The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast

Dwayne Kerrigan

Welcome to The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast. Dwayne has navigated the business world for over 35 years, owning close to 30 businesses in 12 distinct industries. Today, entrepreneurship often seems more about glitz, glamour, and a celebrity venture. On this podcast, Dwayne collaborates with overlooked but accomplished entrepreneurs, delving into their journeys of forging exceptional enterprises. Join them as they share their personal journeys, lessons learned, and strategies that keep them moving forward. Let’s celebrate the true essence of entrepreneurship and inspire the next wave of business trailblazers.

  1. 144: Sleep Is the Currency of Attention with Dr. Breus

    4h ago

    144: Sleep Is the Currency of Attention with Dr. Breus

    Most people treat sleep like something that happens to them. Dr. Michael Breus, aka The Sleep Doctor, treats it like a system — one that can be built, optimized, and recovered no matter how badly you've abused it. In Part 2, Dwayne and Dr. Breus move from theory into full practice: the single morning habit that regulates your entire sleep schedule, the truth about supplements and peptides, and why a 78-year-old entrepreneur taking four different drugs to get through the day became drug-free in two weeks and now more productive than his staff can handle. In this episode: The one rule that regulates your entire sleep schedule The three-15s morning routine: 15 deep breaths, 15 ounces of water, and 15 minutes of direct sunlight within 20 minutes of waking — and why vitamin D is a circadian pacemaker The supplement framework most people get completely wrong Dr. Breus's unambiguous position on peptides: lab-use-only compounds are being injected by people who have no idea what the 10 or 20-year consequences are, and the only thing he's ever found that he cannot fix without medication or intervention is physical pain and major mental health issues How Dr. Breus accidentally became The Sleep Doctor: rejected from his first-choice sports psychology program, he sold himself into a sleep track, fell in love with clinical sleep medicine, and never looked back — "You change somebody's sleep, you change their life." Discover Your Chronotype - Take The Quiz: https://sleepdoctor.com/pages/dr-breus-podcast-dwayne-kerrigan Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Sleep Boosts Everything 00:22 - Podcast Welcome 01:24 - Wake Time Consistency 01:41 - Melatonin Timer Explained 03:12 - Minimum Sleep Safety 04:54 - Sleep Quality For Performance 06:41 - Exercise And Cooling Hacks 10:53 - Home Sleep Testing 14:51 - Sauna Timing And Cold Plunge 19:06 - Blue Light and Screen Stimulus 22:05 - Morning Sun Routine 23:51 - Supplements vs Bloodwork 27:50 - Magnesium Types And Research 30:24 - Avoid Over Supplementing 33:01 - Eight Hours Myth 34:42 - Modern Sleep Basics 35:40 - Kids and Teen Sleep 38:36 - What Good Sleep Feels Like 39:44 - Depression Meds and REM 45:29 - Entrepreneur Sleep Debt 49:39 - Peptides Sleep Shortcuts 54:36 - Sleeping Pills and Tapering 01:00:21 - Sleep Doctor Origin Story 01:04:03 - Sleep and Purpose 01:05:48 - Final Takeaways and Goodbye Resources mentioned: Take the Original Chronotype Quiz | SleepDoctor.com Sleep Doctor At Home Sleep Test (SleepDoctor.com) The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Test provides clinical-level sleep analysis from the comfort of your own bed. Using two simple sensors and a connected app, users receive personalized results reviewed by a licensed provider in under a week. Orion Sleep — mattress topper for temperature regulation Eight Sleep — mattress topper referenced as comparable product ChiliPAD — referenced as comparable cooling product Full Script — Supplement Management & Lab Testing Platform Andrew Huberman — referenced in context of the apigenin/magnesium threonate sleep stack Dan Sullivan / Strategic Coach — case study referenced with permission Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece — referenced in context of sauna/cold plunge performance camp Quotes: “ Everything you do, you do better with a good night's sleep. Everything. There's not a single biological function that you don't do better when you sleep.” - Dr. Michael Breus “ 25% of the people that show up on my doorstep, I have them go do blood work. As soon as we fix the deficiencies, they're done. They're gone. They don't need anything. But here's the funny part. Nobody has a deficiency in ashwagandha, right? Nobody has a deficiency in passionflower, right? Nobody.” - Dr. Michael Breus “ God's delays are not God's denials. You know, you thought you wanted to be this, and you were pursuing this expectation or this hope or this dream, but then what you really found was your true purpose.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “Wake up at the same time seven days a week. Notice I didn't say go to bed at the same time. I said wake up at the same time.” - Dr. Michael Breus “ Sleep is the currency of attention. You cannot pay attention to anything if you're not well-slept. ADD, ADHD gets worse when you're not well-slept. You can't focus. Everything depe- this is why sleep is so fundamental to life, is because it's, it literally dictates what you look at, what you focus on, and where you spend your time. It's all comes from whether or not you got a good night's rest.” - Dr. Michael Breus Dr. Michael Breus, Ph.D., is a double board-certified Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Sleep Specialist, and one of only 168 psychologists in the world to have passed the Sleep Medicine Boards without attending medical school. Known as The Sleep Doctor, he is the founder of sleepdoctor.com, was named the Top Sleep Specialist in California by Reader’s Digest, and one of the 10 most influential people in sleep, and is the author of several books including The Power of When and Sleep, Drink, Breathe: Wellness is Too Complicated. He has appeared on Oprah, CNN, The Today Show, and The Dr. Oz Show more than 40 times, and lectures globally for organizations including YPO and Tony Robbins' Unleash the Power Within. Connect with Dr. Michael Breus: YouTube: Sleep Doctor Instagram: Sleep Doctor (@thesleepdoctor) Take the Original Chronotype Quiz | SleepDoctor.com Sleep Doctor At Home Sleep Test (SleepDoctor.com) The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Test provides clinical-level sleep analysis from the comfort of your own bed. Using two simple sensors and a connected app, users receive personalized results reviewed by a licensed provider in under a week. Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    1h 10m
  2. 143: Sleep Smarter: The Science of When with Dr. Michael Breus

