The Audit Podcast

Hosted by Trent Russell

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344

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Jun 2026

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About the show

On the show you can expect to hear from everyone: from the intern, to the IT audit director, CAE and audit committee members because all of their opinions are important. We'll talk about integrating tech into audit, how to get quick wins, the latest SOX guidance and whatever other topics the guests want to talk about and whatever you want to hear about. Be sure to subscribe to the show in whatever you're listening to it on now and we'll talk to you soon.

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June 16, 202631 min

Ep 288: The Dead-End Strategy Most Organizations Are Following w/ Angelo Poulikakos (Protiviti)

This week on The Audit Podcast, Angelo Poulikakos, Global Leader of Internal Audit and Financial Advisory Capabilities at Protiviti, joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on AI, innovation, and what it means to stay relevant in a rapidly changing profession. Drawing from his experience helping organizations navigate AI adoption, Angelo shares how his own use of AI has evolved, why context matters more than prompts, and how audit leaders can move beyond simply becoming faster and cheaper to delivering deeper insights and greater value. He also discusses Protiviti's internal strategy for embracing AI, building future-ready talent, and transforming how audit work gets done. The conversation explores the balance between human creativity and AI, the importance of critical thinking in an AI-driven world, and why staying hungry to learn, experiment, and innovate is essential for the future of internal audit. 2:05 - Creativity, Critical Thinking & Technology 8:13 - From Prompt Engineering to Context Engineering 16:58 = What's Next for AI 19:06 - The EAT Framework for Internal Audit Transformation 29:25 - Final thoughts Be sure to connect with Angelo on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

June 9, 202631 min

Ep 287: First 100 Days as a CAE w/ Danielle Ritter (GitLab)

This week on The Audit Podcast, Danielle Ritter, VP and Head of Internal Audit at GitLab and former CAE at Instacart, joins the show to share lessons from her leadership journey and practical advice for audit professionals at every stage of their careers. Drawing from her experience leading audit functions across multiple organizations, Danielle discusses what matters most during a CAE's first 100 days, how to build credibility with stakeholders, and why strong relationships are essential to an effective audit function. She also shares how her team is embracing AI, developing new skills, and preparing for the future of the profession. 2:06 – Using AI in work and everyday life 5:16 – Where CAEs should focus: insights vs. efficiency 6:46 – Day One: listening and learning 10:11 – Navigating the CAE interview process 13:09 – How to define and demonstrate value 16:40 – What information belongs in the boardroom 19:00 – A practical approach to building strong relationships 22:45 – AI and the future of job security 27:55 – Making time for self-directed learning 30:07 – Final thoughts: your career does not define you Be sure to connect with Danielle on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

May 28, 202643 min

Ep 286: The Human Side of Audit Transformation w/ Aadesh Gandhre & Idania Orengo (DTCC)

This week on The Audit Podcast, Aadesh Gandhre, CAE at DTCC, steps in as guest host for a conversation with his colleague, Idania Orengo, Chief of Staff, Internal Audit at DTCC, about the human side of audit transformation. Drawing from their experiences at DTCC, they discuss how culture, communication, and leadership help build high-performing audit teams. They explain that innovation is not always driven by technology. Sometimes it comes from simplifying processes, building trust, and creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing ideas. The conversation also highlights the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and strong relationships in driving successful transformation within internal audit. 6:15 - Early Days at Goldman 7:45 - What Makes a Great Leader 9:55 - Feedback, EQ & Confidence 13:55 - The Human Side of Transformation 16:08 - Building DTCC's Audit Culture 18:58 - Leadership Behind the Scenes 23:27 - Strong Teams & Communication 25:36 - ERGs, Identity & Inclusion 27:48 - AI vs Human Connection 30:00 - Innovation That Actually Works 34:10 - Changing the View of Internal Audit 39:50 - Finding Your Voice 41:30 - Final Thoughts Be sure to connect with Aadesh and Idania on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

May 26, 202634 min

Ep 285: How MIT Leaders Are Building AI That Works w/ Michelle Jackson and Edgar Berrio (MIT)

This week, Michelle Jackson and Edgar Berrios, internal audit leaders at MIT, join the show. Drawing from their work at MIT, they share a practical perspective on how AI is being integrated into the audit process. Their approach goes beyond the technology itself, emphasizing the importance of guidelines, mindset, and human oversight to create AI solutions that are effective and responsible. The conversation explores how AI is transforming audit teams today. From defining agentic AI to practical use cases like drafting audit findings and improving communication, Michelle and Edgar break down what's actually working in practice. They also discuss the importance of clear governance and human review to ensure quality outputs. The episode also includes a real-world walkthrough showing how to build an AI agent using Copilot. Be sure to connect with Michelle and Edgar on LinkedIn. 1:32 - Best Chat prompts 5:10 - Agentic AI Explained 7:00 - Prioritizing Company Use Cases for Agentic AI 10:20 - Developing Guidelines and Guardrails for Agentic AI 14:23 - How to Build an Agent 25:55 - Drafting an Audit Finding 32:17 - Final Thoughts Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

May 19, 20263 min

The 2026 Audit Analytics and AI Conference Spring

It's tomorrow! The Audit Analytics and AI Conference is here! One thing I hear constantly at conferences is that there's plenty of AI talk, but not enough real examples of how teams are actually using it day to day. That's always been the goal of this conference. This year, we went back through five years of speakers and brought back some of the highest-rated sessions, the people who didn't just talk theory, but actually pulled up their screens and showed how they're using AI and analytics in practice. And if you can't make it live tomorrow, recordings will be available as well. Last chance to register here: https://theauditanalyticsconference.com/register/

