Why'd You Think You Could Do That?

Sam Penny
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They’ve swum oceans, scaled mountains, launched empires, and shattered expectations. But before they did any of it, someone, maybe even themselves, thought: “You can’t do that.” Hosted by Sam Penny, Why’d You Think You Could Do That? dives into the minds of people who said “screw it” and went for it anyway. From adventurers and elite athletes to wildcard entrepreneurs and creative renegades, each episode unpacks the one question they all have in common: “Why'd you think you could do that?” If you’re wired for more, haunted by big ideas, or just sick of playing it safe, this is your show.

  1. 26/11/2025

    David Keohan – The Man Bringing Ireland’s Lost Stone-Lifting Culture Back to Life

    Centuries ago, young men in Celtic villages proved their strength and identity not in gyms but by lifting stones older than memory — 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 — some untouched for generations — 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, David’s story shows how one person with a spark of curiosity can ignite a global movement. “The stones don’t care about who you are — they only want to be lifted.” — David Keohan📌 Based on our conversation recording — source:  🔥 Key Episode Themes Reviving ancient rites of passage — 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 — and how colonialism wiped many of them from memoryWhy people weep when they lift these stonesThe moment David lifted Ireland’s most sacred stone — 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 meaning🏋️ Who is David Keohan? Two-time World Champion in kettlebell sportFounder of the movement restoring Ireland’s 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 lifting📍Episode Chapters TimeChapter00:00 | The myth, the stones, and the revival begins07:00 | From overweight dad to world champion10:00 | The pandemic and a spark in the garden14:00 | Lifting the legendary Fianna Stone in Scotland18:00 | First discovery on the Aran Islands26:00 | The moment that brought an entire island to tears39:00 | Ancient strength on mountaintops46:00 | What villages gain when stones are rediscovered53:00 | A movement that’s now circling the world59:00 | Why young people are craving real challenge1:05:00 | A call to action: “Don’t overthink it — just start” 🎧 Listen + Watch 📸 Featured Stone Locations in This Episode Inis Mór — Mór na Port Véal an DúinThe Seafin Stone, County DerryWakes & Harvest stones in County Clare…and many more emerging from the earth once again🧭 Connect with David Keohan Instagram: @indianastones Documentary: Made of Stone – RTE (global release pending) 🚀 Ready to Find (and Lift) Your Impossible? David reclaimed a national tradition. You have your own stone to lift. If you’re a business owner who wants to build a company that runs without you — and one day sells for a life-changing exit — let’s work together. 👉 Work with Sam 1-on-1 https://sampenny.com/action Or explore all coaching & programs: https://sampenny.com Let’s make your impossible… inevitable.

    1h 9m

  2. 12/11/2025

    Pedalling Beyond Borders: Dr Kate Leeming on Purpose-Driven Adventure

    What drives someone to cycle across Africa, through Siberia, over Australia’s wildest tracks, and into the remote corners of the Himalayas — 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: 🚴 Kate’s early spark for exploration and sport 🌍 Her most transformative expeditions — from the Canning Stock Route to the Skeleton Coast 🧭 What it means to have a “North Star” mission 📚 How she brings global stories into classrooms through immersive education 💡 The mindset that helps her turn adversity into impact ✨ Why true adventure isn’t about conquering — it’s about connecting Kate isn’t just an explorer — she’s 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. 🔗 Connect with Dr Kate Leeming 🌐 Website: breakingthecycle.education 📸 Instagram: @leeming_kate 📘 Book: Out There and Back 🎥 Watch her films, access school resources, and follow her next expedition 💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who’s ready to choose the uphill path. 🧭 Follow Sam Penny on Instagram @90dayswithsam and visit sampenny.com for more episodes of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?

    1h 26m

  3. 22/10/2025

    From Wheelchair to World Record: Liam's Beville's Fight

    When Liam Beville was 18, a stolen car mounted a curb in Limerick and crushed both his legs. Doctors told him he’d never walk again. But Liam didn’t just walk — he deadlifted 285 kg to become a Guinness World Record holder, and 310 kg at 75 kg bodyweight to become one of Ireland’s greatest lifters of all time. This episode is about defying prognosis, rewriting identity, and proving that mindset is stronger than muscle. 💥 In This Episode Sam Penny sits down with Irish powerlifter Liam Beville to explore: Growing up in a tough Limerick household surrounded by disability — 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 — and why he refused to accept the label “disabled”.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 — and holding them all simultaneously.Becoming the oldest and lightest man ever to hold the Guinness World Record for heaviest disabled deadlift.What “strength” really means after six decades of pain, purpose, and perspective.🧠 Key Lessons Labels limit you. Don’t let anyone define what’s possible for you.Sit with pain. Whether physical or emotional, resisting it gives it power.Control the controllables. Focus on what’s within your reach — and forget the rest.Success and failure are imposters. Treat both the same, as Rudyard Kipling wrote in If.Never too late. At 60, Liam’s still training to break his own world record — proving you’re never too old to start again.🗣️ Memorable Quotes “Opinions are like assholes — everyone has one. But they don’t know me.” “Pain became my friend — it reminds me I’m alive.” “If you want it, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” “You don’t have a disability; you have a different ability.” “I’m a bit of metal and a lot of mindset.”💪 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 that’s kept him competing into his 60s.The one thing he wants every listener to remember: “Control what you can and forget the rest.”🎯 Why You Should Listen If you’ve ever felt broken, too old, too tired, or too far gone — this story will wake something up inside you. It’s not about lifting weights. It’s about lifting yourself.

    1h 27m

  4. 16/10/2025

    Turn Up Anyway: A Friday Push from John Williamson’s Journey

    This short, punchy episode isn’t a checklist—it’s a rally. Drawing on John Williamson’s 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 history—Mawson 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 time—this is the lift you take into Saturday to move your real work forward. What You’ll Hear Courage as a calendar entry, not a moodWhy structure beats story when things feel messyMaking fear smaller than the next stepThe power of subtraction—closing the wrong things to let the right things liveBorrowing belief: “You can take more load than that”Anchor Quotes “Even though I’m afraid of failing again, I will keep turning up anyway.”“Courage is a calendar entry, not a mood.”“Make fear smaller than the next step.”“Subtraction can be growth.”“You can take more load than that.”Timeline 00:00 – Why this isn’t tactics—it’s a reminder you carry into the weekend01:00 – What John really taught us: breath, structure, consistency03:00 – History’s quiet cousins: Mawson, Jessop, Farnsworth, Wilkins, Watson04:40 – What this weekend is for: momentum over perfection05:30 – 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 perfection—so by Sunday night you feel earned pride, not regret. Light Reflection Prompts Where can I choose structure over story this weekend?What’s 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/applepodcasts Spotify: https://sampenny.com/spotify YouTube: https://youtu.be/3SBQAPV4_xc?si=yjyfuU15J90X8_xf Explore the Guest Hub Show notes, quotes and links: https://sampenny.com/john-williamson Credits Host: Sam Penny Series: Why’d You Think You Could Do That?

    7 min

  5. 15/10/2025

    From Rock Bottom to Redemption: John Williamson on Bravery, Burnout, and Building Again

    The phone buzzes. It’s the bank. Payroll is due tomorrow and the numbers don’t add up. Most people would call that rock bottom — 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 isn’t about climbing mountains — it’s 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 — not the glory, but the grit. From his darkest moments to his rebirth through ultra-endurance running and boxing, John’s story is a masterclass in resilience, self-discipline, and redefining success on your own terms. 🧭 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 can’t pay them — 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 life’s work — and what’s next with Col Ferret HoldingsWhy sometimes, “You can take more load than that” is exactly the advice you need🧱 Key Quotes “I didn’t know if I could do it — but I knew I’d keep turning up.”“When you’re the last line of defence, there’s no one left to pass the problem to.”“Bravery isn’t about the big gestures. It’s about getting up again tomorrow when every part of you wants to stay down.”“You can take more load than that.” — A line that changed everything.⚡️ The Brave Moment John’s moment of truth came standing on an airport tarmac, $8,000 over his overdraft, with payroll due in two days. Panic set in — but instead of breaking, he built new habits, found mentorship, and clawed his way back to solvency. That single decision — to keep showing up — reshaped not just his business, but who he became. 🥊 The Lesson Rock bottom isn’t failure. It’s feedback. It’s where you decide who you’re going to be next. 🌍 Connect with John Williamson LinkedIn: John Williamson (search “John Williamson Construct Health” — 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.

