Best Taras Wayner Podcasts (2025)

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A Case Study in Corporate Fear with Taras Wayner 47:59

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3d ago47:59

47:59

When I began studying the root causes of business failure early in my career, I believed that faulty cognitive limitations and weaknesses were the primary drivers of poor decisions, ultimately leading to business failure. Taras Wayner is the producer and host of a new podcast called A Case Study in Corporate Fear, where he addresses one of the cent…

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How Jaguar Finally Outran Fear 29:50

6d ago29:50

29:50

Send us a text While many have called Jaguar's rebrand "the worst marketing decision they'd ever seen" and declared it "brand suicide," it just may be Jaguar's bravest business decision in decades. In this episode of "A Case Study in Corporate Fear," host Taras Wayner examines how a brand that once epitomized independence became trapped in automoti…

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Does Nucor's Ken Iverson Belong on the Mount Rushmore of CEOs? 54:05

10d ago54:05

54:05

I'm calling Ken Iverson the Alan Mulally of CEOs in the 1980s and 1990s. "Plain Talk" by Ken Iverson is one of my favorite business books, despite its lack of self-congratulation and the absence of so-called transformational management concepts. Instead, this is a book about how people were treated, the concept of decentralization, bonus structures…

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Let's Add Some Financial Fiction With That Frappuccino 31:56

18d ago31:56

31:56

Can you name a work of fiction that centered around a stock picker? Alternatively, can you provide three fictional titles related to personal finance? If both answers are no, this episode provides a brief synopsis of four works of fiction revolving around personal finance and investing. One of the titles is new. Three have been written in the past …

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Meet a Writer From One of Those Old Glossy Annual Reports 45:59

24d ago45:59

45:59

Many in the magazine industry will tell you on the mountaintops that print is not dead. Try telling that to the writers who used to produce those beautiful glossy annual reports that are now published in the form of PDF documents. Robert Roth is making his first-ever appearance on a podcast to discuss how an annual report writer secures gigs, the t…

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Valuation 8.0 57:08

1M ago57:08

57:08

Every financial executive should either have the book Valuation or have it on their physical or digital bookshelf in their antilibrary. CFO Bookshelf is thrilled and honored to have the lead author of all eight editions of this foundational book on valuation, which is used in many financial curricula around the nation on college campuses. In this c…

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NEW COKE – When The Fizz Goes Flat 34:44

1M ago34:44

34:44

Send us a text After 99 years of guarding their secret formula, Coca-Cola made the boldest move in consumer goods history. When Pepsi's taste tests revealed that consumers preferred their sweeter formula 57% of the time, Coca-Cola panicked and took the unthinkable step – they altered their sacred recipe. In this episode of "A Case Study in Corporat…

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Lead by Greatness 54:28

1M ago54:28

54:28

In CFO Bookshelf's 250th episode, we feature a book that embodies the heart and soul of what this show stands for. The book is Lead by Greatness by our guest, David Lapin. During this conversation, David addresses eight vital leadership traits, defining a spiritual fingerprint and why it matters, the reason the Siberian prisoner perished and what i…

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You Are an IP Company 1:00:27

2M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

Why has Taylor Swift trademarked her and her cats' names? And how does she protect the approximately three hundred trademarks she owns? As Kary Oberbrunner tells us, we're just like Taylor in that we're all IP companies. In this engaging conversation about IP, we learn about Instant IPᴵᴾ, the role blockchain plays in IP, the reason good fences make…

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ATARI – Game Over 34:04

2M ago34:04

34:04

Send us a text How did Atari go from a $250 startup to controlling 80% of the video game market, only to collapse in one of corporate history's most spectacular failures? In this episode of "A Case Study in Corporate Fear," host Taras Wayner explores the company that invented the modern gaming industry – and how paralyzing fear destroyed it all. Jo…

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It's Not About the Coffee 53:56

2M ago53:56

53:56

We have read many stories about the magical growth of Starbucks. However, did you know that one of its first presidents had a background in furniture sales and did not hold a college degree? Our guest is the author of It's Not About the Coffee, and Howard Behar saw store units grow from a small handful to more than 15,000 during his two stints as o…

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TOWER RECORDS – It's The End Of The World As We Know It. 26:15

3M ago26:15

26:15

Send us a text Tower Records was more than a store – it was a cultural phenomenon. With $1.1 billion in annual revenue at its peak, 200+ locations across 18 countries, and music experts who could trace the lineage from The Ramones to The Strokes, Tower Records was the mecca for music lovers worldwide. Elton John shopped there religiously, Prince la…

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YAHOO! And Why We No Longer YAHOO! 30:32

