Ted Merz is a veteran media and product leader with 30+ years shaping financial journalism, rising from Bloomberg's 15th newsroom hire to Managing Editor for the Americas and leading product innovation with AI-driven analytics before co-founding Principles Media and Pricing Culture.

Episode Sponsor: Fiscal AI is a modern data terminal that gives investors instant access to twenty years of financials, earnings transcripts, and extensive segment and KPI data—use my link for a two-week free trial plus 15% off: https://fiscal.ai/talkingbillions/Find me on Substack!

3:00 - Ted discusses New York's unique advantage: unlike cities dominated by single industries (SF/tech, DC/politics, LA/entertainment), New York offers everything—tech, finance, media, advertising—creating endless opportunities to learn from the best across multiple domains.

8:00 - The Bloomberg origin story: When Ted joined as the 15th hire in 1990, nobody knew it would become dominant. People questioned whether a data company had the right to produce news. Bloomberg fought for White House credentials, viewed as illegitimate by established media.

15:00 - Bloomberg's founding insight: Mike Bloomberg created the first B2B SaaS company before the term existed, building a real-time financial information platform that fundamentally changed how markets consumed data.

25:00 - Career transition wisdom: Your network changes dramatically when you leave big institutions. Ted learned to broaden his approach—meeting people not for immediate transactions but for perspective, serendipity, and unexpected connections.

35:00 - The evolution of media: Ted emphasizes the importance of "learning in public"—creating content that reaches beyond immediate circles. Even 1,000 views represents an audience unimaginable in the 1980s.

55:00 - On building networks: Don't only meet people who can hire you. Meet broadly for perspective on what you should do, how to do it, and who else is playing the game. Matt Ziegler exemplifies the "one plus one equals a thousand" connector.

1:04:00 - Redefining success: Ted's perspective evolved dramatically from Bloomberg days when titles and team size mattered. Now success means doing passionate work—writing, communicating, shaping words—while making a living and meeting great people.

1:06:00 - The Friday night test: Bogumil shares his realization—spending Friday evening researching a company out of pure curiosity, not obligation. When you love the process itself, you've found something meaningful.

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

My appearance on Value CVille Podcast with Jeff Henriksen and Donnie Sattar.

This episode explores the intersection of investing and philosophy, focusing on the role of AI in investment decision-making, the importance of understanding value beyond just financial metrics, and the emotional journey of investing.

https://www.valuecville.com/podcast

Full credit goes to two wonderful host: Jeff Henriksen and Donnie Sattar.

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Peta Milan is the founder and principal of Dubai-based Henmel Group, a regenerative investing pioneer, award-winning filmmaker, published author, and international speaker who’s building the world’s only family office exclusively focused on regenerative investment methodology.

3:00 - Peta shares her challenging childhood in a lower-middle-class family, describing how she developed the capacity to “see the truth beyond the lies” and question accepted norms from an early age.

5:30 - The disruptive child: How being curious and rule-breaking created conflict with parents but developed the independent thinking that would define her career path.

7:15 - Philosophy to practice: Peta explains why studying philosophy at university made “perfect sense” for business, wanting to apply learned concepts to create real-world impact rather than write books selling for 50 cents.

12:00 - The evolution from ESG skepticism: After being hired by a family to develop an ESG strategy, Peta discovered the entire movement was “a complete greenwashing exercise” and began searching for genuine alternatives.

18:45 - Regenerative vs. sustainability: “If you’re saying you’re doing less harm, by the very fact of that, you’re still doing harm. And so we need to start thinking differently.” The fundamental flaw in sustainability thinking.

25:30 - The 10 principles of living systems: Peta introduces the regenerative methodology framework based on understanding how nature actually works, not human-imposed systems.

32:15 - Indigenous wisdom integration: How working with elders from Africa, South America, and South Asia taught Peta that regenerative principles have been practiced for thousands of years.

39:00 - Shocking statistics: $2 trillion spent on climate initiatives with only 1% reaching genuine systemic impact and less than 30 projects achieving scale globally.

46:20 - Investment returns: Regenerative projects delivering 15-22% returns while creating systemic positive impact—proof that doing good doesn’t require sacrificing financial performance.

52:45 - The embodied learning revolution: Why behavior change requires emotional and physical experience, not just data and guilt—how Einstein’s breakthroughs came as “muscle spasms.”

