PODCAST · business
What Counts?
by TrailBlazer Consulting, LLC
Welcome to What Counts? by TrailBlazer Consulting. The hosts, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas bring over 30 years of experience consulting with public and private organizations across industries including energy, biotech, manufacturing, and technology. We discuss proven solutions developed working with companies to solve their information and data management challenges. The typical What Counts? episode is around 15 minutes long, and each episode focuses on one aspect of information, data, or records management. We provide insight into practical ways to assess, evaluate, recommend, implement, and monitor records and information management programs – and we illustrate our ideas with anecdotes and case studies drawn from our clients. Look us up on the web at www.TrailBlazer.us.com. Or, send us an email at [email protected].
Episodes
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Data Lifecycle: The Cost of Keeping Everything Forever
Data Lifecycle: The Cost of Keeping Everything Forever In Episode 145, a lightning round that takes on the keeping everything forever mentality. Staff lose time every day hunting through duplicate versions. Eventually someone shares the wrong one with a counterparty. A data breach exposes far…
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Training vs Automation in Information Governance
Training vs automation in information governance is a risk decision, not a technology preference. In this lightning round, Lee Karas and Maura Dunn explain why training alone rarely holds. At maturity level one, a program works only when individual people make heroic efforts. However, manual…
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Information Governance Policies: The Three That Matter Most
Why You Need Information Governance Policies Why do you need information governance policies? In this lightning round of What Counts, Lee Karas and Maura Dunn explain how policy turns records into dependable evidence. First, Maura shows how a written policy sets expectations for your team and for...
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Information Governance Risk: Breach vs Access Loss
Most people hear "information governance risk" and think immediately of a data breach. In this lightning round, Lee Karas and Maura Dunn argue that the breach is only one risk on the list, and often not the one that costs you most. They work through the risk of not being able to reach your own...
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Records vs Non-Records: What Counts as Evidence
Records vs Non-Records: What Counts as Evidence Records vs non-records is the first distinction any information governance program has to get right, and most organizations never make it explicitly. In the opening episode of our lightning round series, Lee Karas and Maura Dunn answer both halves…
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Records Metadata vs Keyword Search: Making Records Findable
Records findability starts at the point of creation Trustworthy information has four attributes. It must be accurate, reliable, timely, and findable. Last episode covered the first two. This week, Lee Karas and Maura Dunn take on the other two. The rule does not change. Capture the record where…
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Records Capture at the Point of Creation: Provenance and Proof
Provenance decides whether your data is AI-ready Everyone wants to point AI at their content repositories. Maura Dunn's position in Episode 139 is simpler than that. A model can only be as trustworthy as the data feeding it. Provenance settles that question long before anyone builds a pipeline....
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Document Version Control: Why AI Picks Your Worst Copy
Universal search was designed to bring you the universe. So is your AI assistant. Lee and Maura take on the two questions they left hanging last episode: how do you know which version is the last one, and how do you know your data is reliable? AI-ready data turns out to be the same problem, it is...
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Data Capture Controls: How to Prepare for an Audit
Corporate data capture risk is a critical vulnerability that can completely disrupt an enterprise during sudden regulatory compliance audits or high-stakes litigation holds. Welcome back to What Counts, the podcast that digs into the messy information governance problems organizations inherit,...
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Duplicate Records: 3 Rules to Stop Uncontrolled Copies
Clean dashboards and reliable data don't happen by accident. In this episode of What Counts, Lee Karas and Maura Dunn pick up from the shift from records management to information governance and move into the three action principles that actually get you there: stop making copies, focus on data...
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Records Management vs. Information Governance: The Difference
What's the difference between records management and information governance — and why should anyone running a business care? In this episode of What Counts, Lee Karas and Maura Dunn step back from the weeds of counterparty data to answer a deceptively simple question: what is information...
