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The Action Catalyst
The Action Catalyst
Author: Southwestern Family of Podcasts
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The Action Catalyst interviews top leaders and achievers, sharing hard-earned tips and advice to help you uncover your inspiration and gain valuable insights to overcome setbacks, defeat mediocrity, and reach your goals in life, business, and beyond.
Southwestern/Great American, Inc., dba Southwestern Family of Companies, for itself and its related entities and their assigns, reserves and retains all rights to their copyrighted materials and trademarks contained in this podcast.
Southwestern/Great American, Inc., dba Southwestern Family of Companies, for itself and its related entities and their assigns, reserves and retains all rights to their copyrighted materials and trademarks contained in this podcast.
775 Episodes
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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.
Hattingh Basson and Werner Barnard, Senior Partners at Southwestern Talent, explain the unique career history that spawned the business, the professional services gap that they are filling and why it exists, why offshoring isn't really offshoring anymore, how the South African people create a world-class talent pool, overcoming start-up pain points, and why sometimes the low-tech solution is the winning one.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more at SouthwesternTalent.comSouthwestern TalentLearn more at SouthwesternConsulting.com/Coaching/StudentsSouthwestern Student Coaching





Hundred mile an hour speaking by Rory on taking time to think among other subjects. Take a breath and slow down
Nice talk, I enjoyed listening but quite disappointed with self marketing, could have been done differently..