2 CPAs & The Mic

What if sustainability wasn't a cost—but a competitive advantage?

On this episode of 2 CPAs & The Mic, Jeff Frable and Sara Mays talk with teammate Lindsey Barbour about how business sustainability goes far beyond recycling bins and feel‑good messaging. Using the people, profit, planet approach, Lindsey shows how small and mid-sized businesses can lower operating costs, improve employee retention, and build a stronger brand in the process.

She also shares easy "first steps" owners can implement immediately—without a big budget or a full-time sustainability team.

Bottom line: sustainability isn't fluff. It's smart business—with a spreadsheet to prove it.

In this episode of 2 CPAs & The Mic, we sit down with Cory Hatch, Academy Director at Ark Financial, for a powerful conversation about what happens when professional success doesn't translate to peace at home. Cory shares his personal turning point, career setbacks, a 120-pound transformation, rebuilding his marriage, and how his journey has shaped his present mission.

Cory introduces the idea of a "family office" not as a place for the ultra-wealthy, but as an operating system for running the business of your family with the same intentionality you bring to your company. You'll learn why financial progress requires leadership, strategy, and execution and why many entrepreneurs unknowingly outsource the wrong thing.

Whether you're a business owner or an advisor, this episode provides a practical framework to move from uncertainty to clarity, align net worth and structure, and lead your family more intentionally, without trying to do it alone.

What does "assurance" really mean and why does it matter to your business? On this episode of 2 CPAs & The Mic, Jeff Frable and Sara Mays sit down with Haley Legg, Director of Assurance at CCK Strategies, to decipher audits, reviews, compilations, and the growing importance of SOC examinations. Haley explains why an audit isn't always the right answer and how SOC reports have become a must‑have trust signal in today's digital economy. For business owners, the takeaway is clear: SOC exams aren't just about checking a box—they're a strategic tool for building trust, winning and retaining clients, and standing out during vendor reviews and M&A due diligence.

In this episode of 2 CPAs & The Mic, Jeff Frable and Sara Mays sit down with entrepreneur Lisa Riley for a candid, high-energy conversation about what it really takes to build and lead a business through chaos. From oil-and-gas trade floors to scaling three Pinot's Palette studios, Lisa shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, cash flow reality, outsourcing your weaknesses, customer experience, health shocks, and crisis pivots—plus how saying "yes" once turned her into a professional food stylist. Real-world leadership. Zero fluff. Built for business owners.

Brand is far more than a logo—it's the feeling people carry with them. In this episode of 2 CPAs & The Mic, Johnie Hampton joins our hosts and breaks down the difference between brand and marketing. He gives an inside look at his team's collaborative creative process and explains why a humble, people‑first culture consistently outperforms even the best strategies. We also dig into AI as a true copilot—great for research and possibilities but still needing human craft and judgment. Johnie shares his approach to stewarding talent, celebrating employees and their families, mentoring the next generation, and leading with purpose. No matter your role—firm leader, team manager, or "marketer on the side"—you'll walk away with practical insight on strengthening your brand, supporting your people, and communicating with authenticity.

We're back—and grateful. In the season 2 kickoff of 2 CPAs & The Mic, Jeff Frable, Sara Mays & Kristie Porter reflect on growth, vulnerability, and what it means to serve people well. You'll hear about the moments that stretched us in season 1 and the vision driving season 2: connection over complexity, conversation over jargon, and practical guidance you can use today. We preview topics like financial planning, M&A, SOC audits, marketing, and wellness—and wrap with a fun rapid‑fire round. Thanks for listening, sharing, and building this community with us.

Thirty episodes later, we're closing the books on Season 1! Join Jeff, Sara and Kristie as they celebrate the journey from "let's try this" to a full-blown podcast with loyal listeners. In this episode, we share behind-the-scenes stories, favorite moments, and a major life update that will make you smile. Plus, we reveal what's next for Season 2—fresh topics, exciting guests, and a new cadence to keep things timely. If you've ever wondered what makes CPAs human (and hilarious), this is the perfect episode to binge before January 15th when Season 2 drops!

In this episode of 2 CPAs and The Mic, hosts Jeff Frable and Sara Mays sit down with Dewan Chowdhury, Partner at CCK Strategies, for a deep dive into the world of estate planning. From defining what an estate truly is to navigating the complexities of wills, trusts, and tax strategies, Dewan breaks down the essentials with clarity and insight. Whether you're just starting your estate plan or revisiting it after years, this episode is your roadmap to doing it right.

In episode 28 of 2 CPAs & The Mic, hosts Jeff Frable and Sara Mays unpack the power of year-end tax planning. Learn how proactive strategy can eliminate costly surprises, improve cash flow, and turn tax season into a time for smart decision-making. From timing income and expenses to leveraging bonus depreciation and reviewing your business structure, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples.

What happens when leadership steps away from the spotlight and focuses entirely on empowering the team behind the scenes?

In this episode of 2 CPAs & The Mic, Jeff and Sara sit down with Belinda Jordan, Tax Division Leader at CCK Strategies, to explore her unconventional, non-client-facing leadership role. From her Big Four beginnings to leading a 60+ person tax team across geographies, Belinda shares how she drives performance through proactive management, data-driven decision-making, and a culture of direct, kind feedback.

Whether you're a business owner, executive, or aspiring leader, this episode offers a masterclass in people-first leadership that scales.