Ep. 128 - God, Sacraments, and Sovereignty: Founding Sacred Warrior Fellowship

In this amped up episode, Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, a U.S. Navy TOPGUN fighter pilot turned founder of the Sacred Warrior Fellowship, reacts to a landmark legal victory for religious liberty and why it’s reason for both celebration and vigilance. A federal judge ruled that Singularism, a small entheogen-based faith community in Utah, has its sacramental use of psilocybin protected under Utah’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The court blasted the state’s actions as “offensively broad,” “ironic,” and tantamount to harassment, ordering the return of sacramental psilocybin seized in a controversial raid.For Whiz, who served 15 years defending the Constitution, this is more than a legal win, it’s a frontline moment in the battle to protect the First Amendment. As the judge noted, true religious freedom must protect unfamiliar faiths as fiercely as familiar ones, and sincerity of belief - not tradition - is the key criterion.Through the lens of Sacred Warrior Fellowship, Whiz explains how this precedent strengthens protections for entheogenic churches across the nation. The message is clear: stand down for now, but keep your powder dry. Government overreach can appear without warning, and when it does, he’ll be ready to fight again.

In this powerful episode of MAX Afterburner, Kentucky native and retired U.S. Army veteran Derek R. Poor shares his deeply personal journey from the high-stakes world of Special Operations to profound healing and transformation. Derek served over two decades in uniform, beginning as an Aircraft Armament Repairman and Missile Systems Maintainer for the OH-58D Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter before being selected for the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), the legendary “Night Stalkers.” Providing critical ground support for America’s most sensitive missions, Derek carried the weight of years of service, leadership, and sacrifice, along with the invisible wounds of a traumatic brain injury sustained in the line of duty.Like too many of his brothers-in-arms, Derek faced the crushing reality of TBI symptoms, PTSD, and the devastating loss of friends to suicide, including one the day after he returned from his first ibogaine journey. Determined to find a path forward, Derek turned to powerful entheogenic sacraments: ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. These sacred medicines not only brought him profound personal healing, but also transformed the life of his wife, Jennifer, who had battled debilitating autoimmune conditions for years.In this conversation, Derek opens up about his service with the Night Stalkers, the toll of TBI, and the healing potential of sacred plant medicines. He shares lessons learned from both the battlefield and his journey home, along with his mission to help other veterans struggling in silence. Derek’s story is one of courage, resilience, and hope - proof that there is a way through the darkness, and that no warrior has to walk that path alone.

Suzi and Teresa sit down for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation about the rising call toward plant medicine and why so many are feeling drawn to these sacred healing modalities right now. Together, they explore the deeper reasons people are seeking out ceremonies and sacraments, like those held within the Sacred Warrior Fellowship, from emotional healing and spiritual connection to relief from trauma, depression, and anxiety.They also address the questions and fears many people have. Their compassionate, grounded dialogue offers clarity for those who are curious but cautious.Importantly, Suzi and Teresa unpack the cultural stigma that has surrounded plant medicine for decades and how misunderstanding, fear, and even political agendas contributed to its demonization. They offer context around its sacred indigenous roots and how science is finally catching up to what many cultures have known for centuries: these plants are powerful tools for healing when used with intention, integrity, and reverence.Whether you’re just beginning to explore or have been called to this path for a while, this conversation invites you to listen with an open heart and discover what it means to heal in sacred communion with nature’s medicine.

This powerful episode is the unveiling of something holy, years in the making, born of pain, held in grace, and reborn through healing into sacred service. Whiz unveils the foundation of Sacred Warrior Fellowship, a Florida based 508(c)(1)(A) organization. He briefs its Statement of Faith, Constitution, and Beliefs, and why this church isn’t about dogma, but direct communion. From divine freedom to the healing power of entheogenic sacraments, this conversation opens the door to a new spiritual path rooted in truth, remembrance, and radical liberation. If you’ve ever questioned the old systems or longed for something deeper, this is your invitation. Welcome to the Sacred Warrior Fellowship. 

In this Rerun of episode 7 of the MAX Afterburner Podcast Whiz details both his ibogaine and 5 MEO DMT experiences and how they changed his life. Whiz attempts to put words to the indescribable and how for the first time in decades he healed from pain and trauma in his life. Now Whiz serves as a self-proclaimed 'disciple', putting the ladder down to help other fighter pilot veterans potentially heal with psychedelic-assisted therapy.  