4M ago30:32

30:32

Send us a text In this episode, we examine the rise and fall of internet pioneer Yahoo through the lens of Brad Garlinghouse's explosive internal memo, which would become known as the "Peanut Butter Manifesto." From Yahoo's origins as "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web" to its peak valuation of $125 billion, and finally to its sale to V…

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Blackberry - The Tyranny of Success 28:15

5M ago28:15

28:15

Send us a text How did BlackBerry – the company that revolutionized mobile communication with always-on email and iconic keyboards – collapse from 50% market share to irrelevance in a decade? In this episode, I examine how fear transformed smart executives into prisoners of their past success, rendering them unable to evolve even as customers lined…

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What Are Visual Thinking Tools? 46:41

5M ago46:41

46:41

As my consulting practice started taking off about twenty years ago, I started reading everything I could by Fred Nickols, who blogged regularly for the software vendor, SmartDraw. Fred's articles were short, to the point, and always included a simple visual framework that was easy to comprehend. I ultimately read every post on that blog. Fred is a…

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Beyond the Boxes and Lines with a Chief People Officer 41:41

5M ago41:41

41:41

We live in a small business world where the Chief Fractional Officer is becoming indispensable. Before even considering hiring the Fractional Sales Manager, the Fractional Marketing Officer, or even the Fractional CFO, I'd start one hundred percent of the time with the Fractional Chief People Officer. Susannah Robinson has worked in big-company HR …

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My Favorite John Wooden Coaching Basketball Story 9:08

5M ago9:08

9:08

I'm betting that over half the CFO Bookshelf listenership participate in an NCAA tournament basketball pool at the office. Accordingly, I thought I'd share a story from a basketball legend I don't think I've ever heard retold from a leadership expert during a speaking event. I end this special episode on my three favorite basketball movies. What ar…

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Warren Buffett's Early Investments 40:33

5M ago40:33

40:33

Before I start reading a book on Warren Buffett, and there are many, I want to know if this book has been written before—the ones where the narratives essentially state the same thing about Buffett's investing style. In the case of Brett Gardner's new book on Buffett, he checks all the boxes of a fascinating investment book. It's informative, inspi…

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SONY Walkman and The Day The Music Died 23:46

6M ago23:46

23:46

Send us a text How did Sony—the company that revolutionized portable music with the Walkman—lose its market dominance to Apple, a computer company with no prior experience in the music industry? In this episode, I examine how fear transformed Sony's innovative culture into siloed kingdoms that sabotaged their own digital music future. Timeline: · 1…

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A Pragmatic Approach to Sensemaking 46:50

6M ago46:50

46:50

When I first experienced the Cynefin Framework in an HBR article many years ago, I never tried to adapt it to my work until I interviewed Bryce Hoffman, author of American Icon and Red Teaming, a few years ago. While Bryce made the Cynefin Framework seem more understandable and accessible, Kevin Eikenberry has gone further to show leaders how to ac…

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The Rise and Fall of the Match King 56:38

6M ago56:38

56:38

CFO Bookshelf had never heard of Ivar Kreuger until the former Managing Director of CFO.com suggested we discuss the book, The Match King. Andy Burt joins Mark Gandy to explain why Ivar Kreuger is a financial mastermind worthy of studying and what led to his downfall. At one time, Kreuger was worth billions in today's dollars, but his empire, built…

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BLOCKBUSTER – Brought to you by Fear 22:30

6M ago22:30

22:30

Send us a text This episode of "A Case Study in Fear" examines how Blockbuster became a victim of its own market dominance. Host Taras Wayner investigates how the video rental giant went from revolutionizing home entertainment with 9,000 stores worldwide to filing for bankruptcy, all because of one powerful emotion: fear. Discover how Blockbuster e…

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The World's First Stock Exchange 47:17

6M ago47:17

47:17

I recently came across a book that's been out for over 10 years by an exceptional and tenacious researcher and an engaging writer, Lodewijk Petram. His book, The World's First Stock Exchange, might be the first to explore how early investors first bought and traded shares of the VOC of this next stock exchange. The founding of the Dutch East India …

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The Making of Modern Corporate Finance 51:41

7M ago51:41

51:41

When I think of the CFO's role, a few questions emerge: What will we invest in and reinvest in? How will we finance those investments? What about risk management? And what is the role of corporate governance in these activities? Not only does Don Chew answer those questions in his new book, but he also gives a name to all of his answers - corporate…

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It's Time to Start Loving Mondays Again 39:51

