The Partnership Guys

Steven Schneider, Todd Leonardis, Rob Stolker
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

Most business problems are really people problems—especially when it comes to partnerships. Whether it’s your co-founder, a key vendor, or even your top customer, misalignment can cost you time, money, and sanity. The Partnership Guys Podcast helps you fix that. This is the show for entrepreneurs, operators, and leaders who know relationships drive results. Steven, Todd, and Rob have built multi-million dollar companies and navigated the full spectrum of business partnerships—from co-owners and teams to clients and collaborators. They’ve had the tough talks, survived the ego clashes, and figured out how to make business relationships actually work. Each week, they share honest conversations, practical frameworks, and battle-tested lessons to help you communicate clearly, build trust faster, and turn every partnership into a strategic advantage. If you work with people, this podcast is for you. Subscribe and make your partnerships work better. Hosted by Steven Schneider, Todd Leonardis, and Rob Stolker

  1. 2d ago

    How Crisis Reveals the Partnership You Really Have

    What happens to your partnership when everything starts going wrong? Good times can hide a lot. Crisis can’t. After 26 years as partners, Steven and Todd have faced 9/11, the anthrax scare, the 2008 financial crisis, Hurricane Sandy, COVID, supply chain disruptions, and plenty of self-inflicted business chaos. Through it all, they discovered something unexpected: the toughest moments didn’t weaken their partnership. They often made it stronger. Rob has seen the other side. In a partnership without trust, a crisis didn’t create the problems. It exposed them. In this episode of The Partnership Guys Podcast, Steven, Todd, and Rob explore why pressure reveals what a partnership is really made of, why trust creates speed when decisions matter most, and why the work partners do before the crisis may determine what happens when the business gets hit. What you will learn in this episodeHow to build trust before your business is testedHow to replace blame with problem-solving when pressure risesHow to use clear decision domains to move faster during uncertaintyHow to give your partner the confidence to act independently while staying alignedHow to turn difficult periods into opportunities to strengthen the partnershipQuestions answeredWhy do some partnerships get stronger during a crisis while others fall apart?What does pressure reveal about trust between partners?How can blame slow down a business when fast decisions matter?Why does clarity around roles become even more important during chaos?Can a crisis actually create new opportunities for a business?What should partners work on when everything is going well to prepare for when it isn’t?Listen now and learn how to build a partnership that can take a hit and keep moving forward. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you got value from this conversation, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

  2. Aug 11

    How You Protect the Partnership Before Things Go Wrong

    Why You Need an Exit Plan Before You Need an Exit What if the conversation that feels most pessimistic today could actually protect your partnership tomorrow? Most business partners start with optimism. They’re thinking about customers, growth, revenue, and everything they’re going to build together. Nobody wants to talk about what happens if someone wants out, gets sick, retires, dies, or simply changes their mind. That can be a costly mistake. In this episode of The Partnership Guys Podcast, Todd, Steven, and Rob tackle what they call the “partnership prenup.” They share firsthand stories of partnerships that ended very differently, including one that became a ten-year lawsuit and another where two partners were able to walk away with different wins while preserving their relationship. The difference wasn’t luck. It started with conversations most partners would rather avoid. What you will learn in this episodeHow to discuss an exit before emotions and conflict take overHow to identify what could trigger a partner’s exitHow to create clearer rules for unexpected life changesHow to protect the relationship while protecting the businessHow to reduce assumptions by defining the partnership’s guardrailsHow to prepare for different definitions of “the win”Questions answeredWhen should partners start talking about an exit?What happens when partners have completely different timelines?What should happen if a partner becomes disabled, dies, retires, or simply wants out?Can an exit plan actually make a partnership stronger?Why can early financial success hide serious partnership problems?How can partners separate with dignity, fairness, and respect?A great exit plan isn’t about expecting your partnership to fail. It’s about being prepared for life. Listen now and learn how to protect what you’re building before emotions make the decisions for you. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you got value from this conversation, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

