The Action Catalyst

Dave Mortensen, President and Co-Founder of Self-Esteem Brands / Purpose Brands, explains why the fitness industry is like the McDonald's ball pit, and what AI has taught his team about the behavior of it's gym members.Hear Dave's full interview across Episodes 497 and 498 of The Action Catalyst.

Dawn Fotopulos, Founder of Hidden Profit Academy, and Associate Professor of Business at The King's College, lays out the 3 financial questions to ask when running ANY business, what bankruptcy IS and ISN'T, the 3 main parts of a balance sheet, recognizing accounting yellow flags, and the importance of adopting a new mindset around managing your money.

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 Episodes 497 and 498, with Dave Mortensen, President and Co-Founder of Self-Esteem Brands / Purpose Brands.

Dave Mortensen, President and Co-Founder of Self-Esteem Brands / Purpose Brands, continues the conversation with insights on advancement vs perfection, noise vs value, the 80/20 rule of where good ideas come from, listening to the voice not speaking in the room, and how to "live in the grey".Mentioned in this episode:Learn more at SouthwesternConsulting.com/Coaching/StudentsSouthwestern Student CoachingThis episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching.Southwestern Coaching

Adam Outland, Action Catalyst host and President of Southwestern Consulting, examines the true superpower of curiosity and it's relationship to risk, both in the business realm, and on a personal level.Hear more from Adam in his appearance in the Action Catalyst Panel, "Scaling With Purpose".

Dave Mortensen, President and Co-Founder of Self-Esteem Brands / Purpose Brands, recounts the improbable meeting between himself and his business partner of over 30 years, and shares why 80-90% of any great idea isn't about the idea itself, the secret to truly great partnerships, the 4 Ps of executing their business, doing vs leading, identifying passion and talent, and why the fitness industry is like the McDonald's ball pit.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more at SouthwesternConsulting.com/Coaching/StudentsSouthwestern Student CoachingThis episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching.Southwestern Coaching

Scott Stratten, Creator and President of UNMarketing Inc, explains what marketing is at it's core, and how you're never NOT doing it. Hear Scott's full interview in Episode 140 of The Action Catalyst.

Adam Outland, Action Catalyst host and President of Southwestern Consulting, and David Stuart, President and Founder of Southwestern Insurance Group, break down how they've each re-examined the structure of their long-standing businesses, including a few key decisions on what NOT to do, taking a hard look at where true revenue comes from, reframing and calculating risk, following the data, the push-pull relationship with tradition, improving the client experience, bringing technology into the mix, and the superpower of curiosity.Mentioned in this episode:This episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching.Southwestern CoachingThis episode is brought to you by Southwestern Insurance Group.Southwestern Insurance Group

Vice President of Information Technology for the Southwestern Family of Companies, Ed Solima, and Training and Development Manager for Southwestern Consulting, Chad Rothermich, examine recent changes in AI, and explain how you can even use AI to learn more about...AI!Hear Ed and Chad's full discussion in their very special episode of The Action Catalyst.

Scott Stratten, Creator and President of UNMarketing Inc, explains how the context defines which sales approach you need, why marketing is an "always on" function, the huge lesson he learned from his wife's business, and the fear, promise, and future of social media and AI.

Ron Alford, Senior Partner and a Professional Sales and Leadership Coach at Southwestern Consulting, lays out his holistic approach to coaching.Hear Ron and Josh's full interview in Episode 217 of The Action Catalyst.

Action Catalyst host Stephanie Maas helps turn the page on 2025, and takes a look ahead for this podcast and all of our listeners!

Host Adam Outland bids farewell to 2025, and looks ahead to the new year and everything that's in store for our listeners!

Vice President of Information Technology for the Southwestern Family of Companies, Ed Solima, and Training and Development Manager for Southwestern Consulting, Chad Rothermich, examine recent changes in AI and other tech, and offer an in-depth use case as well as some guiding principles for vetting potential tools and vendors, engaging stakeholders in your operation, integrating into existing systems, and even using AI to learn about AI.

Alex “Sandy” Pentland, a Professor at MIT, a Stanford University Fellow, and one of the most cited computational scientists in the world, explains the misunderstood issues around artificial intelligence, including alignment and human centricity, and shares the way you can apply AI in your business straight away that he calls "a little bit of genius".Hear Dr. Pentland's full interview in his special bonus episode of The Action Catalyst.

Host Adam Outland wishes all of our listeners a very "Catalyst" Christmas!

Action Catalyst host Stephanie Maas shares what's keeping her spirits merry and bright at this magical time of the year, and her wishes for all of our listeners.

Ron Alford, Senior Partner and a Professional Sales and Leadership Coach at Southwestern Consulting, and Josh Hudson, CEO of Hudson's Furniture, cover the unique relational challenges of operating in a family business, how to establish a rhythm quickly with coaching, identifying patterns in yourself, learning to accept but also to question, and letting others help you help yourself.Mentioned in this episode:This episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching.Southwestern Coaching

Angie Moss, Sales and Leadership Coach and Certified Trainer with Southwestern Consulting, shares how her coaching client adopted the productive mindset of working ON your business rather than IN your business.Hear Angie and Brad's full interview in Episode 150 of The Action Catalyst.

