In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ speaks with Bruce Eckfeldt—a seasoned entrepreneur, systems thinker, certified exit planning advisor, former CEO of an Inc. 500 tech firm, and host of the Psychedelics Invest podcast.

  • 00:00 – 01:00: Introduction of guest Bruce Eckfeldt, highlighting his background as an architect, tech founder, exit planning advisor, and host of Psychedelics Invest.

  • 01:01 – 04:04: Bruce shares his personal journey from architecture to interactive tech, selling his company in 2013, recovering from a broken back using cannabis, and transitioning into the cannabis and psychedelic podcast space.

  • 04:05 – 05:15: Sam and Bruce discuss using podcasting as an effective tool for learning and connecting with people.

  • 05:16 – 09:30: Bruce details his first personal psychedelic experience—a weekend retreat involving psilocybin and San Pedro in the California Redwoods—and the deep sense of internal trust and connectedness it provided.

  • 09:31 – 14:00: A discussion on executive and founder burnout, where Bruce redefines burnout not as overexertion, but as an integrity issue stemming from putting energy into work that lacks alignment with personal values.

  • 14:01 – 18:30: Sam and Bruce discuss founder dynamics, the natural life cycle of business stages, energy allocation, and the typical 5- to 7-year life shift cycle.

  • 18:31 – 21:00: Addressing the rumor/fear in Silicon Valley of founders drinking Ayahuasca and quitting their companies or drastically altering their lives.

  • 21:01 – 24:00: Bruce explains his intensive retreat format for executive teams, using natural settings, discomfort, and strategic reflection to drive organizational change.

  • 24:01 – 28:50: Exploring the potential of combining plant medicine with business retreats to treat burnout, alongside the importance of doing internal work before making radical external life changes.

  • 28:51 – 32:25: Unpacking why entrepreneurs build businesses—balancing purpose versus proving oneself—and using the analogy of picking a mountain to climb.

  • 32:26 – 34:25: Why successful people struggle to enjoy their achievements, shifting the focus from fleeting happiness to deep engagement and purpose.

  • 34:26 – 39:30: Bruce introduces his book, Springboard, which guides founders on post-exit planning, scaling, and reverse-engineering their business exit strategies.

  • 39:31 – 44:50: Examining “conscious capitalism” and the intersection/tension between business investors, clinical researchers, and traditional ceremonial plant medicine practices.

  • 44:51 – 49:25: How leaders should integrate psychedelic insights without impulsively disrupting their organizations or teams.

  • 49:26 – 52:25: Recurring visual realms, geometry, and neural patterns experienced during psychedelic journeys.

  • 52:26 – 53:25: Closing remarks and where to find Bruce Eckfeldt’s work (on his LinkedIn, and his book Springboard).