Never Perfect

What if the way we grow and choose our food could change not only our physical health—but our mental well-being too?

Many of us feel disconnected from where our food comes from, yet the journey from soil to plate has a profound impact on our bodies, our communities, and even our emotional health.

In this episode of the Never Perfect Podcast, Dr. Beth Capecchi sits down with farmer and entrepreneur Neil Smith to explore the powerful relationship between nutrition, agriculture, and mental wellness. Neil shares his journey from growing up on a farm to launching Grow United, a global platform focused on restoring trust in our food systems and supporting farmers worldwide.

Neil used his economic success after selling a business to forge his inspiring life work which is difficult to do justice to. His life mission incorporates an incredible combination of farming, mental health, nutrition, banding together to build community and support networks for farmers, educating laymen about farming and nutrition, etc. 

Together, Beth and Neil dive into why modern society has become disconnected from food, how that disconnect affects both consumers and farmers, and what small changes we can make to improve our health and reconnect with nature.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode


Why nutrition plays a critical role in mental health and emotional well-being


How being disconnected from our food sources impacts both consumers and farmers


The surprising link between farming culture, isolation, and farmer mental health


Simple ways to shop smarter and eat more nutritious, whole foods


Why local and seasonal food choices can make a meaningful difference


How small lifestyle changes can improve health, resilience, and community connection

About the Guest

Neil Smith is a lifelong farmer, entrepreneur, and the founder of Grow United, a platform designed to reconnect farmers and consumers while creating more resilient and transparent food systems. Through his work, Neil advocates for better nutrition, stronger agricultural communities, and innovative solutions to challenges facing farmers today.

Connect with Neil Smith


Website: https://growunited.com


Podcast: Pasture Prime Time


Shop: https://thenourishmart.com/shop/


Instagram: instagram.com/thegrowrenaissance

If this conversation inspires you to rethink your relationship with food, take one small step this week—learn where something you eat comes from, try a new whole food, or support a local farmer.

And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the Never Perfect Podcast with Dr. Beth Capecchi. Together, we can grow healthier lives—one conversation at a time.
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What happens when faith is manipulated, truth is twisted, and the people you love most are turned against you? In this powerful episode, author and former sports broadcaster Peter Young shares the deeply personal story of how he unknowingly became entangled in a destructive religious cult—and how faith ultimately helped him find freedom and healing.

Dr. Beth Capecchi sits down with Peter to explore his remarkable life journey—from college basketball and broadcasting to a devastating spiritual and personal crisis. Peter opens up about how a manipulative “family guru” slowly gained control over his marriage, faith, and family. Through heartbreak, loss, and rock-bottom moments, Peter discovered profound lessons about discernment, humility, and the true nature of faith. His story is both a cautionary tale and a testimony of God’s redemptive power.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode


How spiritual manipulation and cult dynamics can subtly infiltrate everyday life


The warning signs and red flags of destructive religious leadership


Why vulnerability and isolation make people susceptible to cult influence


The difference between authentic Christian faith and manipulative spiritual control


How faith, community, and truth can help someone recover after deep betrayal


Why sharing our failures and struggles can become powerful testimonies

About the Guest

Peter Young is an author, storyteller, former sports broadcaster, and real estate broker living near Bozeman, Montana. After a career that included college basketball, coaching, and broadcasting for networks like ESPN, Peter now focuses on writing and sharing stories that explore faith, resilience, and personal transformation. His memoir recounts his experience surviving a destructive cult and rebuilding his life.

Connect with Peter Young


Website: https://authorpeteryoung.com


Memoir: Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger


Novels: Blue Team and Wardrobe of the Wolf


Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need encouragement or clarity in their faith journey. Remember—you don’t have to be perfect to experience transformation. Sometimes our hardest seasons become the very stories that help others find hope.
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In this episode of Never Perfect, Dr. Beth sits down with Brad Walsh—best-selling author and host of the top-rated podcast Empowerography—to explore how purpose often unfolds in unexpected ways. Together, they discuss how childhood experiences, life’s challenges, and career detours can merge to reveal a calling later in life.

At age 50, Brad Walsh felt like he had won the lottery when the winding roads of his life finally converged at one powerful intersection—his life’s purpose.

As a young boy, Brad was deeply inspired by the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of the two women who shaped his heart and worldview: his mother and grandmother. Their influence stayed with him throughout his life, even as his career took many unexpected turns.

