
The Education of a Value Investor
I'm a work in progress.
This podcast documents my ongoing quest for wealth, wisdom and enlightenment.
The episodes are of variable length: When I find an interesting person to talk to - who is willing to have the conversation recorded, I put it up. But I have also found that it is useful to record my own thoughts - in short snippets.
Latest episodes

Sep 6, 2021 • 1h 6min
Gautam Baid: Important Lessons on Compounding and on Pursuing Your Passion
Gautam Baid, CFA, is the author of the international best-seller The Joys of Compounding. He is also the Founding Creator at Chapter, a revolutionary learning platform. Previously, Gautam served as a portfolio manager at an SEC-registered investment advisor based in Salt Lake City, Utah.Mr. Baid talks to me about growing up in India, moving to the United States, changing careers, and how he found his calling in life. He also shares his future projects and important lessons on compounding.Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/jc6uj72qud3gkiypContents: Growing Up in India (00:00:00)A New Beginning: From Investment Banking to the Graveyard Shift (00:06:47)The Power of Passion (00:10:49)Becoming a Portfolio Manager (00:17:15)The Capture Habit (00:21:17)The Birth of The Joys of Compounding (00:25:15)The Next Chapter (00:35:13)How to Walk the Talk (00:45:27)China vs. India from an Investment Perspective (00:57:54)

Aug 9, 2021 • 1h 10min
Manos Papatheofanous on the Canadian Pension Plan, Inflation and Cryptocurrencies
Manos Papatheofanous was born and raised in Greece, before moving to London to study computer science 31 years ago. Throughout his career he has worked various jobs in banks and proprietary trading desks, in asset management firms and in hedge funds, and has also completed a degree from London Business School of Master’s in Finance. Two years ago, Mr. Papatheofanous joined CPP Investments, the investment arm of the Canadian Pension Plan, which manages about 500 billion dollars for approximately 20 million Canadian pensioners.Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/93wembq2jwh6pxb8 Contents:Working at the Canadian Pension Plan (00:00:00)The CPP’s Investment Strategy (00:09:21)The Challenges and Advantages of Being Big (00:16:54)Connections Between the Labour Market, Inflation and Globalization (00:28:00)The Federal Reserve’s Influence on Inflation (00:41:46)The Goal of Negative Interest Rates (00:50:53)Cryptocurrencies or Crypto Assets? (00:56:13)Book Recommendations and Getting in Touch (01:06:55)

Jul 26, 2021 • 36min
Margaret Van and Georgina Godwin: The Practice of Mindfulness
Margaret Van was born in a Shanghainese family in Hong Kong. From early on, she has had a deep interest in other cultures, which has also led her to learn various languages with the main goal of being able to communicate with people from all over the world. Since 2005, Ms. Van has embarked on a new chapter as she discovered the practice of mindfulness. She is now a certified teacher and continues her journey of evolving every day.Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/qbgj5u3aps5pc7hhContents:Introduction (00:00)The Birth of a Multi-Cultural Identity (06:44)Nepal: A Life-Changing Trip (15:55)From Canada to Hong Kong Through Singapore (21:23)Discovering the World of Mindfulness (24:44)

Jul 12, 2021 • 30min
Vanessa Stelling and Georgina Godwin: The Journey of Raising an Autistic Son
Vanessa Stelling is the author of the book Julian and I: A Mother’s Journey Through Regressive Autism, a deeply personal narration of the fears, the struggles and the evolution that she went through by raising her autistic son. She talks to Georgina Godwin about the book, about her journey with Julian and about where they are in their lives today. Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/shb62r2mt3m5yfmnContents:A Pregnancy in the Aftermath of 9/11 (00:00)From New York to Switzerland: A Journey in Search of Answers (08:21)Day-To-Day Challenges of Autism (11:58)Seeing Life Through Julian’s Eyes (14:47)The Art of Communicating Without Language (20:32)Embracing Diversity (27:08)

Jun 28, 2021 • 1h 10min
William Oliver & William Barnes on the Primary Research Industry and their Company, In Practise
In this episode, Guy Spier talks to William Oliver and William Barnes, the founders of In Practise, a research network with a slightly different business model compared to other companies in the primary research business. They give valuable insights on the primary research industry and on topics such as how to conduct high-quality conversations and what part of management to interview when researching a company. Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/tw73wc9ef3gp3t4a Contents:Introducing William Oliver and William Barnes (00:00:00)The Primary Research Industry (00:05:54)The Beauty of Learning in Public (00:14:30)Why Aren’t Investor Relations Enough? (00:24:34)What is High-Quality Conversation? (00:34:47)Top Management vs. Mid-Level Management (00:46:47)The Pitfalls of Conducting Primary Research (00:54:36)Who Should Be a Part of the In Practise Community? (01:06:15)

