Nick Spencer - How Jui-Jitsu Saved My Life and Plant Medicine Killed my Ego

Who Thought We'd Be Here?

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In Episode 064, we sit down with Nick Spencer, martial artist, business owner, and founder of Snake Hill Jiu-Jitsu, for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about healing, identity, and building something real. From military police service to managing PTSD, Nick shares how Jiu-Jitsu became not just a discipline, but a path to personal evolution.

We explore how plant medicine and psychedelics, like ayahuasca, reshaped his understanding of ego and trauma, and how community, communication, and showing up authentically have become the backbone of his business and relationships. This episode dives into the realities of co-owning a studio with his brother, confronting trauma from working in a morgue during the height of COVID, and finding strength through vulnerability.

Whether you're into martial arts, mental health, or just trying to live more intentionally, this episode will leave you reflecting on what it means to be truly yourself.

Check out Nick and Snake Hill Jiu-jitsu here -

https://snakehilljiujitsu.com/

https://www.instagram.com/snakehill_jiujitsu/

0:30 our guest this week, Nick Spencer, Martial Arts Instructor & Founder of Snake Hill Jiu-Jitsu

4:00 Building a safe community and culture within a Jiu-Jitsu Studio

8:30 finding your mental edge in a healthy physical outlet

12:00 Biggest lessons from teaching Jiu-Jitsu and owning your own business

18:00 Co-owning a studio and business with your older brother

20:00 Nick’s military police officer experience with PTSD and neck injuries

23:00 confronting trauma from the covid summer working for the morgue in NYC

27:00 plant medicine, ayahuasca and PTSD

32:00 the effects of powerful psychedelics on your ego

40:00 how friendships and we view our friends evolve over time

46:45 developing your own identity through yourself instead of perception

49:00 just be who you are and being yourself in your relationship via communication

54:00 books that have helped us on our journey

1:02:00 Nick’s favorite podcasts

1:06:00 the importance of community and family when building a business

1:11:00 finding religion and attending Catholic/Christian school

1:25:00 showing up authentically in your relationships and your business

1:30:00 Nick asks us what our next big move is

1:38:00 Nick’s council of decision makers

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