The Action Catalyst

Southwestern Family of Podcasts

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. read less

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The Action Catalyst: Your Inspiration Ignited

The Action Catalyst: Your Inspiration Ignited

Whether you’re just getting started, or have sat in the C-Suite for years, sooner or later, most of us hit a wall, a plateau, an obstacle. The Action Catalyst podcast is designed for THIS moment, to help you reflect, refocus, and smash through complacency and the challenges holding you back. Led by one of the nation’s most established private companies, The Action Catalyst has delivered hundreds of talks with actionable steps from top thought leaders in business, sports, and entertainment, and a brisk format perfect for on-the-go listening, which has earned it a place on numerous top podcast lists from Inc, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and many more. Ignite your inspiration now at TheActionCatalyst.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episodes

REMASTERED: Create Distinction, with Scott McKain (Sales, Customer Service, Author, Business)

REMASTERED: Create Distinction, with Scott McKain (Sales, Customer Service, Author, Business)

Best-selling author, Hall of Fame speaker, and distinction expert Scott McKain explains different vs. distinctive, pursuit vs. attraction, the 4 cornerstones of setting yourself apart, and how creating clarity often means saying “no”.

CLIP: Entering the Matrix...The Potential Matrix

CLIP: Entering the Matrix...The Potential Matrix

Best-selling author, leadership speaker, and entrepreneur Mark Sanborn covers how to maximize your potential by entering...dun dun dun...the Potential Matrix. (Not scary, we promise.)Hear Mark's full interview in Episode 202 of The Action Catalyst.

CLIP: Making a Signature Difference

CLIP: Making a Signature Difference

Best-selling author, leadership speaker, and entrepreneur Mark Sanborn talks about making a “signature difference” and practicing "A.B.C.D." to create an amazing experience for customers and others around you.Hear Mark's full interview in Episode 1 of The Action Catalyst.

Life As We Know It, with Bill Weir (Climate, News, Storytelling, Author)

Life As We Know It, with Bill Weir (Climate, News, Storytelling, Author)

Award-winning journalist and CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir shares the story of his new book LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (CAN BE): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World, explains why reporting on climate includes reporting on EVERYTHING, the one thing that makes humans special from every other animal on the planet, advice from Mr. Rogers, the influence from his very unique upbringing, why there’s no climate change without culture change and why Earth repair is self-repair, and bonds with host Stephanie Maas over a mutual admiration of Taylor Swift.

CLIP: Berkshire Hathaway Is Messing Up

CLIP: Berkshire Hathaway Is Messing Up

John Hewitt, founder of both Jackson Hewitt as well as Liberty Tax Services, explains what makes the secret sauce of franchising, and why he might be the one person on Earth who thinks Berkshire Hathaway is doing something very wrong.Hear John's full interview in Episode 454 of The Action Catalyst.

REMASTERED: The Potential Principle and Bettering Your Best, with Mark Sanborn (Leadership, Team Building, Customer Service, Change)

REMASTERED: The Potential Principle and Bettering Your Best, with Mark Sanborn (Leadership, Team Building, Customer Service, Change)

Best-selling author, leadership speaker, and entrepreneur Mark Sanborn covers how you never really know your potential, but how to find out and maximize it with the Potential Matrix, the importance of disrupting yourself but refocusing after you do, and why being an author is a lot like fatherhood.Mentioned in this episode:Be extraordinary. Turn ordinary actions into remarkable results at MarkSanborn.com.Mark SanbornBe extraordinary. Turn ordinary actions into remarkable results at MarkSanborn.com.Mark Sanborn

REMASTERED: Turning Ordinary to Extraordinary, with Mark Sanborn (Leadership, Customer Service, Sales, Author)

REMASTERED: Turning Ordinary to Extraordinary, with Mark Sanborn (Leadership, Customer Service, Sales, Author)

Best-selling author, leadership speaker, and entrepreneur Mark Sanborn talks about the many Freds in his life, and covers topics like internalizing responsibility, making a “signature difference”, the tips to delivering an "elevated experience", practicing A.B.C.D., and how you can be seen as an absolute ARTIST, no matter what your job is.Mentioned in this episode:Be extraordinary. Turn ordinary actions into remarkable results at MarkSanborn.com.Mark SanbornBe extraordinary. Turn ordinary actions into remarkable results at MarkSanborn.com.Mark Sanborn

CLIP: Fearing the Invisible Audience

CLIP: Fearing the Invisible Audience

Best-selling author, international speaker, award-winning podcaster, and media personality Carrie Wilkerson breaks down what it means to be "playing to the invisible audience", and how it often holds people back, from kids all the way to adults, from doing what they really want.Hear Carrie's full interview in Episode 165 of The Action Catalyst.

Overtime with Outland: John Hewitt, Episode 454

Overtime with Outland: John Hewitt, Episode 454

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 454, with John Hewitt, founder of both Jackson Hewitt as well as Liberty Tax Services, author, and CEO of Loyalty Brands.

