Mental Bears the podcast

The Weight We Carry: PTSD, Purpose & Healing After Service In this raw and deeply honest episode of the Mental Bears Podcast, Matthew speaks with former Canadian police officer and author Andrew Lord McLean, whose book Beaten Black and Blue: A Journey Into the Light tells the story of his collapse, diagnosis and fight to rebuild his life. Andrew opens up about post-traumatic stress, major depressi...

The Dyslexic Bear: How Learning Differently Became a Strength In this episode of the Mental Bears Podcast, Matthew sits down with Russell for a raw and personal conversation about dyslexia, education, shame, pressure, and the power of learning differently. Russell shares his journey from being told he had severe reading and writing difficulties to building a dyslexia research programme designed to...

In this episode of the Mental Bears Podcast, Matthew sits down with Justin and Stacey from The Fortified Mindset for a raw, practical conversation about pressure, mindset, stress, and the stories we carry. Together, they break down how the words we use can either increase pressure or help release it. From the powerful “should detox” exercise to the idea of slowing down painful stories so they lose...

In Episode 11 of the Mental Bears Podcast, Matthew sits down with Jay Setchell, a USMC veteran, entrepreneur, survivor, mentor, and author of The Strength Within You: It’s Always Too Soon to Quit. Jay’s story is not theory. It is lived experience. From service in the United States Marine Corps to building businesses, surviving multiple near-death experiences, undergoing more than 70 surgeries, fac...

Ep 10 — More Than a Label: Ray’s Story Podcast Description In this episode of the Mental Bears Podcast , I sit down with my mate Ray for a real and honest conversation about the pressures life can put on us — from money worries and everyday stress to identity, transition, and the labels people place on us. Ray is a trans man, but this conversation is not just about being trans. It is about being h...

Mental Bears — Episode 9 David Jarvis: From Invictus Games to Diabetes In this episode of the Mental Bears Podcast, I sit down with David Jarvis to talk about his journey from the Invictus Games to living with and managing diabetes. David shares his story with honesty, strength, and perspective — from the pressures of service and competition, to the reality of facing a life-changing health conditi...

Mental Bears Ep 8 - How Overcoming Shame Led Me to Unshakable Confidence and Self-Acceptance Most of us carry invisible bears—hidden pressures and emotional baggage—that shape how we show up in the world. But what if the key to true freedom lies in understanding and releasing these bears? In this episode, Kim Kjelland, a former interior designer turned emotional coach and founder of the Alignment...

Some bears are too heavy to carry alone. In this episode of the Mental Bears Podcast, I sit down with Robert Cole as he opens up about his journey—from a dark place to building a happier, more stable future. We talk honestly about: * The weight of the bears he was carrying * What it’s like when things feel at their lowest * And how community and camaraderie played a huge role in his recovery This...

🎙️ Episode 6 – From Service to Direction: Navigating Life After the Military Leaving the military isn’t just a career change—it’s a shift in identity, purpose, and direction. In this episode of the Mental Bears Podcast, I sit down with Paul Brenton—Head of Development & Education at Forces Transition Group, veteran, coach, and someone I’ve personally leaned on for guidance during my own journey of...

🎙️ EPISODE 5 – A WEEK WITH ME This one’s different. No guest. No filter. Just me. Over the Easter break, I took a step back… and realised something I think a lot of people miss — you don’t truly understand the weight you’re carrying until you actually stop. In this episode, I walk you through my week. The pressure. The thoughts. The moments that hit harder than expected. Not the highlight reel… th...

Episode 4 – A Paramedic’s Bears Behind the uniform… there’s still a human being. In this episode, we sit down with a paramedic who carries more than just the responsibility of saving lives. We talk about the pressure that comes with the job — the moments that stay with you, the ones you don’t talk about, and the bears that follow you home after the shift ends. This isn’t about the job itself… It’s...

🎙️ EPISODE 3 – TECHNICAL EMERGENCY Mental Bears Podcast Even my mic couldn’t hear me… so I had to find my voice again. This episode wasn’t meant to go like this. What started as a simple recording turned into frustration, setbacks, and a reminder of something deeper… Sometimes it’s not the equipment failing — it’s the pressure we’re carrying. In this episode, I open up about past bears I’ve carrie...

🐻 Mental Bears Podcast – Episode 2: The Framework In this episode, I introduce the foundation of Mental Bears — The Framework. Life brings pressure in many forms. Work, family, expectations, and the pressure we place on ourselves. On this podcast, I call those pressures “The Bears we carry.” Some are small and follow us quietly. Others grow big enough to stop us moving forward. This episode break...

Why start the Mental Bears podcast? In this first episode I explain the idea behind Mental Bears and why I believe we need better conversations about pressure. Life brings pressure from work, family, expectations and the challenges we all face. On this podcast I call those pressures Bears. Some are small cubs that follow us quietly. Others grow big enough to stop us moving forward. I also share th...