In Episode 127 of the MAX Afterburner podcast, Whiz opens with a powerful celebration of progress in the healing space. He highlights Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent statement to Congress, where the HHS secretary boldly called for psychedelic therapies to be made available to veterans within the next 12 months. Whiz also spotlights a landmark five-year study from The Ohio State University showing that a single heroic dose of psilocybin helped 67% of participants recover from depression—with no relapse.Whiz then offers a transparent debrief on why the No Fallen Heroes Foundation didn’t attend the Psychedelic Science conference in force - 'a self licking ice cream cone & echo chamber'. He expresses concern over the commercialization of the healing movement and directly calls out several for-profit ibogaine clinics in Mexico for price gouging vulnerable veterans and families in crisis. “Healing shouldn’t come with a luxury price tag,” he says.The episode takes a deeper turn as Whiz addresses recent criticism surrounding Operation Midnight Hammer and the perceived contradiction of “celebrating war” while preaching healing. He responds with clarity and conviction, saying he is against all war—calling it the ultimate failure of human consciousness. But, he argues, if war must happen, it should be so brutal and unforgiving that it deters future conflict. He also shares a powerful reflection on the archetype of “the man who wanted to be left alone,” framing it as a cautionary tale for a world that pushes healed warriors too far.Finally, Whiz reflects on the last four years of his own journey—filled with setbacks, breakthroughs, and relentless work. He declares this moment “the end of the beginning”—and affirms that the real mission, the deeper healing and transformation, begins now.

Suzi sits down with Teresa Noach to explore her powerful journey of healing and spiritual awakening through plant medicine.In this intimate and heartfelt conversation, Teresa shares how sacred medicine helped her restore balance to her mind, body, and spirit—leading her to a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus.Together, Suzi and Teresa reflect on the intersection of trauma, transformation, and divine connection. Teresa opens up about how plant medicine became a catalyst not just for healing, but for rediscovering her purpose and the sacred truth within.This episode is a beautiful exploration of what it means to come home to yourself—and to God—through the ancient wisdom of the earth.

In this powerful episode, Whiz welcomes fellow veteran Kristopher Pace into the studio—an Air Force warrior who, like Whiz, faced the invisible wounds of service, including a traumatic brain injury. But instead of surrendering to the darkness, Kris found light through yoga, meditation, and plant medicine.Kris didn’t just practice yoga—he mastered it, reaching a level few ever do. That transformation inspired him to launch Vets2Yoga, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps veterans heal through movement, breathwork, and community connection.Kris is also the visionary behind The Living Man Festival, a conscious, family-friendly gathering set in the sacred stillness of Colorado’s high desert at the Kosmos Stargazing Resort. The festival honors our veterans, uplifts holistic wellness, and strengthens community through purpose-driven celebration.Whiz and Kris are teaming up to make Living Man a powerful force for good—a space where healing is real, connection is deep, and lives are changed.Tune in to hear their stories, their vision, and how they’re putting afterburners on a movement to save our nation's heroes.

Four years ago, Matthew “Whiz” Buckley crossed the border into Mexico with three fellow veterans and an NFL veteran—each seeking healing through psychedelic-assisted therapy after traditional methods failed to address the invisible wounds of war, trauma, and addiction.What began as a deeply personal journey has now become a national mission through the No Fallen Heroes Foundation. In this powerful episode of The MAX Afterburner Podcast, Whiz reflects on how far the movement has come—and how the past three weeks may represent a historic turning point for veteran mental health care in the United States.Highlights from the episode include:•        A public cabinet-level briefing on the role of psychedelics and nonprofits in the future of veteran care•        Whiz’s in-person meeting with VA Secretary Collins in Washington, D.C., advocating for access, research, and reform•        Updates from the federal summit on psychedelic medicine, bringing together scientists, policymakers, and veteran advocates•        Breaking news: The FDA Commissioner confirms that exploring psychedelic medicine is a “top priority” for the Trump administration•        The nomination of a new U.S. Surgeon General who claims psilocybin helped her heal and find loveThe episode closes with a forward-looking vision:Over the next four years, Whiz sees the rescheduling of psychedelic medicines, the creation of veteran vouchers, and stronger partnerships between the VA and nonprofit organizations delivering real-world outcomes.This episode is more than a reflection—it's a rally cry. The mission is clear: healing our heroes at home starts now.

In this powerful episode of MAX Afterburner Matthew “Whiz” Buckley shares where he is nearly four years after first sitting with the medicine—and why the path of awakening is anything but easy.Spiritual awakening is not all light and bliss. It often feels like a death—the death of who you thought you were. The dismantling of ego, identity, and the structures that once made you feel safe. It’s disorienting. It’s heavy. And it can feel painfully lonely.But Whiz reminds listeners: you are not alone. If you choose to heal, if you choose to walk through this fire, you’re walking with others who are doing the same. What feels like destruction is actually divine reconstruction. God removes the old not to punish, but to make room for the new. Truth isn’t good or bad—it’s just truth. And once it’s seen, it demands change. And there’s no turning back. This episode also touches on the recent passing of the Pope and Whiz’s public disagreement with how the Church has handled American Catholic politicians who support abortion—even up to and beyond birth. Silence from spiritual leaders in the face of moral conflict is not neutrality—it’s complicity.Finally, Whiz shares the gut-wrenching news that three people he knew personally were killed in a tragic plane crash in Boca Raton—news he received immediately after leaving the studio during a previous recording.Raw. Honest. Unapologetic.MAX Afterburner Episode 123 is full throttle.