EP 15: From Cairo to the Rock: Beyond a Fighter w/ Hady Tareq Ahmed

In this episode of Jus Talkin’, I sit down with Hady Tareq Ahmed — a passionate change-maker whose life journey starts in Egypt and finds him on the remote 'Rock' of Newfoundland, Canada.

Born and raised in Egypt, Hady shares his story of navigating his identity as a child that changed his life, the culture and family that shaped him, and now belonging within a place that he didn't even know existed.

From early experiences with self-image and worth, to discovering his purpose and passion in mixed martial arts, Hady’s guided by his connection to something higher and the supportive relationships surrounding him. His honesty is both disarming and deeply resonant.

• Growing up between two worlds and learning to trust inner guidance

• Being born into privilege but blind to it

• The silent suffering of men, especially immigrants far from home

• Finding meaning through discomfort, purpose through curiosity, and clarity through pain

• Why MMA is anything but violent

• Giving back to the community through mentorship

Hady brings a unique lens to his coaching, community building, and storytelling — reminding us that healing doesn’t have to be lonely, and transformation begins with honest conversations and strong role models.

This one holds depth, rawness, and hope.

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📢 Like, comment, and most importantly—subscribe! 🎙️ If this episode moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. The whole point of this podcast is to start real conversations that ripple across Atlantic Canada and beyond. ❤️

Hady is currently raising funds to represent Newfoundland and Canada at the IBJJF World Championships in Las Vegas. If you’d like to support his journey, here’s the link to contribute: https://gofund.me/cbcfc789 or visit his page at gofundme.com/f/road-to-the-worlds-championship

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Ep 14: Resilience - Facing Grief, Cancer, and Hard Things Head-On - w/ Jennifer DeWare

When life hits harder than you ever thought possible, how do you keep moving forward?

In this episode, Jennifer DeWare joins me to share the raw, unfiltered truth of facing heartbreak, loss, divorce, cancer, and grief—all in just a few short years. Or more like 7.

Her story is a reminder that we’re built for more than we think. That we can get through the unimaginable. That resilience isn’t just a buzzword—it’s lived experience.

We dig into the realities of resilience, personal transformation, and the new culture shift happening in today’s workplaces. This one is powerful. It’s personal. And it’s a reminder that you can do hard things.

📢 Do me a favor:

👍 Hit that heart to support Atlantic Canadians ❤️

💬 Drop your honest reflections in the comments—I actually read them

🎙️ Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode 🇨🇦

🔎 In this episode:

- How to survive wave after wave of grief and loss

- Why resilience is built through lived experience, not theory

- The old-school vs. new-school clash in today's workplaces

- Letting go of outdated success metrics and finding new meaning

- The future of leadership and what younger generations are showing us

- Choosing hope over fear—even when the unknown is overwhelming

- Real stories. Real stakes. Real strength.

🎧 Watch & Listen Here:

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🔗 Connect with Jennifer:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jennifer-deware-3901a974

Website: visualiiz.ca

❤️‍🔥 If this conversation moved you, inspired you, or made you think of someone—please share it with them.

A like, a comment, a share—it all helps spread these real stories to the people who might need them most.

Let’s keep the ripple effect going.

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EP 13: This One’s for the Boys Back Home – A Raw Talk on Newfoundland, Military Life & Manhood - w/ Rodney Pollard

In this episode, I sit down with my brother Rodney Pollard—a fellow Newfoundlander, veteran, and deep feeler—for a wide-ranging conversation about growing up on the island, serving in the military, and finding meaning after it all. We reflect on what it means to leave home at 18 to serve, to experience culture shock, to be toughened and hardened by systems not designed to nurture boys into men—but also how we’ve come to reclaim a softer, stronger identity through years of self-work. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s two men getting honest about their pasts—and what we still carry today.

💬 What We Explore in This Episode:

Growing up in small-town Newfoundland & what "home" really means

The pull of the military—and what happens after the uniform Culture shock, bullying, and the weight of unspoken emotions

The lost art of community and learning through hardship

Masculinity: The Hunter vs. the Farmer Archetype

Why it’s so rare for men to have both loyalty and emotional support

Our own shame, growth, and moments we wish we handled differently

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🎧 Watch & Listen Here: ▶️YouTube 🎧Spotify 🍏Apple 🌎Podbean 👍Facebook @newfoundawakening

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📢 I don’t have a guest contact link for this one—but what I do have is an ask. If something in this conversation moved you, stuck with you, or reminded you of someone—share it. T

his podcast isn’t just about content. It’s about connection. It’s about reaching someone who might need to hear a story like this—someone from back home in Newfoundland, someone serving now, someone quietly carrying something heavy.

So drop a comment.

Tap the heart.

Pass it along. Say, “Hey, I listened to this today, and it made me think of you.” Because you never know how much that small action could mean.

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📢 If this moved something in you—don’t keep it to yourself. Send it to a friend. Share it with a brother. Tag someone who needs to hear this. That’s how we keep the real conversations going.

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