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. 18h ago

    Why You Need Someone Who Thinks Differently Than You

    Are you trying to make your business partner work exactly the way you do? Most entrepreneurs believe alignment means thinking alike. The Partnership Guys challenge that idea head-on. In this episode, Steven, Todd, and Rob unpack one of the biggest mistakes partners make: treating different work styles as a problem instead of an advantage. From fast-moving visionaries to methodical analyzers, every successful partnership is built on complementary strengths, not identical personalities. The conversation explores how partners can stop judging each other through their own lens, communicate more effectively, and build trust around their differences instead of fighting them. They also share personal stories about partnerships that succeeded, partnerships that failed, and the lessons they learned about embracing different perspectives. The real breakthrough came when they stopped trying to change each other and started getting curious instead. If you've ever been frustrated by the way your partner communicates, makes decisions, or approaches problems, this episode may completely change the way you see your partnership. What You Will Learn In This EpisodeHow to turn different work styles into a competitive advantageHow to identify the strengths hidden behind your partner's frustrating habitsHow to communicate in a way your partner can actually hear and appreciateHow to use personality differences to improve decision-makingHow to build trust by approaching disagreements with curiosity instead of criticismHow to create roles and responsibilities around strengths rather than preferencesHow to avoid the ego traps that damage otherwise healthy partnershipsQuestions AnsweredWhy do different work styles create conflict in partnerships?Can partners be too similar?How do successful partners handle major personality differences?What should you do when your partner approaches problems differently than you do?How can personality assessments improve communication?Why do some partnerships thrive because of their differences while others fail because of them?How do you support your partner's approach when you disagree with it?What role does curiosity play in building trust?Listen now and discover why your partner's differences may be the very thing helping your business succeed. 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.

    19 min

  2. Jun 2

    The One Thing You Must Fix Before Any Partnership Will Work

    What if the biggest problem in your partnership… is you? Most entrepreneurs spend years searching for the “right” business partner while ignoring a harder question: are they the kind of partner anyone actually wants to work with? In this episode, The Partnership Guys flip the conversation and challenge the mindset that destroys more partnerships than bad strategy ever could. Todd, Steven, and Rob unpack the self-awareness, trust, accountability, and humility required to build partnerships that actually last. They share painful lessons from failed partnerships, the warning signs most people ignore, and why defensiveness quietly kills growth. This conversation gets honest about ego, communication, blame, and what happens when partners stop trying to “win” and start trying to support each other instead. Because great partnerships are not built by perfect people. They are built by people willing to work on themselves. What You Will Learn in This EpisodeHow to become the kind of partner people trust and want to work withHow to identify the behaviors that create friction in partnershipsHow to build trust through consistency and accountabilityHow to communicate without creating unnecessary dramaHow to stop defensiveness from damaging your business relationshipsHow to recognize when ego is sabotaging growthHow to support your partner without controlling themHow to create partnerships that are productive, profitable, and actually enjoyableQuestions AnsweredWhy do so many business partnerships fail even when the business succeeds?What makes someone a trustworthy partner?How does self-awareness impact business relationships?Why does defensiveness destroy partnerships?What role does ego play in conflict between partners?How can partners work through frustration without blaming each other?What does a healthy, supportive partnership actually look like?Why is being coachable so important in business?Listen now and learn how to become the kind of partner who builds trust, creates momentum, and helps partnerships thrive. 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.

