Transforming the Game

We talk about why humans naturally focus on threats and negativity, whether AI could contribute to cognitive atrophy, how dopamine affects motivation and procrastination, and whether we can genuinely rewire our brains to perform at a higher level.

We also get into ADHD, attention, medication, device use and what creates high-performing teams.

A big part of the conversation is psychological safety. The strongest teams are often the ones where people feel safe to speak up, challenge ideas, fail, learn and keep moving.

And ultimately, we come back to something bigger than performance: what actually makes a fulfilled life? The answer comes back to relationships, and what I call your rocking chair moments.

In this episode we cover:

• Is AI making us mentally lazy?
• Cognitive atrophy and AI
• Negativity bias and optimism
• Rewiring the brain for high performance
• Dopamine, procrastination and burnout
• ADHD, attention and devices
• Curiosity and drive in high performers
• Psychological safety and leadership
• Negative personalities in teams
• Gender differences in leadership
• Relationships and fulfilment

Chapters

00:00 The Neuropsychology of High Performance and Optimism
03:48 The Impact of AI on Human Behaviour
08:38 Dopamine, Motivation and High Performance
16:08 ADHD, Attention and Medication
22:02 Rewiring the Brain for Higher Performance
25:20 Psychological Safety and Leadership
27:45 Gender Differences, Pay and Negotiation
31:31 Dealing With Negative and Toxic Personalities
35:23 Relationships, Fulfilment and Your Rocking Chair Moments

Connect with Dr Kim Hazendonk

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://positivebrain.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positive_brain_psychology/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kim-hazendonk

Connect with Kristina Katsanevas

Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kkatsa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinakatsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingTheGame
All podcast links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame

If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, like the episode and tell me what stood out most.

Do you think AI is making us smarter, or making us less willing to think for ourselves?

#TransformingTheGame #DrKimHazendonk #Neuroscience #AI #HighPerformance #Leadership #Psychology #Dopamine #Burnout #ADHD #Mindset

What would you do if someone handed you a cheque for one million dollars?

Tim Gannon ripped it up.

In this episode of Transforming the Game, I sit down with Tim Gannon, co-founder of Outback Steakhouse, creator of the iconic Bloomin’ Onion, author of Bloomin’ Adventures and five-time US Open Polo Champion.

Tim shares the moment that changed the trajectory of his life. At 39 years old, carrying significant debt, he walked away from a guaranteed million-dollar cheque to take an equity position in a new restaurant company with partners he trusted.

That company became Outback Steakhouse.

We talk about moving from transactional thinking to strategic thinking, why the right business partner can completely change your life and how Tim built an extraordinary career through curiosity, calculated risks and a willingness to back himself.

Tim also shares how he discovered polo in his forties and went on to win five US Open championships, play alongside royalty and compete at the highest levels of the sport.

This conversation proves that it is never too late to find your calling, become an athlete, build something enormous or completely change the direction of your life.

In this episode:

00:00 The turning point that changed Tim’s life
00:49 Walking away from a million-dollar cheque
02:32 Choosing equity over short-term security
03:35 The partners behind Outback Steakhouse
04:19 Travelling the world at 19
05:09 Starting polo later in life
06:13 Becoming a five-time US Open Polo Champion
08:19 What Tim loves about Australia
09:40 Why a difficult journey can still be fun
10:19 Tim’s biggest advice for entrepreneurs
11:18 Creating the Bloomin’ Onion
11:30 The recipe that has not changed in 37 years

Tim’s biggest lesson?

Find a good partner. He found his at 40. His advice is to find yours at 25.

Subscribe to Transforming the Game for honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, athletes and leaders who have challenged convention, backed themselves and transformed their game.

Learn more about Tim Gannon and Bloomin’ Adventures:

Website: https://outbacktim.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-gannon/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outbacktim/

Connect with Kristina Katsanevas / Transforming the Game
All links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.katsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheGamePodcast

Subscribe for more episodes on leadership, influence, performance, and meaningful human connection.

#TransformingTheGame #TimGannon #OutbackSteakhouse #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #Founders #BloominOnion #Polo #SuccessMindset #BusinessPartners

Most leaders don’t have a strategy problem.
They have a visibility + execution problem.

In this episode of Transforming the Game, Kristina sits down with Billy Ray Taylor - creator of LinkedXL and author of The Winning Link, to break down what modern leadership actually looks like when it’s real: clear standards, visible scoreboards, and a rhythm that drives ownership.

Billy doesn’t talk leadership like a poster on the wall. He talks about the work behind the work.

The standards.
The score.
The plus between strategy and execution.
And why “secrets” create chaos inside teams.

This conversation is packed with lines you’ll repeat in meetings:

“What you accept, you can’t change.”
“You can’t manage a secret.”
“Model it until you make it.”
“Make people visible and they’ll make you valuable.”
“Once you change the guard, guard the change.”