    Jun 10

    143: Sleep Smarter: The Science of When with Dr. Michael Breus

    You've been told to get eight hours of sleep your whole life. Dr. Michael Breus — The Sleep Doctor — says that's not only wrong, it may be making things worse. In this conversation with Dwayne Kerrigan, one of the world's foremost sleep specialists breaks down the science of when to sleep, when to drink caffeine, when to workout, and why most people's sleep problems aren't about how much they sleep — they're about when. In this episode: The four chronotypes — Lion, Bear, Wolf, and Dolphin — and why knowing yours could reduce your total sleep while dramatically improving quality; plus why 55% of the population are Bears, and what that means for your nine-to-five schedule The 90-minute caffeine rule: how adrenaline and cortisol make caffeine useless for the first 90 minutes after waking, and when to stop caffeine entirely to protect your sleep The biology of the 1:00–3:00 AM wake-up: every human on Earth wakes up in this window due to a cortisol spike — and Dr. Breus's four-step protocol for getting back to sleep, including the four-seven-eight breathing technique developed by Dr. Andrew Weil for Navy snipers Why alcohol destroys Stage 3 and 4 deep sleep — the physical restoration stage where the brain's glymphatic system flushes beta amyloid and tau proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease — and the exact wine-with-dinner timing strategy that lets you drink without wrecking your sleep Sleep tracking devices: why none of them are accurate for measuring sleep stages, why rings outperform wristbands, why you should only review your tracker data once a week, and how to use trend analysis rather than nightly numbers Dr. Breus's personal disclosure: he has moderate obstructive sleep apnea and stops breathing 26 times an hour — and why he wants every listener to stop avoiding sleep testing out of fear Discover Your Chronotype - Take The Quiz: https://sleepdoctor.com/pages/dr-breus-podcast-dwayne-kerrigan Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Entrepreneurs Sleep Differently 00:33 - Welcome and Guest Introduction 01:06 - Tony Robbins Connection 03:17 - Meet Dr Michael Breus 05:05 - Middle of Night Awakenings 07:40 - Understanding Chronotypes 11:31 - The Lion Chronotype 12:47 - The Bear Chronotype 13:18 - The Wolf Chronotype 14:23 - The Dolphin Chronotype 18:07 - Bad Sleep Habits 20:39 - Morning Workouts and Cortisol 22:27 - Perfect Time for Sex 25:20 - Understanding Cortisol 26:37 - Why We Wake at 3AM 28:57 - Don't Go Pee 30:52 - Don't Look at the Clock 31:43 - Four Seven Eight Breathing 34:59 - Getting Out of Bed 36:28 - Stay Positive 38:06 - Breathing Technique Recap 38:51 - Breathing Techniques Really Work 42:50 - Alcohol and Sleep Quality 46:47 - Caffeine Timing Guidelines 49:49 - Cannabis and Sleep 51:39 - Understanding Sleep Stages 54:29 - Sleep Cycles Explained 56:11 - Sleep Tracking Devices 01:00:08 - Choosing the Right Tracker 01:04:18 - Heart Rate Variability 01:07:17 - Quality Over Quantity 01:08:46 - Sleep Apnea and Testing 01:12:12 - Finding Your Sleep Need 01:12:36 - Closing Thoughts and Stay Tuned for Part 2 Resources mentioned: Several of Dr. Michael Breus’ books – The Power of When, Energize!, The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan, Good Night, and Sleep, Drink, Breathe Four-seven-eight breathing technique — developed by Dr. Andrew Weil Muse headband — brainwave monitoring headband for sleep and meditation Oura Ring — sleep tracking ring Whoop Strap — activity and sleep tracker Apple Watch — sleep tracking The Happy Ring from Happy Sleep — FDA-approved ring for sleep studies Tony Robbins’s book Unleash the Power Within Quotes: “Eight hours is a myth, man. So many people try to force themselves to get... The math doesn't even work. Like, the right number of cycles doesn't even end up at eight hours.” - Dr. Michael Breus “ I really, honestly, legitimately feel like I've dumbed myself down a little bit when it comes to, when it comes to my, like, abuse of sleep over the years.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “To be clear, dude, you are your best doctor. When you wake up in the morning, if you feel good, you feel good. Like, you slept well.” - Dr. Michael Breus “ The first liquid that crosses your lips every morning should not, I repeat, not be caffeinated.” - Dr. Michael Breus “ Stop thinking about hours. This is a quality game, not a quantity game. If you get six and a half hours of good quality sleep- As a sleep doctor, I am much more interested than if you get eight hours of crappy sleep.” - Dr. Michael Breus Dr. Michael Breus, Ph.D., is a double board-certified Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Sleep Specialist, and one of only 168 psychologists in the world to have passed the Sleep Medicine Boards without attending medical school. Known as The Sleep Doctor, he is the founder of sleepdoctor.com, was named the Top Sleep Specialist in California by Reader’s Digest, and one of the 10 most influential people in sleep. He is the author of several books including The Power of When and Sleep, Drink, Breathe: Wellness is Too Complicated, and has appeared on Oprah, CNN, The Today Show, and The Dr. Oz Show more than 40 times, and lectures globally for organizations including YPO and Tony Robbins' Unleash the Power Within. Connect with Dr. Michael Breus: YouTube: Sleep Doctor Instagram: Sleep Doctor (@thesleepdoctor) Take the Original Chronotype Quiz | SleepDoctor.com Sleep Doctor At Home Sleep Test (SleepDoctor.com) The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Test provides clinical-level sleep analysis from the comfort of your own bed. Using two simple sensors and a connected app, users receive personalized results reviewed by a licensed provider in under a week. Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    1h 14m
  3. 142: Don't Mistake Being Busy for Being Productive

