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. 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. 13h ago

    Ep 82: The Evolution of Law Enforcement: Leadership, Growth & Purpose | Chad from The Blue & Beyond

    What does it take to become a better leader, a stronger teammate, and a better version of yourself both on and off the job? In this episode of Beyond The Barrel, we sit down with Chad Barber-Simpson, a 14-year law enforcement veteran and founder of The Blue & Beyond, a coaching and content brand dedicated to helping law enforcement professionals grow personally and professionally. Throughout his career, Chad has served in patrol, proactive investigative units, and a regional drug task force. He’s also taken on the responsibility of developing the next generation of officers as a field training officer and instructor, teaching everything from patrol tactics and emergency driving to less-lethal options and impaired driving enforcement. But Chad’s mission goes far beyond arrests, investigations, and training. Through The Blue & Beyond, he’s challenging law enforcement professionals to look beyond the uniform, embrace personal accountability, develop stronger leadership skills, and recognize that being a great cop starts with becoming a better person. Join us as we explore the lessons learned throughout his career, the importance of leadership and personal growth, and what it truly means to make an impact that extends beyond the badge. No scripts. No agendas. Just 140-proof conversations. Tune in, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who believes leadership is about more than a title. Timestamps:  02:00 - Chad's Background 09:00 - Policing's Next Generation 13:15 - Leadership Matters 16:30 - Officer Mental Health 28:45 - Personal Development 37:00 - Finding Your Purpose 43:40 - Warrior Mindset 1:07:45 - Building Better Teams 1:24:30 - First Amendment Auditors 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 82: The Evolution of Law Enforcement: Leadership, Growth & Purpose | Chad from The Blue & Beyond

  2. Oct 22

    Ep 81: Targeted for Doing His Job: The Mexican Commander Who Refused to Die

    Former Investigative Police Commander Roberto Ortiz spent his career going toward the danger others were trying to escape. From organized crime and homicide investigations to kidnappings, extortion, narcotics, intelligence operations, and high-risk arrests, Roberto served on the front lines of some of Mexico’s most dangerous law-enforcement operations. Then one operation changed everything…  After fellow officers were attacked and kidnapped, Roberto returned to duty alongside his team. During a subsequent operation, he was struck from behind by a vehicle while positioned along a highway. The injuries were catastrophic. Roberto lost both legs above the knee, suffered massive blood loss, spent approximately a week in a coma, and remained hospitalized for more than a month. He survived but survival was only the beginning. On this episode of Beyond The Barrel, Roberto shares the story behind the badge: his rise from the private sector to Investigative Police Commander, the realities of confronting organized crime in Mexico, the officers he lost along the way, the incident that nearly took his life, and the fight to rebuild himself afterward. We talk about learning to walk again on prosthetic legs, the impact on his wife and family, faith, identity, leadership, survivor’s guilt, gratitude, and what happens when the career that helped define you suddenly looks completely different. Most importantly, Roberto explains why he chose to return to public service. Today, he serves as an Intelligence Coordinator with the State Attorney General’s Office of Chihuahua, bringing his experience as both an investigator and operational commander into a new mission. This isn’t simply a story about losing both legs... It’s a story about what couldn’t be taken from him: Purpose. Faith. Family. Service. And the decision to keep moving forward. His body changed. His mission didn’t. From Commander to Warrior of Life, this is Roberto Ortiz’s story. Timestamps:  02:20 – Becoming a Cop  11:21 – Elite Police Unit  15:09 – Police Corruption  23:04 – Cartel Operations  34:00 – Deadly Ambush  37:33 – Life-Changing Attack  41:39 – Losing Both Legs  55:52 – Road to Recovery  1:21:38 – Cartel Threats 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 81: Targeted for Doing His Job: The Mexican Commander Who Refused to Die

  3. Oct 15

    Ep 80: Two States, Three K-9s, 17 Years Behind the Badge

    This week on Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with veteran K-9 handler and trainer Justin Featherly. Justin has spent 17 years in law enforcement, beginning his career with the San Diego Police Department in 2009. In 2015, he earned a spot in the K-9 Unit, where he spent the next seven years as a handler and trainer. During his time with SDPD, Justin worked two patrol and article detection dogs while developing extensive experience in K-9 deployments, training, and real-world street work. In 2022, Justin and his wife of 21 years, Kayleigh, packed up their lives and moved to Idaho with their five children. Today, Justin continues to serve as a K-9 handler and trainer, working a dual-purpose patrol and narcotics detection dog. We dive into Justin’s journey from San Diego to Idaho, nearly two decades behind the badge, the realities of being a K-9 handler, training patrol dogs, and the lessons that can only come from years of working dogs on the street. This is more than K-9 work it’s the story behind the handler. If you’re a K-9 handler, aspiring handler, trainer, or simply want to understand what life behind the leash really looks like, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Watch the full episode, drop your biggest takeaway in the comments, and share it with someone in the K-9 community. And make sure you follow and subscribe to Beyond the Barrel because the stories behind the badge deserve to be heard. Timestamps:  02:07 – Meet Justin  03:26 – Leaving San Diego  12:29 – Becoming a K9 Handler  17:42 – School Shooting Experience 23:32 – Selecting Police Dogs  32:31 – First K9 Partner  37:10 – Working Multiple Dogs  48:30 – Dual Purpose K9s  57:23 – K9 Misconceptions 01:15:43 – 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 80: Two States, Three K-9s, 17 Years Behind the Badge

  4. Oct 8

    Ep 79: There Is No Courage Without Fear | Captain Sonny F. Garcia

    After more than 30 years in law enforcement, retired Captain Sonny F. Garcia knows that some of the toughest battles an officer faces never happen on the street. Sonny’s career spans state and federal service, with experience as a Deputy, State Trooper, SRT operator, bomb technician, federal criminal investigator, and federal polygraph examiner. He also holds a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. But this episode of Beyond the Barrel goes beyond the résumé. After witnessing firsthand the struggles law-enforcement officers and first responders often carry in silence, Sonny created A Warrior’s Tale, a resilience program built around confronting the battles that too often remain unseen. Sonny shares his journey through more than three decades behind the badge, the experiences that shaped his perspective on fear and courage, and why he believes no officer should have to fight their darkest battles alone. At the center of his mission is faith and a simple purpose: Using God’s grace to save one officer at a time. And a message every warrior needs to hear: “There is no courage without fear.” This is a conversation about the badge, the battles behind it, faith, resilience, and finding the courage to ask for help. Watch, listen, and share this episode with a first responder who needs to hear it. Timestamps:  05:36 – Childhood Trauma 11:29 – Meeting His Father 14:48 – Brother’s Suicide 24:22 – Warrior’s Tale 32:22 – Losing Duffy 38:04 – Saving an Officer 50:18 – Choosing Family 56:13 – Sonny’s Breaking Point 1:23:03 – 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 79: There Is No Courage Without Fear | Captain Sonny F. Garcia

  5. Oct 1

    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?

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    95
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Beyond The Barrel Podcast
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Barrel Podcast

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