Actor-turned-therapist David Sutcliffe (Gilmore Girls, I'm with Her, Under the Tuscan Sun) sits down for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from the heights of Hollywood to the depths of somatic psychotherapy. At the peak of his acting career, David found himself dissatisfied and unable to access the emotional depths he longed for — both on screen and off. That search led him to Core Energetics, a body-centered psychotherapy rooted in the work of Wilhelm Reich and Alexander Lowen, and eventually to becoming a practitioner himself.

In this episode, David and the host cover:

• The dog debate — Could David actually take a fighting dog in hand-to-hand combat? (He insists he could. AI disagrees.)
• Cats as interdimensional protectors — From Egyptian worship to infrared-camera ghost videos, plus how a stray cat in Mexico became David's through a mystical "download"
• Animals and the family soul — The host's practice of soul-bonding with his giant schnauzer puppy, and the spiritual role of pets
• The Surrender Experiment — How asking for "signs" led David and his wife to move to Mexico for a year and a half
• Acting, limitations, and longing — David's self-awareness about his ceiling as an actor, the difference between being "good" and being "great," and how his creative void was filled by a documentary about his teacher's work
• Childhood in Canada — Born in Saskatoon, raised in Ontario, parents' divorce at age six, and two seven-year stretches without seeing his father
• Trauma as a compass — How early wounds drove David into acting, therapy, and ultimately his life's purpose
• Core Energetics explained — The lineage from Freud → Reich → Lowen → Pierrakos, and how somatic bodywork accesses what talk therapy can't
• Why the therapist matters more than the modality — David's take on why traditional psychotherapy has low success rates
• Workshop format — 3-day intensives, 10–12 participants, the power of group work over one-on-one, and why friction in the group is fuel for breakthrough
• Men's work — Why David has been working exclusively with men, and his new community School for Kings
• The question of children — David opens up about the sadness of not having kids at 57, and that he and his wife are trying
• Psychedelics and plant medicine — From psilocybin in his 20s to roughly 60 ayahuasca ceremonies, living with a Shipibo ayahuascero for two years, sweat lodges, and the role of microdosing today
• An experiment — The host gifts David Brain Supreme for his September workshop to explore whether microdosing can deepen the breakthrough experience

Show Notes & Links

• David's website: davidsutcliffe.com — workshops, coaching, and the School for Kings men's community
• Next men's workshop: End of September (details on his website)
• Core Energetics — somatic (body-centered) psychotherapy developed by John Pierrakos, evolving from the work of Wilhelm Reich (Characterology) and Alexander Lowen (bioenergetics)
• The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer — the book that shaped David's approach to following life's flow
• Esalen Institute (Big Sur, CA) — where David had his transformative workshop experience with Anne Bradnee
• The Pathwork Lectures — channeled material by Eva Pierrakos that forms the psychospiritual foundation of Core Energetics

Key Timestamps

• 0:00 — Could David fight a dog? The great debate
• ~7:30 — Cats as supernatural protectors & Nube the Mexican rescue cat
• ~16:00 — The host's soul-bonding practice with his giant schnauzer
• ~20:00 — Following signs to Mexico (The Surrender Experiment)
• ~28:00 — What David does: Core Energetics explained
• ~33:00 — David's acting career: Gilmore Girls, I'm with Her, Under the Tuscan Sun
• ~40:00 — Childhood in Canada, parents' divorce, absent father
• ~48:00 — How talk therapy falls short & the somatic approach
• ~55:00 — Workshop format, group vs. one-on-one, the power of friction
• ~63:00 — Working with men & the School for Kings
• ~67:00 — The question of having children
• ~72:00 — Psychedelics: psilocybin, 60+ ayahuasca ceremonies, living with a Shipibo healer
• ~80:00 — Microdosing experiment & closing

There's no mental or emotional stressor that won't eventually show up somewhere in the body. That's the thread running through this entire conversation.

Kyle Kingsbury joins Adam to get into what happens to grief that never gets processed — and why no amount of optimization can route around it. Along the way: the ayahuasca vision that rebuilt Kyle's marriage, a Shakti experience in a room of 7,000 people that dropped him to the floor, why his morning meditation practice came apart, and the training and recovery stacks he actually runs now — kettlebells, blood flow restriction, nasal-only breathing, and sauna.

Kyle also breaks down The Kingdom Within, the community he's built around all of it, and gives a first look at Ballers Youth Nutrition — the youth supplement company he and Adam are launching together.


DISCLAIMER

The following reflects the personal views and experiences of the host and guest, and is for general informational purposes only.

This content is not medical or professional advice. Statements regarding health, supplements, fasting, and training have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a licensed professional before changing your health routine — especially on behalf of a child.

This episode discusses psychedelic and plant medicines, fasting, and alternative spiritual beliefs. Viewer discretion advised. Substances discussed are controlled in most jurisdictions; nothing here is an endorsement or instruction for use.

Claims about named third parties are personal opinion, not verified fact. Results are not typical. The host and guest hold commercial interests in products and companies discussed, including a jointly owned business.

In this episode of The Brainsupreme Podcast, Adam is Joined by Eben Britton, former NFL offensive tackle (Jacksonville Jaguars), current yoga teacher, author, and founder of The Athlete's Approach. Adam & Eben, who share overlapping histories through yoga, the cannabis industry, and mutual friend Cal Callahan, use this episode to dive deep into Eben's origin story: from a chaotic Brooklyn childhood to becoming an All-American offensive lineman at the University of Arizona, a second-round NFL draft pick, and ultimately a yoga teacher and wellness coach.

• Origins & Family: Growing up in Brooklyn with divorced parents, an artistic family lineage (grandmother Estelle Parsons, an Academy Award winner), and channeling childhood rage into football after the family's move to Burbank, CA
• Rise to the NFL: Freshman year at 6'3"/230 lbs, becoming a two-time All-American and team captain at Arizona, choosing the Wildcats over Northwestern and Oklahoma, and declaring early for the draft
• The Draft Day Story: Getting drunk before being picked 39th overall by Jacksonville, and the infamous "I'm gonna make everybody pay" moment caught on camera
• NFL Career & Injuries: Standout rookie season, a career-altering ruptured disc from a freak weight-room accident, playing through pain with Adderall and opiates, and constant battles with elite pass rushers (Robert Mathis, Shaun Ellis, Calais Campbell)
• Mentality & Longevity: The importance of "learning how to practice," recovery, and avoiding burnout
• Post-NFL Transformation: Discovering yoga through City Yoga in LA, becoming a yoga teacher, and reconnecting with Adam years later through their mutual friend Cal
• Brainsupreme Products: Discussion of MAAC Stack and Black Stack supplements, their impact on memory, neurogenesis, and even anecdotal reports of Lyme disease symptom relief
• The Athlete's Approach: Eben's new 8-week online coaching program covering physical vitality, mental focus, emotional release, and spiritual/energetic principles

Where to Find Eben

• Instagram: @edsbritton
• Podcast: The Ebb and Flow Podcast
• Program: The Athlete's Approach (8-week online course)

Note: This was recorded as "Part One" — a follow-up episode is planned to cover Eben's emotional/psychological transformation and yoga teaching journey.