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 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

Timestamps
00:00 Coming Up
00:45 On Today's Show
02:38 What is Flow State?
06:29 Flow and Vibe Coding
08:36 Context Switching and Its Effects
14:24 Creating a Culture for Flow
18:16 Protecting Your Flow State
24:40 Educating Your Team (Or Your Boss)
25:53 Physical Space and Mental Association
26:09 Writing Processes: Independence Day
27:41 Kurtzman, Orci and The Importance of Place
29:16 Remote Work and Productivity Challenges
29:51 Creating a Productive Home Office
33:08 Prioritization and Flow State for Founders
40:01 The Role of Music in Achieving Flow
46:29 Balancing Hard Work and Smart Work
48:48 Closing Thoughts

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Key links
Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A
The Startup Podcast website: www.tsp.show/episodes/

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv
Work 1:1 with Chris: chrissaad.com/advisory/
Follow Chris on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/
Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur
Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang web-strategist.com/


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