What happens when you confront the darkness within?
Journey with the Bear is a raw and deeply personal podcast that follows filmmaker and former police officer Ken Matheson as he embarks on a solo kayak expedition through the Great Bear Rainforest. Haunted by memories of loss, violence, and inner turmoil, Ken confronts his shadow self — the part of him shaped by trauma, grief, and fear.
In this journey, the bear becomes more than a symbol — it’s a guide. In Indigenous traditions, the bear embodies strength, introspection, and healing. Like the bear emerging from hibernation, Ken’s path is one of awakening — facing his buried pain, embracing his capacity for both great violence and profound compassion, and learning to walk forward with that duality in balance.
Through powerful storytelling, Ken weaves together his past experiences — the death of a child in his arms, the tragic aftermath of a life taken too soon, and the adrenaline-fueled clarity that once defined him. As he navigates the wild coast, he faces the challenge of embracing his inner darkness — not to suppress it, but to learn from it and find strength in the process.
Journey with the Bear explores themes of resilience, healing, and self-discovery. It’s a testament to finding balance between strength and vulnerability, rage and compassion, shadow and light.
Join Ken as he paddles into the unknown, seeking peace with his past — and himself. my very interesting podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when you confront the darkness within?
Journey with the Bear is a raw and deeply personal podcast that follows filmmaker and former police officer Ken Matheson as he embarks on a solo kayak expedition through the Great Bear Rainforest. Haunted by memories of loss, violence, and inner turmoil, Ken confronts his shadow self — the part of him shaped by trauma, grief, and fear.
In this journey, the bear becomes more than a symbol — it’s a guide. In Indigenous traditions, the bear embodies strength, introspection, and healing. Like the bear emerging from hibernation, Ken’s path is one of awakening — facing his buried pain, embracing his capacity for both great violence and profound compassion, and learning to walk forward with that duality in balance.
Through powerful storytelling, Ken weaves together his past experiences — the death of a child in his arms, the tragic aftermath of a life taken too soon, and the adrenaline-fueled clarity that once defined him. As he navigates the wild coast, he faces the challenge of embracing his inner darkness — not to suppress it, but to learn from it and find strength in the process.
Journey with the Bear explores themes of resilience, healing, and self-discovery. It’s a testament to finding balance between strength and vulnerability, rage and compassion, shadow and light.
Join Ken as he paddles into the unknown, seeking peace with his past — and himself. my very interesting podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this deeply personal episode 2, Ken Matheson a retired RCMP Officer, award winning film maker and podcast host opens up about the physical and emotional training behind his upcoming 3 week solo sea kayaking journey through the Great Bear Rainforest. At 71, Ken reflects on the power of solitude, the comfort of returning to familiar rhythms, and the unexpected memories that surface when preparing for silence. He shares a haunting story from his policing career—the recovery of a child’s body from a burned home—and the anger, guilt, and grief that still live within him. With honesty and humility, he confronts the legacy of generational trauma and his own complicity in a broken system. Drawing strength from Indigenous teachings and a small Haida stone gifted by a beloved friend, Ken begins the process of sitting with his shadow. This is an episode about courage, reflection, and the quiet work of healing in wild places—where the truth is no longer avoidable.
For information about the Honour House and the Honour Ranch and the work they do follow this link. https://www.honourhouse.ca/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Story Studio, I explore the hardest part of my upcoming 500-kilometer solo paddle through the Great Bear Rainforest—not the ocean, not survival, but the silence.
I’ve spent my life in motion—seeking adventure, pushing boundaries, and filling every moment with movement. But now, as I prepare for weeks of total solitude, I’m forced to ask myself:
To prepare, I’m embracing stillness, writing out my unfiltered thoughts, and studying First Nations teachings of the Bear—a creature that doesn’t fight the darkness but learns from it. Through the story of the young warrior and the Bear, I reflect on how true strength isn’t about conquering fear, but about sitting with it.
This journey isn’t just mine—it’s for anyone who has ever felt trapped by their own mind. If you’ve ever been afraid of the quiet, of what lurks in your own silence, this episode is for you.
Join me as I confront the unknown—not in the wild, but within myself.
🎙️ Listen now on Story Studio.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
