The Art of Quality
The Art of Quality is a podcast that features conversations with investors and operators who have high-quality backgrounds. The show explores the underlying patterns of quality in business and life through stories and dialogue, rather than research notes or spreadsheets. It aims to bring these patterns to listeners in an accessible way.
Episodes
What Can the World's Oldest Companies Teach Us About Longevity? Notes from the Field with Eric Markowitz, Part 3
This episode is Part 3 of our “Notes from the Field” series with Eric Markowitz, and is complemented by prior episodes in the series. In this episode Eric shares what he's learned since finishing his first draft of Outlast. From a 1,300-year-old Japanese inn to a 400-year-old balsamic maker in Modena, Eric explains why the firms that last tend to be humble, small and honest about their past, and w
Inverting Quality: Studying the Exceptions of the Most Obsessive Operators with Sean Iddings
In part two, Paul Higgins and author, investor, builder Sean Iddings turn to nature as a teacher of quality. Starting with Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, they look at why the most valuable lessons are often the ones left in plain sight. They cover evolution as four billion years of R&D, and why Bach outlasted the more famous composers of his day. Sean explains why trust is something you can't
Quality in Building the Future of Power Distribution with Mehrdad Baghaie Yazdi
In this episode, Ferdinand Bennigsen sits down with Mehrdad Baghaie Yazdi, Vice President of Systems, Applications and Solutions at Infineon, the world's leading power semiconductor company. Mehrdad leads a team of about 50 people who imagine the future of electrical systems, from EV chargers to battery storage to AI data centers, then work backwards to build the power electronics that future will
Pursuing Quality in the Cheapest Electron on the Grid with Landon Mossburg
Landon Mossburg joins John Candeto to talk about the pursuit of "the cheapest electron on the grid." They explore why the cheapest energy sources are often not the ones in widest use, why grid-scale batteries are both essential and underused, and the difficult physics behind building them. Landon also traces his path back to a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, and how that early ambition s
Inner Quality & Unfolding with Alex Carabi
In this conversation, William Oliver and Alex Carabi explore family constellations and the hidden dynamics that shape our lives, relationships, and organizations. They discuss what it means to trust life as it unfolds - to meet difficulty as an opportunity to learn and grow, surrender the need for control, and, as Alex puts it, take ourselves less seriously while taking life more seriously.
Alex C
Quality and the Music Beneath the Number with Sean Iddings
Paul Higgins sits down with investor, builder and author Sean Iddings to explore how music, nature and business can teach us to perceive quality differently. Drawing on decades of studying enduring businesses and exceptional operators, Sean examines the patterns that rarely show up in the numbers - from incentives and culture to discipline, relationships and the ability to see what others miss.
Inner Quality and IFS with Justin Wilford
Justin Wilford, PhD, is a Level 2 trained Internal Family Systems practitioner, writer, and community facilitator working with high-performing professionals and entrepreneurs ready to do deeper inner work. He holds two PhDs - from UCLA and UC Irvine - and spent the early part of his career translating cutting-edge mental health research into tools for patients facing serious medical crises.
After
Finding Quality Building with AI with Andrew Farah
In this episode, John Candeto sits down with Andrew Farah, the Founder & CEO of Density. Andrew and his team are at the forefront of using AI to improve how we build and create.
They explore how using AI is like encountering a new species, why this is the best time in history to be a creative person, why the future will be owned by people who build tools, and how AI can amplify human ambition.
![[EPISODE IN GERMAN] Die Kunst eines selbstbestimmten Lebens mit Professor Michael Bordt SJ](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog17767141/John_Candeto_5_bi2q8.png){kind=logo}
[EPISODE IN GERMAN] Die Kunst eines selbstbestimmten Lebens mit Professor Michael Bordt SJ
In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Michael Bordt. Er ist Gründer des Instituts für Philosophie und Leadership in München und hilft Familienunternehmern, Gründern und Führungskräften dabei sich selbst besser zu verstehen und aus dieser Klarheit heraus ein gelungenes Leben zu führen. Dabei arbeitet er mit einer Methodik aus Selbstreflexion und Selbstwahrnehmung, die aus seinem eigenen Lebensweg als Phi
Quality in the Age of AI with Eric Markowitz
In this conversation, John Candeto, Eric Markowitz, and William Oliver dig into the cultural panic surrounding AI and push back against both the techno-doomers and the hyper-optimists, arguing that the real story isn't about the tools themselves but about the worldview that treats humans as machines to be optimized away. Drawing on Eric's recent essay "It Was Never About AI," they explore why the
Finding Quality in the Field with Nadim Abi Abdallah
In this episode of The Art of Quality in Attention, William sits down with his friend and former colleague Nadim Abi Abdallah to explore the practice of fieldwork as a core component of the investment research process.
The conversation focuses on how Nadim approaches fieldwork and what quality looks like in the fieldwork process - drawing on years spent in direct conversations with operators, buil
Quality on the Far Side of Language with Chris Mayer
Chris Mayer returns for his second appearance on The Art of Quality and Attention. Chris is the co-founder and portfolio manager of Woodlock House Family Capital, a Maryland-based hedge fund, and the author of several influential books on investing, including 100 Baggers and his most recent work, The Unspeakable Level.
