Afleveringen
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Centuries ago, young men in Celtic villages proved their strength and identity not in gyms but by lifting stones older than memory â rites of passage where pride, community, culture, and strength were one.
That tradition vanished⊠until David Keohan rediscovered it.
In this conversation, David reveals how the ancient Irish stones â some untouched for generations â are reawakening national pride, reconnecting people with ancestry, and giving young men and women a pathway back to meaningful challenge.
From kettlebell world champion to cultural archaeologist of strength, Davidâs story shows how one person with a spark of curiosity can ignite a global movement.
âThe stones donât care about who you are â they only want to be lifted.â â David Keohanđ Based on our conversation recording â source:
đ„ Key Episode Themes
Reviving ancient rites of passage â what lifting stones meant in Irish villages for thousands of yearsCOVID as the unlikely catalyst that led to the rediscovery of a forgotten strength cultureIreland's lost cultural roots â and how colonialism wiped many of them from memoryWhy people weep when they lift these stonesThe moment David lifted Irelandâs most sacred stone â and a crowd sang him into historyHow stone lifting is now spreading worldwide, including Australia and the USAThe powerful message for young people craving purpose and meaningđïž Who is David Keohan?
Two-time World Champion in kettlebell sportFounder of the movement restoring Irelandâs stone-lifting traditionsCultural advocate working with archaeologists, historians and local communitiesCreator of the documentary Made of StoneCurrently writing a book on the history, mythology and revival of stone liftingđEpisode Chapters
TimeChapter00:00 | The myth, the stones, and the revival begins
07:00 | From overweight dad to world champion
10:00 | The pandemic and a spark in the garden
14:00 | Lifting the legendary Fianna Stone in Scotland
18:00 | First discovery on the Aran Islands
26:00 | The moment that brought an entire island to tears
39:00 | Ancient strength on mountaintops
46:00 | What villages gain when stones are rediscovered
53:00 | A movement thatâs now circling the world
59:00 | Why young people are craving real challenge
1:05:00 | A call to action: âDonât overthink it â just startâđ§ Listen + Watch
đž Featured Stone Locations in This Episode
Inis MĂłr â MĂłr na Port VĂ©al an DĂșinThe Seafin Stone, County DerryWakes & Harvest stones in County ClareâŠand many more emerging from the earth once againđ§ Connect with David Keohan
Instagram: @indianastones
Documentary: Made of Stone â RTE (global release pending)đ Ready to Find (and Lift) Your Impossible?
David reclaimed a national tradition.
You have your own stone to lift.
If youâre a business owner who wants to build a company that runs without you â and one day sells for a life-changing exit â letâs work together.
đ Work with Sam 1-on-1
https://sampenny.com/actionOr explore all coaching & programs:
https://sampenny.comLetâs make your impossible⊠inevitable.
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What drives someone to cycle across Africa, through Siberia, over Australiaâs wildest tracks, and into the remote corners of the Himalayas â not for glory, but for change?
In this episode, Sam Penny sits down with Dr Kate Leeming, global explorer, educator, and the powerhouse behind Breaking the Cycle. With over 100,000 km of cycling expeditions across every continent, Kate shares how she uses extreme endurance journeys to shine a light on poverty, resilience, education, and environmental justice.
Together, they dive into:
đŽ Kateâs early spark for exploration and sport
đ Her most transformative expeditions â from the Canning Stock Route to the Skeleton Coast
đ§ What it means to have a âNorth Starâ mission
đ How she brings global stories into classrooms through immersive education
đĄ The mindset that helps her turn adversity into impact
âš Why true adventure isnât about conquering â itâs about connectingKate isnât just an explorer â sheâs a builder of bridges between cultures, communities, and classrooms. Her stories remind us that no matter the terrain, purpose can carry us further than fear.
đ Connect with Dr Kate Leeming
đ Website: breakingthecycle.education
đž Instagram: @leeming_kate
đ Book: Out There and Back
đ„ Watch her films, access school resources, and follow her next expeditionđŹ Loved this episode? Share it with someone whoâs ready to choose the uphill path.
đ§ Follow Sam Penny on Instagram @90dayswithsam
and visit sampenny.com
for more episodes of Whyâd You Think You Could Do That? -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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When Liam Beville was 18, a stolen car mounted a curb in Limerick and crushed both his legs.
