Podcast
MAX Afterburner
Hosted by Matthew 'Whiz" Buckley · EN
The MAX Afterburner Podcast with Whiz is a long-form conversation hosted by Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, featuring candid discussions with family, friends, leaders, and truth-tellers across veterans’ issues, markets, culture, and politics - always grounded in care for mind, body, and soul.The podcast also serves as a platform for the missions of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation and Sacred Warrior Fellowship, amplifying conversations around healing, purpose, faith, and helping men and women who have served return home to themselves and to God.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 154 - Combat Veteran Wives: Healing Through the Unknown
1w ago01:03:42Tap to summarizeJoin us in this illuminating episode of the Max Afterburner Podcast episode 141 as host Theresa Noach interviews Tommi Kirkpatrick, a combat veteran's wife and homeschooling mother of six, who recently embarked on a transformative journey with the Sacred Warrior Fellowship. Following her husband’s own life-changing ceremony, Tommi bravely confronts the dark secrets of her childhood navigating the complexities of motherhood, faith, and personal healing.In this heartfelt conversation, Tommi opens up about her struggles with identity, often hidden behind beautiful dresses and smiles and helping others, and the pain of feeling lost in the world. A dedicated mentor to women in her community, Tommi reflects on her journey of self-discovery that led her to explore her healing needs through a psilocybin ceremony—a choice initially seen as taboo within her cultural and faith background.Listen as Tommi and Theresa share relatable experiences about the challenges many women face when prioritizing the needs of others while neglecting their own healing journeys. Discover how Tommi's courageous decision has not only changed her personal narrative but also the trajectory of her family's legacy.Tune in for an inspiring discussion that encourages reflection, growth, and the importance of embracing one’s true self.Keywords: Tommi Kirkpatrick, Combat Veteran Wife, Homeschooling Mother, Personal Healing, Psilocybin Ceremony, Sacred Warrior Fellowship, Women’s Mentorship, Faith Community, Overcoming Dark Secrets, Personal Growth, Family Legacy, Mental Health, Transformative Journey, Podcast Interview.
Transcribe →Ep. 153 - It's Fine, It's Always Fine (and she's right...always)
2w ago00:43:23Tap to summarizeWhiz has a VERY special guest on this podcast (his beautiful bride Suzi) who debriefs her journey with the medicine. She briefs the factors (mainly Whiz) that led to the medicine calling her, the preparation phase, the journey, and her integration. Suzi talks about navigating her journey and how any darkness wasn't really darkness once she let go, "everything is fine, it's always fine." Once again we learn that the power of healing is available to everyone, at any time, and that true love is eternal.
Transcribe →Ep. 152 - Whiz at the White House: The End of the Beginning
3w ago01:07:40Tap to summarizeFive years. Closed doors. A mattress on the floor of a home in Mexico. Visits to DC where the "leaders" weren't ready. Retreats. God moments. Sweat and tears and everything in between.Then - a phone call on a Friday afternoon. By Saturday morning, Whiz was standing in the Oval Office with the President of the United States for the historic signing of the Executive Order on psychedelic therapies for veterans.In this episode, Whiz debriefs one of the most extraordinary stretches of his life.It started in a cockpit over Colorado - flying Eric Trump in the No Fallen Heroes fighter jet. Days later he was standing in the Chapel at Harvard Divinity School, the same room where Emerson delivered his famous address, reflecting on faith, mission, and what it means to keep pushing when the doors stay closed. One week after that - the Oval Office.Fighter pilot. Veteran. Founder. And now, a witness to history.Whiz breaks down what this Executive Order actually means for veterans - and calls out the Americans turning a life-or-death mission into a political football. He addresses Joe Rogan directly: a man who has never sat with ibogaine, but who had the platform to shine a spotlight on what veterans and organizations like No Fallen Heroes Foundation have been doing quietly for years. Healing Our Heroes.He shares what this moment means, what it doesn't mean, and why he's calling it the end of the beginning. Because the policy may have changed — but the real work is just getting started.Through it all, Whiz finds gratitude in the suffering. Every closed door. Every hard year. Every low moment. It's exactly what carried him from a mattress on the floor of a home in Mexico to the White House.Fight's On!
