Behind The Story Show

Jelani Gonzalez
  • 4.7 (13)
  • Documentary

Welcome to Behind The Story Show, a long-form interview podcast hosted by Jelani Gonzalez that goes beyond the headlines to uncover the real journeys behind extraordinary people and powerful ideas. Each week, Jelani sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, creators, leaders, and change-makers to explore the defining moments, hard-earned lessons, personal challenges, and bold decisions that shaped their path. From business and creativity to leadership, culture, innovation, and reinvention, Behind The Story brings you candid conversations that reveal not just what people achieved, but what it took to get there. If you are building something, chasing a vision, navigating change, or looking for stories that educate, inspire, and challenge the way you think, this show is for you. Join us as we go behind the success, behind the struggle, and Behind The Story.

  1. 3d ago ·  Video

    Understand Your Ballot: A Free AI Voter Guide for the Midterms

    Staring at a seven-page ballot full of names you don't recognize? You're not alone. In this episode of Behind the Story, host Jelani Gonzalez sits down with a Los Angeles software engineer who was born in China, became a U.S. citizen, and set out to fix one of the biggest problems in American elections: most voters have no idea who the candidates really are. Using AI to gather and summarize public records, he and a team of friends from across the political spectrum built a free, open-source site that shows what candidates have actually done: how they voted, who funded them, and what each office does, all in plain language and always linked to the original source. In this conversation: - Why campaign ads make it so hard to know who to trust - How to research candidates fast, even with only 10 minutes - What "vote power" means and why local races, like city council and school board, can matter more than the presidential race - How AI summarizes legislation and ballot measures without making anything up - How to see who funds a candidate (PACs, super PACs, and donors) - Why open source matters when you're using AI around elections - Party loyalty vs. voting your own values - Mail-in ballots, ballot overwhelm, and what happens after the midterms Look up your own ballot: https://electionsimplify.com If you enjoy the show, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more listeners find these conversations. Behind the Story is a weekly long-form interview podcast hosted by Jelani Gonzalez. Follow @behindthestoryshow on all platforms. Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

  2. 5d ago ·  Video

    What Americans Get Wrong About Iran: The Regime vs. the Iranian People

    Zolal Habibi was seven years old when her father, a well-known human rights activist and writer, was killed in the summer of 1988, during the wave of executions of political prisoners in Iran. She found out months later, from a newspaper she wasn’t supposed to see. In this conversation, Jelani Gonzalez goes behind the headlines with Zolal to explore the personal story that shaped her life’s work. She shares how growing up in the U.S. inside an activist household led her to Congress at twelve. She also explains why the student uprisings of 1999 pulled her away from a planned career in medicine, and what she believes Americans misunderstand about Iran today. Zolal draws a clear line between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people. She makes the case that the choice isn’t limited to war or appeasement, and she describes what she sees happening inside Iran, from communication blackouts to organized underground networks. She also answers the hard questions about sanctions, the “death to America” footage, and what meaningful outside support would look like. In this conversation: The memory of learning about her father’s death, and what helped her copeWhat the 1988 massacre was and why it still shapes Iran’s politicsThe turning point that led her to give up medicine for activismWhy she says Iranians aren’t stuck between war and appeasementWhat it’s like to hear so little from ordinary Iranian familiesHow she stays hopeful after nearly three decadesOne thing listeners can do this weekThe views and figures shared in this episode are Zolal’s own. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: BALT25ZPX6CHDWKF Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