Doctors told him heâd never walk again.But Liam didnât just walk â he deadlifted 285 kg to become a Guinness World Record holder, and 310 kg at 75 kg bodyweight to become one of Irelandâs greatest lifters of all time.
This episode is about defying prognosis, rewriting identity, and proving that mindset is stronger than muscle.
đ„ In This Episode
Sam Penny sits down with Irish powerlifter Liam Beville to explore:
Growing up in a tough Limerick household surrounded by disability â and learning resilience early.The 1983 accident that shattered his legs and the long battle back from the edge.How walking to the gym on crutches became the first step to greatness.Competing against able-bodied athletes â and why he refused to accept the label âdisabledâ.The mental cost of chasing perfection and the darkness of depression.Discovering hypnosis and mindset training to control anxiety and rediscover love for the sport.Breaking four world records across four weight divisions â and holding them all simultaneously.Becoming the oldest and lightest man ever to hold the Guinness World Record for heaviest disabled deadlift.What âstrengthâ really means after six decades of pain, purpose, and perspective.đ§ Key Lessons
Labels limit you. Donât let anyone define whatâs possible for you.Sit with pain. Whether physical or emotional, resisting it gives it power.Control the controllables. Focus on whatâs within your reach â and forget the rest.Success and failure are imposters. Treat both the same, as Rudyard Kipling wrote in If.Never too late. At 60, Liamâs still training to break his own world record â proving youâre never too old to start again.đŁïž Memorable Quotes
âOpinions are like assholes â everyone has one. But they donât know me.â
âPain became my friend â it reminds me Iâm alive.â
âIf you want it, youâll find a way. If you donât, youâll find an excuse.â
âYou donât have a disability; you have a different ability.â
âIâm a bit of metal and a lot of mindset.âđȘ The Brave Five
Liam reveals:
His most unexpected lesson from recovery.What he felt when holding the Guinness certificate.The truth about friendship and why being a people-pleaser nearly broke him.The mindset thatâs kept him competing into his 60s.The one thing he wants every listener to remember: âControl what you can and forget the rest.âđŻ Why You Should Listen
If youâve ever felt broken, too old, too tired, or too far gone â this story will wake something up inside you.
Itâs not about lifting weights.
Itâs about lifting yourself. -
This short, punchy episode isnât a checklistâitâs a rally. Drawing on John Williamsonâs story of hitting rock bottom twice and rebuilding with discipline and quiet courage, Sam lays out the mindset that makes weekends count. With echoes from historyâMawson on the ice, Violet Jessop returning to sea, Farnsworth sketching TV from ploughed rows, Hubert Wilkins under polar ice, Jessica Watson one knot at a timeâthis is the lift you take into Saturday to move your real work forward.
What Youâll Hear
Courage as a calendar entry, not a moodWhy structure beats story when things feel messyMaking fear smaller than the next stepThe power of subtractionâclosing the wrong things to let the right things liveBorrowing belief: âYou can take more load than thatâAnchor Quotes
âEven though Iâm afraid of failing again, I will keep turning up anyway.ââCourage is a calendar entry, not a mood.ââMake fear smaller than the next step.ââSubtraction can be growth.ââYou can take more load than that.âTimeline
00:00 â Why this isnât tacticsâitâs a reminder you carry into the weekend01:00 â What John really taught us: breath, structure, consistency03:00 â Historyâs quiet cousins: Mawson, Jessop, Farnsworth, Wilkins, Watson04:40 â What this weekend is for: momentum over perfection05:30 â The lines to carry with you into MondayWhy It Matters
Weekends are where your future sneaks in. When the inbox goes quiet, your real work taps you on the shoulder. This episode helps you choose courage over comfort and progress over perfectionâso by Sunday night you feel earned pride, not regret.
