In this episode, I break down Angela Duckworth's research on why passion and perseverance matter more than natural ability... and why effort counts twice. We cover the neuroscience behind why your brain gets stronger at not giving up, the four elements of grit (interest, practice, purpose and hope), why embarrassment and fear of failure are learned behaviours, and the parable of the bricklayers that changed how I think about purpose.

📚 Based on Grit by Angela Duckworth 

🎙️ Inspired by The Mel Robbins Podcast with Angela Duckworth

 Follow us on Socials @keeganandcompanypodcast

In this episode, I break down Angela Duckworth's research on why passion and perseverance matter more than natural ability... and why effort counts twice. We cover the neuroscience behind why your brain gets stronger at not giving up, the four elements of grit (interest, practice, purpose and hope), why embarrassment and fear of failure are learned behaviours, and the parable of the bricklayers that changed how I think about purpose.
📚 Based on Grit by Angela Duckworth&nbsp;
🎙️ Inspired by The Mel Robbins Podcast with Angela Duckworth
&nbsp;Follow us on Socials <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

The Most Important Trait in High Performance | The Psychology of Grit #183

310 pounds, 30 beers a day, half a pack of cigarettes and then one moment at the New York City Marathon changed everything.

Herms watched his girlfriend cross the finish line and something broke open. The next day, he laced up and couldn't make it past a mile. One year later, he ran that same marathon on his birthday.

We delved into the eating disorders, what it actually looks like to start running when you can barely walk a block, how an addictive personality can either destroy you or completely rebuild your life, and why the trail running community became the thing that brought him back to himself.

If you've ever felt stuck, this one's gonna hit different.

New episodes weekly. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — search "Keegan & Company

Check out Herms and Keegan on socials

310 pounds, 30 beers a day, half a pack of cigarettes and then one moment at the New York City Marathon changed everything.
Herms watched his girlfriend cross the finish line and something broke open. The next day, he laced up and couldn't make it past a mile. One year later, he ran that same marathon on his birthday.
We delved into the eating disorders, what it actually looks like to start running when you can barely walk a block, how an addictive personality can either destroy you or completely rebuild your life, and why the trail running community became the thing that brought him back to himself.
If you've ever felt stuck, this one's gonna hit different.
New episodes weekly. 🎧 Listen on Spotify &amp; Apple Podcasts &mdash; search "Keegan &amp; Company
Check out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/herm.runs/">Herms</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganandcompanypodcast/">Keegan</a> on socials

Weighing 140kg & 30 Beers a day  to running Ultra Marathons | 182 Alex Hermanson

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

The Most Important Trait in High Performance | The Psychology of Grit #183

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