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Vendor Master Data: Centralizing Counterparty Information
Welcome back to "What Count," the podcast where information governance meets contract lifecycle management. In this episode, Lee and Maura explore the critical next step after solving your counterparty data chaos: maintaining control of vendor information across multiple systems and teams.…
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Data Reconciliation Case Study: 350,000 Counterparty Records
Most counterparty data reconciliation projects fail at the same assumption: that one identifier — usually a tax ID — can resolve who you're actually doing business with. In Episode 133 of What Counts, Maura Dunn walks through a real two-year project to reconcile 350,000 counterparty records…
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Data Reconciliation Before AI: Why Cleanup Comes First
Episode 132 - Most organizations are being pushed to adopt AI-powered workflows before their data is anywhere close to ready. In this episode of What Counts, Maura and Lee pick up where they left off — diving deep into the concept of data reconciliation and why it must happen before AI ever…
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Messy Data and AI: What You Have to Clean Up First
Episode 131 - Data governance and AI readiness go hand in hand — and most organizations aren't as ready as they think. In this episode, Maura and Lee take a hard look at what an AI-powered customer support escalation workflow actually requires to function. Spoiler: it's not just a smart model.…
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Contract Data Governance: Fixing Conflicting Contract Terms
Episode 130 - When a company acquires another business, it inherits a tangled web of contracts — each with its own payment terms, clauses, and conditions. Contract one says 30 days, contract two says 45, and contract three says you never have to pay. So what happens when you point AI at this…
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Scaling Information Governance Without Losing Control
In this episode of What Counts, Lee and Maura move beyond diagnosing the tension between growth and governance and dive into what real solutions look like. From the “records police” stereotype to the engineering metaphor of an ungoverned engine ready to blow, they unpack why organizations…
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Growth vs Governance: The Tradeoff Every Leader Faces
Episode 128 - In this episode of What Counts, Lee and Maura dive into one of the most universal challenges leaders face: balancing the urgency of growth with the discipline of governance. From chasing new markets to managing real‑world information chaos—yes, even inside an information governance...
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Policy vs Process Misalignment: Why Workflows Break
Episode 127 - This episode of What Counts unpacks a problem every organization faces but few diagnose correctly: workflows fail when they don’t reflect the reality of how work actually gets done. Through real‑world examples—from delegated invoice approvals to storage and construction contracts—we...
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Information Governance Maturity: Why Your Score Is Too High
Episode 126 – Many organizations confidently claim they operate in a mature, well‑managed environment—until someone starts examining how work actually...
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CLM Readiness: What to Fix Before You Buy Contract Software
Episode 125 - Contract Lifecycle Management touches every corner of an organization—finance, legal, procurement, operations, compliance, and the business itself. But despite the promise of modern CLM platforms, most implementations fail for one simple reason: the organization wasn’t ready for the...
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Information Governance Myths, Part 2: What’s Actually True
Episode 124 - Fact or Fiction. Governance gets a bad rap—too rigid, too bureaucratic, too “records police.” But in reality, good Information Governance is one of the most powerful accelerators a business can have. In this episode, we bust the most persistent myths holding teams back, from the…
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Information Governance Myths, Part 1: What’s Actually True
Episode 123 - Fact or Fiction. Welcome to What Counts by TrailBlazer Consulting, the podcast where we cut through the noise and uncover what truly matters in information governance. In Episode 123, Lee and Maura tackle the most common myths using a “Fact or Fiction” format—debunking…
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Intellectual Property Lifecycle: Protecting IP as You Grow
Episode 122: IP Lifecycle or Intellectual property isn’t just about filing a trademark or patent—it’s the full journey of your ideas, inventions, and creative assets. At TrailBlazer Consulting, we define the IP lifecycle as a living process: creation, documentation, protection, utilization,...
