She Is Not Your Rehab: Matt Brown on Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence

Dom Harvey

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.

***

Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients- you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

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

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds

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And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser, so this is just general advice. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

**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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Who should be on the podcast next? Message Dom Instagram: @domharveynz Email: [email protected]

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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

Tension

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