Light Reflection Prompts
Where can I choose structure over story this weekend?Whatâs one fear I can make smaller than the next step?What can I subtract so the important thing can breathe?Listen
Apple Podcasts: https://sampenny.com/applepodcastsSpotify: https://sampenny.com/spotifyYouTube: https://youtu.be/3SBQAPV4_xc?si=yjyfuU15J90X8_xfExplore the Guest Hub
Show notes, quotes and links: https://sampenny.com/john-williamson
Credits
Host: Sam Penny
Series: Whyâd You Think You Could Do That? -
The phone buzzes. Itâs the bank. Payroll is due tomorrow and the numbers donât add up. Most people would call that rock bottom â but for John Williamson, it was just one of many.
John built Construct Health into a 40-person physiotherapy and occupational health business, lost it all (twice), and somehow found the strength to start again. Through bankruptcy scares, sleepless nights, and the crushing weight of leadership, he discovered that courage isnât about climbing mountains â itâs about standing your ground when everything in you wants to quit.
In this conversation, Sam and John unpack what it really takes to survive as a founder â not the glory, but the grit. From his darkest moments to his rebirth through ultra-endurance running and boxing, Johnâs story is a masterclass in resilience, self-discipline, and redefining success on your own terms.
đ§ In This Episode
The early ambition and purpose that drove John into physiotherapy and business ownershipThe rise and near-collapse of Construct Health during the mining boom and bustWhat it really feels like to tell your staff you canât pay them â and why he never missed payrollHow daily habits, structure, and breathwork kept him alive when everything fell apartLessons from an unexpected mentor: the former Scheduling Secretary to a US PresidentWhy discipline and cashflow awareness beat ego every timeFinding peace (and pain) through ultra-marathons and stepping into a boxing ringThe emotional cost of selling your lifeâs work â and whatâs next with Col Ferret HoldingsWhy sometimes, âYou can take more load than thatâ is exactly the advice you need𧱠Key Quotes
âI didnât know if I could do it â but I knew Iâd keep turning up.ââWhen youâre the last line of defence, thereâs no one left to pass the problem to.ââBravery isnât about the big gestures. Itâs about getting up again tomorrow when every part of you wants to stay down.ââYou can take more load than that.â â A line that changed everything.âĄïž The Brave Moment
Johnâs moment of truth came standing on an airport tarmac, $8,000 over his overdraft, with payroll due in two days. Panic set in â but instead of breaking, he built new habits, found mentorship, and clawed his way back to solvency. That single decision â to keep showing up â reshaped not just his business, but who he became.
đ„ The Lesson
Rock bottom isnât failure. Itâs feedback.
Itâs where you decide who youâre going to be next.đ Connect with John Williamson
LinkedIn: John Williamson
(search âJohn Williamson Construct Healthâ â not the singer!)Website: unventured.life
(launching soon)
Unventured Life helps business owners and executives apply the principles of challenge and adventure to leadership and personal growth. -
Founder and physio John Williamson built Construct Health to 40 staff, then faced the silent panic of overdrafts, payroll, and responsibility. Instead of quitting, he rebuilt through discipline, breathwork, a rolling 18-month cashflow, a 100 km ultra, and a bout under stadium lights. This short episode guides listeners to name their Spark, confront their Struggle, and claim a Breakthrough by âturning up anyway.â
Key Moments
Spark: âI want to build something of my own. Iâm going to help people heal.â Launching Construct Health during the GFC; early growth across clinics and mine sites.Struggle: Banking app shock â $8,000 over with payroll due in 48 hours; carrying the weight of 40 livelihoods; 4 a.m. runs and boxing to quiet the noise.Breakthrough: âEven though Iâm afraid of failing again, I will keep turning up anyway.â Precision cashflow, mentor advice â âYou can take more load than thatâ â 100 km ultra, and stepping into the ring.What it means: Courage as consistency; rock bottom as a decision point, not an ending.Listener Prompts (Fill-in-the-Blanks)
Spark: I want to ________ . I am going to ________ .
e.g., I want to build something that matters. I am going to start before I feel ready.Struggle: I am afraid that ________ .
e.g., I am afraid that Iâve taken on too much / people will lose faith / if I stop pushing itâll all collapse.Breakthrough: Even though I am afraid of ________ , I will ________ anyway.
e.g., âŠfailing again, I will take the next step anyway / âŠbeing judged, I will keep showing up anyway.Memorable Quotes
âIt wasnât the money that nearly broke me. It was the responsibility.ââEven though Iâm afraid of failing again, I will keep turning up anyway.ââYou can take more load than that.âWhy It Matters
This episode reframes resilience as a daily practice: breath before reaction, structure over panic, and a single next step taken repeatedly. Itâs a toolkit for founders and leaders when the spreadsheet doesnât match the story.