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Turning Expertise Into Intellectual Property
Episode 121 - Every business starts with a purpose—but sustaining it requires more than passion. It demands clarity. In this episode, we unpack why documenting your know-how isn’t just smart—it’s strategic. Your intellectual capital is the blueprint of your value, the reason clients trust you…
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Business Records and Contracts: What to Keep and Why
Episode 120 - In this episode, we explore how records and contracts aren’t just administrative necessities—they’re strategic assets that shape the trajectory of a business. From articles of incorporation and bylaws to board minutes and inter-entity agreements, these documents form the...
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History of Recorded Communication: From Print to Digital
Episode 119 - From press to pixel. In this episode, we journey through the transformative history of recorded communication—from press to pixel. The invention of the printing press to the rise of typewriters and the proliferation of copiers. We examine how Gutenberg’s movable type democratized...
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History of Records: From Clay Tablets to Cloud Storage
Discover how recordkeeping evolved from clay tablets to cloud-based systems. Lee and Maura explore the timeless principles of governance, transparency, and accountability that shape how we document and manage information today. Episode length: 00:16:33
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Small Business Data: How to Classify, Protect, and Retain It
Episode 117 - In this episode, we unpack the hidden backbone of every business: data. From handwritten guest books to sophisticated CRMs, we explore the many forms customer and operational data can take—and why protecting it is non-negotiable. You’ll learn how to classify data by sensitivity,...
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Business Operations Systems That Support Growth
Episode 116 - In this episode of TrailBlazer, Maura and Lee dive into the essential components of business infrastructure setup—the behind-the-scenes systems that shape how your business communicates, operates, and scales. From branded office supplies that silently reinforce professionalism to...
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Payroll and Hiring Decisions for Small Businesses
Welcome to What Counts, the podcast where we decode the complexities of information governance and spotlight the strategies that drive operational maturity. In this episode, we’re diving into the foundational—but often overlooked—pillars of business success: payroll and human resources. From...
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Payroll & HR Systems: Building for Growth and Compliance
Welcome to What Counts, the podcast where information governance meets real-world strategy. In this episode, Lee and Maura unpack the often-overlooked—but absolutely mission-critical—domains of Payroll and Human Resources. From tax compliance and structured reporting to strategic hiring and...
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Time and Inventory Tracking: Profitability and Compliance
Episode 113 - In today’s fast-paced business landscape, tracking isn’t just a back-office chore—it’s a strategic advantage. Whether you're managing a lean startup or scaling operations, accurate time and inventory tracking can make or break your bottom line. In this episode of What Counts?, we…
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Small Business Financial Records: Practical Bookkeeping Tips
Episode E112 - In this episode of What Counts?, Maura and Lee unpack foundational financial management strategies and practical tips that every entrepreneur should know. From separating business and personal finances to choosing the right accounting software, this conversation is your guide to...
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When to Hire a Lawyer and Accountant for Your Business
Why every business needs a trusted lawyer and accountant from days one. Welcome to What Counts, the podcast that explores the power of information governance and the strategies behind smarter business decisions. In this episode, hosts Lee and Maura unpack one of the most critical, yet often...
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Business Planning for Growth: How to Lead Through Change
Future-proofing your business in today's fast-paced world is a challenge. Businesses that thrive are those that anticipate change before it happens. In this episode of What Counts, hosts Maura and Lee break down the essential framework for smart planning: seeing opportunities, watching for market...
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Business Name Registration and Logo Design: Where to Start
Episode 109 - Branding basics at What Counts, the podcast dedicated to navigating the world of information governance with expert insights and actionable strategies. In this episode, hosts Maura and Lee explore the fundamentals of branding and marketing, covering two essential steps: creating a...
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Starting a Business: The Legal Steps to Take First
Building a business foundation requires more than a great idea—it demands proper legal structuring and compliance. In this episode, we explore key foundational steps, including filing Articles of Incorporation to establish your entity, crafting a mission statement to define your business’s…
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LLC vs Corporation: Choosing Your Business Structure
Establishing a business starts with selecting the right legal structure, which impacts taxes, liability, and operational flexibility. Entrepreneurs can choose from Sole Proprietorships for simplicity, Partnerships for shared ownership, LLCs for liability protection, C Corporations for investor...
