Best Flail Forward Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 48: Finance Leaders Decode AI's Promise 36:47

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19h ago36:47

36:47

In this Planning Aces special, three finance leaders map how AI is moving FP&A from dashboards to decisions. Andrew Casey (Amplitude) shows agents automating analytics, experiments, and order-to-cash checks to democratize insight and speed action. Eric Brown (Cohesity) contrasts AI’s capital intensity with the cloud era and spotlights an “epic data…

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Ep 47: The Prove-It Mentality: Rethinking ROI in the Age of AI 44:18

25d ago44:18

44:18

In Episode 47 of Planning Aces, Jack Sweeney and resident thought leader Brett Knowles explore the evolving role of FP&A through the lens of three forward-looking CFOs. Dan Zhang (ClickUp), John Rettig (Bill), and Josh Schauer (insightsoftware) share how they’re driving enterprise agility, leveraging AI to eliminate inefficiencies, and rethinking c…

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Ep 46: From Flailing to AI Forward Motion 39:17

2M ago39:17

39:17

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Ep 45: Redefining Efficiency: The Three Dimensions of AI ROI 42:25

3M ago42:25

42:25

In this episode of Planning Aces, co-hosts Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles spotlight the FP&A strategies and AI adoption journeys of three CFOs—Jillian Munson (Vimeo), Dan Fletcher (Planful), and Chad Gold (FullStory). Each finance leader discusses how AI is reshaping their planning processes, from accelerating automation and revenue generation to t…

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Ep 44: Built for Turbulence: Finance Planning in Motion 40:54

4M ago40:54

40:54

This Planning Aces episode explores how finance leaders navigate volatility without drifting into political cross‑currents like tariffs. Prologis CFO Tim Arndt explains why e‑commerce triples warehouse demand and how real‑estate strategies must adapt. Genworth CFO Jerome Upton shows how disciplined leverage and balanced product exposure turn rate u…

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Ep 43: The ROI Equation for AI Starts Here 43:48

5M ago43:48

43:48

In this episode of Planning Aces, three forward-looking finance leaders share how they’re transforming planning and forecasting inside their organizations. CFO Kevin Rhodes of Extreme Networks discusses the dual lens through which he evaluates AI—external monetization and internal productivity. Brendon Sullivan, CFO of 2X, reveals how a post-PE inv…

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Ep 42: From Misaligned Commissions to Unified Goals 36:06

8M ago36:06

36:06

In our latest Planning Aces episode of CFO Thought Leader, Jack Sweeney teams with FP&A veteran Brett Knowles to spotlight three finance leaders tackling one of business’s most critical challenges: aligning sales, operations, and finance around a common goal. First, Orion Innovation CFO Cyrus Lam recalls how transparent metrics and well-crafted inc…

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Ep 41: The FP&A Spectrum: Technology, Culture, and Long-Term Value 45:20

9M ago45:20

45:20

In this episode of Planning Aces, co-hosts Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles explore insights from CFOs Sandra Wallach (Amprius Technologies), David Morris (Guardian Pharmacy Services), and David Eckstein (Vanta). The discussion highlights themes around technology adoption and data-driven decision-making. Sandra Wallach emphasizes the importance of ha…

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Ep 40: From Constraints to Collaboration 43:28

10M ago43:28

43:28

In the latest Planning Aces episode, hosts Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles discuss how finance leaders are elevating FP&A as strategic partners within organizations. Featuring insights from CFOs Regi Vengalil, Matt Steinfort, and Isabelle Winkles, the episode highlights themes like the importance of reliable data, setting constraints to enhance stra…

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Ep 39: Simplifying the Complicated and the Complex: FP&A Strategies Across Industries 43:58

11M ago43:58

43:58

In this episode of Planning Episodes hosted by Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles, three CFOs—Don McGuire of ADP, Scott Blackley of Oscar Health, and Patrick Fleury of TeraWulf—share their insights on financial planning and analysis (FP&A), with a focus on navigating complex business environments. Through their stories, listeners will gain a deeper und…

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Ep 38: Strategic Relationship Building in FP&A 42:02

1y ago42:02

42:02

In this episode of Planning Aces, Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles discuss the evolving role of FP&A professionals, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building and strategic collaboration within organizations. As summer ends and fall approaches, Brett predicts a surge in business activity, particularly as companies rush to meet year-end objec…