Alex “Sandy” Pentland, a Professor at MIT, a Stanford University Fellow, and one of the most cited computational scientists in the world, dives into the misunderstood issues and opportunities around artificial intelligence, including alignment, human centricity, how different nations are handling the new tech, and the application you can put to work in your business straight away that he calls "a little bit of genius".Mentioned in this episode:Get 10% OFF Taelor gift cards right now using promo code PODCASTGIFT at Taelor.styleTaelorGet 25% OFF your first month of Taelor using code ActionCatayst at Taelor.style. Taelor

Richard Fain, the chairman and former long-term CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, explains how Royal Caribbean elevated the entire cruise industry, and why, early in his career, he literally, LITERALLY, had to cut a cruise ship in half.Hear Richard's full interview in Episode 496 of The Action Catalyst.

Angie Moss, Sales and Leadership Coach and Certified Trainer with Southwestern Consulting, and Brad Moore, Senior Vice President with BancorpSouth Wealth Management, talk about the principles of working ON your business not IN your business, moving your on goalpost for success, and becoming a leader even before you have people to lead.Mentioned in this episode:This episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching.Southwestern Coaching

Karla Lewis, an executive sales and leadership coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting, and Steve Frody, co-founder of City2Shore Real Estate, share the value of aligning your business and team behind a shared creed (and how to create one).Hear Karla and Steve's full interview in Episode 171 of The Action Catalyst.

Richard Fain, the chairman and former long-term CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, recounts the dark days of the Covid pandemic for the cruise business, and explains cheap expensive decisions, the antidote to fear, elevating and innovating the industry, and why he literally, LITERALLY, had to cut a cruise ship in half.Mentioned in this episode:Get 10% OFF Taelor gift cards right now using promo code PODCASTGIFT at Taelor.styleTaelorGet 25% OFF your first month of Taelor using code ActionCatayst at Taelor.style. Taelor

Gayathri Krishnamurthy, Head of Product Marketing at Level AI, explains how AI is beginning to use data differently from previous versions and how the rate at which it's capabilities are expanding is exponential, but how despite this, the emerging technology is still not without its drawbacks...Hear the full conversation in a first-ever "live" episode of The Action Catalyst.

Action Catalyst host Adam Outland shares what he's thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Action Catalyst host Stephanie Maas breaks down her favorite parts of the Thanksgiving holiday, and what it really means to have an "attitude of gratitude".

Karla Lewis, an executive sales and leadership coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting, and Steve Frody, co-founder of City2Shore Real Estate, share the value of hiring the right assistants and what to look for when doing so, identifying your ideal client, aligning your business and team behind a shared creed (and how to create one), and why remaining coachable is an essential skill.Mentioned in this episode:This episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching.Southwestern Coaching

Executive business and life coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting, Steve Reiner breaks down the key steps towards identifying and living into your purpose.Hear Steve and Tom's full interview in Episode 187 of The Action Catalyst.

The Action Catalyst unites several of its esteemed alumni; Anya Cheng, founder and CEO of Taelor, Dave Brown, Founding Partner at Southwestern Consulting, Dr. Amy D'Aprix, President and Founder of Lifebridge Strategies, and newcomer Gayathri Krishnamurthy, Head of Product Marketing at Level AI, for it's first ever "live" episode, from City Winery in Nashville, and a panel discussion on harnessing the growing power of AI without using the human touch. Each guest shares their unique perspective on AI's limitations and pitfalls, how to blend technology with humanity, potential use cases and opportunities, and where we go from here.Mentioned in this episode:Get 25% OFF your first month of Taelor using code ActionCatayst at Taelor.style. TaelorGet 10% OFF Taelor gift cards right now using promo code PODCASTGIFT at Taelor.styleTaelor

Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director, NYC Health Commissioner, and current President and CEO of the global health organization Resolve to Save Lives, shares the 6, shockingly straight-forward keys to a longer, healthier life, that you can begin to implement right away.Hear Dr. Frieden's full interview in Episode 495 of The Action Catalyst.

Executive business and life coach and Partner with Southwestern Consulting, Steve Reiner, and Tom Merritt, a Branch Manager with Summit Funding, explore the healthy way to start to put yourself first, how to find your purpose, setting aside the things you can't control, and being of service to others.Mentioned in this episode:This episode is brought to you by Southwestern Coaching.Southwestern Coaching

Speaker, coach, and CEO / Co-Founder of Disruption Advisors, Whitney Johnson, shares when you need to make it scarier NOT to change...in order to change.Hear Whitney's full interview in Episode 242 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 495, with Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director, NYC Health Commissioner, and current President and CEO of the global health organization Resolve to Save Lives.

Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director, NYC Health Commissioner, and current President and CEO of the global health organization Resolve to Save Lives, shares the influence of his father, the single question that changed his life, the 3 step formula for impactful healthcare, how to assess levels of certainty, the 6 keys to a longer, healthier life, the low-tech device he uses every day, and the mindset that keeps him moving forward.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more at SouthwesternConsulting.com/Coaching/StudentsSouthwestern Student Coaching

Mickie Kennedy, PR expert and the founder of eReleases, a leading press release distribution service, dives into how to create the perfect press release for maximum attention for your business.Hear Mickie's full interview in his special bonus episode of The Action Catalyst.

Speaker, coach, and CEO / Co-Founder of Disruption Advisors, Whitney Johnson, talks about disruptive innovation and the levers of disruption, making it scarier NOT to change, providing “proof points”, the “learn, leap, repeat” method, disrupting a MARRIAGE, when feeling scared and lonely is a positive sign, and silly little things that take over the world.

Speaker, author, and President & CEO of OCLC, Skip Prichard, shares the insightful way that people can often be like nickels....but you shouldn't want to be.Hear Skip's full interview in Episode 230 of The Action Catalyst.

Mickie Kennedy, PR expert and the founder of eReleases, a leading press release distribution service, dives into why press releases aren’t just for the big boys, how to create the best one for maximum attention, and what to do in a damage-control setting, plus shares his “3% rule”, and explains how even local press can net BIG wins for your business.Mentioned in this episode:The Puppet Masters Playbook is available now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXB4VKBHPuppet Masters Playbook / Jonathan Graves

Today on the podcast, we’re excited to feature a conversation from Think Big, Buy Small, produced by our friends at Harvard Business School. Hosted by HBS professors (and former Action Catalyst guests) Rick Ruback and Royce Yudkoff, Think Big, Buy Small explores the world of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), highlighting how ambitious leaders build lasting wealth and careers by acquiring and growing small businesses. Each episode features candid conversations with CEOs, investors, and entrepreneurs who have taken the leap into small business ownership.On this special episode, you’ll hear their discussion with Paige Sopcic, who left behind a promising engineering career to pursue entrepreneurship. Paige shares her journey from Harvard Business School to acquiring CanSource, a fast-growing beverage can supplier, just months before the pandemic hit. She reflects on leading the company through the chaos of COVID-19, scaling operations to meet unprecedented demand, and ultimately selling the business to TricorBraun in 2023.Listen to more episodes of Think Big, Buy Small and follow the podcast: https://link.mgln.ai/7Fgb85

Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, co-founders of Beekman 1802 skincare, partners in both business as well as life, explain the "51% rule" for decision making, both professionally, and personally.Hear Brent and Josh's full interview in Episode 494 of The Action Catalyst.

Speaker, author, and President & CEO of OCLC, Skip Prichard, shares his unusual childhood background, the research on near death experiences, why to fail faster, how people are often like nickels, and the philosophy of working harder on yourself than you do on your job.

CEO and Founder of Dream University, Marcia Wieder, explains the value of realism, self-confidence, and risk taking in dreaming, how to break down big dreams into small projects, and why you should want to be PIE (but not the baked good).Hear Marcia's full interview in Episode 134 of The Action Catalyst.

Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, a.k.a. the “Fabulous Beekman Boys”, co-founders of Beekman 1802 skincare, recount settling in with Farmer John and his goats and packing 52,000 bars of soap, and chat about making neighbors, not customers, making hay while the sun shines, NOT Shark Tank-ing every business, making kindness part of the business model, working with your partner, reframing work-life balance, and finding contentment without sacrificing ambition.

Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard, the tech entrepreneur known as the “father of the cable modem", explains what things like broadband and cable modems REALLY are, and how their invention quickly impacted producers, consumers, and the broader economy.Hear Rouzbeh's full interview in his special bonus episode of The Action Catalyst.

CEO and Founder of Dream University, Marcia Wieder, explains the difference between dreams, fantasies, and goals, the value of realism in dreaming, how intention and integrity work together, breaking down big dreams into small projects, separating dreams from doubts, the 3 little words that breed self-sabotage, and why you should want to be PIE (passionate, interested, excited, not the baked good).

Hattingh Basson and Werner Barnard, Senior Partners at Southwestern Talent, explain why offshoring isn't really what it used to be anymore, it's present-day benefits, and how the South African people are creating a world-class talent pool.Hear Hattingh and Werner's full interview in Episode 493 of The Action Catalyst.

Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard, the tech entrepreneur known as the “father of the cable modem", explains the two experiences he brought together to create the revolutionary device, what things like broadband and cable modems REALLY are, why he gave it all away free of royalties, and the role of homemade Persian food in making it all possible.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard and his legacy from "The Accidental Network", a business history book recounting the invention of the cable modem and the global broadband evolution it inspired.Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard / The Accidental NetworkLearn more about Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard and his legacy from "The Accidental Network", a business history book recounting the invention of the cable modem and the global broadband evolution it inspired.Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard / The Accidental Network

Author, executive coach, and culture consultant Chester Elton breaks down the idea of "the noble cause" in business, and how Texas Roadhouse restaurants are a shining and enduring example of the idea in action.Hear Chester's full interview in Episode 35 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 493, with Hattingh Basson and Werner Barnard, Senior Partners at Southwestern Talent.