7M ago39:51

39:51

A financial executive no longer loved Mondays until a health scare changed his mindset a few years ago. Ron Monteiro is a financial expert who coaches other leaders. His book is Love Mondays: A Proven Process to Bring Joy Back into Your Work Week and Life. Ron teaches us four simple steps to becoming Monday Mavericks. He then outlines seven clever …

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The Pig, The Lipstick & the Playbook of Champions 50:44

7M ago50:44

50:44

When John Rossman is not busy delivering keynote addresses to large audiences or consulting with brands we recognize, he still finds time to write. John is making his third appearance on the show after our conversations about two of his other books: The Amazon Way and Big Bet Leadership. John's newest project is a 54-page manifesto entitled The Pig…

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KODAK – Brought to you by Fear 16:29

7M ago16:29

16:29

Send us a text "A Case Study in Fear" uncovers how Kodak became a casualty of its own success. Host Taras Wayner explores how the photography giant went from democratizing photography to filing for bankruptcy, all because of one powerful emotion: fear. Discover how Kodak's executives buried their own revolutionary invention (the digital camera), de…

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More Than a SoftBank Money Trap 1:04:44

7M ago1:04:44

1:04:44

One book critic has asked readers of The Money Trap to imagine Michael Lewis as the President of a multinational investment holding company. Instead, Alok Sama is that person after working for Morgan Stanley for sixteen years. In this sometimes lighthearted but philosophical tome, occasionally sprinkled with dark humor and cleverness, Alok shares h…

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Practice Makes Profit 48:28

8M ago48:28

48:28

David is a dermatologist whose practice can't seemingly make the money it should be. David meets a great accountant named Graham. Graham is a TOC bottleneck specialist for all types of businesses, not just manufacturing. He speaks and teaches his clients in a way that is easy to understand and can quickly implement the ideas. That's the storyline o…

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Mythbusting Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman and Other Financial Gurus with David McKnight 43:24

8M ago43:24

43:24

When I think of Dave Ramsey, the elimination of debt and whole life insurance policies quickly spring to mind. In addition to his demonization of universal policies, were you aware of his 8-12 rule for retirement? David McKnight joins the show to discuss the 4 percent rule for retirement, annuities, and cash-basis insurance plans based on math, pra…

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The Bottleneck Detective 57:50

9M ago57:50

57:50

What would happen if a business-minded Encylopedia Brown entered the busy line of movie patrons waiting impatiently for soda and popcorn? This perspective guided Clarke Ching in writing his latest book, The Bottleneck Detective. It offers a straightforward and enjoyable reading experience, focusing on identifying bottlenecks and understanding their…

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Pause to Think 58:06

9M ago58:06

58:06

Are you fan of Daniel Kahneman, Dan Ariely, or Richard Thaler? Have you enjoyed books like Fooled by Randomness, Factfulness, or Thinking in Bets? If so, you may want to read Jaime Lester's new book, Pause to Think, about cognitive biases. Jaime's concise book is engaging, memorable, and accessible. It features over thirty mental and conceptual mod…

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AI Mastery Simplified for Finance Professionals 48:52

9M ago48:52

48:52

Glenn Hopper's newest book is AI Mastery for Finance Professionals, but the content is also for CEOs, board members, and all other organizational leaders. We keep the topics pragmatic, applicable, and example-centric in this conversation. We'll also discover what Glenn means by saying, "AI will not replace people. People who use AI will replace tho…

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The Three Domains of Leadership with Willie Pietersen 58:58

9M ago58:58

58:58

One of the best books I've read on leadership in several years is by a former big-company CEO who is now a professor. Willie Pietersen's third book is Leadership - The Inside Story. In this fast-moving conversation, we hear about how Nelson Mandela learned, unlearned, and relearned the central tenets of philosophy and leadership well before his vis…

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The HP Way 54:32

10M ago54:32

54:32

When I think of HP, three things quickly emerge in my mind: Deskjet and laser printers, the 12C calculator, and David Packard's The HP Way. The HP Way is one of my top 25 books written by CEOs. In this conversation, we're rolling with a book club format with a special guest who writes book summaries on his blog. Dan Lebrero is a software engineer b…

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Better Tech and Communication Strategies for Zoom Calls with Cat Mulvihill 43:36

10M ago43:36

43:36

Cat Mulvihill is becoming a rising YouTube star with her video content focused on communication and presentation skills, including technology, Zoom, and personal knowledge management systems. This conversation teaches us what sets the best professionals apart from the rest on their Zoom calls. We gain insights on the best mics, videocams, and other…

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One Day I'll Work for Myself 48:04

10M ago48:04

48:04

If you work for yourself or would like to, have you ever thought about whose shoulders you are standing on, especially if you decide to have no employees? Ben Waterhouse is a professor and faculty director at the University of North Carolina. His research interests include deciphering how self-employment became a key to personal fulfillment, a cent…

