

Fraudish
Kelly Paxton
Fraudish is a podcast to help those working in fraud. Hosted by Kelly Paxton, Certified Fraud Examiner, Ex-Private Investigator, and Pink Collar Crime Expert. Kelly is a former special agent turned investigator specializing in embezzlement and workplace dishonesty cases. Fraudish interviews outstanding fraud professionals so you can continue to move forward in your career. Origin stories, tips, resources are just some of the amazing fraud content you will hear each Tuesday. 
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 21, 2025 • 59min
Lessons from a Professional Peacemaker with Doug Noll
 Litigator turned a peacemaker? Well Doug Noll is no usual lawyer, and you won't want to miss hisDespite Kelly’s aversion to lawyers, she has invited Doug Noll on to discuss why he isn’t a typical lawyer anymore and how he got involved in the fraud world. Doug Noll is a former trial lawyer turned mediator who is known for his work in alternative dispute resolution and emotional competency. Doug shares his journey from starting as a litigation attorney to becoming a peacemaker. We cover: How the prison population isn’t that different from the wider populations and his work with the Prisoner Peace ProjectHow to really use boundaries in your life Why most lawyers are lousy negotiators and how to be a better one yourself Why emotional intelligence gets better as we age How AI will change the legal professionThe way this lawyer blew me away with his emotional intelligence! Never thought I’d say that - so make sure to listen through. Learn more about Doug: https://dougnoll.com/Connect with Doug: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougnoll/Follow Doug: https://www.instagram.com/douglasenoll/ 

Oct 14, 2025 • 45min
Beyond Checkbox Compliance and Ethics Training with Evie Wentink
 Toxic leadership + unhappy employees = ethics disasters waiting to happen! Sound familiar?This week, I'm thrilled to chat with Evie Wentink from Ethical Edge Experts who's revolutionizing compliance programs by putting people first. She shares why those mind-numbing checkbox approaches fail and how integrating employee wellbeing into ethics actually prevents misconduct. If you're looking to transform compliance from a dreaded requirement into a competitive advantage, this conversation delivers practical strategies you can implement immediately.Connect with Evie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eviewentink/Website: https://www.ethicaledgeexperts.com/Book: https://www.amazon.com/LETS-TALK-ABOUT-ETHICS-Wentink/dp/B0DXCK3N4P 

Oct 7, 2025 • 33min
From Patriot Act to Online-Banking: How Banking and AML Changed with Becki LaPorte
 Fraudish fans, I've brought an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) powerhouse Becki LaPorte to share the fraud lessons and career pivots that keep you coming back.Becki breaks down her fascinating evolution from therapist to Anti-Money Laundering specialist, revealing how her psychology background became her secret weapon in understanding financial crime patterns. For those of you navigating career transitions in fraud prevention, her journey through banking, securities, and technology offers a masterclass in building transferable skills that keep you relevant as compliance demands evolve.This episode delivers tangible professional development for anyone serious about advancing their fraud-fighting toolkit!Connect with Becki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becki-laporte-cfcs-fis-a543b95/ 

Sep 30, 2025 • 56min
200 Episodes of Fraudish & We're Still Kicking: Death Investigation Special with Dean Beers
 Fraudish fans, we made it to 200 episodes! To celebrate, I'm diving into the ultimate fraud – death fraud – with death investigator Dean Beers. And yes, "death investigator" is absolutely as fascinating a job as it sounds!Dean's been poking around suspicious deaths since 1987 (before some of you were born!) and shares some jaw-dropping stories that would make even your favorite true crime podcast blush. From "Oops, they're not actually dead" insurance scams to cases where the evidence tells a completely different story than the witnesses, Dean's seen it all. The best part? He breaks down how evidence-based impartiality is the secret sauce to cracking these cases wide open.This episode is perfect for my fellow investigation nerds, whether you're working in the private sector or government. Here's to 200 more episodes of Fraudish conversations!Connect with Dean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forensicinvestigators/Investigative Courses registration link and discount code:www.InvestigativeCourses.comCode: fraudish15associates@InvestigativeCourses.comTruth Verifications: www.TruthVerifications.com (we offer a 10% discount or a 10% referral fee back to them, just tell us they heard on the podcast).Books: their three books are at www.PrivateInvestigations.org (direct from us is a 20% discount from Amazon retail, and also includes taxes and shipping).http://www.deathcasereview.com/http://www.deathcasereview.com/truth-verifications.html 

Sep 23, 2025 • 38min
Why Good People Do Bad Things with Guido Palazzo
 This episode with Prof. Guido Palazzo blew my mind about how normal people turn into corporate criminals. Turns out it's less about bad apples and more about toxic orchards! We dish about all your favorite corporate disasters: Theranos, Wells Fargo, and France Telecom. Guido explains how fear and impossible targets are basically Fraud Fertilizer™.My favorite part? Learning that having a career "Plan B" is your best defense against being pressured into sketchy accounting, and that reading novels builds more ethical muscles than those cheesy HR training videos. Next time your boss talks about "getting creative with the numbers," remember this conversation and maybe update that resume... just saying!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guidopalazzo-/Website: https://guidopalazzo.com/Get his book: https://guidopalazzo.com/book-project/ 

