#254 Macario “KID MAC” de Souza — Bra Boys, Mental Health & the Story Behind In Pieces Together
Good Humans with Cooper ChapmanShow Notes
⚠️ Content Warning
This episode contains open discussions about suicide, mental health and loss. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. There is no rush.
If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.au
—
This week I sat down with Macario De Souza, known to most as Kid Mac, and this one really got me.
Macario grew up in Maroubra, one of Australia's most iconic and tight-knit surf communities, and from a young age he was finding his way through a world that wasn't always easy. He opens up about the challenges he faced towards the end of his school life and how surfing and storytelling became his way through.
Most people know Macario from Bra Boys, the landmark Australian surf documentary that put Maroubra on the map and introduced him to working alongside Russell Crowe. That film changed the trajectory of his life and sparked a career built on telling stories that matter.
We also get into Fighting Fear, his deeply personal documentary that saw him confront his own mental health challenges head on. It's a film that took real courage to make, and Macario speaks about that journey with total honesty.
But the heart of this conversation is his new film, In Pieces Together. The film tells the story of Blake Johnston's world record surf — and the story running alongside it about Blake's dad, his battle with mental health, and his death by suicide. It is one of the most important surf films ever made, and talking with Macario about why he felt compelled to tell this story was something I won't forget in a hurry.
This one is for anyone who has ever lost someone, loved someone who is struggling, or believes that storytelling has the power to change lives.
In this episode we cover:
Growing up in Maroubra and the Bra Boys culture The challenges he faced at the end of his school life Making Bra Boys and working with Russell Crowe How filmmaking became his path forward Fighting Fear and his own mental health journey In Pieces Together — Blake Johnston's world record surf Blake's dad, his mental health battle and his death by suicide Why this film matters and the lives it could change
If this episode brought something up for you: 📞 Lifeline 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au 📞 Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 💻 Beyond Blue beyondblue.org.au 💻 headspace headspace.org.au
Follow Macario Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kid_mac/ In Pieces Together https://inpiecestogetherfilm.com/
Follow Cooper + TGHF 1% Good Club Book (use code PODCAST for 25% off) https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com/products/1-good-club-book Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Good Humans with Cooper Chapman
I loved this one. Alexis has spent over a decade inside marketing, media and PR, so she knows exactly how our attention gets engineered. And she’s honest enough to call herself a tech addict too. Her new book Real: Reconnecting to Yourself in a World of Likes and Lies is three years in the making, and it’s all about how social media messes with who we think we are, and how to take that back. If you’ve ever closed an app feeling worse about yourself, this one’s for you.
This was a fascinating chat. Dr Joy Kong started out as a psychiatrist and addiction doctor before becoming one of the leading voices in stem cell therapy. She’s UCLA-trained, triple board-certified, and the founder of Chara Health in Los Angeles and the American Academy of Integrative Cell Therapy, where she trains doctors around the world. Joy cuts through the hype and tells it straight about what stem cells can and can’t do, and why she thinks we might be the first generation to reverse ageing. If you’re curious about longevity and where medicine is heading, you’ll love this one.
This week I sat down with Chris Mater, and this one is a masterclass in building a career by backing yourself at every turn.
⚠️ Content Warning This episode contains open discussions about suicide and the loss of a family member. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.au
⚠️ Content Warning This episode contains open discussions about pregnancy loss, miscarriage, anxiety, endometriosis and the suspicious death of a family member. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.au