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Competing on Customer Personalization 59:59

11M ago59:59

59:59

Have you ever wondered how Amazon, Netflix, and Starbucks started their customer personalization programs? What was the starting point? What were the costs? Who was involved? The co-authors answer these questions in the very readable Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI. Mark Abraham and David Edelman explain that personalization is not…

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The Private Equity Playbook Keeps Getting Better 46:22

11M ago46:22

46:22

If you were to ask me about my favorite book on private equity, I would say The Private Equity Playbook by Adam Coffey. The book is easy to read, the math is simple and impactful, and the stories are based on a former CEO who understands the intricacies behind private equity. Adam has released the second edition of this book, which is about 20 perc…

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Project Management Offices 58:32

12M ago58:32

58:32

As a financial leader, I want to know every aspect of business. While quarterbacking my share of ERP implementations, I had only once heard the term PMO (short for Project Management Office). Accordingly, I wanted to learn more. After reading Laura Barnard's new book on PMOs, I quickly realized she is probably the global thought leader on this subj…

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A Deep Dive on Portfolio CFOs 1:02:44

12M ago1:02:44

1:02:44

Numerous financial blog articles and LinkedIn posts highlight the benefits of a small business owner hiring a portfolio CFO. However, I do not recall these writers commenting on why financial professionals step away from the W-2 world to serve multiple owners as clients instead of sticking to a steady paycheck. Sara Daw may be the first author to a…

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A Wonderful Career in Crime 34:34

1y ago34:34

34:34

How did Charles Cowlam resort to a lifelong career in crime during the Gilded Age? During this fascinating interview, the author of A Wonderful Career Crime accidentally uncovers several fascinating nuggets of U.S. history that would otherwise remain undetected by well-known historians. Frank Garmon shares his favorite stories of Cowlam's life as a…

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Strategy for Real Estate Companies 46:58

1y ago46:58

46:58

Strategic planning and real estate companies are not word pairings we are used to hearing. However, Charlie Hewlett is changing that mindset. Charlie is the managing director at RCLCO, a company based in the Washington, D.C., metro area. He co-authored Strategy for Real Estate Companies. Our topics include the definition of a real estate company, a…

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Who Was Jay Gould? 24:08

1y ago24:08

24:08

What do you know about Jay Gould's life, and how does he compare to the other robber barons of his day? More importantly, is his life worth examining? Mark discusses Gould's upbringing in this book review, which influenced his desire to be rich. Learn about one of the most significant market corners on Wall Street and the man who helped to create A…

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5 Inspiring Books for Financial Leaders 18:54

1y ago18:54

18:54

Mark provides five titles in this special CFO Bookshelf episode that inspire and educate. Mark wraps up the show with some financial food for thought - what statement do you present first in a reporting package and why?By Mark Gandy

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What is a Fractional CFO? 35:06

1y ago35:06

35:06

What is a Fractional CFO? That term has become a household name for financial experts who help small business owners in various industries. However, do we have a concise and complete definition for this type of professional services provider? In this special episode, we break down what the fractional CFO is based on their three unique and primary r…

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What is Accounting Leadership? 59:34

1y ago59:34

59:34

As I think about our next guest, Jody Grunden, he reminds me of the successful business leader who Mixergy's Andrew Warner should feature. Jody co-founded Summit CPA Group in the early 2000s and decided to focus on financial leadership instead of offering the conventional services many small firms provided. This discussion addresses the accounting …

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Ramping Up Your Excel Skills 41:56

1y ago41:56

41:56

When did you start using Excel, and how did you learn it? Jeff Lenning is the founder of Excel University, and he joins us to discuss the biggest mistakes he sees in Excel workbooks, the differences between formal and informal training, and why both are critical. We also walked down memory lane, discussing when we started using Excel and some of ou…

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Professional Mindset Reboots 43:11

1y ago43:11

43:11

What would you be willing to do to feel alive in your work every day? Jack Craven asks executives from all walks of life this question. Jack is the author of Aliveness Mindset: Lead and Live with More Passion, Purpose, and Joy. His book includes more than a dozen tools and frameworks for starting the journey of aliveness. Some topics we hit in this…

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Thinking Like a Venture Capitalist 1:17:31

1+ y ago1:17:31

1:17:31

I list the top business books I've read over the previous year each January. At the end of 2024, The Venture Mindset by Ilya Strebulaev and Alex Dang will easily be in my top three and possibly my overall favorite. The Venture Mindset reads fast and reminds me a little of Kahneman, Munger, and books about Buffett. Some of the big ideas we cover in …