The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast

Dwayne Kerrigan sits down with world-class endurance athlete, firefighter, nonprofit founder, and keynote speaker Robyn Benincasa to unpack what truly separates great teams from the rest.
Drawing from decades of extreme adventure racing, Robyn shares how elite teams win not by being the most talented, but by being the most committed to each other. She introduces her powerful TEAMWORK framework, revealing why total commitment, empathy, adversity management, mutual respect, and relinquishing ego are the real competitive advantages—whether you’re racing through jungles or leading a modern organization.
Through unforgettable stories—including hallucinations after days without sleep, tying boats together to beat world champions, and redefining leadership mid-race—Robyn shows how purpose, preparation, creativity, and shared ownership create cultures that don’t just survive pressure… they win because of it.
This episode is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and building teams that operate as one heart, one mind, especially when the stakes are high and the path forward is uncertain.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 – Robyn opens with the defining trait of elite teammates: leaving ego at the start line.
01:00 – Dwayne formally introduces Robyn and outlines her extraordinary background.
03:00 – Robyn shares discovering kayaking after hip surgery and focusing on what she could do.
06:30 – Why progress toward a meaningful goal is what makes humans feel alive.
10:30 – Competing to explore personal limits rather than seeking validation or approval.
14:00 – Why great teams care more about each other than themselves.
18:00 – How Robyn accidentally became a speaker after Fast Company’s “Extreme Teamwork”
21:30 – The importance of leaving ego behind and accepting help to win as a team.
25:30 – The “Steve Gurney Missile” story and choosing to race to win instead of not lose.
30:00 – Creativity, calculated risk, and living in your strengths under pressure.
34:30 – Relinquishing ego, rotating leadership, and leading based on strengths—not titles.
39:00 – Hallucinations, extreme fatigue, and supporting teammates through suffering.
42:00 – Kinetic leadership and adapting leadership styles to what the team needs.
45:30 – Purpose, coaching influence, and how early mentors shaped Robyn’s drive.
50:30 – Innovation, self-awareness, and evolving by leaning into strengths.
56:00 – Finding a greater purpose in business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Winning teams prioritize commitment to each other, not individual performance.
Progress toward a meaningful goal is what makes humans feel alive.
Creativity and innovation emerge when teams operate from trust and purpose.
Leadership should rotate based on strengths, not titles or tenure.
Accepting help is not a weakness, it’s how teams move faster and farther.
Great leaders show people how amazing they are, not how amazing the leader is.


NOTABLE QUOTES:
“ I feel weird when I don't have a goal. I get my juju, I get my energy from...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Michael Grandjean shares the emotional and psychological turning point that allowed him to rebuild his life and career after profound loss. From a raw moment of self-forgiveness in the mountains of Morocco to the daily discipline of “kicking the can,” Michael walks through the mindset shifts, rituals, and relentless patience required to climb out of depression, debt, and despair.
Together with Dwayne Kerrigan, this episode explores the role of brotherhood, leverage, honest self-reflection, and creating a compelling new story when the old one no longer serves you. This is a masterclass in resilience, identity rebuilding, and what it truly takes to come back stronger — with wisdom, humility, and purpose.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Michael opens with the realization that self-forgiveness was required to move forward.
01:00 – Episode introduction and framing this as Part 2 of Michael’s comeback story.
02:00 – The Morocco mastermind trip and being forced to confront the truth.
05:00 – Emotional breakthrough on the mountain and the decision to rebuild.
07:30 – Creating the Three Ps: plan, persistence, and patience.
09:00 – “Kick the can” explained and committing to daily forward movement.
12:00 – Brotherhood, accountability, and why we’re not meant to do life alone.
16:00 – Letting go of guilt, disappointment, and the need for self-forgiveness.
20:00 – Depression, isolation, and breaking life down to “just get through today.”
24:00 – Writing the plan on a whiteboard and becoming resourceful again.
30:00 – Changing the internal story to create a compelling future.
36:00 – Writing goals again, paying off debt, and getting back to zero.
42:00 – Daily mantras, rituals, and retraining the mind.
48:00 – Shifting from hourly work to profit-based consulting and rebuilding cash flow.
01:01:00 – Final reflections, where to find Michael, and the podcast disclaimer.
Key Takeaways:
Self-forgiveness is a prerequisite for real forward movement.
Progress is built daily through patience, persistence, and simple actions.
You cannot rebuild alone - community and accountability matter.
Changing your internal story changes your future trajectory.
Rituals, mantras, and physiology are tools for rewiring the mind.

