Your favorite GP's favorite podcast. Occasionally insightful, always entertaining. Deep dives into how private equity works, what happens after the deal closes, how money gets raised, and how companies get bought and sold. And everything in between with healthy doses of pop culture and humor. Straight from the team at ParkerGale Capital. For educational and entertainment purposes only. Not investment advice. Additional disclosures at www.parkergale.com.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 49:38
Cass sits down with Brogan Magnarelli, Principal at Riverspan, to talk about her untraditional path into private equity — from point guard at Harvard to account manager at Boingo…
Sep 23, 2026 · 1:09:42
Devin's mom's only instruction to her financial advisor was "the number should never go down." Downside protection is often the most attractive part of investing in a mega buyout…
Sep 20, 2026 · 48:18
What does it look like to "plant seeds" so aggressively that serendipity starts looking like a strategy? This week on Parker Gals, Cass sits down with Jessica Patton to trace her…
Sep 16, 2026 · 57:18
Corporate AI spend in 2026 looked like a teenager loose at the mall with their parents' credit card. No policy, no budget, no discipline about what was purchased and why. That…
Sep 14, 2026 · 49:51
What does it look like to go "all in" at every stage of your career, even when you're not on the traditional track? This week on Parker Gals, Liz and Cass sit down with Hannah…
Sep 9, 2026 · 44:17
Paul and Ryan break down what PE-backed executives should know about their management equity: how the economics work, what's worth negotiating, and how you can use it to start…
Sep 2, 2026 · 1:07:43
What if the future of private equity looks exactly like its past? The days of cheap debt and multiple expansion are over, so the only way to win going forward is to operate your…
Aug 31, 2026 · 47:07
Cass sits down with Angela McCoy, Managing Director at May River, a private equity firm investing in lower middle market industrial businesses. Angela shares her journey from…
Aug 26, 2026 · 1:15:22
What if the thing founders are proudest of in diligence — "AI wrote most of our code" — is actually the reason investors should worry? Jim sits down with Jason Gill and Kirby…
Aug 24, 2026 · 40:45
In this episode of Parker Gals, Liz Xu sits down with her former JPMorgan colleague and friend Caroline Carman, Senior Associate at Rallyday Partners, a lower middle market…
Aug 19, 2026 · 57:09
Devin and Cass sit down with Kate Hopkins, founder of OneGuide, to break down the 36 AI value creation plays private equity firms and portfolio companies are running right now.…
Aug 17, 2026 · 34:08
In this episode, host Cass Ziebel sits down with Frontenac VP Maggie Pugel for a candid conversation about breaking into private equity the non-traditional way. Maggie shares how…
Aug 12, 2026 · 1:09:16
The private equity market in 2026 was supposed to rip. So why has it fallen flat? Devin sits down with Steven Buibish, CFA, Director of US Private Equity Research at PitchBook,…
Aug 10, 2026 · 48:55
Welcome to Parker Gals — the podcast by and for women in private equity. Hosts Cass Ziebel and Liz Xu kick off the very first episode from ParkerGale HQ in Chicago, introducing…
Aug 5, 2026 · 1:01:46
40% of PE firms and 60% of credit funds still track their portfolios on spreadsheets. That's now a way to monitor a few trillion in AUM. Private equity (and credit) are about to…
Jul 29, 2026 · 1:18:25
PE GUY turned a Snapchat filter into millions of views and a seven-figure business. Host Devin Mathews (a real PE guy) conducts due diligence on Johnny Hilbrant Partridge's…
Jul 22, 2026 · 1:08:58
Sam Levy's first sales job involved a phone book, a rotary phone, and 200 cold calls for one yes. He was still in college when he started a telemarketing gig with no playbook, no…
Jul 15, 2026 · 51:51
The deep Rolodex model for headhunters doesn't cut it anymore. PE's cookie-cutter hiring scorecards now miss the best candidates in a complex world. And more and more funds are…
Jul 8, 2026 · 57:44
In the past year, Excel AI plugins have become increasingly powerful, raising the question: Are Analysts and Associates about to become obsolete, or are we entering the age of…
Jul 1, 2026 · 54:13
Your 401(k) is about to get access to private equity, but how, in what form, and at what price are all still TBD. Which is kind of a problem for such a big change. The pitch for…
Jun 24, 2026 · 58:57
AI is reshaping the consulting industry faster than the internet or remote work ever did. Some say the industry's days are numbered. So why are Anthropic and OpenAI building…
Jun 17, 2026 · 1:23:48
Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of software investing, forcing private equity firms to adapt quickly and carefully. In this episode, we're joined by the team from…
Jun 10, 2026 · 24:18
It's hard to execute today. Growth has slowed, and costs are up. If you own, advise, or operate a PE-backed company, this episode offers a behind the scenes look at some plays…
Jun 3, 2026 · 1:17:47
Everyone says they are one-shotting workflows with AI. We brought on the guy who can tell us what's actually happening in middle-market private equity companies. Kyle Roemer,…
May 27, 2026 · 40:50
How do you make the leap from the college quad to private equity? Associates Liz Xu and Niko Ivanisevic share their unexpected journey to the offices of ParkerGale. They get…
May 20, 2026 · 58:35
Most B2B software companies have more growth left in what they already sell. This framework shows exactly where to find it — and where to stop looking. Jim Milbery and Paul…
May 13, 2026 · 1:00:24
Most B2B sales reps are professionally trained to make you like them in 30 minutes. But when you're recruiting salespeople, likability doesn't guarantee success. Make the wrong…
May 6, 2026 · 46:00
Most private equity firms claim to use a leather-bound "value creation" bible nobody's allowed to touch. The truth? It's more of a Cheesecake Factory menu. In this episode, Paul…
Apr 29, 2026 · 1:00:25
In 1995, the typical "PE operating team" was a few old-timer ex-CEOs. Today there are 20,000 of them. Cass and Paul from ParkerGale's ops team sit down with Devin to walk through…
Apr 22, 2026 · 1:02:15
Do operating teams matter? Why is sourcing broken? Are add-ons a strategy or a crutch? What firms have actually "stayed small?" In this episode, Devin and Jim get introspective,…
Apr 15, 2026 · 1:12:49
LPs. GPs. Carry. Waterfalls. Pari passu. The unlock. Quantum. De-Risk. Niko originally thought one of these was a French dish. Liz wants to ban another from all future meetings.…
Apr 8, 2026 · 1:30:49
In February of this year, an obscure research report triggered a $1 trillion wipeout in software stocks in seven days. In this episode we decipher what actually happened — and…
Apr 1, 2026 · 58:37
Selling a company isn't just about price - it's about timing, preparation and process. In this episode, Devin sits down with Ryan Milligan to break down how to sell a company -…
Mar 25, 2026 · 52:35
Everyone loves the chase but what happens when the ink dries on the deal and you actually own a company? In this episode, Jim sits down with Paul Stansik to pull back the curtain…
Mar 18, 2026 · 1:23:49
It all starts with an acquisition, but most people don't understand how private equity firms actually find and buy companies. Devin sits down with Ryan Milligan to break down the…
Mar 11, 2026 · 1:17:40
Raising your first private equity fund is humbling. Like Lloyd Dobler holding a boombox outside an LP's window, you need to be committed and creative. It took us over 150…
Mar 4, 2026 · 1:13:22
In this episode, Devin and Jim rewind to 2014 — and a $12 bottle of Cabernet at the Macaroni Grill — where they hatched the plan to leave their firm and build a new private…
Feb 25, 2026 · 49:55
It's our annual Predictions episode (and by annual, we mean just the years we remember to record one). Devin and Jim offer their hot takes on fundraising, liquidity, why…
Jan 16, 2026 · 56:49
Devin sits down with Funcast listener and Terem Capital CEO Scott Middleton. Terem is a software holdco in Australia, and Scott shares his strategy, investment criteria, sourcing…
Dec 12, 2025 · 57:19
