Paul F. Austin & Chris Villar - The Business of Transformation: Inside a Successful Psychedelic Coaching Practice

Explicit content warning

02/07/25 • 55 min

In this special bonus episode, we share highlights from a recent January webinar featuring Paul F. Austin in conversation with Chris Villar, a successful executive coach and graduate of the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-289b/?ref=278

Chris shares his transition from Goldman Sachs and founding a $125 million company to becoming an executive coach incorporating psychedelics into his practice. Together, Paul and Chris explore the business aspects of psychedelic coaching, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for building a successful practice.

For more of Chris's personal and professional journey, check out his interview in Episode 268 of The Psychedelic Podcast. Chris Villar studied finance & accounting at Georgetown University and began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he led a $500 million investment portfolio in the home security industry. In 2007, he left Goldman and founded Frontpoint Security, an early disruptor for self-installed alarm systems and smart home technology.

Chris served as CEO from inception to over $125-million in revenue as the company grew to nearly 800 employees and received frequent recognition for both customer and employee satisfaction. After selling the company in 2020, Chris founded VILLAR Coaching, a boutique coaching practice focused on helping founders (and other high achievers) scale their companies while cultivating skills in peak performance and fundamental wellbeing.

Chris has done extensive work to overcome a lifetime of stress, anxiety, and burnout and to detach from the lifelong grip of achievement; and now enjoys helping others do the same. He lives in Washington, DC with his husband and their 10-year old beagle and enjoys the outdoors, hiking, and traveling.

Highlights:

Chris's background: From Goldman Sachs to founding a $125M company
The journey to becoming a psychedelic integration coach
Key skills Chris learned through professional training
Structuring client engagements and coaching containers Incorporating ketamine therapy through legal providers
Revenue generation and pricing strategies in psychedelic coaching
Group retreats and scaling a coaching practice
Essential advice for aspiring coaches

Episode Links:

Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-289b/?ref=278

Highlights:

Chris's background: From Goldman Sachs to founding a $125M company
The journey to becoming a psychedelic integration coach
Key skills Chris learned through professional training
Structuring client engagements and coaching containers Incorporating ketamine therapy through legal providers
Revenue generation and pricing strategies in psychedelic coaching
Group retreats and scaling a coaching practice
Essential advice for aspiring coaches

Episode Links:

Previous Episode

Daniel Carcillo - Brain Injury & Psychedelic Medicine: An NHL Champion's Mission

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Daniel Carcillo, former NHL player and two-time Stanley Cup champion, about his remarkable journey from professional hockey to becoming a pioneer in psychedelic therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-289/?ref=278

Daniel shares his powerful story of using psilocybin to heal from multiple concussions and severe post-concussion syndrome, which led him to establish treatment centers helping others with similar conditions. He discusses the scientific basis for psilocybin's effectiveness in treating TBI, his current work running legal psilocybin retreats in Oregon, and his vision for expanding access to natural medicine healing modalities. The conversation explores the intersection of professional sports, brain health, and psychedelic medicine, while addressing the broader implications for healthcare and policy.

Daniel Carcillo is a former NHL player and two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks. Known as "Car Bomb" during his professional hockey career, he has transformed his experience with multiple concussions and traumatic brain injury into pioneering work in psychedelic medicine. After spending years seeking conventional treatment for post-concussion syndrome, he discovered the healing potential of psilocybin mushrooms. Since his recovery, Daniel has become a leading advocate for natural medicine approaches to brain injury and mental health. He founded treatment centers focused on psilocybin therapy and is currently operating legal retreats in Oregon, specifically designed to help others suffering from TBI and related conditions. His work combines scientific research with practical therapeutic applications, aiming to transform treatment options for those affected by brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.

Highlights:

Life as an NHL enforcer and winning Stanley Cups
Early hockey career and development of "Car Bomb" persona
Journey through addiction and discovering meditation
Multiple concussions and struggles with traditional treatment
First encounter with psilocybin research
Transformative healing experience with mushrooms
Establishing legal psilocybin retreats in Oregon
Protocol development and integration support
Future vision for psychedelic therapy

Episode Link:

Website

Episode Sponsor:

The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

Next Episode

David Jay Brown - The Telepathic Future: DMT, Dreams & Digital Consciousness

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes David Jay Brown, accomplished author and researcher in consciousness studies.

https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-290-david-jay-brown/?ref=278

David shares insights from his extensive work exploring the intersections of psychedelics, lucid dreaming, and technological evolution. From his early days writing for MAPS to his current work documenting DMT entities, David offers fascinating perspectives on how these altered states of consciousness might help humanity navigate the approaching technological singularity.

David Jay Brown is an accomplished author with expertise spanning psychedelics, consciousness studies, and futurism. He holds a master's degree in psychobiology from NYU and has written extensively about the intersection of psychedelics, consciousness, and technology. As the author of groundbreaking works including The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities and Psychedelics and the Coming Singularity, Brown brings decades of experience interviewing leading figures in psychedelic research and consciousness exploration. His work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired, and Discover, and he served as Senior Editor for MAPS Bulletin from 2007-2012.

Highlights:

Early work with MAPS and witnessing the psychedelic renaissance
The technological singularity and its relationship to psychedelics
Connections between psychedelic states and lucid dreaming
Practical techniques for inducing lucid dreams
The role of intention in both dreaming and psychedelic experiences
Indigenous perspectives on dreaming and plant medicine
DMT entities and alien contact experiences
The mystery of consciousness and interdimensional experience

Episode Links:

Episode Sponsor:

The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

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