Why'd You Think You Could Do That?

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:
  • Spark: “I want to… I am going to…”
  • Struggle: “I am afraid that…”
  • Breakthrough: “Even though I am afraid of… I will… anyway.”
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.

Creators and Guests

Host
Sam Penny
Sam Penny is an adventurer, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker who lives by the mantra “Say YES! to the Impossible.” From swimming the English Channel in winter to building and selling multi-million-dollar companies, Sam thrives on pushing boundaries in both business and life. As host of Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, he sits down with ordinary people who have done extraordinary things, uncovering the mindset, resilience, and bold decisions that made it possible — and showing listeners why their own impossible is closer than they think.

What is 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.

Sam Penny (00:00)
I'm Sam Penny and this is Why Do Think You Could Do That? This Thursday, you'll hear my full interview with Lachie Smart, the youngest person to fly solo around the world. At just 18, he circumnavigated the globe in a single engine plane. But today, we're going to take his story and turn it into yours. Because Lachie's record isn't what matters most. What matters is how he faced fear, doubt, and near disaster and kept going anyway.

So let's walk through spark struggle and breakthrough together. As we go, I'll give you prompts, say them out loud if you can or jot them down. And by the end of this episode, you'll have your own map to bravery. Lachie, the sparks started at 15. Sitting at the kitchen table, he turned to his mom and said, I'm gonna fly around the world. He had no license, no money, no sponsors, just a spark. Now it's your turn, complete this sentence.

I want to, and then I'm going to. Here's an example. I want to run a half marathon. I'm going to sign up for one this week, or I want to launch my own business. I'm going to test my first idea in the next 30 days. Take a breath, say it out loud. I want to, I'm going to. That is your spark. The spark feels exciting, but the struggle always follows. And for Lachie, the struggle was sponsors saying no.

People online telling him that he'd and even nearly crashing in Tasmania just three weeks before takeoff. His father picked up the phone in tears thinking his son was gone. And now it's your turn. Complete this sentence. I'm afraid that, here's an example. I'm afraid that I'll fail in front of everyone. Or I'm afraid that I'll waste my time and money chasing something that doesn't work. And say it honestly.

Fear only loses grip when you name it. And here's where everything shifts. Lachie's breakthrough wasn't about confidence. It wasn't certainty. It was persistence. The decision to keep flying when most people would have quit. That's what carried him across 45,000 kilometers through storms and setbacks and eventually home with a world record. And now it's your turn. Complete this sentence. Even though I'm afraid of, I will anyway.

And here's an example of how that comes together. Even though I'm afraid of failing, I will run my first workshop anyway. Or even though I'm afraid of wasting time, I will block out one hour this week anyway. Say it, feel it. This is your breakthrough.

So today you've declared your spark, your struggle and your breakthrough. That's all bravery really is, choosing action in the presence of fear. And Lachie Smart didn't succeed because he was fearless. He succeeded because he kept going with fear right there in the cockpit. And on Thursday, you'll hear the full story in my interview with Lachie from his kitchen table dream at 15 to the moment he touched back down at 18 as the youngest person.

to fly solo around the world. Don't miss it. I'm Sam Penny, and this is, why do you think you could do that? And remember, if this episode sparked something in you, make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss an interview and share it with a friend who needs the same push today. Until next time, keep saying yes to the impossible.