Guest Neil Markey joins host Martin for a grounded conversation about mental wellbeing, resilience, and the realities of finding calm after high-pressure lives. A former Army Ranger who later entered the corporate world as a McKinsey executive, Neil speaks openly about post-combat PTSD, burnout, and the long path toward rebuilding a workable inner life. He describes how these experiences led him to Beckley Retreats, a legal psilocybin program that integrates modern research with meditation, mindful movement, and intentional time outdoors.

The episode explores the challenges of high-functioning burnout, the limits of performance culture, and the struggle veterans and leaders face when trying to reenter ordinary life with their nervous systems still wired for crisis. Martin guides a candid discussion about what actually supports post-traumatic growth and what often fails to help. Neil offers practical insights from his work with both veterans and civilians, emphasizing embodied practices, transparency, and the discipline required to heal without shortcuts.

Listeners looking for an honest, science-informed approach to resilience will find this conversation steady, thoughtful, and deeply human.

To learn more about Neil’s work:

beckleyretreats.com | @beckleyretreats
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Get outside, have fun and be safe!
Martin Armitage,
Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcast
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