Private Club Radio Show

Japan is not just a destination. It is a lesson in how much care can be placed into even the smallest details.
After separate trips to Japan, Denny brings together Joe Smith, General Manager of Countryside Golf and Country Club in Naples, and Matthew Gilbert, Executive Chef at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago.
They did not travel together, and they went for very different reasons, but they both came home with a similar appreciation for the culture, the people, the food, the craftsmanship, and a style of hospitality that seems to anticipate what you need before you ever have to ask.
The conversation goes well beyond travel stories.
Joe and Matthew explore Kaizen and why small, consistent improvement can be more powerful than chasing giant motivational breakthroughs. They discuss the patience behind real mastery, and how ideas like Kintsugi and Wabi Sabi can change the way leaders view mistakes, difficult nights, and the beauty of imperfect human service.
They also dig into Kikubari, the practice of thoughtful, anticipatory care, and the idea that leaders are handing out energy all day, whether they realize it or not.
From hiring for culture and protecting teams from energy vampires, to creating meaningful member experiences and leading with greater awareness, this episode is filled with ideas club professionals can actually bring back to their teams.
It is a longer conversation, but it keeps going somewhere worthwhile.
Because the difference between good hospitality and great hospitality often lives in the little things most people never notice.
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A club can look perfect and still feel off. That’s the problem we tackle with one simple idea: the layers of ambiance. We’re not talking about a pretty lobby or an Instagram moment. We’re talking about how deep the experience really goes, from the driveway and parking lot to the bathrooms, locker rooms, signage, music, lighting, and the energy your team brings into every interaction.

We unpack why “premium” is a promise that starts the second a member arrives. That promise creates expectations before anyone says hello, and the expectation gap can show up in surprising ways: a lingering smell, a dingy entry, mismatched design cues, or a space that feels great up front but neglected in the corners. Ambiance is bigger than candles and playlists. It’s a full emotional environment built from sound, scent, temperature, cleanliness, pace, and flow. When those layers align, members feel comfort, trust, and belonging.
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Club leadership can feel like constant problem-solving, but what if the real work is learning how your mind and body react under pressure? Denny sits down with Crystal Thomas, a Master Club Manager and educator with a master’s degree in spiritual psychology, to unpack a grounded approach to staying calm, clear, and effective when members, boards, and staff hit your nervous system at full speed. Crystal explains spirituality as separate from religion and frames inner peace as our natural baseline, with daily disruptions revealing what we still need to heal, practice, and lead through.

We dig into Viktor Frankl’s idea that between what happens and what happens next sits a moment of choice, and Crystal lands one of the sharpest leadership lines you’ll hear: the issue is never the issue, it’s how we deal with the issue. From member complaints to staff conflict, we talk about separating operational systems from the human side of reaction, triggers, and limiting beliefs so you can respond with intention instead of reflex. You’ll also hear how questions about “highest potential” can reshape how you coach your team and how you see yourself as a leader.

Crystal shares real stories from the club world, including how she supported her chapter team through COVID by creating stability first, then building a stronger plan from that safe foundation. We also get practical on the difference between management and leadership, why culture forms whether you design it or not, and the hidden burnout trap of having responsibility without authority. If you want stronger club culture, better member experience, and steadier leadership presence, you’ll leave with tools you can use the next time a tough conversation walks into your office. Subscribe, share this with a fellow club leader, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re going to try this week.
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500 episodes doesn’t happen by accident, and it definitely doesn’t happen by playing it safe. For this milestone, we flip the format and let marketing powerhouse Jay Schwedelson (host of Do This Not That and author of Stupider People Have Done It) interview Denny Corby about the path from Scranton to performing at hundreds of private golf and country clubs, and why Private Club Radio became a home for club stories that usually stay behind the curtain.

We get into the unsexy truth behind a “fun” career: the follow-ups, the relationship-building, and the daily business habits that create bookings months later. Denny shares his approach to owning a room with a simple framework that applies to any club leader, speaker, or presenter: intention, surprise, and connection. The pre-show matters, whether you’re greeting members before a big event night or hopping on a Zoom early to make people feel seen.

Then we go where most people won’t: the bomb. Denny tells the fresh story of losing the room while giving a talk about control, complete with tech chaos, spilled water on note cards, anxiety spirals, and a full on-stage restart. The surprising takeaway isn’t embarrassment, it’s what happens next: deeper conversations, more honest leadership, and connection that polished perfection rarely earns.

We also talk pandemic pivots, virtual events for clubs, staying in your lane versus taking every gig, and why being content with the audience you serve can be the real definition of success. If you lead at a private club, plan member experiences, or care about club culture and communication, hit play and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a club pro who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest lesson from the episode.
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Your club can spend $10M, $15M, even $20M on a renovation and still leave members with a first impression that feels stuck in the early 2000s. That disconnect is exactly what we tackle with Sean Bleyl from MembersFirst. Sean’s a former club pro who now helps private golf and country clubs improve marketing, communications, and digital presence, and he brings a rare perspective that blends real operations experience with modern website and content strategy.

We talk about the timing trap clubs fall into: waiting until the end of a renovation to think about a website redesign, new photography, video, and the full communications plan. Sean breaks down why quality club web design is not a “build it in a day” project, how long it realistically takes when your team still has to run the club, and why photographers and content creators book out months in advance. We also get into what the best-run clubs do differently, including pulling marketing into renovation planning meetings early so member updates stay clear, consistent, and stress-reducing when parking lots change, routes shift, and timelines move.

The conversation expands into conferences and education, too. We share why the real magic is often in the hallways, buses, and quick chats between sessions, and how being present in the room makes connections easier and more authentic. Sean also shares a practical way to take notes with intention so you leave any CMAA event with a handful of ideas you will actually implement at your club.

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