    Jun 3

    142: Don't Mistake Being Busy for Being Productive

    Nobody jumps out of bed wanting to do a bad job. So why does the day fall apart by lunch? In this episode, Dwayne Kerrigan breaks down the actual mechanics of high-performance productivity — not the philosophy, not the mindset pep talk, but the specific rituals, systems, and daily habits that determine whether your week produces results or just burns time. In this episode: The Time Management Matrix — originally developed by Franklin Covey, which Dwayne taught for 35 years — and why the only quadrant that actually moves your life forward is Q2: things that are important but not urgent, including planning, training, creative thinking, and relationship buildingWhy weekly planning and solitude is the single most important hour of the week — what Dwayne looks at during that block, how he structures it, and why if you miss it consistently, everything else breaks downHow Dwayne uses a color-coded identity calendar — each role in his life assigned a color, from Chairman to Love Slave — so that every time block is set with intention, not just task completionThe AI accountability system: Dwayne sends his planned week and his actual week to an AI agent named Jarvis, who measures his efficiency against his seven-year mission and purpose — and tells him when he's gotten sucked into operationsThe 30-to-60-second rule for managing in-the-moment interruptions: handle it now if it takes under a minute, or put it on the task list immediately and review every two to three hoursWhy perfection is a fool's game — Dwayne's case for defining "good enough" before you start, launching at that standard, and building a continuous improvement process rather than waiting for perfect. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Progress Over Perfect 00:28 - Podcast Introduction 01:05 - Productivity Not Time 02:44 - Roles And Identities 03:44 - Mindset State And Why 04:56 - Strategy Culture Habits 06:47 - Health Vitality Long Game 08:32 - Vision Plan Action Framework 11:33 - Weekly Planning Solitude 16:07 - Time Management Matrix 23:18 - Plan Your Week In Practice 24:41 - Daily Planning 29:09 - Handle Interruptions Fast 30:33 - Email Tasks 34:06 - Inbox Overload Fixes 35:39 - Stop Chasing Shiny Objects 36:39 - Eat The Frog First 37:35 - Perfection Blocks Progress 38:56 - Get Resourceful Ask Help 40:09 - Break Tunnel Vision 41:29 - Identity Based Weekly Planning 43:08 - AI Accountability Feedback 45:00 - Guardrails And Honest Feedback 46:42 - Daily Execution Rituals 49:46 - Urgent Versus Important Explained 55:51 - Stop Unneeded Meetings 57:17 - Prioritize Across Roles 59:59 - Why Breaks Feel Hard 01:05:23 - Calendaring To Reduce Stress 01:09:17 - Wrap Up And Disclaimers Resources mentioned: FranklinCovey Time Matrix, Plan and software (Dwayne's current task management tool)The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — book by Stephen CoveyExactly What to Say — book by Phil Jones2 Second Lean — book by Paul AkersByron Katie’s four questions framework — "Is it true? Is it absolutely true?"Video text messaging - Todd Hartley and Paul Akers referencedWaking Up app — Sam Harris meditation appTony Robbins — six human needs framework referencedKeith Cunningham — "Progress is not only measured by yards gained, but sometimes by yards not lost" Quotes: “Don't mistake being busy for producing results” - Dwayne Kerrigan “ Lose two hours of your day out of an eight-hour day, it adds up to a 20% of your day all of a sudden disappears. Well, factor that out over the year, you've got 20% of your year that you've not been working at directing yourself to a target.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “The difference between excitement and fear is just the label that we put on it. Physically and physiologically, it's kind of the same experience in our body, but we put a label on fear versus excitement.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “ The biggest problem that we make is we let perfect get in the way of progress. We've gotta identify what is good. And I'm not saying lower your standards, but what I am saying is we can get stuck on perfection or our need for certainty, and we have what I call failure to launch syndrome.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “ We often overestimate what we can accomplish in a year and we underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade.” - Dwayne Kerrigan Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    1h 18m
  4. 141: Kyle Scheele: The Five Things Every Idea Needs

