Ep 86: How Dan Pitta Discovered Pain Relief and a Mission to Help Others
After years of back pain, Dan Pitta found relief with Kratom and later built his company, MitraSpec. He shares lessons on dosing, wellness, and navigating the challenges of the Kratom industry.
Dan Pitta shares how chronic back injuries from his truck-driving career pushed him to search for pain relief that would not jeopardize his commercial license. Discovering Kratom in 2013 changed everything for him. Within 45 minutes of his first dose, he felt the relief he had been chasing for years. Dan opens up about how consistency, dosing schedules, and understanding his own sensitivity played a crucial role in using Kratom successfully. His early experience led him to start bringing samples to coworkers, which snowballed into the beginnings of his company, MitraSpec.
Dan also talks about the challenges of running a Kratom company through FDA seizures, the 2016 scheduling scare, and the ongoing pressure and confusion in the industry around enhanced products. He and Sarah built their brand around education, transparency, and products designed for safety, including their popular vegan capsules. He emphasizes smart dosing, hydration, sleep, and awareness of personal wellness when using Kratom. This is a candid, educational conversation about pain, perseverance, and building a business rooted in helping others.
🍃 RELATED LINKS
Episode 79: From Exhaustion to Empowerment: How Kratom Changed Sarah Pitta’s Life
A Leaf of Faith documentary
Full show notes for this episode at KratomStoriesPodcast.com/86
STAY CONNECTED with us by subscribing to our newsletter! Sign up at KratomStoriesPodcast.com
JOIN OUR VIBRANT KRATOM REAL TALK COMMUNITY ON SKOOL:
Skool.com/KratomRealTalk
🍃 MADALYN'S RECOMMENDED VENDORS 🍃
MitraSpec - 40% off with code: KratomStories
Super Speciosa - 20% off with code: KratomStories
Happy Hippo - 15% off with code: KratomStories
Tap here for full list of Madalyn's recommended vendors along with coupon codes!
🍃 FOLLOW US
THE KRATOM GALS is a dose of real talk, real stories, and relentless advocacy. Every week, we dive into the latest Kratom headlines, react to videos, and call out misinformation with facts and fierce passion. It's not just a show, it’s a movement to protect the plant we love and the people who rely on it. YouTube.com/@KratomStories
Please note: The views and experiences shared in this episode are personal and unique to the guest. Kratom, while featured prominently in these stories, is a botanical substance that is unregulated in the U.S. and various countries around the world. The Kratom Stories Podcast and its host, Madalyn Sklar, do not endorse, promote, or encourage the use of Kratom. We simply aim to shed light on personal experiences and narratives related to this plant. If you're considering using Kratom, we strongly urge you to seek professional medical advice, conduct thorough research, and comply with all local laws and guidelines.
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,600
Back then there wasn't a lot of
information about kratom
2
00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:06,080
available, but I saw, I think it
was probably in a Reddit group
3
00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:07,840
or something, somebody was
talking about it.
4
00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,960
So I decided to give it a try.
I found a company that was
5
00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,640
selling it.
I bought some and I took in it.
6
00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:20,160
It worked.
It, it, it immediately, you
7
00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,480
know, but obviously once it once
it started to get into my
8
00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:26,400
system, but, but within about 45
minutes or so after taking my
9
00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,880
very first dose, I started my
research.
10
00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,920
I felt like I was pretty
comfortable with what I had
11
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,600
learned at that point.
And I started buying more and
12
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,400
and before too long my Co
workers were asking me why I was
13
00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,240
moving so differently because
they were used to seeing me get
14
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,680
out of the truck and stiff
hunched over just, you know,
15
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,800
visibly in some kind of
discomfort every time I would
16
00:00:48,800 --> 00:01:02,080
see them.
I'm here with Dan PETA from
17
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,080
Metrospect.
I had his wife Sarah on recently
18
00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,520
episode 79 of the Crane Stories
podcast.
19
00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,120
And now it's time to hear from
Dan.
20
00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,920
Dan, thank you so much for
coming on the podcast today.
21
00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,400
Thanks for having me on I'm I'm
very excited.
22
00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,840
Absolutely.
Well, Sarah had a very
23
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:24,440
interesting story about kratom
and I know you do as well.
24
00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,320
And I love that the two of y'all
are like the dynamic duo behind
25
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:31,280
Mitrispac is a great brand.
I'm so glad that I've gotten
26
00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,520
connected with you all.
Oh, thank you very much.
27
00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:36,640
I appreciate that.
And yeah, our stories really
28
00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:41,480
started together.
As Sarah mentioned, I was
29
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,760
working as a truck driver.
This was back in.
30
00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:50,320
Well, I mean, I was injured
probably in the mid 2000s, like
31
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:55,000
2007, somewhere around there.
And I had a couple of herniated
32
00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:00,800
discs from a work accident.
And I eventually got my truck
33
00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:05,120
driving license, started driving
trucks and then realized that,
34
00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:09,080
you know, constantly bouncing up
and down in the sea was really
35
00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,560
wreaking havoc on the injury
that was healing, but not all
36
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,880
better.
So I, I just kind of dealt with
37
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:19,560
it for a while.
There was a couple of times that
38
00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,960
I had to, you know, go on
disability, you know, short term
39
00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,680
disability to, you know, take
muscle relaxers and all kinds of
40
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,280
things to, to help with it.
But for the most part, I just
41
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,440
dealt with the pain for a really
long time.
42
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:40,440
And then around 2013, I started
looking for something, you know,
43
00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,440
to, to make this better.
Since I was a truck driver, I
44
00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,960
was subject to dot drug testing,
employer drug testing.
45
00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,000
So I couldn't take anything
illegal.
46
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,240
I couldn't take even prescribed
drugs.
47
00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,280
Some of them interfere with your
ability to operate machinery.
48
00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,000
So they don't let you drive a
Class A tractor trailer while
49
00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,800
you're taking a bunch of, you
know, Percocets or anything like
50
00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,080
that.
So, so I had to find something
51
00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:13,560
that, you know, a wouldn't fail
me for a drug test, but BI that
52
00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,240
I felt, you know, I, I would be
able to safely operate a vehicle
53
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,480
while taking it.
And I started going to the
54
00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,040
Internet.
I was just searching for
55
00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:25,880
different things.
I've always been kind of
56
00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:27,600
experimental.
Whenever I, you know, see
57
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,640
something new, I like to look
into it.
58
00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:31,400
And if I think it's fine, that
might help me.
59
00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,360
I'll, I'll try it out.
So back then there wasn't a lot
60
00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,080
of information about creating
available, but I saw, I think it
61
00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,160
was probably in a Reddit group
or something, somebody was
62
00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,840
talking about it.
So I decided to give it a try
63
00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,600
and found a company.
I didn't, you know, honestly, at
64
00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,800
that time, I didn't really do a
lot of research into it.
65
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,240
I, I didn't realize how much
there was to it when I started.
66
00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,760
So I found a company that was
selling it.
67
00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:03,160
I bought some and I took in it.
It worked it, it, it
68
00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,000
immediately, you know, but
obviously once it once it
69
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,680
started to get into my system,
but, but within about 45 minutes
70
00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,400
or so after taking my very first
dose, I realized that this was
71
00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,839
the thing that I was looking
for.
72
00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,320
And that's when I started
looking more into it and to make
73
00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,440
sure that it, you know, it was
reasonably safe and I wasn't
74
00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:28,240
trading one problem for another.
So I started my research.
75
00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,240
I felt like I was pretty
comfortable with what I had
76
00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,960
learned at that point.
And I started buying more and,
77
00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:37,520
and before too long, my
coworkers were asking me why I
78
00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,240
was moving so differently
because they're used to seeing
79
00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,920
me get out of the truck and
stiff hunched over just, you
80
00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,160
know, visibly in some kind of
discomfort every time I would
81
00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,760
see them.
And they started noticing that I
82
00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,160
didn't have that posture.
I was more upright and I was in
83
00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,440
a better mood.
I was more energized running,
84
00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,280
you know, running, running
around the truck to do my, my,
85
00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,520
my straps and everything.
And so they, they noticed and
86
00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,760
they asked me, you know, what I
was doing differently.
87
00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:09,560
And I told them about kratom,
started bringing in samples for
88
00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:15,360
the guys at work to try.
And you know, after not too long
89
00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,400
of, of doing this, it just
spread this.
90
00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,320
Everybody that tried it seemed
to like it and they told other
91
00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,000
people about it.
And so I ended up starting the
92
00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,200
company that way and, and along
the way, you know, once I got
93
00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:32,560
that first package and, and saw
how much it was helping me, you
94
00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,680
know, naturally I, I talked
about it with Sarah.
95
00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,720
I told her what I was planning
on doing from the very
96
00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,480
beginning.
But when I saw how much it
97
00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,200
affected me, it was obvious that
there were lots of aspects of
98
00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,440
our lives that could be improved
if we were, you know, dealing
99
00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,880
with less aches and pains and
more energized and more
100
00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,680
motivated and seemed to do all
of those things for us.
101
00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,920
So we both enjoyed it and and
eventually started our company.
