Viking Academy

What if healing begins with reconnecting to ourselves, rather than simply treating our symptoms?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Greg Eckel, a naturopathic physician and Chinese medicine practitioner, to explore brain regeneration, neurological health, and the body's capacity to heal. Greg shares how his work with Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative conditions led him to develop the Eckel Protocol, which focuses on detecting underlying imbalances, correcting them, and helping people thrive.

The conversation moves into heart-centered living, personal loss, and the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Greg opens up about losing his first wife to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and how that experience transformed his life and inspired his mission to help others facing neurological conditions. He also explains why deep presence, addressing underlying trauma, and listening to the body are central to his approach.

We also explore Greg's adventures climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, witnessing a solar eclipse in Greenland, and attending Burning Man, reflecting on how curiosity, connection, and following our hearts can shape the way we experience life.

Topics We Explore:

• Brain regeneration and the body's innate capacity for healing
• The Eckel Protocol: detect, correct, and thrive
• Identifying underlying imbalances in neurological health
• How personal loss shaped Greg's mission to help others
• The connection between heart-centered living, mind, body, and spirit
• Exploring consciousness, healing, and the role of technology
• Lessons from Mount Kilimanjaro, Greenland, and Burning Man

Connect with Dr. Greg Eckel: https://www.instagram.com/drgreckel/ 

Explore Brain Regen: https://brainregen.com/ 

Visit bVital: https://bvital.com/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if intelligence is about more than logic, data, and knowing the right answer?

In this episode, we sit down with Angus Fletcher, author of Primal Intelligence, to explore how humans think through story and why intuition, imagination, emotion, and common sense may be just as important as logic. Angus shares how his research led him to rethink what intelligence actually means and why our brains are built to imagine possibilities rather than simply predict what has happened before.

The conversation moves into purpose, leadership, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. Angus explains why purpose gives us direction, how leadership begins with taking the first step into the unknown, and how technology can distract us from the bigger story we're trying to create.

We also explore what it means to reconnect with the parts of ourselves that modern life can teach us to suppress, and why embracing our own story may be essential to finding purpose and creating a future that is uniquely ours.

Topics We Explore:

• Why intelligence is more than logic and data
• The four parts of Primal Intelligence: intuition, imagination, emotion, and common sense
• Why humans naturally think in stories
• The difference between meaning and purpose
• How story shapes leadership and the future we imagine
• How technology can distract us from purpose and identity
• Why the story we tell ourselves about ourselves may be one of the most important stories we ever create

Connect with Angus Fletcher: https://www.angusfletcher.co/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if the way you see yourself isn't always the way others experience you?

In this episode, we sit down with Allison Brenner to explore the fascinating gap between how we believe we show up in the world and how we're actually experienced by the people around us.

Together, we dive into self-awareness, relationships, personal blind spots, and why understanding our impact on others can be a powerful tool for growth. Allison also shares the inspiration behind InnerVue, a platform designed to help people gather meaningful feedback from those in their lives and better understand their own social impact.

This isn't just a conversation about personality assessments, it's an exploration of perspective, accountability, and becoming more intentional about how we show up in our relationships and the world around us.

Topics We Explore:

• The difference between how we see ourselves and how others experience us
• Uncovering hidden strengths and personal blind spots
• Why self-awareness requires more than self-reflection
• How feedback can help us grow in our relationships
• Understanding our social impact
• The role of perspective in communication and connection
• How InnerVue brings meaningful feedback beyond the workplace

Connect with Allison Brenner: www.yourinnervue.com 

Special Offer for Viking Academy listeners and members: Use code VIKING20 for 20% off

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if you didn't need to know exactly where you're going next to know it's time for a new chapter?

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Harris: entrepreneur, former mortgage industry leader, and lifelong adventurer, to explore what happens when we let go of certainty and trust where life is guiding us.

Together, we explore what it means to follow the voice within, release the need to control every step, and allow life's next chapter to unfold. From spiritual exploration and past experiences to the difference between the “little self” and the “bigger self,” this conversation dives into what can happen when we become more open to possibility and trust the journey ahead.

This isn't just a conversation about changing careers: it's about embracing the unknown, following what feels true, and discovering that the journey itself may be where the real adventure begins.

Topics We Explore:

• Trusting yourself without knowing exactly what comes next
• Letting go of certainty and embracing the unknown
• The “little self” versus the “bigger self”
• Spirituality, consciousness, and personal exploration
• Past experiences and the lessons that shape us
• Inspired action versus forcing the path forward
• Why life may be more about the journey than the destination

Connect with Justin Harris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-harris-005b30355/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if creating something could help you discover more about yourself?

In this episode, we sit down with Alain Picard: artist, teacher, and creative mentor, to explore the connection between art, creativity, and self-discovery. Together, we dive into what happens when we let go of perfection, move through the fear of failure, and give ourselves permission to create.

From rediscovering passions that were pushed aside to finding confidence through the creative process, Alain shares how art can become a powerful way to reconnect with identity, purpose, and wonder. We also explore why simply showing up and creating can open the door to unexpected growth and transformation.

This isn't just a conversation about painting: it's about creativity as a path to self-discovery, and what becomes possible when we stop worrying about the perfect outcome and start exploring.

Topics We Explore:

• Finding yourself through creative expression
• Overcoming the fear of failure and perfectionism
• Rediscovering passions we may have pushed aside
• Creativity, confidence, and self-discovery
• Why showing up matters more than the perfect result
• Art as a way to reconnect with wonder and possibility
• The relationship between creativity, entrepreneurship, and personal growth

Connect with Alain Picard: https://www.picardstudio.com/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if everything you believed about spirituality was upside down?

