Origin Story with David McIntosh Jr

John McCalla-Leacy is a former KPMG global executive, coach, speaker, former international canoeist, martial arts champion and one of the most extraordinary origin stories ever told on this podcast.In this episode of Origin Story, John sits down with David McIntosh Jr for a deeply inspiring and almost unbelievable conversation abouzt homelessness, resilience, reinvention, race, social mobility, financial freedom, grief, leadership, faith in people, and what it really means to build a life that no one could have predicted.From growing up in South London as the son of Jamaican parents from the Windrush generation, to experiencing homelessness, competing internationally as a canoeist, working in fashion for Benetton, living across Italy, China, Hong Kong and Thailand, becoming a martial arts champion, joining KPMG, rising to become one of their top-performing partners in Asia and later Global Head of ESG, John’s story genuinely sounds impossible.But the most unbelievable part? A grant from The Prince’s Trust changed the direction of his life and years later, Queen Elizabeth II personally heard his story, passed it on to King Charles, and John ended up having dinner with the King.This is a powerful, funny, emotional, and life-affirming conversation about resilience, reinvention, community, money, leadership, identity, and learning how to turn the hardest parts of your story into the thing that carries you forward.Follow David McIntosh Jr:Instagram: @davidmcintoshjrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mcintosh-jr-47683b120/Follow John McCalla-Leacy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mccalla-leacy/Sponsored by Neutonic — the nootropic drink designed for focus, energy and getting stuff done.Use code DAVID at checkout.neutonic.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo2no5bA7Ap7ScRXIfpOjvA2tiDOmzbEaoA9FgsUJhT2YoAn-3w

Michael Smoak (HigherUpWellness) is a coach, creator, podcaster and online voice known for helping people turn pain into purpose through faith, fitness, discipline and brutally honest conversations about grief, masculinity and healing.
In this episode of Origin Story, Michael Smoak sits down with David McIntosh Jr in Long Beach, California for a deeply honest and surprisingly life-affirming conversation about grief, faith, heartbreak, masculinity, death, purpose, family, emotional expression, and what it really means to become a man.
From caring for his dying father, to processing young parental grief, to rebuilding his life through faith and service, Michael explains how the worst thing that ever happened to him became the foundation for his work, his message and his relationship with God. David and Michael also explore the “Dead Parents Under 30 Club”, why men struggle to talk about heartbreak, the danger of suppressing emotion, the difference between real strength and performative toughness, and why “you only live once” might be the wrong way to look at life.
This is a raw, emotional and powerful conversation about grief, God, love, letting go, and learning how to turn pain into purpose before it breaks you.
Follow David McIntosh Jr:
Instagram: @davidmcintoshjr
Follow Michael Smoak:
Instagram/TikTok: @higherupwellness
Sponsored by Neutonic — the nootropic drink designed for focus, energy and getting stuff done.
Use code DAVID at checkout.

Michael Smoak (HigherUpWellness) is a coach, creator, podcaster and online voice known for helping people turn pain into purpose through faith, fitness, discipline and brutally honest conversations about grief, masculinity and healing.
In this episode of Origin Story, Michael Smoak sits down with David McIntosh Jr in Long Beach, California for a deeply honest and surprisingly life-affirming conversation about grief, faith, heartbreak, masculinity, death, purpose, family, emotional expression, and what it really means to become a man.
From caring for his dying father, to processing young parental grief, to rebuilding his life through faith and service, Michael explains how the worst thing that ever happened to him became the foundation for his work, his message and his relationship with God. David and Michael also explore the “Dead Parents Under 30 Club”, why men struggle to talk about heartbreak, the danger of suppressing emotion, the difference between real strength and performative toughness, and why “you only live once” might be the wrong way to look at life.
This is a raw, emotional and powerful conversation about grief, God, love, letting go, and learning how to turn pain into purpose before it breaks you.
Follow David McIntosh Jr:
Instagram: @davidmcintoshjr
Follow Michael Smoak:
Instagram/TikTok: @higherupwellness
Sponsored by Neutonic — the nootropic drink designed for focus, energy and getting stuff done.
Use code DAVID at checkout.

Andy Macdonald is a skateboarding legend, Team GB Olympian, 23-time X Games medallist and officially the oldest Olympic skateboarder in history.
In this episode of Origin Story, Andy Macdonald sits down with David McIntosh Jr for a funny, thoughtful and surprisingly inspiring conversation about Scottish roots, skateboarding culture, vert skating, Team GB, the Olympics, X Games, fatherhood, risk, discipline, Livingston Skatepark, making money as a pro skater, and how on earth he is still flying around ramps at 51 years old.
From growing up skating in New England and Boston, to discovering his family connection to Dumfries, getting British citizenship, representing Team GB at the Paris Olympics, and becoming one of the most decorated skateboarders of all time, Andy explains what it takes to stay world-class across multiple generations of skateboarding.
This is a conversation about longevity, identity, counterculture, fatherhood, clean living, Scottish pride, Olympic history, and what skateboarding can teach you that school never could.
Or, to put it more simply: a poor Scottish podcaster asks a 51-year-old skateboarding icon how he’s still less scared of halfpipes than most of us are of sending an email.
Follow David McIntosh Jr:
Instagram: @davidmcintoshjr
Follow Andy Macdonald:
Instagram: @andymac720
Sponsored by Neutonic — the nootropic drink designed for focus, energy and getting stuff done.
Use code DAVID at checkout.

www.neutonic.com

Rufus Rice is a comedian, podcaster, musician and viral TikTok creator known for his posh-boy persona, chaotic storytelling, sharp class commentary and cult online catchphrases like “Hello shaggers.”
In this episode of Origin Story, Rufus Rice sits down with David McIntosh Jr at Spotify HQ for a hilarious and surprisingly revealing conversation about class, private school, boarding school, TikTok fame, comedy, music, going viral, social mobility, the “posh” hierarchy, Scottish schemes, Patreon, the manosphere, Big John, Maltesers, and why he refuses to take sync claps seriously.
From growing up in Singapore and going to boarding school, to dropping out of university and building a career through TikTok, Rufus explains how he accidentally became one of the UK’s most recognisable young comedy creators while refusing to pretend he has a traumatic origin story.
This is a chaotic, funny and brutally honest conversation about privilege, class, ambition, internet fame and what happens when a posh TikToker gets interrogated by a poor Scottish podcaster.
Follow David McIntosh Jr:
Instagram: @davidmcintoshjr
Follow Rufus Rice:
Instagram/TikTok: @rufusrice
Sponsored by Neutonic - the nootropic drink designed for focus, energy and getting stuff done.
Use code DAVID at checkout.