Beyond The Barrel Podcast

Beyond The Barrel Podcast

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.

  1. Ep 50: From the Classroom to the Streets: Making a Real Impact with Daniel Herrera

    18H AGO

    Ep 50: From the Classroom to the Streets: Making a Real Impact with Daniel Herrera

    Are We Training for the Threat… or Ignoring the Real Problem? Beyond the Barrel is where we pour truths—straight, no chaser. This episode dives into the life of Officer Daniel Herrera, a former elementary school teacher turned law enforcement officer who now stands on the front lines of school safety and crisis response. Herrera shares how his early years in education shaped his approach to policing, why protecting kids carries a different emotional weight, and what it’s like serving as both a School Resource Officer and Team Leader on a Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Team. We talk active threat preparedness, tactical medical training, and the realities of preparing officers, staff, and students for moments everyone hopes never come. But beyond the badge, Daniel opens up about family life, Jiu Jitsu, motorcycles, and the importance of building trust off-duty through community initiatives like his annual “Ballin’ for Unity” basketball game. It’s a conversation about service, responsibility, and the human side of the people standing guard over our schools. Off duty, off script, and beyond the barrel. Timestamps:  07:30 – Children’s Book 12:00 – Cuban Upbringing 19:30 – Personal Tragedy 24:30 – Career Switch 30:30 – Teaching Purpose 36:00 – Street Crimes 48:00 – Young Officers 50:00 – Jiu-Jitsu Start 01:25:00 – Justice & Family 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

    1h 31m
  2. Ep 49: Pouring Purpose, Dirk’s Mission to Honor the Fallen | The End of Watch Legacy Fund

    6D AGO

    Ep 49: Pouring Purpose, Dirk’s Mission to Honor the Fallen | The End of Watch Legacy Fund

    When the End of Watch is called, Dirk makes sure the family is never forgotten. Nineteen years in law enforcement changes a man but for Dirk, it clarified his purpose. Husband. Father. Cop. Bourbon enthusiast. And founder of the End of Watch Legacy Fund, a mission born from loss, service, and an unwavering commitment to those who never made it home. In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, Dirk shares how he combined two worlds his love for bourbon and his devotion to law enforcement to build something bigger than himself. The End of Watch Legacy Fund raises money with one clear goal: to provide $10,000 directly to the families of Indiana officers killed in the line of duty, ensuring their sacrifice is honored with more than words. This isn’t just about bourbon. It’s about brotherhood. It’s about legacy. And it’s about taking care of our own long after the End of Watch is called. Off duty. Off script. And driven by purpose this conversation goes well beyond the barrel. Timestamps:  01:40 Meet Dirk 03:00 Fundraiser Origin 06:00 Tough Moments 08:30 Communication Skills 14:30 Career Start 17:30 SWAT Life 20:00 Charity Begins 22:00 Bourbon Events 28:30 Fallen Officer 33:30 Sierra Strong 47:00 Future Plans 56:50 Justice Question 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

    1 hr
  3. Ep. 48: Gunfire, Flight Lines, and the Fourth Amendment with Sgt. Jake Bigelow

    FEB 8

    Ep. 48: Gunfire, Flight Lines, and the Fourth Amendment with Sgt. Jake Bigelow

    Two officer-involved shootings. First on scene to a home invasion at a cop’s house. Task force interdiction. And zero tolerance for bad Fourth Amendment policing. Sgt. Jake Bigelow is a 13-year law enforcement veteran with the Casper Police Department, a former multi-agency drug task force officer, and a legal instructor with Blue to Gold Law Enforcement Training. Before policing, he served in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces and the Army National Guard as a flight medic, with additional experience as a firefighter and paramedic. In this episode, Jake challenges the idea that “good intentions” excuse bad searches, breaks down real-world interdiction mistakes cops still make, and explains why constitutional policing is the difference between locking criminals up—or letting them walk. No fluff. No excuses. Just hard truths from someone who’s lived it. Timestamps:  00:02:30  Jake’s Background 00:08:45  Troubled Upbringing 00:15:30  Mentorship Impact 00:29:45  Pilot Life 00:31:00  Midair Emergency 00:36:25  Fire to Police 00:38:45  Drug Task Force 01:17:35  Shoot or Die 01:24:00  After the Shooting 01:39:35  Acceptance of Death 01:56:00  Mental Health Stigma 02:03:10  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

    2h 9m
  4. Ep. 46: From Cape Cod to LAPD: The Stories That Shape Cops

    JAN 22

    Ep. 46: From Cape Cod to LAPD: The Stories That Shape Cops

    Steve Gould has spent nearly two decades in law enforcement, but his career has taken a path few ever walk. From working the wild and unpredictable terrain of Cape Cod as a Natural Resources Officer, to pushing a cruiser on the street, to becoming a civilian background investigator for the LAPD, Steve has seen every side of the badge. In 2018, he launched the wildly popular Things Police See podcast — a space where active and retired cops come off script and tell the stories that never make it into official reports. The funny ones. The dark ones. The ones that stay with you long after the shift ends. Now, through his Sgt. Steve YouTube channel, he breaks down body-cam footage with the kind of insight only someone who’s lived it can provide. In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we go deeper than the uniform and the footage. We talk about what those moments really do to the men and women who experience them, how storytelling has become a form of therapy for cops, and why the truth of police work is far more complicated than what the headlines or viral clips ever show. This is a raw, honest conversation about life behind the badge, the weight cops carry home, and the power of telling the stories that need to be told — straight, no chaser. Timestamps:  07:30  Bodycam Breakdown 14:30  Police Upbringing 21:00  Communication Skills 27:45  Academy Reality 34:30  Firearms Training 41:30  LAPD Experience 48:15  California Policing 55:30  Career Reflections 1:08:30  Leaving It Better 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

