Ep. 162 - The Aviation Mindset: Why Pilots Hide—and How They Heal

Aviation has advanced dramatically since Matthew “Whiz” Buckley first entered the cockpit nearly four decades ago. Aircraft are safer, technology is smarter, and training is more sophisticated—but approximately 80% of civilian and military aviation mishaps still involve human error.For generations, aviators were taught to hide anything that might suggest they were struggling. Raising a hand and asking for help could mean being grounded—taking away the one thing that may have been keeping them alive. Pilots learned to compartmentalize, suppress, and keep everything from their flight surgeons.Compartmentalization may be essential in the air. It can be devastating on the ground.In this powerful episode of MAX Afterburner, Whiz sits down with Dr. Abigail Powell to explore mental health throughout the aviation community, how far the culture has come, and how far it still needs to go. Whiz also discusses becoming one of the first aviators to speak publicly about his own healing through psychedelic-assisted therapy—and why vulnerability, honesty, and asking for help are signs of courage, not weakness.Dr. Powell explains the holistic approach she takes with her patients—mind, body, and soul. Their conversation covers everything from diet, exercise, and sleep to stress, burnout, trauma, transitions, and the psychological demands of a high-performance career.Dr. Abigail Powell, PhD, is a Texas-licensed psychologist and the founder of The Aviation Therapist. She specializes in aviation psychology, mental performance, burnout, and the unique mental health challenges faced by pilots and aviation professionals. As the spouse of a former Navy SEAL turned pilot, she also brings a personal understanding of the demands placed on military families and the aviation community.Through her upcoming platform, The Aviation Mindset, Dr. Powell combines psychology, neuroscience, human performance, and wellness to help aviators build resilience and perform at their best—without sacrificing their mental health.Instagram: @TheAviationTherapistWebsite: https://theaviationtherapist.com/Coming soon: https://theaviationmindset.com/

August 2026 will be remembered as the month the institutions finally caught up to the warriors who went first. In this episode, Whiz Buckley walks through thirty days that would have been unthinkable five years ago. The VA Secretary reported his department is making real strides on psychedelic therapy for veterans. The Department of War formally recognized Operator Syndrome — the cumulative toll carried by the men and women who spent careers at the tip of the spear. The New York Times ran a piece on Americans facing danger seeking treatment at clinics outside the country. And hours later, a federal report from SAMHSA landed telling states to start preparing now for FDA approval of psychedelics — the clearest signal yet that this is no longer a question of if.Whiz also connects a thread most people missed. A year and a half ago he sat down with VA Secretary Doug Collins and told him to go get the ibogaine research Dr. Deborah Mash had done in the early 1990s — work that had been sitting on a shelf for three decades. This month, the President announced the University of Miami had handed that entire investigational drug application over to the federal government.He closes where the whole thing started. Five years ago he was lying on a mattress in Mexico. This year he stood in the Oval Office for an executive order signing. No one is ever truly broken — God does not make imperfect things — and August proved the machine is finally moving.Fight's On!

In Episode 160 of the MAX Afterburner Podcast, former Navy TOPGUN fighter pilot, Wall Street executive, and No Fallen Heroes Foundation Founder Matthew "Whiz" Buckley delivers a powerful update on two worlds that are rapidly converging: the evolution of psychedelic medicine and the realities of modern combat.Buckley begins with a deeply personal reflection on his son's demanding service in the United States Air Force, honoring the men and women who care for wounded warriors and support the families of America's fallen heroes.He then explores the unprecedented momentum in the psychedelic space, including Big Pharma's entrance into the field, groundbreaking industry developments, and what these advances could mean for millions suffering from trauma. While celebrating the progress, Buckley also offers candid warnings about the challenges and risks that accompany rapid commercialization.The episode then shifts to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, where hundreds of U.S. service members have already been injured, many with traumatic brain injuries and other life-altering wounds. Buckley explains why organizations like the No Fallen Heroes Foundation are preparing now to help these heroes heal when they return home and why emerging psychedelic therapies may offer one of the most promising frontiers for treating TBI and the invisible wounds of war.Equal parts market intelligence, national security briefing, and message of hope, Episode 160 challenges listeners to think differently about the future of warrior care, mental health, and America's responsibility to those who serve.This is an episode every veteran, first responder, policymaker, healthcare professional, investor, and patriot should hear.