    May 27

    141: Kyle Scheele: The Five Things Every Idea Needs

    Kyle Scheele went from 17 TikTok followers to a million in 25 hours — not because he had a strategy, but because he finally stopped waiting for the right time and posted the video. In Part 2, he and Dwayne walk through the five things every idea needs to make it into the world, why AI is a sycophancy machine that will confidently tell you exactly what you want to hear, and why creativity is a team sport — and always has been. In Part 2 of this episode: The five things every idea needs — a chance, a home, a time and place, a bodyguard, and a crew — and the specific, practical way each one applies inside a business or organization Why Kyle went from 17 followers to a million on TikTok in 25 hours: a one-minute video about photoshopping his dad's tilted head in a family portrait, and the James Joyce principle that explains why the most particular stories become the most universal The chemical company story: a PhD chemist had known for years that her company's product would work perfectly in another industry — and never said anything, because no one asked Why AI is good at the "I" and the "A" of the idea cycle (inspiration and action) but can't do discovery or evolution — because those require taste, distaste, and skin in the game that no algorithm has How fear of running out of money drove Kyle's entire entrepreneurial career — and why that fear, managed well, doesn't make you play small, it makes you play smart. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Creativity Needs Others 00:32 - Podcast Intro and Setup 01:30 - Give Ideas a Chance 04:44 - Ideas Need a Home 07:20 - Systems That Invite Ideas 11:56 - Launch Now Not Perfect 13:20 - TikTok Breakthrough Story 21:06 - Protect Ideas with Bodyguards 27:23 - Ideas Need a Crew 29:25 - Creativity Needs a Crew 30:50 - Viking Funeral Origin Story 33:03 - Fear of Regret as Fuel 35:05 - Calculated Risks Over Gambling 37:08 - Strategic Projects and Social Media 42:22 - The Idea Cycle Framework 45:35 - Where AI Helps and Misses 51:08 - AI as a Tool and Its Tradeoffs 55:02 - Creativity Beyond Business 56:44 - Applying Creativity Tools to Life 01:01:10 - Final Thanks and Wrap Up Resources mentioned: Several books (for adults and childen) referenced written by Kyle, can be found here: https://kylescheele.com/Books TED Talk: How to Find a Wonderful Idea — OK Go, on creativity and discovery Vivian Maier — street photographer whose work was discovered posthumously Tony Robbins — Business Mastery referenced by Dwayne ChatGPT / AI — referenced throughout Quotes: “ I always say creativity is a team sport because life is a team sport. You are not designed to do any of this stuff on your own, and even if you did, what would be the point of it all?” - Kyle Scheele “ On my third video, I went from 17 followers to a million followers, and that changed the course of my business, my trajectory, my life. It opened so many doors for me, and that all happened off a video that I almost didn't post because I almost didn't post any of them because I was waiting for the right time and the right place. “ - Kyle Scheele “ Give everyone notebooks on your team. Just give them a pocket notebook and go, "Hey, here's the things I want you to start looking for. This week, here's a focus.” - Kyle Scheele “ The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw (quoted by Kyle Scheele) “ If you're not innovating, you're dying, and that is just the truth.” - Dwayne Kerrigan About Kyle Scheele: Kyle is an author, speaker, and creativity expert known for turning bold ideas into unforgettable results — from hosting a Viking funeral for the regrets of 21,000 people to launching the world's first fake marathon. With more than 750 keynotes delivered in all 50 states, Kyle combines humor, sharp insights, and real-world experimentation to help organizations unlock creativity and innovation at scale. He has worked with teams at Walmart, Deloitte, Fidelity, and Chick-fil-A, and his work has been featured in WIRED, The Washington Post, Fast Company, and Yahoo!. His books include We Put a Man on the Moon, How to Host a Viking Funeral, A Pizza With Everything On It, and A Sunday With Everything On It. Connect with Kyle Scheele: https://kylescheele.com/ Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    1h 3m
  5. 140: Why Every Person Is Creative with Kyle Scheele

