BROOKE MCINTOSH -

Resilience mentor

Keynote speaker

Entrepreneur

Runner

“From Trauma to Triumph: How Running Across Australia Saved My Life”

Brooke ran 1,600 km across Australia in just 27 days to raise awareness for mental health. Now, she’s preparing for an even greater challenge—running acrossthe entire continent, averaging 80 km per day for 180 days.

Brooke’s journey with mental health began at 12 after facing significant trauma. Instead of letting it define her, she turned her struggles into a mission—advocating for open conversations, particularly in high-stress, male-dominated FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) mining industries. She knows firsthand that breaking the silence can save lives.

Brooke’s Journey: From Trauma to Triumph

Brooke’s story isn’t just about endurance—it’s about survival and transformation. After experiencing sexual assault at 12, 14, and 24, she faced battles with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. But instead of being consumed by pain, she chose to fight back.

A major turning point came in August 2022 when she survived a serious car accident. That wake-up call led her to redefine her purpose, and running became her way to heal—not just herself, but others struggling in silence.

Key Takeaways:



✅ The Power of Running for Mental Health – How running provides clarity, relieves stress, and builds resilience.

✅ Training & Recovery – Strength training, ice baths, visualization, and nutrition- ALL the strategies, tips and tricks that keep her going.

✅ Facing Fear Head-On – How surviving a life-threatening accident shaped her mental toughness and approach to PTSD.

✅ Safety While Running – Dealing with harassment on the road and essential strategies for staying safe.

✅ The Importance of Community – Why open conversations and seeking support are crucial for mental well-being.

Brooke’s story is one of grit, purpose, and transformation. Whether you’re a runner, someone battling inner struggles, or looking for inspiration, this episode will challenge how you think about resilience, endurance, and mental health.

🔗 Connect with Brooke on

https://brookemcintosh.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/brookemcintosh__/

I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.eatwellmovewell.net

And you are listening to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.mystait.com

- the ultimate daily formula for optimum hormone health, stress management, energy and performance.

100% natural and clinically proven ingredients, it provides everything you need to raise your game, in a convenient gut-friendly capsule. 

And the Mason Survival Protocol - https://www.carnivoreretreat.com/post/masonsurvival-protocol-carnivore-retreat



Links for my former shows are here-


WATCH on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpt-Zy1jciVn7cWB0B-y5WATyzrzfwucZ

LISTEN on: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rlAGRXCwLIJfQCQ5B3PYB?si=UmgsMBFkRfelCAm1E4Pd3Q

Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446?mt=2




 
Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5bce2d31-a171-4e83-bada-d1384c877e76

Subscribe for more amazing tips, interviews and wisdom from phenomenal guests ------- And get your ** FREE Video Workshop here- https://www.hownottodieguy.com/

No fluff. No wasted movements. Just raw, battlefield-proven tactics designed for people who don’t have time to master martial arts. In this episode, I sit down with Tommy Joe Moore, an expert in World War II combatives and author of The Shanghai School of Street Fighting, to talk about what actually works when survival is on the line.

🔹 WWII Combatives: Built for War, Perfect for the Streets

Designed by Fairbairn and Sykes for soldiers who had weeks, not years, to prepare for life-or-death fights.

Simple, brutal, and effective—ideal for real-world violence, not sport.

🔹 Mindset Over Muscle

The right mindset beats technique alone. Tommy breaks down how to develop the mental edge needed to win before the fight starts.

Stress inoculation: Training under pressure so the real thing doesn’t freeze you in place.

🔹 Self-Defense for Women: Beyond Gimmicks

Reality check: Women face different types of violence—training must reflect that.

Why training with men is critical for realistic preparation.

🔹 Realistic Training: Fight How You’ll Fight

Static drills don’t cut it. Train with multiple attackers, bad terrain, and unpredictable variables.

One roll of the dice—literally. Tommy uses giant children’s dice to introduce randomness to drills, forcing adaptability.

🔹 De-Escalation & Staying Out Of Jail

"What can I do to make this right?"—A single phrase that can turn down the temperature before violence erupts.

Force levels matter—know what’s legal before you act, or risk becoming the bad guy in court.

🔹 Combat Sports vs. Self-Defense: Know the Difference

Fitness vs. Survival: Combat sports sharpen technique and conditioning, but self-defense is about getting home alive. Two different missions, two different mindsets.

