In Search Of Excellence

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.

Timestamps
00:00 - The cartel moment Owen says he will never forget
01:00 - Why USC’s network changed the direction of his life
03:08 - The work ethic behind becoming one of America’s biggest cocaine dealers
04:19 - Why Owen says prison may have saved him from dying
05:28 - The prison “dance” every inmate has to learn fast
06:47 - The loyalty question Owen still refuses to compromise on
12:21 - The day Owen considered ending his life
14:15 - How a frozen protein shake became a prison business empire
19:01 - The prison handshake deal that created a salt monopoly
23:01 - The sounds that still trigger Owen’s prison PTSD
24:21 - The legal twist that took years off his sentence
34:47 - How Mark Wahlberg became connected to The Cocaine Quarterback
38:20 - Why Owen now speaks to athletes for free
40:31 - Owen’s biggest regret, scariest moment, and message to everyone watching
46:32 - Owen’s reaction to Randall Kaplan’s Extreme Preparation

About Owen Hanson
Owen 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 Kaplan
Randall 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.

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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...
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For more information about this episode, visit https://www.randallkaplan.com/
 
Follow Randall!
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Website:  www.randallkaplan.com
1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.com

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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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.

Timestamps
00:00 - The moment Owen realized he was in too deep
00:42 - How a USC athlete became connected to the Sinaloa cartel
01:52 - The childhood wound Owen says shaped everything
07:00 - The 11-year-old hustle that revealed his future instincts
10:54 - The line between strategy and manipulation
16:47 - The USC setback that sent Owen to Tijuana
21:08 - The first lie that gave him the rush he chased for years
23:16 - How Owen became the only non-scholarship player to make the USC football team
25:11 - Inside the USC football celebrity machine
36:16 - The gambling customer who changed Owen’s life forever
42:38 - The million-dollar-a-day offer that pulled him overseas
1:36:39 - How prison became the beginning of Owen’s redemption

About Owen Hanson
Owen 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 Kaplan
Randall 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/RandallKaplan
Website:  www.randallkaplan.com
1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.com

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

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 Takeaways
Boldness creates momentum
John 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 appreciation
Mackey 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 money
The 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 frontier
Through Love Life, Mackey is now focused on holistic wellness, longevity, food, fitness, medical care, community, and helping people make more conscious choices.

Timestamps
00:00 - The “food awakening” that changed John Mackey’s life forever
00:39 - The boldness advice that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset
02:03 - What John Mackey did the day Whole Foods went public
05:04 - The terrifying 9/11 moment that changed his future
09:44 - Why going public is not the “holy grail” most founders think it is
10:14 - The mistake Whole Foods made before activist investors attacked
13:59 - The hostile meeting that forced Mackey to consider selling Whole Foods
16:30 - The question that made Amazon the answer
18:30 - What really happened when John Mackey met Jeff Bezos
22:18 - The surprising reason the $13.7B Amazon deal was all cash
28:08 - John Mackey’s honest reaction to Randall Kaplan’s Extreme Preparation™
31:15 - The simple meeting ritual Mackey says can transform company culture
37:28 - The three practices Mackey says can transform your life
41:12 - John Mackey’s next mission after Whole Foods
44:46 - The rapid-fire answers that reveal Mackey’s true definition of success

About John Mackey
John 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 Kaplan

Randall 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/RandallKaplan
Website:  www.randallkaplan.com
1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.com

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

What does it really take to build a company from one store in Austin, Texas into Whole Foods Market, a global brand with more than 540 stores, $22 billion in annual sales, and a $13.7 billion acquisition by Amazon?
John Mackey, co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods, joins Randall Kaplan to reveal the hard-earned lessons behind entrepreneurship, resilience, fear, failure, raising capital, work ethic, conscious capitalism, and the life-changing moments that shaped one of America’s most iconic business founders.

Key Takeaways
Fear is the biggest limiter of human potential. John explains why fear of failure, fear of judgment, and even fear of success stop people from answering their own “hero’s journey.”

Failure only becomes failure when you quit. From getting cut from the basketball team to losing money in the early days of Whole Foods, John shows how setbacks can become turning points.

No job is beneath you. Dishwashing, bussing tables, bagging groceries, and entry-level work build discipline, humility, work ethic, and service.

Entrepreneurs must learn to sell the dream. Whether raising $45,000 from friends and family or pitching venture capitalists on Sand Hill Road, persistence and conviction matter.

Business is a community of relationships. The Whole Foods flood taught John that customers, team members, suppliers, investors, and lenders are all stakeholders in a shared mission.

About Randall Kaplan
Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, professional coach, and the host of In Search of Excellence, where he interviews world-class entrepreneurs, leaders, athletes, entertainers, and high achievers about the habits, failures, mindsets, and preparation behind extraordinary success.

Randall is the co-founder of Akamai Technologies, a global leader in cloud services and cybersecurity, and was an early investor in companies including Google. Over the course of his career, he has advised and invested in numerous companies and worked closely with founders, CEOs, executives, business owners, and high performers.

Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, Randall helps ambitious leaders accelerate success by building the discipline, strategy, mindset, and preparation required to perform at the highest level.

If you found value in John Mackey’s story, take a moment to like this video, subscribe to In Search of Excellence, and share it with someone building something difficult.

Comment below:
What lesson from John Mackey’s journey resonated with you most—failure, resilience, work ethic, raising capital, or conscious capitalism?

Want to Work One-on-One with Me?
I coach a small group of high achievers on how to elevate their careers, grow their businesses, and reach their full potential 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...
 
https://www.randallkaplan.com/
 
Follow Randall!
Instagram: @randallkaplan 
LinkedIn:  @randallkaplan 
TikTok:  @randall_kaplan 
Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplan
Website:  www.randallkaplan.com
1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.com

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

What do you do when the world keeps telling you no? Academy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer reveals how rejection, curiosity, creativity, and relentless belief helped him build one of the most extraordinary careers in Hollywood history.

In this powerful episode of In Search of Excellence, host Randall Kaplan sits down with Brian Grazer to explore the real lessons behind success in film, business, and life — from mentorship and intellectual property to storytelling, resilience, preparation, and the mindset required to achieve greatness.

Brian shares unforgettable stories about Lew Wasserman, Ron Howard, Splash, 8 Mile, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and the career-defining moments that taught him why owning ideas matters more than chasing relationships — and why “no” is often just a temporary point of view.

In this episode:
Why intellectual property is the foundation of lasting success.
The lesson Brian learned from hundreds of rejections.
How curiosity opened the door to new opportunities and major films.
What it feels like to lose at the Oscars — and finally win.
Brian’s views on preparation, creativity, storytelling, and greatness.

About Brian Grazer
Brian Grazer is an Academy Award-winning producer who has produced 130 feature films and 45 television shows, including A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, 8 Mile, The Da Vinci Code, 24, Empire, Friday Night Lights, and Arrested Development. His productions have received 47 Oscar nominations with 9 wins, 296 Emmy nominations with 63 wins, 71 Golden Globe nominations with 11 wins, and have generated more than $15 billion in worldwide box office. He is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book A Curious Mind.

About Randall Kaplan
Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and executive coach. He is the co-founder of Akamai Technologies, an early investor in Google, and a mentor to founders, CEOs, executives, and business owners through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology.

Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this episode.
Comment below: What was your biggest takeaway from Brian Grazer?
Want to Work One-on-One with Me?
I coach a small group of high achievers on how to elevate their careers, grow their businesses, and reach their full potential 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/RandallKaplan
Website: www.randallkaplan.com
1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.com

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn