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 them
- Why 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
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.