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In Search Of Excellence

In Search Of Excellence

By: Randall Kaplan
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We all have dreams of being successful and achieving excellence in our lives. But we inevitably experience resistance, challenges, and obstacles in the pursuit of our dreams. In Search of Excellence provides us with the inspiration we need to overcome these obstacles and accomplish our goals. In Search of Excellence takes us through the stories, routes, and strategies of people from hundreds of different backgrounds who have achieved excellence in both their professional and personal lives. Guest features include Sharon Stone, Kevin O'Leary, Sammy Hagar, Lara Logan, Sam Zell, and many more.

© 2026 In Search of Excellence Podcast Career Success Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Owen Hanson: From Cocaine Kingpin to Prison Redemption | E190

    Owen Hanson: From Cocaine Kingpin to Prison Redemption | E190
    Jun 18 2026
    Owen Hanson went from USC athlete to international cocaine kingpin, Sinaloa cartel associate, and federal inmate serving a 21-year sentence — but his story did not end in prison. In this raw conversation with Randall Kaplan, Owen reveals how he survived addiction, cartel violence, prison PTSD, betrayal, and rock bottom before rebuilding his life through discipline, redemption, and entrepreneurship.Owen Hanson’s story is one of the most shocking and intense redemption stories ever told on In Search of Excellence. Known as “The Cocaine Quarterback,” Owen opens up about the decisions that led him from college athletics and gambling into the world of drug trafficking, his connection to the Sinaloa cartel, and the terrifying consequences of crossing into that life.Randall Kaplan digs deep into the moments most interviews miss: the role of relationships and connections, the work ethic that fueled Owen’s rise, the addiction that nearly killed him, and the prison sentence that ultimately saved his life.Owen also shares what life was really like inside a federal prison — from withdrawal and six-by-eight cells to loyalty, PTSD, survival rules, and the entrepreneurial instincts that helped him build a protein ice cream business behind bars. What started with a frozen protein shake became “King Pin Creamery,” a prison-side hustle that revealed the same business instincts Owen now wants to use legally.This episode also explores Owen’s second chance: his legal break through a Rule 35 motion, the corrupt attorney case that helped reduce his sentence, his work today speaking to athletes and at-risk youth, and his mission to prevent others from making the same mistakes.Timestamps00:00 - The cartel moment Owen says he will never forget01:00 - Why USC’s network changed the direction of his life03:08 - The work ethic behind becoming one of America’s biggest cocaine dealers04:19 - Why Owen says prison may have saved him from dying05:28 - The prison “dance” every inmate has to learn fast06:47 - The loyalty question Owen still refuses to compromise on12:21 - The day Owen considered ending his life14:15 - How a frozen protein shake became a prison business empire19:01 - The prison handshake deal that created a salt monopoly23:01 - The sounds that still trigger Owen’s prison PTSD24:21 - The legal twist that took years off his sentence34:47 - How Mark Wahlberg became connected to The Cocaine Quarterback38:20 - Why Owen now speaks to athletes for free40:31 - Owen’s biggest regret, scariest moment, and message to everyone watching46:32 - Owen’s reaction to Randall Kaplan’s Extreme PreparationAbout Owen HansonOwen Hanson, also known as “The Cocaine Quarterback,” is a former USC athlete, entrepreneur, and the subject of the documentary The Cocaine Quarterback. After becoming involved in gambling, international drug trafficking, and the Sinaloa cartel, Owen was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison.Today, Owen is focused on redemption, legal entrepreneurship, mentorship, and speaking to athletes and young people about the dangers of gambling, drugs, greed, and chasing fast money. His story is a powerful warning about how ambition without direction can destroy a life — and how discipline, accountability, and resilience can rebuild one.About Randall KaplanRandall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, professional coach, and the host of In Search of Excellence. He is the co-founder of Akamai Technologies, a global leader in cloud services and cybersecurity, and was an early investor in Google.Over the last 25+ years, Randall has advised more than 50 companies, invested in nearly 100 companies, and worked with founders, CEOs, executives, and business owners to help them reach higher levels of success. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, Randall teaches high performers how to prepare better, think bigger, build stronger relationships, and execute at the highest level.Like this videoSubscribe to In Search of ExcellenceComment your biggest takeawayShare this episode with someone who needs to hear Owen’s warningWant to Work One-on-One with Me?I privately coach a limited number of high achievers through personalized one-on-one coaching focused on elevating careers, scaling businesses, and reaching higher levels of success both professionally and personally.If you're ready to change your life and achieve your goals, apply here:www.randallkaplan.com Listen to my Extreme Preparation TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvlFpoLfgs Listen to this episode on the go!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XIC... For more information about this episode, visit https://www.randallkaplan.com/ Follow Randall!Instagram: @randallkaplan LinkedIn: @randallkaplan TikTok: @randall_kaplan Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplanWebsite: www.randallkaplan.com1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.comCoaching and ...
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    51 mins
  • The True Story of Owen Hanson: USC Walk-On, Drug Kingpin, Prison & Redemption | E189