Transcribe →Ep. 151 - Inside the Easter Rescue – Airpower, War Crimes Debate, and the Road Ahead
Apr 1001:03:30Tap to summarizeIn Episode 151 of MAX Afterburner, Matthew “Whiz” Buckley takes listeners inside one of the most intense and emotional elements of modern combat operations, the rescue of downed U.S. Air Force aviators during Operation Epic Fury.Drawing from inside sources and his own experience as a combat aviator, Whiz delivers a behind-the-scenes debrief of how these rescue missions actually unfold. He breaks down the coordination, risk, and courage required to bring American aircrew home when everything goes sideways, reminding listeners what “so that others may live” truly looks like in real time.Then, in classic Whiz fashion, he takes direct aim at critics accusing the President of potential war crimes for considering strikes on Iranian infrastructure. He dismantles the narrative with a clear, unapologetic explanation of how successful air campaigns are actually conducted. From the opening phases of Operation Desert Storm to modern doctrine, he explains why targeting infrastructure early is not only strategic, it’s often essential to ending conflict faster and saving lives.Whiz connects the dots between past and present, offering his unfiltered assessment of where this conflict is headed, what it means for global stability, and how markets, military strategy, and geopolitics are all intertwined.He closes the episode not with more fire, but with faith, ending in a powerful prayer for peace.This is more than a debrief.This is a must-listen episode.A classic Whiz rant with purpose, perspective, and conviction.Fight’s On!
Transcribe →Ep. 150 - Attack in Any Direction, God Leads the Way
Apr 101:05:34Tap to summarizeIn one of his most personal and wide-ranging episodes yet, former fighter pilot and No Fallen Heroes founder Matthew “Whiz” Buckley targets everything happening across his world - from global conflict to the home front, from the halls of power to the sacred space of a healing retreat.Whiz opens with a full intel brief on Operation EPIC FURY, laying out the current threat picture with characteristic clarity - and delivers a hard truth: things are likely to get worse before they get better.He pauses the mission brief for something deeply personal - saying goodbye to his oldest son, who has left home for active duty service in the United States Air Force.Back on mission, Whiz debrief the most recent Sacred Warrior Fellowship retreat - the sacred work of bringing veterans and first responders back to themselves, back to God, back home.He then turns to Washington, where bipartisan talk of psychedelics for veterans continues to grow louder on Capitol Hill. Whiz gives the unfiltered assessment: bipartisan support sounds good on paper, but words from senators mean absolutely nothing until warriors are actually getting healed.In a significant debrief, Whiz recounts his flight with Eric Trump - breaking down how he briefed him on the mission of No Fallen Heroes Foundation and Sacred Warrior Fellowship, and why he's doing everything in his power to get that message all the way to the Oval Office.He's attacking in every direction to bring healing to America's heroes at home.Whiz closes Episode 150 with a call for close air support - asking fellow Americans to lock in and fund the foundation and the church, because the mission doesn't run on goodwill alone.This one is personal. This one matters. Tune in.
Transcribe →Ep. 149 - Confident in Christ: Becky's Path to Emotional Freedom With Psilocybin
Mar 2601:06:09Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the MAX Afterburner podcast, host Theresa Noach had the pleasure of speaking with Becky Gallagher. As the wife of a Marine Combat Veteran and a devoted mother of five, Becky embodies strength and resilience. With a Master's degree and a steadfast Christian faith, she candidly shares the challenges that many face when the answers to their health and emotional freedom seem elusive despite countless prayers and declarations. Becky’s personal journey highlights how her unwavering trust in Jesus empowered her to approach each situation with confidence. Join us as we delve into her inspiring story and explore the transformative power of faith in the face of adversity.
Transcribe →Ep. 148 - SHOCKING Ayahuasca experience in the jungle!
Mar 1900:54:45Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of The Max After Burner Show, host Theresa Noach sits down with Rita McGowan to explore her incredible journey deep into the Amazon and her transformative experience with Ayahuasca. Rita's story is one of resilience and hope, navigating a childhood marred by mental, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as the trauma of losing her home to a fire. Married to a law enforcement officer who embarked on his own Ayahuasca journey, Rita found the courage to confront her past and pursue healing. This conversation is not just about Ayahuasca; it’s about overcoming fear and skepticism, as Rita shares her inspiring transformation from a skeptic to a believer. Since her retreat, she has managed to stay off pharmaceutical medications, and her life has been profoundly changed. Please be advised that this episode contains graphic trauma information regarding sexual abuse, which may be triggering for some listeners. For more resources and support, visit www.nofallenheroes.org (http://www.nofallenheroes.org) and www.sacredwarriorfellowship.com (http://www.sacredwarriorfellowship.com). Don’t miss this extraordinary tale of hope and healing—tune in now!
