Ray Howell

Ray Howell

From Strength From Service by Jack Zimmerman, Mike McLaughlin, Jake Palmer

January 26, 2026 · 2h 5m

About this episode

Ray Howell shares his journey of overcoming adversity and finding purpose through powerlifting and mentorship.

On this episode of Strength From Service, we sit down with Ray Howell to hear a story built through adversity, discipline, and purpose. Ray shares what it was like growing up with instability, how he ended up in foster care, and the determination it took to change the direction of his life. Ray went on to become a successful business owner, found his passion in powerlifting, and eventually set world records through relentless training and mental toughness. At the same time, he chased one of the most demanding goals in bowhunting — pursuing the North American 29 with a bow. Those experiences ultimately led Ray to start Kicking Bear Ministries, a mission focused on mentorship, the outdoors, and helping young people build confidence, discipline, and identity through shared experience. Learn more about Kicking Bear Ministries and their mission here: 🔗 https://kickingbear.org This is a powerful conversation about resilience, accountability, and using strength — both physical and mental — to serve something bigger than yourself.

People in this episode

Hosts: Jack Zimmerman, Mike McLaughlin, Jake Palmer

Guest: Ray Howell

Topics covered

  • adversity
  • discipline
  • mentorship
  • powerlifting
  • bowhunting
  • resilience

Keywords

  • adversity
  • discipline
  • powerlifting
  • bowhunting
  • Kicking Bear Ministries
  • mentorship
  • resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kicking Bear Ministries

More episodes of Strength From Service

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Strength From Service podcast page.