Links
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3SBQAPV4_xc?si=yjyfuU15J90X8_xfApple Podcasts: https://sampenny.com/applepodcastsSpotify: https://sampenny.com/spotifyGuest Hub: /john-williamsonCredits
Host: Sam Penny. Series: Whyâd You Think You Could Do That?
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In this weekâs Action episode of Whyâd You Think You Could Do That?, host Sam Penny takes inspiration from one of the sharpest minds in modern feminism â Kathy Lette â the woman who turned outrage into comedy, sexism into satire, and shame into storytelling.
At just 17, Kathy co-wrote Puberty Blues, a book so raw and real it was banned from schools â but instead of backing down, she doubled down, using wit as her weapon and laughter as her form of protest. Across her career, sheâs proved that humour can dismantle hypocrisy faster than fury ever could.This episode is your invitation to take that same fearless approach and apply it in your own life. Because bravery doesnât just happen in the extremes â it happens in everyday conversations, in workplaces, boardrooms, and dinner tables where the easy thing would be to stay silent.
Sam challenges you to complete one sentence:
âOne thing I will do to make a differenceâŠâMaybe itâs calling out a double standard. Maybe itâs sharing your true opinion in a meeting. Or maybe itâs finally admitting what you really want. Whatever it is, say it â with honesty, with kindness, and, if you can, with humour.
Because as Kathy reminds us, laughter doesnât diminish truth; it makes it digestible. It opens hearts that anger closes. And when you use it with courage, it turns confrontation into connection.
âThe most powerful thing you can do this week isnât to be perfect â itâs to be real.â
This is your week to speak up anyway â to say the thing that scares you most, to turn your own fear into fuel, and to be part of a ripple effect that starts with one brave conversation.Tune in, take the challenge, and discover why sometimes, bravery doesnât roar â it giggles, it winks, and it writes a banned book.
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At just 17, Kathy Lette co-wrote Puberty Blues â a brutally honest, hilarious and taboo-shattering take on Australian surf culture that shocked a nation, scandalised parents, and became a cult classic. Rather than apologising, she leaned in. From Puberty Blues to How to Kill Your Husband, Mad Cows and The Boy Who Fell to Earth, Kathy has made a career out of turning taboo into comedy and pain into punchlines.
In this episode, Kathy joins Sam Penny to talk about:
How she went from a rebellious teenager to an international bestselling authorWhat Puberty Blues revealed about sexism, shame, and surf cultureWhy humour is her sharpest weapon in the fight for equalityHow raising an autistic son transformed her understanding of love, difference, and braveryWhy women must stop apologising and start saying yes to the impossibleItâs cheeky. Itâs sharp. And itâs classic Kathy â part stand-up, part masterclass in rebellion, and completely unapologetic.
đŹ Key Quotes
âWomen are each otherâs human wonder bras â uplifting, supportive, and making each other look bigger and better.ââI always write the book I wish I had when I was going through it.ââHumour is my weapon. If you can make someone laugh, you can slip the medicine down more easily.ââThereâs ordinary and thereâs extraordinary â and people on the spectrum are extraordinary.ââOptimism isnât an eye disease. Be positive. Never turn down an adventure.â𧩠Themes Explored
Rebellion through humour: How satire can change culture.Feminism with a wink: Making gender politics laugh-out-loud funny.Motherhood & autism: What her son Jules taught her about compassion and courage.From scandal to empowerment: Lessons from surviving the spotlight.Bravery: Saying what others wonât â and doing it with wit.đ„ The Brave Moment
When Kathyâs son Jules was diagnosed with autism, she says it was the hardest â and most defining â chapter of her life.
âThereâs no ownerâs manual for an autistic child. That was when I had to dig deepest for bravery.âđ Kathyâs Books Mentioned
Puberty BluesGirlsâ Night OutHow to Kill Your Husband (and Other Handy Household Hints)HRT: Husband Replacement TherapyThe Boy Who Fell to EarthThe Revenge Clubđ§ Where to Find Kathy
đ kathylette.com
đž Instagram @kathylette
đŠ Twitter @kathylette
đĄ Takeaway
Bravery doesnât always mean charging into battle â sometimes it means writing down the truth about your world and refusing to apologise when people tell you to be quiet.
