Beyond The Barrel Podcast

Beyond The Barrel Podcast
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Beyond the Barrel, where every episode takes you deeper into the lives of those who serve on the frontlines. Hosted by two dynamic leaders— Kenny, a nationally recognized K9 interdiction officer, and Attorney Mike, a U.S. Army veteran and seasoned Patrol Supervisor—this podcast is where stories of bravery, sacrifice, and humanity unfold. Go Beyond the Barrel with us to uncover the stories that truly define our Nation's finest. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast, or any organizations, agencies, or entities affiliated with the host.

  1. 5d ago

    Ep 75: Ford's Theatre • Dealey Plaza • Butler, PA: The Price Of Protecting A President

    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

    Ep 75: Ford's Theatre • Dealey Plaza • Butler, PA: The Price Of Protecting A President

  2. Sep 1

    Ep 74: The Dark Side of Vice: Sex, Prostitution & Hunting Predators

    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

    Ep 74: The Dark Side of Vice: Sex, Prostitution & Hunting Predators

  3. Aug 22

    Ep 73: The Reality of Being a K9 Handler, Cop & Single Mom

    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

    Ep 73: The Reality of Being a K9 Handler, Cop & Single Mom

  4. Aug 15

    Ep 72: Fitness, Immigration & COVID: The Conversations We’re Not Supposed to Have

    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

    Ep 72: Fitness, Immigration & COVID: The Conversations We’re Not Supposed to Have

  5. Aug 8

    Ep 71: Residual Trauma: What First Responders Carry Home

    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

    Ep 71: Residual Trauma: What First Responders Carry Home

  6. Aug 1

    Ep 70: How 9/11 Created One of America's Top K-9 Trainers

    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

    Ep 70: How 9/11 Created One of America's Top K-9 Trainers

  7. Jul 22

    Ep 69: A Legendary Cop Opens Up About Addiction, PTSD, and Redemption

    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

    Ep 69: A Legendary Cop Opens Up About Addiction, PTSD, and Redemption

  8. Jul 15

    Ep 68: From Outcast to Outstanding: Finding the Right Badge

    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

    Ep 68: From Outcast to Outstanding: Finding the Right Badge
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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Welcome to Beyond the Barrel, where every episode takes you deeper into the lives of those who serve on the frontlines. Hosted by two dynamic leaders— Kenny, a nationally recognized K9 interdiction officer, and Attorney Mike, a U.S. Army veteran and seasoned Patrol Supervisor—this podcast is where stories of bravery, sacrifice, and humanity unfold. Go Beyond the Barrel with us to uncover the stories that truly define our Nation's finest. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast, or any organizations, agencies, or entities affiliated with the host.

Information

  • Creator
    Beyond The Barrel Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Beyond The Barrel Podcast
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Barrel Podcast