Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they examine the intersection of purpose and business. In this episode, our hosts hear from James Turk, CEO & Founder of The Turk Group. With more than 25 years of experience developing leaders at companies such as Spotify, Squarespace, and Goldman Sachs, James helps people move from managing tasks to truly inspiring others. Tune in to hear insights from James’s recently published book, “The Giving Game: Becoming The Leader That Others Want To Follow.” Th...
Jun 05, 2025•23 min•Ep. 174
LionTree’s Louis Kenna is joined in the company’s UK office by Lionel Assant, Global Co-Chief Investment Officer of Blackstone. Lionel came to Blackstone in 2003, four years prior to the firm going public; in that time, their AUM has risen from ~$27 Billion to around $1.1 Trillion. Executing on 70 plus strategies across four divisions, Lionel details how Blackstone’s scale enables them to make bold investments, and, via their long-standing involvement with Impetus, to apply time-tested Private E...
May 19, 2025•33 min•Ep. 173
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they examine the intersection of purpose and business. In this episode, we hear from Raj Vinnakota, the President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. The organization's goal is to "equip young people with the civic skills necessary to navigate a divided country and become effective leaders," and Raj's first-hand experience in the corporate and non-profit world is a case study for productive engagement. As he works with leaders and educators across t...
Apr 07, 2025•38 min•Ep. 172
LionTree’s Antal Runneboom sits down with FJ Labs Founding Partner Fabrice Grinda, whose long and successful career in the tech space includes co-founding wireless mobile company Zingy as well as global marketplace OLX. Fabrice gives fascinating perspective into the opportunities around vertical-specific marketplaces; the process by which he and his FJ Labs partners select the hundreds of start-ups they’ve invested in; why humanoid robots and AI-powered investors are coming faster than any of us...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 171
Two-time NBA champion and Duke University mainstay Shane Battier checks in with LionTree’s resident sports expert, Alex Michael, to share his philosophy on what makes teams - and businesses - great. Shane discusses his experiences under Duke’s renowned Coach K (most recently lionized on “The Bear”), and reflects on the importance of the “glue guys” who help all of their colleagues shine. This podcast is for information purposes only. The opinions and views expressed in this material are solely t...
Feb 03, 2025•39 min•Ep. 170
In the latest installment of his series examining private equity in the tech sector, LionTree’s Antal Runnebom speaks with Reed Rayman, a Partner in Private Equity at Apollo Global Management. Making his first-ever podcast appearance, Reed discusses his 15-year career at Apollo, and the “value on the buy, growth once we own” philosophy that has guided the firm’s deals with companies including Western Digital, Intel, Shutterfly, Expedia, Cimpress, ADT and Yahoo. Tune in to find out why 2025 will ...
Jan 06, 2025•39 min•Ep. 169
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they examine the intersection of purpose and business. In this episode, they hear the colorful life story of Luis Duarte, a serial entrepreneur whose career has taken him from facing down gun-toting cartel members to founding Amoofy - which stands for “A Moment of You” - a platform that enables you to document and share your family’s history ethically and privately, while owning 100% of your data. Luis shares enlightening tales of inspiration and iteration. T...
Dec 16, 2024•39 min•Ep. 168
LionTree’s James Lindsay chats with music blogger turned startup CEO Andy Apple, whose company Mellomanic provides artists and labels a unique, integrated platform for hosting listening parties, exclusive live streams, interactive chat rooms and more. In an era where artists are taking more direct ownership of how they market themselves, Mellomanic offers new ways to engage, and eventually monetize, superfans for the long haul. Find and rate KindredCast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. ...
Dec 02, 2024•46 min•Ep. 167
In this episode, LionTree’s James Lindsay gets the lowdown on Jen Music AI from co-founder and music industry vet Shara Senderoff. Earlier this year, Jen launched an ethically-trained AI music platform for text-to-music creation, and Shara details the platform’s commitment to transparency, compensation and copyright identification. It’s a glimpse at how content creators can utilize generative AI to enhance their vision, and their profits. The episode includes some original Jen Music AI tracks cr...
Oct 28, 2024•56 min•Ep. 166
Today, join LionTree Managing Director Rosie Kurmaniak as she engages in an illuminating conversation with communications guru Maha Abouelenein ( https://www.mahaabouelenein.com/ ). Over her three decade career, Maha has crafted strategies for global corporations, startups, governments and CEOs, as well as managing comms for major tech companies in the Middle East. She’s just published her first book, “ 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself, and Own Your Futu...
