A friend asked me what I thought my superpower was.

I think mine is the ability to make people feel comfortable.

A big part of our podcast is having open and vulnerable conversations with some of the best athletes in the world. We try really hard to make them feel comfortable, seen, and valued and that allows for a beautiful, open, and sometimes really vulnerable conversation.

In this one, I break down the six things I've learned about making people feel comfortable:
Slow down when you first meet someone
Remembering someone's name is the best compliment you can give them
Become genuinely interested in other people
Give specific compliments
Physical touch
Smile

Follow us on Instagram:@keeganandcompanypodcast

A friend asked me what I thought my superpower was.
I think mine is the ability to make people feel comfortable.
A big part of our podcast is having open and vulnerable conversations with some of the best athletes in the world. We try really hard to make them feel comfortable, seen, and valued and that allows for a beautiful, open, and sometimes really vulnerable conversation.
In this one, I break down the six things I've learned about making people feel comfortable:
<ol>
<li>Slow down when you first meet someone</li>
<li>Remembering someone's name is the best compliment you can give them</li>
<li>Become genuinely interested in other people</li>
<li>Give specific compliments</li>
<li>Physical touch</li>
<li>Smile</li>
</ol>
Follow us on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganandcompanypodcast/">@keeganandcompanypodcast</a>

Ever wondered what drives the world’s top athletes beyond the scoreboard?

Former professional NRL player Keegan Hipgrave uncovers the untold truths about mental health, resilience, and redefining success - one candid conversation at a time.

Ever wondered what drives the world&rsquo;s top athletes beyond the scoreboard?
Former professional NRL player Keegan Hipgrave uncovers the untold truths about mental health, resilience, and redefining success - one candid conversation at a time.

Keegan and Company

How to Help People Feel Comfortable | Episode 179

What if smiling could actually change how you experience pain?

In this episode, Keegan reflects on the contrast between the Tokyo Marathon, one of his toughest races and the London Marathon, where he PB’d and had one of his best performances ever. The difference wasn’t just physical… it was how he experienced the race.

Article: Jazlyn H. Luu, Amanda M. Acevedo, Vida Pourmand & Sarah D. Pressman (2026) The power of smiles: mitigating pain through facial expression, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 21:2, 321-330, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2025.2462231
Lower heart rate
Regulate stress
Improve emotional recovery after pain

Importantly - it doesn’t reduce the pain itself, but it changes your response to it.

We break down the science, the psychology, and how something as simple as a smile can shift your performance and mindset in high-pressure moments.

Tokyo Marathon Recap

London Marathon Recap

 

What if smiling could actually change how you experience pain?
In this episode, Keegan reflects on the contrast between the Tokyo Marathon, one of his toughest races and the London Marathon, where he PB&rsquo;d and had one of his best performances ever. The difference wasn&rsquo;t just physical&hellip; it was how he experienced the race.
Article: Jazlyn H. Luu, Amanda M. Acevedo, Vida Pourmand &amp; Sarah D. Pressman (2026) The power of smiles: mitigating pain through facial expression, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 21:2, 321-330, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2025.2462231
<ul data-start="584" data-end="666">
<li data-section-id="1ycm4zn" data-start="584" data-end="604">Lower heart rate</li>
<li data-section-id="1uxdjoh" data-start="605" data-end="624">Regulate stress</li>
<li data-section-id="1uneh11" data-start="625" data-end="666">Improve emotional recovery after pain</li>
</ul>
Importantly - it doesn&rsquo;t reduce the pain itself, but it changes your response to it.
We break down the science, the psychology, and how something as simple as a smile can shift your performance and mindset in high-pressure moments.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8OexbhcfJ8">Tokyo Marathon Recap</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuoDc0CNSR8">London Marathon Recap</a>
&nbsp;

The Psychology of Smiling Through Pain | Episode 181

Michael Hooper played 125 tests for the Wallabies, captained Australia across three World Cup campaigns, and walked away from the game at 32. In this episode, we discuss what happens when the thing you built your whole life around stops.

