Intentional Wisdom

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Rafal, CEO of OLI—a 50+ year-old chemical engineering software company operating at the intersection of AI and the physical world.Andy and I have known each other for over 20 years, going back to our early days in New York City. This conversation covers his journey from hedge fund investing at Tiger to becoming an operator and CEO—and the lessons learned along the way.We talk about career transitions, decision-making under uncertainty, and what it really means to build something over the long term.We also dig into how AI is reshaping industries—especially those rooted in the physical world—and why the biggest opportunities may lie in bridging the gap between software and real-world systems.Episode Timestamps00:00 - Intro + what we cover02:20 - Andy’s early career path: Cornell, law school, and following curiosity07:15 - Why he turned down law for Tiger22:43 - Lessons from Tiger: wins, losses, and what actually matters28:06 - Why curiosity and lifelong learning are career superpowers30:22 - The transition from investor → operator — and the difference between analyzing a business vs. building one37:58 - How COVID reshaped leadership, culture, and strategy38:26 - Building teams, culture, and long-term thinking41:01 - Taking over a 50+ year-old company founded by his father41:31 - The challenge of modernizing a legacy business44:23 - How AI is impacting engineering, chemistry, and real-world systems48:29 - The risk of AI “getting things wrong with confidence”49:46 - Writing publicly, learning in public, and finding a voice as a CEOKey TakeawaysCareer paths are rarely linear—following curiosity often leads to better outcomes than rigid planningInvesting teaches you how businesses work—but operating teaches you how hard it is to build oneNot every decision needs to be perfect—but you need to update your thinking as new information comes inThe biggest opportunities often sit at the intersection of old systems + new technologyAI will transform industries—but human judgment and real-world context still matter deeplyTaking time to think (and not rushing into the next thing) can be one of the most valuable decisions you makeConnect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-rafal/Follow Andy on Substack: https://arafal.substack.com/If you enjoy conversations like this, I write a weekly newsletter called Intentional Wisdom where I share:Notes on health, performance, and longevityCareer insights and lessons from conversations like thisTools and ideas I’m experimenting withYou can subscribe here: https://gregcampion.substack.com/

Author Jon Finkel returns to Intentional Wisdom to talk all things middle age—health, family, career, and why doing hard things still matters. Jon shares how he's stayed strong (literally) through his 40s by building non-negotiable habits around fitness, taking up competitive swimming, and doing the work that lights him up. We also talk about the importance of being present as a dad, planning epic vacations, and why training for something—anything—is the ultimate midlife unlock.This is a conversation for anyone who wants to keep showing up with intention as the years stack up.Episode Segments[00:00:00] Intro to Intentional Wisdom & Jon Finkel.[00:00:49] Jon Finkel: "World's Most Sophisticated Meathead."[00:01:09] Tackling middle age: health, fitness, relationships, career.[00:06:00] Friends' fitness/career struggles.[00:07:29] Jon's secret: consistency.[00:08:10] Health as life's foundation.[00:11:29] "Bench o'clock Monday" at "Flex Factory."[00:11:55] Train for specific goals.[00:12:28] Jon back to competitive swimming.[00:16:23] Mobility wake-up call [00:17:49] "Knees Over Toes" program.[00:20:06] From stiff to dunking again.[00:39:50] Tailoring parenting to each child.[00:59:45] "Midlife Male" [01:01:00] Jon's newsletter strategy.[01:13:00] Check out Jon's "Books and Biceps."You can learn more about Jon's work by visiting jonfinkel.com or by following him on Twitter @Jon_Finkel or Instagram @Jon_Finkel.Don't forget to follow Greg on Twitter @gregorycampion and subscribe to his bi-weekly newsletter: https://gregcampion.substack.com/If you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing Intentional Wisdom wherever you get your podcasts.--

