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 scientific tail-chasing, wisdom vs. expertise, and why guest host Stephanie Maas may just live forever.

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 productive in 2 days, why “flow” is not just for athletes and artists, the most common flow state on earth that every one of us has experienced every week, what Buddhists, nuns, and surfers have in common, why struggle and frustration are necessary to achieve flow and extraordinary = average + repetition, and finding moments where the impossible become possible.

Dave Brown, speaker, author, and Founding Partner of Southwestern Consulting, explains the power of asking, and how it’s the only thing standing between you, and having every miracle of the modern world at your disposal. Hear Dave’s full interview in Episode 195 of The Action Catalyst.

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 the first blind graduate of the Harvard Business School Leadership Program, and finding your "true north".

Dave Brown, speaker, author, and Founding Partner of Southwestern Consulting, talks about beating "call reluctance", how one call a month can lead to huge rewards, how your parents may have made you a bad salesman, scarcity vs. abundance, what Michael Jordan can teach us about persistence, and why not to let thinking dictate action; ACT your way into healthy thinking.

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 motocross, marriage, and sales, and why "practice doesn’t make perfect, PERFECT practice makes perfect".

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 leads to success, why Apolo Ohno feels like a colleague, how to play the game of high profile networking, defining and harnessing the power of "flow", why often "no" just means "not yet", and why she begs you to PLEASE not ask someone to be your mentor.

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 communication, and never losing your childhood curiosity.

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 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.