They'll Have To Kill Me To Stop Me, with John Hewitt (Franchising, Taxes, Business, Leadership)

They'll Have To Kill Me To Stop Me, with John Hewitt (Franchising, Taxes, Business, Leadership)

John Hewitt, founder of both Jackson Hewitt as well as Liberty Tax Services, talks about being a world traveler without ever leaving the USA, fighting with his father while also making business history, the secret sauce of franchising, the biggest lesson from almost facing bankruptcy, competing against his own software and systems (and winning), why he might be the one person on Earth who thinks Berkshire Hathaway is doing something wrong, the pain of change, and practicing extreme brevity. And listen to the end to find out how Action Catalyst fans can get his book for free!

CLIP: What Makes an Intrapreneur?

CLIP: What Makes an Intrapreneur?

Digital media executive Louis Gump, with time spent at CNN, the Weather Channel, Cox Media, and more, breaks down the 5 main characteristics of an intrapreneur, and the overlap between intra- and entrepreneurs.Hear Louis's full interview in Episode 453 of The Action Catalyst.

REMASTERED: Managing Stress, Guilt and Overwhelm, with Carrie Wilkerson (Executive, Opportunity, Consulting, Business)

REMASTERED: Managing Stress, Guilt and Overwhelm, with Carrie Wilkerson (Executive, Opportunity, Consulting, Business)

Best-selling author, international speaker, award-winning podcaster, and media personality Carrie Wilkerson breaks down the biggest productivity mistakes people make, why balance is in the eye of the beholder and comparison is "suicide on an installment plan", talks about playing to the "invisible audience", and explains how you REALLY ARE the person in your photographs.

CLIP: Not Special, Just Intentional

CLIP: Not Special, Just Intentional

Author, CEO of Ziglar, Inc, and son of legendary speaker and salesman Zig Ziglar, Tom Ziglar, explains how intentional = meaningful, with a very personal story about a very intimate moment between he and his father.Hear Tom's full interview in Episode 38 of The Action Catalyst.

The Inside Innovator, with Louis Gump (Entrepreneurship, Business, Innovation, Digital Media)

The Inside Innovator, with Louis Gump (Entrepreneurship, Business, Innovation, Digital Media)

Digital media executive Louis Gump, with time spent at CNN, the Weather Channel, Cox Media, and more, talks about breaking early ground in the mobile space, the 5 main characteristics of an intrapreneur, not putting efficiency over optimization, the symbiotic relationship between intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs, the genesis of innovation, and more.

CLIP: All Businesses Are The Same Business

CLIP: All Businesses Are The Same Business

Digital strategist, author, and entertainment industry veteran Chris Hood explains why all businesses are really the same business at their core, and how entertainment, regardless of where you get it, is entertainment.Hear Chris's full interview in Episode 452 of The Action Catalyst.

REMASTERED: He Walked His Talk, with Tom Ziglar (Motivation, Inspiration, Success, Sales)

REMASTERED: He Walked His Talk, with Tom Ziglar (Motivation, Inspiration, Success, Sales)

Author, CEO of Ziglar, Inc, and son of legendary speaker and salesman Zig Ziglar, Tom Ziglar, explains how intentional = meaningful and the importance of getting a check-up from the neck up, and shares some of Zig’s favorite foods and activities, what he was like offstage, and why to “be, do, have”, in that order.

CLIP: Mastering The 3 Types of Media

CLIP: Mastering The 3 Types of Media

Rusty Shelton, Founder/Chairman of Zilker Media, and Barbara Henricks, Founder, President & CEO of Cave Henricks Communications, explain the 3 types of media, and how to best position yourself between them to promote your brand, your product, and yourself.Hear Rusty and Barbara's full interview in Episode 132 of The Action Catalyst.

Overtime with Outland: Chris Hood, Episode 452

Overtime with Outland: Chris Hood, Episode 452

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 452, with digital strategist, speaker, and author Chris Hood.

The Customer is the Constant, with Chris Hood (Entertainment, Media, Business, AI)

The Customer is the Constant, with Chris Hood (Entertainment, Media, Business, AI)

Digital strategist, author, and entertainment industry veteran Chris Hood talks about his award-winning work with films like Jurassic Park and Apollo 13, one HUGE missed opportunity with the Power Rangers, why even the worst leaders you know can be mentors, using the cloud before the cloud existed to develop the first known music streaming platform, why all businesses are the same business, the overhype of AI, the evolution of streaming versus cable, the fastest way to identify your target audience, and why entertainment is entertainment.

CLIP: Positivity Gym / 10,000 Ways NOT to Make a Light Bulb

CLIP: Positivity Gym / 10,000 Ways NOT to Make a Light Bulb

Alden Mills, CEO of Perfect Fitness and Founder/CEO of GoalBud talks about how keeping a positive mindset is like building a muscle; you gotta hit the positivity gym, plus, why the greatest successes only follow the greatest failures, even for Edison.Hear Alden's full interview in Episode 451 of The Action Catalyst.