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Monk: healer, teacher, and founder of the Avatar Energy Mastery Institute, to explore consciousness, energy, and the nature of our spiritual experience.

Together, we dive into awakening, the relationship between spirit and the physical body, and why Michael believes our human experience is far more significant than we've been led to believe. From the nature of consciousness and energy to out-of-body experiences, healing, and our connection with the divine, this conversation challenges conventional spiritual thinking and invites us to explore reality through a completely different lens.

This isn't just a conversation about metaphysics: it's an invitation to question long-held beliefs, embrace curiosity, and explore a new perspective on consciousness, creation, and what it means to be fully alive.

Topics We Explore:

• Michael's encounter with the voice of God
• Awakening to spirit and remembering our true nature
• Out-of-body experiences and consciousness
• Why the physical world is part of our spiritual evolution
• Energy, healing, and self-discovery
• Challenging conventional ideas about spirituality

Connect with Michael Monk: https://www.michaelmonk.bio/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if conflict wasn't something to avoid, but something to embrace?

In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Abrams: leadership coach, EOS expert, and author of Inviting Genius, to explore how conflict can become one of our greatest tools for growth, connection, and self-discovery.

What begins as a conversation about leadership quickly evolves into a powerful coaching session, as Matthew helps uncover how our earliest experiences shape the way we navigate conflict, relationships, and even our sense of identity. Together, we explore the stories we've inherited, the masks we wear to feel safe, and why embracing discomfort can lead us back to our most authentic selves.

This isn't just a conversation about better communication, it's about understanding yourself, telling the truth with courage and compassion, and discovering how conflict can become a catalyst for deeper relationships and lasting transformation.

Topics We Explore:

• Why conflict is a gateway to self-discovery
• How childhood shapes the way we handle conflict
• Moving from people-pleasing to authentic communication
• The relationship between entrepreneurship and identity
• Fear, vulnerability, and telling the truth with compassion
• Why healthy conflict creates deeper connection
• Turning discomfort into growth and transformation

Connect with Matthew Abrams: https://matthewabrams.us/ 

Get your Copy of Inviting Genius: https://invitinggenius.com/

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if business could become a vehicle for purpose, service, and personal transformation?

In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Cotten to explore the intersection of faith, entrepreneurship, and character. From navigating his daughter's health journey to questioning long-held beliefs and stepping away from a controlling religious environment, Jonathan shares how adversity reshaped his understanding of leadership, purpose, and what it truly means to serve others.

Together, we dive into the idea of business as a mission field, the role character plays in leadership, and why integrity, empathy, and community matter more than ever. This isn't just a conversation about entrepreneurship, it's about discovering how our struggles, beliefs, and experiences can shape a life of greater meaning and impact.

Topics We Explore:

• The meaning behind The Business of Character
• Navigating faith, doubt, and personal transformation
• Leaving a controlling religious environment
• How adversity can deepen purpose and empathy
• Business as a vehicle for service and community
• Building cultures rooted in integrity and character
• Mission, vision, values, and leading with intention

Connect with Jonathan Cotten: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cotten-a1511a1/ 

Check Out The Good Feet Store: https://www.goodfeet.com/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if the breakthrough you're searching for isn't about working harder, but listening more deeply?

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel White: spiritual coach, energy transformation specialist, and advisor to visionary entrepreneurs, to explore the powerful connection between purpose, intuition, and personal growth.

Together, we dive into entrepreneurship, spiritual growth, discernment, and the role intuition plays in helping us navigate life's challenges. Daniel shares why personal responsibility, faith, and a deeper connection with God can open the door to greater clarity, freedom, and fulfillment.

This isn't just a conversation about success, it's about discovering how purpose and inner alignment can help us create a life that feels truly meaningful.

Topics We Explore:

• The relationship between entrepreneurship and spirituality
• Following intuition and recognizing guidance from God
• Personal responsibility as a catalyst for growth
• Discernment, energy, and navigating life's challenges
• Why breakthroughs often come through surrender and trust
• Clearing the blocks that keep us stuck
• Creating a life aligned with purpose and meaning

Connect with Daniel White: https://danielwhitecoaching.com/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com

What if your breath could become a doorway to something deeper?

In this episode, we sit down with John Osborne: meditation teacher, breathwork expert, and senior faculty member of the Art of Living Foundation, to explore the profound connection between breath, consciousness, and human transformation.

Together, we dive into how breathwork can help quiet the mind, release deeply held stress, and reconnect us with what John calls the "unchanging" part of ourselves. From PTSD and addiction recovery to meditation, spirituality, and the power of living in the present moment, this conversation explores why the breath may be one of the most overlooked tools for healing and self-discovery.

This isn't just a conversation about breathing: it's an exploration of awareness, resilience, and what becomes possible when we learn to connect with the deeper intelligence within us.

Topics We Explore:

• How breathwork impacts the mind, body, and emotions
• Using breath to help heal PTSD and trauma
• Why the present moment is the source of creativity and joy
• The connection between breath and spiritual traditions
• Meditation, consciousness, and direct spiritual experience
• Addiction recovery, surrender, and inner transformation
• Connecting with the "unchanging" self beneath life's chaos

Connect with John Osborne: https://www.artofliving.org/ 

Learn More about The Viking Academy: https://www.vikingacademy.com