102
00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,480
That is so interesting.
You know, pretty much every
103
00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,520
kratom company I've gotten
connected with at where I
104
00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:11,200
purchased my Kratom from or have
gotten to know just from
105
00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:16,080
interactions and social media is
so much like your and Sarah's
106
00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,840
story where you'll discover
kratom.
107
00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:20,960
It's amazing.
It helps you tremendously.
108
00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:24,200
You tell other people about it,
you advocate for it, and then
109
00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:25,960
it's like turned it into a
business.
110
00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:30,360
It is so interesting like to me,
those are the kind of companies
111
00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,400
I love being associated with.
That's like you, you, you see
112
00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,400
how much it helps you and other
people around you and let's
113
00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,440
continue helping by having our
own kratom business.
114
00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:42,840
So I think that's amazing.
Yeah.
115
00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:48,320
And that was a really important
factor in us being able to keep
116
00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,800
the company going because, I
mean, naturally every business
117
00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:57,440
has its fence of challenges.
But this I, I mean, I, I tried
118
00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,280
to start other businesses that
failed.
119
00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,280
I didn't care enough about what
I was trying to do.
120
00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,400
I, I always wanted to be, you
know, a business owner, an
121
00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,440
entrepreneur.
I hated working for other people
122
00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,560
and having other people have
control over my life and my
123
00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,720
finances.
So it was always something that
124
00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,360
I was interested in doing.
But you know, kratom
125
00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,080
specifically, that just kind of
happened by accident.
126
00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,640
But as we started, you know,
building the company, as any
127
00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,120
other owner will say, it's it's
a nightmare.
128
00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,400
A lot of times we had shipments
received by the FDA during the
129
00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:39,400
salmonella scare.
You know, I was, you know,
130
00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,920
running it at the time of the
2016 DEA emergency scheduling.
131
00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,160
That was only about a year into
it.
132
00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,200
And I was actually starting to
like really grow the business.
133
00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,800
And then all of a sudden this,
you know, I, I get this e-mail
134
00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:55,640
saying, Hey, look out for this.
And I, I got really worried
135
00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,760
naturally, both because of my
own access to it and, and also
136
00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,640
all the people that I, you know,
had had met and, and referred,
137
00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:08,000
you know, Kratom to.
So it has a lot of challenges,
138
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,920
but the fact that like at least
once a week we get an e-mail or
139
00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:17,560
a note on an order or just a
really nice review that lets us
140
00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,680
know that we've changed people's
lives.
141
00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,360
It makes it worth it to fight
through those challenges to keep
142
00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:25,680
it going.
And that's what I was missing
143
00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,240
when I was trying to, you know,
one of a power washing company
144
00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:33,280
and a web design company those I
just wasn't as passionate about
145
00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,400
that as I was about kratom.
Once I found how much it changed
146
00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:41,640
my life, it completely, you
know, changed my ability to
147
00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,280
provide for my family.
So and I knew there was other
148
00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,320
people out there like me that
would be able to benefit from
149
00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,240
it.
And, and now that I've met them
150
00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,560
and help them, it's, it's the
driving force.
151
00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,760
I love that and and the passion
you and Sarah have with much
152
00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,720
respect really shows in
everything you you both do.
153
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,440
I love that.
So let's go back to when you
154
00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,640
first discovered kratom.
So you said you were just doing
155
00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,720
some research and and was it
like a, and you mentioned
156
00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:10,920
Reddit.
Was it a specific Reddit post or
157
00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,640
do you remember like what was
the exact thing where you like
158
00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:18,560
first learned about Kratom?
I, I honestly don't, I remember,
159
00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,160
I, I could probably give you a
better idea of what the search
160
00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,760
terms I used were and that I
believe it was something like
161
00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:34,600
back pain relief, no drowsiness,
not illegal, won't fail drug
162
00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,480
test or something along those
lines.
163
00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:41,920
Very, very similar.
And I don't remember how far
164
00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,960
down in the search results
kratom might have been, but I
165
00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,720
know I didn't spend too long
after typing in that search
166
00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:49,560
phrase.
I didn't spend too long before I
167
00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:53,560
found the word kratom and then
started looking into it.
168
00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:57,120
And I, I want to say it was
probably through originally.
169
00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,360
Like the information that I got
on it was probably through like
170
00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,360
arrow it or something, you know,
whenever I would hear about some
171
00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,480
new substance that people are
using, I'd always go there and
172
00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:09,720
and check like the experience,
you know, still the stories.
173
00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:14,200
And so that's probably where I
first got my information on
174
00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:19,080
kratom, but I don't remember the
actual like search result, like
175
00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,680
my very first introduction to it
and what page it was.
176
00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,880
Well, that was some time ago.
I mean, I, I mean, I'm realizing
177
00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,440
like I'm asking you like
something that happened like in
178
00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,600
2013.
So I mean, that was a long time
179
00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,320
ago actually, when we're 2025
now.
180
00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:37,600
I just find it so interesting
how people discover kratom.
181
00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,000
For me, it was through the
documentary A Leap of Faith that
182
00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:46,400
came out in 2019 and it, it came
out on Netflix, which I was just
183
00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,600
so grateful for because I just
had lost access to my pain
184
00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,640
management cause doctors are
scared to prescribe.
185
00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,760
And I was trying to find like,
what would be that alternative?
186
00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,000
What could I take that would
give me pain relief?
187
00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,560
And I, I really was convinced
there'd be nothing that would
188
00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:05,520
work better than the opiates.
Like, 'cause I have really
189
00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,920
debilitating chronic pain, it
doesn't show 'cause I feel so
190
00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,200
good because of cranium powder.
But I really thought I'd have to
191
00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,400
go to the streets and go find a
drug dealer so I could still
192
00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,000
have the Percocets and the
Oxycontin, which to me is
193
00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,080
absolutely ridiculous and a big,
major fail of the medical
194
00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,160
establishment, you know?
But that documentary, A Leap of
195
00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,760
faith came up in my Netflix.
I'm like, what's this?
196
00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,800
This sounds interesting.
So I credit that documentary.
197
00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,360
And I love how they put a
spotlight on what happened in
198
00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:37,200
2016 that you touched upon with
where the FDA tried to schedule
199
00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,200
it and ban it and cause a huge
uproar.
200
00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:44,160
I can't imagine you and Sarah
being so new to the kratom
201
00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:48,080
industry as a company and then
having that, that had to have
202
00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,600
been scary because not just your
livelihood, but access for for
203
00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:54,920
the both of you.
Yeah, yeah.
204
00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:59,400
And at that time, I mean, our
our son, he would have been 3
205
00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,560
when that news of the, the
emergency scheduling started
206
00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:04,480
coming around.
I think it was, it was actually
207
00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,480
later in the year, I think the,
the like the hearings and stuff
208
00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,320
were maybe like August or
September or something like
209
00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:11,800
that.
I can't remember exactly.
210
00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,720
But I remembered like the first,
like rumors of it coming out
211
00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,400
right after my son's third
birthday.
212
00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,120
And, and yeah, we, I, we weren't
supporting ourselves with the
213
00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,920
company.
But like I said, we had gotten
214
00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,480
to know so many people who were
already benefiting from it.
215
00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,800
And, and the last thing we
wanted not only was to have to,
216
00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:36,680
you know, pick up more hours and
reconsider for me, reconsider my
217
00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:39,040
entire career path because I
wasn't going to be able to keep
218
00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,400
driving a truck if I couldn't
use this anymore.
219
00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,880
There was just no way I was
going to have to, you know, do
220
00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:48,960
some kind of a desk job.
So, yeah, it, it was terrifying.
221
00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,320
And there's been a lot of those
terrifying things that have
222
00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,520
happened along the way.
Like I said, getting a shipment
223
00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,720
seized, you know, several $1000.
At the time we were a lot
224
00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:02,160
smaller, but, you know, none of
our freedom had ever tested
225
00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:08,240
positive for any contaminants.
And suddenly the FDA has this
226
00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,800
import alert out that is causing
customs to just seize shipments
227
00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:17,280
on the possibility that it may
be somewhat contaminated with
228
00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,040
salmonella possibly.
And so we lost thousands of
229
00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,880
dollars.
We weren't with our current
230
00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:27,480
supplier at that time.
We had just started a
231
00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,720
relationship with another
supplier and he bailed on us
232
00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,120
essentially.
And it's one of the things that
233
00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,520
we usually tell people about,
you know, who are interested in,
234
00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:40,240
in starting their own creative
business is to be really, really
235
00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:46,600
careful of your source.
You know, it's, there's, it's,
236
00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,160
there's just so much that can go
wrong when you're transferring
237
00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:54,120
large amounts of money overseas.
So it took us a little while to
238
00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,240
figure that out.
But once we, you know, got
239
00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:00,120
bailed upon, you know, by our,
our, our supplier after losing a
240
00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:05,000
several $1000 shipment, it was
like, OK, now you know, a, a
241
00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,680
good supplier, if that happens,
they'll usually split the
242
00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:11,280
difference with you.
So they'll, they'll cover half
243
00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,520
the shipment, you cover half the
shipment and that way you're not
244
00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,320
holding the bill for the entire
thing.
