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 78: CURRENT COP vs. FORMER COP: The War on Weed Are We Wrong?

    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

    Ep 78: CURRENT COP vs. FORMER COP: The War on Weed Are We Wrong?

  2. Sep 22

    Ep 77: The Pills Were Prescribed. The Damage Wasn’t

    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

    Ep 77: The Pills Were Prescribed. The Damage Wasn’t

  3. Sep 15

    Ep 76: Before They Lie. Before They Fight. Before They Run. | Sean Grogan

    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

    Ep 76: Before They Lie. Before They Fight. Before They Run. | Sean Grogan

  4. Sep 8

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    91
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Beyond The Barrel Podcast
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Barrel Podcast

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