The Desert Island Investor

Hosted by Mark Atkinson and Paul Kerin

Business Investing

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. The stocks that Mark reviews on this channel are from his real portfolio and not a 'virtual' portfolio, so these are genuine win-some, lose-some stories. We hope that you'll also enjoy our regular feature 'Question in a Bottle' where Mark answers listeners' questions about investing.

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60 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 4732 min

Nichols PLC (NICL). My visit to their 2026 AGM

Nichols plc (ticker symbol NICL) is the business behind a number of popular beverage creations most notably the classic soft drink brand Vimto. Mark took a position in the company a few years ago and he recently attended their 2026 AGM to see how things are going. Now Vimto is mixed with water and Mark is currently underwater with his investment, but despite that sarcastic comment from me, he remains confident that the business has a promising future.LinksNichols PLC: https://www.nicholsplc.co.ukThe Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morningLicense code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTXDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

May 13, 202652 min

Charities. Should PLCs be giving away investors money?

In this episode of the podcast Mark bemoans the practice of corporate charity donations and how giving his money away affects the value of his investments. Paul proposes an independently assessed 'Charity Hygiene' rating to help members of the public see at a glance if a charity has a good or poor record of utilising donations appropriately.Desert Island Discord is a series of podcasts where private investor Mark Atkinson talks about the aspects of investing that really grinds his gears. If your own investment journey has been tainted by some poor practice that you think Mark should drag through the mud in a future episode, use the form on our website at https://www.thedesertislandinvestor.co.uk to recommend a topic.Desert Island Discord and The Desert Island Investor are generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY). Sword Fight SFX: FunWithSound. Desert Island Discord intro music by Paul Kerin and The Parrots of the Caribbean. (c) 2026Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

April 27, 2026Episode 461 hr 24 min

I talk emigration, money and tax with financial adviser Niall Allardice

If Britain's current economic climate is making you think seriously about moving abroad, you'll be interested in hearing the wisdom of today's guest castaway, Niall Allardice. Niall is a professional financial adviser who works for financial management firm Blevins Franks. He specialises in helping pioneers from the UK get their banking, investments and tax obligations in order as they transition to a new life overseas.LinksBlevins Franks: https://www.blevinsfranks.comniall.allardice@blevinsfranks.comThe Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink. Parrot jungle: soundbytez. Jet aircraft passing overhead: reinsamba.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morningLicense code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTXDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

March 29, 2026Episode 4541 min

Titon Holdings (TON). My review of the 2026 AGM

In previous episodes of the podcast about Titon Holdings PLC we've focused on Mark's concerns about the way that the board was dealing with some of the causes of the company's decline. However, after attending this year's AGM Mark has not only returned with a souvenir coffee mug, but he is also in a far happier mood. To find out what action the company has taken to cause his renewed optimism, assuming it's not just getting a free mug, listen to this, episode 45 of the Desert Island Investor. Links:Titon: https://www.titon.comThe Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morningLicense code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTXDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

March 8, 202632 min

Boycotts. How cherry-picking is stifling investment in good products

Desert Island Discord is a series of podcasts where private investor Mark Atkinson talks about the aspects of investing that really grinds his gears. In this episode he discusses the problems caused for businesses when consumers cherry-pick things to boycott based on out-of-date information and moral flexibility. If your own investment journey has been tainted by some poor practice that you think Mark should drag through the mud in a future episode, use the form on our website at https://www.thedesertislandinvestor.co.uk to recommend a topic.Desert Island Discord and The Desert Island Investor are generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY). Sword Fight SFX: FunWithSound. Desert Island Discord intro music by Paul Kerin and The Parrots of the Caribbean. (c) 2026Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

February 27, 2026Episode 4429 min

Fundsmith. My review of the 2026 ASM fresh from the event

Fundsmith, under the guidance of portfolio manager Terry Smith, invest in equities on a global basis. Mark has been invested in Fundsmith for many years and regularly attends their annual shareholder meetings. In this episode he reports back from the 2026 event in London.Links:Fundsmith: https://www.fundsmith.co.ukThe Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morningLicense code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTXDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

January 29, 2026Episode 4333 min

The 2025 James Halstead AGM. A review of the stock and my microphone moment!

James Halstead is a UK-based manufacturer and distributor of commercial flooring products. They offer high-quality vinyl flooring solutions under their flagship brand Polyflor, plus they are the company behind 12 other well known brands in the commercial flooring market. The company was formed in 1915 and went public in 1948 where it has gained considerable kudos for having raised its investor dividend for 49 consecutive years. In this episode of the podcast Mark provides an updated review of the company and explains why he took the unusual step of commandeering the microphone at the 2025 AGM.Links:James Halstead: https://jameshalstead.comThe Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morningLicense code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTXDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

January 19, 202624 min

Secrets. Is hiding bad news from investors a cloak for insider dealing?

Desert Island Discord is a new series of confrontational podcasts from The Desert Island Investor Mark Atkinson. In Mark's regular podcast he reviews his own stocks, but in these episodes he will be talking about some of the more negative aspects of the world of investing that really grinds his gears. In this episode 'Secrets' he exposes the reluctance of many PLCs to keep private investors promptly informed about issues that can negatively impact on their ROI. The topics discussed include the late issuance and irregular timing of RNS notices and the increased likelihood of insider dealing taking place when a privileged group of investors is closer to the business than anyone else. If your own investment journey has been tainted by some poor practice that you think Mark should drag through the mud in a future episode, use the form on our website at https://www.thedesertislandinvestor.co.uk to recommend a topic.Desert Island Discord and The Desert Island Investor are generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (CC-BY) Sword Fight: FunWithSound. Desert Island Discord intro music by Paul Kerin and The Parrots of the Caribbean. (c) 2026Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

December 22, 2025Episode 4237 min

My festive review of Magnum (MICC) Unilever's new ice-cream spin-off

In this episode of the podcast Mark talks about Unilever spinning off its ice-cream business into a new investment opportunity The Magnum Ice Cream Company (MICC). Mark is already a Unilever shareholder so like many others he now eagerly awaits to see how the business will perform. Paul kits out the parrots in little Salvation Army outfits for a short carol service. Merry Christmas from everyone on the island!Links:Magnum: https://www.magnumicecream.com/uk/home.htmlThe Desert Island Investor podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.If you have a question for Mark for our mini-podcast 'Question in a Bottle' please complete the form on our website at https://www.thedesertislandinvestor.co.ukCreated by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Bottle Illustration from FreePik (CC-BY) rawpixel dot com. SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink. Corkscrew: YleArkisto. Cymbals and Bass Drum: colinb_1000. Tuba: sgossner. Triangle: zabuhailo. Applause: joedeshon. Parrot Jungle: soundbytez.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morningLicense code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTXDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

December 12, 20257 min

Question in a Bottle. Which stocks do you class as "the dregs"?

Question in a Bottle is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson answers questions sent in by listeners of his podcast The Desert Island Investor. In this episode, subscriber Christopher asks Mark, which stocks in your portfolio do you class as "the dregs"?If you would like to hear Mark's opinion on an investing-related topic, pop your question into a bottle using the email form on https://www.thedesertislandinvestor.co.ukQuestion in a Bottle and The Desert Island Investor podcast are generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research. You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcasting channels.Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Bottle Illustration from FreePik (CC-BY) rawpixel dot com. SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink. Corkscrew: YleArkisto.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morningLicense code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTXDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.