In this episode, we cover:

Why standards are not what you say
Why teams need to know the score if you expect them to win
How to scale transparency: communicate to the level of someone’s impact
Why companies don’t fail because of bad strategy - they fail because they can’t execute
The difference between “fake it till you make it” vs “model it until you make it”
How AI is changing business: faster decisions, better visibility, and a more intelligent workforce
Why “define winning” comes first - then align ownership so execution can actually happen
The two-foot rule: presence, respect, and making people feel valuable
Confidence, boundaries, and the difference between givers, takers, and matchers
What transforming the game means to Billy: doing it different, doing it consistently - and guarding the change once you make it

If you lead a team, build culture, run a business, or want better execution without chaos, this episode is a practical playbook for turning leadership into reality.

Because strategy without execution is just an expensive wish list.

Connect with Billy Ray Taylor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billyrtaylor
LinkedXL: https://linkedxl.com
Skool of Business Execution: https://www.skool.com/skool-of-execution
The Winning Link resources: https://linkedxl.com/resources/

Follow / Connect with Transforming the Game
All links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.katsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheGamePodcast

If this episode hit home, share it with a leader who’s trying to drive change but keeps getting “chaos instead of execution.”

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, influence, performance, and modern work.

#TransformingTheGame #BillyRayTaylor #Leadership #Execution #AI #BusinessOperations #Culture #ModernLeadership

What actually makes customers stay loyal in a world where products are copied overnight, AI is replacing human touchpoints, and every business is chasing efficiency?

In this episode of Transforming the Game, Kristina Katsanevas sits down with global customer experience and leadership authority Joseph Michelli.

Joseph is an organisational psychologist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker who has advised iconic brands including Starbucks, The Ritz-Carlton, Mercedes-Benz, Airbnb, Zappos and more. His work goes far beyond scripts and loyalty programs. He studies the psychology behind why people trust, stay, buy again, and advocate.

You’ll learn why customers make decisions emotionally first and justify them logically later, how the best brands design experiences from the customer’s perspective, and what often breaks first as businesses scale: culture.

We also go head-on into AI. Joseph breaks down where automation creates real value, and where it can quietly damage what customers want most: human connection. The most emotional, vulnerable moments in a customer journey should not be handed entirely to technology.

If you lead a team, build a brand, or own the customer experience, this conversation will sharpen how you think about loyalty, leadership, and the future of human-centred business.

• Customers buy with emotion, not logic
• Loyalty is built by reducing effort and increasing trust
• Scaling exposes culture cracks fast
• AI should remove friction, not replace empathy
• Emotional intelligence is becoming a leadership advantage

00:00 Why Customers Buy with Emotion, Not Logic
06:14 What Brands Break First When They Scale
11:33 Should AI Replace Customer Service?
16:38 The Leadership Skill Most Leaders Ignore
21:54 The Customer Metric That Predicts Loyalty

Website: https://www.josephmichelli.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephmichelli/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephmichelli/
Books: https://www.josephmichelli.com/books

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, brand, culture, and the future of business.

#TransformingTheGame #JosephMichelli #CustomerExperience #Leadership #AI #BrandExperience #CustomerRetention #BusinessCulture #EmotionalIntelligence

Most high performers don’t have a discipline problem.
They have a recovery + biology problem.

In this episode of Transforming the Game, Kristina Katsanevas sits down with Michael O’Sullivan - mind and body performance coach, NLP practitioner, nutritionist, and CEO/Founder of Elite Power Moves (EPM) - to break down why “train more, eat less” keeps ambitious people tired, stuck, and underperforming.

Going deep on the layers most people ignore: belief systems, identity, behaviour, and the biological “owner’s manual” you can use to stop guessing.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your beliefs, identity, and behaviors shape your health outcomes (not just your workouts)
• Michael’s story: from 145kg and depressed to building EPM
• The difference between “normal” vs optimal bloodwork (and why “normal” can be a red flag)
• How DNA + blood + hormone testing removes guesswork and personalizes your plan
• Why high stress keeps people in fight-or-flight (and what that does to performance)
• What HRV (heart rate variability) actually tells you about recovery
• Why sleep is the fastest lever (including the goal of more restorative sleep)
• How cortisol rhythm and insulin resistance can affect energy, focus, and results
• Practical habit examples you can apply immediately (even when you’re busy)

Michael’s core promise is simple: “One hour with us saves you a thousand hours of guesswork.” 

If you’re building a career, a business, or a family-and you want better energy, clarity, and longevity-this one is for you.

Connect with Michael O’Sullivan (Elite Power Moves):
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elitepowermoves?originalSubdomain=au
Website: https://elitepowermovesexecutives.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelosullivan8484
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLqWERph1BM/

Follow / Connect with Transforming the Game:
All links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.katsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheGamePodcast

If this episode hit home, share it with someone who’s pushing hard but still feels “off.”

