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.

When leaders freeze, organizations stall. In this episode, Yoni Greenbaum unpacks what really happens when decision-makers hit pause—and how to get things moving again without blowing things up.

Expect:

• Real-world examples of how indecision erodes trust, morale, and momentum

• Tools for both leaders and teams to break through the logjam

• A framework for making purpose-driven progress, even in uncertainty

Whether you’re holding the decision—or stuck waiting on it—this episode offers practical ways to navigate the stall, reclaim momentum, and lead forward.

🎧 Tune in for a smart, actionable guide to turning hesitation into movement.

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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 underwriting gone sideways

• A breakdown of the FCC rules that separate public from commercial broadcasting

• Lessons on holding the line when pressure to “just make it work” gets intense

Whether you're in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, or content strategy, this episode is a real-world reminder that some money just isn’t worth the cost.

🎧 Tune in for a candid look at the hard calls that keep mission 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.

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 strengthen community-centered journalism.

Then he asks: what would it take to build something similar in Pennsylvania? The ingredients are there—libraries, nonprofit newsrooms, civic engagement. So why not here? And why not everywhere?

If you care about the sustainability of local news, public trust, or civic infrastructure, this episode offers both inspiration and a path forward.

Drawn from Yoni’s “Mind the Gap” series on Backstory & Strategy, this episode offers a reality check—and a roadmap—for anyone trying to align mission with sustainable revenue. Featuring new reflections and a state-level lens, it builds on his ongoing work exploring the tension between purpose and profit in nonprofit media.

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.

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 data on how Americans respond to digital paywalls
• Surprising insights into why most people still don’t pay for news
• A candid look at the cracks in subscription models—and what might come next

Whether you lead a newsroom, manage a membership program, or just care about the future of journalism, this one’s a reality check.

🎧 Tune in for a sharp, honest look at the economics of attention—and what it will really take to make news sustainable.

If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep the 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.

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 public media fell into the same trap—with government funding

• Clear, no-BS strategies for building revenue that actually lasts

If your funding plan hinges on one big yes, this episode is your wake-up call.

🎧 Tune in for a tough-love look at the myths we tell ourselves about sustainability—and how to build something that doesn’t vanish overnight.

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.

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 that earns trust and delivers long-term value.

It’s based on my Backstory & Strategy Substack—but with clear takeaways and a free checklist to help you score your current strategy and sharpen your focus.

If you create content for your community—whether as a solo writer, nonprofit leader, or newsroom editor—this episode is your audience-first toolkit.

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.

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 mismatches.

Expect:

• The questions that actually reveal whether a candidate fits your team
• A smarter approach to reading what candidates say—and what they don’t
• Real talk on why filling a seat fast can backfire if you skip alignment

If you're hiring (or job hunting), this episode is your guide to moving beyond the résumé and into what really matters: fit, trust, and team chemistry.

🎧 Tune in for a fresh look at hiring as team-building—not box-checking.

If you found this analysis valuable, consider supporting the work behind Backstory & Strategy. Your contribution helps keep the 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.