The Action Catalyst

Author, professional speaker, and executive coach Chad E. Foster talks about learning to code, blind, just to invent the software needed, by himself, for the rest of his job, in order to become an asset to the workforce instead of a liability. Hear Chad’s full interview in Episode 430 of The Action Catalyst.

Steven Kotler , New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, returns in Part 2 of this interview, tackling weighty topics like the denial of death, embracing change as foundational to aging, the illusion of self, the "long slow rot" theory, how aging is a "use it or lose it" game, how Freud kicked off 90 years of scientifi...

Steven Kotler , New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, explains the mechanics of getting our biology to work for us rather than against us, the advantages of transitioning from a journalist to a scientist, how to trigger a state of flow, how cell phones are dumbing down our neurobiology, how to be 1,000% more product...

Andrus Albi , Sales Practitioner, Certified Sales & Leadership Coach, and Partner at Southwestern Consulting, explains the relief that comes with identifying factors that are not under your control vs. those that are, and how it applies to everything from motocross, to marriage, to sales. Hear Andrus' full interview in Episode 429 of The Action Catalyst.

Author, professional speaker, and executive coach Chad E. Foster talks about living most of his life outside of his comfort zone after totally losing his sight in college, becoming comfortable with discomfort, how lacking sight made him a better skier and martial artist, taking advantage of your disadvantages, learning to code just to INVENT the software needed for the rest of his job, becoming th...

Dr. Ruth Gotian , educator, speaker, and author of the book "The Success Factor", explains the revelation that led her into the field of researching extreme achievers, and recalls a fierce independent streak that began at the age of 10 during one day of recess, and carried through to the present day. Hear Dr. Gotian's full interview in Episode 428 of The Action Catalyst.

Overtime with Outland is Action Catalyst host Adam Outland's reflections and commentary on discussions with each of his esteemed and accomplished guests. In this segment, Adam dissects Episode 429, with Sales Practitioner, Certified Sales & Leadership Coach, and Partner at Southwestern Consulting, Andrus Albi .

Andrus Albi , Sales Practitioner, Certified Sales & Leadership Coach, and Partner at Southwestern Consulting provides a masterclass on maintaining focus, including the relief that comes with identifying factors that are not under your control, prioritizing items in your calendar, being responsive versus reactive, creating "should do" and "MUST do" items, how the same advice applies to motocros...

Candice Faktor, CEO and Co-Founder of virtual online learning startup Disco , and a serial tech entrepreneur, talks about possessing the unique motivational drive of an immigrant, and how if we’re not careful, we can waste incredible time and energy conforming to someone else’s idea of success. Hear Candice’s full interview in Episode 427 of The Action Catalyst.

Dr. Ruth Gotian , educator, speaker, and author of the book "The Success Factor", shares the striking similarities between herself and the original Dr. Ruth, recalls a fierce independent streak that began at the age of 10, and explains peak vs passive tasks, informal learning and virtual work's effect on it, the 4 researched mindsets that make create success in any field, why habits are NOT what l...

Tommy Doerfler , CPA, CFP®, CEPA®, explains the merits of being a follower before a leader, finding the right mentor, and never losing your childhood curiosity. Hear Tommy's full interview in his special bonus episode of The Action Catalyst.

Guest host Stephanie Maas has felt like a bad sister lately, so she places a call via The Action Catalyst to her brother, Tommy Doerfler , CPA, CFP®, CEPA®, who reminisces about going from a college dropout, to a drummer touring the country in a van, to geeking out over numbers, breaking his body in endurance challenges, living up to your own belief system, the merits of conversation vs communicat...

Candice Faktor, CEO and Co-Founder of virtual online learning startup Disco , and a serial tech entrepreneur, explains going from a victim to the agent of our lives, possessing the unique motivational drive of an immigrant, learning to be calm and creating a sense of self, why the pandemic was the single best time in the world to start a company, and how to build your own "live learning empire".

Accomplished C-Suite leader and author Atif Rafiq reflects on starting a bank in elementary school (spoiler, it didn't quite work), and the impressive path that led him to becoming the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500. Hear Atif's full interview in Episode 426 of The Action Catalyst.

Nathan Foy, author, entrepreneur, and the CEO of Fortis , explains how disasters like 9/11 and the Paris attacks almost toppled, then helped rebuild, his business, partly by “failing into it”. Hear Nathan’s full interview in Episode 425 of The Action Catalyst.

Overtime with Outland is Action Catalyst host Adam Outland's reflections and commentary on discussions with each of his esteemed and accomplished guests. In this segment, Adam dissects Episode 426, with accomplished C-Suite leader, and the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500, Atif Rafiq .

Accomplished C-Suite leader Atif Rafiq reflects on starting a bank in elementary school (spoiler, it didn't quite work), the power in the neutrality of raw curiosity, coming aboard AOL at the start of the internet boom, becoming the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500, digitizing fast food, the creativity-killing hazard of "alignment before exploration", lessons learned f...

Siimon Sander , serial entrepreneur and founder of Oscar Hamilton and PodcastWise, shares how entrepreneurship = delegation, 3 essential steps for staffing and workflow, and the formula that can ultimately lead entrepreneurs to a simple, and profitable, 2 hour workday.  Hear Siimon’s full interview in Episode 424 of The Action Catalyst.

Nathan Foy, author, entrepreneur, and the CEO of Fortis , talks about overcoming your "milkshake moments", how 9/11 almost toppled, then helped rebuild, his business, being relentlessly skeptical, "failing into" things, using their resources to help out during the pandemic, and channeling the Founding Fathers when creating a leadership team. Mentioned in this episode: This episode is brought to yo...

Dr. Adam C. Bandelli, organizational psychologist, leadership advisor, and Founder & Managing Director of Bandelli & Associates , discusses emotional intelligence vs relational intelligence, the way leaders employ them, and groundbreaking new definitions of trust, rapport, and influence. Hear Dr. Bandelli's full interview in Episode 423 of The Action Catalyst.

Overtime with Outland is Action Catalyst host Adam Outland's reflections and commentary on discussions with each of his esteemed and accomplished guests. In this segment, Adam dissects Episode 424, with Siimon Sander , serial entrepreneur and founder of Oscar Hamilton, Podcastwise, AboutHire, and Why Charlie.

Siimon Sander, serial entrepreneur and founder of Oscar Hamilton and PodcastWise , recounts the early days and the new frontier of podcasting, why not to be so patient with things (give it 6 weeks), how to have a vision but keep it flexible, and talks about making friends with ChatGPT, how entrepreneurship = delegation, 3 essential steps for staffing and workflow, the problem with making yourself...

Dr. Adam C. Bandelli, organizational psychologist, leadership advisor, and Founder & Managing Director of Bandelli & Associates , discusses overcoming bipolar disorder, emotional intelligence vs relational intelligence, embodying the change he wanted to see, why inclusivity = authenticity, Boomer vs Gen Z leadership styles, groundbreaking definitions of trust, rapport, and influence, and t...

Nick Sonnenberg , entrepreneur, Inc. columnist, guest lecturer at Columbia University, and founder & CEO of Leverage , a leading operational efficiency consultancy, explains how CPR (Communication, Planning, and Resources) is a system that works whether you’re camping in the woods, conducting business, or folding your socks, and saves you time and hassle. Hear Nick’s full interview in Episode...

Music producer, promoter, and the founder and CEO of Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, David Fishof , recalls reuniting the Monkees, partnering with MTV, having sports clients in the Superbowl, starting a Dirty Dancing Live tour, and conceiving the All-Starr band with Ringo, all within a few years in the 80s. Hear David’s full interview in Episode 421 of The Action Catalyst.