MAX Afterburner

In this episode of MAX Afterburner, Whiz sits down with Neil Markey, co-founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats. Neil shares his journey from serving as a Captain in the US Army Special Operations 2nd Ranger Battalion, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, to overcoming depression and PTSD during his time as a Columbia University graduate student. This struggle sparked a profound healing journey through mindfulness and psychedelics, which Neil now champions as tools for holistic well-being. Neil talks about finding a meditation practice which led to psychedelic assisted therapy. As a passionate advocate for plant-based therapies, Neil discusses the mission of Beckley Retreats to integrate science-backed psychedelic practices with contemplative traditions. His unique path also includes roles at McKinsey & Co, where he co-led a mindfulness program, and as Chief Growth Officer of a $450M private equity portfolio company. In this insightful conversation with Whiz, he explores the intersection of science, spirituality, and the transformative potential of psychedelics, inspiring listeners to embrace the miraculous in life.

In this episode, Whiz sits down with Chad McLean, an Army veteran who transformed his life after overcoming childhood and military trauma. Chad, driven to the brink by depression and anxiety, turned to Ketamine and plant medicine treatments following a life-altering suicide attempt in 2020. Through a powerful vision during his healing journey, he founded Mental Joe — an apparel company dedicated to raising mental health awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding alternative treatments.

Mental Joe’s mission is bold and clear: to spark essential conversations about mental health, provide resources to veterans and others in need, and help fund alternative healing options that transform lives. Recently, Chad’s gear, created for the No Fallen Heroes Foundation, made its debut at the Stanley Cup finals, symbolizing the power of support, healing, and resilience.

Tune in to hear Chad’s inspiring story, learn about the impact of Mental Joe, and discover how veterans and mental health advocates are pioneering a new path to healing. Check out https://mentaljoe.com/

Jerod Napier is a retired United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer who served honorably as a corpsman on 4 combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, including 50 days in Fallujah as the ‘Doc’ to a Marine unit. Suffering from combat wounds – seen and unseen – he sought to numb his pain with alcohol, drugs, and women. He experienced a dark night of the soul where he sat in his truck with his Sig 229 on his lap with tears streaming onto it. A call from a brother pulled him back from the edge. He began his healing journey by exploring psychedelics intentionally with Plant Medicine and found a path to health and healing. On the medicine he was able to find healing with those he killed. He owns and operates Rising Ridge, a 508 c1a Faith Based Organization focused on healing the collective through value driven behavior and the intentional use of plant medicine. Located in Tulsa Oklahoma, Rising Ridge focuses on raising the Vibration of the collective, as well as providing a safe and sacred space for Veterans to explore alternative modalities to find their health and happiness.