She Is Not Your Rehab: Matt Brown on Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Episode Description
Matt Brown is one of the coolest people I’ve ever met, effortlessly cool. He just has this aura or mana about him. He doesn’t do too many podcasts, so this was a huge honour to have him as a guest on mine.
The very short back story is this: Matt Brown grew up surrounded with family violence and childhood trauma, but instead of letting that destroy him, he turned it into his mission.
He started cutting hair and his barbershop called “My Fathers Barber” became more than just a place to get a sick fade. It became a safe space for men to have conversations about pain, vulnerability, forgiveness, and healing.
Matt and his incredible wife Sarah then wrote an amazing book called “She is not your rehab.” This is more than a title, it’s a challenge to stop passing your trauma on to the people you love.
Recently, that have released a beautiful kids book called “This is not yours to carry.
This podcast is a very small part of the Matt Brown story.
It’s not an easy listen at times. But it’s not supposed to be.
You might already be aware of the incredible work Matt and Sarah have been doing for years. Or you might be leaning more about this absolute legend for the first time. Either way, I hope you learn something new about this absolute diamond of human.
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Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.
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I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a game changer for me personally- I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.
You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom
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**The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guests and may not reflect the views of the show sponsors**
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Dynamics
02:58 Personal Background and Family Dynamics
05:52 Childhood Experiences of Violence
08:48 Impact of Family Violence on Relationships
12:11 Community and Cultural Perspectives on Violence
14:58 Reflections on Healing and Growth
18:11 Navigating Relationships and Forgiveness
20:57 Influence of Music and Art on Healing
24:11 Leaving Home and Finding Independence
26:46 Public Forgiveness and Modeling Healing
33:16 The Journey of Forgiveness
36:55 Breaking the Cycle of Abuse
42:46 The Role of Compassion in Healing
49:56 The Power of Vulnerability
01:02:12 Transitioning from Barber to Advocate
01:09:22 The Power of Storytelling in Healing
01:12:14 Confronting Family Trauma
01:15:46 Transforming Pain into Purpose
01:17:14 The Journey of Writing 'She Is Not Your Rehab'
01:20:08 The Impact of Childhood Trauma
01:22:29 Reaching the Incarcerated Community
01:25:28 Understanding Emotional Literacy
01:27:01 Redefining Masculinity and Healing
01:30:11 Legacy of Cycle Breakers
01:34:31 Personal Definition of Success
01:36:02 Using Privilege for Good
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Brief Summary
Matt Brown shares his traumatic childhood experiences and emphasizes the importance of emotional literacy and vulnerability in healing and breaking cycles of violence.
Key points
- The Moment of Truth. A confrontation with his mother leads to a pivotal moment in Matt's life.
- Speaking Up Against Silence. Matt discusses the backlash he faced for speaking out about family violence.
- The Cycle of Violence. Reflecting on the chaotic environment of childhood and the community's inaction.
- Leaving Home at 15. A painful decision marked by a confrontation with his mother.
- Learning Forgiveness. He learns that forgiveness is for himself, not for his father.
- The Role of a Teacher. A teacher's compassion and empathy inspire him to pursue a teaching career.
Ask about Dom Harvey
Episode highlights
- The Moment of TruthA confrontation with his mother leads to a pivotal moment in Matt's life.“Either you kill me now or I'm going.”0:48Aug 30, 2025
- Speaking Up Against SilenceMatt discusses the backlash he faced for speaking out about family violence.“I chose to speak up, and I'm glad I did.”13:37Aug 30, 2025
- The Cycle of ViolenceReflecting on the chaotic environment of childhood and the community's inaction.“I’m pissed off at people who hear the violence... but refuse to say anything.”19:34Aug 30, 2025
- Leaving Home at 15A painful decision marked by a confrontation with his mother.“You’re not leaving. Either you kill me now or I’m going.”27:09Aug 30, 2025
- Learning ForgivenessHe learns that forgiveness is for himself, not for his father.“Forgiveness wasn't about him. It was about me.”34:54Aug 30, 2025
- The Role of a TeacherA teacher's compassion and empathy inspire him to pursue a teaching career.“She was that teacher for us.”44:56Aug 30, 2025
- Vulnerability in the Barber ChairA barber shares how vulnerability creates a safe space for men to open up.“The most gangster thing you can do is be vulnerable.”55:06Aug 30, 2025
- A Heartbreaking RevelationA young man reveals his last haircut was meant for his funeral.“I wanted to look good in my casket because I wanted to take my own life.”59:34Aug 30, 2025





