Advertise on podcast: Beyond The Barrel Podcast

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

On this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Mike Sandilla—Nashville-based alternative rock artist and U.S. Army Green Beret veteran whose music is rooted in truth, resilience, and the experiences that never fully leave you. Influenced by the raw emotion of ‘90s grunge and alternative rock, Mike writes songs for people who’ve lived through life’s hardest moments. His music explores identity, loss, purpose, and the invisible battles many continue to fight long after the mission ends. We talk about his journey from the Special Forces community to the stage, how military service shaped his songwriting, the healing power of music, and why authenticity resonates more than perfection. This isn’t just a conversation about music—it’s about life after service, finding purpose, and giving a voice to the experiences that so many carry but few know how to express. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with people who’ve lived it. Timestamps:  04:30 Troubled Youth 10:07 Military Loss 13:01 Combat Reality 17:24 Healing Journey 21:18 Green Beret 32:09 Career Sacrifice 35:56 Music Therapy 45:23 Music Industry 54:25 Life After Service 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 22 years with the Las Cruces Police Department, Adrian De La Garza has built a career defined by resilience, leadership, and service. Beginning his law enforcement journey in 2004, he currently serves as a Traffic Investigator, a role he has held since 2009, specializing in serious and fatal crash investigations. Beyond the badge, Adrian is an instructor in multiple disciplines, including motorcycle operations, driving, and physical training—helping shape and mentor the next generation of officers. But behind the titles and years of service is a moment that changed everything. On February 4, 2021, Adrian was shot in the line of duty—an experience that not only tested his training and survival, but reshaped his purpose beyond policing. In the aftermath, he founded the Southern New Mexico First Responders Assistance Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting first responders and their families during times of crisis, injury, and loss. What started from personal adversity has grown into a mission to give back to those who serve. This conversation goes beyond law enforcement tactics and career milestones. Adrian opens up about the realities of the job, the weight first responders carry, and how life-changing moments can redefine purpose. Timestamps:  04:03  Nonprofit Mission 13:52  Fatal Pursuit 18:22  Shot & Fighting 23:16  Facing Fear 34:29  Growing Up 36:06  Father's Sacrifice 47:36  Becoming Motors 52:05  Stem Cell Recovery 59:18  Family Impact 1:08:10  PTSD & Healing 1:20:45  Advice for Officers 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

Fan-favorite guest Anthony Shefferly is back on Beyond the Barrel for a conversation that every current and aspiring law enforcement officer needs to hear. In this episode, we dive into the disconnect between the recruiting videos many agencies produce and the realities of the profession. We discuss how unrealistic expectations can leave new officers mentally unprepared for the trauma, stress, and sacrifices that often accompany the badge—and how that gap can contribute to long-term mental health struggles, including PTSD. Anthony also shares his personal journey through law enforcement, SWAT, entrepreneurship, and significant health challenges that ultimately led him to create Heroic Industries, a platform dedicated to improving the health, performance, and longevity of first responders, military personnel, and tactical professionals. From the truth behind modern police recruiting to the importance of mental resilience, physical health, and developing sustainable habits for a long career, this conversation tackles some of the most important topics facing first responders today. We also discuss natural approaches to wellness, overcoming adversity, and why preparing officers for the realities of the profession is just as important as preparing them tactically. From small-college football to SWAT operations, business ownership, and personal transformation, Anthony’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t built during easy times—it’s forged through adversity. Whether you’re a police officer, first responder, military member, or someone striving to become healthier and more resilient, this episode delivers practical insights and an honest conversation about what it takes to thrive in demanding professions. Pour yourself a glass and join us as we go Beyond the Barrel with Anthony Shefferly Timestamps:  01:18 Recruiting Cops 07:39 Patrol Reality 11:49 Finding Purpose 17:14 Leadership Culture 20:16 Peptide Boom 28:23 Creatine Myths 31:36 Vaping Risks 38:03 Officer Survival 46:01 Trauma Reality 54:09 Boundaries & Control 01:08:05 Conference Announcement 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