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Society & Culture · Jelani Gonzalez

Behind The Story Show

by Jelani Gonzalez

Welcome to Behind The Story Show, a long-form interview podcast hosted by Jelani Gonzalez that goes beyond the headlines to uncover the real journeys behind extraordinary people and powerful ideas. Each week, Jelani sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, creators, leaders, and change-makers to explore the defining moments, hard-earned lessons, personal challenges, and bold decisions that shaped their path. From business and creativity to leadership, culture, innovation, and reinvention, Behind The Story brings you candid conversations that reveal not just what people achieved, but what it took to get there. If you are building something, chasing a vision, navigating change, or looking for stories that educate, inspire, and challenge the way you think, this show is for you. Join us as we go behind the success, behind the struggle, and Behind The Story.

Chart trend

Position in the Society & Culture chart (US), last 90 days.

#44
all-time peak
1
day in the top 50 since Aug 2026

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Robert Kennedy III: The Introvert Who Speaks to Thousands for a Living

He was born in Jamaica, named Robert Kennedy III by a grandfather who said it "with such glee" — and he's spent his life turning that name into a conversation starte

Sep 1
48 min

Judge Rules Trump's Mail Ballot Order Unconstitutional — What Happens Next

Back where we started — except this time, it's different. The same judge who was forced to lift her block on Trump's mail-ballot rule put a new one right back u

Aug 29
8 min

Mail Ballot Fight Part 2: The Judge Says They Broke Her Order

We told you two days ago this story wasn't over — it moved even faster than expected. A federal judge has now ruled that the Trump administration violated her own co

Aug 27
8 min

Supreme Court Rules on Mail Ballots: Who Controls Your Vote?

The Supreme Court just ruled 6-3 on who controls your mail-in ballot — but by its own admission, the ruling doesn't decide if any of it is actually legal. "Time will

Aug 26
10 min

The Shadow Docket: The Supreme Court Power You've Never Heard Of

Somewhere in Washington this week, the Supreme Court will decide something that affects your life — and you may never know why. No hearing. No explanation. Sometimes not

Aug 25
18 min

The Mind Is All There Is — Consciousness, AI & the Kingdom Within

What happens when a man becomes so convinced of a single truth that he legally changes his name to match it? In this episode of Behind the Story, Jelani Gonzalez sits do

Aug 19
44 min

He Sold the Pills for 20 Years — Then He Walked Away

Dr. Keith Hersey spent more than twenty years behind the pharmacy counter. Then he did something most pharmacists never do — he stopped focusing on dispensing pills and s

Aug 12
1 h 03 min

He Googled "How to Make Money Without a Degree" — Then Built a Firm

Tom Hunter didn't plan any of this. He started as a primary school teacher in London, burned out, and Googled "how to make money without a degree." That search led h

Aug 6
49 min

The Type of Diabetes Doctors Miss in Adults (LADA)

Manny Hernandez grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, in a world that no longer exists — and left in 2000 as the country changed around him. Years later, a routine checkup in th

Aug 1
1 h 07 min

The Laptop Landlord: How Naresh Turned a Side Hustle Into 9 Properties and 5 Books

Naresh built the kind of business most people are told doesn't exist: one that funds his life instead of consuming it. In this episode of Behind the Story, he sits d

Jul 28
1 h 24 min

Warrior of Light: Turning Chaos Into Purpose

Theresa Garcia didn't set out to become a coach — she set out to survive. After losing her fiancé and her mother six months apart, she rebuilt her life from the grou

Jul 21
37 min

The Career Crisis No One Talks About

Why do so many smart, capable, successful people still feel disconnected from their work? Sarah Aviram has spent her career answering that question — first as a director

Jul 15
39 min

The American Slumber Party: Sam Daley-Harris on Waking Up Democracy

Sam Daley-Harris spent twelve years as a professional percussionist and a career as a music teacher before a single question changed the direction of his life: does your

Jul 4
49 min

The Physician Taking Her Fight From the Exam Room to Washington

Dr. Neelam Perry spent over two decades practicing internal medicine and treating HIV/AIDS patients before a personal health crisis changed the direction of her life. Aft

Jul 2
41 min

The Diabetes Theory Doctors Don't Want You to Hear

After 27 years practicing as a pediatrician and allergist in Texas, Dr. John Poothullil noticed something in his own body that medical textbooks couldn't explain: we

Jun 28
1 h 01 min

The Legal Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Too Late

Scherrie L. Prince did not take a straight path into law. Before becoming an attorney, entrepreneur, business coach, and podcast host, she worked in operations, real esta

Jun 23
33 min

Birthright Citizenship: The Story Behind the 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, birth on American soil has been understood as one of the clearest paths to U.S. citizenship. But after President Donald Trump signed Executive Or

Jun 19
16 min

George Tinsley Sr. on Legacy, Faith, Family, and Franchising

George Tinsley Sr.’s story begins in Smoketown, Louisville, where he was raised by Willie Tinsley, a woman with one leg who could not read or write but gave him the found

Jun 14
53 min

Can AI Help Musicians Create Without Replacing Them?

What happens when an award-winning vocalist and songwriter sits down with an AI music producer building a weekly online producer battle? In this episode of Behind the St

Jun 5
58 min

Caring Leadership in the Age of AI with Germain St-Denis

What does it really mean to lead people well? In this episode of Behind the Story, Jelani Gonzalez sits down with Germain St-Denis, author of Empowering People Through C

May 31
48 min

Chart positions

Where Behind The Story Show ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 5, 2026).

#137 ▲ 63 Society & Culture US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Jelani Gonzalez was an attentive, kind, and fully engaged host from start to finish and that made me feel genuinely seen and heard. He asked insightful questions, listened closely, and knew how to draw out meaningful parts of my background in a way that felt natural, respectful, and deeply human. What stood out most was his ability to create space for both depth and clarity. The conversation on career change, self-trust, reinvention, and identity felt grounded and real (not rushed or surface-level). If the episode that I was on is any indication, Behind The Story is a podcast that knows how to bring out the heart of someone’s story. I’m truly grateful for the experience. Thanks Jelani for having me on!

Adam R. Dickinson · Apr 2026

Jenali is a wonderful man, and his questions reflect that. It was an honest and natural conversation about all things books and all things life, and I loved it. If you're considering being a podcast guest, I couldn't recommend someone more highly. Thanks Jelani!

authoraaronryan · Mar 2026

I’m a big fan of Jelani. He does a tremendous job of learning about his guests, and knowing the topics of discussion. He is clearly very well read and learnt.

FinancialMinion · Jul 2026

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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About Behind The Story Show on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Behind The Story Show, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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