Episode 178 - Current Trends, Human Connection, and the Future of Advisory - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
Release Date: 07/01/2026
Episode 183 - Beyond Pricing: Drucker, Branding, and the Soul of Business - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Ron Baker about Peter Drucker’s most influential ideas, including the rise of knowledge work, the importance of effectiveness over efficiency, and the need for businesses to pursue future opportunities instead of clinging to the past. They also explore how accounting firms can use distinct brands to separate commoditized services from high-value advisory work as well as why religious leaders offer valuable insights into purpose, dignity, stewardship, and the moral role of business. About Ron BakerRonald J. Baker began his CPA...
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Episode 182 - AI-Ready Accounting: Transforming Firms Before the Market Does - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with Peter McCarroll about why accounting firms must treat AI adoption as a strategic business transformation rather than simply adding new software tools. Peter explains the pricing pressures threatening traditional compliance work, the need to redesign firms around advisory value and human relationships, and how reusable AI instructions and skills can help teams turn individual experimentation into shared, repeatable processes. About Peter McCarroll Peter McCarroll is a Chartered Accountant (NZ), CPA (Canada), and the founder of...
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Episode 181 - Moving Upmarket (and Making Business More Human) - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather talk about Xero’s move into the midmarket, why accounting firms may find greater opportunity above the AI disruption zone, and how empathy can defuse difficult client conversations. They also discuss how personal transformation can lead to a healthier, more successful practice. Current events — TV/Movie quote of the week — Excellent Thing We Learned — Member spotlight — The Woodard Report article of the week — Thank you to our show sponsor, Digits! Digits is the world's first agent general ledger,...
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Episode 180 - From Compliance to Capacity: Building an AI-Enabled Accounting Firm - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Jan Haugo about how accounting firms can move beyond experimenting with AI and begin using it to transform workflows, increase profitability, and create more capacity for strategic advisory services. Jan shares practical approaches for overcoming security concerns and uncertainty, including her “pain, problem, prompt” method, while emphasizing the importance of firmwide training, strong governance, and leadership-driven adoption. They also explore how AI can help accountants become more thoughtful, empathetic advisors by...
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Episode 179 - Change Is the Environment - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather speak about Microsoft’s latest quantum computing and AI developments, and what those shifts could mean for accounting professionals. They also connect lessons from TV, April Rinne’s book Flux, and Donna Reed’s article on client conversations to the importance of adaptability, empathy, and intentional decision-making in advisory work. Current events — TV/Movie quote of the week — Excellent Thing We Learned — Member spotlight — The Woodard Report article of the week — The Quiet Question that...
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Episode 178 - Current Trends, Human Connection, and the Future of Advisory - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather speak about emerging developments shaping the accounting profession, including the consolidation of New England CPA societies, Pilot's shift from a local partnership model to AI-powered bookkeeping software, and how firms can use automation to elevate, not replace, their advisory services. They also explore the importance of healthy client boundaries, lessons from popular TV shows, recent IRS penalty relief opportunities, and why uniquely human qualities like navigating uncertainty and building relationships remain essential in an...
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Episode 177 - From Startup Founder to Autonomous Bookkeeping: How Pilot Built the Future of Accounting - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Jessica McKellar about her journey from studying computer science at MIT and building successful software startups to founding Pilot, a bookkeeping and accounting technology company. Jessica shares how Pilot evolved from solving the financial back-office challenges faced by entrepreneurs into a platform and explains how automation, AI, and value-based pricing are reshaping the economics of accounting firms. She also introduces Meridian, Pilot’s new platform that enables autonomous bookkeeping, month-end close processes, and...
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Episode 176 - The Tech Humanist: Keeping Humanity at the Center of AI - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Kate O'Neill about the intersection of technology and humanity, exploring how businesses can embrace AI and automation without losing the human connection that drives trust, meaning, and purpose. They discuss why accounting professionals should view AI not as a replacement, but as an opportunity to shift from transactional work to more strategic, empathetic, and judgment-driven client relationships. The conversation also dives into the risks of over-automation and why human wisdom, context, and lived experience remain irreplaceable...
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Episode 175 - AI, Intuit Upheaval, and the Future of Accounting - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe talk about major developments shaping the accounting profession, including Intuit’s dramatic stock decline, workforce layoffs tied to AI adoption, and the launch of ChatGPT Finance. They also explore how artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming professional services, emphasizing the need for accountants to embrace change by leaning into human-centered skills like judgment, relationships, and advisory work. Along the way, they share productivity strategies, discuss the dangers of “not us” thinking around AI disruption,...
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Episode 174 - Firing Clients, Finding Your Niche, and Making Accounting Fun - The Woodard Report Podcast
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard
On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with Tyler Otto about his unconventional path into accounting, growing a firm, and how niching down helped strengthen both company culture and client relationships. Tyler shares candid advice on when and how to “fire” difficult clients, what red flags to watch for during prospecting, and why firm owners should prioritize cultural fit over revenue. The conversation also dives into Tyler’s upcoming live game show at Scaling New Heights, and practical ways accounting firms can safely experiment with AI while preparing for the...
info_outlineOn this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather speak about emerging developments shaping the accounting profession, including the consolidation of New England CPA societies, Pilot's shift from a local partnership model to AI-powered bookkeeping software, and how firms can use automation to elevate, not replace, their advisory services. They also explore the importance of healthy client boundaries, lessons from popular TV shows, recent IRS penalty relief opportunities, and why uniquely human qualities like navigating uncertainty and building relationships remain essential in an AI-driven future.
Current events —
- 5 New England State CPA Societies merge to form "New England Society of CPAs"
- Pilot is taking a software approach to bookkeeper empowerment called Meridian
TV/Movie quote of the week —
Excellent Thing We Learned —
Member spotlight —
The Woodard Report article of the week —
Thank you to our show sponsor, Puzzle! Puzzle, the next generation firm, AI-powered, human-led. Puzzle replaces manual quick books workflows with AI-driven books built for review, approval, and audit-ready accountability. Learn more at puzzle.io
Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast