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Former Investigative Police Commander Roberto Ortiz spent his career going toward the danger others were trying to escape. From organized crime and homicide investigations to kidnappings, extortion, narcotics, intelligence operations, and high-risk arrests, Roberto served on the front lines of some of Mexico’s most dangerous law-enforcement operations. Then one operation changed everything…  After fellow officers were attacked and kidnapped, Roberto returned to duty alongside his team. During a subsequent operation, he was struck from behind by a vehicle while positioned along a highway. The injuries were catastrophic. Roberto lost both legs above the knee, suffered massive blood loss, spent approximately a week in a coma, and remained hospitalized for more than a month. He survived but survival was only the beginning. On this episode of Beyond The Barrel, Roberto shares the story behind the badge: his rise from the private sector to Investigative Police Commander, the realities of confronting organized crime in Mexico, the officers he lost along the way, the incident that nearly took his life, and the fight to rebuild himself afterward. We talk about learning to walk again on prosthetic legs, the impact on his wife and family, faith, identity, leadership, survivor’s guilt, gratitude, and what happens when the career that helped define you suddenly looks completely different. Most importantly, Roberto explains why he chose to return to public service. Today, he serves as an Intelligence Coordinator with the State Attorney General’s Office of Chihuahua, bringing his experience as both an investigator and operational commander into a new mission. This isn’t simply a story about losing both legs... It’s a story about what couldn’t be taken from him: Purpose. Faith. Family. Service. And the decision to keep moving forward. His body changed. His mission didn’t. From Commander to Warrior of Life, this is Roberto Ortiz’s story. Timestamps:  02:20 – Becoming a Cop  11:21 – Elite Police Unit  15:09 – Police Corruption  23:04 – Cartel Operations  34:00 – Deadly Ambush  37:33 – Life-Changing Attack  41:39 – Losing Both Legs  55:52 – Road to Recovery  1:21:38 – Cartel Threats 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

This week on Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with veteran K-9 handler and trainer Justin Featherly. Justin has spent 17 years in law enforcement, beginning his career with the San Diego Police Department in 2009. In 2015, he earned a spot in the K-9 Unit, where he spent the next seven years as a handler and trainer. During his time with SDPD, Justin worked two patrol and article detection dogs while developing extensive experience in K-9 deployments, training, and real-world street work. In 2022, Justin and his wife of 21 years, Kayleigh, packed up their lives and moved to Idaho with their five children. Today, Justin continues to serve as a K-9 handler and trainer, working a dual-purpose patrol and narcotics detection dog. We dive into Justin’s journey from San Diego to Idaho, nearly two decades behind the badge, the realities of being a K-9 handler, training patrol dogs, and the lessons that can only come from years of working dogs on the street. This is more than K-9 work it’s the story behind the handler. If you’re a K-9 handler, aspiring handler, trainer, or simply want to understand what life behind the leash really looks like, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Watch the full episode, drop your biggest takeaway in the comments, and share it with someone in the K-9 community. And make sure you follow and subscribe to Beyond the Barrel because the stories behind the badge deserve to be heard. Timestamps:  02:07 – Meet Justin  03:26 – Leaving San Diego  12:29 – Becoming a K9 Handler  17:42 – School Shooting Experience 23:32 – Selecting Police Dogs  32:31 – First K9 Partner  37:10 – Working Multiple Dogs  48:30 – Dual Purpose K9s  57:23 – K9 Misconceptions 01:15:43 – Defining Justice 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