59:00 - Henmel Group’s multiple pathways: 18-month professional certification, bioregional development programs for philanthropy, direct family office transitions, and venture studio for early-stage founders.

61:05 - The planet perspective: “The planet will take care of itself if we’re gone”—a powerful reframing about what we’re actually trying to preserve.

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Jim and Abigail Zimmerman are a father-daughter investment team at Lowell Capital Management, combining Jim’s two decades of disciplined value investing since founding the firm in 2003 with Abby’s research-focused approach to identifying small-cap companies with fortress balance sheets and strong free cash flow generation.

The episode is sponsored by TenzingMEMO — the AI-powered market intelligence platform I use daily for smarter company analysis. Code BILLIONS gets you an extended trial + 10% off

https://www.tenzingmemo.com/

3:00 - Abby shares her first stock purchase of American Eagle in middle school, using it as a gateway to understanding that investing isn’t abstract but about owning real businesses and thinking like an owner.

5:21 - The Zimmermans explain their core philosophy: “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” emphasizing that fewer things need to go right in an investment, citing Peter Lynch’s principle that if you can’t explain what a company does to an 11-year-old in a sentence or two, you probably shouldn’t own it.

8:34 - Jim discusses their strategy of buying growth companies at value prices, explaining their best investments are companies trading at 5-6x EBITDA with no debt that possess sustainable moats allowing intrinsic value to compound over time.

12:00 - Discussion of the Sprouts Farmers Market case study, demonstrating how they identify turnaround situations where strong unit economics exist but the market hasn’t recognized the potential yet.

28:00 - Abby explains their disciplined selling process, particularly the importance of position sizing and their “20% trim rule” when stocks appreciate significantly to maintain portfolio balance.

35:00 - The team reveals their contrarian approach during market dislocations, specifically discussing how they deployed capital during the COVID crash by focusing on companies with fortress balance sheets.

42:00 - Jim shares wisdom from his father Lowell: live beneath your means, invest the excess, and build things over time - the Charlie Munger approach that shaped their entire investment philosophy.

51:00 - Discussion of free cash flow as the ultimate metric, with both emphasizing that businesses generating cash can survive any environment and capitalize on opportunities when competitors stumble.

57:05 - Abby defines success as alignment - living in a way that reflects what matters most, building something meaningful with family, and treating others well while maintaining disciplined investing even when unpopular.

1:00:24 - Bogumil adds perspective on wealth preservation across generations, noting the US uniquely allows both creation and multi-generational preservation of wealth.

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Laurence Endersen is an investment professional with over 30 years of experience and author of three books, including The Compounder’s Element, who champions patient wealth building through understanding one’s natural investing temperament and staying disciplined within it.

Episode Sponsor: Fiscal AI is a modern data terminal—use my link for a two-week free trial plus 15% off: https://fiscal.ai/talkingbillions/EPISODE NOTES

3:00 - Laurence shares formative experiences: working in his father’s TV repair shop taught him the real difficulty of earning money, while losing his mother at 13 accelerated his maturity and independence. His father’s entrepreneurial spirit and inventor grandfather sparked curiosity about how money works beyond academic theory.

8:00 - Introduction to markets came through Australian state privatizations in Sydney—experiencing “day one pops” felt like magic compared to traditional work, though he admits being “curious and clueless” initially. The addiction to stock market gains revealed the difference between “power by the hour” versus “share of value” business models.

13:00 - Evolution of investing philosophy: “Most of my learning has been in the last five years of those 30.” Key revelation: understanding what game you’re actually playing matters more than technical prowess. Patient compounding over long horizons (the “n” in the formula) reduces pressure on achieving exceptional returns.

22:00 - The “elements” framework: investors have natural temperaments—Lar identifies as a “Compounder” focused on long-term wealth building. Mismatch between element and strategy causes problems. “If you’re always improving, your best days are always ahead.”

38:00 - On competitive advantages: companies with pricing power, network effects, and multi-decade runways compound extraordinary value. “The delta between a good business and a great business is seismic over time.”

52:00 - AI’s impact on investing: tools democratize analysis but won’t eliminate competitive advantages. “With these tools you’re more likely to go up to the third or fourth question—but so will everybody else.” The real edge remains knowing when you have enough information to act.

68:00 - Definition of success from Stephen Covey: “Live, love, learn, and leave a legacy.” Acknowledges having “a billion heartbeats” behind him with an “indeterminable number” ahead—emphasizes time as ultimate constraint.

