Joseph and Dr. Richard Blake sit down with Pulsetto founder Povilas Sabaliauskas to explore how non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and lift HRV—without adding more to your to-do list. They dig into the science, the origin story (including plane-crash supply chain chaos), real-world use cases, and simple stacking protocols you can use tonight.

• Capacity > Boundaries: Many “boundary” problems are actually capacity problems; train the nervous system and fewer things spill your bucket.
• Vagus Nerve = Mind–Body Highway: Toggling between sympathetic “go” and parasympathetic “slow” is trainable; VNS is one fast switch.
• Pulsetto in practice: 4 minutes AM for stress, 10 minutes pre-bed for sleep; feels like a gentle tingling/vibration on the neck.
• Stacking works: Pair VNS with breathwork, red light, a walk, or post-gym wind-down to accelerate the shift out of “gym mode” into “sleep mode.”
• Sleep quality > sleep quantity: Users often see shorter sleep latency, more REM/deep, and less restlessness—even when total time doesn’t change.
• Cortisol, HRV, & momentum: Lower stress hormones can unlock consistency in diet, training, and sleep—creating a positive compounding loop.
• Athlete angle: Use VNS to avoid pre-competition overhype and to downshift quickly after evening training so Day-2 performance doesn’t crater.

• Shop Pulsetto
• The RUNGA 90-Day Intensive

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In this episode, Joseph and Richard sit down with Vinny Crispino, founder of Pain Academy, who went from an eight-time All-American swimmer to a young man told he might need a wheelchair after a surfing accident shattered his back. Instead of giving up, Vinny turned his recovery into a lifelong mission: helping others break free from pain by addressing both body and mind.

The conversation explores the limits of traditional rehab, the surprising ways pain can serve as an unconscious ally, and how breathwork, somatic awareness, and nervous system retraining create lasting change. If you’ve ever struggled with chronic pain, mobility issues, or the stories your body carries, this episode offers profound insights — and practical steps forward.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Pain is not just physical — it’s also emotional, neurological, and relational.
• Chronic pain often rewires the brain to process pain differently than acute injuries.
• Our “story” about pain can amplify its intensity and keep us stuck.
• Mobility blocks are often about nervous system safety, not muscle length.
• Healing requires both physiological retraining and emotional regulation.
• Extinction bursts — painful flare-ups — can be powerful opportunities for growth.
• Meeting pain with compassion, curiosity, and play can radically change outcomes.

LINKS & RESOURCES

Products and Tools Mentioned:

• Pain Academy programs – https://painacademy.net
• Conscious Connected Breathwork (Joseph & Richard’s framework)

Further Reading:

• Research on chronic pain neuroplasticity (fMRI studies)
• John Marchese, Neurological doctor (referenced in episode)
• Previous RUNGA Radio episodes about pain:
  • The Cure for Chronic Pain and Fatigue with Dr Perry Nickelson
  • Everything You Need to Know About Shoulder Pain with Eric Cressey
  • Dr. Stuart McGill - Lower Back Pain & The New Science of the Golf Swing
  • Dr. Stu McGill - Everything You Need to Know About Low Back Pain

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What if your most painful memory never happened the way you think it did?

In this deeply thought-provoking episode, Joseph and Richard sit down with renowned psychological researcher Dr. Lawrence Patihis to explore the surprisingly malleable nature of human memory. From emotionally charged estrangement stories to suppressed childhood trauma and courtroom testimony, this conversation unpacks the fine line between memory, emotion, and truth.

Dr. Patihis—best known for his work on repressed memories, memory distortion, and the fallibility of eyewitness accounts—brings hard science to a topic often dominated by subjective narrative. What emerges is a timely reminder: not all memories are accurate, and not all healing requires reliving the past.

This episode is essential listening for therapists, coaches, healers, or anyone navigating complicated personal or familial dynamics.

Key Themes:

• Why “trusting your memory” may not always lead to truth
• The rise of estrangement culture—and the role distorted memory may play
• What Dr. Patihis discovered when he studied false memories in therapy clients
• How suggestive practices can unintentionally implant memories of abuse
• The risks of “emotional truth” replacing objective memory
• What coaches and therapists must understand about memory reliability

Key Takeaways:

• Memory is reconstructive, not reproductive—meaning we assemble memories in the moment, often influenced by emotions and beliefs.
• Emotionally charged therapy settings can increase the risk of suggestibility, especially when clients are encouraged to “uncover” forgotten trauma.
• False memories can feel just as real—and just as painful—as true ones. Emotional intensity does not equal accuracy.
• Estrangement narratives are often built on distorted recollections; some reconciliations occur when people question the truth of their own memory.
• Patihis’ research shows a surprising number of people recall impossible events (like meeting Bugs Bunny at Disneyland) when primed—illustrating how malleable our memories are.
• Therapists and coaches should be cautious about leading questions, regression techniques, or suggestive practices that could implant false memories.
• The concept of “emotional truth” has risen in popularity, but conflating it with factual accuracy can harm relationships and legal processes.
• Not every painful emotion requires excavating the past—sometimes healing begins with present-moment awareness and relational repair.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Intro to Dr. Lawrence Patihis and why memory distortion matters
04:20 – The difference between remembering and reconstructing
08:00 – Famous false memory studies and the Bugs Bunny experiment
11:30 – Therapy-induced false memories: how they happen and why they matter
15:00 – When “emotional truth” overrides factual accuracy
20:15 – Estrangement, healing, and questioning our narratives
25:00 – What practitioners need to know about memory reliability
30:00 – Suppression vs. distortion: what actually happens in trauma recall?
34:40 – Memory wars in psychology and lessons for coaches today
38:00 – Strategies for healthy memory inquiry in therapeutic settings
42:15 – How to remain open-hearted while not blindly believing every memory
45:00 – Final thoughts: integrity, inquiry, and emotional responsibility

NOTES:

On memory construction: Memory is not a video recording—it’s an active process shaped by emotions, beliefs, and context. This is why two people can “remember” the same event in radically different ways.

On suggestibility: Clients in a vulnerable emotional state may adopt

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