After more than 30 years in law enforcement, retired Captain Sonny F. Garcia knows that some of the toughest battles an officer faces never happen on the street. Sonny’s career spans state and federal service, with experience as a Deputy, State Trooper, SRT operator, bomb technician, federal criminal investigator, and federal polygraph examiner. He also holds a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. But this episode of Beyond the Barrel goes beyond the résumé. After witnessing firsthand the struggles law-enforcement officers and first responders often carry in silence, Sonny created A Warrior’s Tale, a resilience program built around confronting the battles that too often remain unseen. Sonny shares his journey through more than three decades behind the badge, the experiences that shaped his perspective on fear and courage, and why he believes no officer should have to fight their darkest battles alone. At the center of his mission is faith and a simple purpose: Using God’s grace to save one officer at a time. And a message every warrior needs to hear: “There is no courage without fear.” This is a conversation about the badge, the battles behind it, faith, resilience, and finding the courage to ask for help. Watch, listen, and share this episode with a first responder who needs to hear it. Timestamps:  05:36 – Childhood Trauma 11:29 – Meeting His Father 14:48 – Brother’s Suicide 24:22 – Warrior’s Tale 32:22 – Losing Duffy 38:04 – Saving an Officer 50:18 – Choosing Family 56:13 – Sonny’s Breaking Point 1:23:03 – Defining Justice 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

What happens when an active interdiction officer sits down with a former Arizona State Trooper and interdiction officer who left law enforcement and entered the cannabis world? AJ, host of the Blue to Green Podcast, joins me for a conversation that probably won’t make everyone in law enforcement comfortable. We come at recreational and medical marijuana from different perspectives—and we don’t shy away from the disagreement. We talk about the contradiction of a profession that has historically accepted alcohol while continuing to draw a hard line on cannabis. We discuss whether law enforcement officers should ever be permitted to use medical marijuana, what legalization means for policing, and how decades of marijuana enforcement have shaped how cops view cannabis. But this conversation goes much deeper than weed. We talk about poor leadership, stress, mental health, and the drinking culture that still exists throughout law enforcement. Too many great cops reach the end of their careers early because alcohol, stress, or poor decisions lead them into situations that violate policy or the law. Then AJ opens up about his own experience with PTSD and his journey into psychedelic-assisted treatment. This isn’t someone looking at the profession from the outside. AJ wore the badge, worked interdiction, enforced drug laws, and lived the stresses of the profession. Two men who spent years interdicting drugs. Two different perspectives on marijuana. And one question law enforcement eventually has to confront: If an officer can legally drink alcohol off duty, should that same officer be allowed to legally use marijuana—or explore psychedelic-assisted treatment for legitimate medical purposes? Timestamps:  03:14 - AJ’s Story 07:08 - Cannabis Discovery 15:45 - Cannabis Debate 30:18 - Cannabis Research 44:23 - Medicating vs. Impairment 55:12 - Career Fallout 59:17 - Rock Bottom 1:05:16 - Psilocybin Journey 1:44:15 - Letting Go 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

Keith Shibley spent more than two decades in law enforcement—working patrol, investigations, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and responding to major critical incidents, including the Washington Navy Yard shooting and the 2025 mid-air collision over the Potomac River. But this episode isn’t about what Keith accomplished on the job. It’s about what happened when the job followed him home—and how he fought his way back. After an injury, prescription medication became part of Keith’s life. What began as pain management eventually contributed to a battle with opiates and alcohol that changed his personality, damaged relationships, and deeply affected his family. Keith speaks openly about addiction, guilt, accountability, recovery, and the wife and family who refused to give up on him. This is ultimately a redemption story—about rebuilding trust, repairing relationships, and refusing to let your worst chapter define the rest of your life. We also confront a difficult question in law enforcement: What happens when an officer finally admits they need help? Asking for help shouldn’t erase decades of honorable service. Keith’s story shows why support, accountability, and second chances matter. This is a conversation about addiction, family, leadership, accountability, forgiveness—and ultimately, redemption. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with those who’ve lived it. This is Beyond The Barrel. Timestamps:  15:08 – Becoming a Cop  31:32 – Richmond Patrol  39:23 – Hidden Trauma  49:30 – Calls That Haunt  54:26 – Navy Yard Shooting  58:28 – Addiction Begins  1:06:19 – Family Intervention  1:17:48 – Helping Others  1:35:39 – Lessons Learned 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

What can someone’s body tell you before they ever say a word? On this episode of Beyond The Barrel, we sit down with Sean Grogan—a former Special Investigations Detective, narcotics investigator, K-9 handler, gang investigator, Marine Corps veteran, and nationally recognized expert in body language and behavioral analysis. Sean spent much of his career working narcotics for the Woodbridge, New Jersey Police Department, where he conducted countless interviews, worked confidential informants, executed search warrants, and seized narcotics and currency. He also worked alongside his narcotics detection K-9, Blade, assisting local, state, and federal agencies throughout Blade’s career. But this conversation goes far beyond police work. Sean became obsessed with understanding something most of us see every day but rarely recognize: what people communicate without saying a word. We talk about reading suspects during traffic stops and interviews, hidden facial expressions, nervous behavior, deception, aggression, and the subtle pre-attack indicators that may give an officer only seconds to recognize that something is about to go wrong. We also challenge some of the things cops have been taught for decades. Does looking away mean someone is lying? Does nervousness actually tell you anything? Can you reliably spot deception? What behaviors actually matter—and which ones are cops reading completely wrong? Sean takes us inside the science and real-world application of behavioral analysis and explains how years of narcotics investigations, K-9 work, interviews, and street encounters shaped the way he reads people today. We also get into his advanced training in Europe, his work with Joe Navarro’s Body Language Academy, his book Beware the Body, and why understanding human behavior can change the way you communicate, investigate—and potentially recognize danger before it happens. This isn’t just about catching lies. It’s about understanding people. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with those who’ve lived it. Timestamps: 01:39 – Micro Expressions 06:40 – Behavioral Training 15:00 – Law Enforcement 21:43 – Reading Behavior 28:21 – Human Behavior 32:55 – Pre-Attack Indicators 37:02 – Police K9s 38:54 – Losing His K9 47:13 – Books & Training 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

Nearly 23 years as a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent. Fifteen years in special operations. Four presidential administrations. Missions across the world where failure simply wasn’t an option. But what does that level of service actually cost the person behind the badge—and the people waiting for them at home? On this episode of Beyond The Barrel, we go far beyond executive protection, presidential details, and high-stakes operations. We have an incredibly candid conversation about the personal price of spending a career at the beck and call of the federal government, sometimes with little to no notice. We talk about the birthdays missed, plans canceled, relationships strained, and the countless times the mission came before your spouse, children, family, and friends. At the time, you tell yourself it’s part of the job. Years later, you may find yourself carrying the guilt of realizing just how often the people you loved took a back seat to the profession. And that struggle doesn’t necessarily end when the career does. We dive into how to recognize and cope with that guilt while you’re still serving, how to rebuild priorities and relationships after the job, and how to find an identity and purpose when the phone finally stops ringing. We also discuss leadership, resilience, ego, redemption, and the lessons behind Hallways and Stairwells—a book about confronting the human ego and finding a path toward resiliency, redemption, and personal freedom. This isn’t just a conversation about an extraordinary Secret Service career. It’s about what happens when serving everyone else means the people closest to you—and sometimes even yourself—come second. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with those who’ve lived it. This is Beyond The Barrel. Timestamps:  03:02 – September 11th  11:21 – Secret Service  20:22 – Agent Training  25:35 – Career Sacrifices  35:44 – Family & Guilt  41:31 – Leadership Philosophy  51:15 – Counter Assault Team  01:06:59 – Writing the Book  01:11:36 – Presidential Threats Links to John’s Socials Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-constantine-754b65380?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/john.constantineonezero?utm_source=qr 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

Retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant Jenn Benjamins joins Beyond the Barrel to share the incredible experiences that shaped her 22-year law enforcement career. From working undercover against organized crime, narcotics, human trafficking, and vice, to leading specialized investigative units and supporting officers through peer support, Jenn has seen nearly every side of policing. Now the founder of Covert Blue LLC, Jenn trains law enforcement professionals across the country on undercover operations, leadership, investigations, and officer wellness. In this episode, we dive into the realities of undercover work, the challenges of leadership, the importance of taking care of officers, and the lessons she’s learned both on and off the job. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with those who’ve lived it. Timestamps:  06:19 - Becoming a Cop  15:19 - Vice Begins  19:13 - First Undercover  35:51 - Undercover Mindset  44:21 - Darkest Case  57:08 - Deep Undercover  1:09:24 - Why She Retired  1:19:03 - The Mental Toll  1:26:30 - Undercover Advice 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

