MAX Afterburner

Matthew 'Whiz" Buckley

The MAX Afterburner Podcast with Whiz is a long-form conversation hosted by Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, featuring candid discussions with family, friends, leaders, and truth-tellers across veterans’ issues, markets, culture, and politics - always grounded in care for mind, body, and soul.The podcast also serves as a platform for the missions of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation and Sacred Warrior Fellowship, amplifying conversations around healing, purpose, faith, and helping men and women who have served return home to themselves and to God. 

  1. May 27

    Ep. 156 - Five Years Reborn: Whiz Debriefs the Mission, the Cost, and What Comes Next

    Five years ago to the day, Matthew "Whiz" Buckley woke up on a mattress on the floor of a home in Mexico overlooking the Pacific — and met the man he had always been. Decades of abuse, shame, trauma, addiction, sadness, and depression were gone. In their place: the most profound spiritual experience of his life. A reconnection with God. With his sister. With his father. A clarity of purpose that would launch a five-year mission no one could have scripted. In this deeply personal anniversary episode, Whiz debriefs all of it — the highs, the lows, the people and organizations who came and went, the situations that broke him open and built him back up. He reflects on what that single weekend set in motion: hundreds of veterans, first responders, and their families healed. The founding of Sacred Warrior Fellowship. Standing in the White House for the President's executive order signing. Conversations at Harvard Law and Harvard Divinity School. A meeting with the Secretary of the VA. National news appearances. And underneath all of it — a man reconnected to purpose, family, and faith. Whiz doesn't shy away from the cost. He talks honestly about the losses, the betrayals, the seasons of doubt, and the gratitude he now holds for every ounce of suffering that brought him here. He looks ahead to the next five years, but refuses to grip the future too tightly. Everything that is supposed to happen will happen when it is supposed to. He trusts God's plan.This one is for anyone carrying a burden they think they have to carry alone. For the warrior wondering if healing is even possible. For the family member who has been watching someone they love disappear. Share it with someone who needs to hear it. Fight's On!

    1h 14m
  2. May 14

    Ep. 154 - Combat Veteran Wives: Healing Through the Unknown

    Join us in this illuminating episode of the Max Afterburner Podcast episode 141 as host Theresa Noach interviews Tommi Kirkpatrick, a combat veteran's wife and homeschooling mother of six, who recently embarked on a transformative journey with the Sacred Warrior Fellowship. Following her husband’s own life-changing ceremony, Tommi bravely confronts the dark secrets of her childhood navigating the complexities of motherhood, faith, and personal healing.In this heartfelt conversation, Tommi opens up about her struggles with identity, often hidden behind beautiful dresses and smiles and helping others, and the pain of feeling lost in the world. A dedicated mentor to women in her community, Tommi reflects on her journey of self-discovery that led her to explore her healing needs through a psilocybin ceremony—a choice initially seen as taboo within her cultural and faith background.Listen as Tommi and Theresa share relatable experiences about the challenges many women face when prioritizing the needs of others while neglecting their own healing journeys. Discover how Tommi's courageous decision has not only changed her personal narrative but also the trajectory of her family's legacy.Tune in for an inspiring discussion that encourages reflection, growth, and the importance of embracing one’s true self.Keywords: Tommi Kirkpatrick, Combat Veteran Wife, Homeschooling Mother, Personal Healing, Psilocybin Ceremony, Sacred Warrior Fellowship, Women’s Mentorship, Faith Community, Overcoming Dark Secrets, Personal Growth, Family Legacy, Mental Health, Transformative Journey, Podcast Interview.

    1h 4m
  3. Apr 28

    Ep. 152 - Whiz at the White House: The End of the Beginning

    Five years. Closed doors. A mattress on the floor of a home in Mexico. Visits to DC where the "leaders" weren't ready. Retreats. God moments. Sweat and tears and everything in between. Then - a phone call on a Friday afternoon. By Saturday morning, Whiz was standing in the Oval Office with the President of the United States for the historic signing of the Executive Order on psychedelic therapies for veterans.In this episode, Whiz debriefs one of the most extraordinary stretches of his life. It started in a cockpit over Colorado - flying Eric Trump in the No Fallen Heroes fighter jet. Days later he was standing in the Chapel at Harvard Divinity School, the same room where Emerson delivered his famous address, reflecting on faith, mission, and what it means to keep pushing when the doors stay closed. One week after that - the Oval Office. Fighter pilot. Veteran. Founder. And now, a witness to history. Whiz breaks down what this Executive Order actually means for veterans - and calls out the Americans turning a life-or-death mission into a political football. He addresses Joe Rogan directly: a man who has never sat with ibogaine, but who had the platform to shine a spotlight on what veterans and organizations like No Fallen Heroes Foundation have been doing quietly for years. Healing Our Heroes. He shares what this moment means, what it doesn't mean, and why he's calling it the end of the beginning. Because the policy may have changed — but the real work is just getting started. Through it all, Whiz finds gratitude in the suffering. Every closed door. Every hard year. Every low moment. It's exactly what carried him from a mattress on the floor of a home in Mexico to the White House. Fight's On!

    1h 8m
  4. Apr 10

    Ep. 151 - Inside the Easter Rescue – Airpower, War Crimes Debate, and the Road Ahead

    In Episode 151 of MAX Afterburner, Matthew “Whiz” Buckley takes listeners inside one of the most intense and emotional elements of modern combat operations, the rescue of downed U.S. Air Force aviators during Operation Epic Fury.Drawing from inside sources and his own experience as a combat aviator, Whiz delivers a behind-the-scenes debrief of how these rescue missions actually unfold. He breaks down the coordination, risk, and courage required to bring American aircrew home when everything goes sideways, reminding listeners what “so that others may live” truly looks like in real time.Then, in classic Whiz fashion, he takes direct aim at critics accusing the President of potential war crimes for considering strikes on Iranian infrastructure. He dismantles the narrative with a clear, unapologetic explanation of how successful air campaigns are actually conducted. From the opening phases of Operation Desert Storm to modern doctrine, he explains why targeting infrastructure early is not only strategic, it’s often essential to ending conflict faster and saving lives.Whiz connects the dots between past and present, offering his unfiltered assessment of where this conflict is headed, what it means for global stability, and how markets, military strategy, and geopolitics are all intertwined.He closes the episode not with more fire, but with faith, ending in a powerful prayer for peace.This is more than a debrief.This is a must-listen episode.A classic Whiz rant with purpose, perspective, and conviction.Fight’s On!

    1h 4m
4.9
out of 5
105 Ratings

About

The MAX Afterburner Podcast with Whiz is a long-form conversation hosted by Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, featuring candid discussions with family, friends, leaders, and truth-tellers across veterans’ issues, markets, culture, and politics - always grounded in care for mind, body, and soul.The podcast also serves as a platform for the missions of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation and Sacred Warrior Fellowship, amplifying conversations around healing, purpose, faith, and helping men and women who have served return home to themselves and to God. 

You Might Also Like