245
00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,880
So, you know, we, we did learn a
lot because of that.
246
00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,760
But yeah, just another one of
those like terrifying moments in
247
00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,520
the in the journey.
Man, I y'all probably could
248
00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,080
write a book about, you know,
surviving the kratom industry,
249
00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,640
you know, and like all the, all
the lessons y'all have learned.
250
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,200
We really should do that.
That just gives me an idea.
251
00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:37,720
I should have you and Sarah on
together sometime to do like an
252
00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:41,680
episode just talking about the
industry and and like just all
253
00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,560
the lessons y'all have learned
because I find it fascinating
254
00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,800
and y'all been in the industry
for for quite some time.
255
00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,760
So back to your personal story
with kratom.
256
00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,520
So you discover it, it it works
great.
257
00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:59,320
So was it something that like
happened immediately or did it
258
00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:02,040
take some trial and error, you
know, figuring out the color and
259
00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,680
the dose and all those things or
how how was it early on for you?
260
00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:12,160
So I got lucky with my my very
first dose, it worked perfectly.
261
00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,160
I did 1 teaspoon.
I'm a bigger guy.
262
00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:20,440
I'm 6 foot 230 lbs.
So I wasn't too worried about,
263
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,120
you know, taking that size dose
based on what I had read.
264
00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:27,240
I'm like, OK, it seems where a
lot of people start and I
265
00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,680
wasn't, you know, again, because
of the job, I wasn't taking any
266
00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,760
other substances or anything.
I didn't have any kind of a
267
00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,640
tolerance to opioids or
anything.
268
00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,760
So it worked at that dose
immediately for me.
269
00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,200
And I, I just figured if, if
that dose is working, then that
270
00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:43,520
dose is what I'm going to stick
with.
271
00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:47,560
And I would say I probably
raised my dose.
272
00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:51,080
It was very consistent for the
first several years and then it
273
00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,440
plateaued just, you know, table
topped and, and it hasn't really
274
00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,000
changed since.
But so my, my very first dose
275
00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:04,520
was about 2 1/2 grams and then
about every year I would up it
276
00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:08,200
around 25%.
And that seemed to work really
277
00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:12,840
well for me, keeping the dose
lows, preventing the tolerance
278
00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,320
build.
I was, you know, aware of how
279
00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,480
easy it is to build a tolerance
by putting your dosings too
280
00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,760
close together.
So I always wait at least 4
281
00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,160
hours even if I take it and I
don't feel anything.
282
00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,040
And I say, oh geez, you know, I
only took 4 capsules.
283
00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:32,040
I meant to take 6 or whatever.
I'll I'll just wait the four
284
00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:36,760
hours and and deal with that.
And then four hours later I'll
285
00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:41,080
I'll take the correct dose.
I made that crucial error and
286
00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:50,040
learn my lesson very early on.
It was Thanksgiving 2014 and I
287
00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:53,680
remember taking a dose when I
got up getting ready to help
288
00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,800
Sarah cooking Thanksgiving
dinner and while I was rushing
289
00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,400
around I saw the bag sitting on
the table and went.
290
00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:02,280
I forgot to take my kratom and I
grab it.
291
00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,800
I take another dose probably
about 40 minutes after I took
292
00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,079
the first one.
So as soon as I took it, it
293
00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:14,240
starts working and I'm like, uh,
oh, so you know, about 40
294
00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,640
minutes after that I start
getting the wobbles and then my
295
00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:21,000
visions going in and out and I'm
like, oh man, this isn't fun.
296
00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,040
Laid down on the couch and I was
out for like 3 or 4 hours and
297
00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:28,760
poor Sarah dinner herself.
So, yeah, hard, hard lesson
298
00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,440
learned about making sure that
you're kind of consistent with
299
00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,560
your dosing and, and not
forgetting when you've taken it
300
00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,880
or, you know, accidentally
taking more too soon if you
301
00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,760
think that your dose isn't
working.
302
00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,720
Probably one of the biggest
lessons I can impart on people
303
00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,320
who are brand new to it.
You will have good luck with it
304
00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,720
if if you just set a dosing plan
that you think is going to work
305
00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,320
for your life.
If you need it in the morning,
306
00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,160
what time every morning are you
going to take it?
307
00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,000
You take it at that time.
And then if you need it again in
308
00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,480
the afternoon or in the evening,
what time are you going to take
309
00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,080
it?
And just try to stick to that so
310
00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:03,680
you don't accidentally take too
much.
311
00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,320
If it starts, you know, not
really working and you're
312
00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,040
expecting that it should,
there's a lot of things that
313
00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,240
could be wrong besides you
didn't take enough.
314
00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,840
So don't just jump right into
taking more immediately because
315
00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,240
that is how you'll build the
tolerance very quickly.
316
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,000
So yeah, that was, that was like
the toughest thing for me to
317
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,760
learn was that I, I made a
mistake with my dosing, but it
318
00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,040
didn't really happen again after
that because I, I, I did learn
319
00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,520
my lesson pretty quick.
It's not pleasant for sure when
320
00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,640
you overdo it.
I mean, it's not, it's not
321
00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,120
deadly.
I didn't throw up or anything.
322
00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,080
It was just very unpleasant and
made me tired so.
323
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,240
Yeah, yeah.
But you know what's amazing with
324
00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,000
this plant?
The worst thing that typically
325
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,680
happens if you take too much as
you throw it up and then you're
326
00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,000
fine.
Like it's not going to suppress
327
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:59,040
your breathing and kill you
unless, you know, you're taking
328
00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,080
a whole bunch of drugs with it
or, or something that that could
329
00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,440
cause that.
Yeah.
330
00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:06,680
That's so interesting.
I, I love that you talked about
331
00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,280
like, being on schedule or that
consistency.
332
00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:13,480
I kept a journal, a dose journal
when I first started, and that
333
00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:17,000
helped me tremendously.
So I can really gauge what was
334
00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,320
working because it took me a
little bit of trial and error,
335
00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,560
experimenting with the colors
and finding that Reds don't do
336
00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,600
much for me and whites make me
too jittery.
337
00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,200
But finding that greens worked
really well.
338
00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,560
And then I really preferred
powder over capsules and just
339
00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,160
little things that like figuring
it out, just sticking to a
340
00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,840
schedule.
But everybody's different.
341
00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,360
And, but I find it interesting
when people talk about how why
342
00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:42,600
just take a spoonful?
And I'm like, well, how much is
343
00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,480
your spoonful?
And because some people talk
344
00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,360
about I took too much and I
don't know how I did that.
345
00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:50,480
It's like, well, how are you
measuring it?
346
00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:52,840
Are you a fan of like using a
scale?
347
00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,040
Because a lot of people say
always use a scale.
348
00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:58,920
I I'm 6 1/2 years in, I've used
kratom every single day.
349
00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:00,400
I've never had a tolerance
issue.
350
00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:04,720
I've never taken a break and I
still use my same little baking
351
00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:10,200
teaspoon thing from the day one.
And I'm just really very aware
352
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,840
of how I measure and it's very
consistent.
353
00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,160
But some people say, oh, you're
better off using a scale than
354
00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,040
some people say, yeah, I just
grab a spoon.
355
00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:21,320
I just take a heaping amount and
I just do do a toss and wash.
356
00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,880
What are your thoughts on like
the different ways and like
357
00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,840
having making?
You don't take too much.
358
00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:33,120
So I do advocate for a scale
when you're, when you're new to
359
00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:36,480
it, especially if you're
somebody who's usually sensitive
360
00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,360
to substances.
You know, if you, if you're
361
00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:42,720
somebody that can take 1, you
know, Advil and your headache
362
00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,880
goes away, you know, or your
backache goes away or something
363
00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,680
like that, then then you're
probably a little bit more
364
00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:52,360
sensitive to substances that you
put into your body.
365
00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:55,440
If you take a sip of coffee and
you're shaking and bouncing off
366
00:20:55,440 --> 00:21:00,000
the walls, then get a scale
because the difference between,
367
00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:05,320
you know, a packed level
teaspoon and a fluffy teaspoon
368
00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,080
could be, you know, a half a
gram or more.
369
00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,880
And for somebody who's sensitive
to it and maybe only needs a
370
00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,480
half a teaspoon, you know, if
you, if you come, you know,
371
00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,200
somewhere closer to 3/4 of a tea
stone, you're getting almost 50%
372
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,000
higher dose.
And you could have a bad
373
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,680
experience that way or certainly
at least get different effects
374
00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,320
than what you're expecting.
If you take white and you take,
375
00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:30,160
you know, 50% more than you
need, it may make you tired.
376
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,680
So I do advocate for using a
scale in the beginning for sure,
377
00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,880
But if you're somebody who's a
little bit less sensitive to
378
00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,400
things, then a measuring spoon
works good.
379
00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,360
Just don't, you know, to anybody
out there who's grabbing the
380
00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:48,120
spoon that you eat a bowl of
cereal with and, and just
381
00:21:48,120 --> 00:21:51,040
digging it into a bag of cream,
you should probably put it on a
382
00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,600
scale and see how much you're
actually getting because it's
383
00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,080
probably not a teaspoon.