As Kathy says:
âIf not now, when? Youâve earned it. Go out there and be fabulous.â -
At seventeen, Kathy Lette lit a fuse that still burns bright today. She co-wrote Puberty Blues â the raw, funny, and confronting book that cracked open a national conversation about sexism, consent, and what it really meant to grow up female in Australia. It was banned. It was criticised. And it changed everything.
In this episode, host Sam Penny explores Kathyâs Spark, Struggle, and Breakthrough â how she turned outrage into art, pain into punchlines, and laughter into liberation. From fighting censorship in her teens to redefining modern feminism through wit, Kathyâs story is a masterclass in how honesty, courage, and a well-aimed joke can shift culture.
Youâll walk away inspired to speak up, laugh louder, and stop apologising for your truth.
In this episode, youâll discover:
How Puberty Blues became an act of rebellion that redefined Australian feminismWhy humour is Kathyâs greatest weapon â and how you can use it to tell hard truthsThe difference between being liked and being heardWhat Kathy learned about resilience, motherhood, and bravery from raising her autistic sonHow to find your voice â and keep it â even when the world pushes backReflection Prompts from the Episode:
Spark: I want to⊠/ I am going toâŠStruggle: I am afraid thatâŠBreakthrough: Even though I am afraid of⊠I will⊠anyway.đ§ Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts â and donât miss the full interview dropping Thursday.
đ Watch the full video interview and explore Kathyâs Guest Hub at sampenny.com/kathy-lette
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All week weâve been exploring the story of Lachie Smart, who at just 18 became the youngest person to fly solo around the world. We heard the spark at his kitchen table, the struggles of sponsorship setbacks and near disaster, and the breakthrough that carried him 45,000 km across the globe.
But today isnât about Lachieâs story â itâs about yours.
In this Action Friday episode, Sam Penny guides you to take the final step in the Spark â Struggle â Breakthrough â Action arc. Youâll:
Reflect on Lachieâs lessons of bravery and persistenceComplete the final sentence: âOne thing I will do this week to make a difference isâŠâChoose one small, practical action that moves you closer to your own impossible goalLearn why accountability matters and how to make your action real by sharing it with someone you trustYour spark, your struggle, your breakthrough â they all lead here. One action. This week. Because bravery isnât about being fearless. Itâs about doing the thing even with fear right beside you.
đ Explore Lachieâs full guest hub: sampenny.com/lachie-smart
If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend who needs the same nudge â and donât forget to subscribe to Whyâd You Think You Could Do That? so you never miss your next spark.
#ActionFriday #LachieSmart #Bravery #WhyDidYouThinkYouCouldDoThat
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At just 18 years old, Lachie Smart became the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world â a record-breaking journey of 45,000 kilometres, 24 countries, and 54 days alone in a single-engine plane. But this conversation goes deeper than the headline.
In this full interview with Sam Penny on Whyâd You Think You Could Do That?, Lachie reveals how an ordinary teenager with no money, no flying background, and no certainty turned a kitchen-table spark into a world record. Youâll hear:
The moment at 15 when he first declared, âIâm going to fly around the worldâA year of rejection and sponsorship failures â and the pitch that finally workedThe near-crash over Tasmania that almost ended the mission before it beganCrossing the Pacific solo: fatigue, fear, and 13 hours with nowhere to landBureaucratic battles, bribery attempts, and the kindness that broke him open in Sri LankaThe decision to trust his own eyes over air traffic control in IndonesiaThe emotional homecoming â and why he says âwe,â not âI,â when he tells this storyWhat life was really like after the record: the post-goal slump and the surprising lesson of empathyLachieâs story isnât about being fearless. Itâs about what happens when you keep moving forward with fear right beside you.
đ Explore Lachieâs guest hub: sampenny.com/lachie-smart
If this episode sparked something in you, donât keep it to yourself â share it with a friend who needs to hear that bravery doesnât wait for permission. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss the next conversation that could be the spark for your own impossible.