Oct 08, 2024•42 min•Ep. 165
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they examine the intersection of purpose and business. In this episode, they speak with Misha Vitels & Peter Frelinghuysen, the co-Founders of Earth Brands. Recent Williams College grads and varsity tennis teammates, the pair turned their dismay at the red plastic cups littering their campus into inspiration - and created a thriving company dedicated to making sustainable alternatives to everyday products, such as their compostable cups, cutlery and more....
Sep 04, 2024•28 min•Ep. 164
LionTree Managing Director and resident sports expert Alex Michael chats with MOGL CEO and co-Founder Ayden Syal to discuss how the company enables brands and college athletes to partner in the wake of the 2021 NCAA decision that allows these athletes to monetize their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). By taking the pain out of the process - and making sure schools are in the loop - MOGL projects that they’ll be profitable by year’s end. Tune in to get a whole lot smarter about college athletics a...
Aug 05, 2024•32 min•Ep. 163
The youth sports market is exploding, and there’s no better example of that growth and opportunity than GameChanger, the ubiquitous app that parents, family members and friends use to stream, score and stay up on all the games being played at schools nationwide. Join LionTree Managing Director Alex Michael as he and Sameer discuss the company’s growth in the wake of their 2016 acquisition by DICK’s Sporting Goods, GameChanger’s plans for continued product expansion and their bullish forecast of ...
Jul 08, 2024•31 min•Ep. 162
Listen in for a fascinating exploration of how private equity has evolved over the last few decades as LionTree Managing Director Antal Runneboom sits with Brian Ruder, Partner, Head of Investment Committee and Co-Head of Technology at Permira, a worldwide investment firm with over $80B of assets under management. A long-time leader in tech and consumer internet investing, Permira’s portfolio includes Allegro, Genesys, Zendesk, Informatica, Adevinta, NDS, LegalZoom and ancestry.com - as well as ...
Jun 03, 2024•48 min•Ep. 161
Powerhouse of the business world Lisa Borders shares her life story from being childhood playmates with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s children, to the roles she's held throughout her storied career including President of the WNBA, Vice President of Global Community Affairs at Coca-Cola, and Vice Mayor of Atlanta. Find and rate KindredCast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. For more content, follow KindredCast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can hear our radio show on SiriusXM Busi...
Mar 03, 2024•45 min•Ep. 160
Join LionTree's resident sports expert Alex Michael as he breaks bread with Game 7 co-Founders Mark Messier - the NHL legend who boasts a 7-2 record in the titular championship matches - and music industry titan Mat Vlasic. A lifelong fan of Mark’s, and a long-time friend and partner of Mat’s, Alex uncovers the thinking behind their new performance lifestyle venture, which aims to “underscore the journey to success through content series, community experiences and consumer products.” It’s a free...
Feb 19, 2024•46 min•Ep. 159
In the second and final part of our look-forward at the year ahead, activist, author, and humanitarian Caryl Stern hosts discussions with a few of the company’s thought leaders to uncover how the firm integrates purpose into the fabric of our decision-making. First up, Rosie Kurmaniak details the cyclical nature of M&A, and how that is manifesting itself in the firm’s business; then, Avi Sutton discusses the importance of flow - as referenced in his recent letter with colleague Alex Michael ...
Feb 12, 2024•56 min•Ep. 158
It’s time for one of our most highly anticipated shows of the year, The 2024 Outlook , where leaders from across LionTree look into their crystal balls to discuss the thematics that will be driving the industry this year. LionTree’s public markets expert Leslie Mallon drills down into sector themes with a trio of the company’s thought leaders: James Lindsay discusses the audio and music space, revealing what sort of deals and technologies will be impacting the vertical; Alex Michael, our residen...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 157
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they examine the intersection of purpose and business. Carol Cone, founder of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE and renowned leader in the world of corporate social responsibility and purpose-driven business talks about how she introduced the idea of melding business strategy with social responsibility to companies in the 1980s, and shares about her journey growing that intersection into her own business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...
Jan 22, 2024•38 min•Ep. 156
Join Tom Graham, the CEO and co-Founder of generative AI company Metaphysic, as he dives deep with Kindred Media’s Laura Clinton to explore the huge opportunity that this photo-realistic technology enables. A Harvard-trained lawyer turned entrepreneur, Tom is laser-focused on the ethical usage of AI, making Metaphysic a favored partner of the entertainment industry. He is a vocal proponent for government regulation of digital identities, predicting that “Ten years from now or even closer…more th...
