Best Alex Rawlings Podcasts (2025)

1
From Investor to Operator: Hard Truths from 35 Years in Private Equity with Matthew Kearney 32:41

2d ago32:41

32:41

🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast – Essentials for Investors with Matthew Kearney This episode is packed with pragmatic advice and “growth hacks for operators” – get your pen ready. ⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps: 00:03 – Introduction Meet Matthew Kearney: 35 years in private equity, from 3i to operating partner and PE-backed CEO. 01:07 – From 3i t…

1
How your competitors are using AI in the Private Equity industry with Greg Nieuwenhuys 31:21

9d ago31:21

31:21

Guest: Greg Nieuwenhuys – Private Equity Advisor, Chairman & AI Expert Topic: Unlocking Generative AI for Private Equity & Portfolio Companies 🔹 Intro & Background (0:00 – 2:00) Greg shares his 20+ years in PE-backed consumer goods: Baver (Netherlands), Cotterdardoor (UK), Mammoth, Wattbike, and No-Door. Passion for AI began two years ago, driven b…

1
Iran regime change...again? 27:35

15d ago27:35

27:35

Courtney and Alex discuss America's long and sordid history of pursuing regime change around the world in light of the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran, which triggered bipartisan calls from Washington for the Trump administration to try and topple the government in Tehran. ### Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Court…

1
Investing in the hospitality industry with Nate Edgerly 29:49

16d ago29:49

29:49

In this insightful episode, Nate Edgerly, CEO of Enzo Group Inc., discusses his journey from CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers to a seasoned private equity investor and executive leader in the hospitality industry. Nate shares valuable insights on leadership, long-term investing, and what makes hospitality businesses thrive or fail. Key Takeaways: Nate…

1
Building a $2.3 billion-dollar business from the ground up with Jeff Zwiefel 49:04

23d ago49:04

49:04

In this episode, Alex speaks with Jeff Zwiefel, former President & COO of Life Time, about scaling the business from $139M to $2.3B in revenue and navigating multiple private equity exits and IPOs. Jeff shares how a people-first culture and rigorous training enabled long-term, sustainable growth in a competitive industry. Jeff discusses why private…

1
How Terrorism Works with Elizabeth Beavers 59:21

27d ago59:21

59:21

Courtney and Alex speak with national security legal scholar Elizabeth Beavers about how the U.S. government defines terrorism and discuss whether America's terrorist designations and counterterrorism wars prolong conflict and advance political agendas, rather than make Americans safer. ### Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy In…

1
Always at War x NonZero | The Eternal Causes of War 45:03

1M ago45:03

45:03

Courtney and Alex join Robert Wright's Nonzero podcast to discuss America's addiction to war in light of Trump's airstrikes on Iran. This episode is a special collaboration between Always at War and Nonzero. To access the full "Overtime" conversation, go to: https://www.nonzero.org/p/the-eternal-causes-of-war-robert ### Why is America seemingly alw…

1
The professionalisation of Private Equity with Henry Ward 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Henry Ward, CEO and Co-Founder of Carta, to explore the evolving landscape of private equity and venture capital through the lens of software, operations, and professionalization. Henry shares his journey building Carta into a multi-billion-dollar software business and how it’s transforming the infrastruc…

1
The most important factor of business with David Feingold 20:40

1M ago20:40

20:40

David Feingold, CEO of Broad Street Global, joins us on The Private Equity Podcast to share his 35+ year journey from law to leading one of the largest infrastructure-focused PE firms in the U.S. He unpacks lessons in leadership, hiring, culture, and why they’ve entered crypto mining. This episode is a masterclass in building high-performing teams …

1
Raising capital in 2025 with James Varela 29:38

1M ago29:38

29:38

Fundraising in 2025 isn’t business as usual. James Varela, Partner at Rede Partners and Head of MENA, joins us to break down what it really takes to raise capital from LPs—especially in the Middle East. We talk DPI pressure, LP targeting, co-investments, how to build credibility in emerging markets, and the biggest mistake GPs still make when pitch…

