# 123: Teamwork, Purpose, and Leaving Ego at the Start Line with Robyn Benincasa

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dwayne-kerrigan-podcast-6619974/123-teamwork-purpose-and-leaving-ego-at-the-start-line-with-robyn-benincasa
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dwayne-kerrigan-podcast-6619974/123-teamwork-purpose-and-leaving-ego-at-the-start-line-with-robyn-benincasa.md
Podcast: [The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dwayne-kerrigan-podcast-6619974)
Published: 2026-01-21T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/8bb4a127-9afe-47c7-95f6-5b910cb9454d.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-dwayne-kerrigan-podcast-6619974/episodes/123-teamwork-purpose-and-leaving-ego-at-the-start-line-with-robyn-benincasa
Duration seconds: 3603

## Resource

Dwayne Kerrigan sits down with world-class endurance athlete, firefighter, nonprofit founder, and keynote speaker Robyn Benincasa to unpack what truly separates great teams from the rest. Drawing from decades of extreme adventure racing, Robyn shares how elite teams win not by being the most talented, but by being the most committed to each other. She introduces her powerful TEAMWORK framework , revealing why total commitment, empathy, adversity management, mutual respect, and relinquishing ego are the real competitive advantages—whether you’re racing through jungles or leading a modern organization. Through unforgettable stories—including hallucinations after days without sleep, tying boats together to beat world champions, and redefining leadership mid-race—Robyn shows how purpose, preparation, creativity, and shared ownership create cultures that don’t just survive pressure… they win because of it. This episode is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and building teams that operate as one heart, one mind , especially when the stakes are high and the path forward is uncertain. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 – Robyn opens with the defining trait of elite teammates: leaving ego at the start line. 01:00 – Dwayne formally introduces Robyn and outlines her extraordinary background. 03:00 – Robyn shares discovering kayaking after hip surgery and focusing on what she could do. 06:30 – Why progress toward a meaningful goal is what makes humans feel alive. 10:30 – Competing to explore personal limits rather than seeking validation or approval. 14:00 – Why great teams care more about each other than themselves. 18:00 – How Robyn accidentally became a speaker after Fast Company’s “Extreme Teamwork” 21:30 – The importance of leaving ego behind and accepting help to win as a team.…

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