#003 Chasing Excellence: Leadership, Purpose and Innovation with Kevin LaRosa

Built For This Podcast

April 23, 2026 by

Carly Pepin

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Listen On

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5iI-_sbin8

https://open.spotify.com/episode/26ljxN5XRj1KGNDzV3rZ67?si=THwMlp5-TMaZXM-000DA1w%C2%A0

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chasing-excellence-leadership-purpose-and-innovation/id1835497020?i=1000735222139

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with her cousin — and world-renowned aerial coordinator and stunt pilot — Kevin “K2” LaRosa, whose credits include Top Gun: Maverick, Iron Man, Transformers, Devotion, and more than 100 major motion pictures.

Kevin shares what it means to live a life where passion and profession are one and the same. From flying planes before he could drive to co-founding X Brand, the revolutionary aerial cinematography company transforming Hollywood, his journey is a masterclass in innovation, discipline, and humility.

Carly and Kevin explore the mindset behind chasing mastery — the risks, the lessons, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines true leadership. For anyone striving to build a life driven by purpose and precision, this episode is a powerful reminder that being “built for this” isn’t about perfection — it’s about the pursuit.

“I’ve never felt like I’ve worked a day in my life — but I work harder than anyone I know.”
“If you’re not innovating, you’re dying. You can’t wait for permission to evolve.”

Kevin LaRosa
Aerial Coordinator, Stunt Pilot & Co-Founder
X-Brand

Key Themes:

A Life You Don’t Want to Retire From: When work is your passion, fulfillment replaces the need for balance — every day becomes the reward.
Innovation through Quality Questions: How Kevin built X Brand by asking what clients truly needed, turning a complex industry into a seamless, turnkey service.
Leadership through Humility: Why accountability, safety, and self-awareness are the real markers of excellence — on the ground and in the air.