1
The Lessons Learned from a Private Equity Founder from 19 Acquisitions with Sequoya Borgman 20:00

2M ago20:00

20:00

From Big Four to 19 Acquisitions: Sequoya Borgman on Building Borgman Capital Sequoya Borgman, Founder of Borgman Capital, joins the show to discuss his leap from public accounting into private equity, building an independent sponsor model, and the real challenge behind every deal—people. He shares lessons from 19 acquisitions, why they prioritize …

1
Congress Cashes In with Savannah Wooten 1:00:34

2M ago1:00:34

1:00:34

In this episode of "Always at War," hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan explore how congressional stock trading enables U.S. policymakers to profit off of America’s constant wars and interventions , and speak with Public Citizen’s Savannah Wooten about how the military-industrial complex works to push U.S. military spending higher and higher — …

1
Billion-dollar portfolio executive to infrastructure private equity investor with Chris Rozzell 30:56

2M ago30:56

30:56

Chris Rozell, Managing Partner at Cresta, joins us to discuss his journey from portfolio exec to founding a PE firm, scaling businesses to billions, and investing in decarbonization-focused infrastructure. He shares pragmatic insights on ESG, early-stage infra, and building trust with management teams—plus how Cresta bridges the gap between VC and …

1
The Framework Every Private Equity Investor and Operator Needs in the Tool-Kit with Sam Bendix 52:07

2M ago52:07

52:07

Sam Bendix, Partner at Chicago Pacific Founders, returns to share his framework for capital raising using motivational interviewing. He explains how it uncovers real motivations and qualifies prospects faster—without a hard sell. We cover how it applies to investor meetings, deal sourcing, hiring, and beyond. A practical framework for better conver…

1
The Pricing Advantage Easy EBITDA Wins with Jared Weisel 21:03

2M ago21:03

21:03

In today’s episode, Jared Weisel, SVP at Revenue Analytics, joins us to break down how PE-backed manufacturing and distribution businesses can use pricing to drive serious EBITDA gains. We dive into why most firms ignore pricing, how to avoid customer churn while raising prices, and why a 3–7% increase can deliver outsized impact. Jared shares the …

1
From the first HVAC Services acquisition to the 25th with Steve Carroll 31:33

3M ago31:33

31:33

In today's episode we have Steve Carroll, CEO and Co-Founder of Kelso Industries, join us to share his journey from a small-town construction background to leading a 25-acquisition HVAC roll-up. We dive into his Walmart days scaling EBITDA from $15M to $250M, his views on where PE firms get it wrong, and how Kelso’s long-term partnership model is f…

1
Vietnam Syndrome with Andrew Bacevich 57:28

3M ago57:28

57:28

In this episode of Always at War, we examine the Vietnam War on the 50th anniversary of its effective conclusion (April 30, 1975) and explore how it established the template for America's subsequent "forever wars." Through powerful imagery and historical analysis, hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan, joined by scholar Andrew Bacevich, trace the…

1
Going Nuclear with William Hartung 1:00:18

3M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

In this inaugural episode of "Always at War," hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan explore America's continued investment in nuclear weapons despite their catastrophic potential. With the help of Quincy Institute Senior Research Fellow and military-industrial complex expert Bill Hartung, Courtney and Alex examine how defense contractors and lobb…

1
100+ Add on Acquisitions Learning and Lessons on Integration by Scott Cook 41:57

3M ago41:57

41:57

Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Scott Cook, an experienced Chief HR Officer with over 100 add-on acquisitions under his belt. We dig into what really drives successful integration—nailing culture, managing change, aligning roles, and avoiding the classic post-acquisition mistakes. If you want a no-nons…

1
Scaling Your Business the Playbook Series with Andrew Towne 43:37

3M ago43:37

43:37

Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Andrew Towne, Partner at Olympus Pines. We break down what it really takes to grow a portfolio company—hiring the right team, aligning goals, building execution plans, and pulling the right levers for revenue and EBITDA growth. If you're after a practical playbook on sca…

