🎙️ Episode Title:

Redefining Masculinity: Emotional Mastery, Leadership, and the Power of Men’s Work with Craig White

📝 Episode Summary:

In this powerful and heart-centered episode of The Vitality Collective Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Bettle is joined by renowned men’s coach Craig White, affectionately known as “Mr. Miyagi,” to explore the evolving landscape of masculinity. Broadcasting from the Sacred Valley of Peru, Craig shares deep insights into emotional intelligence, relational presence, and leadership in the modern male experience. From unraveling societal conditioning to reclaiming our full emotional range, this conversation dives into the work required for men to lead with integrity, groundedness, and heart. Whether you’re looking to step more fully into your purpose, understand your triggers, or foster healthier relationships, this is a conversation not to miss.

👤 Guest Bio – Craig White:

Craig White is a globally respected men’s coach, leadership mentor, and founder of Craig White Mentoring. Known for his integrative approach that blends ancient wisdom, somatic practices, and modern psychology, Craig has coached elite performers, top-level executives, and sports leaders around the world. With a background in professional rugby and years of work in transformative men’s circles, Craig is passionate about helping men become whole, embodied leaders. His signature offering, the ICONIC Program, guides men through a 7-month journey including a transformative retreat in Peru.

🔗 Connect with Craig White:

• Website: craigwhitementoring.com

• Instagram: @craigwhitementoring

• YouTube: Craig White Mentoring

• Podcast: Dare to be Different (Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple)

• LinkedIn: Craig White

✅ 3 Actionable Takeaways:

1. Make Peace with Your Past – Begin the work of understanding your childhood and family dynamics. Forgiveness and insight are key to freeing yourself from unconscious patterns.

2. Establish a Daily Presence Practice – Whether through meditation, movement, or breathwork, create space to ground yourself and regulate your nervous system.

3. Join or Create a Men’s Group – Find or build a safe space with other men to share vulnerably, practice emotional range, and reduce the shame and isolation that many men carry.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Masculinity is evolving: leadership today requires emotional range, relational presence, and groundedness.

• Many of our adult behaviors are shaped by unresolved childhood wounds and societal conditioning.

• The “shadow” or “basement” holds the parts of ourselves we’ve suppressed for love or survival.

• Emotional repression—especially grief—is rampant among men and must be expressed for healing.

• Practicing grounded anger expression is a powerful tool for healthy relationships and leadership.

• Breath, posture, and attention are essential for entering your home and relationships with presence.

• Men’s groups provide essential outlets for support, accountability, and emotional growth.

• True power is self-awareness, not dominance: knowing your story, your strengths, and your boundaries.

• We can’t expect our partners to carry our emotional load—men must build their own support systems.

• Long-term transformation requires consistent practice, not a single retreat or weekend experience.

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode of The Vitality Collective Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Bettle is joined by Christina O'Connor, a registered dietitian and gut health expert from Pendulum Therapeutics. Together, they dive deep into the science of the microbiome, exploring how trillions of organisms in our gut impact everything from metabolism and mood to immune function and long-term health. Christina shares fascinating insights into GLP-1, the gut-brain axis, postbiotics like butyrate, and why modern probiotics might be missing a key player—Akkermansia muciniphila. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to optimize their gut health, naturally boost metabolism, and create a foundation for lasting vitality.

👩‍⚕️ Guest Bio:

Christina O'Connor is a Registered Dietitian with extensive experience in gut health and functional nutrition. She is a clinical educator at Pendulum Therapeutics, a company at the forefront of microbiome research, known for developing innovative probiotic solutions—most notably including Akkermansia muciniphila, a strain with promising metabolic and neurological benefits. Christina’s expertise spans nutrition, functional medicine, microbiome science, and patient education, and she’s passionate about helping people heal their bodies through diet, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle interventions.

🔗 Connect with Christina & Pendulum:

• 🌐 Website: www.pendulumlife.com

• 🌐 Instagram: pendulumlifeco

✅ 3 Actionable Items You Can Start Today:

1. Add More Fiber – Start slowly and build up your intake with chia water, prebiotic-rich veggies (onions, green bananas), or prebiotic sodas to feed beneficial gut bacteria.

