The Action Catalyst

Julia Boorstin , Senior Media & Tech Correspondent for CNBC, talks about what inspired her new book, “WHEN WOMEN LEAD - What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them”, and touches on the changing face of leadership, contextual thinking and communal leadership, the unusual case of Elizabeth Holmes, the gender issue in tech and computer science, being camera-ready in 40 min...

Ariel Garten, neuroscientist and the co-founder of tech startup Muse , explains how her company’s revolutionary technology helps you become the coach and the guru inside your own brain, the broader mission of her work, and how if you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else. Hear Ariel’s full interview in Episode 397 of The Action Catalyst.

John and Mark X. Cronin, entrepreneurs, advocates for Down Syndrome, and co-founders of the largest sock store on the planet, John's Crazy Socks , explain the 5 essential pillars of business, the joys and the challenges of working as a father and son team, a small problem they ran into with opening a food truck, making friends with Washington elite, and the importance of uplifting differently-able...

David Stuart, Founder and President of Southwestern Insurance Group , describes the current state of the insurance industry, and what sets his company apart from others in the ever-more-competitive insurance landscape. Hear David’s full interview in Episode 396 of The Action Catalyst.

Ariel Garten, neuroscientist, former psychotherapist, and the co-founder and visionary of tech startup Muse , explains the mission behind her company’s revolutionary technology, the way inspiration can translate from art to science, hitting the research lab at the age of 17, the power of naivety, her responsibility to society, calming the nervous system and relying on yourself, and how if you don’...

Patty Hoppenstedt, Chief Operations and People Officer for Southwestern Family of Companies , shares the story of the tragic natural disaster that nearly changed the course of her family’s history, and how the kindness demonstrated by strangers helped shape who she is today. Hear Patty’s full interview in her special bonus episode of The Action Catalyst. Mentioned in this episode: This episode is...

David Stuart, Founder and President of Southwestern Insurance Group , shares successful philosophies on expanding your team, why hindsight is the best foresight, how your trials are someone else’s inspiration, and what it means to define “fun” in business, plus covers his adventures in water polo, getting hit in the face, and the similarity between himself and Mark Wahlberg. Mentioned in this epis...

Gary Garfield, speaker, author, and former CEO of Bridgestone Americas, shares a few times when he empowered his workforce to speak truth to power, drive innovative ideas from within, and speak up for themselves, resulting in one of Bridgestone's most well-received initiatives. Hear Gary's full interview in Episode 395 of The Action Catalyst. Also be sure to check out Gary's first appearance on th...

Patty Hoppenstedt, Chief Operations and People Officer for Southwestern Family of Companies , shares her upbringing in Central America and the natural disaster that helped shape her early life, to her beginnings in security in the 9/11 era, stint in city management, and the influences and determination from her unique background that help her create the safest, most inviting work environment for e...

Author and mental scientist Dr. Hank Seitz shares the unbelievable story of his time as a double agent for the Korean mafia and the CIA and explains how the conscious and the subconscious minds shape our beliefs. Hear Dr. Hank’s full interview in Episode 394 of The Action Catalyst.

Gary Garfield , speaker, author, and former CEO of Bridgestone Americas, shares the "rules of the road" from his new book, "Driving Results", including why humility is freedom from arrogance, the advice from the best boss that HE ever had, the equation to creating a productive and trusting company culture, the discrepancy between professional auto testing and consumer driving, creating innovation...

Bill Ottman, CEO and co-founder of blockchain based, open source social network Minds , discusses the next frontier of social media, addressing matters of privacy, new capabilities brought by Web 3.0, and the Metaverse. Hear Bill’s full interview in Episode 393 of The Action Catalyst.

Author and mental scientist Dr. Hank Seitz explains how he overcame what he was told was a permanent disability, talks quantum science and molecular biology, the conscious mind and the subconscious mind, the 3 steps that create experience, answers of the question of “What ARE beliefs?”, and shares the unbelievable story of his time as a double agent for the Korean mafia and the CIA.

Dr. Julia DiGangi , a neuropsychologist, author, and expert in the brain’s relationship with stress, resilience and relationships, explains the 2 drivers of the brain that create nearly all interpersonal problems, including how new studies suggest your co-workers really can have a lasting impact on your neurological makeup. Hear Dr. DiGangi’s full interview in Episode 392 of The Action Catalyst.

Bill Ottman, CEO and co-founder of blockchain based, open source social network Minds , talks to host Dan Moore about systems theory, web 3.0 and the decentralized internet, Facebook and the dawn of the Metaverse, cryptocurrency, hanging out on Joe Rogan’s podcast, and more, in this wide-ranging, forward-looking interview.

Greg Patterson, CEO of The Advisory Group of San Francisco , covers the parallels between triathlon training and preparing for the business world, and how something known as the “gas pedal risk” can create premature burnout. Hear Greg’s full interview in Episode 391 of The Action Catalyst.

Dr. Julia DiGangi , a neuropsychologist, author, and expert in the brain’s relationship with stress, resilience and relationships, covers the growing study of mental health, “emotional shake”, how 99% of the world has good intentions, the way co-workers can LITERALLY alter your physiology, behavioral math and emotional physics, and the 2 drivers of the brain that create nearly all interpersonal pr...

We catch back up with Michael F. Schein , writer, speaker, and Founder & President of Microfame Media, who recounts the success of his book “The Hype Handbook”, explains why forming your own secret networking society might yield big results, and spills the beans on the secrets of the Freemasons. Uh-oh! Hear more from Michael in his original appearance on Episode 382 of The Action Catalyst .

Greg Patterson, CEO of The Advisory Group of San Francisco , covers business lessons from time spent abroad and as a triathlete, including how overtraining and overconfidence can be tragic flaws, the “gas pedal risk”, determining what mile you’re on in the Ironman of life, and adopting the Spiderman principle of power and responsibility.

Inventor and entrepreneur Travis Rosbach and host Dan Moore explore the parallels between the first successful summit of Everest, and the founding of Hydro Flask , including how sometimes the greatest motivating force can be having no way out. Hear Travis’ full interview in Episode 390 of The Action Catalyst.

Our very own Dan Moore joins Insumo 's Habit Talks podcast as a guest, exploring different aspects of finding and maintaining inspiration. Among the topics he discussed were practicing gratitude and grounding techniques such as box breathing, as well as some advice around adapting to the pandemic. Habit Talks host, Ceylan Ersoy, discusses how she seeks meaning and inspiration, how to leave a mark,...

Seems like our guests love being on The Action Catalyst just as much as we like having them!

Former CEO and Fortune 50 Global Executive Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann and Founder of SOFit SF Inc., Lillian So , explain why it’s impossible to be grateful and be in a crisis at the same time, and how optimism is nothing more than trust directed at a purpose. Hear Rebecca and Lillian’s full interview in Episode 389 of The Action Catalyst.

Inventor and entrepreneur Travis Rosbach discusses the parallels between founding Hydro Flask and the successful ascent of Everest, attacking brick walls with terror, passion, or avoidance, putting philanthropic power in the hands of the consumer, LITERALLY getting off on the right foot, knowing when to hold ‘em & when to fold ‘em, and the power of unseen forces.

Comedy Central creator Art Bell shares why you’ve got to tell everybody what you REALLY want to be doing (even if you aren’t doing it currently), how “intrapreneurship” is the new entrepreneurship, and why passion and vision, BIG vision, are the secret weapons of making any pitch. Hear Art’s full interview in Episode 388 of The Action Catalyst.