    The True Story of Owen Hanson: USC Walk-On, Drug Kingpin, Prison & Redemption | E189
    Jun 11 2026
    Owen Hanson went from a disciplined kid in Redondo Beach to a USC walk-on football player surrounded by celebrities, pro athletes, and power — before one bad decision became the rush he chased for years. In this raw conversation with Randall Kaplan, Owen reveals the true story behind **Netflix’s The Cocaine Quarterback**, his rise from campus hustles to a global drug and gambling operation, his connection to the Sinaloa cartel, and the prison sentence that forced him to rebuild his life.Owen Hanson’s story is not just a crime story — it is a story about ambition, insecurity, adrenaline, ego, consequences, and redemption.Randall Kaplan sits down with Owen for a gripping Part 1 conversation that begins with Owen’s childhood in Redondo Beach, including his father’s strict discipline, his parents’ separation, and the early emotional wounds that shaped his identity. Owen opens up about feeling abandoned, learning not to cry, and channeling pain into sports, competition, and survival.From there, the conversation moves into Owen’s earliest signs of entrepreneurial instinct — including a childhood gambling hustle with quarters and lunch bets — before tracing how those same instincts later became dangerous when mixed with money, status, and the need to belong.The episode also dives into Owen’s rise at USC, where he became a walk-on football player during one of the most iconic eras in college football. Surrounded by celebrities, athletes, parties, and status, Owen explains how access became power — and how that power slowly turned into a criminal network.Randall and Owen then unpack the expansion from campus dealing to a sports betting business, then to international money movement, cartel connections, Australia, cocaine, laundering schemes, and the moment everything began closing in.Timestamps00:00 - The moment Owen realized he was in too deep00:42 - How a USC athlete became connected to the Sinaloa cartel01:52 - The childhood wound Owen says shaped everything07:00 - The 11-year-old hustle that revealed his future instincts10:54 - The line between strategy and manipulation16:47 - The USC setback that sent Owen to Tijuana21:08 - The first lie that gave him the rush he chased for years23:16 - How Owen became the only non-scholarship player to make the USC football team25:11 - Inside the USC football celebrity machine36:16 - The gambling customer who changed Owen’s life forever42:38 - The million-dollar-a-day offer that pulled him overseas1:36:39 - How prison became the beginning of Owen’s redemptionAbout Owen HansonOwen Hanson is a former USC athlete, entrepreneur, public speaker, and the subject of the Netflix documentary “The Cocaine Quarterback”, produced by Mark Wahlberg. After walking on to the USC football team during one of the most iconic eras in college football, Owen’s life took a dramatic turn as he became involved in illegal sports gambling, drug trafficking, and cartel-linked money movement.He was ultimately sentenced to 21 years in federal prison and served 10 years before being released early. Today, Owen speaks publicly about the consequences of his choices, the psychology of addiction to risk and status, and the difficult path toward accountability, growth, and redemption.About Randall KaplanRandall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, professional coach, and the host of In Search of Excellence. He is the co-founder of Akamai Technologies, a global leader in cloud services, cybersecurity, and content delivery, and was an early investor in companies including Google.Through the Extreme Preparation™ methodology, Randall works with founders, CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners to help them perform at the highest level, make better decisions, and achieve extraordinary success.If this conversation made you think differently about ambition, risk, success, or redemption, make sure to like this video, subscribe to In Search of Excellence, and comment below:What do you think was the turning point in Owen Hanson’s story?Want to Work One-on-One with Me?I privately coach a limited number of high achievers through personalized one-on-one coaching focused on elevating careers, scaling businesses, and reaching higher levels of success both professionally and personally.If you're ready to change your life and achieve your goals, apply here for my One-on-One Coaching program:www.randallkaplan.com Listen to my Extreme Preparation TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvlFpoLfgs Listen to this episode on the go!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XIC... For more information about this episode, visit https://www.randallkaplan.com/ Follow Randall!Instagram: @randallkaplan LinkedIn: @randallkaplan TikTok: @randall_kaplan Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplanWebsite: www.randallkaplan.com1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.comCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on...
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    1 hr and 49 mins
  • John Mackey’s Wild Story: From Dishwasher Showers to a $13.7B Amazon Deal | E188

    John Mackey’s Wild Story: From Dishwasher Showers to a $13.7B Amazon Deal | E188
    May 19 2026
    John Mackey built Whole Foods Market from a small natural foods store into a $13.7 billion company acquired by Amazon — but his greatest lessons came from moments of crisis, not victory. From the emotional relief of going public to the life-changing impact of 9/11, the pressure of activist investors, and the cultural battle after the Amazon merger, Mackey reveals what it really takes to build a mission-driven company that lasts.Key TakeawaysBoldness creates momentumJohn Mackey says that when you begin something with purpose and determination, the world starts to shift. The money, people, and opportunities begin to appear.Culture is built through authentic appreciationMackey believes appreciation is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to transform relationships, meetings, morale, and organizations.The Amazon deal was about more than moneyThe Whole Foods sale was not just a financial transaction. Mackey saw it as the best stakeholder solution for customers, team members, suppliers, investors, and the future of the company.Health is the next great frontierThrough Love Life, Mackey is now focused on holistic wellness, longevity, food, fitness, medical care, community, and helping people make more conscious choices.Timestamps00:00 - The “food awakening” that changed John Mackey’s life forever00:39 - The boldness advice that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset02:03 - What John Mackey did the day Whole Foods went public05:04 - The terrifying 9/11 moment that changed his future09:44 - Why going public is not the “holy grail” most founders think it is10:14 - The mistake Whole Foods made before activist investors attacked13:59 - The hostile meeting that forced Mackey to consider selling Whole Foods16:30 - The question that made Amazon the answer18:30 - What really happened when John Mackey met Jeff Bezos22:18 - The surprising reason the $13.7B Amazon deal was all cash28:08 - John Mackey’s honest reaction to Randall Kaplan’s Extreme Preparation™31:15 - The simple meeting ritual Mackey says can transform company culture37:28 - The three practices Mackey says can transform your life41:12 - John Mackey’s next mission after Whole Foods44:46 - The rapid-fire answers that reveal Mackey’s true definition of successAbout John MackeyJohn Mackey is the co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market, one of the most influential grocery and natural foods companies in the world. He helped build Whole Foods from a small natural foods store into a publicly traded company that became a national leader in organic food, conscious capitalism, team-based culture, and mission-driven retail.In 2017, Whole Foods Market was acquired by Amazon in a landmark $13.7 billion transaction, one of the most significant retail acquisitions of the decade. Mackey is also a bestselling author, entrepreneur, advocate for conscious capitalism, and founder of Love Life, a new holistic health and wellness company focused on food, fitness, longevity, medical care, emotional well-being, and community.About the Host — Randall KaplanRandall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, professional coach, and the host of In Search of Excellence, where he interviews the world’s most accomplished leaders, founders, athletes, entertainers, and change-makers to uncover the habits, mindsets, and strategies behind extraordinary success.Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, Randall works with founders, CEOs, executives, business owners, and high performers to help them prepare more deeply, communicate more effectively, and create better outcomes in business and life.What was your biggest takeaway from John Mackey’s story — the Amazon deal, the power of appreciation, the health mission behind Love Life, or his advice on forgiveness?Drop your thoughts in the comments below.If this conversation inspired you, please like the video.Subscribe to In Search of Excellence for more conversations with world-class entrepreneurs, founders, leaders, and high performers.Share this episode with someone who is building a company, leading a team, or trying to become the healthiest version of themselves.Want to Work One-on-One with Me?I privately coach a limited number of high achievers through personalized one-on-one coaching focused on elevating careers, scaling businesses, and reaching higher levels of success both professionally and personally.If you're ready to change your life and achieve your goals, apply here:www.randallkaplan.com Listen to my Extreme Preparation TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvlFpoLfgs Listen to this episode on the go!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XIC... Follow Randall!Instagram: @randallkaplan LinkedIn: @randallkaplan TikTok: @randall_kaplan Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplanWebsite: www.randallkaplan.com1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.comCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram...
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    50 mins
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