Episodes

In this annual tradition, Ed and Ron look back on 2025, unpacking the year's most impactful trends, business transformations, and economic shifts. From breakthroughs in AI to evolving tax regulations and the latest developments in technology, they reflect on the standout themes that defined this year. Tune in as they explore what these changes mean for the future, the insights gained along the way, and the lessons learned. Perfect for listeners who want to capture the essence of 2025's business ...

Ron and Ed welcome back Greg Kyte — yes, for the fifth time — because he keeps showing up with something new (and we keep letting him). Greg's accounting resume is full of the usual letters (CPA, MBA), but his actual story is far from typical: from middle-school math teacher to stand-up comedian to fractional CFO managing medical office buildings. Greg doesn't just talk numbers — he talks character, change, and the weird ways growth happens when you're willing to laugh at yourself.

Ron and Ed welcome back Alan Whitman , former CEO of Baker Tilly and author of the new book Break the Mold . In his second visit to The Soul of Enterprise , we will talk about this book and the mold around the CPA profession. The mold is made up of the common conventions and the long-time operating principles that are shared across organizations. We are sure you will enjoy this in-depth conversation.

Ron and Ed sit down with entrepreneur, advisor, and educator David Fionda , founder of BizBreakthru.com , to explore what it really takes for business owners to break through their growth ceilings. With decades of experience guiding firms through transformation — from startups to global consultancies — Fionda brings both the discipline of a CPA and the curiosity of a strategist. They discuss why most advisory work fails to scale, how to turn financial data into decision-making power, and the min...

Ron and Ed sit down with Brent Beshore, founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, to explore a radical rethinking of what "private equity" can mean. Instead of the typical buy-fix-flip model, Beshore's firm takes a generational approach which involves acquiring businesses to own indefinitely, building value through trust, stewardship, and patient capital. They discuss why short-term thinking often erodes lasting wealth, how culture can be a company's greatest moat, and what it takes to invest with hu...

Ron and Ed welcome back Joe Woodard — for the tenth time. Over the years, Joe has joined The Soul of Enterprise to challenge the accounting profession's comfort zone, rethink practice models, and remind everyone that transformation is never "done." In this milestone conversation, they revisit the evolution of Woodard's mission to help accounting professionals build healthier, more human-centered firms, and how the journey from technician to transformer keeps unfolding. Expect reflection, a few f...

In this conversation, Ron and Ed take a close look at economist Russ Roberts' critique of utilitarianism. Can moral choices can be reduced to calculations of pleasure and pain? "No," says Roberts (and say Ron and Ed). Drawing on Roberts' essay Apples and Oranges , they explore why life's most important questions resist tidy arithmetic. Is it possible to weigh justice against joy? Or kindness against efficiency? Ron and Ed unpack the limits of the ledger, where human dignity, love, and meaning re...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tim Naddy — CPA, educator, entrepreneur, author-in-the-making — who serves as Vice President of Finance for the Savannah Bananas, a team that's rewriting the rulebook on sports entertainment. Tim walks us through how a seemingly wild concept (a baseball team with full-on live-show energy) becomes a serious business by blending financial discipline with big ideas. He unpacks the "diamond and dugout" finance model, the decision to keep merchandise separate fro...

In this episode, we return to the pricing front lines. We’ll bring you up to speed on how pricing models are evolving in the experience, knowledge-work, and subscription zones — what’s working, what’s failing, and what you should keep an eye on. We’ll walk through the shift from “set a price and forget it” to dynamic, value-based, relationship-driven pricing. There will be practical takeaways for service firms, consultancies, and knowledge-work businesses: how to rethink your pricing structure, ...

In this episode, Ron and Ed talk with filmmaker Christian Origenes , director of Kamayan — a documentary exploring the heart of Filipino identity through its cuisine. Origenes traces how communal meals, shared by hand on banana leaves, embody the resilience and creativity of the Filipino people. From the colonial echoes that shaped modern recipes to the new generation reclaiming ancestral flavors, Kamayan reveals food as both memory and bridge — connecting homeland Filipinos, diaspora communitie...

In this episode of The Soul of Enterprise , Ron and Ed take on one of the most cherished virtues of our age — empathy — and ask whether it really belongs at the heart of moral or political reasoning. Drawing on Kevin D. Williamson’s National Review essay “Against Empathy,” they explore his case that empathy, far from being a moral compass, often clouds judgment and replaces argument with feeling. Then they turn to Yale psychologist Paul Bloom’s provocative book Against Empathy: The Case for Rati...

This week on The Soul of Enterprise , Ron and Ed sit down with economist and author Steven Landsburg for a wide-ranging conversation that spans the frontiers of economics and physics. Known for his provocative insights and clear explanations of complex ideas, Landsburg discusses his latest work in economics—including why artificial intelligence continues to stumble on his famously challenging exams. The conversation also explores his recent book, Understanding Time and Space: An Invitation to th...

