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PODCAST

Culture Architects™

David J. Friedman

Most leaders know that a strong culture is a foundation for building a great organization, but great cultures don"t just happen on their own. Rather, they"re designed and built systematically, brick by brick. Each week, join David J. Friedman, the best-selling author of Culture by Design, as he speaks with extraordinary leaders, from all walks of life, and they share their biggest successes, failures, and lessons learned on their culture journeys. If you"re searching for the best insights on

business management

All Episodes

25:34

Episode 44 | Part One: Nathan Hall

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/10/06

In Part One, David speaks with Nathan Hall, founder and CEO of Culture Check, about his path from sociology student to business leader, and how his turnaround work at Simple Story shaped his approach to culture. Nathan reflects on vulnerability, belonging, and the personal roots of his leadership philosophy. The conversation closes with David asking Nathan to weigh in on the biggest misconceptions about DEI — a question Nathan answers when Part Two begins.

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32:57

Episode 43 | Part Two: Dustin Campbell

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/09/22

In Part Two of their conversation, David and Dustin pick up the story with his leap into entrepreneurship. Dustin explains what it’s like to buy and run a company while writing the playbook in real time, the hard truths he learned along the way, and how that experience ultimately led to the creation of Persistently — and to joining forces with CultureWise.

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24:14

Episode 43 | Part One: Dustin Campbell

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/09/15

David sits down with Dustin Campbell, co-founder of Persistence Management Holdings and Persistently, to unpack his journey from investment banking to private equity — and the powerful lessons he learned along the way. In Part One, Dustin shares how a turnaround mentor reshaped his thinking about systems and culture, and why those insights convinced him that culture is more than a differentiator — it’s the driver of performance.

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28:25

Episode 42 | Part Two: Ari Weinzweig

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/09/01

In this second part of their conversation, David and Ari Weinzweig dive deeper into two specific components of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses: their training arm ZingTrain, and their company’s 34 beliefs. Ari weighs in on how much a growing organization should reflect the essence of its founders.

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34:36

Episode 42 | Part One: Ari Weinzweig

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/08/25

Since their modest opening in 1982, Zingerman’s Delicatessen has cemented its place as an institution in Ann Arbor, Michigan — rejecting the typical franchise model for food retailers and instead growing into what is today known as the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. David sits down with Zingerman’s co-founder and co-owner Ari Weinzweig to talk about this incredible journey. In this first of a two-part conversation, Ari distills open-book management and anarchism in business, and explains how

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30:10

Episode 41 | Part Two: Andy Busser

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/08/11

In this second half of their conversation, David and Andy Busser get into the day-to-day teaching and reinforcing of the culture at Pitcairn. Andy answers all the important culture questions around his firm’s historic first acquisition of Brightside Partners.

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24:27

Episode 41 | Part One: Andy Busser

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/08/04

For over 100 years now, Pitcairn has served and advised ultra-high-net-worth families on matters of legacy and wealth. In 2023, the firm’s centennial year, Andy Busser was appointed its CEO — and in this episode, he and David discuss honoring a century-old culture while also leading with one’s own vision for the future. Andy offers a unique insight on the returns from investing in the company culture.

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29:02

Episode 40 | Part Two: Chris Gheysens

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/07/21

In this second part of their conversation, David and Chris Gheysens continue to discuss the systems with which they transfer and reinforce the culture at Wawa. Chris expands on the idea of culture as a feedback loop, and shares the advice he would give his younger self.

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23:24

Episode 40 | Part One: Chris Gheysens

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/07/14

For over 60 years now, the Wawa chain of convenience stores has been supplying the US East Coast with fresh food and consistently positive customer experiences. In the course of this two-part conversation, David takes a deep dive into the company culture behind the success — with the CEO of Wawa himself, Chris Gheysens. In this episode, Chris talks about embedding the culture in new geographies as the company expands to more cities, and finding the balance between results and the welfare of their

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27:37

Episode 39 | Part Two: Brian Roers

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/06/30

The conversation continues with Brian Roers of Roers Companies. In this episode, he shares with David some of the challenges that come with expanding to now over a dozen states in the US. Brian reflects on the importance of being loud as a leader and having the right team when looking to the future.

