logo
episode-header-image
Oct 13
50m 38s

Flow State: The Competitive Advantage Yo...

Yaniv Bernstein, Chris Saad
About this episode

What if your best work came from finding your flow, rather than simply grinding harder? In the age of constant distraction, many founders mistake busyness for progress, chasing notifications, meetings, and multitasking without realizing that true innovation happens when the mind is deeply focused.


Today, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Steven Puri, former DreamWorks executive and founder of The Sukha, to unpack the science of flow state and why mastering it may be the ultimate founder advantage. From Hollywood film production to startup leadership, Steven shares how high performers sustain creativity and energy by designing their environments, schedules, and team cultures around deep work.


They explore how to use neuroscience, rhythm, and intentional structure to unlock focus, eliminate context switching, and help your team reach peak performance without burnout.


In this episode, you will:

  • Understand flow state, and how it fuels both productivity and creativity
  • Identify common barriers preventing founders from achieving deep focus
  • Learn how to structure your day around your natural chronotype for maximum energy
  • Implement practical tools and mental environments that enable sustained concentration
  • Explore how to build company cultures that protect “maker time” and empower deep work across teams
  • Adopt sustainable rhythms that increase output while avoiding founder burnout


Find Steven on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puri

Learn more about Sukha: https://www.thesukha.co


The Pact 

Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

  • Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app
  • Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe 
  • Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  
  • Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg 
  • Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following


Key links

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A 

The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/


Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/


Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/


Up next
Nov 13
Insiders React: Reviewing Our Tech Predictions From January 2025
Were we wildly wrong, or surprisingly on the money? As 2025 wraps, Chris and Yaniv revisit the bold predictions they made at the start of the year. They reflect on their calls about AI, robotics, VC markets, crypto, and geopolitics. While some were accurate, some were also hilari ... Show More
40m 22s
Nov 6
Insiders React: Is OpenAI Evil? Reacting to Sam Altman's Latest Announcements w/ Jacob Ward
OpenAI may appear to be building the future, but are they leading the tech industry towards collapse?In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Jacob Ward (journalist, author of The Loop and NBC Technology Correspondent) to break down OpenAI’s latest livestream and what it si ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 3
Replay: Engaging Young Employees - How to Attract the Best & Brightest Minds w/ Dan Brockwell from Earlywork
What do you need to do to keep employees engaged and committed? What should your position be on remote work? Side hustles? Ping pong tables? Should you offer all employees equity?Bringing Gen Z employees to your workplace is well worth it, but it means a mental pivot from the hir ... Show More
44m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
When Scaling Your Start-Up, Don’t Lose What Makes It Special
So, you’ve successfully scaled your start-up and you’re growing into a mature company. What, if anything, should you retain from those early days? Harvard Business School professor Ranjay Gulati says the most successful organizations have one thing in common: a soul. “Soul” goes ... Show More
26m 57s
May 2025
363. AMMA — How to Master Decision-Making Like a Pro
What separates elite leaders from those who never break through? It’s not motivation or even talent — it’s the discipline to stay focused, make decisions when it’s uncomfortable, and build habits that align with who you want to become. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorne ... Show More
27m 10s
Aug 14
Elevate Your Success
Welcome to Accelerate Your Business Growth. In this episode, Diane Helbig sits down with Curtis McCollum—mindset coach and host of The Curtis McCollum Show—to explore how entrepreneurs and business leaders can identify and break through subconscious blocks that may be limiting th ... Show More
16m 19s
Feb 2025
#65 How to Position Yourself for Massive SUCCESS in 2025 with Maha Abouelenein
Maha Abouelenin has built the personal brands of giants—working with Gary Vee, Google, Netflix, and the biggest names in business. As one of the most influential voices in global PR, she knows exactly how to turn stories into impact and opportunities into success.In this episode, ... Show More
47m 40s
Feb 2025
The Brutal TRUTH About Why You’re Not Winning on Social Media | Tea with GaryVee Ep. 65
<p>🎙️<strong>How to Market Yourself in 2025 (No More Excuses)</strong></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>🚀 The world is wide open—so why do so many entrepreneurs still limit themselves?</strong> Whether you’re a real estate agent, a content creator, or building a product-based brand, ... Show More
23m 35s
Sep 18
E108 - Disappear (This Winter) If You Want To Improve Your Life | Dan Koe | Dan Koe
» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Dan Koe has built a reputation around deep thin ... Show More
1h 12m
Jul 2025
Leadership Isn’t About Doing Everything | Ep 366
We want to hear from you. If you're open to a quick chat with our producer or any of the other options, it only takes a few seconds to sign up: https://forms.gle/Enzzpq5FCVQKbHV9A Ever feel like you're doing your team's work for them? In this episode, Chris Do reveals the powerfu ... Show More
4m 57s
Sep 17
Podcast Playbook (Part 11): Mastering the Mindset — Final Tips to Stay Consistent and Thrive
In Episode 273, we bring the Podcast Playbook to a close with Part 11: Mastering the Mindset — Final Tips to Stay Consistent and Thrive. This final chapter shifts the focus from tools and strategies to the mental game required to keep your podcast alive long term. We explore why ... Show More
35m 27s
Oct 14
How to Start a $1M Business Using Only AI
Get Greg's AI Million Dollar Idea Generator prompt: https://clickhubspot.com/kgj Ep. 370 Is making a million dollars with AI really that easy? Kipp, Kieran, and Greg Isenberg, Co-founder of Ideabrowser and host of The Startup Ideas Podcast, dive into Greg’s proven frameworks and ... Show More
45m 21s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami