In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin interviews Myles Katz, founder and executive director of Confluence Retreats.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-246-myles-katz/

They delve into the closure of Synthesis, a psilocybin retreat center in Amsterdam co-founded by Myles. From investment decisions to the pandemic’s impact, they discuss the challenges faced and lessons learned. Myles shares his vision for conscious capitalism, introducing Confluence Retreats, a nonprofit psychedelic retreat in Oregon.

This conversation sheds light on the evolution of psychedelic businesses amidst external forces like financial markets and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Myles's professional journey has spanned three continents. During this time, he has launched and led five VC/Impact-funded startups dedicated to technological innovation, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. Specializing in early-stage business strategy, Myles has successfully raised nearly $20 million USD for cutting-edge business models.

As a co-founder and the Director of Business Development at The Synthesis Institute, Myles spearheaded the development of one of the world's initial legal psychedelic service models. This groundbreaking initiative supported over 1,000 individuals in their mental health journeys until its closure in 2023. His contributions in Oregon have also included significant roles in the state’s landmark psilocybin legalization efforts, serving with the Oregon Psilocybin Training Alliance (OPTA) and on various Rule Advisory Committees for the Oregon Health Authority.

Currently, Myles is leading the development of Confluence Retreats, a project under the Hi-U Foundation. This initiative seeks to integrate nature-based, multi-day psilocybin retreat experiences into Oregon’s innovative legal framework, collaborating with indigenous communities to restore ancient healing practices to the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Omnia Group Ashland, one of Oregon's premier licensed psilocybin service centers. Furthermore, Myles is a licensed psilocybin facilitator in Oregon, bringing his extensive expertise to ensure safe and transformative experiences for participants.

Highlights:

• The closure of Synthesis: an overview
• Synthesis’ growth period and pivoting during COVID
• Transition to a stewardship model
• Challenges with the company’s training and retreat programs
• The impacts of financial markets
• Introduction to Confluence Retreats

Links:

• Confluence Retreats Website - Full Program Details & More
• Confluence Retreats & Third Wave - Ambassador Program
• Confluence Retreats on Facebook

Episode Sponsor:

• KA! Empathogenics Kanna Supplements.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes Chip Conley, founder of the Modern Elder Academy, to discuss reframing aging and building regenerative communities.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-245-chip-conley/?ref=250

Chip delves into the importance of aging with gratitude in this conversation and shares his journey of creating a midlife wisdom school. Chip also highlights the value of intergenerational collaboration and its impact during his time at Airbnb. He explores how indigenous wisdom influences the academy's approach and discusses how psychedelics can aid in navigating midlife transitions. Finally, Chip shares his vision for regenerative communities, and shares lessons on the ego and the soul that he gleaned from building a boutique hotel chain.

Chip Conley:

Chip Conley is on a midlife mission. After disrupting the hospitality industry twice, first as the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the second-largest operator of boutique hotels in the U.S., and then as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, leading a worldwide revolution in travel, Conley co-founded MEA (Modern Elder Academy) in January 2018 in Baja California, Mexico. Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a ‘modern elder’ at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary transformation from fast-growing start-up to the world’s most valuable hospitality brand, MEA is the world's first ‘midlife wisdom school’ and has a campus opening on a 2,600-acre regenerative horse ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico in April 2024. Dedicated to reframing the concept of aging, MEA supports students to navigate midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. A New York Times bestselling author, Conley's seventh book "Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age" is about rebranding midlife to help people understand the upside of this often-misunderstood life stage, and gave a 2023 TED talk on the "midlife chrysalis."

Highlights:

• The Origin story of the Modern Elder Academy
• Chip’s role at Airbnb and the value of intergenerational collaboration
• The Modern Elder Academy: Reframing Aging, Navigating Transitions, Cultivating Purpose, and Owning
• Wisdom
• How indigenous wisdom informs MEA’s approach
• Generativity & the importance of age diversity
• From 'can-do-it' hero to 'conduit' coach
• Burning Man, regeneration, and how psychedelics can help with midlif
• Building regenerative communities
• Lessons from building a boutique hotel chain

Episode Sponsors:

• New Brew’s non-alcoholic kratom and kava seltzers. Use code THIRDWAVE25 for 25% off.
• Soltara Healing Center: Use code TW200 to receive $200 off your next retreat.
• Neurohacker Collective: Use code THIRDWAVE for an additional 15% off Qualia Mind.
• The Coaching Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin is joined by Alexander Beiner for a deep dive into nuanced engagement in the culture wars.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-244-alexander-beiner/

Paul and Alexander examine the importance of sense-making and the role of psychedelics in navigating complex environments. Alexander draws from his interviews with thought leaders like John Vervaeke, Ian McGilchrist, and Nora Bateson, shedding light on the Four E's of cognitive science. He explores how psychedelics can enhance discernment and adaptability in the face of a rapidly changing world. Alexander also shares his experiences with extended state DMT and its impact on his understanding of reality.

This conversation delves deeply into the realms of consciousness and reality, offering visionary insights into how psychedelic perspectives can inform and address the intricate challenges facing the world.

Alexander Beiner is an author and journalist. He's the author of 'The Bigger Picture: How psychedelics can help us make sense of the world' and an Executive Director of Breaking Convention, Europe's longest-running conference on psychedelic science and culture.

Highlights:

The story of Rebel Wisdom and unpacking culture wars

John Vervaeke and Iain McGilchrist

Adding ‘emotion’ and ‘exaptation’ to 4E Cognition

DMT entities and the overview effect

Examining the different medicines can occasion unique mystical experiences

Idealism and panpsychism

The importance of cultivating relational ways of being

Envisioning new systems to facilitate responsible psychedelic use

Reestablishing a relationship with the land

Resources and conclusion

Episode Sponsors:

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Soltara Healing Center: Use code TW200 to receive $200 off your next retreat.

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