So this was one of the most powerful shows that I've ever had the honor of producing in the last nine years. I did make formal show notes, but I just don't think it does it justice. First off, I want to say thank you to Don Mann, Seal Team 6 legend, star of Surviving Mann and the toughest man I have ever known.

Randy Couture -Google the name TV&Movie Star alongside Sylvester Stallone in the Expendables movie series UFC hall of famer, Six time UFC champion, 14 years in the UFC but there was so much that I didn't know about Randy.

Randy is former US Military and his mission now is really out there to help others. He founded the Extreme Couture GI Foundation. He's collabed with merging vets and players. We talked about what it's like to be a UFC champion, what it takes. We talked about transition from that world into movie stardom. We talked about what real self defense and real fighting is like not just the sport if cage fighting.

We talked about mental health, we talked about men's health. We talked about the pros and cons of social media and we focused on male role models, we talked about veteran mental health. We talked about so much.- this was truly one of the most powerful shows I have been part of- any summary here can not do it justice. So I encourage you to listen to it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Randy, thank you so much for coming on. Don, thank you for connecting us. We mentioned so many former guests on the show, it was brilliant. This was one of the most surprising and humbling shows I have ever recorded in the 9 years the podcast has been going- Randy is a true gentleman and his wisdom, humility and knowledge will astound you - hopefully as much as it did me.

You can connect with Randy on the show notes below. Click on those but most importantly I would suggest Randy would want you to do is click on The Xtreme Couture GI Foundation xcgif.org and the Veteran Transition support vetsandplayers.org

🔗 Connect with Randy

Official Website: https://www.randycouture.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xcnatch/

X/Twitter: https://x.com/Randy_Couture The Xtreme Couture GI Foundation: https://xcgif.org/

Merging Vets and Players: https://vetsandplayers.org/

Thanks for tuning in. Hope you love it as much as I did. Thank you all.

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

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/

Wendy Fortino is an eight-time Olympia figure competitor, former elite track athlete, media host, and fitness professional whose career bridges high-performance athletics, bodybuilding, science, and storytelling. With degrees in exercise science and a master’s in exercise physiology, her background combines academic rigor with real-world experience at the highest levels of physique competition and performance media.

Long before stepping onto bodybuilding stages, Wendy’s identity was built through athletics. A gifted middle-distance runner with a gymnastics background, she dedicated her life to track and field and was training for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 800 metres when a stress fracture abruptly halted her pursuit.

What initially felt like devastation became a turning point. Introduced to bodybuilding through friends, she entered her first figure competition almost by accident — and won the overall title. What followed was a complete reinvention: national titles, an IFBB pro card, and eight Olympia appearances. Yet what truly drove her was not early success, but adversity.

The first major loss in bodybuilding became the catalyst that hooked her deeper into the process. Her philosophy is clear: champions are forged through setbacks, challenge, and the willingness to step into difficult environments where growth is possible.

Throughout the conversation, Wendy speaks openly about identity, resilience, and the psychology behind performance. She reflects on the pressures women face in physique sports, particularly the tendency to tie self-worth to appearance or stage results. Coming from an athletic background gave her a different perspective — one rooted in feedback, improvement, and resilience rather than validation.

She emphasises that bodybuilding, at its best, is not simply about aesthetics, but about developing discipline, confidence, and self-respect. Health and longevity must remain the foundation. Wendy also discusses the evolution of bodybuilding itself, the balance between science and practical experience, and why true growth often comes from curiosity, creativity, and stepping outside rigid systems.

Today, through her media work with Olympia TV, Muscle & Fitness, and numerous fitness brands, she focuses on telling deeper stories — revealing the person behind the public image and helping others understand what truly drives high performers.

🔗 Connect with Wendy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyfortino/

Website: http://www.polishedpresentation.com/

http://www.cyberbodyshop.com/

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/

Samantha is an Australian entrepreneur, transformation coach, and business strategist who built her first multi–eight-figure company in her early 20s. Entering the property development space at just 19 with no formal training, she scaled an underperforming project by over 1600%, driven by a relentless focus on client experience, emotional connection, and high-performance execution.

Her work now centres on helping individuals and entrepreneurs scale their potential into profitable, purpose-driven businesses. Her perspective is shaped by lived adversity. Samantha speaks openly about her experiences with trauma, mental health struggles, addiction, and self-sabotage—factors that forced her to confront identity at a deep level. Her core philosophy is built around what she calls the “Illuminator”: someone who transforms darkness into leadership. Rather than trying to “get over” hardship, she teaches that pain must be acknowledged, then redirected into purpose.

The defining shift is simple but powerful—stop giving power to the past, and start using it to build strength, confidence, and direction. A key insight in Samantha’s work is that most people are not limited by capability, but by belief, environment, and lack of aligned action. She bridges mindset with execution—using tools like vision setting, identity-based decision making, and measurable daily metrics to eliminate procrastination and imposter syndrome.

Her approach combines emotional intelligence with structured performance, emphasising that success is not motivation-driven, but built through consistent, deliberate action.

At its core, Samantha’s message is about ownership and self-leadership:

Your past does not define you—but it can build you.

Illuminate your potential.

And transformation is not a moment—it is a decision made daily.

🔗 Connect with Samantha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theilluminatormovement/

Website: https://www.theilluminatormovement.com/

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/