Resources Mentioned:
Checkmate: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1365025640684229
Tony Robbins – Date With Destiny
Mastermind
Personal goal-setting and written planning practices
Daily mantras and meditation rituals
Whiteboard strategic planning

Notable Quotes:
“The past is the past. The past doesn't equal the future.” - Michael Grandjean
“You have to change your story … If you’re living in a shitty story, you’re going to stay in a shitty story.” - Michael...

In this candid and powerful conversation, Michael Grandjean joins Dwayne Kerrigan to share the real story behind his rise, collapse, and rebuilding as an entrepreneur who led with heart—and paid a steep price for it.
From early service as a volunteer firefighter and Navy corpsman to building a $25M remediation company, Michael reflects on the leadership blind spots that quietly dismantled his business: avoiding confrontation, ignoring early warning signs, and letting emotion override structure and accountability.
He opens up about losing everything, the humility required to face hard truths, and the moment that changed his trajectory—the realization that even at checkmate, the king still has one more move. This episode is a raw masterclass in leadership self-awareness, responsibility, and what it truly takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.
Episode Highlights:
01:15 — Dwayne introduces Michael and some of his background
03:00 — Framing the conversation: collapse, comeback, and leadership through adversity
05:00 — Early life experiences that shaped Michael’s instinct to serve and protect others
08:00 — How learning-by-doing in the military built confidence, skill, and leadership
12:00 — The missed Naval Academy opportunity and how a single point changed his life path
16:00 — Discovering the root of his need to “fix everything” through early childhood memory
20:00 — How that identity became both a leadership strength and a business liability
24:00 — From couch-surfing to starting his first company with borrowed money
28:00 — Explosive growth: scaling from zero to $25M and building teams that drove success
35:00 — Hiring high-accountability leaders and why standards matter more than likability
42:00 — The beginning of complacency and losing focus after reaching the “top”
48:00 — Major projects fail, millions lost, and the cost of avoiding confrontation
55:00 — Hard truths: personal blind spots, delayed decisions, and leadership responsibility
01:05:00 — The emotional bottom, rebuilding identity, and the realization that “the king still has one more move”
01:20:00 — Final reflections on honesty, courage, accountability, and choosing to move forward
Key Takeaways:
Leading with heart is powerful, but without boundaries it becomes expensive.
Relationships, not brands, carry small and mid-sized businesses.
SOPs, structure, and accountability protect leaders from their blind spots.
Complacency quietly erodes even successful companies.
Leaders must be honest with themselves before they can fix anything else.
Even at your lowest point, you still have one more move.

Resources Mentioned:
Checkmate: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1365025640684229
Tony Robbins – Date With Destiny
Awaken the Giant Within (Tony Robbins)
Mastermind