Jim sits down with Sean Lucq (Partner at SPMB Executive Search) to talk about the art of hiring senior engineering and product leaders—especially now that every job description…
Oct 29, 2025 · 53:13
In this episode of The Private Equity Funcast, Jim Milbery sits down with Jennifer Nelson (CEO of Izzy Software), Richard Malone, Rob Swanson (co-founders of CNX Corporation),…
Sep 30, 2025 · 1:56:57
Jim and Leah dive headfirst into a whirlwind chat that covers everything from the fine distinctions between puppets and marionettes to the equally delicate art of building great…
Jun 10, 2025 · 1:01:50
Paul Stansik sits down with Shiv Narayanan—founder of How to SaaS and author of Exit-Ready Marketing—to break down what most private equity firms and portfolio companies get…
May 6, 2025 · 54:28
Devin sits down with Sameer Shamsi, Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey's GP Led Secondaries group. We cover everything you want to know about continuation vehicles, but were afraid to ask…
Apr 1, 2025 · 48:04
In this episode of the Private Equity Funcast, host Ryan Milligan speaks with OpenBrand CEO Greg Munves and Chief Economist Ralph McLaughlin about their innovative approach to…
Mar 25, 2025 · 47:23
In this episode, Chris Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of Fractional AI , joins the show to discuss how his company helps traditional businesses adopt and implement generative AI…
Mar 4, 2025 · 41:04
In this episode of the Private Equity Funcast, Greg Munves (CEO) and Kristopher Kubicki (CTO) join Partner Ryan Milligan to discuss the rapid growth and transformation of Open…
Jan 30, 2025 · 1:02:30
Join host Jim Milbery along with guests Alan Williamson (CTO of HiBid) and Kristopher Kubicki (CTO of OpenBrand) as we react to the recent DeepSeek AI announcement, its…
Jan 13, 2025 · 47:50
Jim and Paul kick off the 2025 podcast year. We discuss economic uncertainties, private equity challenges, and evolving market strategies. We explore AI's role in portfolio…
Nov 14, 2024 · 55:21
Matt Van Itallie from SEMA Software joins Jim to discuss the value of SEMA's code analysis tools for private equity backed companies, particularly for companies managing…
Oct 16, 2024 · 59:17
Jim welcomes old friend and colleague, Jeremy Burton, CEO of Observe, to the podcast. They discuss the importance of observability in modern software development, the evolution…
Sep 12, 2024 · 52:03
Jim welcomes Phillip Weinstein , founder of Atropates Capital who discusses his background, entrepreneurial journey, and the concept of starting a search fund. The conversation…
Aug 29, 2024 · 53:38
Join Paul from the ParkerGale Ops team as he unpacks the concept of "product-market fit" with special guest, Rob Snyder – multiple-time startup founder and Fellow at Harvard…
Aug 15, 2024 · 52:18
Devin spends an hour with Ankur Gupta, PNC's Global Head of Technology Finance, to discuss the current state of software company lending. We cover where PNC fits in the lending…
Jul 8, 2024 · 55:52
ParkerGale Principal Cass Ziebel sits down with CFO Jon Danielson to discuss the priorities of a PE-backed CFO and what he's learned from a recent sale process. In this episode,…
May 24, 2024 · 1:06:51
In this interview, Jim and Yuval Yeret discuss the implementation and challenges of agile methodologies within the private equity space. Yuval has extensive experience in product…
May 2, 2024 · 57:58
Product positioning expert April Dunford joins Operating Partner Paul Stansik to talk about the curse of product pessimism (and how to fix it), why most software companies…
Apr 18, 2024 · 39:40
Ryan Milligan dives deeper into our investment in Big Band Software , joined by Big Band founders Kevin McArdle (CEO), Chris Reedy (Head of Acquisitions), and Jason Heath (COO).…
Apr 4, 2024 · 1:14:17
"Value Creation" - It's one of the most over-used terms in private equity today. What does value creation mean? What's wrong with how investors talk about their value creation…
Mar 8, 2024 · 59:34
We welcome back our friends Christoph and Peter from FLEX Capital in Berlin, Germany. Our conversation covers everything you would expect . . . how is the tech market holding up…