  3. Oct 24 ·  Video

    What to Do After You Sell Your Business: Rebuilding Identity After an Exit

    Why do so many founders feel lost after selling their business? Adam Roach exited three real estate brokerage franchises in 2019, hit the number he’d set for himself, and then faced what he calls the hangover: a loss of identity no exit plan had prepared him for. Adam, founder of I Love Coaching Co., shares how he rebuilt, from an exercise that connected a wound, a lie and a vow to a question from John Maxwell and a stranger holding old cassette tapes at his father’s funeral. Questions this conversation answers: What do you do after you sell your business?How do you know when it’s time to exit?How should coaches price their offer? (He says you are not for sale, your payoff is.)How do you find your coaching niche and ideal client?Why does consistency have to come before scale?How should coaches approach AI?Adam’s path runs from eight pro tennis matches without a win to flipping houses, losing $80,000 in 2008 and paying the bank anyway, building a recruiting software company, and starting a coaching community. If you’ve built something, sold something, or wondered who you are without the title, this is for you. Watch the full conversation on YouTube. Subscribe to Behind the Story for more conversations that go beyond the surface. Connect with Adam: ilovecoachingco.com Instagram: Adam R. Roach    Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: BALT25ZPX6CHDWKF Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

  4. Oct 18 ·  Video

    Can They Strip Your Citizenship? Both Sides of the Omar Case

    Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home on Oct 12, and reporting says the investigation centers on her 2000 naturalization. No one has been charged. This episode steps back from the headlines to answer the bigger question: can the U.S. government take away a person’s citizenship, and what does it have to prove? We cover what is confirmed, what is only alleged, how denaturalization works in plain English (including the Supreme Court cases Fedorenko, Maslenjak and Afroyim), and then the strongest case for the government and for the critics, with equal rigor. CHAPTERS 0:00  Cold open: the question behind the raid 1:58  What we actually know (confirmed vs. alleged) 6:35  How denaturalization actually works 11:20  The two strongest cases 16:30  Close: the standard that applies to everyone This is a developing story. Everything about the investigation is reported as alleged or according to named sources. No charges or civil case have been filed as of recording. Sources are linked below. SOURCES CNN exclusive: Judge limited DOJ access to Omar’s records (Oct 14, 2026), read via KVIA syndication: https://kvia.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/10/14/exclusive-judge-limited-justice-department-access-to-rep-ilhan-omars-records-in-sprawling-immigration-fraud-probe/ TIME: Can Trump Strip Ilhan Omar of Her Citizenship? How the Process Works (Oct 14, 2026): https://time.com/article/2026/10/14/ilhan-omar-citizenship-investigation-denaturalization-DOJ/ Reason: DHS searched Ilhan Omar’s home (Oct 12, 2026): https://reason.com/2026/10/12/dhs-searched-ilhan-omars-home-as-part-of-immigration-fraud-investigation/ AP via PBS NewsHour: Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home (Oct 12, 2026): https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-report-federal-agents-search-rep-ilhan-omars-home-as-part-of-a-criminal-investigation Fox News: Could Trump revoke Omar’s citizenship? (immigration attorney Michael Wildes): https://www.foxnews.com/politics/could-trump-revoke-ilhan-omars-citizenship-alleged-brother-marriage-ex-federal-prosecutor-breaks-down Western Journal: Jonathan Turley on denaturalization: https://www.westernjournal.com/legal-expert-jonathan-turley-says-ilhan-omar-line-denaturalization-immigration-laws-clear/ Political Wire: “Ilhan Omar Probe Aims to Revoke Her Citizenship” (summarizing WSJ, Oct 14): https://politicalwire.com/2026/10/14/ilhan-omar-probe-aims-to-revoke-her-citizenship/ Maslenjak v. United States, 582 U.S. ___ (2017), Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/16-309 Fedorenko v. United States, 449 U.S. 490 (1981), Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/449/490 Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), EBSCO Research Starters: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/afroyim-v-rusk Peter Spiro testimony, Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution (June 3, 2026): https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/download/2026-06-03_testimony_spiropdf National Law Review: DOJ Civil Division denaturalization memo (June 2025): https://www.natlawreview.com/article/doj-civil-division-prioritizes-denaturalization-new-enforcement-memo Behind the Story goes past the headline with balanced, plain-language explainers on law and civic affairs. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

  5. Oct 14 ·  Video

    What If 1% Could Fund the Entire Government?