    May 20

    140: Why Every Person Is Creative with Kyle Scheele

    Most people think creativity is something you either have or you don't — a gift, a gene, a mysterious lightning bolt that strikes a chosen few. Kyle Scheele has spent his career dismantling that belief, and in this conversation he makes the case that creativity isn't magic at all. It's problem-solving. And everyone already does it, every single day. In Part 1 of this episode: Why your brain is not a truth-seeking machine — it's a belief justification machine: give it the belief "I'm not creative" and it will spend the rest of your life finding evidence to prove you rightKyle's spontaneous ideation theory — the creativity myth he compares to the 17th century scientific belief that dirty rags and wheat kernels spontaneously generated mice, and why most people's understanding of where ideas come from is just as wrongThe coffee shop moment that defined Kyle's career: his friend Isaac told him, "most people come in here, talk about an idea, and the next time you hear about it, it's just an idea again — you come in two days later editing the footage"How Kyle went from broke high schooler selling "Osteoporosis is bad to the bone" T-shirts out of the school lunch room to getting a line into Urban Outfitters in his first year of college — and what that early experience installed in him about figuring things outWhy 70% of the time, when companies give their teams the bandwidth to explore a challenge internally, the answer is already there — it's just inside the head of someone who hasn't been asked yet (Harvard Business Review, cited on stage) Content Warning: This episode includes a brief discussion of childhood suicidal ideation. Kyle shares openly about his experience as a child feeling isolated in school and experiencing dark thoughts, before a friendship changed his perspective. The conversation is handled with care and context, but we want our listeners to be prepared. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — available 24/7 in both the US and Canada. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Creativity as Problem Solving 00:36 - Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro 03:24 - Turning Ideas Into Action 06:33 - Early Hustle T Shirt Business 11:40 - Belief Systems Block Creativity 15:27 - Ambition Versus Contentment 20:59 - No Right or Wrong in Ideas 25:06 - AI Limits and Skin in Game 26:46 - School Struggles and Finding Belonging 28:44 - It Only Takes One Person To Make An Impact 29:36 - Creative Kid Origins 30:12 - Student Council Confidence 31:45 - Baby Steps Momentum 32:15 - Window Of Possibility 33:45 - Vision Into Action 35:08 - Fuel Creativity Thrives Within Constraints 36:49 - Recovering Curiosity 39:34 - Questioning Limiting Beliefs 44:15 - Everyone Is Creative 45:41 - Claiming Artist Identity 48:29 - Business Needs Crystal Clear Goals 51:12 - Creativity As Problem Solving 52:39 - Unlocking Team Innovation 57:27 - Closing Remarks and Stay Tuned For Part 2 Resources mentioned: Several books (for adults and childen) referenced written by Kyle, can be found here: https://kylescheele.com/BooksHarvard Business Review study on internal innovationHeather Moyse — Olympic athlete referenced by Dwayne re: chunking goalsSpontaneous generation theory / Francesco Redi experiments — referenced in context of the creativity mythOrbis Medicinae — Jan Baptist van Helmont, referenced in context of spontaneous generationSteve Jobs interview — paraphrased by Kyle re: everything in the world being made by people no smarter than youLeanScaper Operations Intensive — conference where Dwayne first saw Kyle speak Quotes: “ What you might consider might be right or wrong is really based on what's the possibility of it happening, and then it'll only be judged when you look back on it in history.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “ If you don't get clear on that goal, it's hard to know where to go.” - Kyle Scheele “ Creativity is just problem-solving. Every idea is the solution to some problem.” - Kyle Scheele "If it never gets any better than this, what a life. But I think it can get better than this." - Kyle Scheele About Kyle Scheele: Kyle Scheele is an author, speaker, and creativity expert known for turning bold ideas into unforgettable results — from hosting a Viking funeral for the regrets of 21,000 people to launching the world's first fake marathon. With more than 750 keynotes delivered in all 50 states, Kyle combines humor, sharp insights, and real-world experimentation to help organizations unlock creativity and innovation at scale. He has worked with teams at Walmart, Deloitte, Fidelity, and Chick-fil-A, and his work has been featured in WIRED, The Washington Post, Fast Company, and Yahoo!. His books include We Put a Man on the Moon, How to Host a Viking Funeral, A Pizza With Everything On It, and A Sunday With Everything On It. Connect with Kyle Scheele: https://kylescheele.com/ Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    1 hr
  6. 139: Passion, Purpose, and the Next Step with Kyle & Brent Pease