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Business Resilience: Preparing for Disruption
In today's fast-moving market, adaptability isn't a luxury-it's a necessity. Success belongs to businesses that are resilient by design, stay motivated, and build a foundation strong enough to withstand uncertainty. In this episode, we explore what it takes to remain robust in an ever-evolving...
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Scaling a Business: Balancing Talent, Profit, and Growth
2025 Episode 105 - Strategic growth: defining, building, and scaling your business while balancing talent and profitability are just a few items you will hear about in our second video episode. Launching and strategically growing a business requires more than just a vision—it demands strategic...
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Starting a Business: Records You Are Required To Keep
2025 Episode 104 – We're thrilled to bring you something brand-new with our first-ever video episode! As we explore this exciting format, we kindly ask for your patience as we work through learning new tricks to deliver the best possible video experience for you. In this inaugural video episode,...
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IT Infrastructure and Information Governance: What to Check
2025 Episode 103 – The devils in the details when it comes to infrastructure. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover the base component - Infrastructure. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to Infrastructure? Join Information...
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Business Applications and Records: What Systems Hide
2025 Episode 102 – The devils in the details when it comes to applications. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover one of the supporting pillars called Applications. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to Applications? Join...
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Data and Content Governance: The Details That Cause Problems
2025 Episode 101 – The devils in the details when it comes to data | content. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover one of the supporting pillars called Data | Content. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to Data | Content? Join...
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100 Episodes of Information Governance Lessons
2025 Episode 100 – We took a break from the current subject matter and pulled together this celebratory What Counts Episode 100. We take a look back at some of the most viewed What Counts episodes. Additionally, we provide insight on who we are doing this podcast for and how you can use the...
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Records Process Design: Where Governance Breaks Down
2024 Episode 99 – The devils in the details when it comes to process. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover one of the supporting pillars called process. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to process? Join Information Governance...
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Information Governance Policy: Details That Undermine It
2024 Episode 98 – Where do the devils in the details hide when it comes to policy implementation? This episode explains policy-related devils in the details making it clear what to watch out for when creating or modifying company policies. Join Information Governance (IG) Consultants, Maura Dunn...
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Information Governance Details That Derail Programs
2024 Episode 97 - Details are important in information governance planning and implementation. Based off the TrailBlazer Framework, explained in Episode 96, we dive further into the devils in the details when it comes to Governance. This episode ‘Governance Devils and Details’ gives you insights...
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Why Details Matter In Information Governance Programs
2024 Episode 96 - Details are important in information governance planning and implementation. The devils are in the details when it comes to trying to get information governance activities moving forward in your organization. Join Information Governance Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to What Counts? by TrailBlazer Consulting. The hosts, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas bring over 30 years of experience consulting with public and private organizations across industries including energy, biotech, manufacturing, and technology. We discuss proven solutions developed working with companies to solve their information and data management challenges. The typical What Counts? episode is around 15 minutes long, and each episode focuses on one aspect of information, data, or records management. We provide insight into practical ways to assess, evaluate, recommend, implement, and monitor records and information management programs – and we illustrate our ideas with anecdotes and case studies drawn from our clients. Look us up on the web at www.TrailBlazer.us.com. Or, send us an email at [email protected].
HOSTED BY
TrailBlazer Consulting, LLC
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What Counts? have?
What Counts? currently has 144 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What Counts? about?
Welcome to What Counts? by TrailBlazer Consulting. The hosts, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas bring over 30 years of experience consulting with public and private organizations across industries including energy, biotech, manufacturing, and technology. We discuss proven solutions developed working with...
How often does What Counts? release new episodes?
What Counts? publishes regularly with 144 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to What Counts? on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What Counts??
What Counts? is created and hosted by TrailBlazer Consulting, LLC.
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