And, and it's always good to
384
00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:00,320
know in case you have to change
forms just for convenience.
385
00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:05,600
If, if you know, you normally
take, you know, about a teaspoon
386
00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,440
and now you go, you know, oh, I
want to try capsules.
387
00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,200
Well, do you, do you know how to
convert the amount that you're
388
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,400
scooping into the dose that
you're going to take in capsule
389
00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,880
form?
We, we made a conversion chart
390
00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,560
for our capsules because they're
larger than most of the capsules
391
00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:22,440
in the industry and they're,
they're more packed.
392
00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,040
So like, you know, if you go to
our website or when you buy from
393
00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,960
us, we send an information
brochure that has a conversion
394
00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:33,760
chart that shows, you know,
teaspoons, grams and capsules,
395
00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,960
which I think is helpful.
And that would be my second, you
396
00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,960
know, recommendations.
If you're new to kratom, maybe
397
00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:45,160
try a consistent form to make
dosing and figuring everything
398
00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:49,080
out easier.
If you go to a capsule product,
399
00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:53,160
then you can easily figure out
what your dose is and keep it
400
00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,880
the same every time.
Versus, you know, if you're
401
00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,400
playing around with the scoop
and you don't necessarily know
402
00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:01,680
if you're scooping the same
amount every time.
403
00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:04,360
Yeah, that's that's smart
advice.
404
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:07,000
I love that y'all send the
little brochure with an order.
405
00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,640
When I first got kratom from you
guys and I saw that little
406
00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,320
brochure, I'm like, this is
helpful information, especially
407
00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,360
that conversion like you're
talking about.
408
00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,800
When I first started kratom in
2019, I couldn't understand
409
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:20,200
this.
Everything was in grams.
410
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,400
I'm like, I just want to use my
little teaspoon and and you
411
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,120
know, dose this way.
I don't understand.
412
00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:29,120
Like and then when I couldn't
find any information back then
413
00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:32,600
that would explain the
difference, I literally found
414
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:37,480
out maybe just a few years ago
that approximately 2.4 grams is
415
00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:40,320
a teaspoon, like approximately.
And I'm like, wow, I really
416
00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:44,880
never understood all of that.
And I love that in your company.
417
00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:48,160
Is there a really big on
education making sure people
418
00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,000
understand?
Because when you're new to this,
419
00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:53,160
there's so people think, just
tell me what you buy.
420
00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:56,480
I'm about your build.
I have degenerative disease like
421
00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,720
you just tell me.
I'm like, it's not like that at
422
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,640
all.
You know, I, I you might need a
423
00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,680
quarter of a teaspoon and it'll
help your pain.
424
00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,000
You might find the Reds work
better for you, unlike me with
425
00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,440
the greens.
Like people just, I think we're
426
00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:16,160
so conditioned in with medical
stuff, with pharmaceuticals that
427
00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,360
you take just like growing up,
take two aspirin and call me in
428
00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:21,800
the morning, right?
Like it's not like that.
429
00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,160
It affects everybody
differently.
430
00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,440
So it's just sometimes hard to
explain that to people.
431
00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,200
So I love that y'all are always
educating.
432
00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:34,040
I think that's really important.
Yeah, I, I look at it as, you
433
00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,800
know, I see the traffic that
goes to our website versus the
434
00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,720
people that are buying.
And, and early on I said, you
435
00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,920
know, what is it that's stopping
people from buying that are
436
00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,600
coming to the website?
If if you see all of these
437
00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:52,680
reviews saying, you know, this
worked for me, you'd see the
438
00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,440
product laid out nice and easily
and you're there for a reason.
439
00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:58,800
I mean, you're trying to buy it
or you're trying to learn more
440
00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,560
about buying it and then you
don't make a purchase.
441
00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,720
You know, why is that?
And that's, I love just getting
442
00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,280
information.
Whatever it is that I'm buying,
443
00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:14,280
I always look at the description
and I felt like not having that
444
00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:17,800
basic information and just
seeing a bunch of weird names on
445
00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,440
the screen was probably one of
the things that was slowing
446
00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,080
people down.
And then we have all the blends.
447
00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,480
You know, every company has
their proprietary blends, which
448
00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,280
in the early days, this is like
probably the big reason for why
449
00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:36,560
there's actually kratom blends.
It it was about people finding
450
00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,800
your kratom.
I mean, if you just searched
451
00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:40,560
kratom, then you'd find 100
companies.
452
00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,440
But if you search happy go lucky
kratom, then you're going to
453
00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:46,200
find metrospect.
And so it was really more about
454
00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:51,160
like branding and and trying to
differentiate yourself by
455
00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:53,400
putting different strings
together to try and get
456
00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:55,760
something that gives you a
little bit of a new effect, but
457
00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,920
also to get a name out there
that people can search that'll
458
00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,880
take them to your website versus
any one of the the other
459
00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,360
companies.
So that was, you know, kind of
460
00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:10,120
kind of important, I guess, you
know, it's.
461
00:26:10,120 --> 00:26:11,840
Smart, it's smart.
I love it.
462
00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,800
I think that's really smart
business.
463
00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,600
I love that a lot.
I know I'm like asking you
464
00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,880
questions and we're going back
and forth all over different
465
00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:23,480
directions, but I want to go
back again to when you started
466
00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:29,480
Kratom and initially it was for
your back pain issues and what
467
00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,360
else did kratom do?
Because so many times people
468
00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:35,040
say, gosh, kratom not only helps
my pain issues, but or helps me
469
00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:38,040
curb my addiction issues to
opiates or this or that.
470
00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,840
They always find other things
that create, you know, whether
471
00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,240
it's the energy boost or oh, I
don't even crave alcohol
472
00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:45,760
anymore.
I don't even drink alcohol
473
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,280
anymore.
I just know, like sometimes
474
00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:50,200
people say, I just noticed like,
wow, I've got beer in the fridge
475
00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:51,600
that's been sitting there for
months.
476
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,920
I just realized I don't even
want want it anymore.
477
00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,520
Like what are just some of the
other benefits you got from
478
00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:00,040
kratom?
Energy was the big thing for me.
479
00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,960
Like I said, I wasn't just
driving a truck.
480
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:06,520
I was driving a truck at night.
And I had been doing a night
481
00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:10,120
shift for a while.
But having young kids at home
482
00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,640
made it quite a bit different.
You know, it was a lot harder to
483
00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:20,840
sleep during the day.
So it, it, it was one of the
484
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,920
requirements when I started
doing my research that it was
485
00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,520
something that, you know, wasn't
going to make me tired and if
486
00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:30,840
anything would give me energy.
And so seeing that kratom's a
487
00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:35,560
cousin of the coffee plant and
that it has alkaloids that can
488
00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:39,440
be, you know, stimulating, that
was a big thing for me.
489
00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:43,360
And I was really happy that I, I
started with whites and greens.
490
00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:46,200
I didn't even really know much
about the strains when I started
491
00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:47,880
buying.
And I had done a little bit of
492
00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,960
reading, but I didn't realize it
was such a huge difference.
493
00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:56,360
I didn't know much about
alkaloid profiles And, and so I,
494
00:27:56,360 --> 00:28:00,800
I started with white and green
and they, they worked really
495
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,280
well for me.
I tried red and, and that did
496
00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,440
help me if I was sore one night
when I was going to sleep or,
497
00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,760
you know, 11 morning when I was
going to sleep.
498
00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:13,960
But the, the energy was, was a
big part of it.
499
00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:19,320
And I'm also fairly shy and I
find that when I take kratom, it
500
00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:21,920
makes me a little bit more
social, a little bit more
501
00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,360
outgoing and a little bit, you
know, just a little bit more
502
00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:29,520
laid back in social situations.
And I, I've heard over the years
503
00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,040
that, you know, there's other
people who do get that same sort
504
00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,040
of effect, but it seems like
it's a little bit more rare, but
505
00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,160
it, but it does seem to help me
a little bit with social
506
00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,680
anxiety.
So it's another, you know, kind
507
00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,800
of side benefit for me.
That's great.
508
00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:47,000
And since you're, you were a
trucker and you talked to other
509
00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,840
truckers and, and, you know,
told them about kratom because
510
00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,120
it's common for people I know
not in your situation, but a lot
511
00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,560
of people will like, OK, I take
this medication and that
512
00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,040
medication, then the doctor
prescribes another medication
513
00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,120
for the side effect of this
other one and this nut.
514
00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,520
And so many times people
discover kratom and they're
515
00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,000
like, I was able to stop all
those medications.
516
00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,720
Have you met like truckers from
back then when you were in that
517
00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:16,160
industry that like not only
kratom was helping them, you
518
00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:19,840
know, from, from, you know, when
them seeing how it affected you,
519
00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:22,840
but like, wow, I was taking all
these other meds.
520
00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,280
I don't have to do that anymore.
Were you running into 'cause I,
521
00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,320
I can't even imagine what the
whole trucker thing and the kind
522
00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,840
of pains and pains and all the
issues and staying awake and
523
00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,520
this and that, Although you just
say they're very strict with
524
00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:38,640
medications even prescribed.