Jun 14, 2021 • 1h 44min
Jackie Shoback on Financial Services and the Future of Digital Identity
Jackie Shoback is a Harvard graduate who has spent the last 25 years of her career as general manager and C-suite executive, with a lot of experience in launching, scaling and growing businesses from startup up through multiple billion dollars. She talks to Guy Spier about co-founding her new venture firm, balancing family and a professional career and the future of digital identity.Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/cpvr23pqya95q9mz Contents:Staples: A Journey of Incredible Growth (00:00:00)The Changes in Financial Services (00:18:42)Boston: A Magnet for Talent and Financial Expertise (00:32:44)Integrating Work and Family (00:51:43)Timing is Everything (01:01:22)The Future of Digital Identity (01:09:46)The Power of Personal Connections (01:26:41)

May 31, 2021 • 59min
Adam Mead on the Research Behind His Book, The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway
Adam Mead is a practicing capital allocator, the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Mead Capital Management, an investment management business he founded in 2014. He recently published a book, The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway: A Chronological Analysis of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger's Conglomerate Masterpiece, which provides a comprehensive and detailed history of Berkshire Hathaway to date. Mr. Mead talks to Guy Spier about the extensive research for his book and shares some valuable lessons that he learned through the process. Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/n7zmwj8y4aj3ea3u Contents:Introduction (00:00)What Has Not Been Written About Berkshire Hathaway (03:41)Behind the Scenes of the Research Process (15:35)Insightful Lessons About Businesses (32:36)Cryptocurrencies: With Them or Against Them? (43:44)A Future in the Community of Learning and Teaching (51:38)

May 17, 2021 • 58min
Brian Murray: Lessons on Class Actions, Contingency Lawyers and Arbitration Clauses
Brian Murray is a partner in Glancy Prongay & Murray, a class action litigation firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles. He talks to me about contingency lawyers, Robinhood and the history and importance of arbitration clauses. Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/erfj4tazu4zf7qpz Contents: The Benefits of Working with Contingency Lawyers (00:00)Class Actions and Mass Actions: How Do They Differ? (11:54)Process of Review of a Legal Case (21:53)GameStop and Robinhood: The Obstacles to a Class Action (26:47)Is There a Future Without Arbitration Clauses? (39:39)The Law is Not Flawless (46:17)An Introduction to Litigation Funding (50:29)The Newest Addition to the Supreme Court (54:03)

May 3, 2021 • 1h 8min
Yishai Kiczales on Classic Books and Movies and the Future of Cinema
Yishai Kiczales is an Israeli film critic, songwriter and lecturer, who currently lives in Zurich with his family. He writes for the daily newspaper Israel Hayom, and his third solo album, "Inside Yishai Kiczales", will be released on May 22. He talks to me about classic books and movies, about the recent changes in the world of cinema, and highlights some things the streaming services are missing. Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/jmvgmsxhb8vupfze Contents: Ulysses by James Joyce: A Rock in a Mountain of Classics (00:01:45)Should One Read the Classics? (00:10:20)Christopher Nolan’s Best Movies (00:13:32)The Movie Classics and Their Origin (00:21:21)How to Escape the Algorithm? (00:27:49)Past and Future Changes in the Movie World (00:37:44)Building Bridges Through Cinema (00:52:31)The Struggle of Creating Art (00:58:47)

Apr 19, 2021 • 1h 28min
William Green on the Journey of Becoming a Writer and the Rewards of Being a Mensch
William Green talks to Guy Spier about his new book, Richer, Wiser, Happier. He shares the long journey he has been on, before finally reaching the confidence and courage to publish his own book, which is full of insights from extraordinary people on how to think better, invest better and live more wisely. Mr. Green believes in compounding goodwill and does not hold back from sharing with the listeners' wonderful ways to become a mensch and live a much happier life.Full transcript available here: https://aqfd.docsend.com/view/9zh4znveqda63arq Contents:Introduction (00:00:00)The Journey to Becoming a Writer (00:03:42)How to Be Helpful Through Writing? (00:08:42)Replacing Fear Through a Sense of Service (00:14:50)The Birth of Richer, Wiser, Happier (00:22:03)The Art of Distilling the Essence (00:30:30)Concealed Truths: How to Aspire to a Better Life? (00:44:03)The Rewards of Being a Mensch (00:59:02)William Green’s Journey of Transformation (01:13:44)A Final Thought: Tasting the Benefit of Simple Ideas (01:22:46) The book is available to buy here:www.amazon.com/Richer-Wiser-Happ…1618847240&sr=8-2