Castlebay Conversations is a podcast focused on thoughtful investing and long-term decision-making, cutting through market noise and short-term thinking. Hosted by George Ladds, the podcast features interviews with fund managers and post-meeting discussions with David Ridland, Partner at Castlebay Investments. Together they explore investment philosophy, risk, and how decisions fit into real client journeys — reflecting the Castlebay Way of calm, considered, long-term thinking.
Castlebay Conversations – Post-Meeting Reflections: Quality, Conviction & Holding the Course: George Ladds in discussion with David Ridland, Partner at Castlebay Investments
Following their fund manager conversation with Ben Peters of Evenlode, George Ladds is joined by David Ridland for a reflective post-meeting discussion, drawing out the deeper themes behind quality investing, judgement, and long-term conviction.
The conversation explores the idea of investing as both an art and a science, touching on vocation, experience, and the role of “gut feel” shaped by years of disciplined analysis. George and David discuss how good investment decisions are rarely about the loudest voice in the room, but about robust process, healthy challenge, and a culture that prioritises sound judgement over short-term noise.
They also reflect on the realities of performance cycles, the behavioural pressures faced by long-term investors, and why clear communication and alignment with like-minded clients matter just as much as returns. Drawing parallels between Castlebay’s own philosophy and Evenlode’s approach, the discussion reinforces the importance of patience, compounding, and holding quality businesses through periods when markets and fundamentals diverge.
A thoughtful, honest conversation on staying the course, building resilient portfolios, and why some of the most compelling opportunities often appear when conviction is hardest to maintain.
27 Jan 2026
Castlebay Conversations: Long-Term Investing, Quality & Patience George Ladds in conversation with Ben Peters, Co-Founder & Portfolio Manager, Evenlode Investment
In this episode of Castlebay Conversations, host George Ladds sits down with Ben Peters, Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager at Evenlode Investment, (https://evenlodeinvestment.com/) for a thoughtful discussion on long-term investing in a world dominated by short-term noise.
Ben shares his unconventional journey into investment management, from physicist and science teacher to fund manager, and explains how this background shapes Evenlode’s calm, disciplined philosophy. The conversation explores the thinking behind the Evenlode Global Income Fund—a strategy built around owning high-quality, cash-generative businesses with resilient returns on capital and management teams focused on the long term.
Together, George and Ben delve into what “quality” really means, why patience is so hard to practise (yet so powerful), and how valuation discipline, behavioural awareness, and stewardship help investors stay grounded through periods of market excitement and relative underperformance. Ben also reflects on income investing, balancing current yield with sustainable dividend growth, and why today’s market environment may present an unusually compelling opportunity for long-term investors willing to think differently.
A wide-ranging and reflective conversation on investing with conviction, clarity, and perspective—well beyond the next quarter.
22 Jan 2026
Castlebay Conversations: Post-Meeting Discussion with George Ladds & David Ridland: Reflections on Quality, Sustainability and Long-Term Investing
In this post-meeting discussion, George Ladds is joined by David Ridland, Partner at Castlebay Investments, to reflect on their recent conversation with fund manager Michael Crawford.
George and David unpack some of the key themes from the meeting, including the difference between true long-term sustainability and fashionable ESG labels, and why cultural integrity, capital discipline, and alignment with company management matter more than buzzwords. They explore the idea of company life cycles — growth, maturity, and decline — and how this framework helps investors judge quality, value, and future return potential more clearly.
The discussion also touches on the tensions within global equity income investing, challenging the assumption that every holding must generate income today, and explaining why a blend of growth, compounding businesses, and higher-yielding mature companies can lead to more resilient long-term outcomes.
A thoughtful and practical follow-up conversation that highlights the importance of frameworks, patience, and clear thinking in an increasingly noisy investment world.
20 Jan 2026
Castlebay Conversations: George Ladds in Conversation with Michael Crawford
In this episode of Castlebay Conversations, George Ladds is joined by Michael Crawford, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Chawton Global Investors (https://chawtoninvestors.co.uk/), for a thoughtful discussion on long-term global equity income investing.
