
The Action Catalyst
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.
Latest episodes

Feb 4, 2025 • 29min
The Upside of Disruption, with Terence Mauri (AI, Technology, Leadership, Futurism)
Terence Mauri, acclaimed author and founder of Hack Future Lab, shares the accident that changed the trajectory of his life, explains how risk and reward travel in the same elevator and why regret minimization is important, and talks about the 3 time horizons of AI as a disruptor, warm AI vs cold AI, being a self-confessed failure pioneer, and why we are living in an Age of Wonder, Age of Possibility. Bonus: a bit of philosophy from Mike Tyson.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more at SouthwesternConsulting.com/Coaching/StudentsSouthwestern Student Coaching

Jan 31, 2025 • 10min
Grammy Winners on The Action Catalyst
In honor of this year's Grammy Awards, we are taking a look back at a pair of Grammy nominated and Grammy winning artists that we have had the pleasure of welcoming to The Action Catalyst. We begin with Freddie Ravel, a virtuoso piano player and more who has performed with some of the biggest names in music, and co-produced and wrote the title track, as well as performed on the George Benson/Al Jarreau album “Given It Up”, which won 4 Grammys in 2007, and was nominated for a 5th, and continue with Dennis Scott, a two-time Grammy Award winner for his work in children's music, first on an album of country songs for Sesame Street, and second for a collection of music from Mr. Fred Rogers. Dennis is also the recipient of two Emmys, a Parent’s Choice Award, and a Telly. Hear Freddie's full interview in Episode 258 of The Action Catalyst. Hear Dennis' full interview on Episode 367 of The Action Catalyst.

Jan 30, 2025 • 4min
CLIP: Fear and Confidence At The Top
Patrick McAndrew, a seasoned entrepreneur and high-performance coach, and the Founder/CEO of HARA, talks about finding fear at the top levels of achievement and where confidence REALLY comes from. Hear Patrick's full interview in Episode 477 of The Action Catalyst.

Jan 28, 2025 • 17min
REMASTERED: Values Driven Leadership, with Dina Dwyer-Owens (Franchising, Business, Morals, Ethics)
Author, speaker, and franchising leader Dina Dwyer-Owens opens up about creating a code of values BEFORE you launch a business, re-earning your position every day, how to live R.I.C.H. and scale in franchising, and why to gamify your processes.

Jan 23, 2025 • 2min
CLIP: One To Say Yes, Two To Say No
Shep Hyken, Chief Amazement Officer of Shepard Presentations, customer service and experience expert, author, and speaker, explains why when it comes to good customer service, it takes one to say yes, but two to say no.Hear Shep's full interview in Episode 13 of The Action Catalyst.

Jan 22, 2025 • 3min
Overtime with Outland: Patrick McAndrew, Episode 477
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 477 with Patrick McAndrew, a seasoned entrepreneur and high-performance coach, and the Founder/CEO of HARA.

Jan 21, 2025 • 33min
Master the Game Within, with Patrick McAndrew (Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Self-Improvement, Focus)
Patrick McAndrew, a seasoned entrepreneur and high-performance coach, and the Founder/CEO of HARA, talks about living inside of an art gallery, how speed reading paved the way for a new career, the things that often get mistaken for lack of motivation, finding fear at the top, where confidence really comes from, breaking the loop of distraction, and why engagement doesn’t necessarily equal value.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more at SouthwesternConsulting.com/Coaching/StudentsSouthwestern Student Coaching

Jan 16, 2025 • 6min
CLIP: Safety Is Not Comfort
Topaz Adizes, an Emmy Award-winning writer, director, author, experience design architect, and founder of The Skin Deep, explains why not sleeping in your kitchen is important and why not to confuse comfort with safety.Hear Topaz's full interview in Episode 476 of The Action Catalyst.

Jan 14, 2025 • 8min
REMASTERED: Magic or Misery, with Shep Hyken (Customer Service, Business, Management, Leadership)
Shep Hyken, Chief Amazement Officer of Shepard Presentations, customer service and experience expert, author, and speaker, explains the true meaning of being "helpful", why it takes one to say yes, but two to say no, finding moments of magic, misery, and mediocrity, and the handy index card trick for your staff.

Jan 9, 2025 • 1min
CLIP: Pull Vs. Push Messages
Championship speaker and executive coach Dananjaya Hettiarachchi explains the difference between pull vs. push messages, which is better, and how to craft it.Hear Dananjaya's full interview in Episode 61 of The Action Catalyst.
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