Sep 16, 2025 • 46min
From White Shoe Lawyer to White Collar Inmate and Back with Jeff Grant Esq.
 Buckle up, Fraudish! Jeff Grant gives "career pivot" a whole new meaning in this episode: from lawyer to opioid addict to federal inmate to ordained minister to practicing attorney again. Talk about a LinkedIn profile that raises eyebrows!Jeff and his wife Lynn created the White Collar Support Group (therapy for people who've traded corner offices for prison cells) and now he's fighting for a Federal Expungement Initiative. As someone who investigates fraud for a living, I was fascinated by the "after the handcuffs" perspective we don’t discuss too often.Don't miss the White Collar Conference 2025 on October 11th (virtual) featuring CNN's Jeffrey Toobin and Joe Bankman, father of crypto's fallen wunderkind SBF. Florida friends – catch Jeff live on October 9th at Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach (RSVP: rsvp@bbts.org).Links:White Collar Support Group: http://prisonist.orgConference: http://whitecollarconference.comLaw Practice: http://GrantLaw.comExpungement Initiative: http://federalexpungement.orgNew Yorker profile: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/30/life-after-white-collar-crimeJeff's Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Grant_(attorney) 

Sep 10, 2025 • 48min
When Positive Psychology Meets Fraud Prevention with Robin Johnson
 I'm back with a conversation that connects dots I never saw coming! Robin Johnson brings the ultimate career combo - fraud prevention expert AND positive psychology guru.We dive into why that perfectly nice Karen from accounting suddenly "borrows" $250K, how toxic workplace culture practically invites fraud, and my favorite revelation: positive psychology might prevent fraud better than another policy manual (sorry, corporate writers!).Robin's journey from MBA to Safe Checks fraud specialist to positive psychology master's degree holder gives her unique insight into the human side of fraud. If you've wondered why your fancy controls still don't stop determined fraudsters, this episode has your answer: better humans, healthier workplaces!Connect with Robin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlitsterjohnson/Website: https://www.robinlearningsystems.com/Mentioned in this episode:Safe Checks: https://www.safechecks.com/Book: Positive Leadership by Kim Cameron: https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Leadership-Strategies-Extraordinary-Performance/dp/1609945662/Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Flats_National_Wildlife_RefugeTED Talk: "Forget the pecking order at work" by Margaret Heffernan: https://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_forget_the_pecking_order_at_work 

Aug 26, 2025 • 40min
Networking Across Borders: Yin Johnson’s Global PI Career
 "My location holds no boundaries!" - Yin Johnson, whose 37-year investigative career spans continents and countless fraud cases. In this episode, we explore how Yin built her global investigation practice and leverages her extensive network to solve complex cases.Yin shares her journey from sports instructor to renowned international investigator, offering insights on financial and intellectual property fraud across different cultures. We discuss how technology has transformed her work and the power of building strong investigative connections worldwide.Kelly want’s her rolodex! Connect:LinkedIn: Yin JohnsonBooks: Reprobates | Killer SmileLinkedIn: Kelly Paxton 

Aug 19, 2025 • 33min
An Ethical Rabbi Walks into a Bar? with Rabbi Yonason Goldson
 After 30 years in Jewish education, Rabbi Yonason Goldson became an ethics expert and speaker. As I discovered, it's not as big a leap as you might think!In this episode, we explore whether today's world is actually less ethical or if we just see more wrongdoing due to social media and the 24 hours news cycle. We also dive into how AI is reshaping our ethical landscape and what ancient wisdom can teach us about modern dilemmas.Yonason brings unique perspectives as a prolific content creator and host of the podcast 'Grappling with the Gray.' If you've ever had questions about navigating ethical gray areas in your professional life, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply immediately!Connect with Yonason Goldson:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonason-goldson/TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/yonason_goldson_how_i_became_my_own_worst_nightmarePodcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/45dZ36DR6SxpFGGJSaXPuiConnect with Kelly:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellypaxton/ 

Aug 12, 2025 • 1h 5min
Even Fraud Has a Silver Lining with Johnathan Walton
 Join Johnathan Walton, a TV producer and author of Anatomy of a Con Artist, as he reveals how a scam from an Irish heiress transformed his life. He shares his journey from victim to expert, discussing the silver linings of fraud. The conversation dives into the psychological impacts of scams, the challenges victims face in seeking justice, and the thrill behind deception. Walton also teases his new podcast, Cocaine Air, which explores the life of a former drug smuggler. Prepare for insights into both the dark and enlightening sides of con artistry! 