  3. Aug 4

    Why You Can't Fake a Strong Partnership

    What if the biggest threat to your business isn't your competition, but what your team sees when they watch you and your partner? Every employee is watching. They don't just hear your core values. They watch how you treat each other when things get hard. In this episode, The Partnership Guys unpack why partnership culture starts long before an employee handbook and why every conversation between partners is shaping the future of the business. Through honest stories of thriving partnerships, painful failures, and decades of experience, they reveal why trust, respect, and clarity can't be hidden or faked. The way partners show up together becomes the culture everyone else follows. What you will learn in this episodeHow to build a partnership culture your team actually believes.How to create clarity that eliminates confusion for employees.How to demonstrate trust and respect instead of simply talking about it.How to handle disagreements without damaging your culture.How to onboard new employees into a partnership that inspires confidence.How to recognize the warning signs that your partnership is affecting your business.Questions AnsweredWhy does partnership culture begin with the owners?What happens when partners try to hide conflict from employees?Why do confused partners create confused employees?How do healthy disagreements strengthen company culture?What role does clarity play in employee confidence?Why do employees copy partner behavior instead of company policies?Listen now and discover how a healthy partnership creates a healthy business. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you got value from this conversation, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

  4. Jul 28

    How Partners Keep Growing Without Growing Apart

    What if your partnership isn't falling apart... it's just growing in different directions? The biggest threat to a business partnership usually isn't one dramatic fight. It's the slow drift that happens when life changes, priorities shift, and nobody talks about it. Great partnerships don't survive because people stay the same. They survive because partners make time to understand who each other is becoming. In this episode, Steven, Todd, and Rob share personal stories about raising families, changing priorities, painful partnership failures, and the conversations that kept great partnerships alive. They challenge one of the biggest myths in business: that partners have to grow the same way. Instead, they reveal why supporting each other's changing seasons creates stronger businesses and stronger relationships. If you've ever felt like you and your partner aren't quite on the same page anymore, this conversation could change how you think about growth forever. What you will learn in this episodeHow to recognize the early warning signs before partners drift apart.How to have small conversations that prevent big problems.How to support your partner through changing seasons of life.How to stay aligned even when your priorities evolve.How to focus on shared outcomes instead of identical paths.How to revisit your Fundamental Focus before misalignment becomes conflict.Questions AnsweredWhy do successful business partners grow apart?How do you know when your partnership is drifting?What conversations should partners have regularly?Can partners have different goals and still succeed?How do you support a partner whose priorities have changed?What does a "win" look like for each partner?Listen now and learn how to strengthen your partnership before small changes become big problems. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you found value in this conversation, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

  5. Jul 21

    The Money Conversation You Keep Avoiding Could Cost You Everything

    Could avoiding one conversation today destroy your partnership tomorrow? Most partners think money is what breaks businesses apart. It isn't. It's everything that never gets said about the money. In this episode, The Partnership Guys tackle one of the most uncomfortable topics in business: money and equity. They share personal stories of partnerships that thrived, partnerships that failed, and why resentment almost always starts long before anyone notices it. Whether you're splitting profits, making capital contributions, deciding compensation, or simply trying to stay aligned as life changes, this conversation will challenge the way you think about fairness. The numbers matter. But what they represent matters even more. If you've ever avoided talking about money because it felt awkward, this episode might be the conversation your partnership needs before it's too late. What you will learn in this episodeHow to separate fairness from equality in a partnership.How to have difficult money conversations before resentment builds.How to create transparency around compensation, equity, and distributions.How to handle changing life circumstances without damaging trust.How to normalize financial conversations instead of treating them like emergencies.How to build stronger partnerships through honest communication.Questions answeredWhy do money conversations become so emotional?What is the difference between equal and fair?When should partners revisit compensation?How should partners handle capital contributions?What happens when one partner feels undervalued?Why do profitable businesses still fail because of money?How often should partners discuss finances?Listen now and learn how to strengthen your partnership before money becomes a problem. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you got value from this conversation, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

  6. Jul 14

    Why You Can't Afford to Skip This Conversation

    What if one conversation each year could completely change the future of your partnership? Most business owners schedule annual planning sessions, review financials, and set ambitious goals. But almost nobody takes the time to review the relationship that drives it all. That oversight can quietly create misalignment, frustration, and missed opportunities long before anyone notices. In this episode, The Partnership Guys explain why the annual partnership review has become one of the most valuable traditions in their 25-year partnership. They share how intentional conversations about trust, changing life goals, communication, and expectations have helped them stay aligned through every stage of business and life. If you think your partnership is fine because you talk every day, this conversation may challenge that assumption in the best possible way. What you will learn in this episodeHow to create an annual partnership review that strengthens trust before problems appear.How to keep your partnership aligned as your personal goals and life circumstances change.How to have uncomfortable conversations without damaging the relationship.How to identify actionable commitments that improve your partnership every year.How to make your partnership the foundation for better business decisions.How to build a habit of staying aligned instead of waiting until something breaks.Questions answeredWhy isn't an annual business review enough?What should be discussed during a partnership review?How often should business partners have strategic conversations?How do you bring up difficult topics without creating conflict?What happens when partners' personal goals begin to change?Why do strong partnerships still need regular checkups?What action items should come out of a partnership review? Listen now and learn how intentional conversations can strengthen your partnership long before problems appear. Subscribe to The Partnership Guys Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you found value in this episode, share it with another business owner or partner who needs to hear it. And don't forget to leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