But I'm just curious like how
525
00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,280
were other truckers affected by
this?
526
00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:45,880
Well, it was true for me and
true for a lot of people that I
527
00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,880
talked to was that it not, not
so much like really, you know,
528
00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:54,640
pain relieving drugs, but I, I
was taking 800 milligrams of
529
00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:58,640
ibuprofen several times a day,
usually four times a day.
530
00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:02,920
So what 2400 milligrams of
ibuprofen a day?
531
00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:06,440
It's, it's really bad for your
stomach at those levels.
532
00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:10,240
And a lot of the people that
I've talked to, that's been one
533
00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,160
of the things that they've been
able to, to save themselves is
534
00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:18,440
the, the stomach issues from
taking and said pain relievers
535
00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:21,280
that that can be really damaging
to your stomach lining if you
536
00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:24,560
take them in higher levels.
We've had lots of, you know,
537
00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,640
customers that were able to stop
traditional, you know, pain
538
00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:33,040
medications, opiate pain
medications, But I don't know
539
00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:37,160
that I've heard too many other
stories myself, like first hand
540
00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,320
of people being able to get off
of other prescriptions, safe
541
00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,760
board like depression, anxiety,
things like that.
542
00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:45,920
But I do hear those stories
every once in a while.
543
00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:47,640
I mean, it helps Sarah
tremendously.
544
00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:52,920
She's very anxious and and so
you know that that was a huge
545
00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:54,480
help for her.
It did really help with her
546
00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:55,920
anxiety.
And then and then we found
547
00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,760
ashwaganda, which helps
tremendously with anxiety.
548
00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,560
So yeah, I love ashwaganda and
I've actually just tried those
549
00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:07,000
Ashwagandha capsules and I'm
really impressed with them.
550
00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:10,520
Super because I've only used
ashwagandha that were like a
551
00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:14,040
gummy with that, plus other
things, you know, like maybe
552
00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:16,400
ashwagandha with elfini and
reishi.
553
00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,320
And I've had another one that
was like CBD.
554
00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,760
I know ashwagandha was in there,
but I think a few more things.
555
00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:26,080
So it was the first time I
actually did just an ashwagandha
556
00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,120
only.
And I love that your capsules
557
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,640
are so big.
Like that's not common in the
558
00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:33,400
kratom industry.
And so I'm super impressed.
559
00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:35,680
They're real.
I'm a big fan of Ashwagandha but
560
00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:37,680
I really enjoy the ones y'all
put out.
561
00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:39,800
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
562
00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,000
And yeah, our, our capsule size
and the fact that we sell
563
00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,600
capsules at all is part of how
we got into the business.
564
00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:51,320
And, you know, I, I heard
obviously from everybody that I
565
00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:53,880
was giving the powder to that it
was disgusting.
566
00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,560
Nobody that I knew like the
taste of it.
567
00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:02,680
And so I started hand pressing
tablets on a little like, you
568
00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:05,000
know, I mean, it was heavy duty,
but it was literally a hand
569
00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,240
crank that you turn and it puts
the powder into a mold and then
570
00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:11,880
presses it into a tablet shape.
And I was turning those things
571
00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,320
out, you know, in a in a
makeshift clean room in my
572
00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:18,320
garage.
And because I wanted a more
573
00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:22,400
convenient delivery system than
the powder toss and washer,
574
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:24,520
mixing it in with a drink.
And that's what I was doing
575
00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:27,560
before that because, you know,
frankly, I couldn't afford to
576
00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:30,920
buy the capsules early on, you
know, not for myself at the, you
577
00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:32,480
know, the amounts that I was
taking.
578
00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:35,280
I was like, it's seems like a
waste of money if I can get a
579
00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:37,680
machine, you know, and do it
myself.
580
00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:41,480
So I'd started doing that and
then went to the capsules when I
581
00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:43,800
realized it was so much easier
to press capsules.
582
00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:50,360
But yeah, that that the, the
capsule thing was a big part of
583
00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:53,600
us starting the, the company
because there wasn't a lot of
584
00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:57,960
companies out there that were
selling easier to take formats
585
00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,280
at that time.
And and just because you since
586
00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,560
you brought up like the size of
the capsules and stuff that was
587
00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:07,840
like it's always been the focus
of the business has been our
588
00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,640
capsules.
And and so we do take a lot of
589
00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:15,840
pride in in, you know, how how
we fill them and yeah, how big
590
00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:19,160
they are can be a problem for
some people though, 000.
591
00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,160
Capsules.
Are are a bigger capsule, so
592
00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:24,040
they're.
They're big, but the beauty is
593
00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:26,160
you don't have to take as many
capsules.
594
00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:27,760
Exactly.
You know what, when I first
595
00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:30,000
started kratom, you know, of
course I started with capsules
596
00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,040
because everybody said the stuff
tastes bad.
597
00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:34,720
The powder is gross.
And I was like, oh, I don't want
598
00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,640
to have to taste nasty powder
because I'm not going to want to
599
00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,880
consume it.
So I bought capsules, but you
600
00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:47,440
know, they're typically the .5g
size and if you need, you know,
601
00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:50,280
a substantial number of grams,
then, you know, you can be
602
00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,720
taking 8 or 10 or more capsules.
And that's a lot of capsule
603
00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:55,520
shells.
Not so much It's, oh, that's a
604
00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:57,480
lot of capsules.
I think people don't understand,
605
00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:00,800
like it's just the powder.
So, you know, when you open up
606
00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:03,360
the capsules and put it on a
spoon, you'll see it's not
607
00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:07,600
really that much.
I mean, my typical dose is 2
608
00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:11,360
teaspoons, which is, you know,
close to 5 grams, but that would
609
00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,840
that could be a lot.
That could be 10 capsules of the
610
00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:18,120
.5g capsules.
And that's the problem I ran
611
00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:21,760
into was all those capsule
shells sitting in my stomach and
612
00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:24,679
I felt like they weren't opening
up and I'm like, I wasn't
613
00:34:24,679 --> 00:34:27,480
feeling the effects of this.
I'm like, something's not right
614
00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:30,440
here.
And I love how your company does
615
00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:33,520
the vegan capsules.
So number one, that's just a
616
00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:35,800
better type of capsule to begin
with.
617
00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:38,679
You're doing the bigger ones so
you're not ingesting as much.
618
00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:43,440
But you did a video recently
where you showed like a time
619
00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:48,000
lapse of how your capsules open
fairly quickly.
620
00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:51,080
And I think that's so
interesting to learn about that
621
00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:52,800
now.
It just gives me this whole new
622
00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,719
thought of, I mean, I'm used to
the taste now, so it's no big
623
00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:57,240
deal.
I've been doing the swamp water
624
00:34:57,520 --> 00:34:59,920
every day, multiple times a day
for 6 1/2 years.
625
00:34:59,920 --> 00:35:03,880
So it doesn't bother me anymore.
But it's like it kind of makes
626
00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:06,320
me think I should kind of look
at capsules again because it is
627
00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:09,400
easier to take on the go.
I have tablets, press tablets,
628
00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:14,080
but not very many companies
create those or sell those.
629
00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:16,000
There's not a common.
It's interesting that you did
630
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,680
the whole hand crank.
I can't even imagine how tough
631
00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:21,120
that must have been to be
cranking those out that way.
632
00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:26,360
But you know, when people are
new, if it tastes bad, they
633
00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:28,640
don't want to do it.
I stuck with it because I like,
634
00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:30,600
well, is this or find a drug
dealer?
635
00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:34,000
So I was kind of like, OK, I got
to make this work, so I will
636
00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,480
figure it out.
But some people say, yeah, try
637
00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:38,600
this powder.
It tastes gross.
638
00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:41,120
I just can't.
I just can't so.
639
00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:46,240
Yeah, yeah, it's, it's
definitely an interesting
640
00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:49,320
flavor.
And I, I when I first started, I
641
00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:50,480
would take it with chocolate
milk.
642
00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:54,120
That was the thing that, I don't
know, orange juice worked fine
643
00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:55,720
for me.
Like I'd put, you know, a scoop
644
00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:59,240
in with a, in a water bottle and
pour some orange juice in and
645
00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:01,080
just shake it around and, and
drink that.
646
00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:05,720
I always found like, you know,
citrusy acidic flavors usually
647
00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:08,920
do a good job of canceling out
the bitterness of the, the, the
648
00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:12,720
kratom, but milk actually really
did a pretty good job for me
649
00:36:12,720 --> 00:36:15,120
too, you know, heavily chocolate
syruped up.
650
00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:18,840
But it was, you know, it wasn't
that bad that way.
651
00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:23,080
So that was my, you know,
preferred delivery method before
652
00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:25,720
we started doing the, the
tablets and then later the
653
00:36:25,720 --> 00:36:29,000
capsules.
And yeah, the, the, the vegan
654
00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,920
capsule thing.
Vegan capsules are more
655
00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:34,560
expensive.
It's not a whole lot more, but
656
00:36:35,240 --> 00:36:39,320
at scale it kind of is.