Rules vs. No Rules: The cage has refs, weight classes, and time limits. The street has knives, multiple attackers, and no mercy. Train accordingly.

Train Smart: If you can, do both. Combat sports build skill, but self-defense training hammers in the ugly realities of real-world violence. Don't confuse one for the other.

Tommy Joe Moore doesn’t teach for fun. He teaches for survival. His approach isn’t about looking cool in a dojo—it’s about walking away from danger in one piece. If you care about practical, no-nonsense self-defense, you need to hear what he has to say.

Listen now. Learn fast. Fight smart.

🔗 Connect with Tommy Joe Moore on

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Tommysdf

Books on Amazon: https://bit.ly/4hJGVOs

I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.eatwellmovewell.net

And you are listening to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.mystait.com

- the ultimate daily formula for optimum hormone health, stress management, energy and performance.

100% natural and clinically proven ingredients, it provides everything you need to raise your game, in a convenient gut-friendly capsule. 

And the Mason Survival Protocol - https://www.carnivoreretreat.com/post/masonsurvival-protocol-carnivore-retreat



Links for my former shows are here-


WATCH on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpt-Zy1jciVn7cWB0B-y5WATyzrzfwucZ

LISTEN on: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rlAGRXCwLIJfQCQ5B3PYB?si=UmgsMBFkRfelCAm1E4Pd3Q

Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446?mt=2




 
Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5bce2d31-a171-4e83-bada-d1384c877e76

Subscribe for more amazing tips, interviews and wisdom from phenomenal guests ------- And get your ** FREE Video Workshop here- https://www.hownottodieguy.com/

Matt Gantry’s journey is one of resilience, transformation, and the power of storytelling. Once a truck driver navigating the open roads, his life took an unexpected turn after a devastating accident that forced him to redefine his future. Rather than letting adversity define him, Matt embraced writing as a means of healing, ultimately becoming the author of The Gamer—a thrilling story that blends his passion for gaming with his own life experiences.

"Writing became my way of processing everything—the pain, the uncertainty, the new reality I had to face. I never expected it to become something more, but storytelling gave me a purpose I never saw coming.”

The Gamer by Matt Gantry is a gripping novel that tells the story of Harry Fearn, a video game enthusiast, with a love for the SAS ( Special Air Service) who finds himself in a real-life hostage situation. Drawing on his gaming skills, Harry navigates the dangerous scenario, using his strategic thinking and quick reflexes to outsmart the terrorists. The book, inspired by Gantry's own life experiences—including the accident that led him to pursue writing—seamlessly weaves action, suspense, and personal growth into a high-stakes narrative.

Matt’s journey from truck driver to author wasn’t just about personal reinvention—it was about finding a voice and sharing a story that resonates. His dedication to storytelling has now led him to expand The Gamer into a six-part series, as well as an audiobook adaptation that brings his world to life in a whole new way.

Matt lives by the belief that even the most unexpected challenges can lead to extraordinary transformations. His work is a testament to the idea that resilience, creativity, and passion can open doors we never imagined.

You can find Matt at https://www.mattgantry.com/

On Insta at https://www.instagram.com/mattgantryauthor/

And his book - The Gamer at- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gamer-Mr-Matt-Gantry-MRMG/dp/B09MGVCYJZ

I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.eatwellmovewell.net

And you are listening to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.mystait.com

- the ultimate daily formula for optimum hormone health, stress management, energy and performance.

100% natural and clinically proven ingredients, it provides everything you need to raise your game, in a convenient gut-friendly capsule. 

And the Mason Survival Protocol - https://www.carnivoreretreat.com/post/masonsurvival-protocol-carnivore-retreat



Links for my former shows are here-


WATCH on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpt-Zy1jciVn7cWB0B-y5WATyzrzfwucZ

LISTEN on: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rlAGRXCwLIJfQCQ5B3PYB?si=UmgsMBFkRfelCAm1E4Pd3Q

Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446?mt=2




 
Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5bce2d31-a171-4e83-bada-d1384c877e76

Subscribe for more amazing tips, interviews and wisdom from phenomenal guests ------- And get your ** FREE Video Workshop here- https://www.hownottodieguy.com/