Fast & Fearless with Brendan P. Keegan

Brendan P. Keegan
  • 4.9 (7)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

Fast & Fearless with Brendan P. Keegan takes you inside the world of motorsports, where leadership, pressure, preparation, and split-second decisions can define a race, a career, or an entire team. Hosted by Brendan P. Keegan, 6-time CEO, 23-time board director, 3-time best-selling author, and recognized as one of the world’s most innovative CEOs, each episode features candid conversations with drivers, team leaders, executives, engineers, and other professionals shaping motorsports. Guests share the experiences that built their careers, the lessons learned under pressure, and the mindset it takes to perform when the stakes are high. From the track to the boardroom, Fast & Fearless explores what it takes to lead, compete, adapt, and succeed in one of the world’s most demanding industries.

  1. Sep 24

    Tommy Bolduc: Second Career, First Podium

    Tommy Bolduc didn't grow up go-karting — he grew up building a business. Today he's the founder of OptiLine, owner of six-generation Bolduc Maple Farms, and a Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver racing under the name "Rocky T. Bolduc." In this episode of the Fast and Fearless Podcast, host Brendan P. Keegan talks with Tommy about starting a race career in his mid-30s, replacing himself as CEO to chase the dream, why he treats race telemetry like a P&L statement, the split-second decision that helped him avoid a major crash at Watkins Glen, and how his family's maple syrup business ended up on the table with Lamborghini and McLaren executives. 🏁 Topics covered: - Leadership & delegation - Building a business from scratch - Data-driven decision making - Racing as a "gentleman driver" - Family legacy businesseS - Why it's never too late to chase a childhood dream Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes and let us know in the comments what motorsports topics you want to hear about next. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro — Meet Tommy Bolduc, Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver 0:57 A non-traditional path into racing 2:22 Getting invited into the Super Trofeo series 3:22 The "gentleman driver" story vs. raising a driver from childhood 4:24 Building OptiLine from nothing — bootstrapping with family 6:34 Betting on himself: 2006 to a $100M+ company 7:19 Impacting 2,000+ families across 12 states 8:09 Replacing himself as CEO to chase his racing dream 9:22 His first race at Watkins Glen (and the 10-second penalty) 13:40 Family support and the emotional rollercoaster of racing 14:28 A career-defining double-podium weekend 17:37 "Win or the passion project's over" — his wife's role 18:00 The Bolduc Family Maple Farms story (6 generations) 19:41 How his Lamborghini-branded maple syrup bottle happened 21:24 The McLaren maple syrup story with Zak Brown 23:10 Running a race team like a business — budget, ROI, and data 25:19 Why he's obsessed with telemetry data 26:16 Chasing his coach's lap time — "the perfect lap" 28:22 Losing 38 pounds for racing performance 29:00 Leadership lessons: listening, failure, humility 30:09 What leadership looks like inside the cockpit 32:00 The Watkins Glen crash — a split-second decision 34:33 How a driver gives feedback to the race team 39:21 Speed round: fearless, favorite movie, Lambo vs. McLaren, Max vs. Lando 41:24 Closing thoughts — it's never too late to chase your dream#FastAndFearless #LamborghiniSuperTrofeo #Motorsports #Leadership #Entrepreneur #GentlemanDriver

