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Becoming UnDone

Becoming UnDone

Written by: Toby Brooks
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Hosted by professor, speaker, and performance & comeback scientist Dr. Toby Brooks (@tobybrooksphd), Becoming UnDone is where high-achievers come to reckon with rock bottom—and rise again. Every week, we explore what happens when life doesn’t go according to plan. Through raw stories, vulnerable insights, and powerful conversations, we dive into the pain of identity loss, the paralysis of burnout, and the transformative power of coming apart.


This isn’t just about failure. It’s about what you do next.


Whether you’re an executive questioning your purpose, an athlete facing the end, or a leader secretly unraveling, this show is your reminder: the coming apart isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of something greater. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What in the hell next?”—you’re in the right place.




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© 2026 Becoming UnDone
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Episodes
  • 147 | The Quiet Power of Consistently Showing Up for Growth
    Jan 22 2026

    About the Host

    Toby Brooks, PhD is the host of the Becoming UnDone® podcast, a speaker, author, performance scientist, and professor. With two decades of experience in the professional and collegiate sports realms, Dr. Brooks specializes in understanding what sets high achievers apart. He serves Baylor University, although the podcast operates independently as an avenue for sharing his research and insights on the mindset necessary for achieving excellence.

    Episode Summary

    In this rejuvenating episode of Becoming UnDone®, Dr. Toby Brooks delves into the transformative power of consistently showing up, especially when life seems to pull you apart. As the new year brings a wave of resolutions and renewed commitments, Dr. Brooks challenges the notion that personal growth happens naturally. Instead, he emphasizes intentionality in combating entropy and reaching new levels of personal and professional achievement.

    Dr. Brooks introduces the concept of Kaizen, the Japanese principle of continuous improvement, illustrating through the legacy of John Wooden how marginal yet consistent efforts lead to monumental outcomes. This episode navigates through themes of persistence, dedication, and incremental progress, particularly in challenging moments when motivation dwindles. With anecdotes from his personal life and professional journey, Toby provides listeners with actionable strategies to nurture a growth mindset, strengthen resilience, and achieve lasting transformation.

    Key Takeaways

    • Growth Needs Intentionality: Personal development is not passive; it requires deliberate, consistent efforts to counteract disorder and decline.
    • Principle of Kaizen: Small, regular steps, as demonstrated by John Wooden's coaching techniques, lead to significant and sustained improvements.
    • The Ripple Effect: Your persistence can inspire those around you, creating positive ripple effects in your community and personal circles.
    • Holistic Growth: Inspired by Jesus' model of development, balance mental, physical, spiritual, and social growth.
    • Resilience as Leadership: Showing up consistently, even when difficult, can provide hope and courage to others.

    Notable Quotes

    • "The heart of kaizen is that small steps taken consistently lead to big, lasting change."
    • "Every time you choose to show up…you're literally readapting your brain and maintaining your momentum."
    • "Your persistence gives someone else hope."
    • "Even Jesus showed up to grow…what excuse do we have?"
    • "Being Undone isn't the end of your story. It might just be the start of your best chapter yet."

    Resources

    • Visit scienceofthecomeback.com for the "Becoming Undone Coaching App," aimed at guiding high achievers through their next chapter.
    • Follow Toby Brooks, PhD, on social media for additional insights and content surrounding personal development and high achievement.
    • Explore past episodes of the podcast, such as the conversation with Brandon McCoy in Episode 146, for more discussions on personal and professional growth.

    Reach out to Becoming UnDone! Text Toby here!

    Support the show

    Becoming UnDone® is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyBrooksPhD. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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    16 mins
  • 146 | Brandon McCoy: Turning Passion for Custom Paint into a Thriving Career
    Jan 18 2026

    About the Guest

    Brandon McCoy is a distinguished custom paint artist and graphic designer based out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Known professionally as Gooch Customs, Brandon has garnered a nationwide reputation for his unique approach to car graphics, pinstriping, and mixed media art. His journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a respected name in the automotive art scene highlights his dedication and passion. With a style deeply rooted in '90s mini-truck culture, his work spans from custom vehicles to viral objects like intricately designed toilets that capture a nostalgic yet contemporary aesthetic. Brandon's expertise extends to teaching custom paint classes and his work is highly sought after by clients and advertisers alike who value his bold and authentic designs.

    Episode Summary

    In this episode of Becoming UnDone®, host Toby Brooks invites Brandon McCoy, the mind behind Gooch Customs, to share his enthralling journey from a small-town Kansas upbringing to an eminent name in custom automotive artistry. The episode delves into how Brandon navigated his early life challenges, transitioning from restoring cars to embracing art as a full-time career, driven by social media's transformative power. With over two decades of honing his craft, Brandon infuses an unapologetic boldness into everything he creates—from mini-trucks and bike tanks to unusual objects, like the famous painted toilets, that have made waves at renowned events such as SEMA.