1
The Outlook for the Private Credit Market from Hamilton Lane's Nayef Perry 23:58

3M ago23:58

23:58

Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast, today I’m joined by Nayef Perry, Head of Direct Credit at Hamilton Lane. We dive into the state of the private credit market—where the opportunities are, how interest rates are shaping returns, and what investors need to watch out for. If you want a sharp, no-fluff breakdown of where private…

1
Micro Cap Investing Pitfalls & Opportunities with Ben Claremon 31:27

4M ago31:27

31:27

Description: In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings sits down with Ben Claremon, Partner at Devonshire Partners, a lower middle-market PE firm investing in micro and nano-cap businesses. Ben shares insights into why PE firms overlook small public companies, how microcap investing presents unique opportunities, and why a hedge …

1
The Growth of the Private Equity Secondaries Market and What is Coming with Cari Lodge 26:03

4M ago26:03

26:03

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. In this week's episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Cari Lodge, a seasoned investor with 25 years in private equity secondaries. They explore the market’s rapid growth from $2 billion to $160 billion, the increasing need for liquidity, and how secondaries optimize portfolio management. Car…

1
How Private Equity Firms Are Adopting Marketing at the Firm Level with Tracie Kelly 18:40

4M ago18:40

18:40

Welcome Back to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast, In this episode, Alex Rawlings sits down with Tracie Kelly, Director of Marketing at Exellere Partners, to explore the evolving role of marketing within private equity firms. Tracie shares insights into how marketing contributes to deal origination, firm differentiation, and relationshi…

1
The Hamilton Lane Take On The Infrastructure Sector Now and Beyond With Brent Burnett 32:30

4M ago32:30

32:30

Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection, hosted by Alex Rawlings. Brent Burnett, Head of Infrastructure and Real Assets at Hamilton Lane, shares insights on infrastructure growth, key trends, and the 2025 outlook. Tune in for a deep dive into its role in PE. Breakdown: [00:00] Welcome to the Raw Selection Private Equity Podcast with …

1
How to Generate Deal Flow From Your Talent Focused Operating Partner With John Dahlgren 25:35

5M ago25:35

25:35

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Host, Alex Rawlings speaks with John Dahlgren, VP of Talent at SBJ Capital, about the growing role of internal talent in private equity, portfolio hiring strategies, and using talent partnerships to generate deal flow. John shares insights on hiring trends, common mistakes, and how SBJ C…

1
Hire the Best Executives with this Playbook with Jordan Burton 50:47

5M ago50:47

50:47

Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection, hosted by Alex Rawlings. In today's episode, Jordan Burton shares his expertise on hiring, training, and evaluating executives. They discuss common mistakes private equity firms make when hiring portfolio executives, how to improve interview techniques, and the critical role of structured ass…

1
Using AI and Technology to Drive Value Creation in Private Equity with Ron Ramanujam 31:36

5M ago31:36

31:36

Welcome back to the Raw Selection Private Equity Podcast. Today’s guest is Ron Ramanujan, Technology Transformation Operating Partner, discussing value creation, tech transformation, AI, and cybersecurity within Private Equity. Breakdown: {00:30} Ron shares his background, highlighting his extensive experience in enterprise technology, data infrast…

1
Shifting from Founder-Led to Data-Driven Decision Making in Private Equity with Jeff Wigle 33:17

5M ago33:17

33:17

Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Today’s guest is Jeff Wigle, Managing Director at Banyan Capital Partners, a lower-to-middle market private equity firm based in Canada. Jeff shares insights on transitioning portfolio companies from founder-led to data-driven decision-making, leveraging technology, and managing cultural chan…

1
Driving SME Growth to Double-Digit Exit Multiples with Sanjay Chandra 30:09

5M ago30:09

30:09

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Our host, Alex Rawlings is joined by Sanjay Chandra, Managing Partner of Trinity Investors, a Private Equity firm based in Texas. Sanjay brings decades of experience as an operator, entrepreneur, and private equity investor. In this episode, we explore how he scaled businesses from singl…