So, you know, we used to do the
657
00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:43,960
gelatin capsules and then we had
a vegan option available and we
658
00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:46,440
charged a little bit more for
that just to cover the extra
659
00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:50,280
cost of producing the vegan with
the, the, the raw, you know,
660
00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:55,200
capsule price.
And once I started reading more
661
00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:58,360
about them and taking them
myself and realizing that we had
662
00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,840
a lot of customers out there who
were buying the powder just
663
00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:03,080
because they were vegan and they
didn't want to take beef
664
00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:06,360
gelatin, that's when we were
like, OK, we're just going to
665
00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:08,560
switch.
Because at at this point we're,
666
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:11,880
we're doing enough of these
vegan, you know, capsule orders
667
00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:15,160
that it, it just doesn't really
make sense to keep doing the
668
00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:18,520
gelatin also.
So we just switched over and
669
00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:22,960
everything became vegan.
And I was noticing when I was
670
00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,920
taking my capsules that it was,
you know, taking effect a lot
671
00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:29,880
faster than I was expecting most
of the time.
672
00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:34,200
And that's when I started
looking more into the, the, the,
673
00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:38,360
the dissolving rate of different
materials.
674
00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:42,800
And Polluin has the fastest rate
of any, you know, solid capsule.
675
00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,960
And, and then I was like, I got
to see this myself.
676
00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:48,880
Like, I know what it looks like
if I drop a capsule and, you
677
00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:51,760
know, the sink or something, and
it takes forever to dissolve.
678
00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:55,000
So let me see what happens when
I put these.
679
00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:58,280
And I just put it in a glass
with, I think the water was
680
00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:01,040
about 94° because that's what I
could get out of my tap at the
681
00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:04,480
time.
And I plopped the capsule in
682
00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:06,800
there and I started watching it
and give it a little stir to
683
00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:08,720
simulate movement in your
stomach or whatever.
684
00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:11,800
But the things started
dissolving after like 4 minutes,
685
00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:14,840
it starts to soften and then by
7 minutes it's completely
686
00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:18,080
dissolved.
And, and the the Kratoms all
687
00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:21,040
dispersed in the water.
And I thought that was really
688
00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:24,920
good to illustrate to people who
I had heard over the years say,
689
00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:27,880
I don't buy capsules because
they don't dissolve.
690
00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:30,720
They do dissolve like everything
in your stomach.
691
00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:33,040
There's other some things that
the acid, you know, in your
692
00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:35,880
stomach won't touch, but your
stomach acid is really strong.
693
00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:39,080
So, you know, if you can eat a
piece of steak, you, you, you
694
00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:42,520
can imagine that the gelatin
capsule that's made from, you
695
00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:45,040
know, the, the byproducts of
that steak are going to dissolve
696
00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:49,040
just fine.
But balloon is made from tapioca
697
00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:52,840
starch.
It's, it's less susceptible to
698
00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:54,520
moisture, so they don't get
sticky.
699
00:38:54,520 --> 00:38:57,760
If there's a lot of humidity in
the air, they will still get
700
00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:00,640
sticky, but not as, not as much
as gelatin capsules.
701
00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:04,200
And just the fact that they
dissolved so much faster was
702
00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:07,560
like an eye opener for me
because I know there's a lot of
703
00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:11,200
people that, you know, they,
they procrastinate, they, they
704
00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:13,840
take the Kratom after they're
already feeling the back pain
705
00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:17,840
instead of, you know, taking it
proactively and preemptively.
706
00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:22,520
And, you know, if you're, if
you're hurting and you need
707
00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:27,600
something to work fast, you
know, plain powder, probably
708
00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:32,160
with, you know, some, some
citrus juice will definitely,
709
00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:36,080
you know, get you there faster.
But if you're on the go and
710
00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:38,440
you've got a couple of capsules
in your pocket, it's a little
711
00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:41,560
better to wait 7 minutes for it
to start, you know, dissolving
712
00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:44,080
and working than to wait 47
minutes.
713
00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:48,560
It's definitely easier to have
capsules with you on the go for
714
00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:52,320
sure.
This is such a great explanation
715
00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:54,520
you're giving us because I was I
was actually going to ask you
716
00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:56,760
what was pulling because I'd
heard of that didn't quite
717
00:39:56,760 --> 00:39:58,360
understand.
So you said that's tapioca
718
00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:01,320
starch And for people that don't
really understand this whole
719
00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:04,000
thing with because you know,
when we say vegan capsules
720
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:07,600
versus the gelatin, so the
gelatin is made with animal by
721
00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,880
products.
So it just what just a little
722
00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:14,200
harder to dissolve or just takes
longer to dissolve basically.
723
00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:18,280
Yeah, I, I mean, I'm not sure.
I don't go too much into the
724
00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:21,560
mechanics of how you know how
one dissolves slower than the
725
00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:25,200
other one.
But yeah, most of the capsules
726
00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,120
that you buy are going to be
bovine gelatin.
727
00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:32,000
So they're, they're literally
made out of, you know, cow
728
00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:35,880
hooves and, and the gelatinous,
you know, product that comes
729
00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:39,120
when they render, you know, meat
or dog food or whatever.
730
00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:40,920
I mean, it is, it is a by
product.
731
00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:45,120
And, and if it's, you know, if
it's edible, then it's being
732
00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:49,800
used by some industry.
And gelatin capsules are, are
733
00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,800
probably one of those things
that, you know, I don't really
734
00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:54,800
want to know how it's made if I
have to take them.
735
00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:57,720
But I'm really, I'm really glad
that there's, you know, that
736
00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:01,000
there's capsule or capsules that
are made out of something other
737
00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:04,520
than gelatin, I should say.
And so, yeah, I, I'm, I'm a big
738
00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:07,560
fan of, of vegan, vegan or
vegetarian.
739
00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:10,400
There are vegetarian capsules
that aren't exactly vegan.
740
00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:14,360
And I don't know why that is.
I don't know why they can't be,
741
00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:19,240
you know, certified as vegan.
But the Puluan capsules said
742
00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:22,760
they're made of tapioca starch.
There's nothing else in there,
743
00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:27,720
you know, so it it or this, this
very, very minute we, you can
744
00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:29,520
see it on the ingredients.
If you buy a package of our
745
00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:31,800
capsules, we have the full
breakdown of what's actually in
746
00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:33,000
the capsules.
It's really only three
747
00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:37,440
ingredients, so they're very
basic, but it's all plant
748
00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:40,320
derived.
So yeah, it does.
749
00:41:40,760 --> 00:41:43,560
It does feel a little bit better
knowing that you're just, you
750
00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:48,080
know, consuming some plant
material versus what you what
751
00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:49,680
you might be getting the other
way around.
752
00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:52,600
Yeah, now this is very
educational.
753
00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:54,800
I guarantee you somebody's
listening to this right now
754
00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:57,520
going, wow, I did not know that.
Thank you, Dan, for sharing
755
00:41:57,520 --> 00:41:59,440
that.
I'm going to pay more attention
756
00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:02,080
when I'm buying capsules now.
So I this is great.
757
00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,480
But yeah, I mean, I didn't, I
didn't never really understood
758
00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:08,160
much of the difference in
pulling being the tapioca
759
00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:09,360
starch.
That's really interesting to
760
00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:14,400
know and makes me want to use
capsules knowing that
761
00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,040
information, even though I'm
used to the taste of kratom.
762
00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,720
But it is nice when you're out
and about to be able to to
763
00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:25,040
consume kratom easily and you
know, capsules or the whole leaf
764
00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:28,840
tablets make it just so much
easier.
765
00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:32,640
And so y'all are known for
powder and capsules.
766
00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:35,880
I already knew about your
company because in our kratom
767
00:42:35,880 --> 00:42:38,160
real talk community where we
have, you know, lots of
768
00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:41,280
discussions about kratom without
censorship is so nice and
769
00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:45,000
refreshing because I tell you,
I've been in TikTok trouble this
770
00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:46,960
week.
They wouldn't let when my videos
771
00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:51,640
go up yesterday, it took over 24
hours for the appeal to go
772
00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:54,120
through.
I was just in YouTube jail for a
773
00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:55,920
week because they didn't like
one of my videos.
774
00:42:55,920 --> 00:43:00,520
Now I'm out of YouTube jail and
then Facebook is on a rampage
775
00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:04,520
deleting every post that has the
word kratom in it and I've
776
00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:07,200
gotten all these notifications
from them and then they put me
777
00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:11,080
in a timeout for live streaming
for a week and it's like, OK, I
778
00:43:11,080 --> 00:43:15,080
live stream on Facebook about
social media and AI stuff.
779
00:43:15,080 --> 00:43:18,280
So I'm pretty pissed I can't
live stream that this week
780
00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:23,880
because of five posts, most of
them from two years ago, that
781
00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:25,680
happened to have the word kratom
in it.
782
00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:28,320
And I hardly ever talk about
kratom on my personal Facebook.
783
00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:32,360
But it's incredibly frustrating
how social media treats us when
784
00:43:32,360 --> 00:43:35,360
we're just trying to help
educate people about kratom.
