes starting with market structure, moving through spot trading, forwards, swaps, emerging markets, liquidity patterns, and execution strategies.

GET THE BOOK:FX Cash Products launches soon. Visit rondanini.com/fxcash for updates and early access.

Hosted by Luigi RondaniniThe Trading Floor hosted by David AxtellRondanini Publishing

In the first episode of The Compass Project, Luigi Pascal Rondanini introduces a family who measured everything—and discovered what cannot be measured. What happens when a brass compass passes through six generations of mathematicians, artists, and seekers? What truths does its needle find when it points somewhere logic cannot follow?

This is the beginning. The compass case is opening. Subscribe now—the needle is about to stir.

Visit kronecker.rondanini.com to subscribe. When the compass appears, you'll be the first to see where it points.