Redesigning Legacy: Honor the Past, Build What’s Next
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Inheriting something that works is its own kind of pressure, and Jeremy Clopton gets into that tension directly on Episode 117 of The Upstream Leader. The discomfort of looking at programs, cultures, and ways of doing things built by people you respect, recognizing they need to evolve—these are all real challenges facing leaders. Drawing on his experience succeeding Upstream Academy’s founder, Jeremy makes the case that building on a legacy isn’t a betrayal of it, it’s actually the most faithful thing a leader can do. The principles don’t change, but what does is the responsibility....
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The Journey to Drive Progress in Public Accounting
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Jody Grunden’s path through accounting was anything but orderly: fired from public accounting, bored in industry after automating much of his own work away, then pushed into building something the profession barely had language for. On Episode 116 of The Upstream Leader, he traces how cash pressure, curiosity, and a willingness to keep making mistakes led to subscription billing, weekly client payments, remote teams, and a virtual CFO model long before any of that felt normal. Jeremy moves the discussion from the mechanics of pricing and niche focus to the harder reality of change inside...
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Rethink the Calendar to Match Your Own Rhythm
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Every year, accounting firm leaders emerge from tax season telling themselves there’s not enough time left to make meaningful changes, and every year, that story holds. Jeremy Clopton and producer Justin Grant push back on the premise itself on Episode 115 of The Upstream Leader. If April 30th is effectively the end of your performance year, then May 1st isn’t a third of the way through the calendar, it’s day one of something new. The conversation works through what that reframe actually demands: not just a shift in scheduling, but a willingness to do the hard work of change precisely...
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Motivate the Unmotivated: Stop Guessing
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Matt Granados, CEO of Life Pulse and author of Motivate the Unmotivated, joins Jeremy Clopton on Episode 114 of The Upstream Leader to make his case that most leaders can’t motivate their teams for a simple reason: they don’t know themselves well enough to know anyone else. His framework centers on identity, specifically the damage done when people tie who they are to what they do, and builds outward from there into a practical system for understanding what actually drives the individuals around you. It’s less about management technique and more about honest self-examination as a...
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Taking “People First” from Hashtag to Playbook
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Most accounting firms claim to put people first, but Shish Cherian knows the difference between a hashtag and actual commitment. Shish talks to Jeremy Clopton on Episode 113 of The Upstream Leader about how as head of people operations at Donovan CPAs, one of the profession's standout firms, he’s broken down what separates genuine “people first” culture from marketing speak. The distinction starts with alignment versus agreement—partners must be willing to sacrifice, not just nod along—and from there, it's about challenging directly while caring personally. Cutting through the...
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Finding Your Fulfilling Fit
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Alexia Pappas moved to Tampa with no job lined up, interviewed at ten firms, and nearly took a waitressing gig before finding the right fit. On Episode 112 of The Upstream Leader, she also tells Jeremy Clopton that she accepted a position in a department she had zero experience and no real interest in because the people felt right. That decision launched a decade-long career at the same firm. Alexia’s path wasn’t linear, starting in CAS despite wanting tax, discovering she knew "absolutely nothing" about foundational accounting, and spending years proving herself before making the switch....
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Navigating the Private Equity Question
The Upstream Leader Podcast
When Jeremy Jones stepped into the CEO role at Frazier & Deeter, he inherited not just a legacy, but a crossroads. The firm, steeped in tradition and guided by the founders’ ongoing presence, faced a pivotal decision: pursue private equity investment or maintain the status quo. He joins Jeremy Clopton on Episode 111 of The Upstream Leader and explains how, alongside his leadership team, he navigated a landscape transformed by industry peers embracing new models. Their journey was marked by candid conversations, cultural soul-searching, and a deliberate shift in governance and...
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Being, Not Becoming
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Caught in the endless loop of planning, reflecting, and waiting for the “right moment” to lead? Host Jeremy Clopton challenges the comfort of “becoming” and urges a shift into the discomfort and authenticity of being on Episode 110 of The Upstream Leader. Drawing from personal experience and the struggles of professionals everywhere, he exposes the trap of productive procrastination and the myth that more preparation will finally make us ready. Instead, he champions imperfect action, self-awareness, and the courage to step into the arena before feeling fully equipped. Leadership...
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Scaling with Purpose through the Right Mindset
The Upstream Leader Podcast
When Jason Blumer of Thriveal and Ian Vacin of Karbon set out to write Scale with Purpose, they didn’t expect the journey to mirror the unpredictable path of entrepreneurship itself. On Episode 109 of The Upstream Leader, they recount the ups and downs that shaped their leadership philosophies, from early missteps and hard-won lessons to the realization that scaling a service-based firm is as much about self-awareness as it is about strategy. Jeremy probes the content of the book, diving into the messy realities of building teams, the myth of consensus, and the challenge of driving...
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Lonely at the Top: Community Connections
The Upstream Leader Podcast
Being lonely at the top is more than a cliché, it’s a reality for many leaders. Jeremy Clopton sits down with Mark McFatridge, founder and CEO of Quaid, to explore the hidden challenges of leadership isolation and the power of community on Episode 108 of The Upstream Leader. Mark shares how “like-situated” circles can become a lifeline for CEOs and business owners navigating high-stakes decisions and personal struggles, as sources of trust, vulnerability, and radical candor. Mark goes through how to build authentic connections both inside and outside the workplace no matter your...
info_outlineHow can professionals harness AI while maintaining their ethics and keeping their skills sharp? On Episode 99 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton welcomes Emily Primeaux, Writing Manager at Dragonfly Editorial, to discuss AI’s role in the workplace. They explore why AI’s goal to appease users can be both helpful and risky, the ethical challenges of AI-assisted content, and how to introduce training around AI into your onboarding processes. AI, like any other tool, can be powerful in the right hands and with the right approach, and Emily has a robust approach to ensuring that is exactly how she uses it, through a regularly updated ethical use policy, communication with her clients, and more. You won’t want to miss her practical tips on how to balance authenticity and efficiency in this new technological age.
Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUpstreamLeader.com