The Action Catalyst

Adam Outland, Action Catalyst host and President of Southwestern Consulting , and David Stuart, President and Founder of Southwestern Insurance Group , break down how they've each re-examined the structure of their long-standing businesses, including a few key decisions on what NOT to do, taking a hard look at where true revenue comes from, reframing and calculating risk, following the data, the p...

Vice President of Information Technology for the Southwestern Family of Companies , Ed Solima, and Training and Development Manager for Southwestern Consulting , Chad Rothermich, examine recent changes in AI, and explain how you can even use AI to learn more about...AI! Hear Ed and Chad's full discussion in their very special episode of The Action Catalyst.

Scott Stratten, Creator and President of UNMarketing Inc , explains how the context defines which sales approach you need, why marketing is an "always on" function, the huge lesson he learned from his wife's business, and the fear, promise, and future of social media and AI.

Ron Alford , Senior Partner and a Professional Sales and Leadership Coach at Southwestern Consulting , lays out his holistic approach to coaching. Hear Ron and Josh's full interview in Episode 217 of The Action Catalyst.

Action Catalyst host Stephanie Maas helps turn the page on 2025, and takes a look ahead for this podcast and all of our listeners!

Host Adam Outland bids farewell to 2025, and looks ahead to the new year and everything that's in store for our listeners!

Vice President of Information Technology for the Southwestern Family of Companies , Ed Solima, and Training and Development Manager for Southwestern Consulting , Chad Rothermich, examine recent changes in AI and other tech, and offer an in-depth use case as well as some guiding principles for vetting potential tools and vendors, engaging stakeholders in your operation, integrating into existing sy...

Alex “Sandy” Pentland, a Professor at MIT, a Stanford University Fellow, and one of the most cited computational scientists in the world, explains the misunderstood issues around artificial intelligence, including alignment and human centricity, and shares the way you can apply AI in your business straight away that he calls "a little bit of genius". Hear Dr. Pentland's full interview in his...

Host Adam Outland wishes all of our listeners a very "Catalyst" Christmas!

Action Catalyst host Stephanie Maas shares what's keeping her spirits merry and bright at this magical time of the year, and her wishes for all of our listeners.

Ron Alford , Senior Partner and a Professional Sales and Leadership Coach at Southwestern Consulting , and Josh Hudson, CEO of Hudson's Furniture , cover the unique relational challenges of operating in a family business, how to establish a rhythm quickly with coaching, identifying patterns in yourself, learning to accept but also to question, and letting others help you help yourself. Mentioned i...

Angie Moss , Sales and Leadership Coach and Certified Trainer with Southwestern Consulting , shares how her coaching client adopted the productive mindset of working ON your business rather than IN your business. Hear Angie and Brad's full interview in Episode 150 of The Action Catalyst.

Alex “Sandy” Pentland, a Professor at MIT, a Stanford University Fellow, and one of the most cited computational scientists in the world, dives into the misunderstood issues and opportunities around artificial intelligence, including alignment, human centricity, how different nations are handling the new tech, and the application you can put to work in your business straight away that he calls "a...

Richard Fain , the chairman and former long-term CEO of Royal Caribbean Group , explains how Royal Caribbean elevated the entire cruise industry, and why, early in his career, he literally, LITERALLY, had to cut a cruise ship in half. Hear Richard's full interview in Episode 496 of The Action Catalyst.

Angie Moss , Sales and Leadership Coach and Certified Trainer with Southwestern Consulting , and Brad Moore, Senior Vice President with BancorpSouth Wealth Management , talk about the principles of working ON your business not IN your business, moving your on goalpost for success, and becoming a leader even before you have people to lead. Mentioned in this episode: This episode is brought to you b...

Karla Lewis , an executive sales and leadership coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting , and Steve Frody, co-founder of City2Shore Real Estate , share the value of aligning your business and team behind a shared creed (and how to create one). Hear Karla and Steve's full interview in Episode 171 of The Action Catalyst.

Richard Fain , the chairman and former long-term CEO of Royal Caribbean Group , recounts the dark days of the Covid pandemic for the cruise business, and explains cheap expensive decisions, the antidote to fear, elevating and innovating the industry, and why he literally, LITERALLY, had to cut a cruise ship in half. Mentioned in this episode: Get 10% OFF Taelor gift cards right now using promo cod...

Gayathri Krishnamurthy, Head of Product Marketing at Level AI , explains how AI is beginning to use data differently from previous versions and how the rate at which it's capabilities are expanding is exponential, but how despite this, the emerging technology is still not without its drawbacks... Hear the full conversation in a first-ever "live" episode of The Action Catalyst.

Action Catalyst host Adam Outland shares what he's thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Action Catalyst host Stephanie Maas breaks down her favorite parts of the Thanksgiving holiday, and what it really means to have an "attitude of gratitude".

Karla Lewis , an executive sales and leadership coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting , and Steve Frody, co-founder of City2Shore Real Estate , share the value of hiring the right assistants and what to look for when doing so, identifying your ideal client, aligning your business and team behind a shared creed (and how to create one), and why remaining coachable is an essential skill. Men...

Executive business and life coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting , Steve Reiner breaks down the key steps towards identifying and living into your purpose. Hear Steve and Tom's full interview in Episode 187 of The Action Catalyst.

The Action Catalyst unites several of its esteemed alumni; Anya Cheng, founder and CEO of Taelor , Dave Brown , Founding Partner at Southwestern Consulting , Dr. Amy D'Aprix, President and Founder of Lifebridge Strategies , and newcomer Gayathri Krishnamurthy, Head of Product Marketing at Level AI , for it's first ever "live" episode, from City Winery in Nashville, and a panel discussion on harnes...

Dr. Tom Frieden , former CDC Director, NYC Health Commissioner, and current President and CEO of the global health organization Resolve to Save Lives, shares the 6, shockingly straight-forward keys to a longer, healthier life, that you can begin to implement right away. Hear Dr. Frieden's full interview in Episode 495 of The Action Catalyst.

Executive business and life coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting , Steve Reiner , and Tom Merritt, a Branch Manager with Summit Funding , explore the healthy way to start to put yourself first, how to find your purpose, setting aside the things you can't control, and being of service to others. Mentioned in this episode: This episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching. Southweste...