We got into the mental health side of professional rugby, the overthinking that fuelled his preparation but nearly pulled him under during a tour in Argentina in 2022, where everything unraveled in 48 hours and he made the call to fly home mid-series. We talked about what it's like to be a captain telling your team you need to step away, and how he came back months later and played some of the best rugby of his career.

We also went deep on fatherhood, how having kids changed his relationship with the game, the guilt of chasing personal ambitions while wanting to be present, and the selfishness required to compete at the highest level. As someone about to become a dad, this one hit different for me.

Hoops also shared the three attributes he's seen cross over from elite sport to corporate life, what Ben Crowe taught him about playfulness under pressure, and what he'd tell his 18-year-old self if he could go back.



CONNECT

Michael Hooper Instagram: @michaelhooper

Keegan & Company Instagram: @keeganandcompanypodcast

Michael Hooper played 125 tests for the Wallabies, captained Australia across three World Cup campaigns, and walked away from the game at 32. In this episode, we discuss&nbsp;what happens when the thing you built your whole life around stops.
We got into the mental health side of professional rugby, the overthinking that fuelled his preparation but nearly pulled him under during a tour in Argentina in 2022, where everything unraveled in 48 hours and he made the call to fly home mid-series. We talked about what it's like to be a captain telling your team you need to step away, and how he came back months later and played some of the best rugby of his career.
We also went deep on fatherhood, how having kids changed his relationship with the game, the guilt of chasing personal ambitions while wanting to be present, and the selfishness required to compete at the highest level. As someone about to become a dad, this one hit different for me.
Hoops also shared the three attributes he's seen cross over from elite sport to corporate life, what Ben Crowe taught him about playfulness under pressure, and what he'd tell his 18-year-old self if he could go back. 
CONNECT
Michael Hooper Instagram: @michaelhooper
Keegan &amp; Company Instagram: @keeganandcompanypodcast

Overthinking Nearly Broke Me. Now It's My Superpower | Wallabies Captain Michael Hooper | Episode 180

Chris and I went deep on some of the things I think a lot of people struggle to talk about, internal fulfilment, purpose, peace, and what happens when we don't have any of it.

We talked about the difference between being alone and being lonely. Two very different things. And how sitting with ourselves, actually sitting with ourselves, might be one of the best ways to figure out who we are and what we actually want to do with our lives.

We also explored this idea that if the price outweighs the prize, it's not worth entering the race or doing the race more sustainable. Climbing an extremely hard mountain when the view at the top isn't even good. Putting yourself through pain that doesn't have a good outcome. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away from the thing that's breaking you.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: #144 Bailey O'Brien: Building The Life You Want https://youtu.be/rPr79o9RHME

#140 Annabelle Ronnfeldt: Performance Over Aesthetics — The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything https://youtu.be/xuvPGSpkEY4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Chris and I went deep on some of the things I think a lot of people struggle to talk about, internal fulfilment, purpose, peace, and what happens when we don't have any of it.
We talked about the difference between being alone and being lonely. Two very different things. And how sitting with ourselves, actually sitting with ourselves, might be one of the best ways to figure out who we are and what we actually want to do with our lives.
We also explored this idea that if the price outweighs the prize, it's not worth entering the race or doing the race more sustainable. Climbing an extremely hard mountain when the view at the top isn't even good. Putting yourself through pain that doesn't have a good outcome. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away from the thing that's breaking you.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: #144 Bailey O'Brien: Building The Life You Want <a href="https://youtu.be/rPr79o9RHME">https://youtu.be/rPr79o9RHME</a>
#140 Annabelle Ronnfeldt: Performance Over Aesthetics &mdash; The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/xuvPGSpkEY4">https://youtu.be/xuvPGSpkEY4</a>
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

How to Help People Feel Comfortable | Episode 179

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