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 2017, 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 part of Isik’s work focuses on helping individuals strengthen their intuition and inner knowing. In this conversation, we explore her approach to cultivating intuition and the specific practices she has found most effective throughout her coaching career.

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 century. He fell incurably ill but serendipitously stumbled upon a water-based fasting cure, which he developed into the famous Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting method. Leo then shares how, a century later, he faced a similar turning point. What began as a challenging situation unexpectedly placed him at the center of his generation’s biggest project: building a new clinic in the south of France.

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 century. He fell incurably ill but serendipitously stumbled upon a water-based fasting cure, which he developed into the famous Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting method. Leo then tells the story, how a century later, he faced a similar turning point. What began as a challenging situation unexpectedly placed him at the center of his generation’s biggest project: building a new clinic in the south of France.

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-old businesses in Europe and Asia – on a quest to answer one question: what allows a rare few systems to outlast? His forthcoming book – titled Outlast – will be published by Scribner, the flagship imprint of Simon & Schuster and home to legends like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Eric has just returned from trips through Italy, the United States, and Japan, and in this episode we are learning from Eric’s “notes from the field.”

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 discovered that the principles creating musical excellence apply everywhere: in organizations, in nature, in how we build things that last. This conversation goes places you won't expect. Why does Victor spend weeks tracking animals in the wilderness? How did a stranger's wave from a bus window change his entire life? What does it mean that modern music has been "compressed from a foot deep to a quarter inch" - and why should leaders care?

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 to quality stocks…cognitive strip mining…why a craftsperson always signs their work…Lar’s investment checklist…and much more.

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: Quality in Nature Deck  

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 manager makes one a better investor…and how being an investor makes one a better business manager.

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 easily observed data, the sacred art of listening, and much more. Those wishing to go deeper should look forward to Chris’s forthcoming book titled Money and Meaning: What I’ve Learned from Advising the Very Wealthy.

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 aliveness, relationally, and collective intelligence. They discuss the role of deep listening, playfulness, and presence in reclaiming our innate musicality — and how these capacities open up new possibilities for connection, transformation, and joy in both individual and communal life.

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 in this work - something that has served him well in his pursuit of the truth about how great companies operate.

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 can sometimes feel like being a captain steering a ship through a storm—radiating calmness and trust in the strategy, even when knees might be shaking. Bogumil emphasizes the importance of a steady, long-term approach, especially during financial crises, because optimizing for survival outweighs the allure of risky short-term gains, particularly in the context of generational wealth. Reflecting on his upbringing behind the Iron Curtain, Bogumil shares how it shaped his approach to wealth preservation. The discussion also delves into emotional intelligence, navigating difficult conversations, and the pursuit of quality in both investments and life, with lessons drawn from nature.

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 long-term risk.

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 to rising through the ranks—Teresa shares firsthand insights into how Costco built a culture centered on respect, responsibility, and continuous improvement. We also discuss how businesses can create multi-party stakeholder win-wins by fostering people-first leadership and optimizing value chains.

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 and experience-driven design. He shares insights on what drives him to build quality products, how simplicity enhances experience, and what it takes to create a business that lasts.

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 the importance of Costco’s "six rights" and the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering value to its members. Discover why Charlie Munger regards Costco as his favorite investment and explore the lessons behind this retail giant’s lasting impact.

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 industries, Luca illustrates how quality can be embedded in organizational practices and culture.

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 with Tom to talk about his journey, the importance of space or slack in the pursuit of quality to unfold, aligning with “attractors,” embodied intuition, synchronicity and serendipity, and how curiosity can guide us in navigating life’s complexities. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. 

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 capacities can transform leadership and personal growth.  Thank you, Allison, for inspiring us to lead with authenticity and heart.

Join us as we delve into our conversation with Patrick Boland, a renowned coach, consultant, and psychotherapist. As the founder of Conexus and author of The Contemplative Leader, Patrick brings invaluable insights gained over years of guiding high performers from leading companies like Google, Unilever, Lego, and Accenture. With extensive experience in leading cultural change programs, Patrick has co-authored books with Richard Rohr and shared the stage with thought leaders such as Margaret Wheatley and Brené Brown. Thank you Patrick, for unpacking the deep wisdom you have gained from your professional journey, revealing what truly matters for building strong, effective teams and nurturing meaningful relationships.  Enjoy this rich exploration of leadership and the lessons learned from years of dedication to cultural transformation and personal growth.