Private Equity Experience
by Ed Barton, Rory Liebhart, and Emily Sander
Latest episode
Is AI Really Reinventing Private Equity? The $885M Aldaron Bet
Is AI Really Reinventing Private Equity? The $885M Aldaron Bet
About this podcast
Demystify the world of private equity with insider knowledge.
Join hosts Ed Barton, Rory Liebhart, and Emily Sander - seasoned professionals who have worked from all angles as C-suite leaders, private equity managing directors, and investors.
In this podcast, they break down complex private equity concepts into everyday language. You'll gain a clear understanding of the PE landscape, key players, and market dynamics. Expect practical insights on deal-making, growth strategies for founders and management teams, and exit strategies. Plus, hear real-world examples and real-time breakdowns of trending news stories.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, considering selling your company to a private equity firm, or simply curious about this lucrative world, this podcast will help you navigate the private equity landscape with confidence.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 44 episodes
- Is AI Really Reinventing Private Equity? The $885M Aldaron Bet · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 43A new private equity firm has raised $885 million with a bold proposition: instead of relying primarily on cost-cutting and financial engineering, embed AI engineers directly…
- LIV Golf and Leslie’s Filed Chapter 11. Here’s What Bankruptcy Actually Means · 40 min · Season 1 Episode 42Two companies we previously dissected on Private Equity Experience have now filed Chapter 11: LIV Golf and Leslie’s Poolmart. Same bankruptcy chapter. Very different businesses —…
- Barbarians at the Gate Movie Watch-Along: The Ultimate LBO Battle · 1 h 49 min · Season 1 Episode 41Grab your popcorn! In this special inaugural watch-along episode of the Private Equity Experience Podcast, hosts Emily Sander, Ed Barton, and Rory Liebhart watch and react in…
- Trapped Capital: The $348 Billion "Zombie Fund" Crisis in Private Equity · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 40What happens when a private equity fund reaches the end of its 10-year lifespan and can't sell its assets? Welcome to the era of Zombie Funds. In Episode 40 of the Private Equity…
- What Everyone's Asking About Private Equity Right Now · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 39In Episode 39 of the Private Equity Experience Podcast, the hosts answer listener questions and discuss the biggest topics shaping today's Private Equity landscape. From AI and…
- Swimming with the Sharks: The Leslie’s Pool Mart Cautionary Tale · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 38In Episode 38 of the Private Equity Experience, hosts Ed Barton, Rory Leaphart, and Emily Sander break down the cautionary tale of Leslie's Pool Mart. They dive into an Inc…
- Should Private Equity Soften Its Image? (Why Investors Say Absolutely Not) · 40 min · Season 1 Episode 37Is private equity still stuck with its 1980s "corporate raider" reputation, or has the industry evolved into something entirely different? In this episode of the Private Equity…
- YMCA vs. Wall Street: The Multi-Billion Dollar War Over Local Sports · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 36Is big business ruining the purity of youth sports, or is it funding the modern infrastructure families actually want? In this episode of the Private Equity Experience Podcast…
- Don’t Count Your Dollars Yet! The Truth About PE Valuations · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 35Is the "Crazy Math" of private markets masking the truth about your investments? In this episode of the Private Equity Experience Podcast, hosts Rory Leaphart, Ed Barton, and…
- Inside Saudi Arabia’s PIF: Liquidity Pressure, LIV Golf, and the Future of Private Equity Investments · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 34Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) once positioned itself as an unstoppable financial powerhouse, backing massive projects like LIV Golf, NEOM, and global sports…
- High-Performance Teams vs Family Businesses in Private Equity · 35 min · Season 1 Episode 33In this episode, the hosts explore a fundamental question in Private Equity: should you build a high-performance team of top external talent, or rely on trusted family members to…
- Why Small Business Owners Are Saying No to Private Equity · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 32In this episode, the hosts unpack a growing trend of small business owners rejecting private equity offers, highlighted by a plumber who repeatedly turned down buyout…
- The $1.3 Billion Hook: Did Private Equity Ruin the World’s Best Fishing Brand? · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 31In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating (and sometimes salacious) business of fishing. 🌊 We explore the journey of Simms Fishing, the iconic brand that went from a…
- Is 40% of Private Equity About to Disappear? · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 30📉 Is the Private Equity model fundamentally broken, or is it just a pause? In this episode of the Private Equity Experience, hosts Ed Barton, Rory Liebhart, and Emily Sander dive…
- Is Private Equity Optimizing the Business or the Playing Field? · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 29Does private equity just optimize businesses, or does it optimize the entire playing field? 📈 In this episode of The Private Equity Experience, Emily Sander, Ed Barton, and Rory…
- Is "Family Capital" the New Private Equity? · 41 min · Season 1 Episode 28In this episode of the Private Equity Experience, Emily Sander, Ed Barton, and Rory Liebhart dive into the secretive and rapidly growing world of family offices. Think Private…
- Private Equity in 2026: AI, Rates & Survival Strategies · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 27Dive into the future of private equity with hosts Rory Liebhart, Emily Sander, and Ed Barton! In this episode, they break down the top trends shaping 2026, from AI's impact on…
- Private Equity Unpacked: Lessons from Writing "On Ramp to Exit" · 30 min · Season 1 Episode 26Dive into the world of private equity with hosts Rory Liebhart, Emily Sander, and Ed Barton! In this episode of The Private Equity Experience Podcast, the trio discusses their…
- NIL on Steroids: PE is Taking Over College Athletics! · 31 min · Season 1 Episode 25In this trending topic episode of the Private Equity Experience Podcast, hosts dive into the explosive intersection of private equity (PE) in college sports. Fueled by NIL deals…
- How PE Turns Hot Founders into Giants in 18 Months · 38 min · Season 1 Episode 24Discover the secret sauce behind private equity (PE) growth strategies! In this episode, Emily Sander, Rory Liebhart, and Ed Barton break down why PE firms target founder-led…