Notable Quotes:
“The king still has one more move” - Michael Grandjean

Part Two of the Best Of 2025 series brings together some of the most impactful leadership, mindset, and business insights shared on The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast this year. This curated collection highlights defining moments from seasoned executives, founders, and operators who have navigated growth, failure, succession, identity shifts, and reinvention at every stage of their careers.
Across these clips, listeners hear honest reflections on making unpopular but necessary decisions, balancing intensity with elegance in leadership, evolving career horizons, and knowing when to step forward—or step aside. The episode explores entrepreneurial thinking inside both startups and large organizations, the power of conviction over persuasion, and why great leadership is rooted in process, accountability, and self-awareness rather than blame.
This Best Of episode also dives into legacy thinking: building multi-generational companies, transitioning leadership roles, redefining success beyond ego, and discovering fulfillment through contribution rather than achievement alone. From mindset and marketing to succession planning and service-driven purpose, Part Two captures the wisdom that emerges only through lived experience.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:34 - Introduction
2:53- France Margaret Bélanger
05:13 - Ron Tite
06:50 - Jason Castellan
09:54 - Karl Tabbakh
13:15 - Jeni Hott
16:26 - Swish Goswami
17:55 - Mark Bradley
19:36 - Jim Ritter
21:51 - Irfan Rajabali
24:43 - Rod Khleif
27:18 - Vaneli Martinov
31:50 - Scott Clary

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
*Conviction gives leaders the courage to act when approval is uncertain.
*Strong leaders balance intensity with elegance, standards with emotional control.
*Career growth should widen future opportunities, not narrow them.
*Identity and ego can quietly sabotage fulfillment if left unchecked.
*Sustainable success requires planning for succession long before it feels necessary.
*Authority and clarity outperform persuasion and desperation in marketing and leadership.
*Happiness comes from progress, contribution, and growth—not from hitting a single goal.

NOTABLE QUOTES:
“You should never achieve a big goal without having other goals lined up behind it” - Rod Khleif
“What gives you the courage to make those tough decisions … you have the conviction that it’s the right decision ultimately” - France Margaret Bélanger
“I see a problem, I think deeply about it, and I come up with a solution, and act on it” - Swish Goswami
“When I’m no longer being challenged as a leader, this is where I think ok, what should I be doing next?” - Karl Tabbakh
“I’ve got a solution that works and I know it’s here for them. That conviction comes through as leadership.” - Jeni Hott

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/
Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.com

Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

This Best Of episode of The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast brings together some of the most powerful, human, and perspective-shifting moments from recent conversations—highlighting the inner work that fuels resilience, fulfillment, and sustainable success.
Across these standout clips, Dwayne and his guests explore the quiet transformations that happen beneath the surface: reframing everyday frustrations into gratitude, redefining identity after loss or transition, and understanding how meaning—not circumstances—shapes our experience of life and leadership.
Listeners will hear deeply personal reflections on illness, sobriety, scarcity and abundance, self-belief, and the courage required to evolve beyond old identities. From learning to “get from” experiences instead of merely getting through them, to recognizing that progress creates happiness and balance—not extremes—creates longevity, this episode weaves together the wisdom that resonates long after the moment passes.
This Best Of collection serves as both a reminder and a reset: fulfillment isn’t waiting at a destination. It’s found in the journey, in presence, perspective, and the daily choices that shape who we become.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
0:00:32 - Introduction
03:22 - Jessica Janzen
05:52 - Master Co
09:34 - Molly Bloom
12:02 - Tod Melnyk
15:10 - Emily Williams
16:56 - Mara Dorne
19:33 - Alvin Brown
22:55 - Jaime McKenna
25:52 - Rich Diviney
29:09 - John Karpov
31:16 - Alan Stein Jr.
34:04 - Heather Moyse

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Perspective can transform frustration into gratitude.
Identity drives behavior; what you place after “I am” shapes your choices.
You are not your thoughts, emotions, or circumstances — you are the observer of them.
Growth comes from introspection and learning from experiences, not just getting through them.
Failure becomes lighter when reframed as information, not identity.
Sustainable high performance requires balance, not extremes.
The journey itself—not the destination—is where fulfillment lives.

NOTABLE QUOTES:
“We find certainty in some of the smallest things, and that certainty is what gives us purpose.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“You’re not the emotion. It was created by you.” - Master Co
“If you don’t get from an experience, you’re bound to repeat it over and over again.” - Alvin Brown
“Let go of things and trust the process” - Emily Brown
“When you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside, you perform better” - Mara Dorne

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/
Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.com
Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.