Beyond The Barrel Podcast

Beyond The Barrel Podcast
  • 5.0 (13)
  • 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. 2d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Jul 10

    Ep 67: Hunting Human Predators: Inside the Fight to Rescue Missing Children

    Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in the world—and it’s happening far closer to home than most people realize. In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Trent the man behind Anti-Predator Project, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works on the front lines of combating human trafficking, locating missing and abducted children, protecting victims and witnesses, and supporting criminal investigations targeting those who prey on the vulnerable. We discuss the realities of trafficking in America, how predators operate, the investigative techniques used to identify and locate offenders, common misconceptions, and the emotional toll of pursuing justice in some of the darkest cases imaginable. Whether you’re in law enforcement, a parent, or simply someone who wants to better understand this growing threat, this conversation offers an inside look at the people dedicated to protecting those who cannot protect themselves. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with those who’ve lived it. Timestamps:  01:12 – Anti-Predator Project 10:17 – Protecting Children 20:40 – Real Investigations 23:30 – World Cup Risks 31:59 – Labor Trafficking 38:53 – Victim Grooming 47:27 – Online Safety 58:16 – Social Media Risks 01:11:05 – Public Awareness 01:22:04 – 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

    Ep 67: Hunting Human Predators: Inside the Fight to Rescue Missing Children

  6. Jul 1

    Ep 66: The Music That Follows the War Home with Mike Sandilla

    On this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Mike Sandilla—Nashville-based alternative rock artist and U.S. Army Green Beret veteran whose music is rooted in truth, resilience, and the experiences that never fully leave you. Influenced by the raw emotion of ‘90s grunge and alternative rock, Mike writes songs for people who’ve lived through life’s hardest moments. His music explores identity, loss, purpose, and the invisible battles many continue to fight long after the mission ends. We talk about his journey from the Special Forces community to the stage, how military service shaped his songwriting, the healing power of music, and why authenticity resonates more than perfection. This isn’t just a conversation about music—it’s about life after service, finding purpose, and giving a voice to the experiences that so many carry but few know how to express. No scripts. No agendas. Just authentic conversations with people who’ve lived it. Timestamps:  04:30 Troubled Youth 10:07 Military Loss 13:01 Combat Reality 17:24 Healing Journey 21:18 Green Beret 32:09 Career Sacrifice 35:56 Music Therapy 45:23 Music Industry 54:25 Life After Service 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 66: The Music That Follows the War Home with Mike Sandilla

  7. Jun 22

    Ep 65: Officer Down - The Gunfight That Changed Everything

    After more than 22 years with the Las Cruces Police Department, Adrian De La Garza has built a career defined by resilience, leadership, and service. Beginning his law enforcement journey in 2004, he currently serves as a Traffic Investigator, a role he has held since 2009, specializing in serious and fatal crash investigations. Beyond the badge, Adrian is an instructor in multiple disciplines, including motorcycle operations, driving, and physical training—helping shape and mentor the next generation of officers. But behind the titles and years of service is a moment that changed everything. On February 4, 2021, Adrian was shot in the line of duty—an experience that not only tested his training and survival, but reshaped his purpose beyond policing. In the aftermath, he founded the Southern New Mexico First Responders Assistance Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting first responders and their families during times of crisis, injury, and loss. What started from personal adversity has grown into a mission to give back to those who serve. This conversation goes beyond law enforcement tactics and career milestones. Adrian opens up about the realities of the job, the weight first responders carry, and how life-changing moments can redefine purpose. Timestamps:  04:03  Nonprofit Mission 13:52  Fatal Pursuit 18:22  Shot & Fighting 23:16  Facing Fear 34:29  Growing Up 36:06  Father's Sacrifice 47:36  Becoming Motors 52:05  Stem Cell Recovery 59:18  Family Impact 1:08:10  PTSD & Healing 1:20:45  Advice for Officers 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 65: Officer Down - The Gunfight That Changed Everything

  8. Jun 15

    Ep 64: The Truth About Police Recruiting & Officer Resilience | Anthony Shefferly Returns

    Fan-favorite guest Anthony Shefferly is back on Beyond the Barrel for a conversation that every current and aspiring law enforcement officer needs to hear. In this episode, we dive into the disconnect between the recruiting videos many agencies produce and the realities of the profession. We discuss how unrealistic expectations can leave new officers mentally unprepared for the trauma, stress, and sacrifices that often accompany the badge—and how that gap can contribute to long-term mental health struggles, including PTSD. Anthony also shares his personal journey through law enforcement, SWAT, entrepreneurship, and significant health challenges that ultimately led him to create Heroic Industries, a platform dedicated to improving the health, performance, and longevity of first responders, military personnel, and tactical professionals. From the truth behind modern police recruiting to the importance of mental resilience, physical health, and developing sustainable habits for a long career, this conversation tackles some of the most important topics facing first responders today. We also discuss natural approaches to wellness, overcoming adversity, and why preparing officers for the realities of the profession is just as important as preparing them tactically. From small-college football to SWAT operations, business ownership, and personal transformation, Anthony’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t built during easy times—it’s forged through adversity. Whether you’re a police officer, first responder, military member, or someone striving to become healthier and more resilient, this episode delivers practical insights and an honest conversation about what it takes to thrive in demanding professions. Pour yourself a glass and join us as we go Beyond the Barrel with Anthony Shefferly Timestamps:  01:18 Recruiting Cops 07:39 Patrol Reality 11:49 Finding Purpose 17:14 Leadership Culture 20:16 Peptide Boom 28:23 Creatine Myths 31:36 Vaping Risks 38:03 Officer Survival 46:01 Trauma Reality 54:09 Boundaries & Control 01:08:05 Conference Announcement 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 64: The Truth About Police Recruiting & Officer Resilience | Anthony Shefferly Returns
See All (84)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 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
    84
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Beyond The Barrel Podcast
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Barrel Podcast

You Might Also Like