Show Notes
In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi is joined by Brooke McIntosh - speaker, endurance runner, and founder of the Just One More movement - for a raw, powerful conversation about mental health, courage, healing, and the ripple effect of choosing to speak when silence feels safer.
Brooke shares the deeply personal story behind her decision to run 14,000 kilometres around Australia - a journey born from suicidal ideation, unspoken trauma, and a life-changing car accident that forced her to confront the reality that she was not okay, despite appearing strong on the outside.
Together, Kristi and Brooke explore how “just one more” - one step, one breath, one conversation - became a lifeline, not only for Brooke, but for countless people she encountered along the road. What began as a mission to spark conversation within FIFO, mining, and construction communities quickly revealed a much wider truth: mental health struggles do not discriminate. They exist everywhere - across families, generations, genders, and professions.
This episode dives into the cost of emotional shutdown, the normalisation of masking pain, and how generational silence around trauma, addiction, and abuse shapes the way adults cope - or don’t cope - later in life. Brooke speaks candidly about childhood sexual abuse, substance use, shame, and the long-term impact of carrying stories alone for decades.
Kristi and Brooke also reflect on the power of vulnerability to break cycles - from the unexpected moment Brooke’s father felt safe enough to say “I’m not okay”, to the way children who saw Brooke running began asking questions that opened conversations within their families.
This is not a conversation about toughness or pushing through at all costs. It’s about courage, honesty, mental fitness, and choosing connection - even when it’s uncomfortable.
Key Themes Covered
Suicidal ideation and the turning point that saved Brooke’s life
The meaning of Just One More as a daily practice
Mental fitness vs mental health
Why masking pain is so common - and so dangerous
The ripple effect of courageous, vulnerable conversations
Generational trauma, silence, and healing
Childhood sexual abuse and delayed disclosure
Addiction as a coping strategy for unprocessed pain
Running as therapy, regulation, and trauma processing
Listening to the body instead of pushing through it
Breaking cycles for the next generation
Why healing yourself can give others permission to speak
Why This Conversation Matters
So many people are surviving - not living.
They show up, work hard, care for others, and appear “fine”, while silently carrying trauma, grief, shame, and exhaustion. This episode reminds us that strength is not found in silence or self-abandonment - it’s found in honesty, courage, and asking for support.
Brooke’s story shows how quickly things can change when someone chooses to speak - and how one brave conversation can unlock many more.
You don’t need to run around Australia to make a difference. Sometimes, just one more conversation is enough to save a life.
About Brooke McIntosh - Just One More
Brooke McIntosh is an endurance runner, speaker, and founder of the Just One More movement, using lived experience to spark honest conversations about mental health, suicide prevention, and emotional wellbeing.
Through her run around Australia and her ongoing work in communities, schools, and workplaces, Brooke encourages people to build mental fitness, challenge silence, and remember that pain never gets the last say.
Follow Brooke McIntosh on her socials: 👉 Instagram - Facebook
Brooke McIntosh website: 👉 https://brookemcintosh.com.au/
Practical Support & Resources
If this episode has brought up big feelings or difficult memories, Kristi offers trauma-informed education and resources to support healing, prevention, and connection.
🔗 Explore education and resources: 👉 www.kristimcvee.com
Resources include:
trauma-informed education
child safety
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