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 

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Silence protects the wrong people. I chose a different path. Beyond the Barrel is where we pour truths—straight, no chaser.

Officer Melissa Trump “Silence protects the wrong people. I chose a different path.” When her department tried to terminate her, Melissa refused to be silenced. With integrity, strength, and resilience, she defended her name, kept her badge, and proved that courage isn’t just worn on a uniform—it’s carried in the heart.

A K-9 handler and fierce advocate for justice, Melissa and her Belgian Malinois, Tiko, were reunited and Melissa continues to serve their community with professionalism and purpose. Today, Melissa uses her voice—and her experience—to stand up for others who have been wronged. She believes in speaking the truth, challenging injustice, and doing what’s right, even when it isn’t easy. This episode goes beyond the badge and into the battle—where integrity was tested, courage took the lead, and justice had a name: Melissa Trump.

01:20 – Police Culture

03:15 – Early Life

04:20 – WNBA Dreams

05:52 – Choosing Policing

08:26 – Hiring Process

22:20 – K-9 Journey

32:03 – Targeting Begins

41:37 – Son’s Arrest

55:14 – Merit Hearing

59:49 – K-9 Returned

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In this powerful episode, Shelley shares the emotional story behind Project Never Broken, the nonprofit she created to honor her brother Greg — a dedicated law enforcement officer tragically killed in the line of duty. From Greg’s early career in undercover work to the deep impact of his loss, Shelley opens up about family, service, trauma, healing, and the mission to support first responders struggling with the unseen weight of the job.

She also reveals the inspiration behind her upcoming Cruise With a Purpose, a first-of-its-kind retreat designed to help first responders and their spouses find connection, therapy, and hope. This conversation is raw, heartfelt, and filled with purpose — a reminder of the resilience that emerges after unimaginable loss.

Timestamps: 

04:00 Family Service

05:15 Shelley’s Career

07:05 Entrepreneur Drive

09:10 Learning & Growth

10:25 Greg’s Personality

13:45 Undercover Work

18:30 Sibling Bond

27:55 The Call

32:50 Trauma Impact

55:40 Cruise Mission

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Five years on the streets of Colorado taught Jordan how to handle chaos—until one call changed everything. A highly publicized critical incident ripped through her life, leaving her battling severe PTSD and a storm she couldn’t outrun. She left the badge behind, moving to Florida to rebuild what was left of herself.

Now, years later, Jordan’s story takes an unexpected turn. Working with dogs that help others heal, she’s found pieces of her own peace—and maybe, her way back to the profession that broke and built her all at once.

On this episode of Beyond The Barrel, we dive into the silence after the gunfire, the fight for recovery, and the burning question every broken warrior faces: Can you ever truly come back?

Timestamps: 

01:26  Why Policing

07:40  Family Trauma

15:30  Career Start

23:00  Young Motherhood

33:56  Emotional Spiral

41:32  Rural Policing

50:29  Incident Begins

55:49  Train Impact

1:34:16  Aftermath & Recovery

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Born into a legacy of law enforcement, Mike Maher carries the torch as a Lieutenant with the Daytona Beach Police Department — following in the footsteps of his father, a retired NYPD Detective Sergeant, and his grandfather, a retired NYPD Deputy Inspector.

Hired at just 19 years old in 2008, Maher has spent his career serving on the front lines and behind the scenes. He currently commands the midnight shift in District-1, leading the west side of Daytona Beach and supervising the department’s K-9 Unit. His résumé reads like a masterclass in versatility — hostage negotiator, team leader, and commander, former FTO, property crimes detective, ICAC investigator, dignitary protection officer, CST member, and detective sergeant.

National audiences know him from the hit TV series “On Patrol: Live,” where he’s been featured for three years alongside his brothers, Sergeant James Maher and Sergeant Chris Maher — a rare trio of siblings serving the same mission on camera and in real life. Off duty, Maher is a devoted husband and father of two, driven by faith, family, and service. A proud, unapologetic Catholic, he’s passionate about mentoring and training the next generation of officers — building not just better cops, but better men and women of integrity.

Timestamps:

01:45 - Early Life & 9/11 Legacy  

07:30 - National Unity After 9/11  

11:00 - Why Law Enforcement  

16:00 - Career Start & Daytona PD  

19:45 - Evolution & Leadership  

23:00 - Difficult Units & Mental Health  

28:00 - Family & Balance  

37:00 - Officer-Involved Shootings  

54:00 - Advice & On Patrol Live

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In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Pittsburgh SWAT officer Tim Matson, who shares his powerful journey from a tough upbringing to surviving the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting. Tim opens up about resilience, loss, and mental health in law enforcement, breaking the stigma around vulnerability. He discusses growing up in McKees Rocks, finding discipline through football, joining SWAT, and the realities of modern policing. This raw, inspiring conversation highlights strength, brotherhood, and recovery after trauma. A must-listen for anyone interested in courage, service, and what it truly means to overcome adversity.