#LachieSmart #SoloFlight #YoungestPilot #Bravery #ImpossibleGoals #WhyDidYouThinkYouCouldDoThat
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At just 18 years old, Lachie Smart became the youngest person to fly solo around the world. But the real story isnât the record he broke â itâs how he faced fear, doubt, and near disaster and still kept moving forward.
In this short Spark > Struggle > Breakthrough episode, Sam Penny helps you take Lachieâs lessons and apply them to your own life. Youâll complete three simple but powerful prompts:
Spark: âI want to⊠I am going toâŠâStruggle: âI am afraid thatâŠâBreakthrough: âEven though I am afraid of⊠I will⊠anyway.âBy the end, youâll have your own map to bravery â and the next step towards your impossible goal.
đ„ Donât miss the full interview with Lachie Smart, dropping this Thursday on Whyâd You Think You Could Do That? Youâll hear the full story of how an ordinary teenager from the Sunshine Coast took on a dream the world thought was impossible.
đ If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend who needs that same push.
đ And be sure to subscribe to Whyâd You Think You Could Do That? on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen â because the next story could be the spark you need. -
This week, weâve walked through the extraordinary journey of Mark Agnew.
On Tuesday, we explored his Spark, Struggle, and Breakthrough.
On Thursday, you heard the full interview â the humiliations, the storms, the polar bears, and the redemption of becoming the first to kayak the Northwest Passage.Today, itâs about bringing it all together â because stories inspire us, but action transforms us.
In this Action episode, Iâll guide you through three practical steps inspired by Markâs story:
Reframe failure â Donât label it as the end. Call it Act Two of your story and ask: What could this moment be preparing me for?Resilience is not toughness â Flexibility, humour, and leaning on others make us stronger than grit alone.Take a small act of courage â Complete the sentence: âEven though Iâm afraid of ____, I will ____ anyway.âAnd to close the loop on the Spark â Struggle â Breakthrough â Interview â Action arc, youâll finish this sentence:
đ âOne thing I will do to make a differenceâŠâ
It doesnât need to be big. It just needs to be yours.
Markâs story reminds us that failure isnât the opposite of success â itâs part of it.
đ Links
Explore Markâs story: sampenny.com/mark-agnewTake your own impossible goal seriously â work with me 1:1: sampenny.com/action -
Episode: Mark Agnew â Failure, Resilience, and the Northwest Passage
Twice he set out to row the Atlantic. Twice he failed. One attempt ended in humiliation, splashed across newspapers as âCaptain Calamity.â The second haunted him for years as he questioned whether he was truly an adventurer at all.
But failure didnât end Mark Agnewâs story. It became the foundation of it.
In 2023, after 103 days in the Arctic, Mark and his team became the first to kayak the entire Northwest Passage â one of the last great polar challenges. Along the way, he faced polar bears, storms, fractured relationships, and the ghosts of his past.
What he discovered is that resilience isnât about gritting your teeth. Itâs about reframing failure, adapting, and finding meaning in the struggle
đ In This Episode
Growing up in the shadow of adventure â his father mapping Patagonia and his mother travelling solo across AsiaThe humiliation of being rescued after just 48 hours at sea â and why he immediately wanted to try againThe crushing weight of his second Atlantic failure, and how it became his âfork in the roadâHow a ÂŁ50,000 scam nearly ended his dream before it beganThe polar bear encounter that tested his courageWhat 103 days in the Arctic taught him about resilience, camaraderie, and the meaning of adventuređ Key Quotes
âIf youâre too tough, you canât be resilient. Real resilience is about adapting, laughing at yourself, and being brave enough to know that asking for help isnât weakness.ââFrame your struggles as part of the heroâs journey. The darkest moment isnât the end â itâs the turning point.ââFailure didnât define me. It refined me.âđ Learn More
Explore Markâs world: sampenny.com/mark-agnewWork 1:1 with me to tackle your own bold goals: sampenny.com/actionMarkâs story is proof that failure isnât the opposite of success. Itâs part of it.
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Twice he set out to row the Atlantic. Twice he failed. One attempt ended in humiliation, splashed across newspapers as âCaptain Calamity.â The other haunted him for years as he questioned whether he was really an adventurer â or just a pretender.