    Brandon offers insights into his creative process, emphasizing the significance of trusting one's style and the pursuit of authenticity over perfection. Social media's role in Brandon's rise is discussed, showcasing how it allowed him to reach a global audience and exploit unconventional ideas that captivate the masses. Highlighting themes of resilience, passion, and innovation, this episode is a testament to the power of a determined, creative spirit and the adventures of establishing oneself as a noteworthy artisan in a competitive field. Listeners will find inspiration in Brandon's story of forging a distinctive path and embracing every artistic challenge with courage and commitment.

    Key Takeaways

    • Authenticity Over Perfection: Brandon underscores the value of authenticity in art, asserting that "it's impossible for art to be perfect, if it's perfect, it's not art."
    • Social Media Influence: The pivotal role of social media in expanding Brandon’s reach and client base, exemplified by his viral paint jobs on unconventional canvases like toilets.
    • Challenges as Catalysts: Brandon's journey emphasizes embracing obstacles, with experiences like being fired and working from a small garage fueling his drive.
    • Community and Relationships: The importance of community is highlighted through Brandon's connections within the mini-truck scene and his commitment to teaching upcoming artists.
    • Passion and Persistence: The enduring theme throughout is the relentless pursuit of passion, where art serves as both livelihood and sanctuary.

    Notable Quotes

    • "If it's perfect, it's not art. It's as simple as that."
    • "As long as I can wake up and

    Reach out to Becoming UnDone! Text Toby here!

    Support the show

    Becoming UnDone® is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyBrooksPhD. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 145 | From Abuse to Advocacy: Maxwell Leadership Mentor & Entrepreneur Marissa Nehlsen's Journey to Empowerment
    Dec 16 2025

    About the Guest

    Marissa Nehlsen is a renowned financial strategist, transformational coach, and motivational speaker recognized for her journey from impoverished roots to managing billions in assets. Born into generational poverty and raised in a home rife with trauma and dysfunction, she forged a path of resilience, later becoming a powerhouse in the financial industry. Beyond her role as a financial expert, Marissa is a member of the John Maxwell leadership team and an author of the book "Live Life Rich." She is passionate about empowering others through her journey of overcoming adversity to achieve success and fulfillment.

    Episode Summary

    In this compelling episode of Becoming UnDone®, host Toby Brooks dives into the extraordinary journey of Marissa Nehlsen, a financial strategist and transformational leader who rose from adversity to success. From enduring childhood abuse and poverty in North Dakota to becoming a mentor in the John Maxwell team, Marissa's story is not only inspiring but profoundly educational. This episode explores themes of resilience, empowerment, and overcoming challenges to find purpose and change lives.

    Throughout the conversation, Marissa recounts her harrowing experiences from childhood, highlighting the pivotal moments that steered her towards resilience. The episode richly showcases Marissa's transformational journey, emphasizing her belief that adversity can be a stepping stone to one's highest potential. Discover how Marissa's faith, philosophy of living victoriously, and her endeavor to redefine 'wealth' interlink across her life story. Her narrative beckons us to consider how our pasts shape us, but do not define us, and how we possess the power to rewrite our destinies starting today.

    Key Takeaways

    • Resilience as a Driving Force: Marissa underscores the potency of resilience in rising above adversities and transforming obstacles into stepping stones for success.
    • The Power of Choice: A central theme is Marissa's belief in choosing victory over victimhood, as instilled by her mother during times of hardship.
    • Redefining Richness: Learn how Marissa redefines 'rich' beyond monetary wealth, encompassing emotional, relational, spiritual, physical, and financial richness.
    • The Role of Forgiveness and Boundaries: Essential tools in her journey, Marissa shares how forgiveness and boundaries shaped her path to personal and professional fulfillment.
    • The Importance of Vision: Despite losing her eyesight to Stargardt disease, Marissa illustrates the profound difference between sight and vision, advocating for a life led by purpose, not limitations.

    Notable Quotes

    1. "Get up, you've got to get up right now." - Marissa Nehlsen recalling a pivotal moment in her childhood that taught her resilience.
    2. "You can choose to be a victim, or you can choose to be victorious. What will you choose?" - Marissa's mother's powerful words that shaped her outlook.
    3. "Remove from me what is no longer for me." - Marissa's guiding prayer that illustrates her understanding of growth and necessary change.
    4. "People don't follow you because of your eyesight. They

    Reach out to Becoming UnDone! Text Toby here!

    Support the show

    Becoming UnDone® is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyBrooksPhD. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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    1 hr and 32 mins
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