    May 13

    139: Passion, Purpose, and the Next Step with Kyle & Brent Pease

    In Part 2, Kyle and Brent Pease go beyond the race course and into the harder terrain — the screaming match in a New York City taxi after a broken wheelchair nearly ended their marathon, the board member who called every morning during school drop-off, and what it actually takes to build an organization that can run without you. This is where the mission meets the mechanics, and where two brothers figure out how to grow up together in public. In this episode: How Kyle and Brent built the Kyle Pease Foundation from scratch — including the nine months it took to help their very first family, the decision to race at least once a month to create visibility, and how they've grown from six events in 2013 to 64 events across 14 states last year The New York City Marathon story: the wheelchair broke mid-race, Brent spent an hour trying to fix it with help from the NYPD, and eventually told Kyle he was done — and what Kyle said back that got them across the finish line Brent's framework for hiring in a nonprofit: passion for the mission matters more than fit for the role, and for every non-disabled hire, he wants to add another employee with a disability doing real work — not stuffing envelopes The Dick Hoyt lesson — the father behind the famous push-assist duo called Brent before the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship and gave him these words of advice: "just keep pushing the pedals" How Kyle became the athlete-coach he is today: years of sitting on the sidelines, listening to adults talk, and watching his brother compete gave him an observer's precision that most coaches never develop Support the Kyle Pease Foundation Dwayne is matching donations — up to $5,000 total. Every dollar counts twice right now: 👉 Donate here: https://kyle-pease-foundation-inc.networkforgood.com/events/99987-the-dwayne-kerrigan-podcast Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Purpose Meets Passion 00:22 - Podcast Intro And Setup 01:25 - Priorities And Time Juggling 03:13 - Scaling A Mission Nonprofit 05:52 - Mentors And Running It Like Business 08:51 - Spreading The Mission Through Racing 12:42 - Measuring Impact And Growth 14:25 - Adaptive Equipment And Inclusion 19:00 - Speaking And Education Programs 21:58 - Kona Gear Innovation 24:46 - When Things Break And Tempers Flare 28:26 - Brotherhood Evolved 29:00 - Humanity in Relationships 30:44 - Keep Pushing Pedals 33:47 - Fiercely Experience It 34:12 - Hawaii Cutoff Heartbreak 35:51 - Still Growing Forward 37:33 - Family Balance and Kids 39:17 - Twin Brother Dynamics 41:16 - Parenting and Inclusion 44:43 - Kyle as Coach 49:20 - Scaling Beyond Racing 53:06 - Volunteer and Donation Match 55:51 - Closing Thanks and Disclaimers Resources mentioned: Beyond the Finish — Kyle and Brent Pease’s book The Kyle Pease Foundation — kylepeasefoundation.org TED Talk: The Way We Think About Charity Is Dead Wrong — Dan Pallotta The Hoyt family — Dick and Rick Hoyt, pioneer push-assist racing duo Field of Dreams — film referenced by Kyle and Brent Tony Robbins — referenced by Dwayne: "emotion is motion" Alvin Law — thalidomide survivor and speaker referenced by Dwayne IRONMAN World Championship, Kona, Hawaii Quotes: “ It does not have to be something that we fiercely protect. You know, it's something that we can all fiercely experience.” - Brent Pease “ I think that we're still growing. We're still evolving. When you stop growing, that's when you need to walk away from whatever you’re doing.” - Kyle Pease “It got the point where I basically just looked at him. I was like, dude, I'm done. I'm out. This isn't us. I dunno what we're doing. And Kyle said, well, you can quit, but I'm gonna finish.” - Brent Pease "These small lessons inside of our relationships that teach us about humanity — a lot of times what's missing in the world, and you guys are sharing it through stories like that, which I think is supremely powerful.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “ Because finding people who love what the mission is, like, that's more critical to me than finding the person who fits the exact role. Because if you have somebody who loves what you do and believes in it - a true believer if you will - then they're gonna be able to lean into whatever the task is and grow because they're willing to do it for the people that we serve.” - Brent Pease About Kyle and Brent Pease: Kyle Pease is a six-time IRONMAN finisher and co-founder of The Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF), born with cerebral palsy and widely regarded as one of the most compelling voices on disability inclusion in the country. Brent Pease is an endurance athlete, coach, and Executive Director of KPF, who has raced alongside Kyle in over 100 events including six IRONMAN triathlons. Together they made history as the first push-assist brother team to complete the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona in 2018, and have since helped raise well over $10 million in support of athletes with disabilities. Connect with the Kyle Pease Foundation: https://kylepeasefoundation.org/ Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan: Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    57 min
  7. 138: Brotherhood, Resilience & the Ironman with Kyle & Brent Pease