  7. Jul 7

    The Simple Habit You’re Probably Missing in Your Partnership

    Are you waiting until there's a problem before talking to your partner?Most business partners work hard on the business. Far fewer work on the partnership itself. And that's where things start to break down. In this episode, The Partnership Guys unpack one of the most overlooked tools in business: a partnership operating rhythm. They share why successful partnerships aren't built through occasional conversations or crisis meetings. They're built through intentional, consistent communication. Steven, Todd, and Rob discuss how small frustrations become major conflicts, why silence creates dangerous stories in our heads, and how a simple 15-minute conversation today can prevent a three-hour argument tomorrow. They also reveal the meeting rhythms they've developed over 25 years that continue to strengthen their own partnership. The lesson is simple: alignment isn't automatic. It requires maintenance. What You Will Learn in This EpisodeHow to build a partnership operating rhythm that creates trustHow to prevent small frustrations from becoming major conflictsHow to stay aligned when business and life get busyHow to create conversations that go beyond numbers and operationsHow to strengthen communication before problems appearHow to use regular check-ins to eliminate assumptions and resentmentHow to create annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly partnership touchpointsQuestions AnsweredWhy do business partnerships become reactive?What causes resentment to build between partners?How often should partners meet?What should partners discuss beyond business performance?Why is scheduled communication different from everyday communication?How do successful partners stay aligned over time?What role does trust play in long-term partnership success?How can partners prevent conflicts before they become major issues?Listen NowListen now and learn how to strengthen your partnership through intentional communication and alignment. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you got value from this conversation, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

  8. Jun 30

    Can You Rebuild Trust After It’s Been Broken?

    What happens when the person you built the business with becomes the person you trust the least? Most partnerships don’t collapse because of one big betrayal. They unravel through a thousand small moments. A broken commitment here. A hidden agenda there. A conversation that never really gets resolved. In this episode, The Partnership Guys tackle one of the most important and uncomfortable topics in business: trust. Drawing from decades of experience, they share real stories of partnerships that thrived because trust was protected, and others that failed because trust was neglected. They explore why trust rarely breaks overnight, the warning signs most partners miss, and what it actually takes to rebuild trust once cracks begin to form. If you've ever felt tension growing between you and a business partner, this conversation could change the future of your business. Trust takes years to build. Losing it can happen faster than you think. What You Will Learn in This EpisodeHow to identify the early warning signs that trust is starting to erodeHow to rebuild trust through actions instead of empty apologiesHow to create transparency before problems become partnership-ending conflictsHow to have difficult conversations without damaging the relationshipHow to recognize when frustration is becoming personalHow to use vulnerability to strengthen trust instead of weaken itHow to create a culture of ownership that protects the partnershipQuestions AnsweredWhy does trust break down between business partners?Can trust really be rebuilt once it's damaged?What behaviors destroy trust the fastest?Why do some successful businesses fail despite making money?How do hidden agendas impact a partnership?What role does communication play in rebuilding trust?How do you know when trust has crossed the point of no return?What practical steps can partners take to restore confidence in each other?Listen now and learn how to protect the foundation of every successful partnership. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you got value from this conversation, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people discover the show.

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About

Most business problems are really people problems—especially when it comes to partnerships. Whether it’s your co-founder, a key vendor, or even your top customer, misalignment can cost you time, money, and sanity. The Partnership Guys Podcast helps you fix that. This is the show for entrepreneurs, operators, and leaders who know relationships drive results. Steven, Todd, and Rob have built multi-million dollar companies and navigated the full spectrum of business partnerships—from co-owners and teams to clients and collaborators. They’ve had the tough talks, survived the ego clashes, and figured out how to make business relationships actually work. Each week, they share honest conversations, practical frameworks, and battle-tested lessons to help you communicate clearly, build trust faster, and turn every partnership into a strategic advantage. If you work with people, this podcast is for you. Subscribe and make your partnerships work better. Hosted by Steven Schneider, Todd Leonardis, and Rob Stolker

Information

  • Creator
    Steven Schneider, Todd Leonardis, Rob Stolker
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Steven Schneider, Todd Leonardis, Rob Stolker