Protea Conversations
Claim This Podcastby Zane Stevens
Podcast Overview
<p>Protea Conversations is the podcast for accountants and service-firm leaders. </p><p>Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with someone in or around the accounting profession about the careers, decisions, and hard-won lessons behind their success. These aren't polished panel talks. Our guests share what actually shaped them. The pivotal moments, the mistakes, the advice they'd give their younger selves — so you walk away with practical insight you can use in your own career or firm. </p><p>Whether you're early in your career or running your own practice, you'll find honest stories and useful takeaways in every episode. </p><p>New conversations regularly.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/6/2024
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Recent Episodes
June 24, 2026
Episode 60 - Seth Fineberg - How a Non-Accountant Revolutionized Thinking About the Future of Accounting
<p>Protea Conversations is the podcast for accountants and service-firm leaders. </p><p>Subscribe to the channel! </p><p>Meet Seth! </p><p>Join us as Seth Fineberg, a seasoned journalist and analyst with nearly 30 years at the forefront of accounting technology and culture, shares his unique perspective on the evolving profession. Discover strategies for navigating digital transformation, fostering innovation, and building resilient firms for the future. </p><p>In this episode, we discuss: </p><p>- Seth's non-traditional path into the accounting world and his superpower of perspective </p><p>- The impact of community and culture in New York, including notable celebrity encounters </p><p>- Seth's musical journey with the band Blackout Shoppers and the importance of outside passions </p><p>- How his journalism career shaped his understanding of trends like AI and cloud technology </p><p>- Practical advice for accountants feeling overwhelmed by change and innovation </p><p>- The importance of authentic content and meaningful relationships in building trust </p><p>- Personal favorites: NYC's best restaurants and unforgettable shows </p><p>Timestamps: </p><p>02:19 - Seth's perspective as a superpower in the industry </p><p>03:18 - Parenting experiences in NYC and suburban lessons </p><p>04:39 - Diversity, culture, and the NYC lifestyle's influence on family </p><p>07:36 - Seth’s involvement in the local music scene and band Blackout Shoppers </p><p>08:53 - Parenting passions—sports, activities, and balancing work-life </p><p>10:19 - Celebrity sightings and memorable NYC encounters </p><p>17:14 - The importance of passions outside work for a fulfilling life </p><p>20:46 - Seth's love for baseball and thoughts on the game’s modernization </p><p>23:16 - Evaluating changes in the sport's pace and competitive nature </p><p>25:10 - Seth’s journalism career: From college to interviewing Jeff Bezos </p><p>32:32 - Recognizing gaps in the accounting profession and mindset shifts </p><p>33:01 - The role of trust and content in client relationships </p><p>34:24 - Seth’s work with Accountants Forward and content marketing strategies </p><p>46:36 - A day in Seth’s life: routines, work blocks, and personal time </p><p>54:55 - Navigating the profession's biggest inflection points and future trends </p><p>57:42 - Final advice: prioritize self-care, embrace technology, and start small </p><p>58:09 - Rapid Fire Questions: Dream vacations, NYC shows, favorite restaurants, and more </p><p>Connect with Seth: </p><p>Personal LinkedIn - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fineberg-86aa8663/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fineberg-86aa8663/</a> </p><p>Website - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://accountantsforward.com">https://accountantsforward.com</a> This is episode 60</p>
June 10, 2026
Episode 59 - Diana Gleason - What I Gained from Gary Vaynerchuk's Mentorship
<p>Meet Diana! </p><p>Discover how Diana Gleason transitioned from a professional dancer to building a thriving six-figure accounting firm, and her insights into scaling a service-based business, leadership, and personal growth. </p><p>Main Topics: </p><p>- Diana’s unconventional path from dance to accounting </p><p>- Building and scaling DG Accounting Agency </p><p>- Leadership, systems, and operational strategies for growth </p><p>- Balancing entrepreneurship with family life </p><p>In this episode: </p><p>- Diana shares her inspiring story of pivoting careers and establishing her firm </p><p>- Key lessons learned from scaling her business and building a team </p><p>- How her background in dance instilled resilience and discipline </p><p>- Practical strategies for creating systems and empowering employees </p><p>- Her vision of the future: becoming CEO and eventual business sale </p><p>Timestamps: </p><p>00:00 - Introduction to Diana Gleason and her unique journey from dancer to accountant </p><p>01:05 - Celebrating five years in business and recognizing milestones </p><p>02:12 - Evolving roles within her firm and operational growth </p><p>04:56 - How a leadership program with Gary Vaynerchuk influenced her mindset </p><p>09:45 - Leadership style adjustments for team empowerment </p><p>16:44 - Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship while managing physical health </p><p>24:47 - Connecting with her passion for supporting dance studios and small businesses </p><p>27:29 - Her mission to humanize accounting and provide judgment-free financial support </p><p>32:09 - The value of honesty combined with compassion in client conversations </p><p>34:45 - Recognizing warning signs of potential business trouble </p><p>37:39 - Insights into her leadership program with Gary Vaynerchuk at VaynerX </p><p>45:17 - Day in the life: balancing family, business meetings, and sales efforts </p><p>48:24 - Future goals: becoming CEO and eventually selling her firm </p><p>51:02 - Personal interests, hobbies, and the importance of continuous growth </p><p>54:50 - Rapid-fire segment: dream vacation, favorite tech, and more </p><p>Connect with Diana: </p><p>Personal Instagram - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/dianagleason/">https://www.instagram.com/dianagleason/</a> </p><p>LinkedIn - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianagleason/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianagleason/</a></p>
May 27, 2026
Episode 58 - Cash East - The Courage to Take Big Swings
<p>Meet Cash! </p><p>Discover how Cash East transitioned from a childhood love of fly fishing to building innovative software tools that revolutionize real estate investing and bookkeeping. </p><p>Gain insights into the importance of data, the value of trusting a team, and embracing risk to grow professionally and personally. </p><p>In this episode: </p><p>- Cash shares his unique family history and the story behind his distinctive name, Cash. </p><p>- How his childhood passions led him into entrepreneurship and environmental science. </p><p>- The evolution from environmental consulting to environmental accounting and software development. </p><p>- The critical role of data, discipline, and teamwork in his success. </p><p>- The influence of habits, travel, and outdoor hobbies on his professional journey. </p><p>- Vision and short-term goals for his innovative software and investment projects. </p><p>Timestamps: </p><p>00:00 - Introduction to Cash East and his intriguing family history </p><p>01:26 - Childhood experiences and family influences on careers </p><p>02:04 - The story behind the name "Cash" and its impact </p><p>02:25 - Early career in finance, accounting, and environmental consulting </p><p>03:16 - Transition from biology to environmental business models </p><p>05:02 - Starting entrepreneurial ventures in fly fishing gear </p><p>11:11 - Balancing family and professional pursuits </p><p>13:03 - The attraction of entrepreneurship and control over destiny </p><p>14:25 - Using data and models in supply chain and environmental work </p><p>17:43 - Challenges in making data understandable and actionable for business owners </p><p>20:01 - Entry into real estate investments and learning to analyze deals </p><p>26:35 - The mindset needed for taking calculated risks and big swings </p><p>28:19 - The importance of data and trusting the right people in decision-making </p><p>32:11 - Surrounding yourself with reliable partners and team members </p><p>37:41 - Transitioning to managed properties and improving operational efficiency </p><p>41:04 - Creating a unified platform for bookkeeping and financial oversight </p><p>43:15 - The role of AI in automating tasks and freeing up entrepreneurs' time </p><p>45:54 - The value of time back from automation and AI tools </p><p>49:05 - Short-term goals: expanding the bookkeeping tool and community engagement </p><p>50:29 - Embracing AI growth and upcoming opportunities in tech </p><p>51:07 - Rapid fire questions: favorite books, exercise, travel preferences, tech tools, and final meal </p><p>Connect with Cash: </p><p>Personal X - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/CashionEast">https://x.com/CashionEast</a> </p><p>Kestrel - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://kestrelrms.com/">https://kestrelrms.com/</a></p>
63 total episodes available
Recent guests on Protea Conversations
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Michael Bark
Guest
Serena Shoup
Guest
Chad Davis
Guest
Justine Lackey
Guest
Erin Pohan
Guest
Isaac Perdomo
Guest
Mike Sylvester
Guest
David Barbieto
Guest
Geni Whitehouse
Guest
Scott Fuller
Guest
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Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Protea Conversations?
<p>Protea Conversations is the podcast for accountants and service-firm leaders. </p><p>Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with someone in or around the accounting profession about the careers, decisions, and hard-won lessons behind their success. These aren't polished panel talks. Our guests share what actually shaped them. The pivotal moments, the mistakes, the advice they'd give their younger selves — so you walk away with practical insight you can use in your own career or firm. </p><p>Whether you're early in your career or running your own practice, you'll find honest stories and useful takeaways in every episode. </p><p>New conversations regularly.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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