The Big Bear Podcast : A two eyed seeing approach to neurodiversity

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What if your last name didn’t define you, but your habits did? We sit down with a military sergeant turned Canadian Strongman National Champion to unpack how a hard start, a mentor’s belief, and a broken foot led to a new identity built on discipline, coaching, and community. From hoop dreams to heavy yokes, this is a grounded look at what it really takes to climb from “just starting” to pro status without losing your love for the work.

We explore the early years—single-parent home, brothers in trouble, and a decision to break the pattern—then the military years that forged structure, resilience, and a plan. The moment basketball disappeared, the weight room stepped in. A marketplace log and circus dumbbell sparked an obsession, a nine-day leap into competition, and a fast education in technique, recovery, and event strategy. Along the way, a coach’s final mantra—never waste a loss—became the backbone of meet-day focus: treat each event like the winning event, reset quickly, ignore the points, and execute.

You’ll hear how a run from 11th to 5th to 1st at Nationals came from smarter peaking, better nutrition, and removing crippling pressure. We talk recovery as a competitive skill, deferring OSG and Arnold starts to return healthier and hungrier, and setting a clear target for Texas: belong, execute, and let the ranking follow. We dig into weight class realities at 105 kg, why size isn’t destiny, and what athletes can learn from Mitchell Hooper’s blend of conditioning and strength. And we shine a light on the Nova Scotia strength community—mentors like Grant Connors and coaches like Josh Dunbar—proving that inclusive gyms and sharp programming can turn belief into results.

If you’re eyeing your first strongman comp or planning a comeback, this conversation gives you a blueprint: mindset before medals, food as recovery insurance, and a pre-planned response to bad days. Subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review with your next big goal—we’ll cheer you on.

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Our first-ever guest is the incredible Linda Peters, daughter of Elder Emmet Peters, originally from Lennox Island First Nation, PEI, and residing in Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation, NS. Linda generously shares her family's firsthand story of survival and the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system.

Linda goes deep on:

• The true origin of National Truth and Reconciliation Day and why it's essential for all Canadians/residents of Turtle Island.
• The meaning of "reconciliation" for her family and her Mi'kmaw community in Mi'kma'ki.
• A moving journey of challenge, resilience, and hope that underscores the phrase "Every Child Matters."

This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the Indigenous experience in Canada and commit to the path of reconciliation. We approach this conversation through the lens of Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk)—honoring the strengths of both Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to create a deeper, more holistic understanding of neurodiversity, culture, and life.

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes that weave together neurodiversity, culture, and community in Nova Scotia and throughout Turtle Island!

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