Feb 14, 2024 · 1:21:27
Jim welcomes the CEO of Master Storytelling and former host of Planet Money, the always-entertaining Adam Davidson . We explore the importance of crafting a compelling and…
Jan 25, 2024 · 1:05:31
Jim talks Low-Code/No-Code with Jon Kragh , founder of Proactive Logic Consulting . Jon and his team provide fractional CTO, cloud architecture, tech modernization, and process…
Jan 18, 2024 · 50:35
Jim talks with IBM Champion and the Incredible i Show host, Peg Tuttle . IBM's Power Systems platform running the IBM i operating system powers some of the most significant…
Dec 18, 2023 · 1:04:04
Jim talks with Stanford's Dr. Mohammad Rasouli about AI's pending disruption in Private Equity. He is an ex-McKinsey consultant from the Bay Area and the New York offices…
Nov 29, 2023 · 1:10:14
Bill Snow, a noted authority on mergers and acquisitions, is back with the second part of our discussion on his new book, Mergers and Acquisitions for Dummies . He joins host Jim…
Nov 7, 2023 · 59:11
Devin is joined by Tuck Hardie, a Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey's Financial Restructuring Group. After operating through the bankruptcy at Marvel as a client of Houlihan,…
Sep 27, 2023 · 1:29:42
Bill Snow, a noted authority on mergers and acquisitions has represented buyers and sellers in a multitude of industries. He joins host Jim Milbery to discuss his new book,…
Sep 15, 2023 · 43:17
Two Hundred and Seventy Three Episodes and Two Million downloads later, it's the 10th anniversary of the PE Funcast. Indulge your intrepid co-hosts, Devin and Jim, as we walk…
Aug 10, 2023 · 1:00:08
This week we sat down with Clark O'Niell and Jay Barlett from BCG to discuss their most recent research report on Generative AI and its implications for PE investors and their…
Jul 13, 2023 · 1:42:23
In this episode of the PE Funcast, we take a deep dive into the relationship between the portfolio company CEO and the private equity Partner. What do they talk about when they…
Jun 14, 2023 · 1:16:08
We've been hearing more questions and interest in operating partner roles than ever before. In our latest episode of the Private Equity Funcast, Operating Partners Jim and Cici…
May 19, 2023 · 1:04:04
Ted Bililies, Managing Director and Head of Global Transformation Leadership Practice at AlixPartners joins Devin again to review the findings of the 8th Annual PE Leadership…
May 4, 2023 · 1:02:26
In this episode of the PE Funcast, Devin and our Head of Research, David, discuss our research on software valuations, "What's a Software Company Worth." They cover how software…
Apr 20, 2023 · 39:57
The grand finale of our two-part conversation with Kelley Powell, a long-time ParkerGale collaborator, and ex-portfolio executive. Kelley talks about the ins and outs of working…
Apr 5, 2023 · 41:47
Part One of a two-part conversation with Kelley Powell , a long-time ParkerGale collaborator and ex-portfolio executive. Kelley talks about the ins and outs of working with PE…
Mar 23, 2023 · 59:56
Jim spends an hour talking about technical due diligence with Dan Bender , and Lukas Ingelheim from Code & Co . Dan and Lukas have over 250 engagements under their collective…
Feb 24, 2023 · 51:29
Jim talks with an old friend and comrade, Alan Williamson, about his new book - Think Like a CTO. Alan shares hard-won lessons on how to thrive in the fast-paced role of Chief…
Jan 25, 2023 · 1:00:19
Jim talks Mergers and Acquisitions Roll-up strategies with Matt Lynch, Managing Director at District Capital Partners . We discuss the various types of add-on acquisitions and…
Jan 4, 2023 · 44:28
Jimmy is joined by Katrina Calihan, Executive Coach and Co-Founder of Wind + Sail Leadership Partners, to discuss and demystify executive coaching. Jimmy and Katrina have been…
Dec 20, 2022 · 41:13
In this episode of the Private Equity Funcast, Operating Partner Cici Zheng is joined by Jared Ranere, President and COO of thrv, a firm that delivers services, training and a…
Nov 11, 2022 · 52:59
Jim talks with Paul Stansik about his experiences digging in on the sales and marketing function within our portfolio.
