The Gstaad Guy Podcast

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Vito Cinque, owner of Il San Pietro di Positano, one of the most beloved and enduring family-run hotels on the Amalfi Coast, to explore what it truly means to build a place where guests do not just return, they belong. Rooted in a deep love for the region, its produce, and its people, Vito reflects on a life shaped by the belief that doing what you love, and doing it with complete sincerity, is the only philosophy worth running a business on.

The conversation moves through the meaning of family in both the personal and professional sense, the quiet complexity behind experiences that appear effortless, and why substance has always mattered more than status at Il San Pietro. Vito speaks about the farm to table philosophy that connects the hotel to its land, what it takes to earn the kind of loyalty that brings guests back year after year, and why the next generation of hospitality will be defined by those willing to go bespoke in a world pulling towards the generic. Warm, grounded, and full of quiet wisdom, it is a conversation about excellence, identity, and what it really means to show up every single day.

Filmed at Palazzo Santa Croce in Positano.

Chapters:
(01:33) Owner & Operator 🏨👔
(03:31) Reoccurring Guests 🔄❤️
(05:28) Early Life 👶🏻🌱
(07:45) Il San Pietro di Positano 🌊🏨
(10:15) Food Of The Region 🍋🍽️
(11:42) Farm To Table 🌿🍽️
(12:28) History Of The Property 🏛️📖
(16:27) Joining The Business 🤝🏻🤝💼
(20:22) The Meaning Of "Family" ❤️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
(24:19) Working With Your Brother 🤝🏻 ❤️
(27:49) Why Guests Keep Coming Back ❤️🔄
(31:04) Doing What Feels Right 🧭❤️
(32:45) Types Of Hotels 🏨🔍
(35:14) Preservation 🏛️🌿
(43:36) Making The Complex Seem Simple ✨⚖️
(47:10) "Why Do You Show Up Everyday?" 💪🏻🌅
(49:26) Hotel Gift Shops 🎁🛍️
(52:06) What It Takes To Be An Exceptional General Manager 🏆👔
(54:53) "How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything" 🎯✨
(57:38) Next Generation Consumer 👶🏻📈
(1:02:56) Italy 🇮🇹❤️
(1:05:29) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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The Gstaad Guy sits down with Aaron Levant, CEO of Complex and one of the most conviction-driven figures in modern media and culture, to explore what it truly means to build something at the intersection of taste, access, and community. From the early days of street culture to architecting ComplexCon into one of the most distinctive live experiences in the world, Aaron reflects on a career built not on following trends but on understanding them before anyone else does.

The conversation gets into the art of thinking laterally, why being a generalist in a world of specialists is an underrated advantage, and what it really takes to democratise cultural experiences without diluting what makes them matter. Aaron speaks candidly about the stigma of trying and failing, the discipline of having strong conviction when the room disagrees, and why the future of retail belongs to those who can make people feel something. Restless, sharp, and deeply knowledgeable about how culture actually moves, it is a conversation about hustle, belonging, and what happens when good taste meets genuine dedication.

Filmed at The Maybourne Beverly Hills Garden Suite.

(00:00) Intro ✨🎙️

(01:06) Backstory 📖🌱

(03:28) Thinking Laterally 🧠🔀

(06:04) Wearing The Same Outfit 👔🔄

(09:14) What is Complex? 🤔💡

(11:37) ComplexCon 🎪🌍

(14:04) A Sense Of Belonging 🤝🏻❤️

(15:08) Typical Complex Consumer 👥🎯

(21:30) Taking A Bet 🎲💪🏻

(28:05) Democratising Experiences 🌍✨

(31:35) Art 🎨🖼️

(33:38) A Generalist In This Day & Age 🧠🌍

(36:16) Cultural Meshes 🌍🔀

(39:09) Street Culture 🏙️👟

(40:36) The Business Of Complex 💼📈

(45:10) Curation As A Form Of Innovation 🎯💡

(49:02) Creating Partnerships 🤝🏻🤝🌟

(51:27) Collectibles 🏆✨

(53:59) Headlines vs. Real Depth 📰🔍

(58:33) Sneaker Culture 👟🔥

(1:02:01) Design & Function 🎨⚙️

(1:06:19) The Future Of Retail 🛍️🔮

(1:10:05) Streamers & Live Shopping 📱🛍️

(1:13:10) Next Generation Of Hires 👶🏻💼

(1:17:45) Being A First Mover 🚀🌟

(1:19:01) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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The Gstaad Guy sits down with Jens Grede, co-founder and CEO of SKIMS and one of the most instinctive brand builders of his generation, to explore what it means to connect products with culture in a way that feels both inevitable and enduring. From his Swedish upbringing and the philosophy of lagom to a career that has taken him from Mr Porter to FRAME to one of the most talked-about consumer brands in the world, Jens reflects on a professional life built on honesty, minimalism, and an obsession with getting the product right.

The conversation moves through the tension between being timely and being timeless, what American culture taught him that Europe never could, and why working with people who share your values is the only foundation worth building on. Jens speaks openly about the decision to back himself, the meaning of genuine partnership, and why family, far from being a counterweight to ambition, has always been its greatest source of purpose. Grounded, forward-looking, and refreshingly direct, it is a conversation about integrity, pop culture, and what happens when you care more about the work than the noise around it.

