“Life Isn’t a Dress Rehearsal” — Meet the Man Living Like He Means It

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.

Whether he’s running 2,000 kilometres, flying a plane, swimming the English Channel, or raising a blind daughter to chase her own dreams, Gerrard shows us that bravery isn’t about the absence of fear — it’s about showing up again and again.

In This Episode

• Growing up blind in rural Australia and turning perceived weakness into strength
• Riding to school by following the sound of his brother’s bike
• How sport became his way of breaking barriers — and bones
• The hilarious and humbling story of the fastest 400m ever run at Yeppoon High
• From founding the Paralympic Committee to competing on the global stage
• Running from Cairns to Brisbane (five times) and why he never saw it as “big”
• Why trust is the cornerstone of bravery — from dance floors to icy oceans
• Climbing to 8,300m on Everest without sight
• What really happened during his English Channel attempt in 2024
• The emotional reality of raising a blind daughter
• Why he believes bravery lives in the next step
• His upcoming 50km Manhattan Island swim, racing Daytona, and chasing a new dream: the Paralympics in para-climbing

Quotes to Remember

“Bravery isn’t the big leap — it’s the quiet trust to take the next step.”
“Success is a journey, never a destination.”
“Every recipe for bravery changes depending on the conditions.”
“You might see Everest, I have to feel every rock to know I’m climbing it.”
“Life isn’t a dress rehearsal — this is it.”

Resources Mentioned

• Gerrard's adventures: gerrardgosens.com.au
• His artisan chocolate business: chocolatemoments.com.au

Connect with Sam Penny

• Website: sampenny.com
• Weekly Bravery Digest: Subscribe Here
• Instagram & TikTok: @90dayswithsam
• Podcast Archive: sampenny.com/brave