Episodes

  • Episode 43 | Part Two: Dustin Campbell

    Episode 43 | Part Two: Dustin Campbell
    Sep 22 2025
    In Part Two of their conversation, David and Dustin pick up the story with his leap into entrepreneurship. Dustin explains what it’s like to buy and run a company while writing the playbook in real time, the hard truths he learned along the way, and how that experience ultimately led to the creation of Persistently — and to joining forces with CultureWise.
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    33 mins
  • Episode 43 | Part One: Dustin Campbell

    Episode 43 | Part One: Dustin Campbell
    Sep 15 2025
    David sits down with Dustin Campbell, co-founder of Persistence Management Holdings and Persistently, to unpack his journey from investment banking to private equity — and the powerful lessons he learned along the way. In Part One, Dustin shares how a turnaround mentor reshaped his thinking about systems and culture, and why those insights convinced him that culture is more than a differentiator — it’s the driver of performance.
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    24 mins
  • Episode 42 | Part Two: Ari Weinzweig

    Episode 42 | Part Two: Ari Weinzweig
    Sep 1 2025
    In this second part of their conversation, David and Ari Weinzweig dive deeper into two specific components of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses: their training arm ZingTrain, and their company’s 34 beliefs. Ari weighs in on how much a growing organization should reflect the essence of its founders.
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    28 mins
  • Episode 42 | Part One: Ari Weinzweig

    Episode 42 | Part One: Ari Weinzweig
    Aug 25 2025
    Since their modest opening in 1982, Zingerman’s Delicatessen has cemented its place as an institution in Ann Arbor, Michigan — rejecting the typical franchise model for food retailers and instead growing into what is today known as the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. David sits down with Zingerman’s co-founder and co-owner Ari Weinzweig to talk about this incredible journey. In this first of a two-part conversation, Ari distills open-book management and anarchism in business, and explains how he finds culture-building “as much a creative act as cooking.”
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    35 mins
  • Episode 41 | Part Two: Andy Busser

    Episode 41 | Part Two: Andy Busser
    Aug 11 2025
    In this second half of their conversation, David and Andy Busser get into the day-to-day teaching and reinforcing of the culture at Pitcairn. Andy answers all the important culture questions around his firm’s historic first acquisition of Brightside Partners.
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    30 mins
  • Episode 41 | Part One: Andy Busser

    Episode 41 | Part One: Andy Busser
    Aug 4 2025
    For over 100 years now, Pitcairn has served and advised ultra-high-net-worth families on matters of legacy and wealth. In 2023, the firm’s centennial year, Andy Busser was appointed its CEO — and in this episode, he and David discuss honoring a century-old culture while also leading with one’s own vision for the future. Andy offers a unique insight on the returns from investing in the company culture.
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    24 mins
  • Episode 40 | Part Two: Chris Gheysens

    Episode 40 | Part Two: Chris Gheysens
    Jul 21 2025
    In this second part of their conversation, David and Chris Gheysens continue to discuss the systems with which they transfer and reinforce the culture at Wawa. Chris expands on the idea of culture as a feedback loop, and shares the advice he would give his younger self.
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    29 mins
  • Episode 40 | Part One: Chris Gheysens

    Episode 40 | Part One: Chris Gheysens
    Jul 14 2025
    For over 60 years now, the Wawa chain of convenience stores has been supplying the US East Coast with fresh food and consistently positive customer experiences. In the course of this two-part conversation, David takes a deep dive into the company culture behind the success — with the CEO of Wawa himself, Chris Gheysens. In this episode, Chris talks about embedding the culture in new geographies as the company expands to more cities, and finding the balance between results and the welfare of their associates.
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    23 mins