Penny Kassay-Asencio on Surviving Darkness, Finding Faith, and Building a New Purpose

In this deeply personal episode of The Mike Vilardi Show, Mike Vilardi and Neil “The Media Giant” Haley welcome Penny Kassay-Asencio, who shares her dramatic testimony of faith, survival, hardship, and rebuilding her life with a renewed sense of purpose. Penny describes a frightening supernatural experience that she says ultimately led her to call out to Jesus, change the direction of her life, and begin a spiritual journey that continues decades later. Penny explains that she grew up on Long Island in Smithtown, New York, as the oldest of five children. After a difficult childhood and a period of questioning whether God was real, she became involved in New Age spirituality and occult practices.Years later, Penny says she experienced what felt like a descent into a dark, bottomless pit while she believed she was dying. Surrounded by darkness and unable to stop the sensation of falling, she cried out:“Jesus, please, I’ll serve you.”She says she immediately awakened and began searching for answers.On January 1, 1991, Penny walked into Jesus Is Lord Church in Holtsville, New York, where she says she experienced an overwhelming sense of God’s presence.She remembers the influence of Pastor Tom McGinnis, Pastor Liz McGinnis, Pastor Anthony Trezza, Bob Quinones, and other church leaders who helped guide her as she began rebuilding her spiritual life.Penny describes this period as the beginning of a complete transformation away from occult practices and toward Christianity.Penny also speaks candidly about later hardships.She married and had children, but eventually became a single mother after her marriage ended. She remembers struggling financially, losing jobs because of family responsibilities, dealing with unreliable transportation, raising four children, and trying to survive difficult seasons without losing her faith.For Penny, the central lesson was that Christianity did not remove every hardship—but her relationship with God helped her continue through them.One of the most emotional portions of the interview centers on Penny’s nephew.In 2006, at six years old, he was diagnosed with stage-four neuroblastoma and, according to Penny, given extremely difficult odds.Penny and her sister Kelly chose to hope while preparing for every possibility. Her nephew lived until age 11 and had a profound effect on the family and community.His story also inspired Mason’s Toy Box, an initiative Penny says has gone on to help more than 1,000 families.Today, Penny is pursuing a completely different chapter.After working in government and studying business, she is building several ventures in Virginia, including A Little Bit of Everything, a planned event and entertainment destination near Wintergreen Resort.Her vision includes:Podcast and music studio spaceTour buses and tourism experiencesRestaurant and boutique conceptsCommunity eventsLocal job creationPartnerships with area tourism businessesPenny hopes the project can eventually become a franchise model that expands beyond Virginia.Her relationship with God is what kept her moving forward.A Little Bit of Everything: A Little Bit of EveryTHANGBookkeeping Business: Make Sense Bookkeeping and Tax ServiceHosted by Mike Vilardi and Neil “The Media Giant” Haley, featuring conversations about faith, testimony, business, culture, personal transformation, and the experiences that shape people’s lives.🙏 A Supernatural Turning Point✝️ Finding Jesus Is Lord Church💔 Marriage, Divorce, and Raising a Family❤️ Her Nephew’s Battle With Cancer🏢 From Government Work to Entrepreneurship🎙️ Podcasting, Media, and Christian Television📚 Books in Development💬 Key Takeaway🌐 Connect With Penny Kassay-Asencio🎧 The Mike Vilardi Show