What broke you made you beautiful. The cracks let the light in—but what if those cracks define your why? I believe what broke us is exactly what drives us to create, to keep going when everything feels impossible. I spent years searching for my why. When I found it, I realized it needed reinventing. This podcast is real conversations with writers, musicians, directors, actors, and creators about the fire that drives us, the fear that shapes us, and how both evolve. So what's your why? And are you brave enough to let it evolve?
What's Your Why?
Claim This Podcastby J. Penberth
5 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
What broke you made you beautiful. The cracks let the light in—but what if those cracks define your why? I believe what broke us is exactly what drives us to create, to keep going when everything feels impossible. I spent years searching for my why. When I found it, I realized it needed reinventing. This podcast is real conversations with writers, musicians, directors, actors, and creators about the fire that drives us, the fear that shapes us, and how both evolve. So what's your why? And are you brave enough to let it evolve?
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/12/2025
1 verified contact email on file for What's Your Why?
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
February 15, 2026
Writing What You See: Pittsburgh Novelist on Craft & Persistence | Patrick McGinty
<p>Patrick McGinty is a novelist, professor, and Pittsburgh writer who spent 13 years revising his second novel from a 1,000-page manuscript to a published book.</p><p></p><p>His journey is the opposite of overnight success. He got an agent young, sent out a massive manuscript, faced rejection after rejection. His response? "Great, I get to keep working on it."</p><p></p><p>We talk about the 13-year revision, his grandfather's advice to "draw what you see, not what you think you see," why he learns about places through art instead of guidebooks, the observational approach to writing, and what it means to be a regional writer in Western Pennsylvania.</p><p></p><p>We also dive into:</p><p></p><ul><li>The best editorial note he ever got ("move everything up in your story")</li><li>Writing about driverless cars and tech in Pittsburgh</li><li>Being married to another writer</li><li>Teaching creative writing while being a working novelist</li><li>Why time is what he fears losing most</li></ul><p></p><p><b>CONNECT WITH PATRICK:</b> </p><p>Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patrick-mcginty.com/" target="_blank">https://www.patrick-mcginty.com/</a> </p><p>Purchase "Town College City Road": <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://amzn.to/46MiA6P" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/46MiA6P</a></p><p></p><p>This is What's Your Why, a podcast where creatives talk about imposter syndrome, fear, and what sets our souls on fire.</p><p></p><p>Remember, what broke you made you beautiful. Your story matters because you matter.</p>
January 18, 2026
All Your F*cks Disappear at 40 (And Other Truths) | Screenwriter Lauren Greenwood on Rejection
<p>Lauren Greenwood spent over a decade as "just a screenwriter." No paid work. No qualifier. Just writing sample after sample, getting rejection after rejection.</p><p></p><p>Then she became a working screenwriter—three TV thrillers on Lifetime, awards, representation, commissions.</p><p></p><p>But here's what got me: imposter syndrome didn't leave her body until her fourth commissioned movie. Not the first. Not the second. Not the third. The fourth.</p><p></p><p>We talk about what it actually takes to make it as a writer. Not the overnight success story—the real one. The ten-year slog. The sample script she's worked on for over a decade that's been optioned twice, won awards, got her an agent, and landed all four TV movies... but will probably never be produced. And she's made peace with that.</p><p></p><p>This is a conversation about persistence, craft, and why loving the process is the only thing that keeps you going.</p><p>This is What's Your Why—where creatives and dreamers from all walks of life talk about imposter syndrome, fear, and what sets our souls on fire.</p><p></p><p>Connect with Lauren on Substack: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://lsgreenwood.substack.com" target="_blank">https://lsgreenwood.substack.com</a></p><p></p><p>What broke you made you beautiful. Your story matters because you matter.</p>
November 16, 2025
Pastor JP Robles: When the Church Breaks You
<p><b>Pastor JP Robles: When the Church Breaks You</b></p><p>"Christians are exhausting," says Pastor JP Robles' wife. He agrees.</p><p></p><p>This isn't your typical faith conversation. JP grew up in a Pentecostal church where his father was a pastor—until a public divorce shattered everything. He jumped off a roof at 16, lived in an old Holiday Inn, and discovered that music and creativity were his lifelines.</p><p></p><p>Now he's a pastor, priest, music producer, and filmmaker who believes God looks up at us from the bottom, not down from above. He has more in common with atheists and agnostics than religious fundamentalists.</p><p></p><p>We dive deep into:</p><p></p><ul><li>How "third culture" shaped his identity</li><li>Surviving church trauma and his parents' divorce</li><li>Why creativity is the ultimate human freedom</li><li>How your words literally create your worlds</li><li>The intersection of God and the universe</li><li>Imposter syndrome as a creative and a pastor</li><li>Pain, addiction, fear, and running from yourself</li><li>What Jesus would say if he came back today</li><li>His "why": Finding joy in creating a new world</li></ul><p></p><p>This conversation went places I didn't expect. Two hours of raw honesty about faith, creativity, and being human.</p><p></p><p><b>Connect with Pastor JP Robles:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://jonpaulrobles.com" target="_blank">jonpaulrobles.com</a> | @jonpaul.robles (Instagram) | Sacred Commons on YouTube | Companion Audio on Bandcamp</p><p></p><p><b>About What's Your Why:</b> Real conversations with creators about the fire that drives us, the fear that shapes us, and how being broken makes us beautiful.</p><p></p><p>Hosted by J. Penberth (@jpenberthauthor)</p><p></p><p>And remember... What broke you made you beautiful. Your story matters because you matter.</p>
5 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for What's Your Why?
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is What's Your Why??
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.