    May 6

    138: Brotherhood, Resilience & the Ironman with Kyle & Brent Pease

    Kyle and Brent Pease have completed more than 100 races together — including two IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii — and in 2024 they broke the push-assist course record with a finish time of 14 hours, 8 minutes, and 3 seconds. Kyle, born with cerebral palsy, is the coach, the motivator, and the athlete who has to be the most positive force in the world for 15 hours straight while his brother, Brent, pushes him across 140.6 miles. What looks like a sports story from the outside is something much harder to categorize: a 15-year study in resilience, gratitude, and what it actually means to show up when both of you want to quit. In Part 1 of their conversation: How Brent and Kyle broke the push-assist course record at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii — and what 15 years of racing together has taught themWhy Brent says true balance is an illusion — and how he and Kyle define "all in" as the real unit of energy management, shifting fully between Ironman training, family, and the foundation depending on the season Kyle's framework for getting out of dark moments: prayer, music, visualization, and the discipline of reducing the time between a hard moment and a shift in perspective What the foundation's inclusive employment program looks like on the ground How racing together has taught both brothers to say "I'm not okay" — and why that vulnerability has become one of their greatest competitive and leadership advantages Support the Kyle Pease Foundation Dwayne is matching donations — up to $5,000 total. Every dollar counts twice right now - Donate here 👉 https://kyle-pease-foundation-inc.networkforgood.com/events/99987-the-dwayne-kerrigan-podcast Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Get Out Your Own Way 00:39 - Podcast Welcome 02:29 - Meet Kyle and Brent 04:00 - Ironman Explained 05:50 - Why They Race - Mindset 08:45 - Kyle Positivity Tools 10:12 - Show Up Anyway 13:29 - Dark Days Tools 17:34 - Brent One Step Focus 21:25 - Gratitude in the Body 24:36 - Process Over Outcome 27:44 - Kyle Coaching Brent 31:32 - Brotherhood and Empathy 34:02 - Vulnerability and Faith 41:13 - Business vs Ironman 44:26 - Closing and Subscribe Resources mentioned: Beyond the Finish — Kyle and Brent Pease's book The Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF) — kylepeasefoundation.org IRONMAN World Championship Kennesaw State University — Kyle's alma mater Florida State University — Brent's alma mater Tony Robbins — referenced by Dwayne in context of emotional states and the "figure eight" Quotes: “ Although you don't know what I go through on a daily basis, it is a struggle, right? I choose to look at my life as I get to do this, I don’t have to do this.” - Kyle Pease “ I would say the hardest thing is that real balance is an illusion. You know, people talk about balance all the time. True balance is knowing when to be all in and what to be all in on.” - Brent Pease “Ironman isn't for everybody. I mean, less than 1% of triathletes set foot on the Ironman in Hawaii. Kyle's done it twice.” - Brent Pease "I look at it as an opportunity to showcase my ability rather than my disability." - Kyle Pease “ I’ve gotten better and better over the years to say, I'm not okay. This doesn't feel good. You know, this is hard.” - Brent Pease “The mind leaves the relationship before, you know, the physical body leaves the relationship.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “ Can you get in the water and just start swimming? Can you do that much? Because you might feel better if you start.” - Brent Pease About Kyle and Brent Pease: Kyle Pease is a six-time IRONMAN finisher and co-founder of The Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF), born with cerebral palsy and widely regarded as one of the most compelling voices on disability inclusion in the country. Brent Pease is an endurance athlete, coach, and Executive Director of KPF, who has raced alongside Kyle in over 100 events including six IRONMAN triathlons. Together they made history as the first push-assist brother team to complete the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona in 2018, and have since helped raise well over $10 million in support of athletes with disabilities. Connect with the Kyle Pease Foundation: https://kylepeasefoundation.org/ Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    46 min
  8. 137: Building High Performance Teams with Dwayne Kerrigan

