PenniJo Brenke shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning PenniJo, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think a major thing people struggle with would be their mental health. A lot of people tend to try not to talk about it. We put on a smile and say we are fine. WHY? Because if we do this is much easier than trying to explain how we actually feel. Because we don’t know how to put it into words, or we feel like a burden to others.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What is Cowabunga Cresties?
Cowabunga Cresties is located in Southern Minnesota. Primarily focused on breeding Correlophus Ciliatus, commonly known as the crested gecko. My 3 main focuses on breeding crested geckos are Olives, Tigers, and Dark Phantoms.
What sets me apart from others in this hobby is what my focuses are. There are not very many people in the hobby that works with these morphs or colors. I also work very hard towards making sure my animals are happy and healthy.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I feel like trust is a major one that breaks binds between people. Trust is earned not given, and when you break that it can ruin a relationship between 2 people. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a friendship, relationship, or just 2 people that know each other. Most of these bonds are built a lot on trust in each other.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I don’t know if it is something I have ever really hidden. I think its more something I have been able to take control of sometimes and use it to my advantages instead. Being someone who really struggles with anxiety and depression, I have been able to use my anxiety as a way to get things done or prove someone wrong. I think it has helped turn me into the very hyper independent person I am now, because I don’t like asking for help. I turned it into a I CAN DO IT MYSELF attitute instead.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Any version of me you get is real. Whether I’m in public, online, alone. You’ll always get the real version of me no matter what.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I stopped breeding my animals, I think alot of people would miss my projects and animals. The genetic and colors I have are very uncommon and unlike the projects that many other breeders work with. My projects are very limited and unique to what I like. My olive projects are a very niche and unusual and uncommon as it is very difficult to find them and produce them. I also think people would miss my photography and content.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowabunga_cresties/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowabungaCresties
- Other: https://www.morphmarket.com/stores/cowabunga/ – Morph Market link
Image Credits
Pictures taken by me