In this conversation, we explore the ideas at the heart of The Unspeakable Leve
Quality in Ways of Knowing with Nicolas Michaelsen
In this episode of The Art of Quality and Attention, William welcomes Nicolas Michaelsen. Nico is a Danish entrepreneur who, after years of building companies, turned his attention toward his own spiritual practice and the cultivation of wisdom within the business world. He writes the Substack Ecologies of Wisdom.
Over the past year, Nico has been a thoughtful voice on the subject of bringing one’
Quality at the Edge with Tom Morgan
In the first conversation with Tom Morgan a year ago, the focus was on the personal journey that led him to build The Leading Edge - a home for curious leaders navigating transition, meaning, and personal evolution.
In this second episode, Willy and Tom move beyond origin stories and into lived practice.
Their conversation explores what it means to cross thresholds - psychological, relational, and
Quality in Leadership with Patrick Boland
In this episode of The Art of Quality and Attention, William sits down with Patrick Boland. Patrick is a psychotherapist, leadership consultant, executive coach, and the author of The Contemplative Leader. He founded his consulting firm, Conexus, in 2013, and since then has worked with senior teams and leaders in global organizations ranging from Google, Unilever, Accenture, and Salesforce, to nam
Quality Through Iteration: Reflections on 2025
In this episode, we look back on 2025. We reflect on stories from this year’s guests and on our own lived experiences in a shared pursuit around studying and practicing quality. Quality regularly shows up as something hard to define - becomes easier to see when you experience it, when you come into relationship with it.
A common thread across our conversations is that this wisdom is earned through
What Can the World’s Oldest Companies Teach Us About Longevity? Notes from the Field with Eric Markowitz Part 2
Our guest today is Eric Markowitz. Eric is a partner and the director of research at investment firm Nightview Capital and a former investigative journalist with bylines in the New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company and other outlets. A near-death experience prompted Eric to wonder why some cultures, companies and products dramatically outlast others. Eric is traveling the globe on a quest to answer one que
The Quality of Paying Attention with Ed Halliwell
Ed Halliwell is a mindfulness teacher and author with more than 20 years of experience leading public mindfulness courses, workshops, and retreats. He has introduced and taught mindfulness in a wide range of workplaces, including Accenture, the Houses of Parliament, and UNICEF UK. Ed is the author of Into the Heart of Mindfulness and Mindfulness: How to Live Well by Paying Attention.
William first
Finding Quality Through Power Laws
The Art of Quality hosts re-convene for a conversation about power laws: what they are, why they matter, where they show up, and how they help us understand quality itself.
Early in life John was struck by the notion that there is a fabric-pattern to reality, and we can learn some of it. That realization sparked a pursuit: to find the patterns that give rise to the good, the true, and the beautifu
The Quality of Intuition and Breath with Isik Tlabar
Isik Tlabar is an intuition coach, breathwork facilitator, and author of 140 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 14. William first met Isik in London in 2019, when he attended a breathwork session she led for a group of about twenty people. There, he witnessed firsthand Isik’s remarkable ability to help others deepen their sense of inner well-being and connection to their authentic selves.
A central p
The Transformative Power of Fasting with Leonard Wilhelmi
Today's episode is about the story of the renowned Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting clinics based in Germany, Spain, and soon France, and their owner Leo Wilhelmi, who runs the business together with his cousin and brother in the fourth generation.
Leo shares the founding story of his great-grandfather Otto Buchinger, who was the personal doctor of Prince Adalbert of Prussia during the early 20th centur
The Transformative Power of Fasting with Leonard Wilhelmi
Today's episode is about the story of the renowned Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting clinics based in Germany, Spain, and soon France, and their owner Leo Wilhelmi, who runs the business together with his cousin and brother in the fourth generation.
Leo shares the founding story of his great-grandfather Otto Buchinger, who was the personal doctor of Prince Adalbert of Prussia during the early 20th centur
What Can the World’s Oldest Companies Teach Us About Longevity? Notes from the Field with Eric Markowitz
Eric Markowitz is a Partner and the Director of Research at investment firm Nightview Capital and a former investigative journalist with bylines in The New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company, and other outlets.
A near-death experience prompted Eric to wonder why some cultures, companies, and products dramatically outlast others. Eric is travelling the globe – from Central American rainforests to centuries-o
Tracking the Invisible: Victor Wooten Reads Patterns in Music and Life
What if the most important aspects of quality can't be measured?
Victor Wooten - legendary bassist, educator, and philosopher - joins us to explore how tracking animals taught him to see the invisible patterns that create excellence in music, teaching, and life.
Victor learned bass at age two. No rules. No corrections. Just freedom - the same way we learn to talk. Now a 5-time Grammy winner, he's
Quality in Compounding with Laurence Endersen
Laurence Endersen is the Founder of Capstrive – an investment firm that strives to be Patient, Unconstrained, Rational and Equitable. He is also the author of three books: Pebbles of Perception, What Owen Didn’t Know, and The Compounder’s Element.