Sep 2, 2022 · 36:45
In the latest episode of the Private Equity Funcast, Operating Partners Cici Zheng and Paul Stansik discuss the ICP - Ideal Customer Profile. As investors, we're frequently…
Aug 17, 2022 · 56:05
Jimmy is joined by David Cohen, Human Capital Partner at Kelso and Company. David has been working in the Human Capital / Private Equity space for over a decade and has helped…
Jul 11, 2022 · 1:01:28
In this episode, Jimmy is joined by Laura Queen, founder, and CEO of 29Bison, a Human Capital Consultancy focused on the PE space. Laura is also the author of the book "People…
Jun 22, 2022 · 43:32
Jim talks all things DevOps with Dave Mangot from Mangoteque. Dave's philosophy is "Get Good at Delivering Software", and he has helped many well-known companies become "best in…
Jun 8, 2022 · 43:59
No prospect is going to buy enterprise software on impulse. Prospects don't need advertising, they need help, help understanding that they have a problem, help in understanding…
May 31, 2022 · 28:35
Your company acquired another company - congrats! But what happens next? In this episode, Operating Partners Cici and Jimmy break down the Integration Management Office, or IMO.…
May 4, 2022 · 50:25
Jimmy is joined on the show by Ted Bililies, Managing Director at AlixPartners, for what is now becoming a yearly ritual to discuss the results of the 7th Annual PE Leadership…
Apr 13, 2022 · 39:59
On this episode of the Funcast, Operating Partner Paul Stansik is joined by CEO Elias Rubel, whose team at Matter Made works with B2B marketing teams big and small to help…
Apr 4, 2022 · 45:50
It's the grand finale of our annual March Madness episodes -- the final four. Cass versus Jimmy and Paul versus Cici for all the proverbial marbles for our favorite podcast!
Mar 28, 2022 · 1:00:07
It's our annual March Madness show. This year our intrepid Operations Team picks their 16 favorite podcasts. Have a listen as Cici, Paul, Cass, and Jimmy along with Commissioner…
Mar 24, 2022 · 55:06
Sometimes the recipe for a good discussion is to simply pick an important topic, invite two smart people who disagree with each other, and then sit back and listen. Today Paul…
Mar 10, 2022 · 53:32
Jim and Attorney Peter Halprin from Pasich, LLP discuss the ins and outs of Cybersecurity Insurance and Litigation. We cover a wide range of topics with a focus on what private…
Mar 3, 2022 · 52:29
In this episode, Cici Zheng talks with April Dunford, a positioning consultant, speaker, and author on how she helps growth stage companies with positioning. They discuss the…
Feb 17, 2022 · 47:32
In this week's episode, we are talking with Pam Lang, CEO of Xcelerated Data, a company that focuses on fixing data quality problems leading to better decisions in your marketing…
Jan 12, 2022 · 36:34
Jim, Cici and Jimmy discuss community building within our portfolio. We cover everything from organizing small teams across our companies to ParkerGale's approach to "summits".
Jan 5, 2022 · 36:21
It's our annual predictions show for 2022 with your original hosts, Devin and Jim. With the glut of other pontificators doing their usual prognostications, we've decided to shake…
Dec 27, 2021 · 17:18
Devin walks us through three (yes 3!) new additions to the ParkerGale team. We're calling it the Platform Team and it includes a Head of Community, a Head of Origination, and a…
Dec 24, 2021 · 40:18
It's our annual holiday episode, with your original hosts -- Devin and Jim. While the debate over "Die Hard as a Christmas movie" is settled (it is), there are still plenty of…
Dec 17, 2021 · 49:24
Jimmy is joined by Tim Schumm, CEO of Lucas James Talent Partners to discuss The Great Resignation. Just about everyone has been impacted by this personally or professionally in…
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