What happens when 19th-century ideology meets 21st-century technology? In this provocative and irreverent episode, Ed and Ron “sit down” with none other than Karl Marx—resurrected through the magic of AI voice synthesis and large language models—for a spirited, satirical, and intellectually charged conversation. No question is off-limits as they press “Karl” on the blood-soaked legacy of Marxist regimes, the marginalist critique of his labor theory of value, and the persistent claim that “real M...

In this episode, Ron and Ed sit down with Dan Morris, Chief Dragon Slayer at Morris and D’Angelo, for his fourth appearance on The Soul of Enterprise. Dan shares captivating stories from his decades-long career in international tax and accounting, including memorable IRS cases and the nuances of navigating complex tax law. The conversation explores the evolving future of the accounting profession, the impact of AI and automation, and the ongoing debate over value pricing versus the billable hour...

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Thierer, Resident Senior Fellow at the R Street Institute, to unpack his recent analysis— AI Policy in Congress Mid‑2025: Where Are We Headed Next? We explore shifting congressional priorities, from the AI–China strategic race to the rising friction with state-level AI regulations. Adam also shares how policymakers are evolving from a fear-driven stance to one increasingly open to AI’s broader benefits. Dive in for thoughtful insight on the road ahead in fe...

Ron and Ed are thrilled to welcome back Kimberlee Josephson for the sixth time, diving into her fascinating latest piece: “ Superman, Sneaking Snacks into Movies, and the Mystery of Social Order ” . In it, Kimberlee reflects on how seemingly small acts—like sneaking snacks into a film screening—reveal the spontaneous, emergent structures that bind society�—drawing on themes of personal norms, subtle coordination, and the texture of social order. In this episode, they’ll unpack her insights, expl...

We throw the word strategy around so much that it risks becoming meaningless. Is it a plan? A budget? A list of goals? In this episode of The Soul of Enterprise , Ron and Ed revisit the meaning of strategy through the lens of John Hillen’s book The Strategy Dialogues: A Primer on Business Strategy and Strategic Management . Strategy, Hillen argues, is not chosen — it’s designed . It’s not about squeezing more juice from today’s orange but positioning for tomorrow’s orchard. From Netflix’s reinve...

For years, GDP has been treated as the ultimate scorecard of economic performance. But GDP only measures final goods and services. It’s like judging a business by gross margin while ignoring sales. Economist Mark Skousen’s innovation, Gross Output (GO), fixes that. GO is the “Top Line” of the economy —capturing total sales and revenues at every stage of production, from raw materials to finished goods. GDP, in contrast, is the “Bottom Line,” measuring only what reaches final use. Together, they ...

Sometimes the best conversations come from the stories that don’t neatly fit into a single theme—but are too good to ignore. In this week’s episode of The Soul of Enterprise , Ron and Ed bring you a lively grab bag of pricing and business news, insights, and oddities they’ve collected from around the world. From surprising trends in how companies set prices, to cautionary tales in leadership, to the occasional “you-can’t-make-this-up” moment from the marketplace, no topic is off limits. Tune in ...

On their first independent episode, Ron and Ed will share some thoughts on the new format, the transformation economy, their new entity ( THRESHOLD ), and their Jerry Maguire mission statement to the professions entitled The REVELATION . From the Preamble We affirm that the raison d’être of business is not profit, but human flourishing . Profit is the echo of value well delivered, the index of one's contribution to the health, wealth, wisdom, purpose, and meaning of others. It is a signal of tru...

Ron and Ed (well, just Ed, really) announced their transition from VoiceAmerica to their own platform. The show will continue streaming on Fridays at 3 PM Eastern/Noon PT, with the streams available at thesoulofenterprise.com or thresholdnow.com/tsoe . In addition to a few announcements, Ed shares the audio version of the Preamble to the REVELATION - a mission statement outlining their vision for the Transformation Economy focused on human flourishing. We are also seeking new sponsors and invite...

Despite Ben Franklin’s witticism, time is not money. In economic reality, money is time. That’s because we buy things with money, but we pay for them with time. In this episode of The Soul of Enterprise , Ed and Ron explore how consumers, firms, and even the Federal Reserve are starting to measure value not in dollars, but in time well spent. Drawing on a May 2025 article in the White Hutchinson Leisure eNewsletter , and the 1997 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas report Time Well Spent: The Declini...

Ron and Ed explore the legacy and leadership lessons of Fred Smith, the visionary founder of Federal Express. From a bold undergraduate paper (legend has it that he only got a C+) to building one of the world’s most transformative logistics companies, Smith’s journey is a case study in perseverance, innovation, and strategic execution. We’ll unpack what made him not just a successful entrepreneur but a memorable mentor, both to his team and to an entire generation of business leaders. Tune in to...

In his unprecedented ninth appearance with Ron and Ed, Joe Woodard will share his thoughts on the learning from the Woodard Group's Scaling New Heights 2025 event and also give a small sneak peek at next year! As always, the conversation will be fast, furious, and wide-ranging. More specifically, with hundreds of billions being invested in agentic AI, the next six months might see more change than the last six years!