
A Book with Legs
Welcome to A Book with Legs podcast, hosted by Smead Capital Management. In each episode, the folks at Smead Capital Management explore value investing through an entirely unique lens, bringing in authors to discuss books that have directly or indirectly influenced the decisions the Smead team has made on their investments in stocks and equities. The podcast is for the curious-minded looking for worldly wisdom. Investing is the last great liberal art, and the team at Smead wants to learn as much as they can. Any level of investor, business person, or thinker, whether personally or professionally, will be intrigued and engaged by these discussions.
Latest episodes

Apr 3, 2023 • 30min
The Smead Book List - Spring 2023
Interested in what is on the Smead Capital Management book list? Listen in to hear Cole and Bill list the books they have recently read, what they’re currently reading, and the books they have on deck. Have a book you would like to recommend for the podcast? Email suggestions to podcast@smeadcap.com.

Mar 20, 2023 • 1h 5min
Shannon K. O'Neil - The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter
“The globalization of the last forty years is changing. Overall, these changes will lead toward more regionalization.”Author Shannon K. O’Neil joins Cole to discuss her book, The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter. Shannon’s work highlights the world’s shift to regionalization and the economic benefits that come along with it. The discussion covers why globalization is transforming and how regionalization is influencing economies around the world.

Mar 6, 2023 • 1h 14min
Perry Mehrling - Money and Empire
In this episode, Cole and Bill are joined by Perry Mehrling, author of the book, Money and Empire. Mehrling’s work tracks the life of Charles P. Kindleberger, an international economist from the twentieth century, whose deep interest in history and economics fed his appetite to learn how the global financial system worked. The conversation covers Kindleberger’s background and upbringing, his experiences in the world of finance, and understanding the current dollar framework of the world.

Feb 21, 2023 • 51min
Bob Pisani – Shut Up and Keep Talking
CNBC Senior Markets Correspondent Bob Pisani joins Cole and Bill to discuss his book, Shut Up and Keep Talking. Bob’s book is a collection of real-life stories and firsthand encounters over the course of his 33-year career in the financial industry. The conversation covers Bob’s time as a journalist, the technological evolution of the New York Stock Exchange, the major players and key investors Bob has come across, and the many investing lessons he’s learned along the way.

Feb 7, 2023 • 1h
Amity Shlaes - Great Society - Live from Smead Investor Oasis
Author Amity Shlaes joined Bill and Cole for a live podcast recording at the 2023 Smead Investor Oasis to discuss her new book, Great Society. During their conversation, they discuss comparisons between the failure of the Great Society’s idealism of the 1960s and today's challenges. The conversation covers topics such as socialism, capitalism and today’s relevance to the thoughtless idealism of political leaders in history.

Jan 23, 2023 • 1h 30min
Gale Pooley - Superabundance
If you’re really in favor of more abundant resources, then you really have to be in favor of people having the freedom to innovate, discover, share, and consume knowledge.” Author Gale Pooley joins Cole to discuss his book, Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet. Along with co-author Marian Tupy, Gale’s research explores the way, contrary to popular belief, resources have become more abundant as the world’s population has grown. The conversation covers “time prices”, climate change, and how more people leads to more innovation.

Jan 9, 2023 • 1h 10min
Robert Hagstrom - Warren Buffett: Inside the Ultimate Money Mind
Cole and Bill kickoff season two with author Robert Hagstrom to discuss his book, Warren Buffett: Inside the Ultimate Money Mind. Hagstrom’s work explores the philosophical and mental aspects that helped shape Buffett and allowed him to become one of the world’s most successful investors. The conversation touches on Buffett’s upbringing, his investment ideology, and how he reached his many achievements.

Dec 27, 2022 • 23min
The Smead Book List - Winter 2022
Interested in what is on the Smead Capital Management book list? Listen in to hear Cole and Bill list the books they have recently read, what they’re currently reading, and the books they have on deck. Have a book you would like to recommend for the podcast? Email suggestions to podcast@smeadcap.com.

Dec 19, 2022 • 54min
Father Robert Sirico - The Economics of the Parables
“If the vice of greed is the bane of capitalism, then the vice of socialism is envy.”Catholic priest Robert Sirico sits down with Cole and Bill to discuss his book, The Economics of the Parables. Rev. Sirico’s work highlights the economic and biblical wisdom derived from the parables with a modern spin. The conversation covers helping the poor, building wealth, and the many life lessons this timeless collection can teach.

Dec 5, 2022 • 1h 9min
Richard Oldfield - Simple But Not Easy
“The commitment and the patience that you need are two of the real attributes of proper investment.”In this episode, author and value investor Richard Oldfield joins Cole to discuss his book, Simple But Not Easy: A Practitioner's Guide to the Art of Investing. Richard’s book provides investors a commonsense approach to investing and provides stock pickers, of all experience levels, with ways to model their decisions. The conversation covers stocks vs. bonds, hedge funds, market conditions, the art of value investing and more.
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