The Founders Catalyst

Steve Mellor and Lee Povey are seasoned high-performance coaches with decades of experience leading elite athletes, startup founders, and executive teams. As co-hosts of The Founders Catalyst , they translate elite performance principles into leadership practices that help founders build healthier cultures and more effective companies. Episode Summary: Steve and Lee dig into a deceptively simple f...

Steve Mellor and Lee Povey are seasoned high-performance coaches with decades of experience leading elite athletes, startup founders, and executive teams. As co-hosts of The Founders Catalyst , they create candid conversations about leadership identity, culture, and performance, helping founders lead with clarity, courage, and humanity. Episode Summary: Steve and Lee kick off Season 2 with a simpl...

About the Hosts: Steve Mellor and Lee Povey are seasoned high-performance coaches with decades of experience leading elite athletes, startup founders, and executive teams. As co-hosts of The Founders Catalyst , they bring the language of elite sport into business—turning messy leadership problems into clear standards, better conversations, and stronger culture. Episode Summary: Steve and Lee open...

About the Hosts: Steve Mellor and Lee Povey are seasoned high-performance coaches with decades of experience leading elite athletes, startup founders, and executive teams. As co-hosts of The Founders Catalyst , they dig into the real challenges of leadership, company culture, and performance, creating space for candid, reflective, and often uncomfortable conversations. Episode Summary: In this epi...

About the Hosts: Steve Mellor and Lee Povey are seasoned high-performance coaches who bring decades of experience from the worlds of elite sport and business leadership. Together, they co-host The Founders Catalyst , where they explore strategies to help leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams unlock their true potential. Their combined wisdom, humor, and honesty create a space where big ideas meet prac...

About the Hosts: Lee Povey and Steve Mellor are leadership coaches and hosts of The Founders Catalyst , a podcast dedicated to helping founders, executives, and rising leaders navigate the complexities of personal and professional growth. With decades of combined experience in elite sports, executive coaching, and team development, Lee and Steve offer real-world insights, sharp coaching tools, and...

Lee Povey and Steve Mellor are leadership coaches and hosts of The Founders Catalyst , a podcast dedicated to helping founders, executives, and rising leaders navigate the complexities of personal and professional growth. With decades of combined experience in elite sports, executive coaching, and team development, Lee and Steve offer real-world insights, sharp coaching tools, and thought-provokin...

Lee Povey and Steve Mellor are leadership coaches and hosts of The Founders Catalyst , a podcast dedicated to helping founders, executives, and rising leaders navigate the complexities of personal and professional growth. With decades of combined experience in elite sports, executive coaching, and team development, Lee and Steve offer real-world insights, sharp coaching tools, and thought-provokin...

Lee Povey and Steve Mellor are leadership coaches and hosts of The Founders Catalyst , a podcast dedicated to helping founders, executives, and rising leaders navigate the complexities of personal and professional growth. With decades of combined experience in elite sports, executive coaching, and team development, Lee and Steve offer real-world insights, sharp coaching tools, and thought-provokin...

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Lee and Steve dive into the elusive and complex nature of ego ... what it really is, how it forms, and why understanding it is essential for great leadership.  They explore how ego shapes our perception of ourselves and others, its conscious vs. unconscious effects, and the journey from defensiveness to authenticity. With real-life stories, ca...

What happens when two high-performance coaches admit they're not walking their own talk? This raw and revealing episode is an honest look into the burnout cycle that even the most disciplined leaders can fall into. Steve and Lee unpack how their carefully curated schedules have spiraled into overwhelm, despite their best intentions, and what that says about the challenges leaders face in prot...

In this real and relatable chat, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey get into one of the trickiest, but most important, parts of being a strong leader: giving feedback that actually helps people grow. They talk about how to share hard truths without breaking trust, and why the relationship behind the message matters just as much as the message itself.  Whether you're leading a team, coaching others, o...

