The Price of Civilization
The Price of Civilization is a podcast that uncomplicates the tax code and explores how the money we pay shapes the world we live in.Hosted by Tax Attorney Pietro Canestrelli, this podcast brings experienced insight to a topic that affects every American but is often difficult to understand. Pietro is a former IRS attorney from the Office of Chief Counsel in Washington, D.C., with 27 years of experience in tax law. He holds an advanced LL.M. in Taxation, is a Nationally Certified Tax Coach, and is one of fewer than 350 attorneys officially recognized by the State Bar of...
Avoiding the Tax Surprise: A Fiduciary Planner's Guide to Smart Withdrawals | With Esmeralda Quintero
In this episode of The Price of Civilization, the conversation turns to financial planning and the tax decisions that quietly shape a person's retirement. The discussion explores what it actually means to work with a fiduciary advisor, why high earners and pre-retirees so often get blindsided by capital gains taxes, and how a single conversation before a major withdrawal can prevent a painful surprise come tax season.
The guest is Esmeralda Quintero, a certified financial planner with Iarann Wealth, based in San Diego, California who has spent ten years building her practice, including...
When Business Partners Turn Toxic: A Litigator's Guide to Fixing It Early | With Tony Liu
In this 6th episode of The Price of Civilization, the conversation tackles one of the most common and painful problems business owners face: partnership disputes. The discussion explores why these conflicts so often build up gradually rather than erupting overnight, why timing matters enormously when trying to resolve them, and how the tax consequences of a partnership buyout can shift hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on how the deal is structured.
The guest is Tony Liu, Founding Attorney of Focus Law. Tony is a business litigation attorney based in Orange County who...
People Before Policy: Building Better Businesses Through HR | With Daneen Ashworth
In this episode of The Price of Civilization, host Pietro Canestrelli sits down with Daneen Ashworth owner and founder of Compass HR, to explore one of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of running a successful business: people. Drawing on years of experience helping businesses navigate California's complex employment laws, Daneen shares practical advice on hiring, leadership, compliance, and creating healthy workplace cultures that allow both businesses and employees to thrive.
Together, Pietro and Daneen discuss the challenges entrepreneurs face as they grow from solo operators into business owne...
The Numbers Don't Lie: Using Bookkeeping to Build a Stronger Business | With Laura Bender
In this episode of The Price of Civilization, host Pietro Canestrelli sits down with CPA and bookkeeping expert Laura Bender, owner of Pro Balance Books, for an insightful discussion about one of the most overlooked foundations of business success: accurate financial records. While many entrepreneurs view bookkeeping as simple data entry, Laura explains why it is actually the cornerstone of informed decision-making and long-term growth.
Drawing on more than 25 years of accounting experience, Laura shares how timely and accurate bookkeeping allows business owners to understand the true story their financial statements...
How Understanding People Can Change Your Business and Your Life | With Volker Jaeckel
In this episode of The Price of Civilization, host Pietro Canestrelli welcomes internationally certified DISC coach and business strategist Volker "VJ" Jaeckel for an engaging conversation about the power of understanding human behavior. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in leadership development, sales, marketing, and organizational coaching, VJ explains how behavioral profiling can dramatically improve communication, hiring decisions, and business performance.
Together, Pietro and VJ explore how DISC is much more than a personality assessment. It is a practical framework that helps leaders understand how people think, communicate, make decisions...
The Tax Mistakes That Can Follow You After Divorce | With Josephia Rouse
In this second episode of The Price of Civilization, host Pietro Canestrelli sits down with Chief Visionary Officer & Director of Business Operations, Josephia Rouse for a thoughtful conversation about two of life's most stressful experiences: divorce and taxes. Together, they explore why both processes create uncertainty, fear, and emotional exhaustion—and why having the right professionals by your side can change the outcome entirely.
Drawing from years of experience helping clients navigate complex family law matters, Josephia shares how she built and grew a successful law firm around one simple philosophy: he...
The Purpose Behind the Numbers: Building Businesses & Non-Profits That Create Lasting Impact
In the premiere episode of The Price of Civilization, host Pietro Canestrelli sits down with CPA, business advisor, and nonprofit specialist Michael Klein to discuss the powerful intersection of purpose, business, and financial stewardship. Drawing from a remarkable background that includes studies at UC Berkeley, work with the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, and years of experience serving businesses and nonprofits, Michael shares the journey that led him to build MPK Advisors & CPAs.
Michael explains why accounting is much more than compliance and tax...
