On October 5, 2020, Randy Mortensen released episode 31 of the Courageous Recovery Podcast, an interview with Michael J. Penney. A second listing, “Ep 31-Michael J Penney Visits,” followed on October 10. The conversation runs about 25 minutes. The show aired on Tuesday nights at 8 Eastern, 7 Central.
What the episode covered
The episode listing opens with his service:
Michael J. Penney is a combat veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan. He served in the United States Marine Corps infantry with 3rd Battalion 7th Marines deploying twice to Ramadi, Iraq, in 2005-2006 and 2007.
Courageous Recovery Podcast, Episode 31 listing
The rest of his record, as he shared it on shows that year:
- Reenlisted during his second Iraq tour and moved to Quantico as a weapons instructor
- A third combat tour in 2011 with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, leading a section of advisors through Kajaki and Sangin, Afghanistan
- Honorably discharged as a Sergeant after more than eight years
- TEDxRaleigh speaker in 2016 and creator of the 5 Paragraph Business Plan
- Chief Advisor at 5Paragraph.com
Why it mattered then
Most of Michael’s 2020 interviews were on business and veteran shows. Courageous Recovery was a different kind of program, and its video copy was shared by the Speaking to the Heart Podcast Network. At 25 minutes, it was also one of his shortest conversations that year.
That fits a theme that runs through his speaking. His TEDx talk, “What’s Your IED,” is about adding value during the explosive moments in life. Getting through hard things, and helping others get through them, is part of the story he tells as a combat veteran.
The show was created by Randy Mortensen and launched in 2020. Its Apple Podcasts page lists 28 episodes. The two listings for episode 31 came five days apart, on October 5 and October 10, 2020, and both run about 25 minutes.
His TEDxRaleigh talk was delivered on March 19, 2016, and the 5 Paragraph Business Plan followed in April 2017.
Where to find it
Both versions of episode 31 are still on Apple Podcasts. The video copy above was posted to YouTube on October 15, 2020, under the title “Michael J. Penney Visits | Courageous Recovery Podcast.”
This post is part of the From the Archive series, which collects Michael’s past media appearances in one place. See the full media archive.
Work with Michael
Marine veteran, TEDx speaker and author of the 5 Paragraph Business Plan. Bring him to your stage, wear the gear, or catch him live.