  2. Aug 27

    Marino Sato: The Split-Second Decisions That Win Races

    What does it take to make split-second decisions when another race car is approaching nearly 100 kilometers per hour faster than you? In this episode of Fast & Fearless, Brendan P. Keegan sits down with professional racing driver Marino Sato to explore the pressure, risk, teamwork, and leadership behind elite motorsports.   Marino shares how he began karting in Japan at five years old, flew between Japan and Europe while still attending school, and eventually moved to Italy to pursue a professional racing career. He opens up about competing in Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 2 before making the difficult transition into endurance racing. The conversation goes inside the cockpit to examine how drivers make decisions in traffic, adjust their risk based on the stage of a race, and protect the car for the teammate taking over the next stint. Marino also discusses the tragic Formula 2 weekend that forced drivers to confront the real danger of racing, why endurance racing requires a different mindset, and how he keeps his crew motivated when a race appears lost. Brendan and Marino explore what leadership looks like inside a race car, why mistakes must be covered as a team, and why a driver can never give up before crossing the finish line. Marino also reveals the advice he would give his five-year-old self, his favorite racetrack, the teammate who taught him the most, and what being fearless truly means. Chapters 00:00 Split-Second Decisions at Racing Speed 00:28 Meet Marino Sato 01:00 Starting Karting at Five Years Old 02:45 Flying From Japan to Race in Europe 03:50 When Racing Became a Career 05:05 Moving to Italy Before Finishing School 06:25 The Championship Season Everything Clicked 08:15 Racing With Future Formula 1 Drivers 10:25 Confronting the Real Danger of Motorsports 11:45 Moving From Formula 2 to Endurance Racing 13:00 Learning to Share a Race Car 16:10 How Racing Decisions Change by Series 17:20 Protecting the Car for Your Teammate 18:40 Managing Multi-Class Racing Traffic 19:55 Giving Honest Feedback to a Race Team 22:00 Staying Positive After a Bad Result 23:35 What Leadership Looks Like Inside the Car 26:45 What Being Fearless Really Means 29:00 Marino’s Advice for Young Drivers 30:45 Marino Sato’s Favorite Movie and Racetrack 32:00 The Best Team Boss Marino Has Worked With

  3. Mar 2

    From Exit to Impact: Shelton Mercer III on Outcomes, Legacy, and Innovation

    In this episode of The Fearless Experience, Brendan P. Keegan sits down with serial founder, speaker and humanitarian Shelton Mercer III to explore what success looks like after the headlines fade. Mercer has built, scaled, and exited multiple venture-backed companies, including the 2024 acquisition of Audigent by Experian. He shares what it took to grind through years of uncertainty, make payroll, raise capital, and build strategic partnerships long before the exit made news.  But this conversation goes beyond liquidity events. Mercer opens up about taking time to pause after success, reconnect with family, and refocus on purpose. He explains why he shifted from being a “man of action” to a leader obsessed with outcomes, and how he now convenes leaders across major cities to drive long-term economic and community impact. As an ordained minister and venture-backed founder, Mercer also discusses how faith, capital, integrity, and innovation intersect in his leadership philosophy. If you care about legacy, leadership, and building something that outlives you, this episode delivers practical wisdom on resilience, decision-making, and creating measurable impact that lasts for generations.

    From Exit to Impact: Shelton Mercer III on Outcomes, Legacy, and Innovation

  4. Feb 2

    How Ryan Stana Built the World Leader in Live Entertainment

    Brendan P. Keegan talks with Ryan Stana, Founder and CEO of RWS Global, about what it takes to build a world leader in live entertainment. Ryan shares how growing up in a small Pennsylvania town shaped his work ethic, why his grandmother’s advice grounded his leadership, and how scrappiness helped him win a six figure pitch competition at twenty one. Ryan explains how he scaled RWS through creativity, operational discipline, and a relentless focus on culture. He breaks down how his team delivers consistent execution across cruise lines, theme parks, global destinations, and large scale attractions like Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. You hear how he evaluates acquisitions, why timeliness reveals more than a balance sheet, and how passion becomes a liability without structure. Ryan also discusses burnout, personal balance, and the “one lazy day” rule that keeps him sharp. His advice for entrepreneurs is direct. Set real goals, build a time and action plan, and stay proud of where you come from. A strong episode for founders, operators, and anyone building something ambitious.

    How Ryan Stana Built the World Leader in Live Entertainment

  5. Jan 5

    Henrik Werdelin on Why AI Changes Everything for Entrepreneurs

    Henrik Werdelin joins Brendan Keegan to break down the mindset behind entrepreneurship, creativity, and leading in a time shaped by AI. Henrik is the cofounder of Bark, the founder of multiple ventures, an investor, and the author of Me, My Customer, and AI. He shares how his early career at MTV shaped his approach, why you start with a customer rather than an idea, and how founders should think about problems worth solving. You hear Henrik explain • How to choose the customer you want to serve • Why the best ideas begin with the phrase “it s*cks that…” • How relationship capital shapes your edge in the AI era • What Bark focused on instead of launching more subscription boxes • Why AI lowers the barrier for millions of new entrepreneurs • How leaders should think about exploration, failure, and creativity • Why this moment is a turning point for anyone who wants to build something new If you work in leadership, innovation, or entrepreneurship, this conversation gives you clear takeaways you can use right away.