In this episode of the Intentional Wisdom Podcast, Greg shares a recording from the Ovadia Heart Health Livestream, featuring an engaging discussion with Chris Cornell. In a turning of the tables, Chris interviews Greg on all things Intentional Wisom, including what Greg is learning from the high-performers he interviews, why he’s evolved his goal setting process, and even how we should be thinking about integrating AI into our lives. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:13 Guest Appearance on Ovadia Heart Health Livestream01:47 Chris Cornell's Introduction03:56 Greg Campion's Background06:31 Insights from Intentional Wisdom10:23 High Performers and Energy Management23:25 Goal Setting and Planning31:04 Reflecting on Personal Rules32:30 Fitness and Nutrition Rules33:22 The Importance of Structure35:25 Marathon Training Journey37:08 Evaluating and Adjusting Rules38:08 Simplifying the Process41:37 Balancing Rest and Activity42:54 Exploring AI and Its Impact43:47 Practical Uses of AI50:00 Future Implications of AI53:34 Closing Thoughts and ResourcesSubscribe to the Intentional Wisdom newsletter: https://gregcampion.substack.com/Learn more about Ovadia Hearth Health at http://OvadiaHeartHealth.com

Kevin Smith, CEO and co-founder of Snipd, shares insights into revolutionizing podcast experiences with AI. He discusses the roller coaster of startup life and the importance of routine for mental wellness. The conversation explores how AI can enhance learning by allowing users to save and revisit key audio insights. Innovative features like interactive conversations and AI-driven summarization are highlighted, showcasing Snipd's potential in both podcast discovery and personalized education. Smith also touches on future innovations in audiobooks and educational technologies.

Jonathan Goodman, a successful entrepreneur and author of 'The Obvious Choice', shares insightful strategies for business success without the need for online fame. He discusses why prioritizing real customer engagement over social media metrics is crucial. Jon evaluates Greg's side business using frameworks from his book, emphasizing the potential of coaching as a future model. The duo explores how trust plays a vital role in hiring decisions and the complexities of decision-making in business, providing listeners with practical takeaways for navigating their own ventures.

In this episode of Intentional Wisdom, the tables are turned and Greg’s friend, Rich Howe, interviews him on the topic of How to Launch a Podcast. This episode should be helpful for anyone considering creating their own podcast. It covers a ton of ground including: (03:01) – Rich’s newsletter business and why he’s launching a podcast(07:08) – Why podcasts aren’t necessarily a “top of funnel” tactic(09:31) – Why the riches are in the niches(12:30) – The most rewarding parts of starting a podcast(18:27) – Deciding on a microphone, webcam and lighting (26:46) – The best recording software(29:31) – The best editing software(32:46) – How to distribute your podcast(34:55) – Creating thumbnails for YouTube(38:21) – Episode cadence and how to source guests(46:48) – How to create social media clips & where to post them(51:51) – Is Zoom an option for recording?(55:25) – The magical power of Descript’s Studio Sound function Be sure to subscribe to Greg’s newsletter, Intentional Wisdom, to receive the full summary and recap of this episode complete with Greg’s favorite resources on the topic: https://gregcampion.substack.com/

In this episode of the Intentional Wisdom Podcast, Greg Campion engages in a deep conversation with Oliver Burkeman, acclaimed author and journalist known for his books '4,000 Weeks' and 'Meditations for Mortals.' They discuss critical life philosophies including the concept of living intentionally, scruffy hospitality, and handling the modern world's overwhelming flow of information. This episode delves into the significance of balancing productivity with enjoyment, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and the importance of accepting life's inherent uncertainties. Episode segments: (02:46) - Why Oliver wrote his new book, Meditations for Mortals (04:36) - The Concept of Imperfectionism (06:56) - Greg’s experience as a “guinea pig” for the new book (18:31) - Why life is more like a Kayak than a Super Yacht (24:38) - Perfectionist Fantasy and Daily Life (34:10) - The Case for 'Daily-ish' (37:31) - Balancing Health and Enjoyment (39:01) - The Problem with Perfectionism (44:31) - People Pleasing and Authenticity (51:35) - Scruffy Hospitality (55:16) - Navigating the Attention Economy (01:03:21) - Applying Insights to Life (01:08:37) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Related links: - Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Mortals-Embrace-Limitations-Counts/dp/0374611998 - Oliver’s Twitter/X account: https://x.com/oliverburkeman - Greg’s newsletter: https://gregcampion.substack.com/