    1h 8m

  6. 13/10/2025

    When the Numbers Don’t Add Up: John Williamson’s Spark, Struggle & Breakthrough

    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 “turning up anyway.” Key Moments Spark: “I want to build something of my own. I’m going to help people heal.” Launching Construct Health during the GFC; early growth across clinics and mine sites.Struggle: Banking app shock — $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: “Even though I’m afraid of failing again, I will keep turning up anyway.” Precision cashflow, mentor advice — “You can take more load than that” — 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 I’ve taken on too much / people will lose faith / if I stop pushing it’ll all collapse.Breakthrough: Even though I am afraid of ________ , I will ________ anyway. e.g., …failing again, I will take the next step anyway / …being judged, I will keep showing up anyway.Memorable Quotes “It wasn’t the money that nearly broke me. It was the responsibility.”“Even though I’m afraid of failing again, I will keep turning up anyway.”“You can take more load than that.”Why It Matters This episode reframes resilience as a daily practice: breath before reaction, structure over panic, and a single next step taken repeatedly. It’s a toolkit for founders and leaders when the spreadsheet doesn’t match the story. Links Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3SBQAPV4_xc?si=yjyfuU15J90X8_xf Apple Podcasts: https://sampenny.com/applepodcasts Spotify: https://sampenny.com/spotify Guest Hub: /john-williamsonCredits Host: Sam Penny. Series: Why’d You Think You Could Do That?

    6 min

  7. 09/10/2025

    Speak the Truth Anyway: Kathy Lette and the Courage to Laugh Through Fear

    In this week’s Action episode of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, host Sam Penny takes inspiration from one of the sharpest minds in modern feminism — Kathy Lette — 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 — but instead of backing down, she doubled down, using wit as her weapon and laughter as her form of protest. Across her career, she’s 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 doesn’t just happen in the extremes — 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: “One thing I will do to make a difference…”Maybe it’s calling out a double standard. Maybe it’s sharing your true opinion in a meeting. Or maybe it’s finally admitting what you really want. Whatever it is, say it — with honesty, with kindness, and, if you can, with humour. Because as Kathy reminds us, laughter doesn’t diminish truth; it makes it digestible. It opens hearts that anger closes. And when you use it with courage, it turns confrontation into connection. This is your week to speak up anyway — 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. “The most powerful thing you can do this week isn’t to be perfect — it’s to be real.”Tune in, take the challenge, and discover why sometimes, bravery doesn’t roar — it giggles, it winks, and it writes a banned book.

    6 min

  8. 08/10/2025

    Kathy Lette: The Mischievous Feminist Who Turned Outrage into Art

    At just 17, Kathy Lette co-wrote Puberty Blues — 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 impossibleIt’s cheeky. It’s sharp. And it’s classic Kathy — part stand-up, part masterclass in rebellion, and completely unapologetic. 💬 Key Quotes “Women are each other’s human wonder bras — uplifting, supportive, and making each other look bigger and better.”“I always write the book I wish I had when I was going through it.”“Humour is my weapon. If you can make someone laugh, you can slip the medicine down more easily.”“There’s ordinary and there’s extraordinary — and people on the spectrum are extraordinary.”“Optimism isn’t an eye disease. Be positive. Never turn down an adventure.”🧩 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 won’t — and doing it with wit.🔥 The Brave Moment When Kathy’s son Jules was diagnosed with autism, she says it was the hardest — and most defining — chapter of her life. “There’s no owner’s manual for an autistic child. That was when I had to dig deepest for bravery.”📚 Kathy’s Books Mentioned Puberty BluesGirls’ Night OutHow to Kill Your Husband (and Other Handy Household Hints)HRT: Husband Replacement TherapyThe Boy Who Fell to EarthThe Revenge Club🧭 Where to Find Kathy 📖 kathylette.com  📸 Instagram @kathylette 🐦 Twitter @kathylette 💡 Takeaway Bravery doesn’t always mean charging into battle — sometimes it means writing down the truth about your world and refusing to apologise when people tell you to be quiet. As Kathy says: “If not now, when? You’ve earned it. Go out there and be fabulous.”

    1h 11m
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They’ve swum oceans, scaled mountains, launched empires, and shattered expectations. But before they did any of it, someone, maybe even themselves, thought: “You can’t do that.” Hosted by Sam Penny, Why’d You Think You Could Do That? dives into the minds of people who said “screw it” and went for it anyway. From adventurers and elite athletes to wildcard entrepreneurs and creative renegades, each episode unpacks the one question they all have in common: “Why'd you think you could do that?” If you’re wired for more, haunted by big ideas, or just sick of playing it safe, this is your show.

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