Filmed at The Maybourne Beverly Hills Garden Suite.

(00:00) Intro ✨🎙️

(00:40) Gstaad 🏔️❄️

(02:41 )Notion Of Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️

(04:30) Timelessness & Essentialism ⏳✨

(06:50) Value Retail 🛍️💡

(07:53) The Culture of "Lagom" ⚖️🧘

(10:30) Becoming A Founder 💡🚀

(13:35) Social Media 📱🌍

(14:41) Working With A Best Friend 🤝🏻❤️

(17:04) Moncler 🧥🏔️

(19:25) FRAME 👖✨

(20:06) SKIMS 🩱💡

(21:30) Remo Ruffini 👔🏔️

(22:41) "Making A Simple Product Great" ✨🏆

(25:58) Love vs. Passion ❤️🔥

(27:46) The American Dream 🇺🇸🌟

(30:50) The Greatest Partner 🤝🏻💎

(25:05) Making Decisions ⚖️💡

(36:56) Kim Kardashian 📱👑

(40:06) America 🇺🇸🌍

(41:33) American vs. European Culture 🇺🇸🇪🇺

(47:41) Definition Of "Timelessness" ⏳💎

(51:01) Pop Culture 🎤🌍

(56:33) The Modern Consumer 📱🛍️

(58:55) Shared Values Within A Team 🤝🏻❤️

(1:03:27) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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The Gstaad Guy sits down with Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, the ultra-luxury ocean travel brand rewriting what it means to experience the sea, to explore what happens when the finest hotel sensibility meets the freedom of open water. From the legacy of seafaring that runs through the MSC family business to the guest-centric philosophy that shapes every detail on board, Anna reflects on the vision, curiosity, and conviction required to challenge an entire industry's perception of itself.

The conversation gets into why the stigma around cruising has persisted for so long and what it genuinely takes to dismantle it, the idea that true luxury is not about abundance but about freedom of choice, and why time, more than any amenity, is what the most discerning travellers are really seeking. Anna shares what she has learned from guests who arrive sceptical and leave converted, the particular dynamics of leading within a family-owned business, and why the next generation of leaders will need curiosity above all else. A wide-ranging and genuinely compelling conversation about hospitality, the sea, and the art of giving people an experience they did not know they needed. 

Filmed in the Manor House at Rosewood London.

(00:00) Intro ✨🎙️

(01:52) Explora Journeys 🚢🌊

(03:45) Hotel Experience 🏨✨

(07:53) A Cruise Experience 🛳️🌅

(10:29) Voids In The Industry 🔍💡

(12:52) Family Owned Business 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🏛️

(15:45) A Family Business Is Like A Monarchy 👑🏰

(20:21) The Onboard Experience 🍽️🌊

(23:42) Freedom, Choice & Variety 🗺️✨

(27:09) Destination Choices 🌍🧭

(33:53) Luxury Spending 💎💰

(38:17) Abundance Of Choice 🎯🌟

(43:18) Next Generation Leaders 👶🏻📈

(47:11 À) La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨

(50:00) Most Memorable Hospitality Experiences ❤️🏆
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The Gstaad Guy sits down with Marianna Hewitt, co-founder of Summer Fridays and one of the earliest and most instinctive voices to emerge from the first wave of Instagram and lifestyle blogging, to explore what it truly takes to turn cultural momentum into something that endures. From her early days in fashion to becoming a first mover in the content creator space, Marianna reflects on the decisions, values, and relentless consistency that laid the foundation for one of skincare's most beloved modern brands.

The conversation gets into the thinking behind Summer Fridays, why great skincare should never feel intimidating, and what it really means to build a brand with genuine cross-generational appeal. Marianna speaks honestly about the realities of life as a founder, the difference between good friends and old friends, and why decisiveness, not luck, is the quality that separates those who last from those who fade. Grounded, direct, and full of hard-won perspective, it is a conversation about community, longevity, and what it means to build something real in an industry that moves very fast.

Filmed at The Maybourne Beverly Hills Garden Suite.

(00:00 Intro ✨🎙️

(02:21) Starting Social Media 📱✨

(03:48) Love For Content ❤️🎨

(04:04) Fashion World 👗✨

(07:12) Being A First Mover 🚀🌟

(10:00) Why "Summer Fridays"? ☀️🧴

(13:38) Skincare Can Be Intimidating 😰🧴

(15:21) Effective Branding & Marketing 📢✨

(19:46) Remaining Excited & Motivated 🔥💪🏻

(21:14) "There Are No Quick Wins" ⏳💡

(25:22) Role Of Founder & CEO 👔🏆

(29:54) Forging Strategic Partnerships 🤝🏻🌟

(33:25) Creating A Social & Digital Brand 📱🌍

(36:14) Cross-Generational Products 👴🏻👶🏻

(39:00) Seeing People Use Your Product 😊❤️

(41:14) Message To Your Younger Self 📝🪞

(44:10) Old Friends vs. Good Friends 👥❤️

(45:34) Being A Decisive Person ⚡✅

(47:05) Key Skills That Drive Success 🔑📈

(49:38) Values 🏛️❤️

(53:16) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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