

The Audit Podcast
Trent Russell
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2025 • 37min
Ep 257: Why Public Sector Projects Fail w/ Matthew Oleniuk
This week on The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Matthew Oleniuk, founder of The Risk Insider and former Chief Audit Executive in the public sector. Matthew shares lessons from 15 years as a CAE, what he’s most passionate about right now, and his perspective on how to predict whether public sector projects will succeed—or fail. Be sure to connect with Matthew 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: 2:20 – How Matthew Uses LLMs 5:28 – Advice for CAE Leaders 11:20 – The Dynamics of Building an Audit Committee 15: 35 – The Mindset of Empowering the Team 25:03 – What Matthew Is Especially Passionate About Right Now 29:17 – Why Public Sector Projects Fail 33:21 - 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.

Sep 24, 2025 • 9min
IA on AI – Injected AI Bots and The Rise of Orphan Agents
Links: 2025 Audit Analytics and AI Conference United Airlines AI bot injected because it kept refusing to connect with a human The rise of orphan agents: autonomy without control 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.

Sep 23, 2025 • 40min
Ep 256: Soft Skills = Power Skills w/ Geoff Kovesdy & Jimena Escamilla
This week on The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Geoff Kovesdy, who leads Digital Controls AI and Automation, and Jimena Escamilla, Senior Manager in Deloitte’s Advisory group. They share their favorite ChatGPT and Copilot prompts, talk about the one thing auditors should focus on right now, and discuss how audit teams can get AI and innovation wrong—and how to avoid those mistakes. The conversation also looks at leadership, with Geoff’s reminder that “soft skills equal power skills.” Geoff will also be speaking at the 2025 Audit Analytics & AI Conference on September 24–25. The event is virtual, and recordings will be available. His session will cover “GenAI: The Truth of the Matter and Impact on Risks and Controls.” Be sure to connect with Geoff and Jimena 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: 3:18 – How to use AI chat bots 8:19 – The One Thing Auditors Should Do 10:25 – What Happens When Innovation Plans Go Wrong 15:16 – Innovation in internal audit 27:31 – Soft Skills equal Power Skills 31:27 - Accountability Meets Empathy 34:26 – How to Strengthen Your Empathy 37:00 - 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.

Sep 17, 2025 • 10min
IA on AI – How Finance Leaders Are Using AI and What Audit Can Learn
Links: Anthropic reports outages, Claude and Console impacted Charting the Future: How CFOs Are Navigating Change with Technology and Foresight 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.

Sep 16, 2025 • 42min
Ep 255: Follow the Risk w/ Richard Chambers (AuditBoard)
This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Richard Chambers, Senior Advisor of Risk and Audit for AuditBoard. Richard is celebrating his 50th anniversary as an auditor this month, making this the perfect time to reflect on lessons learned over his career. In this conversation, he shares advice for auditors at every stage, the mindset behind his mantra “follow the risk,” his predictions for the future of the profession, and even what he’d tell every auditor in the world if he could grab them by the shoulders and deliver one message. Be sure to connect with Richard 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: 7:13 – What’s in Richard’s ChatGPT History 9:07 – Richard’s Lesson in Office Politics 16:10 – How the CAE and Audit Committee Can Align 20:00 – The One Thing Richard Believes Every Auditor Should Do 24:00 – Richard’s Perspective on the Future of the Audit Profession 28:16 – How Auditors Can Build Foresight 35:06 – The First and Last Chapters of Richard’s Career … Literally 36:30 – How Richard’s Books Connect and Influence Each Other 38:34 – 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

Sep 10, 2025 • 12min
IA on AI – Building Stronger AI Governance Frameworks
Register for the 2025 Audit Analytics and AI Conference: https://theauditanalyticsconference.com/ Links: Warner Bros Sues Midjourney Over AI-Generated Characters Banks Pivot from GenAI Hype to Responsible AI AI Ethics Incidents Double Amid Soaring Adoption 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.

Sep 9, 2025 • 21min
Ep 254: Emerging Leader Mentoring Program w/ Alex Rusate
In this episode of The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Alex Rusate, Senior Vice President and Director of Internal Audit at Arrow Financial, and former chair of the IIA’s Emerging Leaders Mentoring Program. Alex shares how the program began in 2019, grew so quickly that the IIA brought in full-time support, and has continued to thrive ever since. As both one of the first mentees and later a leader of the program, he offers a unique perspective on its evolution and the benefits it brings to internal auditors. The conversation covers the program’s purpose, what it means to participate as a mentor or mentee, success stories from past participants, and how much it has changed over the past six years. Registration for this year’s program is now open and closes September 15 if you would like to get involved. Be sure to connect with Alex 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: 2:47 – AI Prompts and Practical Use Cases 9:00 – IIA Emerging Leader Mentoring Program 12:15 – Alex’s Perspective as a Mentee 13:37 – Feedback from Mentees During the Program 15:07 – How the Program has Evolved Over the Years 17:40 – Career Paths after Completing the Program 18:50 - 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

Sep 5, 2025 • 42min
Ep 253: AI, Learning, and Leadership in Internal Audit w/ Jessica Rodgers (EY)
In this episode of The Audit Podcast, we’re joined by Jessica Rogers, Global Internal Audit Leader at Ernst & Young. Jessica shares her journey to becoming a leader at one of the world’s largest professional services firms and what it really takes to reach that level. From her passion for continuous learning to her forward-thinking approach to AI, Jess gives insight into how internal audit professionals can stay ahead. She also discusses how EY is rethinking training for nearly 400,000 employees worldwide in light of AI advancement and what that means for the future of the profession. Be sure to connect with Jessica 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: 2:50 - What’s in Jessica’s ChatGPT History 9:52 - Jessica’s Career Path 18:40 - Overcoming Bad Habits in Internal Audit 22:26 - GenAI 28:16 - Curiosity Is Essential 30:30 - Disrupting the Way We Train People in Internal Audit 35:06 - Making Training Fun 39:21 - 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.

Sep 3, 2025 • 12min
IA on AI – The AI Oversight Gap
Links: The AI Oversight Gap: IBM's 2025 Data Breach Report Reveals Hidden Costs of Ungoverned AI EisnerAmper Survey Finds as Employees Embrace AI, Employer Oversight Lags AI startup reaped millions using bogus claims, FTC suit says 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.

Aug 26, 2025 • 22min
Ep 252: A Path to AGI w/ John Thompson (The Hackett Group Inc.)
In this episode of The Audit Podcast, John Thompson returns to discuss his new book, The Path to AGI. With over 40 years in the field of artificial intelligence, John provides a grounded perspective on what AGI really means—and why it won’t arrive as quickly as many headlines suggest. John’s book: A Path to AGI Be sure to connect with John 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: 1:36 – A Path to AGI 6:43 – Computer Science isn’t Dead It’s Still Worth Studying 10:57 – Emergent Behaviors are Ridiculous 12:40 – AGI has Predictive Behavior Not Original Thoughts 16:30 – Original New Thoughts Without Data 20:25 – 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.