Dr. Toby Brooks uses his transformative journey from burnout to breakthrough to guide high achievers in reinvention.
At the peak of his career, Dr. Toby Brooks was living the dream. A renowned professor and performance scientist with accolades to his name, Toby was at the forefront of academic success. Yet, despite outward success, he faced an inner collapse. In a cold locker room, a dream he’d worked his whole life for came to an abrupt end, and he was left questioning everything. This wasn’t just a moment of failure, it was the unraveling of his very identity. It was here, at rock bottom, that Toby began the journey to Becoming UnDone, a movement that would later resonate with high achievers and creatives worldwide.
The Start of a Life-Changing Journey
Dr. Toby Brooks didn’t set out to build a global movement. His path began as a young athlete with big dreams. A former college basketball player, he believed in grit, determination, and the power of performance. But what happened when the very thing that defined him, his athletic identity, crumbled, left him questioning his worth? What do you do when your entire sense of self shatters in an instant?
As a performance scientist and professor, Toby was uniquely positioned to understand the mechanics of human achievement. But it wasn’t until he experienced his own unraveling that he fully understood the emotional and psychological toll that high-performance pressure could have on the soul. Toby realized that while success can elevate us, it can also push us into burnout and identity loss, two silent crises many high achievers face but rarely acknowledge.
From this revelation, Toby birthed Becoming UnDone, a podcast and movement focused on rebuilding life after breakdown. The name itself is a testament to the process: the unraveling isn’t the end. It’s merely the beginning of something greater, something more authentic. Through candid storytelling, vulnerability, and scientific insights, Toby created a platform where individuals could confront their struggles and find the strength to rebuild, one honest step at a time.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Toby Brooks’ extraordinary contributions to the field of performance science and coaching have not gone unnoticed. In 2025, he was awarded the prestigious title of Best Performance Scientist and Coach in Texas by Best of Best Review. This accolade serves as a testament to his transformative work with high achievers, his groundbreaking insights into burnout and reinvention, and his commitment to helping individuals rebuild from their breakdowns. His innovative approach to personal development, blending academic rigor with real-life experience, has made an indelible impact on professionals and leaders worldwide. Toby’s dedication to empowering others through vulnerability and purpose-driven performance has solidified his status as a leading figure in the industry.
Facing the Hard Truth
The road to Becoming UnDone wasn’t smooth. Toby had a successful career, but personal turmoil led him to confront his deepest fears. It was in these moments of despair, questioning the very meaning of success, that he began to understand the importance of spiritual grounding, emotional resilience, and the power of reinvention. But these insights didn’t come easily. They came at the cost of years of burnout, questioning, and a pivotal decision: to either stay stuck or embrace the unknown and rebuild.
“I realized that the world told me I’d failed,” Toby reflects, “But rock bottom became the most honest foundation I ever built on.” This realization marked a turning point, a breakthrough that would shape the core of Becoming UnDone. It was through this painful process that he could offer others the clarity they needed to rebuild from their own breakdowns.
The Power of Rebuilding from the Inside Out
What sets Dr. Toby Brooks apart from others in the personal development and high-performance space is his authenticity. Unlike many in the industry who focus on hustle, success, and grit, Toby addresses the aftermath of it all: the collapse. His journey took him from burnout to a deep spiritual reckoning and back to a place of purpose. But he didn’t just rebuild his life, he created a roadmap for others to do the same.
Through his podcast, Becoming UnDone became a global platform, reaching listeners in over 75 countries and inspiring thousands of high achievers, leaders, and creatives to face their own undoing. Whether through speaking engagements, his work at Baylor University, or his groundbreaking contributions to generative AI, Toby’s work is rooted in vulnerability, clarity, and an unrelenting belief that purpose can be found, even in our darkest moments.
Leading with Vulnerability and Truth
Toby’s unique blend of academic rigor, real-life experience, and vulnerability makes him an exceptional guide for those navigating identity loss and burnout. He’s not a polished guru with a highlight reel. He’s a first-generation college student who’s lived through failure, burnout, and reinvention, yet is now a respected thought leader and educator in his field.
His platform isn’t about pretending to have it all figured out. It’s about showing up authentically, scars and all, and using those experiences to empower others to rise. “I’m not here to offer a perfect answer,” Toby says. “I’m here to tell the truth and help people rebuild from it.”
What truly sets him apart is his ability to combine storytelling, science, and soul. Toby’s voice has become a trusted one for those seeking authenticity and clarity in their own journeys. His work is practical, yet deeply human, offering a space where high performers can embrace their vulnerabilities and redefine success on their terms.
A Global Movement Rooted in Real Life
“The world told me I’d failed,” Toby shares, “But rock bottom became the most honest foundation I ever built on.” This quote encapsulates his ethos. In a world where success is often synonymous with perfection, Toby’s message flips that narrative on its head. He offers no shortcuts, no fake success stories, just the hard truth that failure and reinvention are part of the human experience.
Becoming UnDone is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. For anyone who has ever been caught in the web of high performance, where success and failure are intertwined, Toby’s work is a lifeline. “If you’ve ever felt like your success was slowly killing you, you’re not alone,” Toby reassures. “And you’re not beyond redemption.”
What’s Next for Toby Brooks?
Today, Toby continues to speak on global stages, guide professionals in high-stress industries, and shape the future of leadership and performance. His work at Baylor University, particularly in the realm of generative AI, demonstrates his commitment to pushing boundaries and innovating in education and leadership. Yet, despite his academic accomplishments, Toby remains deeply connected to his mission of helping others navigate the space between burnout and breakthrough.
“Becoming UnDone isn’t about falling apart,” Toby concludes. “It’s about finally letting go of what was never meant to hold you together.” This is the heart of his message, a message that continues to inspire and resonate with individuals around the world who are ready to rebuild and rise stronger than before.
If you’re a high performer who’s ever felt the weight of success crushing you, or if you’re facing a personal breakdown and wondering how to rebuild, Dr. Toby Brooks’ message is for you. Tune in to the Becoming UnDone podcast, join the movement, and start your own journey of reinvention. Visit TobyBrooksPhD.com to learn more about Toby’s work, get access to transformative resources, and discover how you can build something beautiful from the wreckage of your own life.