    17 min

  3. May 26

    Why You’re Building the Wrong Business With the Right Partner

    What if the biggest threat to your partnership isn’t money, strategy, or growth… but the life you secretly want outside the business? In this episode, The Partnership Guys unpack the idea of “fundamental focus” and why most business partners never talk about the personal priorities driving their decisions. One partner wants freedom. Another wants family time. Another wants fulfillment. The problem? Most partnerships are built around revenue goals instead of life goals. Steven, Todd, and Rob share personal stories about missed conversations, painful partnership lessons, raising families while building companies, and why the healthiest businesses are designed around the people building them. This conversation gets real fast, because when partners ignore what truly matters to each other, resentment eventually shows up somewhere else. The best partnerships are not just built to grow businesses. They are built to build better lives. What you will learn in this episodeHow to identify your true “fundamental focus” outside of businessHow to structure a partnership around life goals instead of just revenue goalsHow to avoid hidden resentment between business partnersHow to create work-life integration instead of chasing balanceHow to support your partner without sacrificing business performanceHow to revisit priorities as life changes over timeHow to build deeper trust through vulnerable conversationsQuestions answeredWhy do successful partnerships still fall apart?What should partners talk about before building a business together?How do personal goals affect business decisions?What happens when partners never discuss life priorities?Why is work-life balance the wrong goal?How do great partners support each other through different seasons of life?How often should partners realign their priorities?Listen now and learn how to build a partnership that supports your business and your life. 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.

    19 min

  4. May 19

    How Conflict Can Actually Save Your Partnership

    What if the thing you’re avoiding in your partnership is the exact thing that could make it stronger? Most business partners treat conflict like a warning sign. But Todd, Steven, and Rob argue the opposite. Healthy conflict might be one of the biggest competitive advantages a partnership can have. In this episode, they unpack why disagreements are inevitable, why avoiding tough conversations quietly destroys trust, and how the best partnerships learn to turn friction into growth. They share real stories from decades of working together, painful lessons from failed partnerships, and the mindset shift that changes conflict from something personal into something productive. Because great partnerships are not built by agreeing on everything. They are built by learning how to disagree well. If you work closely with business partners, co-founders, leadership teams, or key relationships, this conversation might completely change how you think about conflict. What You Will Learn in This EpisodeHow to turn disagreements into better business decisionsHow to address conflict before resentment starts buildingHow to separate ego from productive conversationsHow to create trust through honest communicationHow to use different perspectives as a competitive advantageHow to recognize when avoiding conflict is hurting your partnershipQuestions AnsweredWhy do healthy partnerships still have conflict?What makes conflict destructive versus productive?Why do some partnerships grow stronger through disagreements?How can partners challenge each other without making it personal?What happens when partners avoid hard conversations for too long?Why is trying to “win” the wrong goal in conflict?Listen now and learn how to strengthen your partnership through honest conversations and healthy conflict. 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.

    14 min

  5. May 12

    The Moment You Start Counting, You Start Losing

    What happens when business partners stop keeping score... and start trying to outgive each other instead? Most partnerships don’t fail because of bad strategy. They fail because resentment quietly takes over. One partner feels unsupported. The other feels unappreciated. Suddenly every conversation becomes a silent competition over who’s doing more. In this episode, The Partnership Guys break down the powerful “60-40 Rule,” a mindset that helped Todd and Steven build a 25-year partnership through business pressure, family struggles, life changes, and personal challenges. Instead of demanding equality every day, they learned how generosity, trust, and support create partnerships that actually last. This conversation gets honest about resentment, scorekeeping, burnout, flexibility, and why the healthiest partnerships are built by people asking one simple question: “How can I help more?” If you work with people, this episode will challenge the way you think about partnership. What you will learn in this episodeHow to stop scorekeeping before it quietly destroys trustHow to support a partner when life pulls their focus awayHow to create a culture of generosity inside your businessHow to build long-term balance instead of chasing daily equalityHow to strengthen loyalty through flexibility and communicationHow to shift from “me versus you” into a true team mindsetHow to recognize the warning signs of resentment earlyQuestions AnsweredWhy is 50-50 partnership unrealistic?What is the 60-40 Rule?How does scorekeeping damage a business relationship?Why do great partnerships thrive during difficult seasons?What causes resentment between business partners?How do healthy partners handle imbalance over time?Why is generosity so important in leadership and partnership?How do strong partnerships create stronger company culture?Sound Bite“The healthiest partnerships are built by the partners asking, ‘How can I help more?’ instead of ‘Am I doing more?’” Approx. Timestamp: 18:10 Listen now and learn how to strengthen your 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.

