{"podcast":{"title":"Beyond The Barrel Podcast","slug":"beyond-the-barrel-podcast-7007491","podcast_index_feed_id":7007491,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/CCI5687461101","website_url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyond-the-barrel-podcast","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/66b336a6-c6d8-11ef-b28f-8bdf65cccb48/image/3f749a6cad22e37308e7a2544566a627.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Beyond The Barrel Podcast","episode_count":77,"summary":"Welcome to Beyond the Barrel, where every episode takes you deeper into the lives of those who serve on the frontlines. Hosted by two dynamic leaders— Kenny, a nationally recognized K9 interdiction officer, and Attorney Mike, a U.S. Army veteran and seasoned Patrol Supervisor—this podcast is where stories of bravery, sacrifice, and humanity unfold. Go Beyond the Barrel with us to uncover the stories that truly define our Nation's finest. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast, or any organizations, agencies, or entities affiliated with the host.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-16T00:19:06.005661+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-barrel-podcast-7007491"},"episode":{"title":"Ep 41:  Beyond the Barrel From the Beat to the Jungle: Healing Beyond the Badge","slug":"ep-41-beyond-the-barrel-from-the-beat-to-the-jungle-healing-beyond-the-badge","published_at":"2025-12-15T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-barrel-podcast-7007491/ep-41-beyond-the-barrel-from-the-beat-to-the-jungle-healing-beyond-the-badge","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-barrel-podcast-7007491","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CCI8563861895.mp3?updated=1765755563","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CCI8563861895.mp3?updated=1765755563","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","meta_description":"Mike’s story starts in North Bellmore, New York—an accountant chasing numbers until he realized his real calling was chasing justice. Trading spreadsheets…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":5663,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/beyond-the-barrel-podcast-7007491/episodes/ep-41-beyond-the-barrel-from-the-beat-to-the-jungle-healing-beyond-the-badge/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-barrel-podcast-7007491/ep-41-beyond-the-barrel-from-the-beat-to-the-jungle-healing-beyond-the-badge.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}