But failure didnât end Mark Agnewâs story. It gave it meaning.
In this Spark â Struggle â Breakthrough episode, we break down the pivotal moments in Markâs journey: the spark that pushed him into adventure, the struggles that almost crushed him, and the breakthrough that redefined what resilience really means.
đ Explore more about Mark at sampenny.com/mark-agnew
đ Key Takeaways
Spark: Adventure begins with a small invitation, a spark of curiosity.Struggle: Failure doesnât just stop you â it questions who you are.Breakthrough: True resilience isnât about being tough. Itâs about reframing failure into meaning.âïž Try It Yourself
Follow the same arc Mark lived through with these prompts:
Spark: I want to⊠I am going toâŠ
Example: I want to write a book that inspires others. I am going to draft the first chapter this weekend.Struggle: I am afraid thatâŠ
Example: I am afraid that if I share my writing, people will think itâs terrible and Iâll be embarrassed.Breakthrough: Even though I am afraid of⊠I will⊠anyway.
Example: Even though I am afraid of being judged, I will finish my draft and send it to a friend anyway.Closing
Markâs story shows us that failure doesnât define us â it refines us.
đ Hear his full interview on Thursday at sampenny.com/mark-agnew
.
đ And if youâre ready to tackle your own Spark â Struggle â Breakthrough with me directly, learn more about my 1:1 coaching at sampenny.com/actionIf this episode resonated, hit subscribe so you never miss the next story of someone saying yes to the impossible.
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At 8,000 metres, every breath burns. The wind cuts like knives, avalanches thunder past, and climbers face life-or-death decisions: push for the summit or stop to save a life.
Most of us will never stand on Everest, let alone all 14 of the worldâs highest peaks without oxygen or Sherpa support. But todayâs guest has done exactly that.
Andrew Lock is the only Australian to summit all fourteen 8,000-metre mountains. His story is one of resilience, risk, and relentless pursuit of the impossible.
In this episode of Why Do You Think You Could Do That?, Andrew shares:
How a slideshow in a country pub turned a young policeman into one of the worldâs elite mountaineers.The near-death moments on Everest, K2, Annapurna and beyond â and the choices that meant saving lives over summiting.Why he rejected oxygen bottles and Sherpa support to climb âpure.âThe psychological turning point where fear nearly made him retreat â and the mindset shift that defined his climbing career.The flatness that followed completing all 14 summits, and how he found new challenges in ocean sailing, Arctic expeditions, and beyond.Practical lessons on courage, risk, and stepping outside your comfort zone â no matter what mountain youâre climbing in life.âBravery isnât about being fearless. Itâs about what we do when fear shows up.â â Andrew LockIf youâve ever looked at a goal that seemed far out of reach, this conversation will show you that the next step is always possible.
Connect with Andrew Lock
đ Andrewâs Website
Connect with Sam Penny
đïž More episodes: sampenny.com/brave
đ€ Mentoring with Sam: sampenny.com/action -
Making progress on your dream doesnât begin with giant leaps. It begins with one undeniable step â the choice to keep chipping away anyway
This week on Whyâd You Think You Could Do That? weâve walked with Aaron Linsdau across the ice of Antarctica:
Spark â naming your dream.Struggle â facing the fear that tries to shut you down.Breakthrough â choosing to move forward anyway.Interview â Aaronâs full 82-day journey to the South Pole.And now, itâs Friday. The spotlight shifts from Aaron to you.
What Youâll Learn in This Episode
Why impossible doesnât demand 82 days of isolation â it demands one brave act today.How small, undeniable steps build momentum and belief.A simple exercise to declare and commit to action.Power Move
Write this sentence:
âOne thing I will do to make a difference isâŠâKeep it simple. Maybe itâs an email youâve been avoiding, a conversation you need to have, or one workout. Then say it out loud â and act on it this weekend.
Key Takeaway
Aaronâs difference wasnât skiing to the South Pole. It was refusing to quit when everything screamed at him to stop. Now itâs your turn. Donât wait. Make this the weekend you acted.
