Ep. 9, Nicolas Bijan: Founder of NB44 – Values, Responsibility, Respect, & the Discipline Behind Building a Modern Legacy
In this episode, The Gstaad Guy sits down with Nicolas Bijan, founder of NB44 and son of legendary designer Bijan, to explore the values and mindset behind building something new while honouring a storied family name. From growing up in a household defined by excellence to carving out his own creative path, Nicolas shares the lessons shaped by tough love, discipline, and perspective.
The conversation delves into the responsibility that comes with privilege, the importance of respect, and why hard work and humility remain central to his identity. With clarity and conviction, Nicolas reflects on legacy, not as something inherited, but something earned every day.
Filmed at Nobel LA’s St. Ives property.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro ✨
(05:11) NB44 🧥
(07:15) Values ⚖️
(08:13) Bijan Pakzad 👨💼
(14:03) “How I was raised” 🧑🧑🧒
(14:29) Relationships with people 🤝🏻 👥
(15:42) Loss 🖤 😔
(18:19) The American Dream 🇺🇸 💭
(20:20) Pressure & Responsibility 😩 🤝🏻
(24:03) Starting a business & family 🧑🧑🧒🧒 💼
(25:41) Filling a void 🫂
(27:39) Developed vs. Inherited values 👴🏻 ➡️ 👦🏻 ⚖️
(30:53) Being a young parent 👩🍼👨🍼
(36:02) Legacy 📜
(41:07) Multi-generational business 🧑🧒🧒 💼
(44:15) Household & Work 🏠 🧑💻
(53:40) Definition of luxury 📖 💎
(56:08) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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Ep. 8, Bryan Johnson: "Healthiest Man on Earth", Founder of Braintree & The Blueprint Protocol – Longevity, Superintelligence, Radical Health, & Redefining Human Potential
In this episode, The Gstaad Guy sits down with tech entrepreneur and human optimisation pioneer Bryan Johnson to explore the ideas, trade-offs, and motivations behind Blueprint, his controversial and cutting-edge protocol to reverse ageing and extend biological youth.
The conversation unpacks the science of longevity, the measurable impact of sleep, nutrition, and cellular regeneration, and how our perception of health is being completely redefined by technology. Bryan speaks openly about the sacrifices behind his routine, the psychology of motivation, and the role of superintelligence in reshaping not just what we do, but who we are.
(00:00) Intro ✨
(02:52) Former Life ⏪👤
(05:05) The Bargain 🤝🏻👌🏼
(06:07) Sleep 😴
(07:15) Health vs. Work 🍎💊💼
(10:11) Health Is Cool 🍎😎
(13:14) The Journey 🚗
(14:08) “The body is god” 👤👑
(15:37) “Added years or quality of life?” 📅🧘🏻
(16:39) “Stopping everything” ✋🏻🛑
(19:35) “Superintelligence & health problems” 🧠😷
(21:20) “Where are we as a species?” ❓🧑🤝🧑
(24:06) “Sun exposure” ☀️
(25:44) “Where to live”📍🏠
(28:43) “Sleep is antisocial” 😴🤐
(30:12) “Health decisions” 🍎🤔
(34:56) “Archetypes of Don’t Die” 🦁💊
(36:42) Growth Vectors 📈
(40:18) “Health as a status signal” 🍎✅
(43:13) “Speed of aging” ⏳👴🏻👵🏻
(46:50) “Bad things can happen” ☣️
(49:02) Extra Virgin Olive Oil 🫒🫙
(50:17) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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Ep. 7, Adam & Ryan Goldston: Founders of APL – Banned by the NBA, Luxury Performance, Credibility, & Innovation That Moves Culture
In this episode, The Gstaad Guy sits down with Adam and Ryan Goldston, the twin brothers behind APL (Athletic Propulsion Labs), the brand that disrupted the sneaker world with a basketball shoe so advanced it was banned by the NBA.
The conversation dives into what it means to build a brand with authenticity at its core, and how vision, process, and purpose have shaped APL’s rise in the luxury performance category. From engineering innovation based on real needs, not hype, to defining what credibility means in today’s culture-driven landscape, Adam and Ryan share how dreaming big, staying focused, and listening closely can drive true impact.
