The Action Catalyst

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.

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 422, with Nick Sonnenberg, author, entrepreneur, Inc. columnist, guest lecturer at Columbia University, and founder & CEO of Leverage .

Nick Sonnenberg, entrepreneur, Inc. columnist, guest lecturer at Columbia University, and founder & CEO of Leverage , a leading operational efficiency consultancy, talks about buying time at a discount, getting a 2 minute notice from a partner, effective vs efficient, why every team should think about CPR (Communication, Planning, and Resources), sorting information like laundry, the RAD conce...

Stephanie Maas, Executive Search Partner with ThinkingAhead Executive Search, one of the top 10 executive search firms in the country, and a Certified Personnel Consultant, shares her definition of "talent", and what one of the nation's top executive recruitment firms looks for when matching the right person to the right opportunity. Hear Stephanie’s full interview in Episode 420 of The Actio...

Music producer, promoter, and the founder and CEO of Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, David Fishof , talks about moving from a sports agent to representing The Association, reuniting the Monkees, receiving divine intervention from MTV, why today’s world is unlimited for aspiring artists of any age, the benefit of literally drawing out your goals, reflects on the recent loss of one of his high profile c...

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 420, with Executive Search Partner with ThinkingAhead Executive Search, and Certified Personnel Consultant, Stephanie Maas.

Stephanie Maas, Executive Search Partner with ThinkingAhead Executive Search, one of the top 10 executive search firms in the country, and a Certified Personnel Consultant, speaks on getting her start selling books door-to-door with Southwestern Advantage , knowing your weaknesses and strengthening your aptitudes, following the “Jerry Maguire philosophy”, the definition of "talent", what one...

Senator Marsha Blackburn , outlines her 3 biggest suggestions for women, and anyone else, looking to gain the confidence to shoot for their dreams in any field. Hear Senator Blackburn’s full interview in Episode 419 of The Action Catalyst.

Magnolia co-founder, TV personality, bestselling author, and proud Southwestern Advantage alumni Chip Gaines recalls the best day of his life (which sort of wasn’t so great), reflects on being too broke to declare bankruptcy, and how he initially thought the offer for Fixer Upper was a scam. Hear Chip's full interview across Episodes 417 and 418 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 419, with former Tennessee State Senator, U.S. Representative, 4-summer Southwestern Advantage alumni, and now United States Senator, Marsha Blackburn .

Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee State Senator, Tennessee Congressional Representative, 4-summer alumni of the Southwestern Advantage program , and now United States Senator, chats about being only the fourth woman elected to Congress from Tennessee, and the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee, her surprising early role as a pioneer in digital entertainment, the importance of l...