The Audit Podcast

This week, Sara I. James, author of Radical Reporting: Writing Better Audit, Risk, Compliance, and Information Security Reports (Second Edition), joins the show.
 
Sara shares what's new in the second edition of her book, including a deeper focus on critical thinking and the role of large language models in report writing. She explains why strong writing about more than grammar and how language, logic, and professional courage all work together in effective audit communication.
 
Finally, Sara talks through key themes from the book, including active versus passive voice, why so many audit findings become harder to follow than they need to be, and how auditors can write more clearly, think more critically, and avoid over relying on AI in their work.
 
Be sure to connect with Sara on LinkedIn.
Check out her website.
 
6:02 - Best Advice
5:53 – Sara's Book: Radical Reporting
8:40 – Importance of Critical Thinking
17:45 – Active Versus Passive Voice
22:50 – Active Audit Report Writing
28:57 – Why LLMs Aren't Enough
31:36 – Why the 5 C's don't hold up
36:00 – Using LLMs for Report Writing
44:30 – Final Thoughts
 
Be sure to connect with Mark 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.
 
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.

This week, our guest is Chris Hallberg, CEO and founder of Business Sergeant and president and founder of GoExpand, where he helps organizations implement EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System.
 
Chris joins the show to share how EOS can help teams build more clarity, accountability, and traction. He breaks down the six key components of the framework and explains why so many organizations struggle with alignment and execution.
 
We also talk about three EOS concepts that feel especially relevant for internal audit: vision, issues, and traction. Chris shares practical ways teams can create a clearer vision, solve the real root of problems, and build stronger follow-through through priorities and meeting rhythms.
Be sure to connect with Chris on LinkedIn.
 
5:58 - How Chris uses Chat
8:22 - Why you should care about EOS
15:51 - Making the vision actually count
23:24 - Issues Protocols That Actually Work
29:47 - How Do You Build Traction on Team Priorities
33:29 - Final Thoughts
 
Be sure to connect with Mark 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.
 
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.

This week, our guest is Navin Pasricha, a longtime internal audit leader and author of Getting Ready to Roar: Chief Auditor's Guide from Audit Room to Board Room.
 
Navin joins the show to discuss the profession's current inflection point and the opportunity internal auditors have to move from simply reporting to the board to becoming trusted voices in the boardroom. He explains why audit committees are under more pressure than ever, why resilience and future-focused risk matter so much right now, and how internal audit is uniquely positioned to help.
 
We also talk about one of the biggest questions in the profession today: how auditors can deliver real insight. Navin shares why insight starts with recognizing patterns, understanding how an audit fits within the broader organizational ecosystem, and connecting audit work back to strategy, industry pressures, and the future direction of the business.
 
Finally, Navin discusses key themes from his book, including how internal auditors can build trust, navigate independence while take on a more advisory role, strengthen relationships with audit committees, and develop the strategic understanding needed to lead at a higher level.
 
Be sure to connect with Navin on LinkedIn.
6:02 - Best Advice
7:43 - Managing CAE pressures
10:40 - How to Gain Insights
12:32 - Democratizing Insights
18:50 - Getting Ready to Roar
30:20 - What is the Skill Most Overlooked by CAEs
35:40 - Building Strategic Understanding
39:00 – Final Thoughts
 
Be sure to connect with Mark 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.
 
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.

This week, our guest is Anthony Pugliese, President and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
 
Anthony joins the show as he approaches his five-year anniversary leading the IIA, reflecting on the major milestones and progress the organization has made during that time. He shares a look back at key initiatives from the past five years and discusses what the next phase could look like for the profession.
 
We also talk about several recent research efforts, including the 2026 Risk in Focus survey and the joint report with AuditBoard on AI driven fraud. Anthony highlights a few key trends auditors should be watching, particularly as organizations navigate emerging technology risks and evolving expectations around governance and oversight.
 
Finally, Anthony explains two initiatives aimed at strengthening the future of the profession: the Global Audit Committee Center, which supports stronger engagement with audit committees, and VisionU, a development program designed for new and aspiring chief audit executives.
 
Be sure to connect with Anthony on LinkedIn.
6:02 - AI Tips
11:03 - 5 Years as IIA President
14:32 - Strategy and the New Internal Audit Standards
14:32 - Why "Simple" Implementations Rarely Actually Simple
17:40 - Key Insights from Risk in Focus 2026 and the AI Fraud Report
21:50 - AI Literacy and Training in Internal Audit
24:26 - The Audit Committee Center
27:54 - How to Join the Audit Committee center
33:25 - Experienced CAE resources
35:35 – Final Thoughts
38:26 - Best advice for CAEs from Anthony Pugliese
 
Be sure to connect with Mark 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.
 
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:
Norman Marks Article
 
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Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
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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.