About Vidrio Financial Podcasts

Vidrio podcasts promote thought leadership from across the institutional investor community.  Every few weeks you will see a new episode is posted to all the major podcast networks, YouTube, and this destination below showcasing leaders from asset management, endowments, foundations, family offices, OCIOs, pensions, and sovereign wealth funds. Start listening today.

  • Improving Alpha
  • Thematic Investors

Improving Alpha: Paul C. Sohn on Targeting the ‘fat pitch’ in Institutional Investing

December 4, 2023

Mastering the timing of investment markets is a formidable challenge that demands unwavering commitment to a well-defined methodology. It entails navigating through risks, optimizing volatility, and steering clear of managers who adopt a reckless "spray and pray" approach. Join Michael Oliver Weinberg as he engages in a captivating conversation with Paul C. Sohn, Chief Investment Officer at Mont Alto Capital. Paul provides his front row insight and expertise on what he has observed over the last 20 years in hedge fund investing, macro portfolio management, and the formation of his family office, Mont Alto Capital. Learn more about Paul Sohn here...

Improving Alpha: Christopher Ailman, CalSTRS on Catching the Big Waves in Institutional Investing

October 31, 2023

Experience the latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, where Michael Oliver Weinberg is joined by Christopher J. Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, CalSTRS. With an impressive 40 years of experience in the business, Christopher’s unwavering passion for constant learning in the face of market volatility and seeking alpha strategies shines through. Learn more about Chris here...

Improving Alpha: Scott Pittman on Maintaining Convictions and Balancing Portfolio Diversification

September 20, 2023

In this highly anticipated episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, join Michael Oliver Weinberg as he engages in a compelling conversation with Scott Pittman, SVP and Chief Investment Officer at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Gain valuable insights into Scott’s visionary objectives for the future and discover how he strategically harnesses the power of research, fundamental and quantitative analysis to drive exceptional performance and unlock investment value. Listen in now.

Improving Alpha: Tobias Read on Removing Political Grandstanding from Oregon's Hybrid Pension Plan

August 7, 2023

Michael Oliver Weinberg, Host, The Improving Alpha podcast is joined by Tobias Read, State Treasurer, Oregon, where Tobias discusses the approach that his team has taken towards innovation, why running a pension isn’t simply about just maximizing a return number, or why a pension plan can’t do it alone when it comes to climate change regulations.  Listen in now.

Improving Alpha: Jose Eduardo Siman on Succession Planning Challenges and Innovating the Family Office

July 10, 2023

Michael Oliver Weinberg, Host, The Improving Alpha podcast, introduces us to Jose Eduardo Siman, President, Intradeco Inc. Listen to how Jose is striving for a more 'Warren Buffet' model of decentralization for his global subsidiaries. Michael will also dive into how Jose is thinking about sucession and retail innovation. Learn more about Jose here...

Improving Alpha: Gitanjali Swamy on Building a Collective Intelligence

March 13, 2023

In our latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, Michael Oliver Weinberg speaks with Gitanjali Swamy, PH.D., Senior Legislative and Policy Advisor, Massachusetts State Senate, Managing Partner, IoTask on how leaders approach the more social aspects of ESG. Learn how those in the asset community are creating their own collective intelligence approaches and more about Gita here...

Improving Alpha: Tensie Whelan Discusses Extracting Value from Sustainability

February 6, 2023

In this episode, Michael Oliver Weinberg, co-founder, Improving Alpha Podcast Series, is joined by Tensie Whelan, Clinical Professor of Business and Society and Director, Center for Sustainable Business, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, NYU, to discuss more on the topic of sustainability, and how companies can look at their profiles in the market when considering risk, competitor analysis, competitor advantage bottom-line. Learn more about Tensie here...

Improving Alpha: Greg Steinmetz on History’s Indispensable Asset Owners

January 24, 2023

In this episode, Greg Steinmetz, Author & Securities Analyst, Ruane, Cunniff and Goldfarb sit down to discuss his latest research into the world of Fugger and Gould. Learn how these two men surpassed the likes of Vanderbilt and Rockefeller and shaped the financial landscape that investors navigate today. Learn more about Greg here...

Improving Alpha: A Zero Sum Behavioral Psychology Approach for Innovative Allocators

January 6, 2023

In this episode, Shai Davidai, Assistant Professor, Management Division, Columbia Business School, goes under the hood of economic behavioral psychology at work across asset managers and owners. Learn more about Shai here...

Improving Alpha: Jonathan Grabel, LACERA on Consolidating a Strategic Allocation for Growth

December 9, 2022

In this episode, Jonathan Grabel, Chief Investment Officer, LACERA discusses his career journey, ESG views, the evaluation of new investments, and more. Learn more about Jonathan here...

Improving Alpha: Ben Samild, Future Fund on Innovating Investments for 35 Million Beneficiaries

November 28, 2022

In this episode, Ben Samild, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Construction, Future Fund, discusses post-pandemic portfolio strategies, red flags in the decision-making process, and much more. Learn more about Ben here...

Improving Alpha: Jeff Mindlin, ASU enterprise Partner on Engineering a $1.3 billion Endowment for the future


November 14, 2022

Jeff Mindlin, Chief Investment Officer of ASU Enterprise Partners, discusses how ASU Enterprise Partners encourages growth to the next generation of financial advisors, how tech and innovation feature in his allocations, and more. Learn more about Jeff here...

Thematic Investors: Fueling Technological Breakthroughs in Energy Transition

September 11, 2023

In this inaugural episode, Kieran Cavanna, CIO, Old Farm Partners and host of the Thematic Investors podcast, is joined by Todd Kantor, Founder and Managing Member of Encompass Capital Advisors LLC. This is a critical podcast for those interested in energy transition and the investment strategies that are required to play in this arena. Learn more about Todd here...

Thematic Investors: Why Institutional Investors Should Consider Uranium

October 2, 2023

In our highly anticipated second episode of the Thematic Investors podcast, host, Kieran Cavanna, engages in a captivating discussion on uranium investing with Daren Heitman, CFA, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer, and Chris Gillespie, Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager at Azarias Capital Management. Learn more about our guests here...

Stay tuned. More episodes are coming soon. Until then check out our blog content.