The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard

Episode 158 - From 150 Hours to AI Hype: What's Really Changing in Accounting - The Woodard Report Podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with David Leary about the biggest shifts shaping the accounting profession such as the rollback of the 150-hour CPA requirement and how alternative pathways are already boosting the pipeline of new accounting graduates. They also dig into what AI is actually good for (and where it still fails without strong firm processes and human oversight), plus why private equity in accounting can create serious conflicts of interest, particularly for assurance-related work. About David Leary David Leary is the Co-Founder and COO of Earmark. He is an innovative and influential force in the small business accounting world with over 22 years of QuickBooks experience. * Learn more about Earmark [https://www.earmark.app/] * Connect with David on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidleary/] Thank you to our show sponsor, Zoho! Zoho is a unique and powerful software suite to transform the way you work, designed for businesses of all sizes, built by a company that values your privacy. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast [https://www.woodard.com/podcast]

Episode 157 - From Bookkeeping to Business Coach: Collaboration, Advisory, and AI Done Right - The Woodard Report Podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Tanya Hilts about how bookkeepers can move from compliance work into true advisory by leading with better questions, leaning into collaboration, and building confidence through real-time financial conversations. Tanya shares how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can help generate smarter client questions and speed up analysis, while emphasizing that the real "threat" isn't AI itself, but professionals who learn to use it well. About Tanya Hilts Tanya Hilts, CPB, FCPB is an award-winning accounting pro helping firms adopt practical AI, tighten processes, and grow profit-focused advisory. * Connect with Tanya on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TanyasBootcamp] and learn more about her "AI in Action" series Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard! The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast [https://www.woodard.com/podcast]

Episode 156 - From Tax Filing to "Ask Luca": Guardrails for AI and Client Boundaries - The Woodard Report Podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather speak about major January updates in the accounting space, including the IRS's Free File program and why Joe prefers a subsidized third-party prep model over direct IRS filing. They also dig into how large firms like RSM are rolling out tightly governed generative AI tools (like "Ask Luca"), and what that teaches smaller firms about AI quality being driven by both model capability and data control. Current events — * IRS got rid of Direct File and is promoting Free File [https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/use-irs-free-file-to-conveniently-file-your-return-at-no-cost] * RSM lauched its own Generative AI Tool caled AskLuca [https://rsmus.com/newsroom/2026/rsm-launches-ask-luca.html] TV/Movie quote of the week — * Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14364480/] * Your Honor [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7440726/] Excellent things we learned — * In the Room Where It Happens: Generative AI Policy Creation in Higher Education [https://er.educause.edu/articles/2025/5/in-the-room-where-it-happens-generative-ai-policy-creation-in-higher-education] * The JOLT Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision [https://a.co/d/9jHSRtK] Member spotlight — * Jennifer Scott of HireEffect [https://hireeffect.com/about-hireeffect/] The Woodard Report article of the week — * The Competitive Advantage of AI Training for Accounting Professionals [https://report.woodard.com/articles/the-competitive-advantage-of-ai-training-for-accounting-professionals-ombwr-opdwr] Thank you to our show sponsor, Canopy! Unclunk your firm with Canopy, the fully integrated practice management that helps accountants build the firm they always wanted. The suite includes client and document management, workflow, time and billing, engagements and proposals, and more. Check out getcanopy.com [https://www.getcanopy.com/]. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast [https://www.woodard.com/podcast]

Episode 155 - Try the Train: New-Year Tech, Big Hope, and the Power of "No" - The Woodard Report Podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather speak about early-2026 accounting and tech happenings, including new CPE training for Intuit Enterprise Suite, and why leaning into AI skills can create outsized professional value. Current events — * Introduction to Intuit Enterprise Suite Training [https://blog.insightfulaccountant.com/introduction-to-intuit-enterprise-suite-training] * Rapid AI adoption with growing AI skills requirements [https://pwc.turtl.co/story/ai-jobs-barometer-industry/page/7/1] TV/Movie quote of the week — * Victoria [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5137338/] * House of David [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30955673/] Excellent things we learned — * Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mind+magic+dr+doty&adgrpid=1345804735080206&hvadid=84113070886382&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=100498&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84113940320597%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=15497_13519387&mcid=41f3695396f23c90a849a76c50dfffff&msclkid=7547fb74fb361a6aedfa92232e466ddb&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_88low5c0m_e] * The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results [https://a.co/d/0jtKplu] Member spotlight — * Jodi Plett of Flexkeeper [https://www.theflexkeeper.com/] The Woodard Report article of the week — * The Competitive Advantage of AI Training for Accounting Professionals [https://report.woodard.com/articles/the-competitive-advantage-of-ai-training-for-accounting-professionals-ombwr-opdwr] Thank you to our show sponsor, CorpNet! CorpNet is the trusted leader in business formation and compliance services, offering one of the best tools for accountants, CPAs and tax professionals nationwide. The CorpNet Partner Program can 10X your firms revenue by helping clients form a business, register for payroll taxes, maintain compliance and more. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast [https://www.woodard.com/podcast]

Episode 154 - Dancing Toward Trust: Community, Collaboration, and the Human Side of Accounting - The Woodard Report Podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with Nancy McClelland, CPA about her journey as the "Dancing Accountant" and how embracing authenticity, community connection, and people skills has shaped her firm and career. They explore the importance of trust, niching, and collaboration between bookkeepers and tax professionals. About Nancy McClelland, CPANancy The Dancing Accountant [https://www.thedancingaccountant.com/internet-resources/presentations/] is a CPA on a lifelong mission to educate the professionals who support small businesses and their communities. She runs 'Ask a CPA', a Q&A membership for bookkeepers who want to learn to prepare "tax-ready" books; co-hosts "She Counts" (the real-talk podcast for women in accounting) [https://shecounts.show/]; was named Top CAS ProAdvisor; Top 50 Women in Accounting; Bridging the Gap Mentor of the Year; ToPS Speaker of the Year; and AICPA Global Women to Watch – you can check out her award-winning MSN column at thedancingaccountant.com [https://www.msn.com/en-us/channel/source/The%20Dancing%20Accountant/sr-cid-2d00560200a115d5]. Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard!The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast [https://www.woodard.com/podcast]