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

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Key links

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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/

Flow State: The Competitive Advantage You Need, And How To Harness It w/ Film Producer & Founder, Steven Puri

The Startup Podcast