The Action Catalyst

John and Mark X. Cronin, father and son co-founders of the largest sock store on the planet, John's Crazy Socks, share the story of how their fun socks sparked a friendship with former President Bush, and won them a big fan in Nancy Pelosi.

Hear John and Mark’s full interview in Episode 398 of The Action Catalyst.

Julia Boorstin, Senior Media & Tech Correspondent for CNBC, talks about what inspired her new book, “WHEN WOMEN LEAD - What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them”, and touches on the changing face of leadership, contextual thinking and communal leadership, the unusual case of Elizabeth Holmes, the gender issue in tech and computer science, being camera-ready in 40 minutes or less, the great value of reaching out to your "outer circle", and why there’s no such thing as a cold call anymore.

Ariel Garten, neuroscientist and the co-founder of tech startup Muse, explains how her company’s revolutionary technology helps you become the coach and the guru inside your own brain, the broader mission of her work, and how if you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else.

Hear Ariel’s full interview in Episode 397 of The Action Catalyst.

John and Mark X. Cronin, entrepreneurs, advocates for Down Syndrome, and co-founders of the largest sock store on the planet, John's Crazy Socks, explain the 5 essential pillars of business, the joys and the challenges of working as a father and son team, a small problem they ran into with opening a food truck, making friends with Washington elite, and the importance of uplifting differently-abled employees.

David Stuart, Founder and President of Southwestern Insurance Group, describes the current state of the insurance industry, and what sets his company apart from others in the ever-more-competitive insurance landscape.

Hear David’s full interview in Episode 396 of The Action Catalyst.

Ariel Garten, neuroscientist, former psychotherapist, and the co-founder and visionary of tech startup Muse, explains the mission behind her company’s revolutionary technology, the way inspiration can translate from art to science, hitting the research lab at the age of 17, the power of naivety, her responsibility to society, calming the nervous system and relying on yourself, and how if you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else.

*Listeners, use code POD10 at checkout at ChooseMuse.com for special savings!

Patty Hoppenstedt, Chief Operations and People Officer for Southwestern Family of Companies, shares the story of the tragic natural disaster that nearly changed the course of her family’s history, and how the kindness demonstrated by strangers helped shape who she is today.

Hear Patty’s full interview in her special bonus episode of The Action Catalyst.

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This episode is brought to you by ThinkingAhead.

Thinking Ahead

David Stuart, Founder and President of Southwestern Insurance Group, shares successful philosophies on expanding your team, why hindsight is the best foresight, how your trials are someone else’s inspiration, and what it means to define “fun” in business, plus covers his adventures in water polo, getting hit in the face, and the similarity between himself and Mark Wahlberg.

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This episode is brought to you by Southwestern Insurance Group.

Southwestern Insurance Group

Gary Garfield, speaker, author, and former CEO of Bridgestone Americas, shares a few times when he empowered his workforce to speak truth to power, drive innovative ideas from within, and speak up for themselves, resulting in one of Bridgestone's most well-received initiatives.

Hear Gary's full interview in Episode 395 of The Action Catalyst.

Also be sure to check out Gary's first appearance on the podcast, in Episode 243 of the Action Catalyst.

Patty Hoppenstedt, Chief Operations and People Officer for Southwestern Family of Companies, shares her upbringing in Central America and the natural disaster that helped shape her early life, to her beginnings in security in the 9/11 era, stint in city management, and the influences and determination from her unique background that help her create the safest, most inviting work environment for employees of all types.

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This episode is brought to you by Thinking Ahead.

Thinking Ahead