Insightful Investor
Alex Shahidi
The Insightful Investor is a weekly podcast hosted by Alex Shahidi, Co-CIO of one of the nation’s leading RIAs. In a conversational, “fireside chat” format, Alex interacts with some of the world’s premier investors and business icons to share market insights rarely found elsewhere. While many investors echo common sentiments, our “insights” include concepts that we believe are counterintuitive, widely misunderstood, or underappreciated. With over two decades of experience managing billions of dollars in client assets, Alex offers unique access to some of the industry’s top thinkers. He has authored two investment books and contributed to leading journals, and he consistently ranks among the elite financial advisors by Forbes and Barron’s. As an independent and innovative voice, Alex offers a fresh take on investing. We invite you to tune in and would love to hear your feedback.
https://insightfulinvestor.org/
https://insightfulinvestor.org/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 5, 2025 • 1h 4min
#82 - Tony Davidow: Alternatives, Education, Bridging Investor Gaps
Tony Davidow, a senior alternatives investment strategist at Franklin Templeton, shares his impressive journey through family offices and institutions. He discusses the crucial role of education in making alternative investments accessible, particularly for everyday investors. Tony highlights the evolution of investment strategies and the importance of tailored approaches for private investors. He also emphasizes the significance of clear communication about risks and rewards in both private and public markets, and explores innovative investment structures like interval funds for better asset allocation.
Jul 29, 2025 • 54min
#81 - Blake Johnson: Entrepreneurship, Bootstrapping, Resilience
Blake Johnson, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, shares his inspiring journey from a small farming town to building Byte, a billion-dollar company without outside funding. He discusses the importance of resilience and emotional intelligence in entrepreneurship, the challenges of bootstrapping a business, and the impact of AI on direct-to-consumer strategies in health. Blake also emphasizes philanthropy's role in empowering youth, drawing from his own experiences overcoming hardship. Tune in for invaluable insights!
8 snips
Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 28min
#80 - Andrew Metrick: Master Class in Financial Crises & Bank Runs
Andrew Metrick, the Janet Yellen Professor of Finance at Yale, delves deep into financial crises and bank runs. He reveals the vulnerabilities of the banking system and discusses critical lessons from recent crises, particularly the SVB collapse. Andrew emphasizes the pivotal role of central banks in crisis management and explains the nuances between liquidity and solvency issues. He also critiques the evolution of deposit insurance and highlights the systemic risks confronting today’s financial landscape. Prepare for some insightful revelations!
Jul 15, 2025 • 59min
#79 - Jon Gray: Leadership, Scaling Blackstone, Market Trends
Jon is President and COO of Blackstone—one of the world’s largest and most highly valued investment firms, managing over $1.1 trillion in assets (as of 3/31/25). He shares his career journey, insights on leading through rapid growth, and his outlook on the evolving landscape of investing and innovation. Listen for a candid take on leadership, culture, and the future of finance.
21 snips
Jul 8, 2025 • 1h 39min
#78 - Leonard Kleinrock: Internet Creation, AI Future
Dr. Leonard Kleinrock, a distinguished professor at UCLA and a key figure in the creation of the Internet, shares captivating stories from the very first message sent in 1969. He delves into the culture of collaboration among early pioneers and the radical transformation of the internet from a research tool to a commercial platform. With a keen eye on the future, he discusses the rise of AI, advocating for combined human creativity and technological innovation while cautioning against over-reliance on machines. A fascinating exploration of history and future potential!
Jul 1, 2025 • 57min
#77 - Charlie Ruffel: Asset Management Industry Evolution, Alternatives
Charlie Ruffel, founder and managing partner of Kudu Investment Management, shares his extensive experience in finance and journalism. He discusses the drastic evolution of the asset management industry, focusing on the rise of alternative investments and their importance in modern portfolios. Charlie emphasizes the need for transparency and integrity while navigating complex capital dynamics. He also highlights the potential of Interval Funds in democratizing access to alternatives and the evolving relationships between allocators and managers.
Jun 24, 2025 • 1h
#76 - Jeff Huber: Innovation, Google, GRAIL, Triatomic
Jeff is the founder of Triatomic Capital and former Google SVP. He shares lessons from building Google Maps, Ads, and Gmail, founding GRAIL for early cancer detection, and leading transformative teams. Jeff discusses his vision for backing “century-defining” companies and offers insights on leadership, innovation, biotech, and building companies that change the world.
7 snips
Jun 17, 2025 • 45min
#75 - Liz Ann Sonders: Investing Principles, Inflation, Instability, Diversification
Liz Ann is the long-time Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab, with over 25 years at the firm and frequent appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, and CBS News. She shares insights on the core principles of investing, the challenges of maintaining discipline, and the impact of economic and policy uncertainty. We discuss inflation trends, market cycles, portfolio construction, diversification, and how investors can navigate today’s rapidly changing environment.
Jun 10, 2025 • 1h 4min
#74 - Alan Waxman: Sixth Street, Leadership, Outlook
As Co-Founding Partner and CEO of Sixth Street, Alan has guided the firm from its founding to a leading global investment firm — an achievement that followed his early success as one of Goldman Sachs’ youngest-ever partners. He offers an inside look at Sixth Street’s investor-first approach and shares his perspectives on today’s investment landscape.
15 snips
Jun 3, 2025 • 49min
#73 - Greg Sharenow: Inflation History, Outlook, and Hedging
Greg Sharenow, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at PIMCO, shares his expertise on navigating the complex world of inflation and investment. He discusses the key forces driving inflation today, emphasizing the importance of diversification in hedging against inflation risks. Greg also highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by deglobalization and fiscal stimulus. He offers insights into the historical performance of natural resource equities and the significance of long-term thinking in portfolio construction.