1
What is Liquid Private Equity with Randy Cohen and Jean-Louis Lelogeais 56:07

6M ago56:07

56:07

Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Host Alex Rawlings interviews Randy Cohen, a lecturer at Harvard Business School, and Jean-Louis Lelogeais, co-founders of PEO Partners. Together, they dive into liquid private equity, its uses, and how it complements traditional private equity. Breakdown: [00:00] Introduction to Randy Cohen …

1
Driving Cultural Change in Portfolio Companies with Jon Sonnenschein 25:03

6M ago25:03

25:03

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection! Today’s guest is Jon Sonnenschein, Private Equity Operating Partner and former SaaS and software CEO. Jon shares insights on driving cultural change in portfolio companies, blending his experience as a CEO and Operating Partner. Breakdown: [00:00] Jon Sonnenschein discusses his experienc…

1
Strategic Insights on Exit Planning with Christen Paras 27:23

6M ago27:23

27:23

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection! Today, we’re joined by Christen Paras, Partner of the Transaction Team at MiddleGround Capital, to explore innovative exit strategies and how MiddleGround is redefining Private Equity practices. Breakdown: [00:03] Christen Paras returns to discuss MiddleGround’s unique exit strategy appr…

1
The Power of Simplicity Done Right With Brad Armstrong 28:34

6M ago28:34

28:34

Welcome back to the Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection! Joining me today is Brad Armstrong, Partner at Lovell Minnick, a Private Equity firm celebrating its 25th anniversary. Brad shares insights into value creation, forecasting for 2025, the importance of sticking to your core strengths, and how simplicity done right can drive Private Equity …

1
Winning LP Trust and Raising Capital Strategies for Private Equity Firms with Seth Auld 22:08

7M ago22:08

22:08

Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, hosted by Alex Rawlings. Today’s guest is Seth Auld, VP of Portfolio Management and Deal Origination at Kompass Kapital. Seth shares his insights on building LP relationships, raising capital effectively, and the importance of sector specialization. Breakdown; [00:00] Introduction to Seth Auld and the episode’…

1
Building Stronger Investor-Operator Relationships Insights from GE with Richard Neff 20:45

7M ago20:45

20:45

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection, hosted by Alex Rawlings. Today’s guest is Richard Neff, a proven operator and operating partner with decades of experience in private equity and a 25-year career at GE Capital and GE Healthcare. In this episode, Richard shares insights into the investor-operator relationship, the importan…

1
How to Increase Your Deal Origination with Jon Van Tuin 17:29

7M ago17:29

17:29

Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection, hosted by Alex Rawlings. Today’s guest is Jon Van Tuin, Managing Director at P4G Capital. With decades of experience in Private Equity, Jon shares his insights on deal origination, building relationships with deal sources, and standing out in an increasingly competitive market. Learn actionabl…

1
Ha-Sizzle, G*ddammit Jeremiah, Superchunk 1:11:08

7M ago1:11:08

1:11:08

Season seven of 12 Songs comes to a conclusion with three very different conversations and artists. Ha-Sizzle is one of the finest examples of the New Orleans-specific brand of hip-hop known as bounce. I talked to him about his Christmas in New Orleans in front of a live audience. The members of the British punk band Goddammit Jeremiah talk about t…

1
Driving EBITDA Growth Through Data Metrics with Joe Gerber 23:43

7M ago23:43

23:43

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection hosted by Alex Rawlings! Today’s guest is Joe Gerber, a proven Operating Partner and transformation expert. In this episode, we explore Driving EBITDA Growth Through Data Metrics. Joe shares actionable strategies on leveraging real-time data, optimizing decision-making, and taking reportin…

1
Porcupine Tree, É Arenas, and Ever More Nest 1:34:47

7M ago1:34:47

1:34:47

We're approaching Christmas, so this week I have excerpts from longer interviews that I'll run at full length next season. Steven Wilson is the driving force behind the British art rock band Porcupine Tree, and last year on a challenge he used artificial intelligence to write a Christmas song, something he felt that he couldn't do on his own. The w…