Brad began as a photographer focused on landscapes and architecture, traveling extensively for work before eventually landing in the corporate world. But a seemingly simple assignment—taking professional headshots—changed everything. Through the lens of his camera, Brad began connecting with women one-on-one, hearing their stories and witnessing their vulnerability, courage, and beauty. He often describes this experience as being allowed to “sit in the passenger seat” of their lives.

Those conversations sparked something deeper within him: a calling to help women see their strength, worth, and voice.

Then the COVID pandemic arrived, bringing the kind of pause many people faced. Brad realized he had two choices: complain and shut down, or use the unexpected gift of time to build something meaningful. He chose the second path. During that time, he launched into podcasting, writing, and speaking—creating platforms that elevate and amplify women’s voices, stories, and gifts.

Brad’s story powerfully normalizes something many people feel anxious about: purpose doesn’t always show up early. Sometimes it takes decades of living, learning, and listening before the pieces finally come together.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why finding your purpose later in life can still mean you’re exactly on time

How to move through fear, comparison, and perfectionism

The importance of being seen—and why women’s voices deserve amplification

Why self-care isn’t selfish, but essential for mental well-being

How celebrating small wins can create powerful momentum

If you’ve been waiting until you feel ready, fearless, or “good enough,” this episode is your reminder:

You don’t need perfect conditions to begin.

Start small. Start scared. Start messy.

Just start.

Because what’s meant for you won’t pass you—but you do have to show up for it.

Follow Brad Walsh on Instagram: @empowerographypodcast , and learn more at his website.

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What happens when a world-class macromolecular scientist—who engineered innovations for NASA and the US Army—reaches the breaking point of burnout? You don’t just heal; you decode the biology of joy.

In this powerhouse episode of Never Perfect, Dr. Beth sits down with Dr. Mamta Bhatt, a scientist and executive consultant for J&J and Nike turned holistic wellness pioneer. After spending 20 years in a monastery, Dr. Bhatt synthesized her rigorous scientific background with ancient wisdom to create a revolutionary healing protocol to get herself well after years of being bedridden. Now she helps clients globally.

From reversing 25-year insomnia to resolving chronic metabolic issues in just months, her results speak for themselves.

If you have ever felt that your worth is tied to your "doing," or that rest is something you must "earn," this conversation is your biological "permission slip" to stop.

Together, we explore:

The NASA high achiever Perspective: How high-pressure created from within impacts the nervous system at a macromolecular level.

The Science of Frequency: Why the words you speak have a physical, measurable impact on cellular health.

The Achievement Trap: Identifying the "self-critique" hidden within the "strong one" archetype.

The 3-Month Shift: Real-world case studies of total health transformation through protocol and presence

Dr. Mamta Bhatt is a best-selling author, a 10-time featured guest on CBS and NBC, and a keynote speaker at the 2026 World Biohacking Event this November.

Read her Books:

Journey for Joy

Recipes for Joy

Work with Dr. Bhatt: Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/thejoyfulscientist?igsh=MXE1d2FsNGk1d3hvYQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

💛 We need your help! This podcast is funded by Dr. Beth, and we are looking for donations from listeners and potential sponsors. If you’re interested in contributing, you can send donations via Venmo (⁠https://account.venmo.com/u/NeverPerfectPodcast⁠) or email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to find out other ways to donate.

🎧 Listen to this episode and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠neverperfect.org⁠

📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@neverperfectpodcast
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What is “wellness,” really—and how do we know who’s credible in a world full of modalities, certifications, and strong opinions? 

In this episode, Dr. Beth sits down with Lawrence Ellyard, founder of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT) and the International Institute for Reiki Training, to explore what complementary care is (and isn’t), why healing doesn’t have to be medicine versus natural therapy, and how ethical standards help protect both practitioners and the people seeking care.

Together, they dive into how environment, relationships, habits, mindset, and intention all play a role in healing. Lawrence introduces the ORABED framework, a powerful way to understand the difference between living with ownership, responsibility, and accountability versus falling into blame, excuses, and denial. The conversation weaves practical wisdom with humility, humor, and real-life examples—reminding us that growth isn’t about being perfect, but about showing up with courage and clarity.

What You’ll Learn


What “complementary” and holistic therapy actually mean—and what they don’t


Why wellness works best when medicine and natural therapies work together


How accreditation and ethical standards protect both clients and practitioners


The ORABED framework and how mindset shapes empowerment or victimhood


Why environment, relationships, and daily habits matter as much as treatments


How intention, accountability, and community support real behavior change


Why growth requires patience, humility, and a beginner’s mind—not perfection


How to be intentional about what you consume—physically, mentally, and emotionally

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