The Kitchen Table

Brothers Beyond the Finish Line: Brent & Kyle Pease on Faith, Disability, and Iron Man

Episode Summary

In this episode, Ken Baden welcomes brothers Brent and Kyle Pease, co-founders of the Kyle Pease Foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia. Kyle has cerebral palsy and has spent 15 years competing in Ironman triathlons alongside his brother Brent, who physically carries, pulls, and pushes Kyle through every leg of the race. Together they've completed six full Ironman events. The conversation covers how the brothers discovered endurance racing as a vehicle for pushing human limits, how that led to founding a nonprofit that helped 170 families find finish lines in a single year, and how they built the organization the same way any entrepreneur builds a business — from zero, at the kitchen table. Ken opens up about his own personal past, connecting deeply with the theme of redemption and transformation through movement. The episode ends with both brothers sharing a simple but powerful philosophy: inspire your own change through movement, because motivation follows action.

Episode Notes

EPISODE NOTES

• Brent and Kyle Pease are co-founders of the Kyle Pease Foundation, based in Atlanta, GA
• Kyle has cerebral palsy and competes in full Ironman triathlons alongside his brother Brent
• In an Ironman, Brent pulls Kyle through a 2.4-mile swim in a boat tied to his waist, pedals a three-wheeled bike with Kyle seated in front for 112 miles, and pushes Kyle in a chair for a 26.2-mile run
• They have completed 6 full Ironman events together
• The Kyle Pease Foundation helped 170 families find finish lines last year
• The brothers published a book in 2019 titled "Beyond the Finish"
• They are active public speakers with engagements in Richmond, Phoenix, Cincinnati (Council on Aging), and have spoken in Maui
• Host Ken Baden shares his own story of personal struggle, including addiction and recovery, connecting it to the episode's broader themes of resilience
• Brent's turning point included spending his last dollars on a bicycle
• Kyle's vision for the next 5 years: continuing to open doors for people with disabilities to reach their full potential
• Brent's 5-year vision: scale the Foundation to support 300+ families and help people see what's possible beyond the finish line
• Closing quote from Brent: "Inspire your own change through movement. Motivation follows action."

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Welcome & Introductions 

01:50 — Who Are Brent & Kyle Pease? The Story of the Kyle Pease Foundation 

03:00 — Building a Nonprofit from the Kitchen Table 

03:55 — What It's Really Like to Do an Ironman with Cerebral Palsy 

05:30 — The First Ironman: Losing the Wheelchair & a Moment That Said It All 

06:20 — Will There Be Another Ironman? The Door Is Cracked Open 

07:00 — Ken Opens Up: Recovery, Addiction, and Finding Redemption Through Movement 

10:50 — The Mental Battle Inside an Ironman — How Kyle Keeps Brent Going 

13:30 — The Business of Endurance: Parallels Between Racing and Entrepreneurship 

14:40 — Kyle Explains Why He Chose Ironman — No Wheelchair Division, Just the Race 

15:50 — Breaking Down the Ironman: What Brent Actually Does for 15 Hours 

17:10 — The Brother Bond and Shared Sacrifice 

17:45 — The Book: "Beyond the Finish" and How It Came to Be 

21:30 — Their Public Speaking Work and What Audiences Can Expect 

23:00 — Upcoming Events: Richmond, Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Beyond 

24:35 — Where Will They Be in 5 Years? 

25:30 — The Foundation's Impact: 170 Families and What Comes Next 

26:50 — Where to Find the Kyle Pease Foundation 

27:00 — Final Wisdom: "Motivation Follows Action"