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:
🧠 Key Lessons
🗣️ Memorable Quotes
“Opinions are like assholes — everyone has one. But they don’t know me.”💪 The Brave Five
Liam reveals:
🎯 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.
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
Anchor Quotes
Timeline
Why 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
Listen
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?
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
🧱 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
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
Listener Prompts (Fill-in-the-Blanks)
Memorable Quotes
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
Credits
Host: Sam Penny. Series: Why’d You Think You Could Do That?
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.
Tune in, take the challenge, and discover why sometimes, bravery doesn’t roar — it giggles, it winks, and it writes a banned book.
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:
It’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
🔥 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
🧭 Where to Find Kathy
📖 kathylette.com
💡 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.”At seventeen, Kathy Lette lit a fuse that still burns bright today. She co-wrote Puberty Blues — 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 Kathy’s Spark, Struggle, and Breakthrough — 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, Kathy’s story is a masterclass in how honesty, courage, and a well-aimed joke can shift culture.
You’ll walk away inspired to speak up, laugh louder, and stop apologising for your truth.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Reflection Prompts from the Episode:
🎧 Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t miss the full interview dropping Thursday.
👉 Watch the full video interview and explore Kathy’s Guest Hub at sampenny.com/kathy-lette
All week we’ve 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 isn’t about Lachie’s story — it’s about yours.
In this Action Friday episode, Sam Penny guides you to take the final step in the Spark → Struggle → Breakthrough → Action arc. You’ll:
Your spark, your struggle, your breakthrough — they all lead here. One action. This week. Because bravery isn’t about being fearless. It’s about doing the thing even with fear right beside you.
👉 Explore Lachie’s full guest hub: sampenny.com/lachie-smart
If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend who needs the same nudge — and don’t forget to subscribe to Why’d You Think You Could Do That? so you never miss your next spark.
#ActionFriday #LachieSmart #Bravery #WhyDidYouThinkYouCouldDoThat
At just 18 years old, Lachie Smart became the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world — 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 Why’d 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. You’ll hear:
Lachie’s story isn’t about being fearless. It’s about what happens when you keep moving forward with fear right beside you.
📍 Explore Lachie’s guest hub: sampenny.com/lachie-smart
If this episode sparked something in you, don’t keep it to yourself — share it with a friend who needs to hear that bravery doesn’t 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
At just 18 years old, Lachie Smart became the youngest person to fly solo around the world. But the real story isn’t the record he broke — it’s 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 Lachie’s lessons and apply them to your own life. You’ll complete three simple but powerful prompts:
By the end, you’ll have your own map to bravery — and the next step towards your impossible goal.
🔥 Don’t miss the full interview with Lachie Smart, dropping this Thursday on Why’d You Think You Could Do That? You’ll hear the full story of how an ordinary teenager from the Sunshine Coast took on a dream the world thought was impossible.
👉 If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend who needs that same push.
👉 And be sure to subscribe to Why’d You Think You Could Do That? on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — because the next story could be the spark you need.
This week, we’ve walked through the extraordinary journey of Mark Agnew.
On Tuesday, we explored his Spark, Struggle, and Breakthrough.
On Thursday, you heard the full interview — the humiliations, the storms, the polar bears, and the redemption of becoming the first to kayak the Northwest Passage.
Today, it’s about bringing it all together — because stories inspire us, but action transforms us.
In this Action episode, I’ll guide you through three practical steps inspired by Mark’s story:
And to close the loop on the Spark → Struggle → Breakthrough → Interview → Action arc, you’ll finish this sentence:
👉 “One thing I will do to make a difference…”
It doesn’t need to be big. It just needs to be yours.
Mark’s story reminds us that failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s part of it.
🌍 Links
Episode: Mark Agnew — 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 “Captain Calamity.” The second haunted him for years as he questioned whether he was truly an adventurer at all.
But failure didn’t end Mark Agnew’s 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 — 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 isn’t about gritting your teeth. It’s about reframing failure, adapting, and finding meaning in the struggle
🔑 In This Episode
🌟 Key Quotes
🌍 Learn More
Mark’s story is proof that failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of it.
Twice he set out to row the Atlantic. Twice he failed. One attempt ended in humiliation, splashed across newspapers as “Captain Calamity.” The other haunted him for years as he questioned whether he was really an adventurer — or just a pretender.
But failure didn’t end Mark Agnew’s story. It gave it meaning.
In this Spark → Struggle → Breakthrough episode, we break down the pivotal moments in Mark’s journey: the spark that pushed him into adventure, the struggles that almost crushed him, and the breakthrough that redefined what resilience really means.
👉 Explore more about Mark at sampenny.com/mark-agnew
🔑 Key Takeaways
✍️ Try It Yourself
Follow the same arc Mark lived through with these prompts:
Closing
Mark’s story shows us that failure doesn’t define us — it refines us.
👉 Hear his full interview on Thursday at sampenny.com/mark-agnew
.
👉 And if you’re ready to tackle your own Spark → Struggle → Breakthrough with me directly, learn more about my 1:1 coaching at sampenny.com/action
If this episode resonated, hit subscribe so you never miss the next story of someone saying yes to the impossible.