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Ep 37: Navigating Communication Challenges 45:40

1y ago45:40

45:40

Brett & Jack discuss the commentary and insights of three accomplished CFOs (Sandeep Aujla from Intuit, Shelagh Glaser from Synopsys, and Seth Wunder from Acorns), while highlighting their distinct approaches to strategic finance, organizational structure, communication, and business growth. While all three Planning Aces highlight the importance of…

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Ep 36: Standardize, Streamline & Scale 36:28

1y ago36:28

36:28

On the latest episode of Planning Aces three dynamic CFOs—Robert Cornella (RNDC), Karen Williams (American Express Global Business Travel), and Tony Querciagrossa (Pinstripes)—share a menu of FP&A insights and experiences. Robert Cornella emphasized the importance of understanding value chain economics and achieving operational harmony within compl…

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Ep 35: Why "Finance People & Analysis" is the New FP&A 42:52

1+ y ago42:52

42:52

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Ep 34: From Rearview to Road Ahead 34:40

1+ y ago34:40

34:40

Leadership in FP&A: All three CFOs emphasize the role of finance in leading and driving business performance through strategic foresight, detailed operational insights, and proactive engagement. Technology and Innovation: There is a strong inclination towards integrating new technologies like AI to enhance the capabilities of finance teams and impr…

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Ep 33: Driving Value Beyond the Balance Sheet 42:33

1+ y ago42:33

42:33

This episode our Planning Aces emphasize the importance of leveraging one's breadth of experience, stepping beyond traditional FP&A roles, and focusing on execution to bring significant value to organizations. They also emphasize the evolving nature of finance professional interactions and the idea that strategic insights can serve as catalysts for…

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Ep 32: Operating ON and IN The Business 46:56

1+ y ago46:56

46:56

Planning Aces co-hosts Brett Knowles and Jack Sweeney discuss the strategic efforts of two CFOs leading organizational turnarounds, and a third CFO, who offers key organizational insights from an earlier career chapter. Emphasizing simplification, strategic focus, and leveraging both human insight and technology, Marc Suidan of Beachbody, Emma Brow…

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Ep 31: Projecting The Voice of Reason 42:09

1+ y ago42:09

42:09

This episode of Planning Aces sheds light on the critical role financial leadership and strategic planning plays in guiding companies through turbulent times and the importance of balancing short-term opportunities with long-term strategic planning. Each of the featured finance chiefs faced unique challenges related to the pandemic’s impact on thei…

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Ep 30: Seeding Organizational Ownership 37:30

1+ y ago37:30

37:30

Planning Aces Hosts Brett Knowles and Jack Sweeney discuss how AI's integration into FP&A is still in early stages, with many teams 'dabbling' in AI rather than regularly employing it. However, its use has been significant, inspiring creativity and improving team performance. This episode's conversation emphasizes how FP&A is not just about financi…

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Ep 29: FP&A: The Silo Buster 48:56

2y ago48:56

48:56

This episode of Planning Aces Brett and Jack discuss FP&A’s role when it comes to breaking down silos within departments, and how A.I. is quickly emerging as FP&A’s ultimate silo busting partner. Their discussion highlights the importance of connecting business performance metrics with financial outcomes and the role of AI will play in complex anal…

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Ep 28: How Planning Aces Are Made 40:23

2y ago40:23

40:23

This episode features insights and commentary from three finance leaders: CFO Michael Linford of Affirm, CFO Ana Chadwick of Pitney Bowse, and CFO Jason Leet of Zylo. Imagine if these three finance leaders were to meet and have a discussion about their past roles. Each of them has a unique story to tell. Michael Linford, for example, was previously…

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Ep 27: How Finance Leaders Are Adapting Their Teams 37:39

2y ago37:39

37:39

Brett and Jack draw parallels between the challenges faced by our three featured Planning Aces as they seek to optimize the talent resources and processes in their different organizations. The pressure to align strategy and execution is increasing, and all three CFOs share their responses to these external pressures. Brett also touches on the adopt…

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Ep 26: The Quest for the Golden KR 40:09

2y ago40:09

40:09

This episode our cohost Brett Knowles suggests that every professional within an organization should have their own “golden KR” or key result that they are held accountable for. As he explains, this would create alignment and clarity throughout the organization. The Rule of 40 and Gross Margin: TreviPay CFO Joel Campbell discusses two intriguing me…

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Ep 25: Impact of Organization Design on FP&A 35:13

2y ago35:13

35:13

This episode of Planning Aces features the FP&A insights and commentary of CFO Dev Ahuja of Novelis, CFO Alex Triplett of Appfire and CFO Rick Rosenthal of Clara Analytics. One of the key topics co host Brett Knowles drills down on is the difference between complicated and complex problems. Brett uses the examples of manufacturing a car, which is c…

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Ep 24: Staying Small While Growing Big 33:58

2y ago33:58

33:58

This episode our cohosts Brett Knowles and Jack Sweeney explore the insights and commentary from three finance leaders: CFO Michael Bannon of Typeform, CFO Chuck Fisher of Turo, and CFO Jeff Noto of Zayo. The episode discusses the importance of identifying unique and key metrics for businesses, moving beyond common knowledge. Meanwhile, the cohosts…

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Ep 23: Leading Cross- Functional Teams 38:42

2+ y ago38:42

38:42

Are you tired of sitting through unproductive monthly meetings that turn into show-and-tell sessions? Do you want to shift your focus to key metrics that matter and move away from storytelling to a more data-driven approach? In this episode of the Planning Aces podcast, Cohosts Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles feature the commentary and insights of t…

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Ep 22: The Power of GPT in Planning 46:09

2+ y ago46:09

46:09

Planning Ace's guest host Brett Knowles suggests that GPT can be used as an extra member at the planning table, providing a catalyst for exploring ideas and expanding horizons. By generating scenarios and validating strategies against them, planners can identify environmental and situational factors that need to be true for a strategy to work. But …

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Ep 21: When Sales is at The Table 29:38

2+ y ago29:38

29:38

In this Planning Aces episode, host Jack Sweeney and guest host Ben Murray discuss the collaborative organizational effort behind generating business intelligence (BI) and the different places BI resources may reside within a business, with reference to an episode featuring Gary Zyla, CFO of AssetMark. The hosts also discuss the role of finance in …

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Ep 20: Planning's New Math: PLG + Product Usage 35:21

2+ y ago35:21

35:21

Featuring Special Guest Co Host Ben Murray As more businesses track customer product usage ever more closely, finance leaders are busy fine tuning the collaborative approaches that allow their organizations to identify and pursue expansion opportunities. Ben and Jack discuss the collaborative organizational teams that are putting their companies on…

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Ep 19: Why FP&A Designs the Questions 31:46

2+ y ago31:46

31:46

It’s no secret, professionals from various departments must work together to correctly calculate Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), Customer acquisition cost (CAC) or Lead-to-customer ratios. This episode we explore how collaboration and communication is always essential to ensure these calculations and others take into account all relevant factors. Th…

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Ep 18: Dragon Slayer of the Budgeting World - A Tribute to Steve Player 29:49

2+ y ago29:49

29:49

When consultant Steve Player died last month at the age of 64, the business function that he had tormented, ridiculed, and war-hammered for more than two decades stood quivering in the shadows. Still breathing, the beast of a business process known as budgetary control had withstood its most notorious assailant’s heaviest blows—in itself a resoundi…

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Ep 17: Legibility & Levers 40:09

2+ y ago40:09

40:09

To grow efficiently businesses must have legibility across the organization, explains Airtable CFO Ambereen Toubassy, who tells us legibility can only be achieved by having everyone throughout the business using the same metrics. Along the way, Toubassy says finance leaders must ensure their organization’s data capture is being conducted correctly …

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Ep 16: When FP&A Takes Rosaline's View 43:38

3y ago43:38

43:38

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Ep 15: Let the Data Tell the Story 40:19

3y ago40:19

40:19

Steve and Jack discuss the data tsunami that many organizations are now facing and what steps finance executives can take to replace their historical, backward-looking, "batch mode" thinking with more proactive approaches that will allow finance teams to achieve more predictive outcomes. This episode's distinguished Planning Aces reveal the leaders…

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Ep 14: Let RPA Lead Rather Than Replace 48:16

3y ago48:16

48:16

Steve and Jack discuss how FP&A is becoming a world beyond finance - where data expertise and insights are becoming as widely sought after as traditional accounting skills. Meanwhile, Steve urges finance professionals to take an enlightened view of robotic process automation (RPA). Rather than replace the work of humans, the adoption of RPA offers …

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Ep 13: From Euphoria to ‘Uh-oh! 41:15

3y ago41:15

41:15

Steve and Jack discuss how pricing strategy has increasingly become top of mind for finance leaders as businesses become more responsive to customer behaviors, and Steve reflects on the virtues of time travel and how by asking finance leaders to reflect on their past experiences we enjoy a front row seat to view those experiences as they happen. Fe…

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Our House Party Rules 1:10:55

3y ago1:10:55

1:10:55

House rules! You know you have them. You know some games don't work without them. Here are some of ours! Presumably. I wasn't on this one, and there are no show notes, so who knows what the hell this episode is actually about. A regular feature on Flail Forward by now.By Flail Forward

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Concepts Mechanics Number 38:11

3y ago38:11

38:11

Concepts > mechanics > numbersStart with basic concepts of what you want the game to be about.Mechanics then describe these concepts in a way that they can actually be used and interacted with.The numbers are the specific, fine details of exactly how the mechanics work.Most major problems happen at the conceptual level, or mechanics that don't work…

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Ep 12: Achieving a More Agile Finance Function | A Planning Aces Episode 47:25

3y ago47:25

47:25

Steve and Jack discuss how growing concerns about a possible economic recession are helping fuel CFO aspirations for creating a more agile finance function, and Steve reflects on how different career experiences and backgrounds influence how CFOs lead and make business decisions. Featuring commentary and FP&A insights from Planning Aces: CFO David …

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Fire In RPGs 51:19

3y ago51:19

51:19

I AM THE GOD OF HELLFIRE AND I BRING YOU FIRE IN RPGSBy Flail Forward

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Beyond Fun 1:49:39

3+ y ago1:49:39

1:49:39

Lenny Balsera joins us to talk about how games that seek to do more than 'fun'. What's that mean in this case? Listen and find out at the same time we do!By Flail Forward

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Ep 11: Getting a Read on the World's New Realities 58:06

3+ y ago58:06

58:06

Steve and Jack talk about the volatile business environment and what it means for business planning professionals. Featuring commentary and FP&A insights from Planning Aces: CFO Will Johnson of Iterable, CFO Adam Ante of Paycor, CFO Ryan Van Hatten of Prophix and CFO Steve Vintz of Tenable.

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A GM's Cat's Cradle Of Agency 1:18:13

3+ y ago1:18:13

1:18:13

We discuss GM agency. Is there a correct amount? What does it mean for certain games to constrain it? How?By Flail Forward

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Ep 10: Getting in Deeper 38:59

3+ y ago38:59

38:59

Steve and Jack discuss how successful financial planning teams are always looking to get in deeper and bring new insights to the surface. Featuring commentary and FP&A insights from Planning Aces: CFO Adriana Carpenter of Emburse, CFO Kent Kelley of Unanet and CFO Brandon Maultasch of Moloco.

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What We Like About Games We Don't Like 2:07:16

3+ y ago2:07:16

2:07:16

Tonight we talk about games we don't like but things about them we do like! ...Yeah it's gonna be neurotic. It does go better than last week, though, so we got that going for us. Of course you'd only know that if you listened to it. Which really, I don't think it's fair to subject yourself to that but maybe you feel guilty about something and want …

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April Fools special! 1:53:15

3+ y ago1:53:15

1:53:15

April Fools special! by Flail ForwardBy Flail Forward

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Ep 9: Expecting the Unexpected 41:05

3+ y ago41:05

41:05

Steve and Jack discuss how finance professionals must give more thought to how they communicate “the news” inside their organizations in order to avoid being cast by other functional teams as “the bearer of bad news.” Featuring commentary and FP&A insights from Planning Aces: CFO Russ Porter, CFO, IMA, CFO Nipun Soni of BillionToOne and CFO Gina Ma…

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Meta - Currency 1:29:35

3+ y ago1:29:35

1:29:35

How meta does our meta currency talk get? Find out or don't because you can't because it's too meta to be understood within it's own delineated context, so there's no point to listening. Enjoy.By Flail Forward

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Bonus Banter: Pacing! 26:46

3+ y ago26:46

26:46

Short episode about pacing in ttrpgs! This is also a half episode because the recording bot, the back-up, and the back-up back-up all shit the bed in the same episode.By Flail Forward