0:58 Tree of Life background  

2:32 Growing up 

6:20 Football and discipline  

8:21 Early jobs before policing  

19:12 Joining the SWAT team  

30:03 Policing challenges in Pittsburgh  

32:21 First officer-involved shooting  

44:18 Tree of Life incident  

1:02:00 Recovery and PTSD reflections

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From leading Infantry squads in Iraq and Syria to running HIMARS missions, contracting in Afghanistan, and working DEA intel on the southern border—our guest has lived the sharp edge of modern warfare. But on Beyond the Barrel, his mission looks different: breaking down the walls inside the veteran community. As the founder of Bunker Bros, he’s pushing for a space where veterans—no matter the era or operation—connect without division. From imagining emo nights at the VFW to building a brotherhood for the next generation, this episode pours truth straight, no chaser—diving into service, identity, and what it takes to reinvent the veteran experience.

Timestamps:

2:05 Bunker Bros & app

3:55 Bachelor party story

9:10 Sports cards & family

17:05 9/11 & enlistment

19:30 Iraq & ISIS fights

23:20 Afghanistan & withdrawal

44:00 Analyst vs. military life

45:20 Syria & alliances

1:15:00 Closing reflections

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In this episode of Beyond the Barrel we sit down with Peter J. Forcelli the author of “The Deadly Path: How Operation Fast and Furious and Bad Lawyers Armed Mexican Cartels.” A retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director and former NYPD homicide detective, he spent 35 years in law enforcement, rising from beat cop to federal agent.

Forcelli specialized in complex gang and firearms investigations, making over 1,000 arrests and serving more than 300 search warrants. He’s been recognized as an expert witness in both federal and state courts and became a whistleblower during the “Operation Fast & Furious” congressional inquiry.

Throughout his ATF career, he held leadership roles in Phoenix, Miami, Eastern Canada, and Headquarters—overseeing major cases including the Pulse Nightclub and Parkland shootings. A 9/11 survivor and lung cancer fighter, he now speaks regularly at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. This episode is one of the most raw and honest conversations we’ve had — packed with stories, lessons, and history.

11:00 – Growing Up in the Bronx

22:00 – Life in the Homicide Unit

33:00 – From NYPD to ATF

44:00 – The Culture of ATF

55:00 – Robbery Crews & Major Cases

1:06:00 – 9/11: The Moment It Happened

1:17:00 – Running from the Tower Collapse

1:28:00 – Reflections & Lessons Learned

1:39:00 – Final Thoughts: The Cost of the Job

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Jay Dobyns spent more than two decades living in the shadows as one of America’s most daring undercover federal agents. Over the course of 500+ missions, he infiltrated the world’s most violent criminal networks—gun runners, narcotics traffickers, murder-for-hire operations, and the infamous Hells Angels motorcycle gang. His work blurred the line between good and evil, pushing the limits of identity, loyalty, and survival.

Once described by a criminal defense attorney as “a government-trained predator sent on seek-and-destroy missions in search of drugs, guns, and violence,” Jay’s story isn’t just about undercover operations—it’s about the psychological toll of living a double life and the price of justice.

In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we go deep into the darkness of deception, courage, and the cost of doing whatever it takes to protect a nation that often never knows your name.

Timestamps: 

2:10 — Childhood in Indiana

5:18 — Sports & family life

8:22 — College football & Miami Vice

13:14 — NFL Combine reality

22:17 — Joining ATF

27:19 — Cop mindset & violence

46:27 — Waco & Columbine impact

58:26 — Undercover life & brotherhood

1:04:14 — Hells Angels case

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In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Jerald M. Wurms, a man whose career defies expectations. Before leading SWAT operations, supervising airport security, and coordinating riot control units, Wurms was producing anti-drug PSAs with Nancy Reagan and managing Hollywood sets with stars like Dolph Lundgren. His journey from red carpets to narcotics investigations shows how leadership, adaptability, and service can take many forms. We dive into his experiences investigating drug trafficking, managing high-pressure police operations, and producing groundbreaking media projects like American Vice. Through every chapter, Wurms demonstrates how skills learned in law enforcement translate far beyond the badge. Whether he was tracking suspects with a K-9 unit, handling civil unrest, or creating content with Rodney Dangerfield, his story proves that one career can shape countless lives. This episode is a rare look at a path that blends public service and production.

Timestamps:

1:12 – Early career in film5:48 – Anti-drug campaigns9:30 – Shift to law enforcement14:20 – First police experiences20:45 – SWAT leadership27:05 – Riot control work33:10 – Balancing career and life39:42 – Producing American Vice46:30 – Lessons and advice

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