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Mitchell Hooper on Strongman, Bodybuilding Discipline and Lift Heavy, Be Kind
The second time Mitchell Hooper came on The Athletes Podcast, there was no studio. He was riding shotgun in the AP truck with David Stark, on the way to Supplement King's 100th store opening in Victoria, as the reigning World's Strongest Man. In Victoria he had just pulled 800 pounds on the deadlift. His first child was due in about a month, and the Arnold was two days after the due date. Asked how he was handling that timing, he kept it short: "Doing my best not to think about that at all."
That mix of huge numbers and a very grounded outlook runs through both of Mitchell's conversations on the show. This page covers both: Episode 165 from March 2023, recorded as he was heading into the Arnold Sports Festival, and Episode 218 from March 2024, recorded on the road a year later.
Three years in, already on every podium
When Mitchell first joined the show in 2023, he had only been in strength sports for about three years. His first pro strongman season was close to perfect: he reached the podium at all six of his competitions, with wins at the UK Arnold and the Giants Live World Final.
He wasn't a full-time athlete either. Away from competition he directed Longevity Nexum, an exercise physiology clinic in Barrie, Ontario, and coached with the Moose Strength team. His athletic background was wide: bodybuilding, marathon running, football and golf. In that first episode he and David covered perspective and working on your weaknesses, being the new guy in strongman, the gap between physical and mental capability, time management, and building a brand.
Getting stronger without getting hurt
A big part of Episode 165 is the practical side of training. Mitchell spent a long stretch of the conversation on progressive overload and avoiding injury, and on why getting moving matters for life expectancy, not just for trophies. The episode also has a chapter called "Good Enough Everyday", about stacking ordinary, consistent days instead of chasing one heroic session.
It's an approach that fits his clinic work. Strength is something you build in small, managed steps, and staying healthy is part of the job, not a break from it.
The bodybuilding show he still can't beat
Five years before he became World's Strongest Man, Mitchell was running marathons and competing in bodybuilding. You might expect the strongman title to sit at the top of his list. He sees it differently.
"It might be the biggest accomplishment I ever have to other people, but it'll be hard for me to beat the bodybuilding show and the discipline that it took me to do that." – Mitchell Hooper
He doesn't see strongman as the end of the road, either. "After Strongman, there's a lot of things I want to do," he told David. "I want to try CrossFit competitively. I want to do Ironman." At the time of recording he also had a book on the way and said, "We'll have an app next year to help people out."
The team behind the World's Strongest Man
Being the strongest man on the planet is also a business, and Mitchell was open that he doesn't run it alone. Kate manages operations for everything, Fabian handles his videos, Quinn runs marketing, and his sister Cassie looks after merchandise. Leaning on that group is how he planned to handle a new baby and a full competition season at the same time.
Lift Heavy, Be Kind
The phrase on Mitchell's merchandise is also how he thinks about the sport. A lot of people picture the gym as intimidating, or a place full of ego. He wants the opposite.
"The Lift Heavy, Be Kind brand is an extension of what I want to communicate to people, where the gym is a really welcoming place and it's full of really, really kind people just trying to improve themselves." – Mitchell Hooper
On nutrition he kept things simple too. Asked about supplements, he started with the basics: "Top of the list has to be creatine. It's just not something you can get from food sources easily."
Trust, family and who you are after the win
Near the end of the drive, the talk turned to relationships. "I think it takes a pretty high level of trust to be an unfiltered version of yourself in front of people," Mitchell said. He credited his parents for a lot of that: his dad, who "has been a blue collar worker his whole life," and his mom, whose people skills he called "really quite admirable."
His advice to young athletes came back to identity. "You're the same person before and after you accomplish or don't accomplish something," he said, and he urged athletes to get that side of themselves figured out before they expect a big win to fix everything. As he put it, "When you die, you're dirt in the ground and hopefully you're someone who's left a good impression on people."
Key takeaways
Manage the load. Progressive overload builds strength, and avoiding injury is part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Be good enough every day. Consistent ordinary days beat the occasional heroic session.
Build a team you trust. Mitchell relies on Kate, Fabian, Quinn and his sister Cassie so he can focus on training and family.
Make the gym welcoming. Lift heavy, be kind.
Your title isn't your identity. You're the same person before and after the result.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mitchell Hooper?
Mitchell Hooper is a Canadian strongman and World's Strongest Man. Before strongman he competed in bodybuilding and ran marathons, and he has directed Longevity Nexum, an exercise physiology clinic in Barrie, Ontario.
What supplements does Mitchell Hooper take?
On Episode 218 he said creatine is at the top of his list because it isn't easy to get enough from food. He also said he averages six scoops of protein powder a day to cover about half of his protein needs.
What does "Lift Heavy, Be Kind" mean?
It's Mitchell's brand and message: the gym should be a welcoming place full of kind people trying to improve themselves, not an intimidating one.
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