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 world’s highest peaks without oxygen or Sherpa support. But today’s 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:
If you’ve 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
Connect with Sam Penny
🎙️ More episodes: sampenny.com/brave
👤 Mentoring with Sam: sampenny.com/action
Making progress on your dream doesn’t begin with giant leaps. It begins with one undeniable step — the choice to keep chipping away anyway
This week on Why’d You Think You Could Do That? we’ve walked with Aaron Linsdau across the ice of Antarctica:
And now, it’s Friday. The spotlight shifts from Aaron to you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Power Move
Write this sentence:
Keep it simple. Maybe it’s an email you’ve been avoiding, a conversation you need to have, or one workout. Then say it out loud — and act on it this weekend.
Key Takeaway
Aaron’s difference wasn’t skiing to the South Pole. It was refusing to quit when everything screamed at him to stop. Now it’s your turn. Don’t wait. Make this the weekend you acted.
🌍 Explore Aaron’s full story and resources at his guest hub: sampenny.com/aaron-linsdau
🚀 Ready to take bold action in your own life? Work 1:1 with Sam: sampenny.com/action
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 today’s 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 world’s 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 isn’t just about ice, storms, and survival. It’s about the power of incremental action, the mental game behind big goals, and why bravery isn’t recklessness - it’s putting one foot forward when your whole body is telling you to stop.
Whether you’re chasing your own version of the South Pole - starting a business, running a marathon, or simply daring to step outside your comfort zone. Aaron’s story will show you what’s possible when you decide that quitting isn’t an option.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Connect with Aaron Linsdau:
Connect with Sam Penny:
Quote to Remember:
"As long as you keep chipping away at it, you always have a chance. Quitting simply isn’t an option." – Aaron Linsdau
What if the very thing holding you back could become the thing that carries you forward?
In this Breakthrough episode of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, host Sam Penny shares how Aaron Linsdau found progress in the middle of Antarctica’s brutal storms, starvation, and hallucinations. His lesson: the mind screams loudest just before progress shows
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Key Takeaway
Breakthroughs don’t 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:
Say it out loud. Let yourself hear your own voice commit to moving forward.
🌍 Explore Aaron’s full story and resources at his guest hub: sampenny.com/aaron-linsdau
🚀 Ready to break through in your own life? Work 1:1 with Sam: sampenny.com/action
What if the thing standing between you and your dream isn’t the world outside you, but the voice inside your own head?
In this Struggle episode of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, host Sam Penny takes us inside Aaron Linsdau’s 82-day solo expedition across Antarctica — where silence, hunger, and hallucinations weren’t his biggest enemies. The real battle was with the voice inside his mind telling him to quit
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Key Takeaway
The voice that says stop isn’t reality. It’s your brain trying to protect you, pulling you back to comfort. Recognise it, name it, and keep moving forward. Because the brave ones aren’t the ones without struggle — they’re the ones who walk through it anyway.
Power Move
Take the spark you wrote yesterday. Now write the fear that stands beside it. Start with:
Then say it out loud. Struggles grow in silence. When you name them, they begin to shrink.
🌍 Explore Aaron’s full story, interviews, and resources at his guest hub: sampenny.com/aaron-linsdau
🚀 Ready to take on your own impossible? Work 1:1 with Sam at: sampenny.com/action
Most people will never step foot in Antarctica. Even fewer will ski across it. Almost no one will spend longer alone on that continent than Aaron Linsdau. For 82 days, it was just one man, two sleds, and the endless white stretching toward the South Pole
In this Spark episode of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, host Sam Penny draws from Aaron’s powerful mantra:
“As long as you keep chipping away at it, you always have a chance. Quitting simply isn’t an option.”What You’ll Hear in This Spark
Key Takeaway
Aaron didn’t reach the South Pole in one giant leap. He got there step by step, ski by ski, refusing to give in. And you don’t need Antarctica to prove it—you just need to take the first step and remember that quitting isn’t an option.
Power Move
Write it down:
Then say it out loud. Because when you give words to your spark, you give it weight.
For Aaron's Guest Hub, head to sampenny.com/aaron-linsdau
To work !:1 with Sam, head to sampenny.com/action
Making a difference doesn’t always mean changing the whole world overnight - it begins with one undeniable step.
In this short, powerful episode of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, Sam Penny takes inspiration from adventurer and conservationist Sacha Dench, whose decision to follow migrating swans turned into a 7,000km flight across continents. But more remarkable than the distance was the ripple effect of her action; hunters, fish farmers, kitesurfers, and even power companies changed their habits, leading to the first rise in swan numbers in 25 years.
Sam challenges you to take your own step. This week, you’ve identified your spark, acknowledged your struggle, and declared your breakthrough. Now it’s time to move from thinking to doing.
Your Power Move:
Write this sentence: “This weekend, I will make a difference by…”—and finish it. Keep it simple. Keep it real. And act before Monday arrives.
Because impossible doesn’t begin with giant leaps. It begins with one choice, one action, and the courage to follow through.
👉 Listen now and discover how a single step could be the spark that changes your world- or someone else’s.
For the Power Move action sheets, CLICK HERE
To work 1:1 with Sam, head to sampenny.com/action