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Guy Spier — Wealth, Wisdom & Enlightenment (Infinite Loops CLASSICS)

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Dec 25, 2025

Guest

Guy Spier

Guy Spier, a value investor behind the Aquamarine Fund and author of The Education of a Value Investor, dives into fascinating contrasts between life in New York, Zurich, and Paris. He reflects on the vibrant street culture of NYC and its dark nightlife, shares insights on Swiss democracy, and discusses the intricacies of the British class system. Spier also opens up about his experiences with psychedelics, the art of making luck, and the mind-body connection in healing, all while advocating for a blend of wisdom and wealth in personal development.

02:02:29

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Swiss Democracy Rewards Middle Ground

Guy Spier highlights Swiss direct democracy and multilingual localism as strengths that temper political extremes.
He contrasts Swiss consensus-seeking debate with adversarial US/UK politics and admires its civic responsibility.

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ADVICE

Use Psychedelics With Protocols

When it comes to psychedelics, Guy Spier advises controlled, supervised use with careful set and setting.
He supports research and regulated therapeutic use rather than blanket legalization for unsupervised consumption.

insights

INSIGHT

Gun Clubs As A Right-Conscious Regulator

Guy Spier proposes regulating guns via clubs (Vereins) that vet members and bear responsibility for safety.
He suggests this model fits the Second Amendment framing of militias while enabling practical oversight.

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Living Between New York and Greenwich

01:23 • 1min

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Choosing Zurich Over New York

02:45 • 3min

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Multilingual Switzerland vs Monolingual U.S.

06:12 • 3min

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Photography, NY Streets, and Family

09:02 • 2min

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New York vs Paris: Street Life Comparison

10:45 • 3min

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The Dark Underbelly of NYC Nightlife

13:53 • 7min

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Psychedelics: Reading Pollan and Personal Trials

20:46 • 8min

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Regulation, Guns, and Swiss Lessons

28:21 • 4min

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Swiss Democracy and Political Moderation

32:14 • 3min

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America's Risk-Taking Character

34:54 • 3min

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Why Not Short the United States

38:00 • 3min

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The Royal Family as a Branding Business

40:54 • 5min

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Class System: Permeable Rules, Not Walls

45:50 • 7min

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Premeditation and Writing Your Life

53:16 • 16min

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Scripting Success and Making Luck

01:09:15 • 12min

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Taoist Farmer and Taking Opportunities

01:20:58 • 7min

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Mind-Body Healing and Therapies

01:27:29 • 11min

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Music, Math, and Intellectual Curiosity

01:38:11 • 11min

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Skepticism Toward Financial Math Models

Outside, the Sky Is Blue

Christina Patterson

Outside, the Sky is Blue is a beautifully drawn, heart-breaking yet joyful memoir of growing up and living with mental ill health. It delves into what it means to have a successful life, blending light and dark moments like sunny summers in Sweden and wet weekends in Wales. Christina Patterson writes with vivid honesty and clarity about her family's story.

#2436

• Mentioned in 19 episodes

The Hypomanic Edge

The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot) of Success in America

John D. Gartner

In this book, Gartner argues that hypomania, characterized by heightened energy, creativity, and ambition, has been a driving force behind many of America's most innovative and successful individuals. He examines historical figures such as Christopher Columbus, Alexander Hamilton, and modern-day entrepreneurs like Ted Turner, suggesting that their hypomanic tendencies contributed to their remarkable achievements. Gartner also emphasizes the importance of managing hypomania to prevent it from escalating into full-blown mania, and advocates for recognizing and nurturing the positive aspects of this condition rather than stigmatizing it.

#4188

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Invest Like the Best

How the Best Investors Approach the Market

Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Patrick O'Shaughnessy's "Invest Like the Best" is a compilation of interviews with some of the world's most successful investors. The book explores a wide range of investment philosophies and strategies, offering insights into the decision-making processes of these experts. O'Shaughnessy delves into various topics, including value investing, growth investing, and behavioral finance. The book provides a diverse perspective on the investment world, highlighting the importance of adaptability and continuous learning. It's a valuable resource for investors seeking to expand their knowledge and refine their investment approach.

#1298

• Mentioned in 31 episodes

The education of a value investor

Guy Spier

In this book, Guy Spier narrates his early career struggles in investment banking on Wall Street and his transformation into a value investor. The book covers his experiences working at D.H. Blair, his education at Oxford and Harvard Business School, and the significant influences of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger on his investment philosophy. It also emphasizes the importance of authenticity, continuous learning, and ethical considerations in investing. The book has been translated into several languages and has sold over 175,000 copies in English.

#25970

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Write It Down, Make It Happen

Knowing What You Want and Getting It

Henriette Anne Klauser

In 'Write It Down, Make It Happen,' Henriette Anne Klauser explains that writing down your goals is a crucial step in achieving them. The book delves into the psychological and universal mechanisms that are activated when goals are committed to paper. Klauser discusses the importance of clarity, commitment, and action, and provides techniques such as 'Rapidwriting,' writing near nature, and daily affirmations to help readers overcome obstacles and stay focused on their goals. The book includes examples from successful individuals like Scott Adams and Jim Carrey, who attribute their success to writing down their goals.

#170

• Mentioned in 128 episodes

How to Change Your Mind

What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

Michael Pollan

In this book, Michael Pollan delves into the history of psychedelic drugs, from their rise in the 1960s to their current resurgence in medical research. He combines historical and scientific analysis with personal narratives of his own experiences with psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin. The book explores how these substances are being used to treat conditions like depression, addiction, and anxiety, and discusses their potential to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and consciousness. Pollan's work is a blend of science, memoir, and travel writing, offering a nuanced and engaging look at the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of psychedelics.

Happy Holidays! We're taking a short break from new episodes this week so you can focus on finishing that Christmas dinner. We'll be back next Thursday with something new. In the meantime, why not tuck into this conversation with Guy Spier from January 2024, which remains one of my favorites. Enjoy!

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Guy Spier runs the Aquamarine Fund, an "investment partnership closely modeled on the original Buffet Partnerships." He is also a podcast host, YouTube creator, author of The Education of a Value Investor and the host of the annual investment gathering VALUEx. He describes his life's project as "a quest for wealth, wisdom and enlightenment."

Guy joins the show to discuss the differences between Switzerland and the US, how to unlock the British class system, what he learned from Warren Buffett, and MUCH more!

Important Links:

Guy's Website
Guy's Twitter
Guy's YouTube Channel
3Blue1Brown (YouTube Channel)
Numberphile (YouTube Channel)

Show Notes:

The Differences Between New York, Switzerland & Paris
Exploring the Dark Underbelly of New York Nightlife
Psychedelics, Guns & Regulation
The Advantages of Swiss Democracy
Don't Short the United States
The Branding Skill of the Royal Family
Unlocking the Rules of the Class System
Life Paths & Premeditation
Luck, Opportunity & Non-Canonical Science
Jim's Music Taste
Mathematical Shenanigans
Guy as Emperor of the World
MORE!

Books Mentioned:

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence; by Michael Pollan
The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner
Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want and Getting It; by Henriette Anne Klauser
Invest Like The Best; by Jim O'Shaughnessy
Outside, the Sky is Blue: The story of a family told with searing honesty, humour and love; by Christina Patterson

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