War Stories - Mark Wales & Brett McLeod

05/19/25 • 85 min

On this episode Im joined by author, entrepreneur, winner of the TV show Survivor and of course former SAS officer Mark Wales, and award winning Channel 9 journalist and news presenter, who’s covered some of Australia’s and the worlds biggest news stories and has certainly experienced more than his fair share of war zones, Brett McLeod, to go Behind the Mask of War stories.

This episode includes:

-The war zones they’ve served in and reported from.

-Mark shares the sexual assault he experienced as a young boy.

-Brett shares the harrowing experience of witnessing the death toll of Thailand Tsunami.

-Mark witnessing his first fellow soldier dying.

-Brett reporting on the Today Show, rom Israel while a missile explosion happens directly above him.

-Mark opens up on why he became he was inspired to join the SAS.

-Brett discusses his very first hand experience of the ‘Red Shirt’ uprising in Thailand.

-The conflict in Afghanistan that led to Mark’s PTSD.

-Brett shares what it was like loosing his parents at such a young age and how that shaped his life.

-Mark shares his response to sound and silence since coming home from war.

-Brett shares how his family deals with the dangerous nature of what he does.

-Mark shares why he chose to write so candidly about his War experiences in his memoir SURVIVOR.

-Brett shares thoughts on Gaza and Israel.

-They both share what war has taught them about life.

Keep up to date with Mark on instagram @mark.a.wales and Brett @brett_mcleod9

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit www.gobehindthemask.com.au for more information and sign up to our ‘Weekly Wisdoms’ to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode includes:

-The war zones they’ve served in and reported from.

-Mark shares the sexual assault he experienced as a young boy.

-Brett shares the harrowing experience of witnessing the death toll of Thailand Tsunami.

-Mark witnessing his first fellow soldier dying.

-Brett reporting on the Today Show, rom Israel while a missile explosion happens directly above him.

-Mark opens up on why he became he was inspired to join the SAS.

-Brett discusses his very first hand experience of the ‘Red Shirt’ uprising in Thailand.

-The conflict in Afghanistan that led to Mark’s PTSD.

-Brett shares what it was like loosing his parents at such a young age and how that shaped his life.

-Mark shares his response to sound and silence since coming home from war.

-Brett shares how his family deals with the dangerous nature of what he does.

-Mark shares why he chose to write so candidly about his War experiences in his memoir SURVIVOR.

-Brett shares thoughts on Gaza and Israel.

-They both share what war has taught them about life.

Keep up to date with Mark on instagram @mark.a.wales and Brett @brett_mcleod9

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit www.gobehindthemask.com.au for more information and sign up to our ‘Weekly Wisdoms’ to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Psychedelics & Plant Medicine - Dr Prash and Michael Gueron

For centuries possibly even millennia, cultures have used psychedelics and plant medicines such as psilocybin (mushrooms), ayahuasca, wachuma and more to heal deep trauma and to awaken themselves to altered states of consciousness, and expand their sense of spirituality. In July of 2023 The Therapeutic Goods Administration here in Australia, permitted the use of psilocybin for the treatment of certain mental health conditions. The beginning of what feels like a shift in the way both the health system and society view tryptamine’s for therapy. On this episode I’m joined by Dr Prash a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychedeliciatrist and Shaman Michael Gueron, to go behind the mask of plant medicine and psychedelics.

On this episode we explore:

What psychedelics are and the difference between them.

The difference between the therapeutic experience and the ceremonial experience.

How it can help people suffering with anxiety and depression and a host of other traumas.

The necessity for cleansing before, intention during, and integration after any experience.

Prash explains what happens to the mind during a psilocybin experience and how it helps us to see our own minds more clearly.

Michael shares how Ayahuasca and Wachuma help to take people out of the head and into the heart.

How to work through fears approaching an experience.

Why purging is necessary during big plant medicine experiences.

Josh shares his psychedelic experiences.

We discuss the future of these medicines in mainstream and the concerns in the space.

Keep up to date with Michael on instagram @mihcael_kintu_ and learn about Dr Prash by visiting drprash.com

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit www.gobehindthemask.com.au for more information and sign up to our ‘Weekly Wisdoms’ to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Turning Lemons into Lemonade- Elise McCann & Benjamin Law

We all know that life can give us lemons from time to time, but how to we turn them in lemonade? How do we work through life’s inevitable challenges, especially our mental health challenges. This week’s guests have some pretty fantastic answers and plenty of wisdom. In a world that rushes, they speak to what’s real—gentle voices cutting through the noise with clarity, calm and care. From the bright lights of many musical theatre stages, to her work as a writer and her meaningful contribution in mental health Elise McCann. She joined by author, screenwriter, journalist, truth-teller in so many forms, Benjamin Law.

In this episode we explore:

-How and why Elise and co-founder Lucy Duran, founded ‘Hey Lemonade’.

-The science behind pep talks.

-Ben shares his feelings toward his recent ADHD diagnosis and his journey through depression.

-Elise opens up on performance anxiety and living with an eating disorder.

-Why everyone she be going to therapy.

-The importance of couples counselling.

-The role creativity plays in mental health, in terms of processing emotion.

Keep up to date with Elise and Benjamin on instagram @elise_mccann and Benjamin @mrbenjaminlaw

and Hey Lemonade @heylemonade_official

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Visit www.gobehindthemask.com.au for more information and sign up to our ‘Weekly Wisdoms’ to begin YOUR self inquiry journey... behind the mask.