Filmed at Nobel LA’s St. Ives property.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro ✨
(03:12) Genesis of APL 🌱👟
(05:36) Induction into the CFDA 🤝🏻🏛️✍🏻
(07:30) From vision to reality 👁️😌
(08:42) “Luxury Performance Category” ✨👟
(10:21) “Making the right decisions” ✅⚖️
(12:14) Pursuing an idea 💡🏃
(15:50) Confidence 😎💪🏻
(17:55) The disbelievers 😲
(20:08) Logos 🔲 🔠
(21:48) “Tackling a new silhouette” 🆕
(24:56) “Positioning of APL” 🎯 👟
(29:40) “Love for obsession” ❤️ 😵💫
(31:39) “Vision, POV, Perspective” 👁️
(34:58) “Design & Colour” ✍🏻 🎨
(37:47) “Taste” 🤌🏻
(41:10) “Process” 🔄⏳
(43:40) “Inspiration” 💡🎨
(46:44) “Moments of defeat” ⏳😫
(49:01) “Learning from failure” 📚🧠❌
(54:15) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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Ep. 6, Lori & Marci Hirshleifer: Owners of Hirshleifers – Legacy, Social Media, Style, Handbag Charms & Reinventing the Family Business
In this episode, The Gstaad Guy sits down with Lori and Marci Hirshleifer, co-owners of the iconic luxury boutique Hirshleifers, to explore how a century-old family business has adapted, grown, and thrived in this day and age.
This conversation traces what it’s like to work alongside family, and how creative and strategic decisions are made when curating collections. Lori and Marci reflect on their role in sparking the global handbag charm trend, and how Hirshleifers has consistently stayed ahead of the curve through bold buying choices and a sharp eye for what’s next. They go on to share how they've developed a unique presence online, and how the boutique continues to stand out through its carefully curated mix of legacy labels and emerging designers.
Filmed at Casa Cipriani New York’s Liberty Corner Suite.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro ✨
(04:20) Family businesses 🧑🧑🧒🧒 💼
(07:00) Social media journey📱🚀
(08:30) Unique collections 🌟
(10:00) “Are you inspired by other stores?”💡🛍️
(10:56) Relationship with Virgil Abloh 👑
(13:28) Handbag charms 🔗👜
(15:02) Growth & change of life 📈🌱
(17:18) Category of style 🔠 😎
(20:26) Tips for business 💡🏢
(22:28) Working with family 🧑💻👩💻👨💻
(23:16) “Approach to business” 🎯 💼
(25:47) Detaching from the family business ⛓️💥 🧑🧑🧒🧒 💼
(28:27) “Decision making process for stocking brands?” ⚖️
(29:40) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
(32:16) Age to wear designer pieces 🔞👗👕
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Ep. 5, Eric Schmidt: Former CEO of Google – Gratitude, Human Values, AI, Hyper-Intelligence, & Throughput
In this episode, The Gstaad Guy sits down with Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Chairman of Google, to explore how gratitude and human values can coexist with rapid technological acceleration. From the role of AI in reshaping productivity to the dawn of hyper-intelligence, Eric shares his thoughts on how to remain grounded in an age defined by algorithms.
The conversation touches on the ethical responsibilities of tech leadership, the importance of human freedom in a machine-driven world, and how embracing gratitude can offer clarity amid complexity. With a rare mix of philosophical depth and operational insight, Eric unpacks what it means to build and live intentionally in the future we’re all rushing toward.
Filmed at Nobel LA’s Benedict property.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro ✨
(02:00) “Knowledge & intellect” 📖🧠
(03:40) Scale the next generation 📈
(05:30) “Values in Founders" 🔍🤝
(06:55) Principles of Command ✒️ 📜👉
(10:00) Conversations & learning 💬📚🧠
(12:33) “Detailed planning, detailed thinking, & command” 📆🤔👉
(13:29) “Reducing friction” 🚫🐌
(15:35) “Latency, the enemy of productivity”⏳🚀
(17:20) “Economics of scarcity to scarcity of attention” 💰📊⚠️
(21:16) “The “search” & the application of algorithms”🔎💻🌐
(23:41) Gresham’s Law ⚖️
(25:22) “Would The Gstaad Guy be a good boyfriend?” 🇨🇭🏔️❤️
(28:00) “Outsmarting AI” 🤓🤖
(32:16) “Algorithms making content" 💻🌐🎥
(34:29) Dude With Sign 🪧
(36:57) “A digital extension of yourself" 💻🤳❓
(40:12) “Manipulate human behaviour” 🎭🙃
(41:03) “A change in hardware” 🔄📱
(42:33) “Switching off" 🎚️📴
(44:08) The impact of the internet 🌐😎
(45:57) “Designing a city” 🏙️🧑🎨
(48:11) The next generation 🎁 ⏭️ 🧑🧒
(50:45) “Maximum age to be a president?” 🔞👨💼
(52:17) “Founders finding their replacement” 👤🔁👤
The Gstaad Guy Podcast is your backstage pass to the untold stories behind excellence. Hosted by The Gstaad Guy, out of character, this guest driven, unscripted series explores the real journeys, challenges and turning points that shape those who have mastered their craft. From global tastemakers and industry leaders to creative pioneers and cultural outliers, each episode reveals what it really takes to achieve excellence. Through humour and curiosity, The Gstaad Guy peels back the layers to uncover the grit behind the glamour, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the worlds usually kept behind closed doors.
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