The MediaBooks Podcast

Kristen Corey

The MediaBooks Podcast is the only place on the internet where creative accounting isn’t a bad thing. In this podcast we discuss how accounting firms can adopt creative marketing, branding, web design, and media strategies to grow their firm. To learn more about MediaBooks, visit: MediaBooksAgency.com

  1. 07/24/2025 · BONUS

    BONUS EP: What You Should Know Before Going to a Conference

    Episode Description: In this episode of The MediaBooks Podcast, Kristen Corey shares her fresh, behind-the-scenes take on Scaling New Heights 2025—recorded right from her hotel room after breaking down her booth. She dives into what worked, what surprised her, and why conferences aren’t just about leads—they’re about partnerships, networking, and building real relationships. If you’re an accountant or sponsor considering attending a conference, you’ll find actionable tips, firsthand lessons, and a candid look at what makes Scaling New Heights unique. Key Takeaways: 1. Partnerships often lead to more clients than direct leads—don’t underestimate networking with other vendors. 2. Arrive a day early to settle in, explore the venue, and avoid feeling rushed before setup. 3. Scaling New Heights is highly organized, with set vendor hours that help attendees focus on either sessions or networking without FOMO. 4. Face-to-face conversations with decision-makers are invaluable, especially if you want to build strategic partnerships. 5. Plan your swag carefully—many sponsors overestimate quantities (Kristen learned this the hard way with leftover gum!). Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:30 | Partnerships Over Leads – Why great collaborations often lead to better opportunities than direct conference leads. 00:30 – 01:06 | Welcome to the Media Books Podcast – Kristen introduces the episode and sets the stage for her conference review. 01:06 – 02:36 | First Impressions & Prep Work – What it was like preparing as a sponsor, from webinars to checklists. 02:36 – 04:20 | Arriving at the Conference – Lessons learned about when to arrive and why showing up early matters. 04:20 – 06:23 | Venue & Location Highlights – Marriott World Orlando Resort perks, Disney Springs dining, and why the location is great for families. 06:23 – 07:48 | Conference Organization – Structured vendor hours, session schedules, and attendee flow. 07:48 – 10:22 | Networking & Partnerships – The value of connecting with vendors, unexpected elevator conversations, and why in-person chats beat emails. 10:22 – 11:05 | Non-Linear Path to Clients – Why partnerships can be a hidden pipeline for new business. 11:05 – 12:19 | Overall Conference Experience – The fast-paced week, inspiring sessions, and vendor interactions. 12:19 – 14:11 | Community & Networking Opportunities – Lanyard badges, first-time attendee pins, and building meaningful relationships. 14:11 – 15:06 | Final Thoughts & Future Content – Kristen shares her plans for more conference tips and invites questions. 15:23 – 16:00 | Media Books Services – Quick breakdown of Media Books’ web design, audit, and advisory services. Relevant Links: Work with MediaBooks: https://www.mediabooksagency.com/ Follow Kristen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-corey/---

    16 min
  2. 07/22/2025

    Episode 263: How I Market with Yuri Kapilovich #TheFunCPA

    Description:In this episode of the MediaBooks Podcast, I chat with Yuri Kapilovich, also known as The Fun CPA. Yuri shares his journey from running a New Jersey-based accounting firm to becoming a social media advocate for making accounting fun, approachable, and sustainable. We dive into his new mentorship initiative, Mentors Count, and discuss how accountants can grow their careers through community, soft skills, and meaningful engagement with the profession. 🗝️ Key Takeaways: 1. Mentorship changes careers – building relationships with experienced professionals helps accountants grow faster and avoid burnout. 2. The accounting profession needs better soft skills training – technical skills get you hired, but communication and leadership keep you moving forward. 3. Accountants should embrace community and fun – building relationships and enjoying your work keeps you motivated and attracts great talent. 🔗 Relevant Links: Connect with Yuri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ Follow The Fun CPA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefun_cpa/ Check out Mentors Count: https://mentorscount.com/ ⏰ Timestamps 0:00:09 – Introduction & Meet Yuri Kapilovich 0:01:36 – Yuri’s Journey Into Accounting & Mentorship 0:03:04 – Running a Firm & Balancing Life 0:04:29 – Getting First Clients & Unique Marketing Opportunities 0:05:54 – The Helicopter Event Story 0:07:12 – Taking Risks in Marketing Your Firm 0:08:39 – Setting Up His First Booth 0:10:12 – Networking & Building Relationships at Events 0:11:39 – The Power of Brand Awareness 0:12:57 – Mentorship, Soft Skills, and the Future of Accounting 0:14:22 – Social Media’s Role in Accounting 0:15:41 – Growing a Personal Brand as an Accountant 0:17:02 – Advice for New Accountants Entering the Profession 0:18:30 – Creating a Fun & Engaging Firm Culture 0:19:55 – The Importance of Work-Life Balance 0:21:18 – Mentors Count: Building a Mentorship Community 0:22:44 – Developing Soft Skills for Career Growth 0:24:10 – Long-Term Vision for the Accounting Profession 0:25:40 – How to Find the Right Mentor 0:27:03 – Final Thoughts & Where to Connect with Yuri