Subscribe for more conversations on performance, leadership, and health.

Most entrepreneurs want to grow big but don’t know the real math that drives profits or how to build a culture that keeps talent and fuels scale.

Adam Coffey, CEO with 21 years at the helm, author of four #1 business bestsellers, and private equity veteran behind 58 company acquisitions and $2.5 billion in exits, breaks down exactly how to get it right-first small, then big.

In this episode, Adam exposes the brutal truth: If your business doesn’t work profitably at its smallest unit, it will fail at scale. He reveals his unit economics framework, the 30-20-10 rule, and the culture-building secrets that keep employees loyal and customers coming back.  

But Adam goes deeper-he shatters the “one-and-done” sale myth by showing how he sold the same company 5 times, each payday bigger than the last, with less equity on each deal. This is how savvy entrepreneurs create multiple exits and grow lasting wealth beyond what most can imagine.

What You’ll Learn:  

- How to master unit economics and run your business profitably from the ground up  

- Building a winning culture that attracts and retains A-players  

- Why roll-ups and acquisitions create hyper-growth compared to slow organic methods  

- Rollover equity and repeat exits: your path to multiple paydays, not just one  

- How to use Adam’s 30-20-10 rule to diagnose and fix profit leaks fast  

- Preparing your business for sale the right way to avoid leaving millions on the table  

Don’t tune in if… you’re comfortable with guesswork, vague metrics, or one-shot thinking. This episode is for entrepreneurs who want to beat the odds and transform their game with relentless clarity and proven strategy.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:   https://youtu.be/iH7mu9zn6pY

🎧 Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts - search "Transforming the Game"  

Connect with Adam Coffey  

Website: https://adamecoffey.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamecoffey/

Connect with Kristina Katsanevas / Transforming the Game
All links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.katsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheGamePodcast

Subscribe & Engage:
If this episode expanded your thinking or sharpened your influence skills, please subscribe, like, and comment. Your support powers future transformative conversations.

Dr. Nadine Macaluso, known as Dr. Nae, is the real-life inspiration behind Naomi Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. But this conversation is not about Hollywood. It’s about healing, empowerment, and reclaiming your life.

About Dr Nae:

Dr. Nadine Macaluso, known to her patients as Dr. Nae, is the real-life inspiration behind Naomi Belfort's character in "The Wolf of Wall Street." She survived a turbulent eight-year marriage to Jordan Belfort, marked by abuse, greed, and trauma.

Following her experiences, Dr. Macaluso relocated to California. Her journey of trauma and healing inspired her to return to school at age 39, where she earned her Master's in counselling and a Ph.D. in somatic psychotherapy. She further specialized with a two-year postdoctoral training in the Neuro-affective Relational Model (NARM).
 

This conversation covers:
• Trauma bonds and love bombing
 • Addiction and rage in relationships
 • Financial and psychological abuse
 • Why your body knows before your mind does
 • The importance of therapy and support
 • Healing through self-discovery
 • Building community after trauma
 • Finding healthy love again

If you’ve ever felt confused, controlled, or disconnected from yourself in a relationship, this episode will land.

Connect with Dr Nae: 

Download the first chapter of Dr Nae Book “Run Like Hell” https://heal.drnae.com/podcast-book-giveaway 

Join the Community – https://course.drnae.com/trauma-bond-recovery-course-e

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/therealdrnadine/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drnaelmft

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drnaelmft

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealDrNadine

X - x.com/therealdrnadine

Connect with Kristina Katsanevas / Transforming the Game
All links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.katsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheGamePodcast

Subscribe & Engage:
If this episode expanded your thinking or sharpened your influence skills, please subscribe, like, and comment. Your support powers future transformative conversations.

In this revealing episode, I sit down with John Parsiani the strategic force behind Parsiani Real Estate, a leading name shaping Miami’s skyline and luxury market. Far from a typical agent, John combines razor-sharp human insight, relentless discipline, and a $5 billion sales playbook to master high-stakes deals where trust is the true currency.

We explore John’s inspiring journey from war-torn Shiraz through immigrant resilience in Sweden, to dominating Miami’s real estate scene with breakthrough projects like Aria on the Bay and Aston Martin Residences. His unique blend of Persian heritage, global upbringing, and deep emotional intelligence transforms how ultra-high-net-worth clients engage, decide, and invest.

This episode is a masterclass in persuasive leadership, elite negotiation, and understanding people beneath the surface. Plus, we dive into some unexpected Greek-Persian rivalry banter that adds a memorable spark to our conversation.