Michael shares the personal journey that shaped his investment philosophy, from early influences and professional training to the thinkers and frameworks that underpin his approach today. The conversation explores Chawton Global Investors’ Global Equity Income Fund and its focus on quality businesses, capital discipline, and patience in an increasingly noisy, short-term market environment.
Key themes include the importance of return on capital, company life cycles, alignment with management teams, and how sustainable income can be built through a blend of dividends and intelligent capital allocation. George and Michael also reflect on behavioural traps investors face, lessons learned over decades of investing, and why resisting short-term pressures is essential to long-term success.
A calm, insightful episode for listeners interested in quality investing, compounding, and building income that lasts.
15 Jan 2026
Castlebay Conversations: After the Call — Making Sense of Bonds with George Ladds and David Ridland
In this post-meeting discussion, George Ladds is joined by David Ridland, Partner at Castlebay Investments, to reflect on their earlier conversation with Chris Bowie of TwentyFour Asset Management.
Together they unpack the key themes in plain English — from how bond prices and yields move like a seesaw, to why duration, liquidity and income matter far more than headline returns. The discussion explores common misconceptions around bond risk, the importance of understanding what sits inside a “corporate bond fund”, and why disciplined research and consistency of approach are crucial for investors.
A thoughtful, behind-the-scenes conversation that helps bridge the gap between theory and real-world portfolio construction.
13 Jan 2026
Castlebay Conversations: Credit with Conviction — George Ladds in conversation with Chris Bowie (TwentyFour)
In this episode of Castlebay Conversations, host George Ladds is joined by Chris Bowie, Partner and Co-Head of Investment Grade at TwentyFour Asset Management. (https://www.twentyfouram.com/)
Together they explore how disciplined credit investing works in practice — from scepticism and risk-adjusted returns to income generation, duration, liquidity and the role of corporate bonds in diversified portfolios. Chris shares insights from decades in fixed income, explaining how high-quality credit can offer reliable income without taking unnecessary risk, and why patience, teamwork and downside awareness matter just as much as yield.
A clear, practical conversation for anyone looking to better understand bonds beyond the headlines.
9 Jan 2026
Castlebay Conversations: Reflections on Havelock and Better Investment Thinking
In this post–fund manager meeting discussion, George Ladds is joined by David Ridland, Partner at Castlebay Investments (https://www.castlebayinvestments.com/), to reflect on their recent conversation with Havelock.
Rather than revisiting performance or short-term market views, the discussion focuses on how good investment decisions are really made. George and David explore the balance between conviction and humility, the role of human bias in periods of market stress, and what it means to build portfolios that are resilient across a wide range of outcomes.
They reflect on concentration versus diversification, the practical meaning of value, and why understanding businesses matters more than relying on headline metrics or popular narratives. A key theme is the growing use of data and technology in investing — and why, even in an age of AI, human judgment, common sense, and independent thinking remain essential.
This episode offers a behind-the-scenes insight into how Castlebay assesses fund managers and investment ideas — thoughtfully, patiently, and always with long-term client outcomes in mind.
A conversation rooted in the Castlebay Way: calm, considered, and focused on the journey rather than the noise.
9 Jan 2026
Evidence, Judgment and Long-Term Thinking in Global Investing
In this episode of Castlebay Conversations (https://www.castlebayinvestments.com/), George Ladds speaks with Matthew Beddall, Chief Executive Officer of Havelock (https://www.havelocklondon.com/) London.
The discussion explores Havelock’s evidence-based approach to global investing, combining quantitative research with human judgment. Matthew shares his journey from systematic investing to building a long-term, conviction-led strategy focused on quality businesses, valuation discipline, and resilience through market cycles.
They cover how value and quality intersect, why short-term performance can be misleading, the role of concentration and diversification, and how investors can manage behavioural bias in volatile markets. The conversation also looks at the limits of data and AI, and why common sense, patience, and historical perspective remain essential to good investment decisions.
A thoughtful discussion for investors and professionals who value long-term thinking over short-term noise.
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