“Just Go Do the Thing”: Inside Forensic Accounting and Fraud Minds with Justin Burns, CPA, CFE

What does it actually take to build a career catching fraudsters?In this episode, Kelly sits down with Justin Burns, CPA, CFE and founder of Space Coast Forensics, to talk about his journey into forensic accounting — and why success in this field (and honestly, any field) comes down to one simple mindset: just go do the thing.From cold-emailing his way onto podcasts to building his own practice, Justin shares how taking initiative — even before feeling “ready” — shaped his career.They also dig into the psychology of fraud, including which fraudsters Justin would most want to interview, why the first time someone steals matters more than anything else, and the truth about gender differences in embezzlement.Plus: what forensic accountants actually do day-to-day, how to break into the field, and why the community is more supportive than you’d expect.🔍 In this episode:Why asking about the first theft reveals everythingThe truth about gender differences in embezzlementHow Justin found forensic accounting (and knew it was the right fit)What forensic accountants actually do: fraud investigations, litigation support, and moreThe power of cold emails, networking, and taking initiativeStarting your own practice: exciting, terrifying… and worth itWhy most people never take the leap — and how to be the exceptionThe surprisingly supportive world of forensic accounting💡 Key TakeawayMost people wait until they feel ready. The ones who succeed? They start before that.👤 About Justin BurnsJustin Burns, CPA, CFE, is the founder of Space Coast Forensics, where he specializes in fraud investigations, litigation support, and economic damages. He’s also the host of the Data Sleuth Podcast, where he explores real-world fraud cases and forensic accounting insights.Connect with Justin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-burns-cpa-cfe-215506155/Space Coast Forensics🎧 Resources & MentionsData Sleuth PodcastCrime JunkieSwindledCriminal with Phoebe JudgeDead Money by Jacob KerrWired on Wall Street by Tom Hardin (Tipper X)

Tipper X is back.Tom Hardin, former Wall Street analyst, convicted insider trader, and author,  returns to Fraudish to talk about what happens after the scandal.Most people in Tom’s position would disappear. Instead, he’s chosen to do the opposite: speak openly about his mistakes and turn his scars into service.Tom joins Kelly to discuss his new book and the real story behind his insider trading conviction — including the pressures of Wall Street, accountability, redemption, and what the justice system gets right (and wrong).They also dive into the mental health toll of public scandal, the gray areas of ethics in finance, and what Tom now teaches organizations about compliance, culture, and decision-making.In this episode:What actually happened in the insider trading case that made Tom “Tipper X”The personal and professional fallout after the convictionProsecutorial overreach and the complexities of white-collar justiceThe mental health side of scandal and rebuilding a lifeWhy Tom now speaks to companies about ethics and complianceAbout Tom HardinTom Hardin (aka Tipper X) is a former Wall Street analyst who became one of the most well-known insider trading cooperators in U.S. history. Today he is a public speaker on ethics, compliance, and decision-making in high-pressure environments — and the author of a new book about his experience and redemption.Connect with Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tipperx/📘 Get the book: https://www.tipperx.com/book🎧 Listen to Tom’s first Fraudish appearance: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-33-tom-hardin-aka-tipper-x/id1530413097?i=1000523021597

Before launching her own forensic accounting firm, Carla Blake CPA, CFE spent 15+ years with the IRS tracking down fraudsters. In this episode, she joins Kelly to break down how investigators actually follow the money—and the surprisingly simple red flags that expose embezzlement.From ghost employees to Ponzi schemes, Carla breaks down how fraud really happens, how investigators catch it, and why understanding human behavior matters just as much as understanding numbers.Spoiler: sometimes the biggest fraud control is simply not trusting the nicest person in the office with all the passwords.What You’ll LearnWhy women and men commit different types of fraudThe red flags that signal embezzlement in small businessesHow forensic accountants follow the moneyWhy most fraud is discovered by accidentThe skills every future fraud fighter actually needsResources MentionedAssociation of Certified Fraud ExaminersAmerican Institute of Certified Public AccountantsData Sleuth PodcastCarla Blake LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakefiles/ Website: https://www.blakefiles.com/

Julia Cowley is a retired FBI agent/profiler, who hosts The Consult: Real FBI Profilers podcast. The one on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist was fantastic! Cowley traces her path from chemistry and a forensic science master’s to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, then the FBI, where she was assigned to bank fraud and later public corruption/civil rights in Boston while serving on the Evidence Response Team, before applying to and joining the Behavioral Analysis Unit during research into high-level white-collar offenders. They found some interesting similarities between serious violent offenders and white-collar criminals. Listen to The Consult: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/