    28 min
  3. 07/08/2025

    Episode 262: Pricing Psychology & Proposals That Close with Irene Seelig

    Description:In this episode of the MediaBooks Podcast, Kristen Corey sits down with Irene Seelig, CEO and Co-founder of Account Groove, to talk all things pricing strategy, proposals, and client onboarding for accounting firms. Irene shares how pricing psychology can help you land more premium clients, why most firms undercharge, and how to structure your proposals to speak directly to your audience. Whether you're building out your service packages or fine-tuning your consultation process, this episode is packed with tactical advice. 🗝 3 Key Takeaways: - Using three-tier pricing and price anchoring can dramatically boost your close rate. - A well-timed proposal call right after discovery prevents ghosting and increases conversions. - Your proposal tiers should build on each other—not compete—so clients naturally upgrade. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: - Account Groove: http://www.accountgroove.com/kristencorey - Connect with Irene Seelig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-seelig/ - Price Objection Response Guide: https://www.accountgroove.com/objections-guide - MediaBooks Website: www.mediabooksagency.com ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 02:00 – Irene’s background and transition into pricing 03:00 – Why client onboarding needs automation 04:00 – How Account Groove was born 06:00 – Why accounting firms are shifting to advisory services 07:00 – Listing prices on your website: yes or no? 09:00 – How price anchoring nudges clients toward premium packages 13:00 – Visual pricing placement and design psychology 15:00 – Why accountants are still undercharging 18:00 – Ideal proposal call timing after discovery 21:00 – The #1 mistake firms make with three-tier pricing 24:00 – How to handle price objections without discounting 27:00 – What to track to know if your pricing is working 30:00 – Why pricing should be reviewed like your website 32:00 – Account Groove’s built-in pricing strategy tools 33:00 – Final thoughts and how to connect

    34 min
  4. 06/24/2025

    Episode 261: This Burnout Is Bananas: How Business Models Burn Great People Out With Ashley Carroll

    Description:In this episode of The MediaBooks Podcast, Kristen sits down with Ashley Carroll, founder of Operations House and a fractional COO for accounting and creative service firms. Ashley shares her inspiring journey from growing up below the poverty line to becoming a COO and building 40% margin service firms that prioritize both people and profit. She opens up about what operations really means, how burnout is often a business model issue, and the exact steps she takes to bring calm to the chaos. If you’ve ever felt like your systems are crumbling right when your business is growing—this one’s for you. ✨ What You’ll Learn: - Ashley’s unconventional journey from nonprofit accountant to COO (08:32) - Why operations is more than just zaps and SOPs—it’s your firm’s culture (40:03) - Her “Founder Reset” method to help overwhelmed owners reclaim their time (52:12) - Getting team buy-in for operational changes without pushback (01:09:45) - Why burnout isn’t your fault—and how operations can fix it (01:20:16) - Building human-first firms in a high-demand industry (01:35:50) 🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned: 💻 Operations House: https://operations.house/ 🎁 Free Burnout Recovery Kit: https://operations.house/recovery-kit?utm_source=mediabooks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=burnout_recovery_2025 🔄 Three-Week Founder Reset: https://operations.house/the-founder-reset?utm_source=mediabooks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=founder_reset_2025 🤝 Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleykcarroll/ 📚 Book Mentioned: The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+12+week+year+by+brian+p+moran&hvadid=694243191293&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9030693&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15373525053237492171--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15373525053237492171&hvtargid=kwd-443426484431&hydadcr=15543_13657471&mcid=1552963dd6eb341f91b13301ceb19280&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_3ksudr83fw_e_p67 🎙️ Learn more about MediaBooks Agency: https://www.mediabooksagency.com/ 🕒 Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to Ashley Carroll 04:33 – From accounting to entrepreneurship 12:45 – Discovering her operational superpower 20:18 – How one payment system change reduced late payments by 78% 26:11 – What is “operations,” really? 40:03 – Operations as communication glue 52:12 – What a Founder Reset actually looks like 01:09:45 – Getting team buy-in when they’re already overloaded 01:20:16 – Why burnout is a business model flaw 01:35:50 – Tech, AI & why automations are only part of the story 01:41:20 – Ashley’s parting advice and offers 📢 Like what you heard? Subscribe to The MediaBooks Podcast for more conversations at the intersection of accounting and marketing. And don't forget to leave a review!

    42 min
  5. 06/10/2025

    Episode 260: How I Market with Eryn

    Episode Overview In this episode, Kristen interviews Erin Schultz, founder of Her Personal Finance, about building a successful niche business serving women in medicine, tech, and law. Erin shares her journey from Harvard Business School graduate to personal finance educator and financial planner, discussing how she built an audience on social media and the power of niching down. Guest Bio Erin Schultz is the founder of Her Personal Finance (founded in 2015). She's a Harvard Business School graduate who specializes in helping physicians and research scientists balance student loan payments with retirement savings. Her online classes are offered in partnership with Mass General Hospital, and she has helped hundreds of clients navigate hospital benefits and financial planning. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to Erin Schultz [01:15] Erin's Journey from Harvard to Personal Finance [03:54] Building a Social Media Presence [04:58] Engaging with Content and Community [08:19] The Importance of Niching Down [10:33] Personal Stories and Professional Connections [19:31] Adapting Content for Different Platforms [22:34] Resources and Final Thoughts Key Takeaways 1. Niche down ruthlessly - Erin's focus on women in specific high-earning professions allows her to become a true expert 2. Personal stories drive engagement - Educational content performs worse than personal narratives 3. Be approachable, not traditional - Standing out from "dusty old guys from Fidelity" 4. Repurpose content strategically - Same story, different formats for different platforms 5. Address real pain points - Fertility costs, childcare planning, student loans Connect with Erin - Instagram: [@herpersonalfinance](https://instagram.com/herpersonalfinance) - LinkedIn: [Erin Schultz](https://linkedin.com/in/erinschultz) - Website: [herpersonalfinance.com](http://herpersonalfinance.com) - Bimonthly newsletter covering topics like car payments, 401(k)s, and student loans

    24 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The MediaBooks Podcast is the only place on the internet where creative accounting isn’t a bad thing. In this podcast we discuss how accounting firms can adopt creative marketing, branding, web design, and media strategies to grow their firm. To learn more about MediaBooks, visit: MediaBooksAgency.com