The Badge Doesn’t Make You Bulletproof In this episode of Beyond The Barrel, we sit down with Robyn a Maine police officer, K9 handler, single mom, and someone who refuses to stop growing when life gets difficult. Robyn has served in law enforcement since 2011, following a path shaped by a family rooted in police and military service, along with her own experience in firefighting and EMS. Today, one of the most rewarding parts of her career is working alongside her K9 partner, Jax, a Belgian Malinois, and constantly pushing herself to become a better handler. But this conversation goes far beyond the badge. Robyn opens up about navigating major life changes, becoming a single mom, rebuilding her life, and finding strength through fitness, personal development, and purpose. We talk K9s, motherhood, resilience, getting outside your comfort zone, and what it really looks like to keep moving forward when life doesn’t go according to plan. No scripts. No agendas. Just an authentic conversation about service, struggle, growth, and becoming the best version of yourself. Timestamps:  3:08 — K9 Memorial 7:13 — K9 Journey 12:27 — Robyn’s Story 21:47 — Police Career 29:44 — Fitness & Sobriety 39:09 — Handler Selection 49:02 — Choosing Jax 1:01:12 — Female Handler 1:07:23 — Police Dog Foundation 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

Scott Howell, host of the Iron Sights Podcast and CEO of Red Dot Fitness, joins Beyond the Barrel for a conversation that goes far beyond the gym. With more than 25 years in the health and fitness industry, Scott has built a platform centered on preparedness, discipline, self-reliance, and what it takes to WIN in fitness, business, and life. We get into his recent travels throughout Asia and what he noticed about their food, fitness, and gym culture compared to America. From there, the conversation turns to some much bigger and more controversial topics: immigration and its impact on our communities, the lasting effects of the COVID era, and what Scott experienced trying to keep his gym and business alive during one of the most disruptive periods in recent history. Fitness. Culture. Immigration. COVID. Business. Preparedness. No scripts. No agendas. Just an honest conversation that isn’t afraid to go there. Go Beyond the Barrel.  Timestamps:  0:00 - Introduction 1:35 - Korea & Japan 5:52 - Asian Gym Culture 15:30 - Cultural Differences 38:34 - Fitness Entrepreneur  43:52 - COVID Shutdowns 54:29 - Community & Survival 1:06:01 - Starting Iron Sights 1:18:50 - Healthcare & TRT 1:32:11 - Peptides 1:52:58 - Defining Justice 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

Not every wound is visible. This episode of Beyond the Barrel features retired police sergeant and former U.S. Air Force Captain Michael Sugrue, whose career placed him on the front lines of law enforcement, military service, narcotics investigations, and critical incidents. After years of cumulative trauma led to a medical retirement, Michael transformed his experience into a mission to help others survive what many suffer in silence. We discuss the reality of post-traumatic stress injury, the stigma surrounding mental health, organizational trauma, suicide prevention, resilience, and what it truly means to heal after a career spent protecting others. Michael also shares lessons from his bestselling book Relentless Courage, his work with Save A Warrior and the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat, and why changing the culture around first responders and veterans is more important than ever. No scripts. No agendas. Just an honest conversation about the weight of service, the road to recovery, and finding purpose beyond the uniform. Timestamps:  4:17 Mental Health Stigma  9:14 Becoming a Cop  12:35 Undercover Narcotics  15:04 Task Force Scandal  21:42 Fatal Shooting  24:21 Life Unravels  34:12 PTSD Aftermath  41:10 Agency Betrayal  48:01 Recovery & Healing 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