In Episode 159 of the MAX Afterburner Podcast, Matthew “Whiz” Buckley delivers an unfiltered SITREP on Operation Epic Fury, the escalating conflict with Iran, and the daily confusion surrounding negotiations, red lines, and America's strategic objectives.Pulling no punches, Whiz argues that proportional warfare is for losers and contends that the radical Islamic regime in Iran began its war against the United States nearly five decades ago. He examines President Trump's stated desire to finish that fight while questioning whether current negotiations and military strategy are achieving the desired outcome.Drawing on his experience as a TOPGUN fighter pilot who spent a lot of time in the region, Whiz discusses the dangers of prolonged military operations, the risks faced by America's young servicemembers, and why he believes dragging conflicts out can carry costs measured not only in lives lost, but in lives forever changed.He highlights the recent shootdown of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter by Iranian forces. By the grace of God, both aviators survived. Yet Whiz challenges the notion that America should only respond decisively after fatalities occur. He argues that traumatic brain injuries, life-altering wounds, and invisible injuries suffered by servicemembers matter just as much as casualty statistics.As the founder of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation, Whiz has spent years working with veterans carrying the unseen wounds of war. He points out that repeated drone, missile, and proxy attacks don't have to kill American troops to inflict devastating consequences. Every attack risks creating another generation of warriors who return home carrying physical, emotional, and moral injuries that can last a lifetime.Whiz also challenges the idea that America's adversaries can be negotiated with as if they were business partners across a Manhattan real estate table. He questions whether mixed messaging, shifting red lines, and prolonged operations are putting more American lives at risk rather than bringing the conflict to a decisive conclusion.But this episode is about more than strategy and geopolitics.As always, Whiz speaks from the heart, reminding listeners that war is the ultimate failure of the human condition. Beneath the flags, politics, religions, and borders, we are all human beings. While he calls for decisive action when necessary, he also calls for peace—and for leaders to never forget the human cost paid by those sent into harm's way.Passionate. Provocative. Thought-provoking.This is an episode that will challenge assumptions, spark debate, and leave listeners thinking long after the debrief is over.Fight's On!

🔁 ENCORE EPISODE — In case you missed it, we're bringing back one of our favorites!Suzi hosts her second MAX Afterburner podcast with Carolina Rifenbury — known as Coco — who comes from an Army family and was part of the very first No Fallen Heroes Foundation retreat held in the United States last October in Colorado.Coco's journey was whole — loving and comforting, yet deeply challenging at times. She discovered that many of her actions in life were driven by fear when there was no need to fear. Spirit manifested as a beautiful white horse she rode, guiding her along her path. She shares how her integration process allowed her to understand the messages she received and how she is applying those powerful changes to her everyday life.If this one moved you the first time, let it move you again. 🐎

Suzi joins whiz on this special episode to discuss how important integration is after a psychedelic experience. They share personal details of the highs and lows as they've navigated their healing journeys on their own and as a couple. They also talk about "holding space" for loved ones and how No Fallen Heroes will launch a family support program this year. In the end "it's fine, it's always fine."

Five years ago to the day, Matthew "Whiz" Buckley woke up on a mattress on the floor of a home in Mexico overlooking the Pacific — and met the man he had always been. Decades of abuse, shame, trauma, addiction, sadness, and depression were gone. In their place: the most profound spiritual experience of his life. A reconnection with God. With his sister. With his father. A clarity of purpose that would launch a five-year mission no one could have scripted.In this deeply personal anniversary episode, Whiz debriefs all of it — the highs, the lows, the people and organizations who came and went, the situations that broke him open and built him back up. He reflects on what that single weekend set in motion: hundreds of veterans, first responders, and their families healed. The founding of Sacred Warrior Fellowship. Standing in the White House for the President's executive order signing. Conversations at Harvard Law and Harvard Divinity School. A meeting with the Secretary of the VA. National news appearances. And underneath all of it — a man reconnected to purpose, family, and faith.Whiz doesn't shy away from the cost. He talks honestly about the losses, the betrayals, the seasons of doubt, and the gratitude he now holds for every ounce of suffering that brought him here. He looks ahead to the next five years, but refuses to grip the future too tightly. Everything that is supposed to happen will happen when it is supposed to. He trusts God's plan.This one is for anyone carrying a burden they think they have to carry alone. For the warrior wondering if healing is even possible. For the family member who has been watching someone they love disappear. Share it with someone who needs to hear it.Fight's On!

Michael “Morgs” Morgan is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement who honorably served the citizens of Atlanta, Georgia, and Suffolk County, New York. In this riveting episode Morgs shares some of the  heartbreaking trauma he experienced, starting with his first night as a trainee. As a warrior and law enforcement officer he was forced to compartmentalize and press forward, with each incident adding a layer of pain and trauma. The drowning of a 2-year-old child he ‘helped save’ caused unbelievable grief. Later in his career he is taken off the streets because of a back injury. He got hooked on the pain reliever Tramadol and ended up in rehab. A couple years ago he saw tier one operators on podcasts sharing their healing journeys with psychedelic assisted therapy and felt the call of the medicine. He sat with Ayahuasca in Florida, and it completely saved and changed his life. He was given a new mission to put the ladder down to help save and change the lives of other first responder heroes and their families. Follow Morg on Instagram team_morgs_inc

Join 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.

Whiz 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.