”Belts, Bali, & Business: Nico Verresen’s Path from Champion to Coach”

A serious eye injury brought Nico Verresen's fighting career to an end. The years that followed asked a different question of him: where do you put that drive when you can no longer compete?

Nico joins Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco to discuss his life across Muay Thai, psychology, and coaching. He talks about leaving the ring, running a gym, traveling, and finding a new direction through helping other people.

Gary brings his experience producing The Ultimate Fighter into a conversation about the demands placed on fighters and the identity that grows around competition. Nico reflects on psychological safety, his experiences in Bali, and how his approach to personal and professional growth developed along the way.

What We Explore

• A career-ending eye injury and life after fighting
• The relationship between athletic identity and personal worth
• Moving from competition toward psychology and coaching
• Travel, cultural experiences, and changing perspective
• Psychological safety and the work of supporting others
• Finding direction after an unexpected ending

About Nico Verresen

Nico Verresen is a former Muay Thai champion, psychologist, and coach. His experience spans professional fighting, running a gym, and supporting people through personal and professional change.

The Tragedy Academy

Candid conversations exploring the human experience through tragedy and triumph.

Hosted by Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco.

Be cool. Keep learning. 🌳

The Tragedy Academy is a show created to bridge societal divides in a judgment-free zone using candor and humor. 

Be cool. Keep Learning.