785
00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:39,440
So I'm so glad I have us in a
community on the school
786
00:43:39,440 --> 00:43:42,480
platform, kratomrealtalk.com.
I'm glad that you and Sarah
787
00:43:42,480 --> 00:43:45,600
joined but already knew about
y'all because one of our
788
00:43:45,600 --> 00:43:49,720
community members would always
rave about the vegan capsules
789
00:43:49,720 --> 00:43:52,800
from Metrospect.
And whenever conversations
790
00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:55,960
mention anything with capsules,
he would John would always like
791
00:43:56,440 --> 00:44:00,080
chime in with that and say the
vegan capsules from introspect
792
00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:03,360
are the best.
And so y'all are getting lots of
793
00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:06,520
shout outs in there before y'all
joined us.
794
00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:09,840
So I, I, I just find it.
I just love that y'all are known
795
00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:13,880
for the vegan capsules and the
powder, especially in this time
796
00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:17,520
where the whole 7 O eight thing
has been going on the last few
797
00:44:17,520 --> 00:44:19,880
years.
What, what's your thought on
798
00:44:19,880 --> 00:44:21,800
that?
Because that's been like a huge,
799
00:44:21,800 --> 00:44:23,800
it went out to like dive deep
into that.
800
00:44:24,240 --> 00:44:28,720
But, you know, tell us like what
your thoughts are on that as
801
00:44:28,720 --> 00:44:30,360
somebody that's in the kratom
industry.
802
00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:35,040
Sure.
Well, since you mentioned the
803
00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:37,520
the two products that we're most
known for, the powder and
804
00:44:37,520 --> 00:44:42,000
capsules, I just want to quickly
say that because of the two
805
00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:45,640
issues that come up from those
two products, you know, powder
806
00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:49,480
having a bad taste and capsules
sometimes being too big to
807
00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:52,560
swallow, that we did start
selling a gummy product.
808
00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:56,080
But here's where the two things
kind of tie together.
809
00:44:56,080 --> 00:45:00,000
Our gummies are mitragenine
only, so there's No 7 OH in
810
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:02,720
them.
And I'm really glad that we did
811
00:45:02,720 --> 00:45:06,560
it that way because as soon as
all of the information, the news
812
00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:09,160
started coming out about the
government potentially trying to
813
00:45:09,160 --> 00:45:12,520
ban it, schedule it, we
immediately got a call from our
814
00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:15,040
payment processor.
It was like 2 days after the
815
00:45:15,040 --> 00:45:19,080
first story that I saw about it.
We got a call from our payment
816
00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:22,480
processor saying if you have any
products in your store that
817
00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:27,680
contain any enhanced levels or
artificial seven O 8, you need
818
00:45:27,680 --> 00:45:29,680
to pull them immediately or
you're going to need to find
819
00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:32,400
another processor.
And we've lost payment
820
00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:37,720
processors so many times over
the years because nobody really,
821
00:45:37,880 --> 00:45:40,040
you know, in the banking
industry wants to get involved
822
00:45:40,040 --> 00:45:44,800
in a product that isn't, you
know, you know, that is illegal
823
00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:46,960
in some places and some
jurisdictions.
824
00:45:47,760 --> 00:45:52,240
So basically, you know, every
couple years we lose a credit
825
00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:55,400
card processor and we have to go
to these weird, you know,
826
00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:59,800
alternative means to process
cards or to accept payments some
827
00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:07,280
other way because of that.
So I, I started thinking so much
828
00:46:07,280 --> 00:46:09,720
about that.
Oh, so that the seven, Oh yeah,
829
00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:12,960
we were told that we, you know,
would have to immediately remove
830
00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:14,760
7 OH, products.
So I was glad that we didn't
831
00:46:14,760 --> 00:46:18,080
have any that, that, you know,
matched what they were concerned
832
00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:20,800
with.
But that was by design too.
833
00:46:22,240 --> 00:46:26,400
We started getting asked a long
time ago if we had extract
834
00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:29,520
products.
And we've always been advocates
835
00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:34,200
for just sticking to natural,
you know, whole leaf kratom, the
836
00:46:34,200 --> 00:46:35,960
way that it comes from the
plant.
837
00:46:36,720 --> 00:46:39,880
It's not that we think that
there's anything wrong with
838
00:46:39,880 --> 00:46:43,200
extracts necessarily, as long as
they're used responsibly.
839
00:46:43,560 --> 00:46:48,240
But it was a concern over or a
combination of things.
840
00:46:48,240 --> 00:46:51,120
But it was like we were seeing
that we had a lot of customers
841
00:46:51,120 --> 00:46:55,440
who, you know, they didn't want
to do a lot of research
842
00:46:55,440 --> 00:46:57,160
themselves.
They just want to take something
843
00:46:57,160 --> 00:47:00,120
that worked.
And they weren't the type that
844
00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:02,720
we're going to be like really
carefully measuring with the
845
00:47:02,720 --> 00:47:05,200
scale.
We feel like, you know, if
846
00:47:05,200 --> 00:47:08,280
you're taking extracts, you
could really do some damage and
847
00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:11,280
get yourself seriously addicted
if you're taking more than you
848
00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:15,000
realize you're taking.
So it's so it's kind of like we
849
00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:19,000
felt like there was too many
possible, you know, concerns for
850
00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:23,320
our customers getting themselves
into trouble accidentally with
851
00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:28,880
extracts and that, you know, 17
OH became available as, you
852
00:47:28,880 --> 00:47:33,040
know, an additive to edible
products and stuff or just, you
853
00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:36,280
know, synthetic 7 OH that you
can add to enhance a powder.
854
00:47:37,240 --> 00:47:40,280
We decided to just stay away
from it and just keep on the
855
00:47:40,280 --> 00:47:45,400
whole natural kratom, you know,
position that we've had and that
856
00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:47,440
way we don't have to worry about
trying to explain to our
857
00:47:47,440 --> 00:47:50,320
customers, listen, this, this is
16 times stronger.
858
00:47:50,320 --> 00:47:53,680
So if you normally take, you
know, 2 1/2 grams and I need to
859
00:47:53,680 --> 00:47:57,320
divide that, you know, by 16 and
take, you know, this miniscule
860
00:47:57,320 --> 00:48:01,080
amount.
So it's kind of a safety thing
861
00:48:01,080 --> 00:48:02,640
for us.
I, I don't believe that
862
00:48:02,640 --> 00:48:05,360
anything, you know, at least
substances.
863
00:48:05,360 --> 00:48:07,520
I don't, I don't really think
that anything should be illegal
864
00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:11,080
if it's natural.
Yeah, there's some dangerous,
865
00:48:11,080 --> 00:48:15,960
you know, synthetic stuff out
there that should definitely not
866
00:48:15,960 --> 00:48:18,240
be in the hands of of pretty
much anybody.
867
00:48:18,960 --> 00:48:23,600
But if it comes from the ground,
I don't really see how that's
868
00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:26,000
something that the government
should have a place.
869
00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:28,040
There you go.
And so that's kind of where I
870
00:48:28,040 --> 00:48:31,120
draw the line with 7OH.
If it's if it's naturally
871
00:48:31,120 --> 00:48:36,040
derived 7OH from a plant and
it's extracted and there's
872
00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:38,800
enough information being
provided so that the user
873
00:48:38,800 --> 00:48:41,640
understands what they're getting
themselves into, then that's
874
00:48:41,640 --> 00:48:43,160
great.
And that's really what we need
875
00:48:43,160 --> 00:48:45,560
is regulation.
You need, you need somebody to
876
00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:49,160
say, if you're going to have
this product, then you need to
877
00:48:49,160 --> 00:48:52,120
let people know how dangerous it
can be.
878
00:48:52,120 --> 00:48:54,880
And that's what we're not seeing
on the shelves right now.
879
00:48:55,160 --> 00:48:58,040
So I do have a problem with the
seven OH products that are being
880
00:48:58,040 --> 00:49:01,000
sold the way they're being sold,
but I definitely don't want to
881
00:49:01,000 --> 00:49:03,360
see them made illegal and have
people.
882
00:49:03,360 --> 00:49:07,840
I ran into a guy the other day
at a local vape shop where we
883
00:49:07,840 --> 00:49:09,920
have some of our THC products on
the shelves.
884
00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:14,120
And I was talking to the owner
of the store about how he was
885
00:49:14,120 --> 00:49:16,320
having to pull all of his seven
OH products.
886
00:49:16,640 --> 00:49:20,000
And this guy says, Oh yeah,
that's why I'm here right now.
887
00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:23,920
And he's because I'm on my way
to a meeting so that I can
888
00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:26,440
possibly get on Suboxone to get
off of Kratom.
889
00:49:26,720 --> 00:49:30,840
And it's like, well, you're,
you're, you know, you're not
890
00:49:30,840 --> 00:49:34,240
really on Kratom right now.
Like I like, you know, and he
891
00:49:34,240 --> 00:49:37,720
knew that, like he knew that he
had gotten himself into trouble
892
00:49:37,720 --> 00:49:41,600
with it for sure.
