PODCAST · business
Backstory & Strategy
by Yoni Greenbaum
Why do great strategies stall? What’s the hidden cost of “wait and see”? How do you build a sustainable model in a world of constant change? Welcome to Backstory & Strategy, the podcast for leaders in media and nonprofits who are tired of easy answers. Each week, Yoni Greenbaum decodes the playbooks of modern leadership and business so you can stop reacting and start building the future—on purpose.
Episodes
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How to Lead With Humanity During Layoffs
Layoffs are never just numbers on a spreadsheet—they’re stories, lives, and often, heartbreak. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks what it means to lead with humanity when you have to let people go—and why how you show upmatters just as much as what you say. Expect: • A candid look at the...
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Whatever Happened to Thought Leadership?
Remember blogrolls, comment threads, and collaborative prompts? They weren’t just internet relics—they were infrastructure. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum looks back at the early 2000s blogging era and asks what we lost when that scaffolding disappeared. Expect: A reflection on the rise (and…
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Do I Live in a News Desert?
When road construction took over his neighborhood, Yoni Greenbaum realized he had no idea where to find reliable, up-to-date information. That question led to a deeper one: If the news doesn’t cover the basics of civic life, do we still have local news? In this episode, Yoni explores the…
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The Metrics vs. The Mission
What happens when the numbers are up, but your gut says something’s wrong? In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks a familiar tension: the moment when audience metrics start to overpower mission, trust, and editorial judgment. Expect: A behind-the-scenes look at the “traffic-first” era of digital...
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We Can Explain Your Money, But Not Our Own
She could dissect a city budget like a crime scene—but couldn’t balance a checkbook. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks the longstanding divide between editorial excellence and business literacy in journalism. Expect: A deep dive into the legacy of the “Chinese Wall” between news and revenue...
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Chasing Revenue Without Losing the Plot
What happens when your nonprofit has a mission, an $80 million endowment… and still has to shut down its flagship news program? In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks a tension that every mission-driven organization eventually confronts: the gap between intention and sustainability. Drawing on…
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Vendors Send Invoices. Partners Share Wins.
What makes a great partnership? In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum shares two real-world stories—from digital sports content at Philly.com to programming strategy at a public media station—that reveal why some vendors become true collaborators… and others don’t. Expect: Lessons from building...
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Mission Drift: When Smart Strategy Erodes Identity
Some of the biggest threats to your mission don’t look like threats at all. They look like smart strategy. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum shares a cautionary tale from his time in public media—when a promising revenue idea brought in big money… and even bigger questions. What happens when your...
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The Hidden Cost of “Let’s Wait and See”
When big decisions stall out, momentum dies—and the silence isn’t neutral. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks why organizational indecision is so common, what it actually costs, and how leaders (and their teams) can break the stall before it breaks the mission. Expect: A real-world case…
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Public Media: Why We Said No to Big Money & Kept Our Trust
What happens when a six-figure gift comes with strings attached? In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum walks through a defining moment in public media leadership—when his team turned down big money to protect editorial integrity and audience trust. Expect: Behind-the-scenes stories of public media...
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A New Blueprint for Local News
What if the future of local journalism didn’t depend on saving legacy newsrooms—but on reimagining the system entirely? In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum dives into a bold new model from California: a Civic Media Fund that brings together state government, philanthropy, and public libraries to...
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Paywall Problem: Why Americans Won't Pay for News
A new Pew Research study confirms what many in journalism have feared: 99% of Americans hit a paywall... and walk away. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum digs into what this means for the future of news—and why the audience we thought we had may not be the one willing to pay for it. Expect: Fresh...
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Nonprofit Funding: The Risk of Your Biggest Donor
When a billionaire backs out, a school shutters. It’s not just bad luck—it’s a flawed strategy. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum breaks down why chasing a single “whale” donor can feel like salvation… until it’s not. Expect: A real-world cautionary tale from the Chan Zuckerberg school closure How...
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Audience-First Content Strategy Checklist
Most content plans start with what we want to say. But what if the secret to real impact was starting with who we’re speaking to? In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum shares a practical framework for flipping the script: defining your audience, prioritizing their needs, and building a content plan…
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Culture Fit: The Interview Secret I Wish I'd Known Sooner
Early in his career, Yoni Greenbaum admits that he asked all the wrong interview questions—and got all the wrong answers. In this episode, he shares what changed, and why hiring for culture fit isn’t soft—it’s strategic. Done right, it builds stronger teams and protects your mission from costly...
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When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Cut Marketing
When budgets shrink, marketing and tools are often the first to go. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum explores why those cuts can backfire—and how smart organizations make strategic trade-offs without crippling their mission. Expect: Hard-won lessons on what happens when you cut too deep A…
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The Myth of Self-Sustaining Membership for Nonprofits
“Set it and forget it” sounds great—until your budget falls off a cliff. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks why sustainer programs aren’t as self-sustaining as we’d like to believe—and what it really takes to build reliable, recurring revenue. Expect: A clear-eyed look at the cash flow risks...
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The Skill No One Teaches You: Managing Your Board of Directors
Every nonprofit leader learns fast: the board can be your biggest asset—or your biggest headache. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks how to turn board dynamics from chaos into clarity, and why managing “up” is a skill too few leaders are ever taught. Expect: A clear breakdown of governance…
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A Teaching Hospital Model for Nonprofits
What if nonprofit teams approached their work like a hospital team on rounds—collaborative, reflective, and built to learn in real time? In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum explores how adopting a teaching hospital mindset can help nonprofits move faster, grow smarter, and lead better. Expect: A…
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What Newsrooms Can Learn from Hospitals and Battlefields
When mistakes happen in medicine or the military, the review process isn’t optional—it’s embedded in the culture. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum explores how three proven review models can help newsrooms get smarter, faster, and better at what matters most. Expect: A breakdown of M&M…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Why do great strategies stall? What’s the hidden cost of “wait and see”? How do you build a sustainable model in a world of constant change? Welcome to Backstory & Strategy, the podcast for leaders in media and nonprofits who are tired of easy answers. Each week, Yoni Greenbaum decodes the playbooks of modern leadership and business so you can stop reacting and start building the future—on purpose.
HOSTED BY
Yoni Greenbaum
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Backstory & Strategy have?
Backstory & Strategy currently has 20 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Backstory & Strategy about?
Why do great strategies stall? What’s the hidden cost of “wait and see”? How do you build a sustainable model in a world of constant change? Welcome to Backstory & Strategy, the podcast for leaders in media and nonprofits who are tired of easy answers. Each week, Yoni Greenbaum decodes the...
How often does Backstory & Strategy release new episodes?
Backstory & Strategy has 20 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Backstory & Strategy?
You can listen to Backstory & Strategy on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Backstory & Strategy?
Backstory & Strategy is created and hosted by Yoni Greenbaum.
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