Former Ole Miss offensive lineman Christopher Cola shares how football shaped his career in accounting and beyond. He discusses how lessons from the trenches—preparation, teamwork, and consistency—carried him through public accounting, the CPA Exam, and a wide-ranging business career. Today, he teaches, writes, and advises student-athletes navigating NIL and financial literacy. Cola connects “doing the things that take no talent” (showing up, discipline, and effort) to professional success, and explains why mentorship and a personal “board of directors” can be a game changer for students and young professionals.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 30 - SEC Football Meets the CPA World: NIL and Beyond with Christopher Cola

In this foundational interview, Clint Hangebrauck—Managing Director of Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Audit at the NCAA— offers a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports are protected as sports betting grows nationwide. He explains why prop bets heighten integrity and athlete well-being risks, how the NCAA partners on education and monitoring, and what’s being done to address harassment from bettors. Clint also looks ahead to emerging threats like prediction markets and other “gray market” betting alternatives, and why risk management is now central to protecting student-athletes.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 29 - Business Behind the Buzzer: NCAA Championships, Internal Controls, and Betting with Clint Hangebrauck

Brian Williams, CEO and founder of Perspectivity, joins host Chris Mitchell to share how childhood labels and the Silicon Valley grind shaped his mission to create authentic change. He recounts battling “head trash,” walking away from tech’s 24/7 culture for family, and the white-knuckle leap into entrepreneurship. Williams breaks down the power of perspective, the four F’s—faith, family, finance, fun—and why executive coaching and community service fuel sustainable success. Join us for an honest look at fear, resilience, and building people-first businesses in an AI-accelerated world.

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Balancing the Future Ep. 32 - Creating Purpose-Driven Prosperity with Brian Williams

In this episode Mark Gallegos, Tax Partner at Porte Brown, and his guest, Andrew Leonard, focus on practical international tax awareness for CPAs, emphasizing how cross-border issues often surface unexpectedly through foreign investments, gifts, or life events. They highlight core compliance and penalty risks (including information reporting), how to ask better client questions to uncover exposure, and why proactive planning and clear communication are critical to keeping clients compliant.

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Tax News Now Ep. 15 - Asking the Right Questions: A CPA’s Playbook for International Tax Risk and Reporting with Andrew Leonard

Host Mike Potenza sits down with Kathy Johnson, who shares her story of parlaying a high-school accounting class into a dynamic 25-year career. Growing up in small-town Texas, she rose from newspaper bookkeeper to VP of FP&A before reinventing herself as a forensic accountant and expert witness with JS Held, LLC and educator. As past chair of CalCPA and an AICPA judiciary instructor, Johnson champions leadership, diversity and lifelong learning, crediting volunteer service and networking for opening doors. Her story shows how curiosity, courage and community can turn a CPA license into an expansive, impact-driven career.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 28 - Accounting Without Limits: From Ledgers to the Witness Stand with Kathy A. Johnson

In this episode of Balancing the Future, host Chris Mitchell sits down with Edmund Green—once a homeless Philadelphia teen, now founder and CEO of Parlinum Consulting. Green recounts how library days, the Air Force, night-school accounting classes and mentors propelled him from inner-city uncertainty to Big Eight partner and entrepreneurial risk-management authority. He shares candid lessons on relentless learning, cultivating relationships, embracing AI-driven change, and redefining work-life balance. Green’s story maps how grit and service can convert obstacles into catalytic career momentum.

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Balancing the Future Ep. 31 - Opportunity in Every Obstacle: From GED to CEO with Edmund Green

Mark Koziel, president and CEO of the AICPA, joins host Mike Potenza to break down the state of the profession, including alternate pathways to licensure, the RISE 2040 vision, and how AI will reshape work while creating assurance and controls opportunities. They tackle offshoring, ESG’s evolving rules, CPA mobility and title usage, talent and inclusion, and career advice for students—from critical thinking to owning your path. Join us for practical, candid insights into where accounting is headed and how to get ready.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 27 - Thriving Through Change: Building Tomorrow’s Accounting Profession with Mark Koziel

Busy season doesn’t have to feel like controlled chaos. In this episode Mark Gallegos, Tax Partner at Porte Brown, and his guest, Kelley Hare, dive into practical tax practice management strategies, from workflow and staffing to client expectations and technology, to deliver a smoother and more profitable tax season.

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Tax News Now Ep. 14 - Busy Season by Design: Running a Smarter Tax Practice When It Matters Most with Kelley Hare

Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope joins host Mike Potenza to unpack whistleblowers—their stigma, motives, and impact. Pope outlines the “whistleblower triangle” and three archetypes: accidental, noble, and vigilante. Real-world cases span Dixon, Wells Fargo, Boeing, Hyundai, and more, revealing the risks, retaliation, and long legal roads many face, even with rewards under False Claims and Dodd Frank. Join us as Dr. Pope shares guidance for leaders on building safe reporting channels and for professionals weighing when—and how—to speak up.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 26 - Fraud Part 2: Inside the Whistleblower’s Dilemma with Kelly Richmond Pope

Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope joins host Mike Potenza to unpack fraud’s ecosystem: the fraud triangle of pressure, opportunity, and rationalization, and the three perpetrator types—intentional, accidental, and righteous. They explore high-profile cases like Bernie Madoff and Enron, to the chilling Robert Courtney chemotherapy dilution scheme, along with everyday scams like receipt “shop listing.” Pope frames victims as innocent bystanders and organizational targets, warning how trust, weak controls, and new tech like deepfakes fuel risk. Join us for practical takeaways on how you can watch for red flags and strengthen controls to prevent fraud.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 25 - Fraud Part 1: Unmasked: Perpetrators, Prey, and Red Flags with Kelly Richmond Pope

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Ruth Berry

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