    20 min

  6. May 5

    Why you think control helps you but actually holds you back

    What if the reason your partnership feels stuck… is because you’re trying to do everything together? Most partners believe alignment means constant agreement. Every decision gets discussed. Every move gets debated. It sounds smart… until everything slows to a crawl. In this episode, the guys challenge one of the most common (and costly) habits in business partnerships. They unpack why dividing decision-making isn’t about losing control… it’s about unlocking speed, trust, and real growth. But here’s the twist: decision domains only work if the foundation is strong. Without trust, they create distance. With it, they create momentum. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what actually makes partnerships efficient… and why most people get it wrong. What you will learn in this episode:How to divide decision-making without creating silosHow to build trust before problems show upHow to support your partner when their decisions go wrongHow to avoid the “committee trap” that kills momentumHow to communicate across decision domains effectivelyQuestions answered:Why do most partnerships slow down over time?What are decision domains and why do they matter?How do you trust your partner to make the right call?What happens when a decision goes wrong?How do you stay aligned without agreeing on everything?Listen now, and learn how to strengthen your 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.

    19 min

  7. Apr 28

    The Silent Killer in Your Partnership You’re Ignoring

    Are you actually aligned with your business partner… or just assuming you are? Most partnerships don’t fail because of bad ideas—they fail because of unspoken expectations. In this episode, The Partnership Guys pull back the curtain on a common trap: thinking you’re on the same page when you’ve never really had the conversation. What looks like alignment on the surface can quickly turn into tension, resentment, and even a complete breakdown. They share real stories of partnerships that seemed perfect… until they weren’t. And they challenge the idea that “getting along” is enough. Because it’s not. The real work happens in the uncomfortable conversations most people avoid. If you’ve ever thought, “We’re good, we don’t need to talk about that,” this episode might change how you approach your partnership forever. What you will learn in this episodeHow to uncover hidden expectations before they turn into conflictHow to have difficult conversations early instead of paying for them laterHow to align on risk tolerance, timelines, and visionHow to prevent resentment from building through daily communicationHow to separate ego from what the business actually needsQuestions answeredWhy do partnerships fail even when things seem “fine”?What expectations should you define before starting a business together?How often should partners communicate to stay aligned?What role does risk tolerance play in partnership success?Can a partnership still succeed if someone wants to exit?Listen now, and learn how to strengthen your 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.

    20 min

  8. Apr 21

    The Hidden Ego Trap That’s Quietly Costing You Everything

    Are you trying to win the argument… or actually build something that works? In this episode, The Partnership Guys pull back the curtain on one of the most dangerous forces in any business relationship: ego. Not the loud, obvious kind—but the subtle, creeping version that slowly erodes trust, communication, and momentum without you even noticing. Through real stories, hard-earned lessons, and a few uncomfortable truths, they challenge the way you think about being right, being heard, and being in control. Because the truth is, most partnerships don’t explode—they quietly fall apart. And if you’re not paying attention, you might be the one holding the match. This conversation isn’t about eliminating ego. It’s about recognizing it, managing it, and choosing something better before it costs you the partnership—and the business. What you will learn in this episodeHow to recognize when your ego is showing up in conversationsHow to stop turning small disagreements into major conflictsHow to separate confidence from ego in decision-makingHow to create space for better communication and trustHow to prioritize the best outcome over personal winsQuestions answeredWhat does ego actually look like in a partnership?How do you know if you’re the one bringing ego into the room?Why does ego quietly destroy partnerships over time?How can partners call out ego without creating more conflict?What are practical ways to manage ego in real-time conversations?Listen now, and learn how to strengthen your 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.

    22 min
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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
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Steven Schneider, Todd Leonardis, Rob Stolker