What does it take to build one of the best K-9 teams in law enforcement? In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Steven Antommarchi—veteran police K-9 handler, instructor, and founder of Next Level K9—for an unforgettable conversation about the realities of working dogs in some of the most demanding situations imaginable. Steven shares how witnessing search-and-rescue dogs at Ground Zero after 9/11 inspired his career, what it was like deploying a bomb detection dog during the Dallas ambush, and the lessons he learned responding to some of the most traumatic events a law enforcement officer can face. Along the way, we explore the mental health challenges that come with the profession, the science behind modern detection dogs, and why trust, communication, and preparation matter far more than simply running training drills. From building a K-9 unit from the ground up to training handlers across the country and around the world, Steven offers an honest look at what separates average teams from exceptional ones. Whether you're in law enforcement, the military, a first responder, a working dog handler, or simply fascinated by elite performance under pressure, this conversation is packed with insight, experience, and lessons that extend far beyond the leash. If you enjoy authentic conversations about leadership, resilience, and the people behind the badge, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode of Beyond the Barrel. Timestamps:  00:58 Meet Steve  11:40 9/11 Purpose  16:45 Dallas Ambush  32:10 Mental Health  41:00 Building K-9  51:35 Hemp Research  1:04:58 Future K-9  1:16:43 Handler Match  1:27:49 Training Legacy  1:33:50 Defining Justice 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

What happens when the toughest battle isn’t on the street but inside your own mind? In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with retired Sgt. John Kelly, national keynote speaker, law enforcement life coach, and author of Surviving Self-Inflicted Wounds. After surviving decades in law enforcement, John reveals how addiction, alcoholism, infidelity, post-traumatic stress injury, and suicidal thoughts nearly ended his life—long after the dangers of the job should have. With remarkable honesty, John shares the lessons that transformed his life and the mission behind his “Sometimes Heroes Need Help” program. We dive into leadership, relationships, organizational culture, financial wellness, physical and mental health, and why true strength starts with personal accountability. This isn’t a conversation about being a perfect cop or leader. It’s about becoming a better human being, asking for help when you need it, and giving others permission to do the same. No scripts. No agendas. Just an honest conversation about failure, forgiveness, resilience, and the courage to keep getting up when life knocks you down. Timestamps:  01:31 About John Kelly 11:01 Work Ethic 14:56 Boston Roots 27:44 Career Beginnings 41:24 K-9 & SWAT 49:04 Warrior Mindset 55:20 Personal Failures 1:09:20 Self Leadership 1:33:43 Policing Today 1:45:35 Future Policing 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

Some careers aren’t transformed by changing what you do they’re transformed by changing where you do it. This episode follows a narcotics K-9 handler whose career began at just 21 years old, working from detention deputy to patrol and eventually into interdiction and drug enforcement. She shares what it’s like to dedicate your career to stopping narcotics trafficking, protecting communities, and working alongside a K-9 every day. But this conversation goes beyond police work. We dive into what happens when you’re overlooked, held back, and made to feel like you don’t belong and how one decision to leave an agency changed everything. Today, he’s thriving under leadership that believes in investing in its people, proving that the right environment can unlock your full potential. No scripts. No agendas. Just an honest conversation about resilience, leadership, purpose, and why sometimes the biggest career risk becomes the greatest blessing. Timestamps:  1:01 Early Life 5:26 Police Calling 8:14 TSA Years 10:31 K9 Journey 17:14 Department Politics 34:02 Internal Affairs 45:15 Fired & Betrayed 50:41 New Beginning 54:10 Legal Battle 1:00:18 Finding Justice 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

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in the world—and it’s happening far closer to home than most people realize. In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Trent the man behind Anti-Predator Project, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works on the front lines of combating human trafficking, locating missing and abducted children, protecting victims and witnesses, and supporting criminal investigations targeting those who prey on the vulnerable. We discuss the realities of trafficking in America, how predators operate, the investigative techniques used to identify and locate offenders, common misconceptions, and the emotional toll of pursuing justice in some of the darkest cases imaginable. Whether you’re in law enforcement, a parent, or simply someone who wants to better understand this growing threat, this conversation offers an inside look at the people dedicated to protecting those who cannot protect themselves. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with those who’ve lived it. Timestamps:  01:12 – Anti-Predator Project 10:17 – Protecting Children 20:40 – Real Investigations 23:30 – World Cup Risks 31:59 – Labor Trafficking 38:53 – Victim Grooming 47:27 – Online Safety 58:16 – Social Media Risks 01:11:05 – Public Awareness 01:22:04 – Justice Defined 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