EP 39: Light for Performance: Science, Sleep and Biocentric Solutions with Kyle Harris
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Release Date: 09/24/2025
EP 58: Blood Flow Restriction Training with Dr. Michael MacPherson | Mechanisms and Application
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary Dr. Michael MacPherson joins the show to break down blood flow restriction training from the ground up, covering the biology, the practical application, and the creative ways it's being used far beyond the traditional rehab setting. We dig into the three core mechanisms driving BFR adaptations, why it produces similar hormonal responses to heavy lifting with a fraction of the load and muscle damage, and how to start using it safely whether you're recovering from surgery, training for performance, or simply trying to stay strong as you age. This is one of the most evidence-based...
info_outline
EP 57: Retraining Your Brain Out of Chronic Pain w/ Dr. Paul Hansma
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary Dr. Paul Hansma, a physicist at UC Santa Barbara, shares his personal journey from five years of debilitating chronic shoulder pain to complete recovery through brain retraining. We explore the critical difference between acute tissue injury and chronic pain that lives in neural pathways, why physical therapy and surgery often fail to resolve persistent pain, and the science behind pain reprocessing therapy. Paul breaks down the sensation anxiety theory, explains why fear amplifies pain signals, and provides practical tools for interrupting the pain cycle including breath work,...
info_outline
EP 56: From the Lakers to Longevity | How Elite Athletes Train for the Long Game
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary Former Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of the LA Lakers, Dr. Tim DiFrancesco joins the show today to discuss his journey from the NBA to building TD Athletes Edge, where he helps everyday people train like athletes. We explore the gap between what elite sports medicine looks like and what the general population actually needs, why most people overcomplicate recovery, and how to build a training program you can actually sustain for decades. Tim shares insights from working with Kobe Bryant, the importance of finding your sustainable training intensity, and why motion...
info_outline
Ep 55: Health Is a Skill, Not a Protocol – Why Knowing What to Eat Isn’t the Problem With Precision Nutrition Coach Dominic Matteo
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary Dominic Matteo joins the show to discuss why most people don't need another diet plan. They need skills. Drawing from his own 125-pound weight loss and over a decade coaching thousands of clients, Dominic breaks down the difference between knowing what to eat and actually being able to do it consistently. We talk about the continuum mindset versus all-or-nothing thinking, why external structure often needs to come before intuitive eating, and how to build sustainable change by doing the best you can where you are with what you have. Guest Bio Inspired by his own journey...
info_outline
Ep 54: First Female Grinder in SailGP: Anna Weis on Breaking Barriers
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Trusting the process, navigating imposter syndrome, and earning your place in high-performance sport. Olympian and professional sailor Anna Weis shares what it really takes to belong at the highest level. Episode Summary Anna Weis is the first woman to serve full-time as a grinder and jib trimmer in SailGP, racing 50-foot foiling catamarans at over 100 kilometers per hour. She went from summer camp sailing in Fort Lauderdale to the Tokyo Olympics, then broke into professional sailing in a role many doubted a woman could physically handle. We explore the work ethic instilled by her high...
info_outline
Ep 53: How To: New Year, New Me That Lasts Past March
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary A Conversation Between a Performance Coach and Dietitian. It's January and the gym is packed with people who have no idea where to start. Instead of gatekeeping or complaining about New Year's resolutioners, Jeremy and Erika break down exactly how to walk into a gym for the first time, find your spot, and build a sustainable strength training practice. This conversation emerged from real questions Erika's clients asked about starting in the gym, covering everything from avoiding the all-or-nothing mentality to understanding the difference between soreness and injury. We explore...
info_outline
Ep 52: The Microbiome Explained | How Gut Health Shapes Immunity, Performance, and Vitality with Kara Siedman
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary You have one trillion cells in your body and ten trillion bacterial cells that make up your microbiome, meaning you're literally one-tenth human. Kara Siedman, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator working at the intersection of biotech and wellness, explains why the microbiome is the foundation everything else is built on. From the gut X axis connecting your microbiome to every system in your body, to the surprising difference between probiotics and postbiotics, to why 80% of people are walking around with some form of dysbiosis, this conversation breaks down complex...
info_outline
Ep 51: Discipline Over Motivation | How to Do Hard Things Without Burning Out with Shaun Bemis
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary Shaun Bemis spent 20 years in Naval intelligence, primarily sitting in front of computers finding the enemy. Late in his career, something shifted during a Thanksgiving run in New York City, and he decided to run the NYC Marathon before turning 40. That simple goal spiraled into ultramarathons, including a 75K race on Mount Kilimanjaro and countless DNFs that taught him more than any finish line ever could. In this conversation, we explore the difference between grind culture and strategic difficulty, why the white belt mentality is essential for growth, and how stacking small...
info_outline
Ep 50: Elite Cognitive Performance - NFL, esports, and Boardroom Lessons with Taylor Johnson
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary Taylor Johnson made what colleagues called "career suicide" when he left the NFL for esports, but that decision revealed something most people miss: elite performers across all domains face the same cognitive demands. Whether you're a 17-year-old gamer competing for millions or a C-suite executive making high-stakes decisions under pressure, your brain is your moneymaker. In this conversation, we explore how Taylor brought traditional sports performance principles into cognitive domains, why meditation is actually training for real-world pressure, and the specific habits that...
info_outline
Ep 49: The Success Trap | When High Performance Turns Into Self-Destruction with Kent Bray
The Vitality Collective Podcast w/Dr. Jeremy Bettle
Episode Summary Kent Bray was a director at Citibank, an Oxford Blue, and a professional rugby player who had achieved everything society told him would bring happiness. Instead, he found himself consuming 20 to 30 grams of cocaine weekly, spending £80,000 a year on his addiction, and nearly dying before entering rehab at 140 pounds. In this conversation, we explore the dangerous intersection of high achievement and internal collapse, why successful men struggle to ask for help, and the specific tools that created Kent's recovery. This is a raw, honest discussion about people pleasing,...
info_outline🔎 Episode Summary:
In this illuminating episode of The Vitality Collective Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Bettle sits down with Kyle Harris, CEO of BrainLit, to discuss the often-overlooked yet powerful role of light in human health, performance, and recovery. They explore how biocentric lighting systems can optimize circadian rhythms, improve cognitive function, reduce jet lag, and even enhance mood and sleep. From elite athletes to corporate professionals, Kyle explains how everyone can benefit from strategic light exposure—and offers both high-tech and practical solutions for making better light part of your daily routine.
👤 Guest Bio – Kyle Harris:
Kyle is an accomplished CEO with over three decades of leadership experience spanning biotech, technology, and digital media. He currently serves as Global CEO of BrainLit AB, headquartered in Lund, Sweden, where he drives international growth, strategic partnerships, and investor engagement for the company’s pioneering Biocentric lighting solutions.
Previously, he has scaled startups and small-cap companies across sectors—transforming eCommerce platforms, launching biotech products, building retail analytics software, and leading international marketing campaigns. His track record includes delivering significant investor returns, securing high-profile partnerships with teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and EPL and guiding companies through operational expansions, funding rounds, and acquisitions.
He is also the founder of StrategyPoint, Inc., a technology accelerator advising portfolio companies in eCommerce, CPG, and digital media.
His expertise has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Sports Business Journal, Advertising Age, and Entrepreneur.com, and he has appeared on NBC, Fox, and iHeart Radio.
🔗 Links Mentioned:
-
Promo Code: Vitality-Collective 20% Off
-
The Alven store is: https://shop.brainlit.com/
-
Our global site is: https://www.brainlit.com/
-
Instagram: @brainlit_northamerica
✅ 3 Actionable Takeaways:
-
Get Morning Light Daily: The brightness of natural sunlight on a clear day is around 100,000 LUX meaning that just 15 minutes of outdoor light shortly after waking is enough to align your circadian rhythm and boost energy. On a cloudy day 20-30 minutes is sufficient.
-
Limit Afternoon Caffeine: Notice how your body responds to caffeine later in the day, and be mindful of its impact on your sleep. Cutting off caffeine after 2pm ensures that it is out of your system well before it is time to wind down for sleep.
-
Be Consistent with Sleep & Wake Times: Keep your bedtime and wake-up time within an hour every day—even on weekends—to avoid “social jet lag.”
🔦 Key Takeaways:
-
🌞 Light does more than help us see—it’s a biological signal that impacts sleep, mood, focus, and hormone regulation.
-
🧠 Biocentric lighting mimics natural light patterns, modulating spectrum and intensity throughout the day to support optimal circadian health.
-
⏰ Melatonin and cortisol balance is deeply influenced by light exposure, particularly the timing and spectral quality.
-
💡 Typical office and indoor lighting is inadequate, often disrupting circadian rhythms and contributing to fatigue and reduced cognitive performance.
-
🏋️ Light is a powerful but underutilized performance enhancer, especially for cognitive athletes like executives and traders.
-
✈️ Biocentric lighting can aid in jet lag mitigation by adjusting light spectrum to suit travel patterns and time zone changes.
-
🏥 In hospitals, schools, and corporate settings, light can support performance, focus, recovery, and well-being without active user input.
-
🚫 Not all light therapy products are equal—volume, angle, and spectrum matter. Many SAD lamps on the market fall short.
-
🔬 BrainLit’s system is a turnkey platform, future-proofed to adapt with emerging science and changing user needs.
- ⚖️ Over-correcting (like always wearing blue light blockers) can be counterproductive—timing is everything.