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  • 253 | Q&A: Xero Fresh Start or QBO Migrate, A2X, Gusto Payroll, and More

    253 | Q&A: Xero Fresh Start or QBO Migrate, A2X, Gusto Payroll, and More
    2026/10/07

    In this September live Q&A, we covered a lot of ground. We talked about whether to convert a client from QBO to Xero or start fresh, how to realistically land more clients heading into 2026, and how I handle clients who won't send receipts no matter how many times you ask.

    We also got into Shopify bookkeeping, paying contractors, what to do when a credit union is making your life miserable, and the moment I know it's time to walk away from a client. Plus, I spill the tea on why creating a course is way less passive than running a bookkeeping firm.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • My process for QBO to Xero conversions
    • How to get more clients without burning yourself out
    • How to keep month-end moving
    • Shopify deposits and bills
    • Contractors on Gusto
    • Credit unions with no bank feeds
    • How to know when a client has outgrown your firm.

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
    • Bookkeeping Business Accelerator (BBA): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
    • Confident Compliance Bundle: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/offers/tgPgMBJ7
    • Bookkeeping Client Closer mini course: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/closer
    • 228| Increasing Your Sales with Hunter Rademacher: https://youtu.be/aKQMePlI8UM

    Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

    For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

    • Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
    • Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

    Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

    Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

    • Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
    • Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
    • Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)
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    45 分
  • 252 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro Part 2

    252 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro Part 2
    2026/09/30
    Katie Ferro is back for part two, and we picked up right where we left off with Katie's line that stuck with me all week: if you don't have a stance, it's because you're not in the room enough. The same goes for advisory. You won't feel confident until you put yourself in the room, and you can't get in the room until you build some confidence. So we talked about how to break that cycle. Katie shared three real client emails from the last 10 days that were quietly asking for more, and I shared how I built my own advisory process with a practice client.In this episode you’ll hear:How to recognize when a client is asking for advisory helpHow a simple 30-minute conversation can turn an intimidating email into a quick winWhy calling it a "budget" might be killing client buy-inWhy you should bundling advisory into your packagesResources mentioned in this episode:Katie's post "Being cheap won't stop you from being broke":KPI Download: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/kpiElevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevateXero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7dDubsado: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=shoupcpaContent Snare: https://contentsnare.com/#_r_serena58Previous Episodes with KatiePart 1 of this conversation with Katie Ferro(https://youtu.be/to3aHJXefPI)225 ⎸ Recast: Become a Bookkeeper with Katie Ferro(https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/18369393)44 ⎸ Best Advice from Accounting Course Creators(https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/10445058)Meet Katie FerroKatie Ferro is a CPA, reformed rule follower, corporate escapee, and mama to three little ones.She built her bookkeeping business to surpass her corporate tax manager salary, working only the hours she used to spend commuting and without giving up her stay-at-home mom crown.Today, Katie runs her bookkeeping business while educating and empowering accountants and aspiring bookkeepers to build businesses that support their lives instead of keeping them from living them.Connect with Katie🌐 Instagram: https://instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie🎙️ Katie’s Podcast: https://profitsprosecco.libsyn.com/website📈 Become a Bookkeeper Program (BABS): https://www.katieferro.com/a/38894/2PQNgtvv🧾 Life by the Books: https://www.katieferro.com/lifeThanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeperFor more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.comFollow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blogConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpaThank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.Podcast Publishing Tools we use:Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llcDescript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)#bookkeepingbusiness #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting
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    1 時間 6 分
  • 251 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro

    251 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro
    2026/09/23
    I've been connected with Katie Ferro since the very beginning of my business. I literally found her on a podcast while I was on maternity leave dreaming about starting a bookkeeping business, and I probably reached out to her like a weirdo on Instagram. We reconnected recently, had a conversation that was way too good to keep to ourselves, and decided to hit record. This one is a true coffee shop conversation between two industry friends who care a whole lot about competence, integrity, and the bookkeepers in this community. We get real about why our industry keeps telling you bookkeeping is a commodity (spoiler: usually to sell you something), why better books are already a form of advisory, what AI fear is actually costing you, and what I'm seeing firsthand inside a community college accounting class right now. Grab your favorite drink and join us.In this episode you’ll hear:Why the most profitable part of my firm is actually my simplest, lowest-priced bookkeepingThe low-hanging fruit that's causing clients to leave great bookkeepersHow to add advisory-level value without blowing up your business model, adding a ton of calls to your calendar, or burning outWhy I've changed my tune on recommending college accounting classes, and what I recommend insteadResources mentioned in this episode:Bookkeeping Business Accelerator (BBA): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bbaElevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevateXero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7dKajabi: https://app.kajabi.com/r/SLFEMUL4/t/uiptq7nuPrevious Episodes with Katie:225 ⎸ Recast: Become a Bookkeeper with Katie Ferro(https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/18369393)44 ⎸ Best Advice from Accounting Course Creators(https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/10445058)Meet Katie FerroKatie Ferro is a CPA, reformed rule follower, corporate escapee, and mama to three little ones.She built her bookkeeping business to surpass her corporate tax manager salary, working only the hours she used to spend commuting and without giving up her stay-at-home mom crown.Today, Katie runs her bookkeeping business while educating and empowering accountants and aspiring bookkeepers to build businesses that support their lives instead of keeping them from living them.Connect with Katie🌐 Instagram: https://instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie🎙️ Katie’s Podcast: https://profitsprosecco.libsyn.com/website📈 Become a Bookkeeper Program: https://www.katieferro.com/a/38894/2PQNgtvvThanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeperFor more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.comFollow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blogConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpaThank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.Podcast Publishing Tools we use:Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llcDescript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)#becomeabookkeeper #bookkeepingbusiness #firmowner #entrepreneur #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting
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    1 時間 22 分
  • 250 | X2Uno: The Chrome Extension for Xero with Mark Corum