    1h 15m
  5. Ep. 45: Truth Is a Dangerous Weapon: Adam & Tyler Hoover on Policing, PTSD, and Justice

    JAN 15

    Ep. 45: Truth Is a Dangerous Weapon: Adam & Tyler Hoover on Policing, PTSD, and Justice

    Truth isn’t always comfortable and it’s rarely safe. In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, Kenny sits down with Adam and Tyler Hoover for a raw, unfiltered conversation about war, policing, trauma, and the cost of speaking out. Adam’s path took him from the U.S. Marine Corps into law enforcement, working everything from small-town policing to state-level interdiction units, building a career rooted in proactive enforcement and firsthand experience with how the system truly operates. Tyler began in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne, deploying to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom before transitioning into law enforcement, where he served in SWAT, Street Crimes, and as a Field Training Officer. As the founder of Anti-Hero Broadcast, he’s become one of the most controversial voices in the first responder space by openly challenging toxic leadership and performative politics. Together, they break down why confrontation is sometimes necessary, the toll bad leadership takes on law enforcement, and how war and policing permanently shape perspective. The conversation turns deeply personal as they share the story of their uncle’s murder and the long fight for justice. This isn’t a safe or polished conversation—it’s the truth, poured straight. Off duty. Off script. Beyond the barrel. Timestamps:  08:30  Career Paths 17:30  Toxic Agencies 27:30  Cold Case Murder 37:00  Family Impact 46:00  State Law Differences 55:30  Drug Interdiction 1:05:30  Rural Policing 1:15:30  Border & Crime 1:25:00  Final Thoughts 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

    1h 33m
  6. Ep 44: From Narc COP to Prison Number: What Policing Culture Doesn’t Warn About

    JAN 8

    Ep 44: From Narc COP to Prison Number: What Policing Culture Doesn’t Warn About

    Beyond the Barrel is where we pour truths straight, no chaser. In this episode, we sit down with David Hines, a former law enforcement officer whose career in a South Louisiana narcotics unit ended with a federal civil rights conviction and a prison sentence. What followed was the loss of his badge, his career, his identity and a reckoning that reshaped how he views leadership, ethics, and responsibility in policing. David doesn’t speak in excuses or deflection. He speaks in ownership. This conversation goes beyond headlines and courtrooms and into the real consequences of misconduct legal, professional, and deeply personal. We talk about the impact on family, the erosion of trust, and how culture, supervision, and decision-making can quietly push officers toward irreversible mistakes. This episode isn’t about tearing policing down. It’s about protecting it by confronting uncomfortable truths, emphasizing accountability, and challenging leaders to build cultures that prevent failure instead of explaining it away. If you’re an officer, supervisor, or leader who believes integrity matters and that hard conversations save careers this one’s for you. Off duty. Off script. And beyond the barrel. Timestamps:  11:30 – Law Enforcement Roots 24:00 – Early Patrol Years 37:45 – Career Progression 51:30 – Narcotics Unit 1:06:00 – Leadership & Culture 1:20:45 – Critical Incident 1:34:30 – Mental Impact 1:48:15 – Prison Reality 1:59:30 – 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

    2h 10m
  7. Ep. 43 : 4 Decades of Command and Growth in the Arkansas State Police

    JAN 1

    Ep. 43 : 4 Decades of Command and Growth in the Arkansas State Police

    With more than four decades of service to the Arkansas State Police, Keith Eremea exemplifies leadership, experience, and service-driven command. Serving 43 years as a commissioned Trooper, he rose through nearly every rank—from Trooper to Captain—mentoring and supervising hundreds of Troopers statewide. His career spans patrol, highway interdiction, training, emergency response, and executive leadership. He commanded the largest troop in Arkansas, overseeing more than 100 personnel, reducing crashes and fatalities, expanding DWI enforcement, and coordinating major state and federal operations. As a leader in interdiction, he supervised teams responsible for seizing millions in narcotics and currency and dismantling major drug operations. A nationally recognized trainer, he helped introduce PIT training in Arkansas, modernized emergency vehicle operations, developed statewide curricula, and instructed thousands of officers nationwide. He also served as Canine Coordinator and played a key role in updating fitness standards and training systems. This episode explores leadership under pressure, lessons learned, and leaving a lasting legacy in law enforcement. Off duty. Off script. Beyond the barrel. Timestamps: 02:06 – Motivation mindset 04:04 – Rockefeller influence 06:15 – Interdiction bug 09:21 – Line-of-duty loss 12:17 – Fleeing felons 18:30 – Craft mastery 22:10 – PIT training 39:20 – Communication skills 52:01 – Interdiction dangers 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

    1h 47m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 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.

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