About the Episode In this raw and insightful conversation, hosts Steve Mellor and Lee Povey unpack the deeply personal and professional journey of understanding the true value of coaching.  Whether you're a seasoned founder, an emerging leader, or someone curious about personal development, this episode dives into the why , when , and how of finding the right coach for your journey.  From bre...

In this episode, Steve and Lee dive deep into the key differences between consultants, mentors, and coaches —three very distinct roles that often get confused.  They explore when and why you might need each, how they can complement one another, and the importance of understanding what kind of support best serves your business, leadership, and personal growth journey . Key Takeaways: ✅ Consultants...

In this episode of The Founders Catalyst , hosts Steve Mellor and Lee Povey take on a seemingly massive topic - how to live a complete and fulfilling life by breaking it down into a simple yet powerful exercise: the Nine Box Life Framework . Lee introduces this life-changing tool, inspired by Susan Jeffers’ Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway , and explains how it helps individuals create clarity, inte...

In this episode of Founders Catalyst , Steve Mellor and Lee Povey dive deep into the power of coaching as a leadership style. They explore why the best leaders take a coaching approach, how it fosters ownership and growth, and why adaptability and self-awareness are critical leadership traits. Steve and Lee also discuss the challenges leaders face when shifting from managing to coaching, the impor...

About the Guest: Michael Brandt is the co-founder & CEO of Ketone IQ, pioneering ketone-based energy products. An endurance athlete and marathon runner, his passion for biohacking led to a supplement used by elite athletes, military units, and high performers. With an engineering and business background, he started at YouTube/Google before launching his brand. 📲 Follow Michael: @michaeldbrand...

In this conversation, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey explore the evolving role of coaching in modern leadership.  They discuss how coaching is essential for empowering team members, fostering a growth mindset, and adapting leadership styles to meet individual needs.  The importance of active listening, creating supportive communities, and the silent gratitude that comes from effective coaching is emph...

Summary In this milestone 10th episode, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey delve into the vital concept of culture within organizations. They explore the importance of defining culture, the shift from authoritarian leadership models to more collaborative environments, and the critical role leaders play in creating conditions where teams can thrive. The conversation highlights the value of feedback, owners...

In this episode of Founders Catalyst , Steve Mellor and Lee Povey delve into the critical role of motivation in personal growth and entrepreneurship. They share insights from their own experiences of uncovering what truly drives them, highlighting the importance of purpose over monetary success and the common challenges associated with New Year’s resolutions.  The discussion centers on self-awaren...

In this episode of Founders Catalyst Podcast , hosts Steve Mellor and Lee Povey discuss the balance between financial success and emotional fulfillment. They share their personal journeys of leaving successful careers to pursue more meaningful work, emphasizing the importance of mental health and the societal pressures that often dictate what success looks like. The conversation highlights the sig...

In this episode of Founders Catalyst, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey delve into the intricacies of leadership and performance. They explore how leaders can evolve their styles, the importance of authenticity, and the necessity of unlearning old habits to foster personal growth. The conversation emphasizes the role of vulnerability in leadership and the need for self-assessment to enhance effectiveness...

In this conversation, Steve Mellor and Lee Povey explore the concept of high performance, emphasizing the importance of defining performance, focusing on processes rather than just outcomes, and overcoming fear of change.  They discuss the role of community in enhancing performance and the necessity of reflection for optimization. The dialogue highlights the significance of continuous improvement...

In this episode, Steve Mellor and Lee challenge the traditional idea of work-life balance, suggesting it’s not always realistic or effective. Instead, they introduce the concept of work-life alignment , which focuses on understanding yourself, identifying your purpose, and making choices that fit both. They discuss how life has different seasons that require shifting priorities and highlight the i...

In this conversation, Steve Mellor and Lee discuss the challenges leaders face when considering their absence from their teams. They explore the importance of empowering teams through motivation, the role of goal setting, and the need for trust and authenticity in leadership. The discussion highlights how founders often see themselves as the problem and emphasizes the necessity of creating an envi...