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If The Public Only Knew- Behind Every Success, a Story Worth Telling

If The Public Only Knew- Behind Every Success, a Story Worth Telling

Written by: Gary Sinderbrand
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If the Public Only Knew is a podcast that takes you beyond the headlines and surface-level success stories to uncover the real journeys behind today’s most influential CEOs, founders, and business leaders. Hosted by Gary Sinderbrand, a seasoned professional with decades of experience in the financial and business worlds, the show has evolved from its original focus on exposing behind-the-scenes truths about the financial community to a broader exploration of entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth.


Each episode features in-depth conversations with trailblazers who candidly share their origin stories—the ideas that sparked their ventures, the challenges they faced early on, and the pivotal moments that defined their paths. Gary’s thoughtful and direct interview style invites guests to open up about the false starts, missteps, and tough decisions they’ve made along the way. Listeners get an unfiltered look at what it really takes to build a business, from navigating uncertainty to staying true to a vision even when the odds feel stacked against you.


Through these conversations, Gary uncovers the lessons learned and insights gained from years of experience in the trenches. The stories go beyond glossy success narratives, instead highlighting the resilience, adaptability, and creativity required to overcome obstacles and build lasting impact. Whether it’s a founder sharing the humbling moment they almost gave up, a CEO explaining how they rallied their team after a major setback, or a leader revealing the personal values that drive their decisions, each episode is designed to inspire and educate.


If the Public Only Knew is more than a business podcast; it’s a platform for authentic storytelling. The show offers listeners the opportunity to learn directly from people who have been through the highs and lows of building something meaningful. Entrepreneurs, aspiring leaders, and anyone interested in the human side of business will find actionable takeaways, fresh perspectives, and the reassurance that failure is often part of the process.


Join Gary Sinderbrand each week as he digs into the untold stories behind success and explores the real journeys of those shaping industries and communities. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s truly like to start, grow, and lead a business, If the Public Only Knew will give you the insights you need—and the inspiration to keep going.

Gary Sinderbrand Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Aaron Coe: Turning Nonprofit Fundraising into Powerful Storytelling

    Aaron Coe: Turning Nonprofit Fundraising into Powerful Storytelling
    May 13 2026
    Your nonprofit can raise more money without chasing more donors—simply by changing your story. In this episode, you’ll learn how radically clear messaging, strategic partnerships, and collective impact can transform the way you fund your mission.In this episode, Gary and Aaron Coe discuss:Journey from music business to nonprofit leadershipStorytelling is the core of effective fundraisingCompeting for donor attention and breaking through noiseCollective Impact Alliances and donor-driven collaborationDonor relationships, due diligence, and political/human dimensions of givingKey Takeaways:Most organizations don’t suffer from a pure fundraising problem; they struggle to tell a clear, compelling story that quickly communicates who they help and how.In a marketplace flooded with messages, clarity is a competitive advantage. Vague nuance loses, while “painfully clear” communication wins attention and dollars.Donors increasingly care more about the cause than the institution, which is fueling the rise of collaborative alliances where multiple organizations align around a shared objective.Sustainable fundraising is rooted in genuine relationships, where donors feel like essential partners in solving a problem, not mere transactions, writing checks.Even as government funding shifts, human beings consistently step up in times of real need, creating opportunities for innovation, diversified funding, and new partnerships across sectors."A philanthropic cause wins when they're able to develop a community of people around the cause who are dedicated to helping eradicate whatever problem they're trying to solve." — Aaron CoeAbout Aaron Coe: Aaron B. Coe, Ph.D., is a visionary leader, strategist, and CEO of Future City Now, a consultancy dedicated to empowering mission-driven organizations with strategies that transform potential into significant impact. Aaron specializes in clarifying vision, crafting compelling campaigns, and cultivating immersive experiences that inspire meaningful action.With a proven track record of guiding nonprofit organizations, faith-based ministries, and educational institutions toward breakthrough results, Aaron’s leadership centers around one core belief: organizations don't face fundraising challenges; they face storytelling challenges. Leveraging his expertise in narrative-driven fundraising, Aaron has helped clients collectively raise millions in revenue, amplify their missions, and achieve sustainable growth.His innovative approach is rooted in decades of experience in leadership roles across nonprofit, educational, and faith sectors. Aaron’s background includes significant involvement with major campaigns and strategic projects, such as the Museum of the Bible’s Generations Membership Campaign, Passion Conferences’ global initiatives, and illumiNations' Twelve Verse Challenge, among others.A sought-after speaker, author, and consultant, Aaron holds a Ph.D. In Applied Theology and regularly lectures on strategic leadership, fundraising, and organizational sustainability. His thoughtful insights and practical methodologies have positioned him as a trusted advisor for CEOs, Chief Development Officers, and Chief Marketing Officers seeking transformative results.Aaron's passion extends beyond professional excellence; he is deeply committed to nurturing next-generation leaders, advocating for thoughtful stewardship of resources, and championing ambitious dreams that shape communities worldwide.Connect with Aaron Coe: Website: https://www.futurecitynow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-coe-51b64010b/ To get in touch with Gary:Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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    33 mins
  • Chris Volk: Why Great Business Models Matter More Than Money

    Chris Volk: Why Great Business Models Matter More Than Money
    May 6 2026

    What if everything you think you know about risk, real estate, and raising capital is backwards? In this episode, a three-time REIT founder who went from $15,000 to $10 billion in assets breaks down business models, AI, private markets, and how to think about risk like a real operator, not a textbook.


