The Fearless Experience

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...

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 creativ...

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 a...

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 learn...

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 h...

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: emb...

From Hockey to Private Equity: Andrew Braithwaite’s Playbook for Fearless Leadership & Long-Term Success Brendan P. Keegan sits down with Andrew Braithwaite, Managing Director at Cynosure Group, to unpack his remarkable journey from NHL prospect to influential private equity leader. Andrew shares candid insights on navigating a non-traditional path, beginning at a non-target school and leverag...

In this inspiring episode of The Fearless Experience, Brendan P. Keegan speaks with Dr. David Rosenberg, one of the world’s leading facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons—and an acclaimed abstract artist. Dr. Rosenberg shares the personal story that sparked his passion for medicine, the long and winding road of surgical training, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that propelled him to t...

Join Brendan P. Keegan on The Fearless Experience as he sits down with Adam Norris—serial entrepreneur, founder of Pure Electric (one of the world’s fastest-growing e-scooter brands), and visionary investor behind Horatio Investments. In this candid conversation, Adam shares his journey from growing up on a rural farm with undiagnosed dyslexia to becoming a titan of industry, driven by relentless...

Brendan P. Keegan chats with Eric Price, Managing Director and Head of US Capital Markets at CIBC, for a candid and inspiring conversation about resilience, networking, and leadership in the financial services industry. Eric shares his unconventional journey into finance, from receiving his first stock certificate as a Bar Mitzvah gift to cold-calling his way into Wall Street with relentless deter...

In this episode of The Fearless Experience, Brendan P. Keegan sits down with George Mattson, CEO of Wheels Up, a leading global private aviation provider. With over 25 years of leadership experience—from IBM and Goldman Sachs to his current role—George shares invaluable insights on career pivots, fearless leadership, and the power of continuous learning. George reflects on his unconventional journ...

In this episode of The Fearless Experience, Brendan P. Keegan welcomes Richard Dean, CEO and Team Principal of United Autosports, to explore the intersection of motorsport, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Richard shares his journey from growing up at racetracks as the son of a racing enthusiast to becoming a 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning driver and co-founding a globally successful motorsport team...

In this episode of Fearless Leadership, Brendan is joined by British racing phenom Phil Hanson, who, at just 24 years old, has already etched his name into the history books by becoming the youngest British driver to ever win the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Despite his youth, Philip is a veteran of over 50 professional races and quickly established himself as one of endurance racing's brighte...

This week's Fearless Leader is Marc Polymeropoulos, one of the most decorated CIA officers of the modern era. With a 26-year career in public service, Marc shares leadership lessons gleaned from managing high-stakes crises around the world. Marc takes us behind the curtain of the secretive CIA, from tracking Osama bin Laden in the 1990s to thwarting terrorist attacks today. He recounts the shockin...

This week on Fearless Leadership, Brendan is joined by elite performance experts Dr. Eric Potterat and Alan Eagle, co-authors of the new book Learned Excellence: Mental Disciplines for Leading and Winning from the World’s Top Performers. Drawing on their decades of experience training top business executives, athletes, and Special Forces operators, Eric and Alan reveal the cognitive skills and men...

Join us this week on Fearless Leadership as we welcome the incredible Sasha DiGiulian. At just 30 years old, Sasha has cemented herself as the most accomplished female rock climber in the world. She's traveled to over 50 countries and completed over 30 first ascents, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the sport. Beyond her jaw-dropping climbs, Sasha is also a phenomenal role model. She's...

Leaping into leadership is no easy feat. It requires ambition, skill, and the courage to take risks. This week on Fearless Leadership, Brendan P. Keegan sits down with Adam Bryant, author of The Leap to Leader and senior managing director at The ExCo Group. With decades of experience interviewing top executives, Bryant has unique insights into what it takes to make the transition from manager to l...

Are you ready to rev up your leadership skills? This week Brendan has the honor of speaking with Emma Gilmour, a true trailblazer, and an inspirational figure in the world of motorsport. Emma is one of the world’s top female rally drivers, the first-ever female driver to be signed by McLaren Racing, and the first Kiwi to get a full season drive in the offroad race series, Extreme E. She’s also an...

Brendan welcomes Fearless Leader, Alan Stein, Jr. to the podcast. Alan is a former basketball coach who has learned from and trained some of the most elite athletes on the planet. He is now a renowned speaker and author who teaches leaders and teams how to elevate their game in business and life. He is the founder of Raise Your Game, a company that offers keynote speeches, workshops, and online co...

On the latest episode of Fearless Leadership, Brendan is joined by a truly inspiring guest who has revolutionized the way we think about leadership and negotiation. Ellen Leikind, the founder of PokerDivas, has a unique approach to teaching these critical skills that draw upon the fundamental principles and strategies of poker. Ellen's work has had a tremendous impact on organizations across a wid...

The Fearless Leadership Podcast brings you inspiring stories of leaders who have overcome challenges and achieved tremendous success in their fields. This week, Brendan is thrilled to welcome Adam Contos, the former CEO of RE/MAX and author of the best-selling book, “Start with a Win”. Adam's journey to success is not your typical one. His self-discipline and work ethic were instilled in him durin...

In this episode of Fearless Leadership, Brendan chats with Chad Gundersen, a co-owner of Out of Order Studios, a production company that specializes in faith-based films and shows. Chad shares his journey from a small-town kid in Texas to a successful Hollywood producer, and how he overcame the challenges and risks of making movies with a spiritual message. He also reveals the secrets behind his g...

In this episode, Brendan sits down with the Fearless Leader, Jeanine Charlton, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology & Digital Officer at Merchants Fleet. Jeanine is a trailblazer, hailed as one of the most influential women in technology, with a wealth of leadership experience in the automotive, transportation, supply chain & manufacturing sectors. She recounts her journey from a M...

This week, Brendan is joined by two young fearless leaders, Brian Cameron and Sean Cameron. Last spring, the two brothers from Bedford, New Hampshire competed in the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four, Brian played attack for Rutgers and Sean played midfield for Princeton. Unfortunately, neither of the brothers won the title, but they both have an amazing story to tell. On the podcast, Brian and Sean talk a...

Brendan is joined by Fearless Leader, Jenn Lim, the bestselling author of Beyond Happiness: How Authentic Leaders Prioritize Purpose and People for Growth and Impact. Jen is also the CEO of Delivering Happiness, a company built to create happier company cultures for a more profitable and sustainable approach to business. During the conversation, Jenn shares the fearless decisions she's made during...