May 5, 202622 min

Ep 284: Inside Audit, AI, and What Actually Works w/ Andrew Struthers-Kennedy

This week, Andrew Struthers-Kennedy takes over hosting duties for The Audit Podcast… and interviews me! We cover audit, risk, AI, and technology, with a conversation that ties closely to themes from The Audit Analytics and AI Conference, where innovation and practical adoption are front and center. We get into where AI is showing up in the audit process, what teams can realistically start implementing today, and where vendors vs. in-house solutions make the most sense. I also reflect on six years of podcast conversations with audit leaders and share one of the biggest lessons I've learned. Be sure to connect with Andrew on LinkedIn. 5:23 - Predictions for audit 2026 8:05 - AI or bust 11:16 - Most memorable pieces of advice from the audit podcast 15:15 - Trent answers Rapid fire questions 15:20 - How AI should be utilized in audit teams 17:15 - The audit analytics and AI Spring conference 21:10 - Wrap Up Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

April 28, 202642 min

Ep 283: Topical Requirement: Organizational Behavior w/ Sandro Boeri (Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors)

This week, Sandro Boeri, former President of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors and a globally recognized voice in the profession, joins the show. He brings a perspective shaped by decades in the profession—combining practical experience with a strong focus on leadership, culture, and how internal audit needs to evolve to stay relevant. Rather than focusing only on tools, he emphasizes mindset, discipline, and the role auditors play in influencing better decisions. The conversation centers on how the role of internal audit is shifting. From using AI as a thinking partner in everyday scenarios to the growing pressure to clearly articulate value, he shares what's changing—and what auditors need to do about it. He also breaks down the idea of moving beyond hindsight-based assurance toward becoming a trusted advisor present in key decisions. Be sure to connect with Sandro on LinkedIn. 6:00 - Dealing with difficult emails using LLM 8:55 – The Adoption Journey of AI 11:43 – What Are You Teaching Right Now 13:00 – Is Internal Audit Becoming Irrelevant 15:42 - Why Audit Needs to Sell Its Value 16:30 - Why Audit Needs to Sell Its Value 20:17 - How Do You Audit Culture 25:43 - Selling Findings 27:46 - What Happens When AI Does the Audit Work 34:05 - Why Influence is the One Skill That Will Matter Most 40:15 – Final thoughts Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

April 21, 202636 min

Ep 282: Why Culture, Not Tech, Drives Audit Innovation w/ Andrew Struthers-Kennedy and Arpit Shah (Audit Innovator Award)

This week, internal audit leaders Andrew Struthers-Kennedy and Arpit Shah join the show. They bring a perspective grounded in real-world innovation—leading a team that's been recognized with the Audit Innovator Award two years in a row. They share how their approach goes beyond tools and technology, focusing instead on mindset, leadership, and creating an environment where ideas can take shape. The conversation centers on how innovation really happens inside audit teams. From using AI as a day-to-day thinking partner to building and deploying solutions quickly, they break down what's working in practice. They also walk through the Innovator Award—how it started, what it recognizes, and why showcasing real examples of progress in the profession matters. This is a quick, practical episode packed with insights on experimentation, leadership, and how teams of any size can start making progress—without waiting for the perfect solution. Be sure to connect with Andrew and Arpit on LinkedIn. 5:17 - AI Problem Solving 12:27 – Using AI for Real Life Logistics 22:30 – Prioritizing Tax Data Accuracy in the Audit Plan 30:05 – How Their Audit Team Is Structured for Innovation 32:11 – Final thoughts Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

April 14, 202624 min

Ep 281: Bridging the Gap Between Tax and Internal Audit w/ Michelle V. (ITT Inc.)

This week, internal audit leader and tax expert Michelle V. joins the show. Michelle brings a unique perspective, coming from a tax background into internal audit leadership—an area where tax expertise isn't always front and center. She shares insights into her transition from leading tax to stepping into a broader internal audit role, and how that experience shapes the way she approaches emerging topics today. The conversation centers on upcoming guidance around effective tax rate requirements set to take effect in 2026. Michelle breaks down why this topic matters, what audit teams should be paying attention to, and how even those without a tax background can better understand and communicate the implications—whether within their organizations or at the board level. This is a quick, practical episode packed with insights that can help auditors stay ahead of an important, and often overlooked, area. Be sure to connect with Michelle on LinkedIn. 6:34 - Utilizing LLMs for report research 11:06 – ASC guidance effective tax rate 2026 15:33 – Prioritizing Tax Data Accuracy in the Audit Plan 17:43 – What's Driving ASC guidance 19:18 – Map Your Current Footnote to New Requirements 23:27 – Final Thoughts Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

April 7, 202646 min

Ep 280: Why Passive Voice Is Hurting Your Audit Reports w/ Sara I. James (Radical Reporting)

This week, Sara I. James, author of Radical Reporting: Writing Better Audit, Risk, Compliance, and Information Security Reports (Second Edition), joins the show. Sara shares what's new in the second edition of her book, including a deeper focus on critical thinking and the role of large language models in report writing. She explains why strong writing about more than grammar and how language, logic, and professional courage all work together in effective audit communication. Finally, Sara talks through key themes from the book, including active versus passive voice, why so many audit findings become harder to follow than they need to be, and how auditors can write more clearly, think more critically, and avoid over relying on AI in their work. Be sure to connect with Sara on LinkedIn. Check out her website. 6:02 - Best Advice 5:53 – Sara's Book: Radical Reporting 8:40 – Importance of Critical Thinking 17:45 – Active Versus Passive Voice 22:50 – Active Audit Report Writing 28:57 – Why LLMs Aren't Enough 31:36 – Why the 5 C's don't hold up 36:00 – Using LLMs for Report Writing 44:30 – Final Thoughts Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.