Michael Karnjanaprakorn, founder of startups Skillshare and Otis, is on a transformative sabbatical focused on health and longevity. He dives into tracking vital health metrics like cholesterol and VO2 max. The conversation covers Zone 2 training, the challenges of getting kids to eat healthy, and the shift towards a plant-based diet. Michael shares his ambitious goal to feel biologically younger and emphasizes the importance of balanced nutrition and fitness strategies, all while navigating the complexities of midlife wellness.

Andy Speer is a well-known Peloton strength and running instructor. In this conversation, Greg and Andy cover: Andy’s personal story, including his struggles to overcome a lack of self-confidence How he found his way to Peloton and some of his most memorable moments The importance of strength training after age 40 Ways to keep your body strong and injury-free in middle age And much more… Full timestamps: (06:36) – Andy’s motivation for sharing more of his personal story (11:52) – Early days and the role of gymnastics in shaping Andy’s body & identity (17:23) – Grappling with a lack of self-confidence and maturing mentally (40:37) – How Andy found his way to Peloton (with some help from Rebecca Kennedy) (47:38) – Andy’s most memorable moments from the last six years at Peloton (52:55) – The importance of strength training (especially after 40) (59:35) – How to be smart about building strength while staying injury-free (01:08:58) – Andy weighs in on Greg’s weekly fitness routine (01:17:31) – The new Peloton Strength+ app (launching in beta) (01:20:17) – Should women worry about getting “too big” from lifting? (01:27:52) – The power of 10 minutes of stretching and mobility (01:31:57) – One thing Andy has figured out in life Be sure to follow Andy on Instagram to read all about his #SpeEra’s: https://www.instagram.com/andyspeer/ The weekly workout Greg mentioned in the episode (along with the plan he’s followed this year to improve body composition) can be found here: https://gregcampion.substack.com/p/body-fat-and-vo2-max-half-year-update Make sure to follow Greg on: Twitter/X - ⁠@gregorycampion ⁠ Subscribe to his newsletter: ⁠https://gregcampion.substack.com/

Jon Sherman is a renowned golf instructor, an author of several books, a coach to PGA tour professionals and a prolific teacher. In this conversation, Greg and Jon discuss practical, tangible ways to actually get better at golf. The bulk of the conversation is based on Jon's incredible book: The Four Foundations of Golf. Episode segments: (04:43) - How to actually ENJOY your rounds of golf (regardless of score) (15:43) - Why failing to embrace your driver is a huge mistake (23:59) - Why aim is so important off the tee (and how to get it right) (32:25) - Why you should almost always take more club on your approach shots (43:59) - How to get an accurate measurement of your distances (46:39) - Thoughts on game-tracking systems (Arccos, ShotScope, 18 Birdies) (48:00) - A simple explanation of strokes gained (50:19) - The main focus when hitting wedges (52:53) - When things go wrong... when to play for bogey (59:24) - Grabbing the low-hanging fruit on the greens (hint: less 3 putts) (01:09:24) - How to get the most out of your practice sessions (01:18:49) - Impact training and foot odor spray? Follow Jon! Twitter/X: @practicalgolf Instagram: practical.golf Website: https://practical-golf.com/ Buy his books! Four Foundations of Golf: amzn.to/4afNDr9 Foundations of Winning Golf: amzn.to/4agJkvN Make sure to follow Greg on: Twitter/X - @gregorycampion Subscribe to his newsletter: https://gregcampion.substack.com/