But he really looked like, you
893
00:49:41,600 --> 00:49:46,040
know, like he was going through
a really rough time having to
894
00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:49,760
figure out what he was going to
do now that he had this, you
895
00:49:49,760 --> 00:49:53,840
know, access to this thing.
And it was helping him.
896
00:49:53,920 --> 00:49:57,040
And in whatever way it was, even
if it had become, you know,
897
00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:01,040
addictive or, you know, at at
levels where it's hard to get
898
00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:03,800
back off without, you know,
medical intervention.
899
00:50:05,440 --> 00:50:07,640
But to see that, you know,
that's going to suddenly be
900
00:50:07,640 --> 00:50:12,680
taken away like that, you know,
versus just regulating and
901
00:50:12,680 --> 00:50:15,160
providing A pathway for the
people who already using these
902
00:50:15,160 --> 00:50:21,200
products to safely transition to
something that is safer, you
903
00:50:21,200 --> 00:50:22,840
know, I don't want to see that
happen.
904
00:50:25,280 --> 00:50:28,080
Yeah, well, I love hearing your
take on that.
905
00:50:28,080 --> 00:50:30,120
I think regulation is the way to
go.
906
00:50:30,120 --> 00:50:33,320
We just need some regulation,
not prohibition, but regulation.
907
00:50:33,320 --> 00:50:36,360
With all of this last quick
question before we wrap up here,
908
00:50:36,360 --> 00:50:38,400
knowing everything you know
about kratom now, you've been in
909
00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:40,160
this industry a long time,
You've been a long time
910
00:50:40,360 --> 00:50:42,120
consumer.
What advice would you give
911
00:50:42,120 --> 00:50:45,040
someone who's just starting out
in their own kratom journey?
912
00:50:45,960 --> 00:50:49,480
I think we touched on most of it
like the, the, the dosing thing
913
00:50:49,480 --> 00:50:53,800
being consistent, you know, is,
is huge and starting with a
914
00:50:53,800 --> 00:50:56,720
small enough dose.
Like I said, I'm, I'm, I'm not a
915
00:50:56,720 --> 00:51:00,520
small guy, but a teaspoon worked
great for me when I first
916
00:51:00,520 --> 00:51:04,480
started.
Now like I, I explained, I, I,
917
00:51:04,720 --> 00:51:07,960
you know, gradually moved up
every year and I would not make
918
00:51:07,960 --> 00:51:12,240
that adjustment before the year.
I'm at 4.8g.
919
00:51:12,240 --> 00:51:17,040
I, you know, I take 6 of the 800
milligram capsules and some, I'm
920
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:18,680
probably right around the same
level that you are.
921
00:51:18,680 --> 00:51:23,600
You said you were just below
about 5g I think and that's been
922
00:51:23,600 --> 00:51:27,200
working for me now for probably
four or five years.
923
00:51:27,200 --> 00:51:28,960
I haven't had to adjust it at
all.
924
00:51:29,320 --> 00:51:34,320
If I do find that it's not
working as well, I usually look
925
00:51:34,320 --> 00:51:38,280
to other other parts of my
well-being that might be
926
00:51:38,280 --> 00:51:41,560
affecting the kratom versus
thinking that the kratom
927
00:51:41,560 --> 00:51:43,560
suddenly not doing something for
me.
928
00:51:44,320 --> 00:51:48,000
So I, I, I always ask, you know,
did I get a rough night's sleep?
929
00:51:48,200 --> 00:51:52,240
Am I, you know, tired?
Being more tired than usual will
930
00:51:52,240 --> 00:51:55,840
impact your kratom experience.
Am I hydrated?
931
00:51:55,920 --> 00:51:58,560
You know, did I have any water
yesterday that I have as much as
932
00:51:58,560 --> 00:52:01,120
I normally do, which is probably
an obscene amount.
933
00:52:02,520 --> 00:52:06,320
So hydration huge, consistency
huge.
934
00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:13,400
And you know, like overall
Wellness can affect it too.
935
00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:16,080
I mean, it's taken as long as
you have.
936
00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:18,760
I'm sure you've noticed that if
you have a cold or you have the
937
00:52:18,760 --> 00:52:20,680
flu or something, you take
Kratom.
938
00:52:20,680 --> 00:52:22,880
It might not feel like it
usually does.
939
00:52:22,880 --> 00:52:26,120
It'll make you feel better than
you did, you know, it'll usually
940
00:52:26,120 --> 00:52:30,920
help alleviate some of the
symptoms, but you're also going
941
00:52:30,920 --> 00:52:32,960
to notice that it's not going
to, it's not going to feel like
942
00:52:32,960 --> 00:52:37,720
it always does.
So, you know, if if you're new
943
00:52:37,720 --> 00:52:40,520
to kratom and you're taking it
for a little while and you see
944
00:52:40,520 --> 00:52:43,480
that it's suddenly not working
the way that you expect, it is
945
00:52:44,080 --> 00:52:45,960
don't just assume that you need
to take more.
946
00:52:46,400 --> 00:52:48,960
Check your hydration, check your
sleep, check if you're, you
947
00:52:48,960 --> 00:52:51,640
know, maybe coming down with
something because those things
948
00:52:51,640 --> 00:52:54,400
will affect it too.
And then obviously, you know,
949
00:52:54,440 --> 00:52:56,320
the source matters.
Make sure you're buying from
950
00:52:56,320 --> 00:53:01,800
somebody or a company that you
can trust and you know, be
951
00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:04,360
consistent, take notes.
Like you said, a journal was
952
00:53:04,360 --> 00:53:06,200
great.
We, we used to have a journal,
953
00:53:06,840 --> 00:53:09,160
but they, they just weren't
selling very well.
954
00:53:09,160 --> 00:53:11,320
So it wasn't really worth it for
us to keep it around.
955
00:53:11,840 --> 00:53:14,520
But we did have a Kratom journal
that was for sale on the website
956
00:53:14,520 --> 00:53:16,680
for a little while.
Maybe we'd bring that back
957
00:53:16,680 --> 00:53:18,520
because there's a lot of
different options for printing
958
00:53:18,520 --> 00:53:20,480
that.
We should talk because I've been
959
00:53:20,480 --> 00:53:22,960
wanting to do that and team up
with somebody to do that is
960
00:53:22,960 --> 00:53:25,520
something that's been on my like
To Do List for a long time.
961
00:53:26,040 --> 00:53:27,800
This has been great.
Dan, thank you so much for
962
00:53:27,800 --> 00:53:31,120
spending time with us today and
sharing your kratom journey with
963
00:53:31,120 --> 00:53:32,480
us.
I really appreciate it.
964
00:53:33,160 --> 00:53:34,360
Oh, thank you so much for having
me on.
965
00:53:34,360 --> 00:53:35,720
I had such a blast talking to
you.
966
00:53:35,720 --> 00:53:37,680
I told you I I never do this
kind of thing.
967
00:53:37,680 --> 00:53:39,800
I was really nervous, but this
was really, really fun.
968
00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:43,160
And I know Sarah mentioned we
know a few people who are
969
00:53:43,160 --> 00:53:45,280
athletes that might be
interested in coming on too.
970
00:53:45,280 --> 00:53:47,200
So we're trying to talk to them
and see if we can get them to
971
00:53:47,200 --> 00:53:51,080
come on and tell their story and
how kratom help them with their,
972
00:53:52,040 --> 00:53:55,760
you know, with their lifestyle
being, you know, most of the
973
00:53:55,760 --> 00:53:57,760
martial artists who get beat up
for a living, so.
974
00:53:58,360 --> 00:53:59,800
Right.
I would love that.
975
00:53:59,800 --> 00:54:02,280
I mean, yeah.
Anybody you ever know, send them
976
00:54:02,280 --> 00:54:04,000
my way.
And for our listeners, if you'd
977
00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:06,280
like to have your story shared,
get in touch with me.
978
00:54:06,280 --> 00:54:09,560
Contact me through
cranestoriespodcast.com.
979
00:54:09,560 --> 00:54:12,200
I have a contact form on our
website or reach out to me on
980
00:54:12,200 --> 00:54:13,920
social media.
Thanks, Dan.
981
00:54:13,920 --> 00:54:15,680
This this has been a great
conversation.
982
00:54:16,160 --> 00:54:18,000
Thanks Madeline.
I'll look forward to talking to
983
00:54:18,000 --> 00:54:18,560
you again soon.
Co-founder
Dan is the co-founder of MitraSpec LLC, a kratom e-commerce business he and his wife Sarah started in 2015. Before launching MitraSpec, Dan worked primarily as a tractor-trailer driver but always had a desire to work for himself. Now with nearly a decade in the industry, Dan and Sarah have built their business on a foundation of transparency, quality, and customer education.
Dan and Sarah met in their early twenties in Massachusetts and have been married for 19 years. After moving from MA to Texas in 2013, they relocated back north to New Hampshire in 2020 to be closer to family. Together Dan and Sarah also run Next Level Candies, a hemp-derived Delta 9 THC brand.
When they're not running their businesses, Dan and Sarah enjoy spending time with their two teenage children and pursuing their many hobbies—including Brazilian Jujitsu, paddle boarding, hiking, and walking their dogs.