    What if you never filed a tax return again — no April 15th, no IRS — and a single 1% tax funded the entire government? In this episode of Behind the Story, Jelani Gonzalez sits down with Gary Barnes, a retired tradesman turned author of Fixing America’s Broken Government, for a wide-ranging conversation about the idea he calls the “receiving tax.” Gary spent 45 years as a wallpapering artisan in southwest Connecticut, raising six children while wrestling with a tax code he describes as 12,000 pages of complexity. After the 2008 housing crash and years of watching his own kids struggle to reach the American dream, he set out to design a different way to fund government — one that taxes the movement of money beneath the economy rather than the people producing it. In this conversation, Gary explains how a 1% charge on money changing ownership could, in his telling, replace income, payroll, corporate, capital gains, and inheritance taxes; why he wants to abolish the IRS and route everything through the Treasury; his “nine pillars” model for what government funds and what gets spun off; and his proposals on retirees, property taxes, campaign finance, immigration, and education. Jelani pushes back throughout — on double taxation, on the economists who say the numbers won’t add up, and on the real people whose jobs the plan would eliminate. Whether you agree with Gary or not, it’s a thought-provoking look at taxation, government, and the question of who really holds the power. Gary’s ideas are his own, offered here for discussion, not as financial or policy advice. Learn more about Gary’s work:  Book & grassroots community: https://fixyourgov.com Fixing America’s Broken Government is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. Subscribe to Behind the Story for more conversations that go beyond the surface. Follow Behind the Story:  Instagram: @behindthestoryshow  TikTok: @behindthestoryshow  X: @behindthestoryshowx Disclaimer: The views expressed by the guest are their own. This conversation is for informational purposes and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

  6. Oct 5 ·  Video

    Cut the Boot or Lose the Foot: Reid Robinson's Story Behind the X Leg

    Reid Robinson was a hardworking IT infrastructure architect and father of two in Calgary when an icy-road car crash changed everything. What followed was more than a dozen surgeries, years of crutches, and a recovery that tested his patience, his body, and his determination to stay present for his family. In this conversation, Reid takes us behind the story of how he went from hospital bed to inventor. Frustrated by how hard crutches were to live with, he sketched an idea for a "crutch for your leg," searched the patent databases, and spent three weeks in his garage welding the first prototype himself. The first time he walked across the road to kick a soccer ball with his kids, he knew it was worth pursuing. That prototype became the X Leg. We talk about: The day of the crash and the moment he chose to cut the boot instead of losing the footWhat life really looked like between surgeriesThe 16-hour surgery that finally got his leg to healHow the X Leg works, who it can help, and when crutches are still the better choiceThe road from prototype to Health Canada and FDA registration, ongoing medical studies, and his goal of making it more affordableHow the experience reshaped his approach to health, fitness, and longevityIt's a story about resilience, problem-solving, and the idea that we're tougher than we think. Learn more about the X Leg at xleg.ca. Subscribe to Behind the Story for more conversations that go beyond the surface, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. If you enjoyed it, a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps the show grow. connect with Behind the Story Show Youtube: Instagram: Tik Tok: X: Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

