Backstory & Strategy

Yoni Greenbaum

5.0 (2)
NON-PROFIT
UPDATED DAILY

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.

07/18/2025

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 emotional weight of delivering layoffs• Why “staying in the room” changes how that moment lands• What leaders owe the people who stay behind If you're navigating layoffs—or carrying the aftershocks—this one’s for you.🎧 Listen in, lead better, and hold the human part of leadership front and center. If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep this content independent and accessible to all. It’s a simple way to say thanks—and to ensure more thoughtful, in-depth content in the future. Click here to show your support.

5 min
07/17/2025

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 quiet fade) of blogging culture Why the “mosaic” of modern thought leadership feels disconnected What it means to build public thinking spaces in the age of AI If you've ever wondered where the good ideas went—or why they don’t land the same way—this one’s for you. 🎧 Tune in, think out loud, and maybe help rebuild what’s missing. If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep this content independent and accessible to all. It’s a simple way to say thanks—and to ensure more thoughtful, in-depth content in the future. Click here to show your support.

9 min
07/16/2025

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 difference between a news desert and a news drought—and why even “well-served” communities can fall through the cracks. Expect: Original data on how often Philly TV stations cover suburban communities A breakdown of why most coverage is driven by fires, crime, or conflict A closer look at what’s missing when everyday life goes underreported If you’ve ever wondered who decides what’s news—or felt the consequences when no one’s covering what matters—this episode is for you. 🎧 Tune in for a practical, personal look at what happens when the news stops showing up. Graphic Mentioned: Total Mentions by Community Total Mentions by News Network If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep this content independent and accessible to all. It’s a simple way to say thanks—and to ensure more thoughtful, in-depth content in the future. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to show your support.

6 min
07/15/2025

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 publishing Lessons from Philly.com’s runaway comment section and penny CPMs A case for redefining “audience-first” around trust, not clicks If you've ever wrestled with whether growth is coming at the cost of your values—this one’s for you. If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep this content independent and accessible to all. It’s a simple way to say thanks—and to ensure more thoughtful, in-depth content in the future. Click here to show your support.

7 min
07/15/2025

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 Lessons from Ben Bradlee, I.F. Stone, and Substack-era independence Why today's journalist-founders are mission-driven—but financially underprepared A call to rethink how we train the next generation of media leaders If you care about the future of sustainable, independent journalism, this episode makes the case that business acumen isn’t selling out—it’s survival. 🎧 Tune in to explore how journalism can learn to manage its own money. If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep this content independent and accessible to all. It’s a simple way to say thanks—and to ensure more thoughtful, in-depth content in the future. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to show your support.

6 min
07/15/2025

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 his time leading Lehigh Valley Public Media, he shares the hard lessons behind launching ambitious products, navigating staff expectations, and making the brutal—but necessary—call to walk away from something impactful when the economics no longer work. Expect: A candid breakdown of “the endowment trap” What P&Ls can teach nonprofit leaders The difference between chasing revenue and chasing your tail And the questions every leader should ask before doubling down If you're trying to lead with impact and keep the lights on, this one’s for you. 🎧 Tune in for a real-world story about strategy, sacrifice, and staying true to the mission—even when it hurts. If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep this content independent and accessible to all. It’s a simple way to say thanks—and to ensure more thoughtful, in-depth content in the future. Click here to show your support.

6 min
07/14/2025

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 long-term, trust-based vendor relationships A framework for identifying real partners vs. transactional suppliers Practical tips for vetting vendors beyond the service agreement Whether you lead a newsroom, a nonprofit, a tech team, or a school district, this episode offers a timely reminder: the best results come from relationships, not transactions. 🎧 Tune in for a smarter way to build partnerships that actually work. If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep this content independent and accessible to all. It’s a simple way to say thanks—and to ensure more thoughtful, in-depth content in the future. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to show your support.

5 min
07/13/2025

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 organization slowly shifts away from its core purpose in pursuit of financial growth? Expect: A behind-the-scenes look at a well-meaning idea that led to mission drift Three questions every leader should ask before saying yes to new revenue The difference between intentional evolution and accidental identity loss A practical framework for guarding what’s sacred—while still growing If you’ve ever wondered whether your org is chasing dollars at the expense of its core purpose, this episode is for you. 🎧 Tune in for a reality check—and a roadmap—for staying true to what matters.

5 min

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

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.

Creator

Yoni Greenbaum
Years Active

2K
Episodes

20
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Yoni Greenbaum
Show Website

Backstory & Strategy