Transcribe →Ep. 147 - War, Honor, and the Warrior’s Soul
Mar 901:15:21Tap to summarizeIn Episode 147 of MAX Afterburner, former U.S. Navy TOPGUN fighter pilot Matthew “Whiz” Buckley delivers a powerful and wide-ranging debrief covering air combat, current military operations, the cultural divide in America, and the spiritual path of the warrior.Whiz breaks down the shocking report of a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet shooting down three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, explaining how an engagement like this could unfold and what it reveals about the realities of modern aerial warfare. He also shares his thoughts on Operation Epic Fury and the broader strategic picture as military tensions escalate.The conversation then shifts to the growing cultural and political divide in America, highlighted by the backlash Olympic hockey gold medalists received simply for taking a congratulatory call from the President and attending the State of the Union.From there, Whiz dives into a deeper discussion about religious freedom, tolerance, and the difficult questions the West must confront when dealing with radical Islam. Drawing from his own combat aviation experience and years of service defending the Constitution, he explores the tension between America’s commitment to religious liberty and the reality of confronting extremist ideologies that reject those same freedoms. It’s an honest, thoughtful conversation about faith, freedom, and the values worth defending.Whiz also honors the courage of two extraordinary American aviators who were awarded the Medal of Honor, reflecting on the warrior ethos that defines those who willingly fly into harm’s way.He then shares details about the upcoming Sacred Warrior Fellowship retreat taking place March 27–29, where veterans, first responders, and seekers gather in disciplined formation to reconnect with God and begin the journey of healing.The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer asking for peace on earth and God’s guidance during uncertain times.In this episode:• Tactical debrief of the Kuwaiti F/A-18 shooting down three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles• Analysis of Operation Epic Fury and what it signals strategically• The growing partisan divide and the reaction to Olympic gold medalists speaking with the President• A discussion on religious freedom, tolerance, and confronting radical Islamic extremism• Honoring two American aviators awarded the Medal of Honor• Sacred Warrior Fellowship retreat announcement (March 27–29)• A closing prayer for peace, wisdom, and guidanceSubscribe to MAX Afterburner on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch the full episode on the No Fallen Heroes YouTube channel.
Transcribe →Ep. 146 - Ceremony Chronicles: No Judgement, We All have a Past. Memorable moments that produce lasting change.
Feb 2601:05:18Tap to summarizeOn this episode, the Sacred Warrior Fellowship team shares some very funny and memorable experiences they’ve had during ceremony. Often, people struggle in life, wondering if they are good enough. Ceremony can lead to a profound transformation on the inside, leaving individuals feeling connected to themselves and to their sense of value. Our members have stated how amazing it feels when they arrive at our retreats, sensing that there is absolutely no judgment. We are all imperfect people; we all have a past. The more seriously an individual takes the spiritual process, the more they will get out of the ceremonial experience. If you have been a part of Sacred Warrior Fellowship ceremonies and are ready to pay it forward, please share this video. If you are able to make a financial contribution, you can rest assured that your investment will help someone else make a fellowship connection that can change their lives.
Transcribe →Ep. 145 - The Sacred Warrior Path | From Breaking Point to Communion with God
Feb 1901:02:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Matthew “Whiz” Buckley shares the origin and meaning of The Sacred Warrior Path - a spiritual journey forged not through wellness culture or self-optimization, but through surrender, responsibility, and a return to God.Speaking from lived experience, Buckley traces his path from a personal breaking point to the disciplines that helped steady him, and ultimately to a profound reconnection with God through sacred sacrament. He challenges common misconceptions about healing, rejecting the idea of gurus, saviors, or “healers,” and instead affirms that healing belongs to God alone.This conversation draws a clear boundary between Sacred Warrior Fellowship and secular psychedelic or wellness spaces. It is not an invitation to chase experiences, but a call to serious spiritual work, discernment, and communion with God. Listeners are reminded that this path is not easy, comfortable, or performative—but for those called to it, it leads toward truth, responsibility, and eternal life.This episode is for those seeking depth over novelty, faith over fantasy, and return over escape.
Transcribe →