Jan 16, 2024•35 min•Ep. 155
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they examine the intersection of purpose and business. In this episode, CEO of Civic Nation Kyle Lierman talks about the importance of advocating for diversity and equality in his personal life, and how that translates to his career in politics and public service. This podcast is for information purposes only. The opinions and views expressed in this material are solely the participant’s personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of LionTre...
Jan 08, 2024•23 min•Ep. 154
LionTree Managing Director Antal Runneboom checks in with author, entrepreneur and investor Scott Belsky, who serves as Chief Strategy Officer and EVP of Design and Emerging Products at Adobe. Making his second KindredCast appearance, Scott discusses the whirlwind pace of change in the space, Adobe’s latest acquisitions and innovations and the opportunity for AI to rewire collaboration and unleash new opportunities for creators. Find and rate KindredCast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen....
Dec 21, 2023•39 min•Ep. 153
As part of a Kindred Research Report, LionTree’s Co-Head of Growth Alex Michael sits with Kindred Media’s Laura Clinton to discuss the implications of AI for content creators. While Artificial Intelligence technology could theoretically disrupt every industry in the modern economy, nowhere are these concerns more palpable than in Hollywood. Alex, dubbed one of Variety's 2022 top dealmakers, provides a unique perspective on these thorny issues. The pair chat about the opportunities and dangers of...
Oct 02, 2023•13 min•Ep. 152
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they "Play on Purpose" and examine the intersection of purpose and business in the sports industry. This episode, VP of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN Kevin Martinez takes us through his work building bridges between corporate growth and social responsibility. This podcast is for information purposes only. The opinions and views expressed in this material are solely the participant’s personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of LionTree or ...
Sep 19, 2023•38 min•Ep. 151
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they investigate the intersection of business and purpose. This episode, AJR band member and founder of Planet Reimagined Adam Met finds meaning in music, travel, and creating a better world for future generations. This podcast is for information purposes only. The opinions and views expressed in this material are solely the participant’s personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of LionTree or its affiliates. This material should not be c...
Aug 28, 2023•33 min•Ep. 150
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they “Play on Purpose” and examine the intersection of purpose and business in the sports industry. This episode, SVP of Social Responsibility for the NBA Todd Jacobson discusses the importance of community outreach through programs like NBA Cares and its impact on fans dealing with social and economic hardships. This podcast is for information purposes only. The opinions and views expressed in this material are solely the participant’s personal opinions and ...
Jul 31, 2023•30 min•Ep. 149
Join Rachel Kraus and Caryl Stern as they "Play on Purpose" and examine the intersection of purpose and business in the sports industry. In this episode, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber explains why investing in DEI not only improves the lives of players and fans alike, but delivers ROI. This podcast is for information purposes only. The opinions and views expressed in this material are solely the participant’s personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of LionTree...
Jul 17, 2023•26 min•Ep. 148
Fresh off the sold-out debut of his new film, “This is Not Financial Advice,” at the Tribeca Film Festival, Filmmaker Chris Temple sits with Kindred Media’s Laura Clinton to dig into the wild dynamics of today’s investing trends. Inspired by his own feelings of FOMO during the 2021 crypto/meme stock goldrush, Temple follows four investors with varying risk tolerance as they attempt to parse real opportunities in the ocean of social media-fueled hype. A crucial conversation about the potential de...
Jun 30, 2023•33 min•Ep. 147
Get an inside look into one of Korea's largest publicly listed technology companies, Naver Corporation, with their CFO, Namsun Kim, joining from Seoul. In this interview with LionTree Managing Director Antal Runneboom, the pair dive into Naver's distinct strategy at the intersection of content and commerce, including its recent $1.2B acquisition of Poshmark, for which LionTree acted as exclusive financial advisor to Naver. Antal and Namsun also discuss Naver’s early moves and perspective on AI a...
May 01, 2023•38 min•Ep. 146
It’s KindredCast Meets ManningCast, as LionTree Managing Director Alex Michael sits down with NFL legend Peyton Manning. And, sure, they talk about football a bit - even Peyton’s foray into Flag Football (assistant) coaching - but this fascinating conversation explores Peyton’s post-pigskin career, including a bevy of hit projects under his Omaha Productions shingle. His second act is proving to be as eye-popping as his first, and hearing how he makes decisions about which projects to pursue, an...
Mar 27, 2023•31 min•Ep. 145