Art crime isn't like other crime. They aren't just stealing from one person or organization, when they steal a masterpiece from a museum,  they're stealing from all of us. A lot of former law enforcement officials write books. Not a lot of them write page turners.I found Robert Wittman after reading about him in the news and reached out cold—because his book Priceless is just that good. We're talking kept-me-up-until-2-AM good. Art crime is fascinating, but it doesn't always grab me like this one did.Robert was instrumental in the creation of the FBI’s rapid deployment Art Crime Team and spent his career going undercover to recover stolen masterpieces worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In this conversation, we get into what it's actually like to work art fraud cases, what differentiates it from other fraud, and how he turned those wild stories into a book that reads like a thriller.Connect with Robert:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wittman-74347a16/Website: https://www.robertwittmaninc.com/aboutBooks: https://www.robertwittmaninc.com/booksMore from Robert:BBC Interview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5p64Podcast Appearances: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/robert-wittman-107aNDpttk/appearances

A return guest on Fraudish who is a LAWYER? Shock & awe. Rob Gardner is back, and technically he just went to law school (we'll let it slide). This time we're tackling something every investigator is bumping up against: the limitations of AI in research and the paywalls that keep getting in the way.We dig into how public records access varies wildly from state to state—and why that matters more than ever when you're trying to piece together an investigation. Rob brings the practical, boots-on-the-ground perspective on what AI can actually do for investigators versus what it promises, and where good old-fashioned legwork still wins.If you've ever hit a wall mid-investigation—literally or digitally—this conversation is for you.Connect with Rob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-gardner-94b5831/Rob's Writing:"The Worst": https://www.managerisks.net/new-blog/2026/2/3/the-worst"Two Memos": https://www.managerisks.net/new-blog/2026/2/13/two-memosShows & Resources Mentioned:The Prosecutor (2025): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32499731/Dept. Q Series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dept._QThe Lincoln Lawyer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lincoln_Lawyer_(TV_series)YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT7pB72jwn4

What happens when someone needs a forensic accountant but can't afford one?This week Kelly speaks with Austin Parris, forensic manager at IAG Forensics and Valuation, to talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention in our industry: access. Not everyone who needs forensic work can pay for it, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve it.Austin shares his career journey and his work with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation, where forensic accounting meets real community impact. We dig into why pro bono work matters, how it can actually make you a better investigator, and the networking opportunities that come from showing up for causes bigger than your billable hours.If you've ever wondered how to use your fraud skills for good or you're looking for meaningful ways to give back while building your career, this one's for you!Connect with Austin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparrisforensic/IAG Forensics: https://www.iagforensics.com/austin-parris/Resources Mentioned:Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation: https://avlf.org/Digital Assets at Duke: https://www.digitalassetsatduke.org/In the Red Clay Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-red-clay/id1519901948

What if AI could make you a better fraud investigator?This week I sit down with JR Kunkle, an IT professional with over three decades of experience in IT risk and project management. JR isn't just talking theory—he's actually using AI tools like Claude and Gemini in his daily work, and he shares his hands-on approach to leveraging these tools for professional writing and analysis.We dig into the cybersecurity trends that should be keeping fraud professionals up at night, why organizational transparency remains such a persistent challenge, and what's really going wrong in the accounting and audit sectors.Whether you're curious about integrating AI into your investigative toolkit or you want to understand the IT risks that enable fraud in the first place, JR brings practical insights from someone who's been in the trenches for 30+ years.Connect with JR: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrkunkle/

Does technology make fraud easier to commit OR easier to catch? Brian Levine has some strong opinions, and trust me, you'll want to hear them.In this episode, I sit down with Brian, an attorney, former DOJ cybercrime prosecutor, entrepreneur, and #CyberYenta for one of the most entertaining conversations I've had on this show. We dive into his fascinating career journey from commercial litigation to his work fighting cybercrime at the Department of Justice, and what inspired him to build Former Gov, a directory connecting former government employees.Brian brings the perfect combination of deep expertise and genuine humor (yes, he kept me laughing the entire recording). Connect with Brian on LinkedinShows & Resources Mentioned:Inside Airport Lost and Found To Catch a SmugglerEar Hustlehttps://www.earhustlesq.com/AIUC-1Am I My Father’s Trapper Keeper Keeper

What does it look like going from a massive international company to working with your husband on a family-owned business?Liz Briggson, CPA joins Fraudish to discuss her career in the fraud world as a CPA and shares a lot about the differences between working for a big org and starting your own thing. No matter which side you are on, you will learn something!Encoursa is a platform that provides insightful and engaging professional education for CPAs, accountants, and finance leaders all over the world.Connect with Liz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbriggsoncpa/Check out Encoursa: https://encoursa.com/Contemporary Auditing Book: https://www.abebooks.com/Contemporary-Auditing-Knapp-Michael-C-Cengage/32308578597/bdhttps://www.cfo.com/news/doing-time/680742/Leslie Fays: https://aaronhall.com/lessons-from-leslie-fays-bankruptcy-financial-controls-adaptability-and-leadership/https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/918/749/1448157/All the Cool Girls Get Fired book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/All-the-Cool-Girls-Get-Fired/Laura-Brown/9781668067451