In this amazing episode, I sit down with Kegan "SMURF" Gill, a former U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter pilot who survived the fastest ejection in naval aviation history — launched from his jet at 695 mph- at 50 G’s.

The injuries he sustained in that moment were severe enough to kill most people — limbs torn apart and a traumatic brain injury among them. But Kegan’s ordeal didn’t end there.

After ejecting, Kegan plunged into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, battling hypothermia, sharks and drowning for two hours as rescue teams rushed to find him. Miraculously, his hypothermic state helped prevent fatal blood loss. This was just the beginning of his fight for survival.

We discuss Kegan’s journey through:

-The severe psychotic episodes and dehumanizing treatments he faced after his brain injury.

-His struggle to find proper mental health care, pushing him to eventually seek alternative treatments, including psychedelic therapy and nutraceutical interventions through the Warrior Angels Foundation.

-The critical role of family and support systems in his recovery.

-His advocacy for veterans' mental health and the systemic challenges in the VA system, and how he now dedicates himself to breaking the stigma around mental health care.

Kegan’s story is not just about surviving the unthinkable; it’s about using that survival as fuel to help others. His fight for healing, and his transformation into a public advocate, is an inspiration to anyone overcoming trauma.

🔗 Connect with Kegan on:
🌐 Website: kegangill.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kegansmurfgill/
📘 Book: Phoenix Revival — available now- https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Revival-Aftermath-Aviations-Ejection/dp/1964934516
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kegan-gill-6986a4259/

👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode moved you. Because like Kegan says, “ even in your darkest moment, there’s a path forward.”

I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.eatwellmovewell.net

And you are listening to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.mystait.com

- the ultimate daily formula for optimum hormone health, stress management, energy and performance.

100% natural and clinically proven ingredients, it provides everything you need to raise your game, in a convenient gut-friendly capsule. 

And the Mason Survival Protocol - https://www.carnivoreretreat.com/post/masonsurvival-protocol-carnivore-retreat



Links for my former shows are here-


WATCH on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpt-Zy1jciVn7cWB0B-y5WATyzrzfwucZ

LISTEN on: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rlAGRXCwLIJfQCQ5B3PYB?si=UmgsMBFkRfelCAm1E4Pd3Q

Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446?mt=2




 
Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5bce2d31-a171-4e83-bada-d1384c877e76

Subscribe for more amazing tips, interviews and wisdom from phenomenal guests ------- And get your ** FREE Video Workshop here- https://www.hownottodieguy.com/

ASHLEIGH GASS- A CANADIAN IN FLORIDA-MERGING GYMNASTICS STRENGTH TRAINING (Calisthenics) WITH TRADITIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING NUTRITION/MOBILITY/STRETCHING/MOVEMENT/STRENGTH/ www.movegst.com

Firstly let me apologise for the very inconsiderate Australian wildlife you will hear in the show- bloody crows and kookaburras!! But I digress- on with the show!

Ashleigh Gass- owner of movegst.com, based in Florida, successfully grew her business during the dark ages of 2020-2022 and I was intrigued to find out exactly how she did it. The answer lay in three words- EVOLVE, GROW & DISOBEY.

The lockdown saw the team launch online in 2020, at a time much like Body Synergy gym in NZ Dunedin did, and stayed ahead of the curve. We spoke about former Olympic Coach Christopher Sommer’s programming and how it saved her body post neural surgery and by simply following the process from baby beginner steps to where she is now- it works.

Ash has adapted the exercise programming at movegst.com to combine GYMNASTICS WITH TRADITIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING like kettlebells, dumbbells etc. And they achieve phenomenally surprising fat loss with teaching NUTRITION/MOBILITY/STRETCHING/MOVEMENT/STRENGTH.

We talked about the similarities of our processes with clients using empowering nutrition, trusting the programming and not being too tied to the process of weight loss, to achieve great success for the people who are ready to learn.

Experts like Professor Andrew Huberman, Dr Peter Attia, Robb Wolff came up in our discussion, and it was great to share the synergies in what we learn, teach and use in our daily lives.

