ABOUT THE SERIES
Experience Healing Heroes—No Mind Left Behind, a pioneering documentary series that unveils a combination of new and rediscovered treatments. Western science has begun to confirm what countless individuals have already experienced in their healing with PTSD: that their painful journey of darkness can indeed find its way back to the light of healing.
This Healing Heroes series chronicles the journey of six heroes back to the light—not only showing positive outcomes, but also helping to drive the movement to revolutionize PTSD treatments and bring mental healthcare into the awareness the whole world deserves.
OUR MISSION
This show is our mission to take back what was taken from us. Our PEACE. Our HOPE. Our LIVES. 6 Heroes, 10 days, and only one outcome: LEAVE NO MIND BEHIND.
PERSONAL JOURNEY: A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER
My name is Dr. Charles (Charlie) Powell. I am a decorated two war veteran whose career was bookended by U.S. involvement in wars in the middle east. I, too, suffered from PTSD, yet was a highly-functional doctor. I even built and led a large healthcare system in Texas after my military career.
Although I thought I was hiding my progressive personal hell, I didn’t recognize the growing effects PTSD was having on my personal life, health, and triggering of behaviors that I thought were concealed.
I was on multiple medications and therapy for decades for PTSD–the effects of which were often worse than the disease symptoms. Even with finding the right combination of medications with the least side effects along with counseling, I still suffered most days of the week with sleepless nights, night terrors, long bouts of triggered worsened depression, alcohol abuse for some periods of time, anger and living during the day as a projection of who I needed to be to do my job.
My personal life saw damage first when I was no longer able to hide events, triggered for months where I would not get out of bed on evenings and weekends for my family.
June 2022 I sold the healthcare system I meticulously built over two decades to United Healthcare, the largest health insurer in the U.S.–it was the highest accomplishment of my life, providing plenty of reasons to celebrate. However, I wasn’t celebrating because I knew I had to finally offload my hidden hell if I wanted to enjoy life again. It was then that I decided to find a good solution for my PTSD that not only worked well but would also possibly cure my PTSD rather than lifelong symptom masking treatments.
I wanted something that would get to the source of the PTSD. I uncovered and diligently researched an emerging field of medicine that often carries a stigma perceived even less than that of mental health problems that these new medications can treat.
Psychedelic medications (even though not legal in the U.S.) were showing great success in veterans with PTSD and groundbreaking studies from major U.S institutions. The Stanford Medical Research study was one of my final considerations, and in August of 2023, I went into a 10-day inpatient treatment.
As a two-war veteran, physician, PTSD patient with multiple failed attempts to treat the symptoms that failed, I now stood as one of a growing number of treatment successes that these psychedelic treatments have shown for PTSD.
Knowing there exists countless veteran heroes who have stories even more substantial and consequential than mine, and knowing these stories will touch hearts and lead many to healing, my goal became to leverage my reputation, resources, education, network of colleagues, and the full gamut of today’s social and technical channels to document this “journey to the light” that became HEALING HEROES.
After my life-changing treatment in 2023, I contacted one of the amazing healing practitioners who helped me on my personal 10-day journey, and began a conversation about how we might orchestrate our own program. So together with Co-Founder Nathalie Keuning, we began building the vision, ultimately bringing it to life with this first class of HEALING HEROES in 2024. This is Season One: Tulum.
OUR TEAM
Dr. Charlie Powell
Dr. Charles “Charlie” Powell holds multiple medical patents. He received his medical doctorate degree over 25 years ago. He supports a multidisciplinary approach to healing in various ways. He develops clinical protocols and oversees clinical compliance and quality initiatives.
In 2024, Dr. Powell founded Solo ViveTM, meaning “Just live,” as the parent company to Saint Charlie ResortsTM, Vive Scientific™, Solo Vive Studios™, and Healing HeroesTM– a treatment program (and docuseries) with the aim of helping victims of PTSD (of which he himself has found healing). His passions/projects also include special-needs children/families, and anyone that needs a louder voice for their health and wellbeing.
“Dr. Charlie” received his medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, and completed his Family Medicine Residency at the Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. After his residency, he was stationed in New Orleans, where he served as the director of clinical services at the Naval Ambulatory Care Clinics and as a Staff Emergency Physician at the Saint Charles Parish Hospital. Leaving the Navy in 2005, he became an owner and the Chief Medical Officer/Founder of Healthcare Associates of Texas which sold to Optum Healthcare in 2022 for $250M. Powell has served the global medical community for 20+ years. His current medical special interests include PTSD, special needs children, treating sleep apnea, and a wide array of other health disorders
His current focus is born out of his personal journey with PTSD, and as a parent of a wonderful special-needs son; Charlie.
nathalie keuning
Born in Mexico City, to a Mexican mother and Dutch father, she had the privilege of living in countries all around the world, including China, Malaysia, Holland, Spain, the U.S., and Mexico. Raised in international schools, she became fluent in three languages and developed a global perspective early in life.
In Holland, she studied International Business in Utrecht and Hotel Management at Leerhotel Het Klooster. In 2012, she moved to Cancun, where she pursued her passion for fitness, wellness, and personal training, eventually opening a successful functional training center.
Becoming a mother in 2015 and again in 2020 was one of her greatest fulfilled dreams, and it shaped her outlook on wellness, both physically and mentally. These experiences, combined with helping women through their pre- and post-pregnancy journeys, deepened her understanding of holistic health.
In 2016, when her grandmother was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, she witnessed the healing power of unconventional methods and holistic practices firsthand. This sparked an insatiable curiosity about mind-body healing and wellness techniques.
Over the past eight years, she has delved into biohacking, and emotional, mental, and physical health, taking various courses on healing techniques like EFT tapping, breathwork, cold exposure, and fascia movement. She has also hosted multiple healing retreats in the Mayan Riviera and abroad, helping scores of participants on their healing-awareness-wellness journey.
Her most profound turning point came in 2022 when she was introduced to healing through psychedelics–plant medicines. This led her to work as a coach and client care architect at a clinic specializing in the treatment of PTSD, addiction, and mental health challenges, where she worked closely with over 250 individuals.
In August 2023, she met Dr. Charlie Powell, and together they co-founded Healing Heroes. This transformative program, now being filmed for a docuseries, helps veterans, police officers, and first responders suffering from PTSD, depression, addiction, and other mental health issues through ancestral medicine ceremonies.