đ Explore Aaronâs full story and resources at his guest hub: sampenny.com/aaron-linsdau
đ Ready to take bold action in your own life? Work 1:1 with Sam: sampenny.com/action
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Most of us will never see Antarctica. Even fewer will try to cross it. And almost no one will spend longer alone on that frozen continent than todayâs guest.
In this episode, Sam Penny sits down with Aaron Linsdau, engineer turned polar adventurer, who became the second American to ski solo from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole, setting the record for the longest duration solo South Pole expedition: 82 days.
Aaron shares how an ordinary guy from San Diego transformed himself into one of the worldâs most resilient explorers. From pulling sleds loaded with 160kg of supplies across endless whiteouts, to losing half his calories when his butter went rancid, to hallucinating in the silence of Antarctica - this is a story of endurance, mindset, and what happens when you refuse to quit.
But this isnât just about ice, storms, and survival. Itâs about the power of incremental action, the mental game behind big goals, and why bravery isnât recklessness - itâs putting one foot forward when your whole body is telling you to stop.
Whether youâre chasing your own version of the South Pole - starting a business, running a marathon, or simply daring to step outside your comfort zone. Aaronâs story will show you whatâs possible when you decide that quitting isnât an option.
What Youâll Learn in This Episode:
How growing up in scouting shaped Aaronâs resilience and leadership The transition from a 20-year engineering career to becoming a polar adventurer The incremental steps that prepared him for Antarctica (and why small adventures matter) The reality of 82 days alone: whiteouts, hallucinations, hunger, and mental battles Lessons from near failure â including rancid butter and breaking gear Why bravery means putting your toe over the line, not chasing adrenaline Practical lessons anyone can apply to everyday life â from setting goals to facing fearConnect with Aaron Linsdau:
Website: AaronRLinsdau.comYouTube: A. LinsdauBooks & Films: Available via AmazonShow on Amazon PrimeConnect with Sam Penny:
Website: sampenny.comFollow on social: @90dayswithsamQuote to Remember:
"As long as you keep chipping away at it, you always have a chance. Quitting simply isnât an option." â Aaron Linsdau -
What if the very thing holding you back could become the thing that carries you forward?
In this Breakthrough episode of Whyâd You Think You Could Do That?, host Sam Penny shares how Aaron Linsdau found progress in the middle of Antarcticaâs brutal storms, starvation, and hallucinations. His lesson: the mind screams loudest just before progress shows
What Youâll Learn in This Episode
Why the hardest days and darkest moments often sit right on the edge of breakthrough.The truth about fear: it doesnât vanish â you move forward with it.A simple exercise to transform fear into forward motion.Key Takeaway
Breakthroughs donât arrive when fear disappears. They arrive the moment you refuse to let fear stop you.
Power Move
Take the fear you wrote yesterday and complete this sentence:
Even though Iâm afraid of ____, I will ____ anyway.Say it out loud. Let yourself hear your own voice commit to moving forward.
đ Explore Aaronâs full story and resources at his guest hub: sampenny.com/aaron-linsdau
đ Ready to break through in your own life? Work 1:1 with Sam: sampenny.com/action
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What if the thing standing between you and your dream isnât the world outside you, but the voice inside your own head?
In this Struggle episode of Whyâd You Think You Could Do That?, host Sam Penny takes us inside Aaron Linsdauâs 82-day solo expedition across Antarctica â where silence, hunger, and hallucinations werenât his biggest enemies. The real battle was with the voice inside his mind telling him to quit
What Youâll Learn in This Episode
How Aaron endured the relentless mental storms of Antarctica.Why fear and excuses are signs that youâre pushing into territory that matters.A practical exercise to shrink your struggle by naming it out loud.Key Takeaway
The voice that says stop isnât reality. Itâs your brain trying to protect you, pulling you back to comfort. Recognise it, name it, and keep moving forward. Because the brave ones arenât the ones without struggle â theyâre the ones who walk through it anyway.
Power MoveTake the spark you wrote yesterday. Now write the fear that stands beside it. Start with:
âI am afraid thatâŠâThen say it out loud. Struggles grow in silence. When you name them, they begin to shrink.
đ Explore Aaronâs full story, interviews, and resources at his guest hub: sampenny.com/aaron-linsdauđ Ready to take on your own impossible? Work 1:1 with Sam at: sampenny.com/action
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