Why'd You Think You Could Do That?

Why'd You Think You Could Do That?

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.

Episodes

August 20, 2025 62 mins

When you hear the name Jim’s Mowing, you probably think of the trailers, the uniforms, and the empire of small business owners mowing lawns across Australia. But behind the mower is a man whose true mission has always been far bigger than lawns.

In this episode of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, I sit down with Jim Penman, founder of Jim’s Group - a business that now spans over 5,000 franchisees in 50 industries. While ...

Mark as Played

In this Bravery Digest, Sam Penny reminds us of a truth that stops far too many people from doing something extraordinary: you don’t need permission.

Most of us wait — for the right time, the right feeling, or someone else’s approval. But bravery isn’t about waiting. It’s about acting before you’re ready.

In this 2-minute burst of courage, you’ll discover:

  • Why waiting for permission keeps you stuck.
  • How action creates mome...
Mark as Played

What if the bravest thing you ever did wasn’t crossing a finish line, but starting again after falling short the first time?

In this gripping episode, Sam Penny sits down with Paul Watkins, pharmacist by day, ultra-endurance adventurer by choice. Paul shares how a career in retail pharmacy turned into a journey through the world’s most extreme environments, including a 614-kilometre footrace through the Canadian Arctic wher...

Mark as Played

🧠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

In this short solo drop, host Sam Penny flips the script on fear.

We all feel it—whether you're leading a business, standing on the edge of a bold new move, or simply facing a tough personal decision. But waiting for fear to disappear? That’s not how brave people operate.

In this episode, Sam introduces his practical 3-step Fear to Fuel Framework—a tool designed to help you move through fea...

Mark as Played

What were you doing at 17?

Brianna Thompson was swimming the English Channel; not once, but twice, in one go. In this epic episode of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, Sam Penny sits down with the second-youngest person in history to complete a double crossing of the Channel, and the youngest to do it three times in a single year.

But behind the headlines is a powerful story of grit, fear, identity, and resilience.

🎧 In th...

Mark as Played

In today’s Bravery Digest, Sam Penny throws down the gauntlet: Are you leading your life from courage, or coasting in your comfort zone?

This isn’t just another motivational pep talk. Sam introduces the Bravery Audit; a 5-question pulse check designed to help you spot the subtle ways comfort creeps in and quietly takes over.

If you’ve ever found yourself playing small, avoiding discomfort, or hesitating when it’s time to lea...

Mark as Played

What do you do when your mast snaps in the middle of the Southern Ocean, 1,000 miles from land, no engine, no sails, no rescue on the way? You fight. You survive. And then you go back and finish what you started.

In this gripping episode, Sam Penny sits down with Lisa Blair, world record-holding solo sailor, bestselling author of Facing Fear, and subject of the documentary Ice Maiden. Lisa recounts the harrowing night her b...

Mark as Played
July 28, 2025 2 mins

This week on the Bravery Digest, Sam Penny explores the real difference between people who move boldly and those who stay stuck: the speed of their decisions. Discover why acting before your fear takes hold is the single most powerful habit you can build, and get Sam’s practical “Two-Minute Rule” for making braver choices—starting now.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bravery isn’t about being fearless—it’s about acting before fear talks ...
Mark as Played

Episode Summary
Gerrard Gosens has never seen the path ahead — literally. Born completely blind, Gerrard has defied every limitation the world tried to place on him. In this episode, Sam Penny dives deep into Gerrard’s extraordinary life of endurance, from running ultra-marathons and representing Australia at the Paralympics to climbing Mount Everest, dancing on national television, and launching a chocolate empire.

Whe...

Mark as Played

Most people wait to “feel” brave. But what if that’s the wrong game entirely?

In this Bravery Digest, Sam Penny breaks down why you don’t rise to the level of your motivation — you fall to the level of your environment. Motivation fades. Willpower runs dry. But if you build the right systems, routines and surroundings, bravery becomes inevitable.

This short, sharp solo episode gives you five tactical ways to build an environ...

Mark as Played

This Man Destroys People for Fun | Lazarus Lake on Endurance, Suffering & Why Most People Quit

📝 Episode Description / Show Notes:
In this episode, Sam Penny sits down with the legendary Lazarus Lake—the mysterious mastermind behind the Barkley Marathons and the man who’s redefined human limits through races that most never finish.

You’ll hear the raw and unfiltered philosophy of a man who builds races designed to b...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Bravery Digest — your weekly 3-minute mindset reset from Why’d You Think You Could Do That?

In this first mini-episode, host Sam Penny reveals one of the most powerful habits for stepping up in business, life, and leadership: the 90-Second Courage Habit.

Bravery isn’t a personality trait — it’s a muscle. One you can train, daily, in just 90 seconds.

You’ll learn:

  • Why the boldest people act before fear catche...
Mark as Played

Welcome to Why’d You Think You Could Do That?
Hosted by Sam Penny: entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and Coach for the Brave.

This podcast is for anyone who’s ever had a bold idea… and wondered if they were crazy to try it.

Each week, we dive into the minds of people who’ve done the extraordinary, not because they had permission, but because they chose to start before they felt ready.

From founders and creators to athletes...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

    Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.