Episodes

  • The Mental Switchboard: How Post-It May Help You Shift Focus with Ease

    The Mental Switchboard: How Post-It May Help You Shift Focus with Ease
    Nov 3 2025
    Ever feel that mental leg when you jump for one kind of work to another? Like your brain is still catching up to your calendar?

    In this episode, I explore how to make those transitions smoother using something as simple as Post-It notes. I exore how our brains respond to color, phrase and environment, and how small physical cues can help us shift gears between strategic, creative, and reflective work.

    Through a mix of sciencey stuff and practical things, I show how designing a few intentional rituals may help you think more clearly, focus faster, and move through your day with a little more ease and a lot less friction.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    8 mins
  • 3 of 3 Designing Momentum - Small Moves, Big Shifts

    3 of 3 Designing Momentum - Small Moves, Big Shifts
    Oct 22 2025
    In this third and final episode of our series on performance and renewal, we turn from diagnosis to design. We move from understanding why we get stuck to learning how to move again.

    Drawing again on Adam Alter’s research in “Anatomy of a Breakthrough,” we explore the precise strategies that turn stagnation into forward momentum. Through narrative case studies, we see that progress isn’t born of inspiration, but of intelligent design.

    Breakthroughs don’t arrive as lightning bolts. They’re built friction by friction, choice by choice.

    Tune in for practical frameworks and reflective questions that help you design movement, meaning, and renewal one small step at a time.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    11 mins
  • 2 of 3 Burnout - The Brilliant Collapse That Saves You

    2 of 3 Burnout - The Brilliant Collapse That Saves You
    Oct 19 2025
    Burnout isn’t a weakness.
    It’s the body’s way of demanding realignment.

    In this episode, we examine Adam Alter's research in his book, "Anatomy of a Breakthrough," which reframes burnout as a forced breakthrough—a system-level reset between your environment and your evolving identity.

    Drawing from organizational psychology, neuroscience, and real-world case studies, we explore the six-minute match that causes burnout, the friction gap that keeps us stuck, and the science of job crafting as a blueprint for sustainable redesign.

    This isn’t about recovery; it’s about reinvention.

    Burnout doesn't end your capacity—it clarifies it.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    14 mins
  • 1 of 3 The Unspoken Architecture of Being Unstuck

    1 of 3 The Unspoken Architecture of Being Unstuck
    Oct 16 2025
    In this episode, we explore the realm of being stuck and examine the three main types. The ideas are primarily inspired by the insightful work of author and NYU Stern School of Business marketing professor Adam Alter: “Anatomy of a Breakthrough.” You might think that if you're stuck—whether professionally, in relationships, or in a personal project—it's a sign of a character flaw or a lack of motivation. You might believe in the Myth of Unbroken Progress—the false idea that successful people move effortlessly from ambition to achievement. We will analyze the practical structure of inertia, giving you the tools to identify your problem accurately. If you’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start creating a clear plan for taking action, stay with me.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    11 mins
  • The Architect of a Meaningful Life

    The Architect of a Meaningful Life
    Sep 30 2025
    In this episode, we explore the profound question, “How Will You Measure Your Life?”
    Drawing on the frameworks of late strategist Clayton M. Christensen, this episode looks beyond traditional business metrics and into personal fulfillment and the art of creating an enduring meaningful life.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    8 mins
  • Like, OMG! The Secret Life of a Misunderstood Word

    Like, OMG! The Secret Life of a Misunderstood Word
    Sep 25 2025
    in this episode, I take a deep dive into the word that often gets a bad rap. The word “like”. I’ll explore the word’s linguistic journey, examine the perspective of Noah Webster (the dictionary guy), and share the work of Anne Curzan, author and linguist.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    10 mins
  • Reinvention Mindset - A Guide from Attia and Khazan

    Reinvention Mindset - A Guide from Attia and Khazan
    Sep 23 2025
    In this episode of Catalyst,
    I dive into the philosophical and practical aspects of personal growth. I explore the idea of “unbecoming” by synthesizing the work of Dr. Peter Attia and author Olga Khazan, offering a powerful, two-part strategy for self-reinvention. In this episode you will learn how to combine an internal shift in perspective with deliberate, outward behavior to become the person you were always meant to be.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    12 mins
  • Being Versus Doing

    Being Versus Doing
    Sep 22 2025
    In this episode, we’re exploring the transformative power of shifting from a mindset of doing to a practice of being. Drawing on insights from Dr. Peter Attia, we discussed how mindfulness and conscious, value driven actions can help us overcome suffering rooted in our own thoughts. We’ll explore the idea that true fulfillment isn’t about what we accomplish, but about shedding what we are not, to reveal who we are meant to be.

    If this conversation helped you think, pause, or grow — share it forward.
    You’re listening to Catalyst: A Podcast of Thought, with Greg Schnagl.
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    8 mins