MAX Afterburner

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. 🐎