    In this episode, Gary and Chris Volk discuss:

    • Evolution of REITs and “shadow banking” business models
    • How to raise large-scale capital from a standing start
    • AI, tech, and the challenge of monetizing powerful tools
    • What risk really is vs. what business school teaches
    • Public vs. private markets, leverage, and investor alignment


    Key Takeaways:

    • The hardest part of building big companies today isn’t finding money; it’s assembling a strong leadership team, a real problem to solve, and a robust business model that can be optimized.
    • Breakthrough technologies like search or AI only become enduring businesses when someone figures out how to monetize them with a clear, durable model.
    • Many operating companies are better off renting real estate than owning it, using specialized landlords as a form of smarter, more flexible financing.
    • Risk is fundamentally about downside and margin for error, not short‑term price volatility—high leverage isn’t automatically dangerous if it’s structured with a real cushion.
    • Private vehicles and alternatives often hide more leverage, higher fees, and lower disclosure than their public counterparts, which can quietly raise risk even as they appear “less volatile.”


    "My whole thing in my career has been to convince people that they're better off having a landlord than a banker." — Chris Volk


    About Chris Volk: Christopher (Chris) Volk is a veteran real estate finance entrepreneur, investor, and three‑time public company CEO who has helped reshape how operating companies use real estate capital. Over several decades in the REIT world, he has taken three companies public, including one he helped grow from just $15,000 of his own money into a platform with more than $10 billion in assets, ultimately attracting Berkshire Hathaway as its largest shareholder. Known as a “business model junkie,” Chris pioneered using net lease REITs as a form of “shadow banking,” financing mission‑critical real estate for operating companies so they can deploy their own capital into higher‑return opportunities.

    Today, as Chairman of Ten (Tenant) Corporation and a member of multiple boards, he writes and speaks extensively on valuation, capital formation, risk as “margin for error,” and why many businesses are better off with a landlord than a banker.


    Connect with Chris Volk:

    Website: www.christopherhvolk.com

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisvolk2278



    To get in touch with Gary:

    Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/


    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • David Henzel: Building Businesses and Lives From Love, Not Fear

    David Henzel: Building Businesses and Lives From Love, Not Fear
    Apr 29 2026
    A shy, introverted engineer who couldn’t stand public speaking now leads a global “Love, Not Fear” alliance and a portfolio of impact-driven companies. In this episode, you’ll hear how re-framing every decision through love instead of fear transformed his life, leadership, and the way he builds businesses and relationships.In this episode, Gary and David Henzel discuss:Unconventional path from struggling student to serial entrepreneurLife-altering impact of his wife’s breast cancer diagnosisApplying business principles (roles, values, mission) to family life“Love, Not Fear” as a framework for decisions, sales, and cultureBuilding conscious, self-managed, stakeholder-focused companiesKey Takeaways:Major life shocks can become powerful catalysts to reassess your path, redefine success, and shift from chasing money to pursuing meaningful impact.Borrowing tools from business, like roles and responsibilities, vision, mission, and core values, can dramatically reduce friction and increase harmony at home.Reframing decisions from fear (“What will they think of me?”) to love (“How can this help them?”) can completely change your relationship with public speaking, sales, and leadership.Hiring and developing people for culture, values, and mission alignment—not just skills—creates environments where employees think and act like intrapreneurs.Conscious, stakeholder-focused business models and shared ownership structures may be a key part of the future of work, narrowing the wealth gap while increasing performance and engagement."Every decision in life, you either make it from a place of love or a place of fear." — David HenzelAbout David Henzel: David Henzel is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Love Not Fear, an alliance devoted to helping people and organizations make decisions from a place of love instead of fear. Starting his career as a shy, introverted engineer who bounced through 14 schools and struggled with authority, he stumbled into entrepreneurship and went on to build and exit multiple successful companies in e‑commerce, SaaS, and services.A life‑changing chapter began when his wife was diagnosed—twice—with breast cancer. That wake‑up call pushed him to rethink what success meant, sell his existing business, and focus on work that creates real impact. Along the way, he discovered that applying business tools—clear roles, responsibilities, vision, mission, and core values—to family life dramatically reduced conflict and increased alignment at home.Today, David runs a portfolio of conscious companies, including a BPO firm (LTVplus), a marketing agency (Shortlist), a recruiting company (LNF People), a coaching and cohort platform (UpCoach), and a retreat center in Bodrum, Turkey—where he now lives. Across all of them, his mission is consistent: build self‑managed, values‑driven organizations where people act like intrapreneurs, grow personally and professionally, and where money is the side effect of truly providing value.Connect with David Henzel: Website: https://lovenotfear.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhenzel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhenzel/ Register new Love Not Fear account: https://app.lovenotfear.com/register?vi=70435a1d-453a-45cd-b022-4aa800dbc47d To get in touch with Gary:Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
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