Podcast Summary: The Audit Podcast

Episode 268: Blooper Reel 2025
Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Trent Russell
Special Focus: Behind-the-Scenes with Editor Mary Charles

Overview

This episode of The Audit Podcast is a special end-of-year "blooper reel," celebrating the unsung hero of the show: editor Mary Charles. Instead of focusing on traditional internal audit, tech, or SOX guidance topics, the episode provides listeners with an entertaining, candid, and humorous behind-the-scenes look at editing, show production, and those moments that usually end up on the cutting room floor. It’s a lighthearted homage to Mary Charles, featuring outtakes, spontaneous banter, and commentary about what it takes to keep the podcast running smoothly.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Editing & Mary Charles’ Role

• Trent (Host) describes how Mary Charles became integral to the show’s quality and flow.
  • Trent humorously admits he quickly abandoned editing the show himself:

    "It took me four hours to edit 45 minutes of audio. This is before we even did video." (01:02)

  • Realization of the value of a good editor led to Mary Charles taking over and becoming a key part of the production for nearly six years.
  • The editing process helps create a relaxed, conversational atmosphere for guests:

    "It's largely so that the guests know that they can say and do whatever they want. And ultimately we can edit anything out for them." (01:36)

2. Outtakes and Running Gags About Editing

• Throughout, Trent references talking to Mary Charles mid-recording as a recurring bit:
  • "Hey, Mary Charles, can you cut that?" or "Let's talk about this thing later."
• The same banter allows for a candid, less formal show experience and frequent riffs about what should (or shouldn’t) be cut.

3. Bloopers, Warmups, & Off-script Banter

• Examples of chatter that would otherwise be edited out:
  • Discussions about asking guests, "What's your favorite curse word?" without warning (02:47).
  • Reference to Phil Collins' pre-show vocal warmup, “SU Studio," and shared personal warmups:

    • "I do Ow. Wow. Brown cow. There you go. Brown cow. There's a clap for Mary Charles." (03:26)

  • Mistaken pronunciations and fun with last names:
    • The guest corrects Trent’s pronunciation:

      "Can you pronounce your last name?"
      "Mir. Because a lot of people do not pronounce it. Well, I've heard all kinds of things." (03:59)

    • Mispronunciations:

      "I would have gone messier. So way off." (04:04)
      "Some people have said misery, and I'm like, oh, gosh, I hope not." (04:07)

4. Personal Highlights about Mary Charles

• Beyond editing, Mary Charles is praised for her multifaceted skills:
  • Audio, video, infographics, social media clips, etc. (00:40)
• Notably, she is currently attending NYU film school, linking the "Misery" name joke with her passion for film.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Outsourcing Editing:

  "That lasted about two episodes. It took me four hours to edit 45 minutes of audio... So then I went back to Mary Charles and said, hey, can you just do this for us full time?"
  — Trent, 00:55

• On the Value of Editing for Guest Comfort:

  "It's largely so that the guests know that they can say and do whatever they want. And ultimately we can edit anything out for them."
  — Trent, 01:36

• On Mary Charles’ Impact:

  "Absolutely could not do the show without her. So thank you again so much for everything that you do."
  — Trent, 02:41

• Name Mispronunciation Fun:

  "Some people have said misery, and I'm like, oh, gosh, I hope not."
  — Guest (Mir), 04:07

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:03 — Introduction & praise for Mary Charles
• 01:36 — The value of editing and guest comfort
• 02:41 — Dedication to Mary Charles for her contributions
• 02:47 — Typical blooper banter: “Favorite curse word?” segment
• 03:13 — “SU Studio” warmup banter and audio warmup riffs
• 03:59 — Name pronunciation joke and Halloween/film school anecdote

Overall Tone & Atmosphere

• Informal, humorous, and celebratory of the behind-the-scenes work.
• Playful references to editing, name mishaps, and what usually gets cut.
• A sincere appreciation of Mary Charles, relayed through candid, community-spirited banter.

Conclusion

Episode 268 offers fans a rare, amusing glimpse behind the curtain at The Audit Podcast. Far from a typical audit or controls episode, it’s both a blooper-filled celebration and a heartfelt thank-you to Mary Charles, the editor who turns rough audio and rambling takes into the polished show listeners have come to appreciate. The episode is filled with good-natured jokes, meta-commentary on podcasting, and an authentic sense of camaraderie among the show’s core team.