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27:24

Episode 39 | Part One: Brian Roers

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/06/23

In this first of a two-part conversation, Brian Roers shares his journey of co-founding Roers Companies with his brother Kent, and becoming a culture champion along the way. Roers Companies is a multi-awarded multifamily and commercial real estate development firm based in Minnesota. It was founded in 2012 — and by 2024, was recognized by Inc. 5000 as the 344th fastest-growing private company in America. At the heart of their remarkable growth is their Culture Blueprint, and a daily commitment to

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32:02

Episode 38 | Part Two: Steven Shapiro & Nancy Shapiro...

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/06/09

David resumes the conversation with Steven Shapiro and Nancy Shapiro Rapport on designing Our Family Culture. Nancy and Steven explain how Our Family Culture shapes the way conversations are taking place between parents and children, and why repetition matters when parenting with purpose.

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25:25

Episode 38 | Part One: Steven Shapiro & Nancy Shapiro...

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/06/02

What does it mean to be the Culture Architect of one’s family? Over the past year, David has worked with brother-sister duo and lifelong educators Steven Shapiro and Nancy Shapiro Rapport to explore this question. In this episode, they recount the story of coming together and collaborating on Our Family Culture, a system designed to help parents be more purposeful in creating a healthy culture for their families.

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30:57

Episode 37 | Part Two: Ed DeAngelis

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/05/19

In this episode, David and Ed DeAngelis examine EDA Contractors’ journey to becoming a top workplace. Ed explains how investing in the company’s culture has affected their bottom line, and what it means to build a “24-hour culture.”

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31:24

Episode 37 | Part One: Ed DeAngelis

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/05/12

Ed DeAngelis founded EDA Contractors in 1999, and for the last 25 years, the company has worked on construction and historic restoration projects throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, New Jersey, and New York. Today, EDA Contractors is recognized as a top workplace and a leader in the industry. Much of it is thanks to Ed, whose intentionality around psychological safety and the overall workplace culture makes him a true Culture Architect.

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28:38

Episode 36 | Part Two: Dr. Kent Wessinger

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/04/28

The conversation resumes between David and Dr. Kent Wessinger on the millennial and Gen Z workforce. Using insights from his proprietary research, Kent imagines the near future where these younger generations have become their organizations’ leaders and culture-builders.

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31:49

Episode 36 | Part One: Dr. Kent Wessinger

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/04/21

David is joined by Dr. Kent Wessinger, researcher and author of Bridges over Ladders: Secure Growth and Fortify Revenue with Millennial Employees, Clients and Members. In this episode, Kent introduces his proprietary research — and breaks down why and how most organizations are ill-equipped to attract, engage, and retain younger employees, even though younger generations already take up the largest share of today’s workforce.

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22:35

Episode 35 | Part Two: Genevieve Retzlaff

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/04/07

In this episode, David and Geneviève Retzlaff continue to explore connections between authentic leadership and high-performing teams — and weigh in on different approaches to the culture-building process.

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25:01

Episode 35 | Part One: Genevieve Retzlaff

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/03/31

In this first of a two-part conversation, transformational career coach Geneviève Retzlaff talks about getting her start in human resources with Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. After a decade in HR and over 40 countries later, at her own company Grow Better Together, Geneviève helps organizations create cultures that encourage authentic leaders and human connections.

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29:24

Episode 34 | Part Two: Dr. Roger Gerard

Culture Architects™ ·

2025/03/17

David and Dr. Roger Gerard build on the question, “What do employees really need from their leaders?” Roger shares the 5 golden promises leaders need to make and keep as if their life depended on it, and the advice he would give his younger self. Roger’s website: https://www.rogergerard.com/

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