Ever wondered why companies like Airbnb, Spotify, and WeWork chose such different paths to the public markets? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained on FinPod, we break down the three main ways companies go public: the traditional IPO, the disruptive Direct Listing, and the volatile SPAC.

We'll unpack the mechanics, the trade-offs, and the key factors that drive a company's leadership to choose one door over the others.

This episode covers:

• The IPO: The classic route for raising billions in capital, but we reveal the hidden costs and why it led to Airbnb's "money left on the table" problem.
• The Direct Listing: The cheaper, faster, and more transparent alternative. We explore why it was the perfect fit for companies like Spotify and Slack who wanted liquidity, not capital.
• The SPAC: The "wild west" of going public. We explain its appeal for speed and why it's a high-risk gamble that ultimately couldn't save WeWork's flawed business model.

By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to quickly analyze any public offering and understand the strategic choices behind it.

In this episode of What's New at CFI on FinPod, we're introducing the CFI AI Tutor, a powerful learning assistant designed to provide instant, contextual help to every learner.

Join Meeyeon as she sits down with Sebastian Taylor and Stephen Moerane to dive into the core features of this innovative tool.

This episode covers:

• Why AI Tutor? The motivation behind building a 24/7 support tool is to provide instant answers, complementing CFI's in-depth video courses.
• Smarter Than ChatGPT: Learn what makes the CFI AI Tutor a hyper-specialized tool that provides contextualized answers based on the specific lesson you're watching, your career, and your industry.
• Impact on Your Learning: We discuss how the AI Tutor can help you practice concepts, clarify questions, and ultimately improve your performance in end-of-course assessments and certifications.
• Real-World Learner Feedback: Hear from our Community Manager, Stephen, on how learners are already using the AI Tutor to link complex concepts and get support on their journey.

Whether you're working on a course exercise or simply want to test your understanding, the CFI AI Tutor is there to help you every step of the way.

Your company's balance sheet looks clean, but what financial secrets might be hiding just off the books? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained on FinPod, we explore the hidden world of off-balance sheet financing. This practice isn't always bad. Sometimes it's a smart strategic move, but it can also be a dangerous way to obscure a company's true financial health.

We'll teach you how to spot the risks and understand the crucial difference between legitimate and deceptive practices.

This episode covers:

• Common Forms of Off-Balance Sheet Financing: From historical operating leases (used by companies like Starbucks and Delta) to modern-day Joint Ventures (JVs) and Special Purpose Entities (SPEs).
• Intent vs. Abuse: We analyze textbook examples of abuse, like Enron's catastrophic use of SPEs to hide billions in debt, and contrast it with legitimate strategic uses that are transparently disclosed.
• The Case of GE: We examine how even technically legitimate but overly complex structures can erode investor confidence and become a major problem.
• Practical Detective Work: Learn the top three things to look for in a company's financials to spot hidden risks. We show you why you must read the footnotes and how to adjust your own analysis to get a realistic picture of a company's leverage.

This is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see the full financial story beyond the main balance sheet.