    250 | X2Uno: The Chrome Extension for Xero with Mark Corum
    2026/09/16

    What if the tool you've been waiting for, the one that finally makes Xero as efficient as QuickBooks with Right Tool, already exists, and it's being built by a former bookkeeper who accidentally fell into coding? In this episode, Serena sits down with Mark Corum, the developer behind X2Uno and Right Tool, to talk about building Chrome extensions for accounting software, the surprising parallels between bookkeeping and programming, and why the tech world's pricing model might be completely backwards. Whether you're a Xero loyalist, a QuickBooks refugee, or just curious about what happens when an accountant teaches themselves to code, then this conversation has something for you.

    In this episode you’ll hear about:

    • X2Uno - What it is, how it differs from Right Tool, and why Mark felt a moral obligation to build something for Xero users
    • Right Tool & Monkbee
    • How Chrome extensions actually work
    • Xero vs. QuickBooks
    • The cost of switching platforms
    • AI and the future of accounting
    • Programming, bookkeeping, and music
    • Cleanup work as a niche
    • X2Uno availability — How to get it now (free beta on the Chrome Web Store), the MailChimp discount path, and the Facebook community for feature requests

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • X2Uno → sign up for beta her: https://mailchi.mp/x2uno/ambitious

    Meet Mark Corum

    I am Mark Corum. I went to college for accounting and decided to make my own bookkeeping company in my Junior year. Realized I like accounting, but I am not an accountant and transitioned out of it and stumbled into programming in late 2019 - vowing never to touch QuickBooks again.

    2021 comes around and I am working on a chrome extension for QuickBooks called "MonkBe" that is discovered by Hector Garcia and remade into RightTool. Now that is used by about 50,000 people and I want the additional fun of working on Xero!

    Connect with Mark

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcorum/

    Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

    For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

    • Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
    • Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
    • Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

    Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

    Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

    • Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
    • Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
    • Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)
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    50 分
  • 249 ⎸ [Q&A] Starting a Firm While Employed, Hiring Advice, and Employee Benefits

    249 ⎸ [Q&A] Starting a Firm While Employed, Hiring Advice, and Employee Benefits
    2026/09/08

    This round of Live Q&A we got into some really good stuff: how to navigate starting your firm while you're still employed, why book to tax differences are completely normal and not something to lose sleep over, and how I approach the "can I afford to hire" conversation with clients (spoiler: it's rarely just about the numbers). I also pulled back the curtain on my monthly client newsletter, walked through my PTO and benefits setup for a part-time team, and gave a real update on the new version of Elevate that's dripping out in early September.

    Grab a notebook and your favorite drink and let's go.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How to approach telling your current employer you're starting a firm
    • My take on where clients really come from and what to focus on first when you're trying to grow.
    • A full walkthrough of my client newsletter strategy
    • And how I do my part-time team's employee benefits

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Elevate https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
    • Bookkeeping Business Accelerator (BBA): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
    • Take Command (medical expense reimbursement program for the team)
    • Xero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d
    • QuickBooks Online: https://www.referquickbooks.com/s/Serena4
    • Squarespace: https://squarespace.syuh.net/AgROVN
    • GoCardless: https://manage.gocardless.com/refer/us/serena/ygvg9o-amz
    • Gusto : https://gusto.com/partners/i/serena591
    • Liz Wilcox's Email Marketing Membership: https://serenashoup--lizwilcox.thrivecart.com/list-building-live/
    • Alyssa Lang / Workflow Queen's Breakthrough: https://serenashoup.krtra.com/t/IKUxtNZoz7lF
    • Kajabi: https://app.kajabi.com/r/SLFEMUL4/t/uiptq7nu
    • Max Emery / GoPro Bookkeeping: https://www.skool.com/go-pro-bookkeeping/about?ref=216fd17bf3b64591bbd1f284f72ae8b7

    Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

    For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

    • Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
    • Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

    Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

    Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

    • Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
    • Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
    • Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)
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    52 分
  • 248 | How to Be a Collaborative Professional with Emily Bowie

    248 | How to Be a Collaborative Professional with Emily Bowie
    2026/09/02

    I got to reconnect with Emily Bowie, a partner at Thorne Advisors, and someone I actually met years ago in a tiny mastermind back when she was doing something completely different in her business.

