The Dark Side of Feel Free Drink: Addiction, Kratom & Wellness Marketing Lies | Nervy Ep 15

The Dark Side of Feel Free: Addiction, Kratom & Wellness Marketing Lies

A “plant-based feel-good drink” that’s actually addictive? Meet Feel Free—the wellness shot you’ve probably seen at gas stations, gyms, or your friend’s fridge. Marketed as a natural mood booster, it secretly packs kratom and kava—and people are realizing too late it can cause dependency, withdrawals, and some pretty gnarly side effects.

In this episode, Hannah (@BlondOnTheRun) and Olivia (@weirdohour) dig into how a supposed wellness product is walking the fine line between functional beverage and public health concern. From Reddit confessionals to lawsuits, we unpack the hype, the harm, and the bigger question: how did this even end up in the “wellness” aisle? Is Feel Free a harmless chill pill—or wellness snake oil with a dangerous twist? Have you tried it? Do you know someone who’s gotten hooked? Drop your story or hot take in the comments—because the wellness world deserves a reality check.

key takeaways
Feel Free is marketed as a plant-based “wellness” drink but contains kratom, which binds to opioid receptors.
Users report dependency, withdrawals, and addiction—while the brand promotes it as safe and natural.
The drink is sold openly in gas stations and online, despite kratom’s controversial status.
This raises big questions about regulation, marketing ethics, and consumer safety in wellness products.
Not everything with a pretty label and plant buzzwords is actually good for you.

chapters
00:00 — Welcome + Today’s Topic: What Is Feel Free?
02:20 — The Ingredients: Kratom, Kava & Marketing Spin
03:15 — Personal Stories of Addiction & Withdrawals
4:05 — Why Is This Being Sold Everywhere?
5:00 — The Wellness Industry’s Role in Misleading Consumers
7:25 — Wrap-Up: Is This the New Frontier of Snake Oil?