Episode
Ep 41: Beyond the Barrel From the Beat to the Jungle: Healing Beyond the Badge
- Podcast
- Beyond The Barrel Podcast
- Published
- Dec 15, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 5663
- Processing state
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Summary
Mike’s story starts in North Bellmore, New York—an accountant chasing numbers until he realized his real calling was chasing justice. Trading spreadsheets for a badge, he joined the Atlanta Police Department in 1993, later serving nearly two decades with the Suffolk County Police Department. But after years in the trenches, Mike’s service came with unseen scars. Following his retirement, he faced anger, depression, and the heavy weight of PTSD. In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, Mike opens up about the dark side of life after the job—and the unexpected path that led him to healing through plant-based medicine, specifically Ayahuasca. What began as a desperate search for peace became a mission: helping other veterans and first responders reclaim their lives from trauma. This is a story about breaking stigma, finding purpose, and discovering that sometimes the road to redemption runs through the jungle. Follow Mike and his journey at @theresilientwarrior5778 (https://www.instagram.com/theresilientwarrior5778?igsh=Mmx4c2pmNDhmaGh3). Timestamps: 04:00 – Mental Health 07:45 – Hockey Roots 13:10 – Atlanta Chaos 21:55 – Olympic Policing 27:15 – NY Transition 34:40 – Anti-Crime 41:35 – Off-Duty Life 48:00 – Breaking Point 52:35 – PTSD Realization 55:30 – Healing Journey If you like what you hear, like, subscribe and follow the Beyond the Barrel podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_barrel_pod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices