Backstory & Strategy

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 [https://ko-fi.com/yonigreenbaum].

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 [https://ko-fi.com/yonigreenbaum].

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 [https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8e5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe89b0754-adce-4706-95f3-dcc70a63ef44_1979x1180.heic] Total Mentions by News Network [https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8lYo!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2a04cbc1-6c72-4cc3-bf68-f0efbea8fdcf_2400x1500.heic] 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 [https://ko-fi.com/yonigreenbaum] to show your support.

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 [https://ko-fi.com/yonigreenbaum].

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 [https://ko-fi.com/yonigreenbaum] to show your support.