Podcast Program – Disclosure StatementBlue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Matt Zeigler and I had the privilege of hosting Robert Hagstrom (The Warren Buffett Way) and Chris Mayer (100 Baggers) for a special 100-Year Thinkers Edition of the Excess Returns Podcast.

Two legendary investors and authors. One hour packed with timeless wisdom on long-term thinking and wealth creation. This is the conversation we’ve been wanting to have—and we think you’ll find it as valuable as we did.

Available now on Excess Returns Podcast and Talking Billions. 🎧

I’m excited to share this episode with you—it’s reposted here with permission and blessing from both Matt and Jack. Don’t miss it! And follow their work, links below.

This episode of The 100 Year Thinkers brings together Robert Hagstrom, Chris Mayer, and Bogumil Baranowski for a deep conversation on what makes a great business, why long-term investing is so hard, and how the world’s best investors think about mistakes, management, conviction, and the durability of competitive advantages. We explore perfect businesses, the pain of missed opportunities, the behavioral traps that derail long-term compounding, and how to navigate rapid technological change while keeping your investment process grounded.
Topics covered:
• What defines a perfect business and why so few qualify
• The role of capital efficiency, returns on capital, and cash generation
• Why omissions are often investors’ most painful mistakes
• How to build conviction to hold great companies through drawdowns
• The behavioral edge of true long-term investing
• Management quality, insider ownership, incentives, and red flags
• Why owner earnings and free cash flow matter more than GAAP earnings
• The challenge of evaluating fast-changing industries and staying within your circle of competence
• How AI, networks, and scale economics reshape competitive moats
• Portfolio management lessons, starter positions, and letting winners run
Timestamps:
00:00 Perfect businesses and long-term economics
01:49 Defining the perfect stock
03:27 Holding long term through volatility
07:30 Behavioral inefficiencies and market structure
09:15 Humanizing mistakes and decision making
14:28 Errors of omission and painful missed opportunities
19:00 What to look for in management
24:27 Signals from financial disclosures and actions
26:00 Key quantitative metrics for long-term compounders
34:04 Owner earnings vs GAAP earnings
37:00 Intangible investment and modern cash flow analysis
38:50 Circle of competence and fast-changing industries
42:00 Large language models, networks, and moats
43:52 AI use cases and productivity
45:00 Closing thoughts and where to find the guests
46:25 Episode recap and takeaways

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Guest Host: Dave Specht, senior fellow at the Drucker School of Management, two-time author, and creator of the Generational Wealth Masterclass with Jay Hughes, turns the tables to interview Bogumil using audience-submitted questions.

Key Ideas:

1. It’s Not About the Money - Despite the focus on investing and wealth management, Bogumil emphasizes that money is merely a language or gesture representing deeper human values and connections. The true value lies in human relationships, creation, and purpose.

2. Investing as a Lifelong Pursuit - Successful investing requires consistency, patience, and a long-term perspective. Many people identify good investments but fail because they don’t hold them long enough to benefit from compounding.

3. Quality Compounds - Great businesses continually improve their quality and service. This compounding of quality—from leadership through every level of organization—creates lasting value that investors can benefit from.

4. Value and Price Understanding - Value investing principles are timeless because they reflect basic human decision-making. Everyone intuitively understands the relationship between value received and price paid, whether at a farmer’s market or in stock investments.

5. Invisible Wealth Requires Communication - Modern wealth is often invisible, creating challenges for families. Not communicating about wealth with the next generation can be dangerous; gradual education and preparation are essential.

6. The Power of Inaction - “The inaction in the world that’s demanding action might be the hardest thing to do, but the biggest value added.” Sometimes the best investment decision is to simply hold onto quality investments.

7. AI as a Tool Not a Replacement - AI helps investors by allowing them to “zoom out” to see broad patterns and “zoom in” on specific details, but human judgment remains essential for investment decisions.

8. Seek Businesses You’d Own and Forget - Bogumil looks for businesses with good management and prospects that he can “own and forget about,” often waiting for price breaks to acquire them at attractive valuations.

9. Control Your Time - True success isn’t measured by titles or money but by having the freedom to control your time and pursue what brings you meaning and curiosity.

10. The Value of Having an Advisor - Having someone who understands both the technical aspects of wealth management and the human emotional side creates tremendous value, especially during market turbulence.