What You Will Learn:
• How John built and scaled one of Miami’s most trusted luxury real estate brands
• The psychological codes behind closing swift, high-trust deals in a competitive market
• Why influence is 80% human behavior — and how to decode it before a word is spoken
• The crucial difference between European and American approaches to service excellence
• Navigating client energy, ego, and decision-making micro-signals with finesse
• The storytelling frameworks that cultivate client loyalty beyond contracts
• A glimpse into John's worldview shaped by a globe-trotting life and perseverance

Timestamped Chapters for Precise Listening:
00:00 Meet John Parsiani
03:01 The Hidden Psychology Behind Luxury Sales
09:15 Trust Dynamics with Ultra-High-Net-Worth Clients
15:22 Reading Between the Lines: Human Behaviour Insights
21:44 Why Europeans Get Service Differently
28:10 Negotiation Energy Management
35:39 The Strategic Long Game in Real Estate
44:05 Lighthearted Greek vs Persian Banter
52:18 Loyalty in Brand Building
59:12 Crucial Leadership and Influence Takeaways

Connect Directly with John Parsiani:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrparsiani/
Instagram Parsiani Real Estate: https://www.instagram.com/parsianirealestate/
Parsiani Real Estate: https://www.parsiani.com/

Connect with Kristina Katsanevas / Transforming the Game
All links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.katsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheGamePodcast

Subscribe & Engage:
If this episode expanded your thinking or sharpened your influence skills, please subscribe, like, and comment. Your support powers future transformative conversations.

What happens when you sit down with one of Australia’s most beloved comedians and media personalities, the conversation digs deeper than the punchlines?

In this episode of Transforming the Game, Kristina Katsanevas chats with David "Hughesy" Hughes comedian, radio and TV icon, and one of the quickest-witted Aussies you’ll ever meet. Beyond the jokes, Hughesy shares raw, hilarious, and surprisingly heartwarming stories from breaking ribs in a charity AFL game (yes, and still kicking a goal) to quitting alcohol at 21 and managing the chaos of online hate.

This episode goes past the spotlight to reveal Hughesy’s perspective on ambition, reinvention, ego battles, and the liberating power of presence. Discover how he’s stayed relevant for decades, why he’s stopped worrying about what others think, and the surprising ways comedy has carried him through life’s toughest seasons.

If you want to hear the real story behind the laughs and how to keep evolving when the world thinks they already know you, this episode delivers.

Why You’ll Want to Listen

·       The truth about longevity in entertainment and media

·       How Hughesy turned setbacks into stories that connect

·       Why presence beats ego every time

·       The crazy tale of a charity footy game gone wrong (and right)

·       What quitting alcohol taught Hughesy about life and resilience

·       How laughter turns personal stories into universal bonds

This is a must-listen mix of belly laughs, life lessons, and the kind of honesty that stays with you long after the mic goes silent.

Connect with David Hughes
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhughesy/
 X: https://x.com/DHughesy

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/officialdavehughes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dhughesy
 Website: https://davehughes.com.au/

Connect with Kristina Katsanevas / Transforming the Game
 All links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.katsanevas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformingtheGamePodcast

🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

If this episode gave you a laugh, a fresh perspective, or a reality check, please follow, subscribe, and leave a comment it helps us reach more listeners who need it.

Winning the Second Half: Matt Elliott & Susan Pearce on Re-Engineering the Mind for Sustainable Success

What if the greatest game you'll ever play is the one inside your mind?

Why You Need to Listen

Discover why it’s never too late to win your second half

Turn pressure and failure into growth opportunities

Explore neuroscience behind change, emotion, and habits

Hear behind-the-scenes stories from elite coaching and leadership

Unlock science-based tools for focus, resilience, and performance renewal

Recommended Reading
 Winning the Second Half by Matt Elliott and Susan Pearce – Buy on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com.au/Winning-Second-Half-Matt-Elliott/dp/1923501046

 About Matt and Susan

Matt Elliott is a renowned NRL coach and performance consultant known for transforming teams and mindsets at the highest levels of sport. Today he helps individuals and leaders build mental resilience, purpose, and flow through his MindFit coaching programs.
 Website: https://www.mattelliottcoach.com.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headcoachmattelliott/

Website: The Change Room – Health and Well-being

Susan Pearce is a bestselling author, mindfulness researcher, and speaker specialising in leadership and behavioural change. Her work in neuroscience and mindfulness helps people reconnect with their potential and lead with awareness, authenticity, and balance.
 Website: https://www.susanpearce.com.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanmpearse/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-pearse-022b0311/

 Watch Now & Subscribe
 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TransformingTheGame
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/your-podcast-link
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/your-podcast-link

Connect with Kristina Katsanevas
 Links: https://beacons.ai/transformingthegame

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinakatsanevas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristinaKatsanevas
Website: https://www.kristinakatsanevas.com
 
 If this episode helped you rethink what’s possible, please subscribe, like, and share—it helps us keep transforming the game.