Ashleigh Gass is an underrated understated wealth of knowledge, and I am sure you will love watching her videos on Insta

🔗 Connect with Ashleigh on

Her Linktree - https://linktr.ee/ashleighrgass

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashleigh.gass/about

Insta- @ashleighrgass https://www.instagram.com/ashleighrgass/

I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.eatwellmovewell.net

And you are listening to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.mystait.com

- the ultimate daily formula for optimum hormone health, stress management, energy and performance.

100% natural and clinically proven ingredients, it provides everything you need to raise your game, in a convenient gut-friendly capsule. 

And the Mason Survival Protocol - https://www.carnivoreretreat.com/post/masonsurvival-protocol-carnivore-retreat



Links for my former shows are here-


WATCH on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpt-Zy1jciVn7cWB0B-y5WATyzrzfwucZ

LISTEN on: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rlAGRXCwLIJfQCQ5B3PYB?si=UmgsMBFkRfelCAm1E4Pd3Q

Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446?mt=2




 
Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5bce2d31-a171-4e83-bada-d1384c877e76

Subscribe for more amazing tips, interviews and wisdom from phenomenal guests ------- And get your ** FREE Video Workshop here- https://www.hownottodieguy.com/

From high school dropout to licensed attorney to military magistrate to emergency physician, Dr. Jenn’s path defies convention and embodies grit. 


Allow me to introduce Dr. Jenn properly -

Jennifer L'Hommedieu Stankus, MD, JD, FACEP

Board Certified Emergency Physician

Producer, Military & Law Enforcement content, American Stories Entertainment

Past Chair, Emergency Medicine Foundation

Licensed attorney and Former military magistrate

Courtroom Expert Witness - Comprehensive Medical Legal Consultants, LLC

This means Dr. Jenn is an ER doc, lawyer, military vet x 2, former LEO and reality tv star.

Her background fuses combat-tested discipline, medical precision, and legal expertise into a life of service, leadership, and high-stakes decision-making.

But it wasn’t always clear she'd end up here. Dr. Jenn opens up about her early years—dropping out of high school at 16 and enlisting in the military at 17. That decision changed everything. From there, she cultivated a mindset forged in discipline and resilience, guiding her through the challenges of earning both an MD and a JD. Along the way, she became a voice of reason in chaos, whether in the ER, a courtroom, or on a survival show like Surviving Mann with former guest and Seal Team 6 Operator and the most dangerous man- in the world - that I know, Don Mann.

At the heart of this episode is a powerful insight: mental toughness often beats physical strength. Whether competing against elite operators on national television or advocating for preparedness and self-defense in daily life, Dr. Jenn illustrates that perseverance, mindset, and a refusal to quit are the ultimate force multipliers. Her journey reminds us that the most effective tool for survival—on the street or in the ER—is the mind.

Now, she’s sharing those lessons through writing, media, and mentorship. Her upcoming book, Hard Target, blends practical self-defense wisdom with real-world urgency.

As a co-host on Surviving Mann and a producer of tactical media, she continues to mentor and inspire a wide audience, especially those who feel underestimated or overlooked.

Whether you're in medicine, law, military service, or simply trying to grow stronger every day, Dr. Jenn offers a blueprint for resilience and reinvention—no matter where you start.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jenn on

Her Linktree - https://linktr.ee/dr_jenn

Insta- https://www.instagram.com/_dr_jenn/

I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.eatwellmovewell.net

And you are listening to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.mystait.com

- the ultimate daily formula for optimum hormone health, stress management, energy and performance.

100% natural and clinically proven ingredients, it provides everything you need to raise your game, in a convenient gut-friendly capsule. 

And the Mason Survival Protocol - https://www.carnivoreretreat.com/post/masonsurvival-protocol-carnivore-retreat



Links for my former shows are here-


WATCH on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpt-Zy1jciVn7cWB0B-y5WATyzrzfwucZ

LISTEN on: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rlAGRXCwLIJfQCQ5B3PYB?si=UmgsMBFkRfelCAm1E4Pd3Q

Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446?mt=2




Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5bce2d31-a171-4e83-bada-d1384c877e76

Subscribe for more amazing tips, interviews and wisdom from phenomenal guests ------- And get your ** FREE Video Workshop here- https://www.hownottodieguy.com/