2. Prioritize Sleep – Quality sleep boosts gut repair and immune resilience. Optimize your sleep hygiene to support overall vitality.

3. Find Daily Joy – Reduce stress and promote mental wellness by doing something that genuinely brings you happiness every day. Joy is good for your microbiome too!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The microbiome influences nearly every body system, from metabolism to mental health.

• GLP-1, a powerful hormone made in the gut, impacts satiety, cravings, blood sugar, and even addiction-related brain activity.

• Fiber is essential to feed butyrate-producing bacteria that help trigger GLP-1 production and support gut lining health.

• Akkermansia muciniphila is a keystone strain that protects the gut barrier, supports immune modulation, and promotes metabolic health—but can’t be obtained through food or the environment.

• Polyphenol-rich foods (like green tea, pomegranate, dark chocolate) are crucial for nourishing Akkermansia and other gut-friendly strains.

• Fermented foods like pickled onions and kombucha add beneficial bacteria and aid digestion—but watch the sugar content.

• Probiotic use after antibiotics (or even during, strategically) helps restore and protect the microbiome.

• Stress weakens the gut barrier and disrupts microbial balance—simple breathing exercises can counter this.

• Pendulum’s glucose control formulation has been clinically shown to improve blood sugar regulation, rivaling traditional diabetes meds like metformin.

• Microbiome repair is a gradual process—give new regimens at least 3 months for real change.

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this deeply moving episode of The Vitality Collective Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Bettle sits down with Kevin Vance—former Navy SEAL, firefighter, and advocate for healing through plant medicine. Kevin opens up about his powerful journey through elite military service, injury, and burnout, leading to profound healing via traditional plant medicine and community connection. They unpack the vital difference between synthetic psychedelics and traditional plant-based practices, the importance of integration and support, and why community-based healing is essential for veterans, first responders, and society at large. This is an inspiring and cautionary conversation about trauma, resilience, and rediscovering vitality through reconnection—with nature, self, and others.

👤 Guest Bio:

Kevin Vance is a retired Navy SEAL, and recently retired firefighter and FEMA rescue specialist. With a decorated career spanning military special operations and frontline emergency response, Kevin experienced firsthand the toll that high-performance, high-stress environments take on the body and mind. After suffering from TBI, chronic nervous system dysregulation, and burnout, he began a personal healing journey that led him to traditional plant medicine. Today, he is a passionate advocate for conscious and responsible psychedelic therapy, bridging Indigenous wisdom with modern medicine to support the healing of veterans, first responders, and broader communities.

🌐 Guest Links:

• The Mission Within

• Coast to Coast Foundation (Veteran Nonprofit)

• The Coming Home Project

• one805 - Santa Barbara First Responders

✅ 3 Actionable Takeaways:

1. Be Patient on the Healing Path

Don’t rush into plant medicine or psychedelic therapies—seek reputable, well-trained facilitators and do the necessary preparation work.

2. Reconnect with Community

Healing happens in relationship. Seek out or create environments of support, where vulnerability is honored and connection is prioritized.

3. Support Those Who Serve

Whether through advocacy, donations, or simply showing up—support your local veterans and first responders in tangible ways. A handshake, a meal, or a letter to your senator goes a long way.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The distinction between “psychedelics” and “plant medicine” lies not just in chemistry, but in tradition, intention, and reverence.

• Trauma healing must be approached holistically—addressing physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds.

• Nervous system dysregulation from high-stress roles (like SEALs and firefighters) is widespread and often goes untreated for years.

• Integration after plant medicine experiences is as important as the journey itself—ongoing support is vital.

• A lack of legitimate training in the psychedelic space poses real dangers. Vet your facilitators thoroughly.

• Traditional Indigenous wisdom, when combined respectfully with clinical science, offers powerful healing potential.

• Self-compassion is often the missing key in male-dominated performance environments—and it opens the door to true healing.

• Community support isn’t optional—it’s central to sustainable mental and emotional health.

• Every person deserves access to healing, not just elite military operators. The ripple effects must serve broader society.

• True vitality comes not from peak performance alone, but from wholeness, connection, and purpose.