Everything You Thought About Enron and Arthur Andersen is Wrong - “85,000” the Podcast

By Larry R. Katzen, Former Managing Partner for the St. Louis office and Great Plains region and author of the book, “And You Thought Accountants Were Boring”

For more than 20 years, many of us have carried the weight of a story that was never accurately told. The fall of Arthur Andersen was not only a defining moment in business history, but also a life-altering event for 85,000 innocent employees and their families worldwide.

I am excited to share with you a project that has been years in the making: “85,000,” a documentary-style video podcast series dedicated to finally telling the truth of what happened through the voices of those who lived it. This series features never-before-heard interviews with former Andersen leaders, employees (including David Duncan), attorneys like Rusty Hardin, and government officials, such as former Representative Michael Oxley, co-author of the Sarbanes-Oxley law that governs the accounting firms today. Together, these conversations and others shed light on how government overreach and media narratives destroyed one of the world’s most respected firms.

My goal is simple: to preserve the legacy of Arthur Andersen with honesty, dignity, and accuracy. We want the world to understand the human cost of what happened, not just the headlines, but the stories of careers disrupted, reputations tarnished, and families forever changed.

This podcast is more than history; it’s a reckoning. And it is only possible because of the strength and solidarity of the Andersen community. Podcast release details are currently being finalized and we have launched of the official “85,000” website (85kPodcast.com). Our website serves as the central hub for updates, additional content, and release information. Visit 85kPodcast.com and you can find the 2-minute preview of the podcast, a synopsis of our story and add your email for the release notification when the official podcast drops.

We will be sharing more details soon, including ways you can listen, support, and spread the word. Thank you for keeping the Andersen spirit alive all these years.