  7. Sep 26 ·  Video

    Why Habits Change When Your Story Does

    What does it take to change a habit that has outlasted every attempt to break it? Connie Kwan, author of Story Habits, says the answer starts with the story you tell yourself about who you are, not with more willpower. Connie grew up between Hong Kong and Canada, trained as a computer engineer, and spent much of her career in product. Then she joined a smoking cessation company and, in her words, got a front-row seat to how habit change works. She shares what she saw: two simple self-reported numbers, motivation and confidence, predicted who would quit better than how long or how much someone had smoked. In this conversation: • Why the word "habit" originally meant a monk's robe, and what that says about identity • Clement, a longtime smoker whose father died of lung cancer, and the new story that changed his quit • The "manipulation fries" reframe that helped an exit founder stop reaching for fries • Why smokers who eventually quit often needed about seven serious attempts • Connie's own years-long struggle with late-night binge-watching, and the replacement habit that finally worked • Why the people closest to you may quietly resist your change, and how to find your champions • How AI is reshaping product roles, and what it means to be a builder Timestamps: 00:00 The story you were handed about who you'd become 02:12 From engineer to product leader at a quit-smoking company 05:57 Who actually smokes, and what it taught Connie about people 09:50 Motivation and confidence: the two numbers that predicted success 13:29 Clement, and the new story that helped him quit 15:49 The "manipulation fries" reframe 20:48 Why discipline and willpower miss the point 21:05 The monk's habit: where the word comes from 23:42 The magic number seven 25:38 Four a.m. binge-watching and the replacement habit that worked 34:17 Amplify Her and The Dim Sum Club 36:15 "I'm not a writer" and the writing hat 39:27 When the people around you want you to stay the same 46:30 Will AI replace product managers? 50:14 Connie's hope for readers of Story Habits About Connie Kwan: Connie Kwan is the author of Story Habits, arriving in November 2026, and is building a companion app, the Story Habits Coach. She is a former product leader at a smoking cessation company and co-founder of Amplify Her and The Dim Sum Club. Subscribe to Behind the Story for more conversations that go beyond the surface, and if this one resonated, a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps the show grow. Behind the Story is a video podcast hosted by Jelani Gonzalez. Every story has a deeper story. Instagram: @behindthestoryshow Tik Tok: @behindthestoryshow youtube: @behindthestoryshow Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

  8. Sep 19 ·  Video

    What DEI Actually Is — and What It Isn't | Celeste Warren

    The word "DEI" has been demonized — but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Behind the Story, Jelani Gonzalez sits down with Celeste Warren, former Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Merck, decades-long HR leader, author, and founder of CRW Diversity, for the clear-eyed conversation the topic has been missing. Celeste grew up in a small steel-mill town in Western Pennsylvania, the daughter of the first Black teacher and principal in her part of the state. That front-row seat shaped a career spent making the business case for equity at the highest levels of corporate leadership. Together, Jelani and Celeste unpack what most people — and even many executives — get wrong about equity. Celeste explains why "diverse" and "qualified" are not mutually exclusive, breaks down her "acts of equity" framework and the now-famous rocks-and-fence illustration, and shares the "five whys" method she uses to surface unconscious bias in real hiring conversations. They also dig into the history behind today's backlash, why equity ultimately benefits everyone regardless of identity, and the difference between DEI and nepotism. As Celeste puts it, doing this work isn't a program with a start and end date — it's leadership 101, management 101, and business 101. Connect with Celeste Warren:  Website: https://www.crwdiversity.com Her book on equity is available on Amazon. Subscribe to Behind the Story for more conversations that go beyond the surface. Follow Behind the Story:  Instagram: @behindthestoryshow  TikTok: @behindthestoryshow  X: @behindthestoryshowx  Facebook: behindthestoryshow Send us Fan Mail Connect with Jelani  Youtube Channel Instagram Tik Tok 5thavenuemedia.com

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4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome to Behind The Story Show, a long-form interview podcast hosted by Jelani Gonzalez that goes beyond the headlines to uncover the real journeys behind extraordinary people and powerful ideas. Each week, Jelani sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, creators, leaders, and change-makers to explore the defining moments, hard-earned lessons, personal challenges, and bold decisions that shaped their path. From business and creativity to leadership, culture, innovation, and reinvention, Behind The Story brings you candid conversations that reveal not just what people achieved, but what it took to get there. If you are building something, chasing a vision, navigating change, or looking for stories that educate, inspire, and challenge the way you think, this show is for you. Join us as we go behind the success, behind the struggle, and Behind The Story.

Information

  • Creator
    Jelani Gonzalez
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Behind The Story Show
  • Show Website
    Behind The Story Show

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