Change is Possible

Bressie (Niall Breslin) reflects on some of the most difficult chapters of his life—from living through war as a teenager on the Lebanon-Israel border to battling depression during his rugby career. He shares how these experiences shaped his relationship with anxiety, the isolating effect of loneliness, and the role of expression, language, and community in healing. The discussion broadens to examine how neoliberalism, bureaucracy, and individualism have fuelled crises in housing, healthcare, and inequality, while also deepening disconnection. Together, we explore the myths of achievement, the balance between discipline and rest, and the values that now guide Bressie’s life—family, creativity, and connection. Ultimately, the conversation highlights that true resilience and meaningful change stem not from relentless striving or medicalising social struggles, but from redefining our values, embracing community, and acknowledging the impermanence of both suffering and success.

Follow Bressie: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bressie/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-breslin-730646a4/ Change is Possible with Brian Pennie: ⬛ Get FREE access to Brian’s online courses - https://brian-pennie-pd.kit.com/a3bff3f22a⬛ Buy Brian’s memoir, Bonus Time - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bonus-Time/dp/B0882N4Y4G/⬛ Follow Brian on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brianpennie78/⁠⬛ Follow Brian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-pennie/Sponsors: The Kyne Foundation https://www.kynefoundation.org/Imagine having a sponsor whose only interest is creating positive ripple effects of change around the world. I first met Jacqueline and David Kyne from the Kyne Foundation when they introduced me to Dr Gabor Mate in 2024, an incredible “pinch myself” moment in my own life. With a focus on nurturing youth wellbeing and empowering education, The Kyne Foundation's belief is simple: kindness is powerful, practical, and worth paying forward. Over the next few episodes, we’ll be sharing weekly challenges inspired by their work and ethos: small actions create big ripples. Our simple ask? Go be kind to yourself, to others, and your community. Because kindness is contagious.

Max Kennedy shares his journey from an uncertain 18-year-old on scholarship in the U.S. to a 23-year-old rising professional golfer with unshakable self-belief. He opens up about battling homesickness, handling self-doubt, and the intense competitiveness of elite sport. Max explains how undeniable facts, work ethic, and consistency have shaped his mindset—turning setbacks into resilience and belief into action. From his turning point in college to the pressures of competing against the world's best, he reveals the sacrifices, strategies, and competitive fire fueling his ambition to become the best golfer in the world. This conversation is about more than golf—it’s about how challenges forge strength, and how belief backed by hard work can change what’s possible.

Follow Max: Instagram

Change is Possible with Brian Pennie:

⬛ Get FREE access to Brian’s online courses

⬛ Buy Brian’s memoir, Bonus Time

⬛ Follow Brian on Instagram

⬛ Follow Brian on LinkedIn

Sponsors: The Kyne Foundation Imagine having a sponsor whose only interest is creating positive ripple effects of change around the world. I first met Jacqueline and David Kyne from the Kyne Foundation when they introduced me to Dr Gabor Mate in 2024, an incredible “pinch myself” moment in my own life. With a focus on nurturing youth wellbeing and empowering education, The Kyne Foundation's belief is simple: kindness is powerful, practical, and worth paying forward. Over the next few episodes, we’ll be sharing weekly challenges inspired by their work and ethos: small actions create big ripples. Our simple ask? Go be kind to yourself, to others, and your community. Because kindness is contagious.

0:00 — Moving to America at 18 & intense competition

3:30 — Homesickness, pressure & self-doubt

6:20 — Why challenges build resilience

8:40 — Acknowledging doubt instead of avoiding it

11:10 — Using evidence to fight negative thoughts

13:40 — Work ethic as confidence

16:10 — “I will become the best golfer in the world”

18:30 — Self-belief vs ego

21:00 — Actions follow identity

23:30 — Saying no to friends & social life

26:20 — Priorities and respect

29:10 — The cost of chasing excellence

31:20 — The turning point in college performance

34:40 — From average results to world rankings

37:00 — Talent vs hard work

39:10 — What flow really is

41:30 — Why routine creates performance

44:00 — Consistency over motivation

46:10 — Dealing with bad rounds & failure

48:30 — Perspective & “cosmic irrelevance”

50:10 — Controlling the controllables

52:00 — Breathwork & meditation

54:10 — Visualization & mental rehearsal

56:00 — Performing under pressure

57:30 — “Be borderline delusional”

58:30 — The importance of a plan

59:20 — Never quit

high performance mindset, athlete psychology, self belief psychology, discipline habits, mental toughness, flow state performance, visualization training, resilience mindset, success habits, change is possible podcast

At 32, with an 8-month-old baby, Georgie Crawford heard the words no one is ever ready for: “You have cancer.” In an instant, her world burned down. But what happens when there’s nowhere left to run? In this episode, Georgie shows how sitting with her pain, instead of numbing it, became the turning point of her life. Georgie speaks with extraordinary honesty about living in survival mode, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and the numbing behaviours she used to cope before illness forced her to stop running and finally stay with herself. What followed was the dismantling of identity, ego, and old coping mechanisms — and the beginning of self compassion, resilience, and deep personal growth.

Together, Brian and Georgie explore:

• Cancer as a catalyst for identity death and rebirth
• Why people-pleasing is often a trauma response
• The nervous system, stillness, and staying with discomfort
• The “burnt potato” metaphor and chronic self-sacrifice
• Self-talk, boundaries, and emotional regulation
• Community, connection, and what really makes life meaningful
• Why change is possible — even after life-altering trauma

This episode is for anyone who feels exhausted from holding it all together, stuck in busyness, or disconnected from themselves — and is ready to stop running and start listening.

Georgie Crawford is an Irish media personality and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of The Good Glow podcast, and a breast cancer survivor and advocate. Follow Georgie on Instagram and her website.

Change is Possible with Brian Pennie:

⬛ Get FREE access to Brian’s online courses

⬛ Buy Brian’s memoir, Bonus Time

⬛ Follow Brian on Instagram

⬛ Follow Brian on LinkedIn

Sponsors: Imagine having a sponsor whose only interest is creating positive ripple effects of change around the world. I first met Jacqueline and David Kyne from the Kyne Foundation when they introduced me to Dr Gabor Mate in 2024, an incredible “pinch myself” moment in my own life. With a focus on nurturing youth wellbeing and empowering education, The Kyne Foundation's belief is simple: kindness is powerful, practical, and worth paying forward. Over the next few episodes, we’ll be sharing weekly challenges inspired by their work and ethos: small actions create big ripples. Our simple ask? Go be kind to yourself, to others, and your community. Because kindness is contagious.

Keywords / Tags:Georgie Crawford interview, Georgie Crawford cancer story, The Good Glow podcast guest, breast cancer journey young mother, diagnosed with cancer at 32, life after cancer recovery, cancer survivor mindset, post traumatic growth story, illness changed my life, healing after diagnosis, resilience after trauma, identity after illness, grief and growth psychology, emotional healing conversation, Brian Pennie podcast, Change is Possible podcast, Irish mental health podcast, women’s mental health Ireland, motherhood and illness story, coping with serious illness, fear of death anxiety discussion, sitting with discomfort psychology, nervous system regulation explained, trauma response people pleasing, perfectionism and trauma, burnout and busyness culture, high functioning anxiety women, self compassion journey, inner critic healing, boundaries and self worth, emotional regulation skills, self belief and confidence building, self care is not selfish, chronic self sacrifice patterns, burnt potato metaphor meaning, healing through community, connection and belonging psychology kindness and wellbeing science, gratitude after trauma, rebuilding identity after crisis, meaning and purpose after illness, living intentionally⁠

In this episode, Brian interviews one of his dream guests, Dr Anna Lembke, a Stanford University Professor and author of New York Times best-selling book, Dopamine Nation. Brian and Anna talk all about addiction (including phones and substances), how addiction hijacks the reward pathway in our brain, and how we can break free.