The tinsel is tangled, the Christmas crackers are questionable, and we’re wrapping the year with a bow and a mic. In this festive (and frankly, emotional) episode, with Aly, Andrew, Amy and Jack, we kick things off with some seasonal silliness, then get real about the year that was, a rollercoaster of rain-drenched offshore teams, mental overload, leadership curveballs, and unexpected wins.

We share the tough stuff we dropped, the tweaks that turned it around, and how a mid-year pivot set the stage for a good run into year end. There’s heartfelt reflection, actual advice, and a dash of seasonal wisdom, plus a few dodgy jokes (from Andrew), naturally.

But the biggest moment? A bittersweet farewell to our beloved Jack, whose curiosity and candour helped shape the first five seasons of the tech season. We send him off with full hearts… and welcome a brand new co-host: the brilliant (insert drum roll) ... Will Buckley. From cadet accountant to tech leader to firm founder, Will’s story is full of hard-won insight, from cashflow crunches to rediscovering ikigai (yes, we go there—and it lands).

We finish with firm culture in Christmas mode: inclusive, remote-friendly, and energy-smart. Whether you're hosting a Bad Santa showdown or just hoping for a silent night, this ep is packed with laughs, lessons, and permission to slow down.

🎧 Plug in, pour a cuppa (or something bubbly), and celebrate the wins, wobbles, and wonders of the year.

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MUSIC
ENTENTE (@ententemusic) | Instagram

PRODUCTION
David Easton (@davidjeasty) | Instagram

A punchline, a plane ticket, and a hallway recording in Boracay turned into a realisation: learning lands differently when you leave your routine. Aly and Andrew share how destination conferences change your headspace, why paying to be present makes you listen harder, and the simple systems that let you unplug without everything unravelling back home.

They break down a practical roadmap for disconnecting before you go that can stop surprise escalations and resentment. You’ll hear how handwritten notes and short reflection windows lock in retention, plus a lightweight process to digitise, summarise, and turn takeaways that you and your team can actually ship.

Beyond the stage, we go deep on the art of conference connection. From beach networking to awards-night chats. Big firms and small shops alike face the same patterns at different scales; drop the ego and the room becomes a library. We also talk honestly about cost, value, and how adding a day on either side prevents your new ideas from getting drowned out the moment you land.

So grab yourself a cocktail (or a mocktail) and join Aly and Andrew on their next accounting adventure and if you listen right to the very end there is a special little easter egg for you #yourwelcome.

AAAAA IS PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR SPONSORS

TOA Global Dedicated outsourcing solutions for Accounting firms in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK and across the globe.

Practice and Pixels | A digital agency that creates new, original and authentic digital experiences for accountants and their current and future clients through brand design, website design and development, video production, creative design and strategic digital marketing for accountants

Planet Consulting | We work with firm owners and managers who want to run better businesses and achieve their version of success. We have the experience and knowledge to help you get clear on what that success looks like for you and support and guide you on the journey to achieve it

FOLLOW US ON THE SOCIALS
www.accountingadventures.com.au
Accounting Adventures (@accadvpodcast) | Instagram
Accounting Adventures | Facebook
Accounting Adventures | LinkedIn
Aly & Andrews All Aussie Accounting Adventures (@accadvpodcast) | X
Email: podcast@accountingadventures.com.au

CHECK US OUT
ALL IN Advisory | Your squad of award-winning accountants, tax wizards, and business visionaries, perfectly tailored to elevate your biz. Let's soar together!
Illumin8 | Purpose-led cloud-driven accounting humans

MUSIC
ENTENTE (@ententemusic) | Instagram

PRODUCTION
David Easton (@davidjeasty) | Instagram

Five conversations with world class speakers, one massive TOACon. Aly and Andrew recorded this one, beachside in Boracay.

A change strategist, a survivor turned author, an innovation expert, a peak performance coach, and a behavioural scientist walk into a bar and .... unpack what actually moves the needle in work and life.

We kick off with Dom Thurbon, who serves a spicy reminder that while everyone claims honesty is a value, most of us dodge it the second our image feels at risk. He unpacks why intent isn’t enough, how social media rewards the wrong stuff, and what leaders can do to build psychological safety so their teams actually tell the truth.

Then Emma Carey takes us from skydiving accident to the New York City Marathon, reframing resilience as the simple act of taking the next step. Her gratitude practice, recovery journey, and quiet determination will have you rethinking what strength really looks like.

Innovation gets real with James O’Loghlin, who calls out the busywork trap and hands over a structure anyone can use: daily thinking time, a one idea a month KPI, and the underrated superpower of owners calling customers themselves with curiosity rather than ego.

Next, Ollie Bridge reminds us we’re all corporate athletes, sharing the three legged stool of performance—training, recovery, nutrition. Expect practical habits like exercise snacks, sleep hygiene as a warm up, and nutrition without the guilt trip.

We wrap with Dr Shardé’s model for big trust, grounded in self acceptance, agency, autonomy, and adaptability. She explains why confidence follows action, not the other way around, and how to anchor yourself in what you can influence while riding the emotional waves that come with doing hard things.

If you’re a leader, founder, or curious human craving better conversations, smarter experiments, deeper sleep, and sturdier self belief, this episode is your island-born permission slip. Share it with the mate who needs a nudge, and tell us the moment that landed!

FOLLOW US ON THE SOCIALS
www.accountingadventures.com.au
Accounting Adventures (@accadvpodcast) | Instagram
Accounting Adventures | Facebook
Accounting Adventures | LinkedIn
Aly & Andrews All Aussie Accounting Adventures (@accadvpodcast) | X
Email: podcast@accountingadventures.com.au

CHECK US OUT
ALL IN Advisory | Your squad of award-winning accountants, tax wizards, and business visionaries, perfectly tailored to elevate your biz. Let's soar together!
Illumin8 | Purpose-led cloud-driven accounting humans

MUSIC
ENTENTE (@ententemusic) | Instagram

PRODUCTION
David Easton (@davidjeasty) | Instagram