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Robert Karas is a Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Bank Gutmann in Vienna, Austria's oldest private bank, where he oversees investment strategies for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Robert is a seasoned investor on a lifelong journey known for his thoughtful investment philosophy and engaging market insights.

3:00 - Robert describes the 1960s "paperwork crisis" when Wall Street trading volumes exploded and people physically schlepped suitcases of stock certificates along Wall Street, requiring the establishment of the Depository Trust Company in 1973.

5:20 - Bogumil shares his vivid memory of holding physical account statements from decades ago, witnessing the literal doubling of family fortunes—"two turning into four, four turning into eight"—and how the tangible nature of old statements helped him grasp the true power of long-term compounding.

6:45 - Discussion of Buffett's revolutionary fee structure: zero management fees, profit sharing only above hurdles, and the forgotten detail—unlimited personal liability for losses. "Talking about aligned interests... we all talk about it, but normally we do not share in the downside directly."

14:30 - Robert explains why Buffett dissolved his partnerships in 1969: "He didn't want to manage other people's emotions anymore." The shift from managing external capital to managing Berkshire allowed him to focus purely on business building without quarterly redemption pressures.

25:00 - The power of Buffett's language: simple, clear, authentic communication that builds trust. Robert notes how Buffett writes letters "as if he's sitting in your living room explaining things to you."

38:15 - Discussion of Berkshire as more than just an investment—it becomes part of people's identities, something they want to pass to their children, transforming from a stock into a legacy vehicle.

56:30 - Bogumil's insight about Omaha during the annual meeting: "There's no other place on earth that for a few days, I have more friends per square mile than anywhere else."

59:00 - Final reflection on trust and doing the right thing even when nobody's watching—the essence of working with families and the true lesson from Buffett and Munger.

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Please enjoy my recent appearance on Value: After Hours with Tobias Carlisle and Jake Taylor. One of my favorite interviews this season. A real weekend treat if you missed it!

Guest: Bogumil Baranowski, founder of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC, host of Talking Billions podcast, author of "Money, Life, Family," and investment professional with 20 years of experience managing multi-generational family wealth.

This episode was originally aired on Value: After Hours on 11/4/2025; it's reposted here with the kind permission of the hosts.

Value: After Hours is a podcast about value investing, Fintwit, and all things finance and investment by investors Tobias Carlisle and Jake Taylor. See their latest episodes at https://acquirersmultiple.com/podcast

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Rupert Mitchell is a capital markets veteran with 30 years of institutional experience across three continents who now runs Blind Squirrel Macro, combining mythology, storytelling, and contrarian thinking to help investors understand why narrative often matters more than numbers in macro investing.

Episode Sponsor: Fiscal AI is a modern data terminal that gives investors instant access to twenty years of financials, earnings transcripts, and extensive segment and KPI data—use my link for a two-week free trial plus 15% off: https://fiscal.ai/talkingbillions/

3:00 - Rupert discusses the British education philosophy: learning to learn rather than narrow vocational training, creating adaptable generalists who aren't limited by having "an amazing hammer where everything has to look like a nail"

6:00 - Bearings collapse story: Fresh graduate Rupert spent his entire £400 bonus on a briefcase (still uses it 30 years later) hours before the 250-year-old merchant bank collapsed overnight due to Nick Leeson's derivatives trades

11:00 - Key lesson from Bearings: "Things are never as bad as you fear or as good as you would hope" - the "we're so back, it's so over" cycle teaches moderation in expectations and avoiding extrapolation extremes

16:00 - The mythology connection: Rupert's father, a military history writer, taught him that "most people don't really have a sense of history beyond about five or 10 years" - understanding cyclical patterns creates edge

21:00 - Chinese EV revolution firsthand: Witnessing Mercedes lose luxury market dominance to BYD in China taught Rupert that establishment brands can fall faster than anyone expects when technology shifts

33:00 - The generalist advantage: "I'm never baffled or scared of a new product, topic, market or theme" - breadth beats depth when markets constantly evolve and surprises come from unexpected directions

45:00 - AI investment paradox: Despite machine learning being used in biotech for years, healthcare hasn't announced breakthrough cycles - this "monkey on my back" makes Rupert question AI hype narratives

54:00 - On success: "Success has to be being proud of what you've done, right? And that's not a number. Some of the most miserable people I know are wealthier than God"

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.