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