In Search Of Excellence

In Search of Excellence Podcast - with Randall Kaplan

My guest today is Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers of all time!  At the age of 20, he became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title.  He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold WBA, WBC, and IDF titles and a member of the international boxing Hall of Fame.

Mike has appeared i...

Legendary surfer Laird Hamilton joins host Randall Kaplan on the In Search of Excellence podcast for a raw and unforgettable conversation about innovation, mindset, and personal transformation. Hamilton shares how he co-invented tow-in surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and surf foiling, turning niche ideas into billion-dollar global sports.

From serving as Kevin Costner’s stunt double in Waterworld to surviving a near-death experien...

In this raw and riveting episode of In Search of Excellence, legendary surfer and ocean pioneer Laird Hamilton shares his incredible story — from his unconventional birth using a method like a reverse hair dryer, a wild childhood in Hawaii, and surviving abuse and racism, to revolutionizing surfing with inventions like tow-in surfing, foilboarding, and modern paddleboarding.

Laird opens up about his near-death experience o...

In this powerful episode, Mike Meldman — real estate mogul, co-founder of Casamigos Tequila, and founder of Discovery Land Company — shares the remarkable story behind his journey from instinct-driven entrepreneur to one of the most influential figures in luxury real estate and lifestyle branding. 

Mike dives deep into how Casamigos, a tequila brand originally created with George Clooney “just for fun,” skyrocketed from a personal p...

Mike Meldman is the mastermind who turned luxury and lifestyle into a business empire. As the founder of Discovery Land Company and co-founder of Casamigos Tequila alongside George Clooney and Rande Gerber, Meldman built a world where wealthy clients don’t just buy homes — they buy Incredible family-oriented experiences. This is the inspiring story of how he redefined real estate, community, and luxury - and went on to create a bil...

Dean Graziosi shares his incredible rags-to-riches journey from growing up with an abusive and violent dad, being evicted from a trailer park, sleeping on floors, moving 19 times before turning 20 years old, not going to college, working in a collision shop, starting to invest in real estate in his early 20s, creating an infomercial business despite having no experience, watching a Tony Robbins video on TV and then becoming his bes...

Sammy Hagar is one of the most prolific artists in the history of Rock and Roll.  Playing in bands like Montrose and Van Halen, and with a successful solo career that included the rock anthem “I Can’t Drive 55,” Sammy has had 25 platinum albums and has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.  Sammy is also an extremely successful serial entrepreneur and was the first celebrity to create his own tequila brand which he sold more ...

Sammy Hagar is one of the most prolific artists in the history of Rock and Roll.  Playing in bands like Montrose and Van Halen, and with a successful solo career that included the rock anthem “I Can’t Drive 55,” Sammy has had 25 platinum albums and has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.  Sammy is also an extremely successful serial entrepreneur and was the first celebrity to create his own tequila brand which he sold more ...

Mark Cuban was born a serial entrepreneur.  At age 12, he sold trash bags door to door.  By age 16, he had a business selling stamps.  During college at Indiana University, he taught disco lessons at sorority houses and opened a popular bar before he turned 21.  So how does an average kid growing up in Pittsburgh go on to become a self-made billionaire?

For some of us, it may be hard to imagine the person that we know toda...

Robert Greene is a globally renowned author and thinker best known for his groundbreaking books on power, strategy, and human behavior, including the international bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, and Mastery. But before becoming a literary icon, Robert struggled through decades of uncertainty—working over 50 different jobs, battling self-doubt, and feeling lost in his 30s. It wasn’t...

Robert Greene is a globally renowned author and thinker best known for his groundbreaking books on power, strategy, and human behavior, including the international bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, and Mastery. But before becoming a literary icon, Robert struggled through decades of uncertainty—working over 50 different jobs, battling self-doubt, and feeling lost in his 30s. It wasn’t...

John Terzian is the co-founder of The h.wood Group, one of the most influential hospitality companies in the world, known for creating iconic venues like The Nice Guy, Delilah, Bootsy Bellows, and Shore Bar. But before he built an empire in nightlife and dining, John’s path was anything but conventional. From working as a DJ assistant to getting banned from the Queen Mary for throwing an out-of-control college party, John’s journey...

John Terzian is the co-founder of The h.wood Group, one of the most influential hospitality companies in the world, known for creating iconic venues like The Nice Guy, Delilah, Bootsy Bellows, and Shore Bar. But before he built an empire in nightlife and dining, John’s path was anything but conventional. From working as a DJ assistant to getting banned from the Queen Mary for throwing an out-of-control college party, John’s journey...

Grant Ellis is a reality TV star, entrepreneur, and former professional basketball player whose journey from the courts to prime-time television has captivated millions. Best known as the lead of The Bachelor, Grant's rise to fame began unexpectedly when his mother submitted his application for The Bachelorette, launching him into the national spotlight. However, his story goes far beyond dating on TV—Grant grew up navigating ...

Andy Elliott is a powerhouse in the world of sales training, leadership, and personal transformation. From a tough childhood filled with hardship and rejection, Andy turned his struggles into the fuel that made him one of the most successful sales coaches in history. As the founder of The Elliott Group, he has trained over 600,000 people and helped more than 13,000 companies scale their businesses through his cutting-edge sales tec...

Andy Elliott is a powerhouse in the world of sales training, leadership, and personal transformation. From a tough childhood filled with hardship and rejection, Andy turned his struggles into the fuel that made him one of the most successful sales coaches in history. As the founder of The Elliott Group, he has trained over 600,000 people and helped more than 13,000 companies scale their businesses through his cutting-edge sales tec...

Matt Barnes is a former NBA player, entrepreneur, and media personality whose journey from a turbulent childhood to professional basketball stardom is a story of resilience, grit, and determination. Growing up in a racially diverse yet challenging environment, Matt faced adversity both on and off the court, fueling his drive to succeed. After being overlooked in high school and college, his relentless work ethic led him to a 14-yea...

In this episode, we explore into the transformative journey of Garrett J. White, founder of the Wake Up Warrior movement. From his early successes in investment banking and real estate to facing personal and professional collapse during the 2008 financial crisis, Garrett's story is one of resilience and reinvention. He shares how hitting rock bottom led him to develop the "Warrior's Way," a system designed to he...

Doug Evans is a serial health food entrepreneur and author, renowned for his pioneering contributions to the natural food industry. In 2002, he co-founded Organic Avenue, one of the first exclusively organic plant-based retail chains in the United States, aiming to make healthy living more accessible. He later founded Juicero, one of the first at-home cold-pressed juicing system, with the mission of bringing more fresh produce to t...