The Audit Podcast

This week on The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Genna Smith, Director of Internal Audit at RYAM.   She believes process improvement starts with mindset, and that even the smallest changes can lead to real impact. In this episode, she shares how she’s using tools like ChatGPT to build SOPs from the ground up, standardize processes, and support her team through AI adoption.   We also hear how she approaches ERM, why curiosity is her top hiring trait, and how rebuilding a 2007 Forerunner taught her lessons she brings into leadership. If you’re interested in practical ways to improve your audit function or how to lead with intention, this one’s for you.   Be sure to connect with Genna 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.   Timecodes:   1:43 – How ChatGPT Can Support SOP Development 6:26 – Building an Effective Analytics Program 9:50 – The One Thing Every Auditor Should Do 11:15 – How Audit Can Support the Organization on Tariffs 13:05 – Playing a Key Role in ERM Facilitation 19:07 – What Successful ERM Change Looks Like 21:26 – Why Process Improvement Matters 29:00 – Demonstrating Real Impact Through Process Improvement 32:48 – Final Thoughts   *   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.    

Links: John Thompson Book - The Path to AGI: Artificial General Intelligence: Past, Present, and Future * Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en   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 leapfrog 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.  

Links: From Gizmodo.com - Replit’s AI Agent Wipes Company’s Codebase During Vibecoding Session From Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWpg1RmzAbc From Financial Times - Can finance put a stop to AI data mining? * Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en   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 leapfrog 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.

This week on The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Anthony Reyes, Vice President of Internal Audit at Remitly. Anthony believes AI in audit isn’t a “someday” thing—it’s already happening. In this episode, he talks about the real ways AI is being used right now, including how it’s helping with testing controls and building smarter audit tools. We also hear how he’s training his team to work with AI and what advice he gives to strong auditors who want to become leaders. If you’re wondering how AI is really changing audit—or how to grow your executive skills—this one’s for you.   Be sure to connect with Anthony 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.   Timecodes:   1:40 – What a CAE Does With ChatGPT 4:33 – What’s Real and What’s Not in the AI World 12:45 – The Future of Audit When Utilizing AI 15:30 – Advice on Planning AI Training for Your Team 18:58 – Establishing Yourself as a Strategic Partner 22:25 – Understanding the “E” in CAE 26:47 – Final Thoughts   *   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.

Explore the fascinating world of ChatGPT's autonomous agents and their task automation abilities. Discover the potential risks they pose, including security vulnerabilities and prompt injection attacks. Real-world applications like making dinner reservations reveal their functionality, while insights into OpenAI's policies underscore the importance of user safety. Practical strategies for protecting personal data when using these AI tools are also highlighted, making this discussion a must-listen for anyone concerned about security in the age of AI.

This week on IA on AI, we break down the McDonald’s hiring bot fiasco — yes, the one where an AI chatbot exposed data from over 60 million job applicants due to a shockingly simple security lapse. We explore why these matters to internal auditors and what basic control failures like this can teach us about staying vigilant as AI becomes more embedded in business processes.   Plus: An update on the EU AI Act and why U.S.-based organizations should still be paying attention How Google’s AI caught a cyberattack in real time — and what this signals for the future of human-in-the-loop systems A $4 trillion milestone for Nvidia and a record-setting $2B seed round for a new AI startup A reality check on AGI: what it is, what it isn’t, and why the hype may be outpacing the science Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en   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 leapfrog 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.  

This week on The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Mike Padilla, Senior Manager of Internal Audit and SOX Leader at Starbucks.   Mike brings a refreshing perspective on the internal audit profession—starting with the idea that we might need to stop taking ourselves so seriously. His insights are especially relevant for those thinking about the future of the profession and how we recruit the next generation of auditors.   In this episode, Mike shares thoughts on how the perception of audit impacts recruiting—particularly among college students—and why it’s time to bridge the gap between IT and business process auditors. He also reveals what he believes is the single most important thing in building a strong audit function (and it might surprise you).   Be sure to connect with Mike 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.   Timecodes:   2:03 – Using ChatGPT to Improve Your Golf Swing 5:51 – Why the Basics Still Matter 15:27 – Recognizing When It’s Time to Step Back 22:17 – Attracting College Students to Internal Audit 31:17 – What Really Matters When Building an Audit Team 34:55 - Final Thoughts   *   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.    

In today’s episode of IA on AI, we cover an AI voice scam impersonating a high-ranking official, the sweeping new “Big Beautiful Bill” on AI regulations, and landmark AI guidance just released by the FRC. They break down:   •   A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to call high-level officials - washingtonpost.com   •  ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Leaves AI Regulation to States and Localities … For Now - lawandtheworkplace.com   •  FRC publishes landmark guidance providing clarity to audit profession on the uses of AI - FRC.org   Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en   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 leapfrog 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.

This week on The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Shannon Urban, Chief Audit Executive at Hasbro.   In this episode, Shannon shares how she’s leading her team through a major shift—reallocating about half of her full-time audit staff—and why that move is positioning her team for long-term impact. She also discusses how she’s upskilling her team on AI and analytics and what conversations she’s having with her peers on audit roundtables.   Shannon also shares how to build real credibility with the board—something that’s been a theme in recent episodes and continues to be a critical topic for audit leaders.   Oh, and if you’re watching on YouTube, don’t miss a look at Shannon’s office—arguably the coolest one we’ve seen on the show.   Be sure to connect with Shannon 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.   Timecodes:   1:43- How Hasbro's CEO is leading IA into AI 4:00 - How a CAE uses Enterprise Wide Copilot 6:13 - Coaching Teams on Copilot and ChatGPT 12:15 - Why Internal Audit Should Lead the AI Charge 14:24 - The Value of CAE Roundtables 16:08 - Weighing AI’s Risks and Rewards 25:00 - Making the Most of a Large IA Budget 31:36 - How CAEs Can Get Better at Building Relationships 36:06 - Final Thoughts   *   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.  

In the first episode of IA on AI, John Thompson joins Trent to talk about one of the biggest questions in the audit world right now: Is AI Taking Over Audit Jobs? They break down: What AI can and can’t do (yet) in audit How the role of the auditor might shift Why this isn’t just about losing jobs — it’s about changing how we work They also touch on what to expect from the show going forward and why internal auditors should want to stay in the AI conversation.   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.