Ep 81: From Pain to Purpose: Inside the Kratom Industry with MitWellness Founder Todd Underwood
Todd Underwood, CEO and Founder of MitWellness, shares his story of living with chronic pain and how Kratom helped him move away from opioids. He also offers an insider’s perspective on compliance, safety, and the future of the Kratom industry.
Todd Underwood, founder of MitWellness, shares his powerful story of living with chronic pain and then finding hope through Kratom. Diagnosed as a child with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a progressive form of muscular dystrophy, Todd endured decades of severe pain that led to years of heavy opioid use following a heart attack and quadruple bypass. In 2019, after reaching a breaking point, he tried Kratom for the first time, and that day marked the end of his dependence on prescription opioids. Kratom helped him manage his pain without feeling medicated, giving him both relief and clarity. That experience inspired Todd to dedicate his professional life to understanding Kratom and developing safer, compliant products for others like him.
Today, through MitWellness, Todd brings an insider's view of the Kratom industry, one grounded in experience, ethics, and regulation. He explains what true GMP compliance looks like, why FDA registration and testing matter, and how unregulated synthetic products like 7 hydroxymitragynine threaten consumer safety and the future of the plant. This conversation goes beyond personal testimony to deliver a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how Kratom should be made, marketed, and protected for years to come.
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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.
Todd Underwood
Founder/CEO
Todd Underwood — Founder & CEO, MitWellness
Todd Underwood is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MitWellness, one of the largest and most advanced botanical extraction and supplement manufacturing companies in the United States. With a background in chemistry and more than a decade of experience in product formulation, Todd has become a driving force in the evolution of the kratom and kava industries — pushing for scientific integrity, regulatory compliance, and consumer transparency.
Under his leadership, MitWellness has grown into a vertically integrated operation, processing over 30,000 kilograms of d-limonene-damp kratom biomass per month and producing a diverse portfolio of wellness products that meet rigorous 21 CFR Part 111, 117, and 190.6 standards. The company operates at full GMP compliance, supported by state-of-the-art analytical equipment including Thermo Fisher HPLC systems and industrial-scale extraction and distillation infrastructure.
Todd’s relentless commitment to legitimacy and innovation has positioned MitWellness as a regulatory pioneer in the botanical space. He has successfully filed multiple New Dietary Ingredient Notifications (NDINs) with the FDA, including submissions for Mitragyna speciosa leaf extract standardized to 75% mitragynine and mitragynine acetate salt—milestones that mark the company’s dedication to scientific validation and responsible commercialization.
Beyond the laboratory and manufacturing floor, Todd is an outspoken advocate for rational botanical regulation and consumer education.… Read More