1
How Private Equity Firms Can Stand Out from the Competition with Sam Bendix 48:07

8M ago48:07

48:07

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection, In this episode, host Alex Rawlings sits down with Sam Bendix, Partner of Investor Relations at Chicago Pacific Founders. In this episode, we dive deep into what it takes for Private Equity firms to truly stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Sam shares actionable insights on h…

1
Blind Boys of Alabama, Donna Summer, and Sia 1:33:44

8M ago1:33:44

1:33:44

We're officially in December, the Christmas season, and I have more interviews than I can get through in the weeks leading up to Christmas. From here on in, I'll run excerpts from the interviews I've done, and I'll run them in their entirety next season. This episode starts with some clean-up business after last week's conversation with Midge Ure o…

1
From Vision to Reality: Scaling for a Billion-Dollar Exit with Adam Coffey 46:28

8M ago46:28

46:28

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection! In this episode, Alex Rawlings welcomes back Adam Coffey, CEO and author of the Private Equity Playbook. Adam shares his strategies for scaling businesses, reducing employee turnover, and building strong company cultures. He emphasizes hiring for future growth, addressing employee concern…

1
"Do They Know it's Christmas" at 40 with Midge Ure 57:55

8M ago57:55

57:55

Midge Ure from The Rich Kids, Ultravox and Visage co-wrote and produced "Do They Know it's Christmas" 40 years ago this week on November 25, 1984. He recently released a new live album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall 04.10.23, so we talked about that, touring, the Blitz club and his memories of the sessions for "Do They Know it's Christmas." In this…

1
The Most Unique Deal Origination Strategy with Matt Bodnar 29:05

8M ago29:05

29:05

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection, In this episode, host Alex Rawlings sits down with Matt Bodnar, founder and managing partner of Eidolon Capital. They discuss Eidolon’s unique deal origination strategies, including innovative approaches like direct mail, and how their flexibility in deal-making helps them close deals whe…

1
Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom 56:58

8M ago56:58

56:58

Husband and wife duo Dean & Britta have a sound that suits contemporary Christmas music beautifully. They've done a few movie soundtracks including 13 Most Beautiful, an album of songs commissioned by the Andy Warhol Museum to perform songs beneath Warhol's silent films shot between 1964 - 1966. Their sound is evocative but spare, with deeply rever…

1
Optimising Technology Deployment in PE-Backed Companies with Robb Powell 26:33

8M ago26:33

26:33

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection! In this episode, Alex is joined by Robb Powell, an experienced Operating Partner and former CEO who has successfully built and sold two businesses. Robb discusses the deployment of technology and AI in private equity-backed companies, shares insights on driving cultural transformation, a…

1
Carpenters Legacy and Christmas Novelty Songs with April Brucker 1:09:43

8M ago1:09:43

1:09:43

Twelve Songs goes to Las Vegas this week, first to talk with Sally Olson and Ned Mills of the tribute act Carpenters Legacy about The Carpenters and their Christmas music. This year, they took their affection for both subjects to the natural conclusion and recorded "Christmas Time with You," a Christmas song made in the mold of the Carpenters. Afte…

1
From Private Equity Investing to Breaking World Records with Andrew Towne 35:29

8M ago35:29

35:29

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection! In this episode, Alex is joined by Andrew Towne, a partner at Olympus Pines and a five-time world record holder. Andrew shares his journey from private equity to breaking world records, including his impressive mountain climbing feats and insights into the private equity industry. Join u…

1
Jay Gonzalez and Christmas/Not Christmas Songs 45:45

9M ago45:45

45:45

Earlier this season, I interviewed The Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood about his ambivalent relationship with Christmas music. This week I talk to the Truckers' long-time guitarist Jay Gonzalez, who takes a different path to a similar place. We talk about his relationship to the band as a full-time member since 2008 who isn't Hood, Mike Cooley, o…

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