    Henrik Werdelin on Why AI Changes Everything for Entrepreneurs

  6. 12/01/2025

    Escaping the Drift with John Gafford

    Luxury real estate entrepreneur and author John Gafford joins Brendan P. Keegan to share how he stopped drifting through life and took radical responsibility for his success. From his wild story of getting cast on The Apprentice to building Simply Vegas into one of Nevada’s top brokerages, Gafford explains why most people coast on autopilot—and how to break free. You’ll hear: • The lesson he learned from The Apprentice about value and risk. • Why “radical honesty” and clarity of goals are the foundation of growth. • How to build a one-page plan that keeps you focused and accountable. • The difference between drifting through life and living on purpose. • Why self-awareness and resilience matter more than credentials. If you’ve ever felt stuck or off-course, this episode shows how to regain control, lead with purpose, and create your own momentum.

    Escaping the Drift with John Gafford

  7. 11/03/2025

    Lead Yourself Before You Lead Others with Margaret C. Andrews

    Leadership starts with leading yourself. In this conversation, Brendan P. Keegan sits down with Margaret C. Andrews, leadership expert, Harvard instructor, and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others. Margaret shares her journey from UC Berkeley to Deloitte, to teaching at Harvard and MIT, and building the MYLO Center. She reflects on the moment a blunt performance review forced her to confront her lack of self-awareness, and how that turning point led her to decades of research and teaching on self-understanding. Margaret explains her six guiding questions for developing stronger self-awareness, why behaviors matter more than intentions, and how leaders balance empathy with accountability. The discussion covers the evolution of leadership skills, generational differences in the workplace, the lessons parenting teaches about patience and individuality, and the risks leaders face when they stop learning. Margaret also offers practical steps any listener can take this week to strengthen self-awareness and become a more effective leader. If you want to lead others with clarity, compassion, and credibility, start here.

    Lead Yourself Before You Lead Others with Margaret C. Andrews

  8. 10/06/2025

    Maarten Paes – Leading from the Back: Resilience, Heritage, and the Goalkeeper’s Mindset

    Join Brendan P. Keegan on The Fearless Experience for an inspiring conversation with Maarten Paes, starting goalkeeper for FC Dallas and the Indonesian National Team. Maarten opens up about his journey from backup to clutch performer—recalling his nerve-wracking professional debut at 19, where a last-minute substitution led to a shutout victory. He reveals how resilience shapes his leadership: embracing meditation and mental coaching to silence distractions, seizing unexpected opportunities (like his viral penalty-save debut for Indonesia), and honoring his heritage by representing his grandmother’s homeland in a heartfelt tribute just months before her passing. Discover the unique pressures of leading from the goal—where mistakes are magnified and composure is everything. Maarten shares how he energizes teams from the back, celebrates "suffering" in defense, and balances individual accolades with collective success. Through stories of mentors who grounded him after failures and his viral integration into Indonesian culture (complete with mustache-inspired song tributes!), he unpacks humility’s power—citing Ryan Holiday’s "Ego is the Enemy"—and his legacy goals: trophies, inspiring future generations, and being remembered as "a cool dude who did everything for his craft." A masterclass in mental toughness and purposeful leadership.

    Maarten Paes – Leading from the Back: Resilience, Heritage, and the Goalkeeper’s Mindset
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Fast & Fearless with Brendan P. Keegan takes you inside the world of motorsports, where leadership, pressure, preparation, and split-second decisions can define a race, a career, or an entire team. Hosted by Brendan P. Keegan, 6-time CEO, 23-time board director, 3-time best-selling author, and recognized as one of the world’s most innovative CEOs, each episode features candid conversations with drivers, team leaders, executives, engineers, and other professionals shaping motorsports. Guests share the experiences that built their careers, the lessons learned under pressure, and the mindset it takes to perform when the stakes are high. From the track to the boardroom, Fast & Fearless explores what it takes to lead, compete, adapt, and succeed in one of the world’s most demanding industries.

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