    We talked about what actually makes a partnership work (and what makes it collapse), why staying in your lane protects your reputation, how bookkeepers can collaborate with tax pros instead of competing with them, and why quality standards matter so much in an industry where anybody can hang a shingle. We also went deep on personal finance, debt, and the soft skills that separate a good advisor from a great one.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • What keeps a partnership from turning into a horror story
    • How to collaborate with tax preparers and other CFO professionals the right way
    • Why "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" applies to adding services to your firm
    • Why checking in on a client's personal finances pays dividends for the work you do on the business side

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Thorne Advisors: https://www.thorneadvisors.com/
    • Elevate 2.0 → learn the skills to become an advisor https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
    • 5 Cash Leaks & 5 Missed Tax Deductions - https://www.thorneadvisors.com/cashleaks

    Meet Emily

    Emily Bowie is a Cash Flow Strategist with 15+ years of experience, including her time as an audit manager in Big Four accounting. She’s known for bringing calm, clarity, and structure to financial conversations that often feel stressful or avoided. Outside of Thorne Advisors, Emily leads her church’s financial ministry, is a mom to three young kids, and enjoys a good DIY project almost as much as a well-organized set of financials.

    Co-led by founder Andrea Mason and CFO Emily Bowie, both CPAs, Thorne Advisors helps women protect what they earn while building sustainable wealth that actually supports their lives. They deliver a true 360-degree view of finances, spotlighting cash leaks, tightening income strategy, and creating tax plans that align with real goals, not just compliance checklists.

    Connect with Emily

    📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorneadvisors/

    🌐 Website: https://www.emilyvbowie.com/

    Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

    For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

    • Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
    • Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
    • Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

    Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

    Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

    • Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
    • Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
    • Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

    #businesspartnership #advisoryfirm #personalfinance #debt #bookkeepingbusiness #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting
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    36 分
  • 247 | Tax + Bookkeeping; Should You Do Both? With Nick Cobos

    247 | Tax + Bookkeeping; Should You Do Both? With Nick Cobos
    2026/08/26

    If you have ever had that passing thought of "should I add tax to my bookkeeping firm?" this is the episode you need to hear before you make a move.

    In this one, I'm sitting down with Nick Cobos of Saga Accounting Solutions. Nick has built a five-person firm that does both tax and bookkeeping. We get into the real pros and cons of running both under one roof, and I share why I went down this exact rabbit hole myself and decided against it. This is a practitioner-to-practitioner conversation from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • The breakdown of adding tax to a bookkeeping firm
    • How Nick got his first clients
    • Why I decided against adding tax to my firm
    • Growing a firm and delegating

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Saga Accounting Solutions: https://sagaaccounting.com/
    • Between 2 Firms: https://open.spotify.com/show/71gGjmatd829DB8IrJdI9T?si=bbb9deb996d74f56

    Meet Nick

    Nick graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2019 and spent 5 years as an Army Officer. After graduating the US Army Ranger School Nick held assignments as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with the 11th Airborne Division and later served as an Army ROTC instructor at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

    After transitioning out of the Army, Nick earned his Enrolled Agent credential and jumped into the world of accounting. He now enjoys advising clients and helping them grow their businesses while saving on taxes.

    When he's not working, Nick enjoys hunting, fishing, playing (admittedly terrible) golf, and spending quality time with his wife, Lisa, their three children, Lucy, Nathan, and Matthew, and their dog, Molly.

    Connect with Nick

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcobos/

    Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

    For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

    • Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
    • Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
    • Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

    Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

    Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

    • Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
    • Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
    • Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)
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    48 分
  • 246 | Q&A - Transitioning to Advisory, Xero Integrations Disengaging with Clients, and More

    246 | Q&A - Transitioning to Advisory, Xero Integrations Disengaging with Clients, and More
    2026/08/19

    We're back from summer break with a live Q&A with SO much good stuff in this one. This was one of those episodes where the questions kept getting better and better, and I got to go deep on the things that trip us all up: running an advisory firm, getting your pricing right, Xero integrations, closing out clients the right way, and knowing when to make your first hire. If you've ever felt awkward quoting a higher fee or weren't sure how to structure your revenue side when a client's processor data lives inside their CRM, this one's for you. And if advisory is even a tiny blip on your radar, I've got a free audio series you're going to want to grab before it disappears.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Connecting Stripe and PayPal inside Xero
    • Is $350 too much for basic bookkeeping?
    • The right way to disengage with clients
    • When to make your first hire
    • How to support a team that's feeling overwhelmed

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
    • BBA: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
    • Xero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d
    • Kajabi: https://app.kajabi.com/r/SLFEMUL4/t/uiptq7nu
    • Content Snare: https://contentsnare.com/#_r_serena58

    Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

    For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

    • Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
    • Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

    Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

    Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

    • Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
    • Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
    • Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)
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    37 分