    Apr 29

    137: Building High Performance Teams with Dwayne Kerrigan

    What separates average teams from truly high-performing ones? In this episode, Dwayne Kerrigan breaks down the real mechanics of building high performance teams — from hiring A-players to creating a culture of accountability, coaching, and continuous improvement. Backed by real-world experience across decades in business, Dwayne walks through the systems, frameworks, and leadership mindset shifts required to build teams that don’t just function but thrive. You’ll learn why most hiring processes fail, how to identify true A-players, and why the behavior you tolerate ultimately becomes your company’s standard. Dwayne also dives deep into onboarding, coaching, culture, and the hidden psychological patterns that impact performance — including ego, storytelling, and leadership blind spots. This is not theory, this is a practical blueprint for leaders who want better results through better people. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Ego And Needs 00:39 - Podcast Introduction 01:11 - Why Teams Matter 03:03 - AI And Future Workforce 04:32 - Role Clarity First 06:17 - Interview Intensity 08:58 - Hiring Process Steps 13:58 - Scorecards And Evaluation 16:08 - Compensation And Bonuses 19:19 - Onboarding With Outcomes 22:46 - Episodic Engagement Coaching 26:12 - Culture Standards 28:53 - Measure And Document SOPs 31:19 - My Style Document 35:32 - Hunting For A Players 36:52 - Traits Of High Performers 41:52 - Culture Skill Matrix 43:19 - Developing B Players 44:52 - Coaching Low Culture Talent 46:18 - Managing C Players Fast 48:14 - Story Meaning Behavior Model 52:17 - Standards Above the Line 54:42 - Four Culture Principles 57:06 - Team Dysfunctions Breakdown 01:00:44 - Q&A Backbenching and Ego 01:09:18 - Accountability Without Morale Loss 01:14:16 - Moving Players Up the Chart 01:18:00 - Leadership Growth and Triggers 01:20:57 - Recognizing Base Hits 01:24:06 - Closing and Disclaimers Key Takeaways: The Behavior You Tolerate Becomes the StandardHiring A-Players Starts With ClarityAlways Be RecruitingOnboarding Is a Competitive AdvantageCoaching Is Not OptionalMeasure EverythingMost Team Problems Are PsychologicalA, B, and C Players Require Different Strategies Resources Mentioned: Phil Jones – Exactly What to SayRich Divinney – The AttributesPatrick Lencioni – The Five Dysfunctions of a TeamTony Robbins – Human Needs & Triad FrameworkByron Katie – Loving What IsKeith Cunningham – Business Mentorship Referenced Episodes (The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast): Phil Jones episode (sales, communication, and training insights) https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/27-exactly-what-to-say-with-phil-m-jones/Rich Divinney episode (attributes + performance under pressure) https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/16-transition-tactics-and-building-high-performance-teams-with-former-navy-seal-rich-diviney/Emma Murray episode (performance mindset + A/B game thinking) https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/61-breaking-the-b-game-loop-how-top-performers-master-their-mindset-with-emma-murray/ Also these Emma Murray episodes: https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/the-mindset-secret-to-crushing-your-b-game-with-emma-murray/ https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/127-skillset-vs-mindset-the-real-performance-equation-with-emma-murray/ https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/128-critique-over-criticism-emma-murray-on-learning-faster-under-pressure/ Quotes: “Everything we do, we do to meet our needs.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “The behavior that you allow in your presence becomes the standards.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “ Keep it simple. Stupid complexity is the enemy of execution.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they’re too heavy to be broken.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “Anything you monitor will get better.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “Progress equals fulfillment.” - Dwayne Kerrigan “Don’t adjust your standards to meet someone’s mediocrity.” - Dwayne Kerrigan Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan Facebook Instagram Linked In Website 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.

    1h 25m

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast. Dwayne has navigated the business world for over 35 years, owning close to 30 businesses in 12 distinct industries. Today, entrepreneurship often seems more about glitz, glamour, and a celebrity venture. On this podcast, Dwayne collaborates with overlooked but accomplished entrepreneurs, delving into their journeys of forging exceptional enterprises. Join them as they share their personal journeys, lessons learned, and strategies that keep them moving forward. Let’s celebrate the true essence of entrepreneurship and inspire the next wave of business trailblazers.

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