In this episode we discuss finding who you want to do life with…the call of capital markets…the role of writing in pursuing truth…migrating from cheap t
Quality in Nature
In this experimental episode of The Art of Quality, co-hosts Paul Higgins, William Oliver, and John Candeto explore what business owners can learn from nature and natural systems to build enduring businesses and make smarter investments. Rooted in years of observation, the Quality x Nature deck—developed by Paul and forming the basis of this internal reflection—is linked here in the show notes: Qu
Finding Quality Zigging When Others Zag with Drex Davis
Drex Davis is the former CEO and current Chief Financial Officer of Scrapbook.com, the leading ecommerce provider to papercrafting enthusiasts.
Drex is also the Investment Manager for his family's single family office that invests widely across asset classes.
In this episode we discuss The Art of Work (which is a book that no one can buy)…many ways to zig when others zag…how being a business manag
Quality in Owning and Listening with Chris Poch
Chris Poch is the Founder of Promethium Advisors, which advises families of size and complexity, and manages wealth with a focus on family harmony and after-tax, compounded results. Promethium is the culmination of Chris’s 40 years of investment management experience and 25 years of planning.
In this episode we discuss why you never have to apologize for owning Quality, why people overweight easil
The Musical Quality of the Voice with Guillermo Rozenthuler
In this episode of The Art of Quality in Attention, William sits down with vocal artist and facilitator Guillermo Rozenthuler — founder of The Singing Village and a leading voice in the field of vocal improvisation, embodiment, and human connection.
In a conversation dedicated to the intelligence of sound and song, Guillermo and William explore how spontaneous music-making can deepen our sense of
Quality in the Inner Game of Investing with Chris Mayer
In the first episode of The Art of Quality in Attention, William sat down with investor and author Chris Mayer — co-founder of Woodlock House Family Capital and author of 100-Baggers and How Do You Know?, among other titles.
In an episode dedicated to the inner game of investing, Chris and William spoke about how certain practices in Chris’ life have helped him develop a deep sense of equanimity i
Quality in Trust with Bogumil Baranowski
Kicking off our Investment Series, we have the privilege of hosting Bogumil Baranowski, founder of Blue Infinitas Capital, author of Money, Life, and Family, and host of the Talking Billions podcast.
In this conversation, Bogumil explores the role of trust in the infinite game of investing, drawing from his experience managing wealth across generations.
He illustrates that being a trusted advisor
Quality in Long-Term Thinking with Luca Dellanna
In this episode, we are once again joined by Luca Dellanna, a management advisor and the author of 12 books on human behavior and management.
In our second conversation with Luca, we dive deep into the concepts from his book 'Winning Long-Term Games', exploring the application of long-term thinking, his concept of Maximum Reproducible Returns, and the balance between short-term performance and lon
Quality in Culture with Teresa Noonan
In this episode, we are joined by Teresa Noonan, founder of Lot No 68 and former Costco executive, to explore the power of company culture in driving long-term success. Teresa spent 32 years at Costco, where she played a key role in leadership development and worked closely with the legendary Jim Sinegal.
Through personal stories—from starting as the only woman on an all-male night shift crew t
Quality in the World of Coffee with Mark Hellweg
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Hellweg—founder of Ratio Coffee, Clive Coffee, and Able Brewing—to explore the art of crafting timeless, well-designed products that enhance daily rituals. From starting a snowboarding and wakeboarding e-commerce business in his dad’s basement to designing some of the most elegant and durable coffee brewers, Mark’s journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurship
Patterns of Quality at Costco with Peter Malizia
In this episode, we speak with Peter Malizia, who played a key role in building Costco’s Canadian success over his 26-year career. Peter reflects on the core values that define Costco’s culture—loyalty, trust, respect, durability, and simplicity—and how they have shaped its global success. Drawing on his experiences within the culture shaped by legendary CEO Jim Sinegal, Peter shares insights into
Exploring Quality in Management with Luca Dellanna
In this episode, we are joined by renowned author and management advisor Luca Dell Anna, to discuss quality in business with a specific focus on managerial quality. While most organizations focus on product quality, Luca brings attention to the critical role of management quality in ensuring effective leadership and operational excellence.
Through personal anecdotes and examples from various in
The Quality of Curiosity with Tom Morgan
Tom Morgan is one of the most curious people we have ever met. Often described as a "Curiosity Sherpa," Tom has dedicated his life to seeking out the most interesting ideas and thinkers. He is the founder of The Leading Edge, a platform he created as a space for like-minded individuals to explore deeper questions about life, wisdom, and personal evolution.
We had the privilege of sitting down wit
Qualities We Can Learn From Children With Allison Paradise
In this episode, we are joined by Allison Paradise, founder of The Epicenter, a space that empowers young people to explore their creativity and wonder without judgment. With a background in neuroscience from Brown and Harvard, Allison shares powerful insights on shifting from fear-based motivations to love-based approaches.
Allison reflects on how fostering curiosity and nurturing innate capaciti
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