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by Matthew 'Whiz" Buckley
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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Today45 min
Ep. 166 - Palm Beach Learjet Crash: A TOPGUN Pilot’s Debrief
On November 1st, a Learjet 60 bound for the Bahamas fell from the sky over Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all nine people on board, including two young children. Within hours, social media filled with conspiracy theories, bad information, and armchair experts.In this episode of Max Afterburner, Matthew “Whiz” Buckley cuts through the noise. Drawing on 40 years as a private, commercial, military, and airline pilot, including time as a TOPGUN-trained F/A-18 pilot, Whiz debriefs the crash the way aviators debrief every flight: with facts, discipline, and no agenda.He walks through what investigators have confirmed and what they haven’t, dismantles the rumors spreading online, and explains why experienced aviators start talking about possible causes right away. It isn’t gossip. It’s how pilots learn, so the next crew comes home.Whiz also addresses the hardest truth in aviation: one person holds final authority and final responsibility for every flight, and that’s the pilot in command.He closes with a few words on the election. Not politics, prayer: for the country, and for the incoming Democrats to find common ground with Republicans. And he explains why he votes on a single issue: healing our heroes here at home.If you have questions about this tragedy, this is the episode to listen to. Straight talk from someone who has lived in the cockpit for four decades.Our prayers are with the families of the nine souls lost.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- 1 weeks ago42 min
Ep. 165 - How America Receives Its Heroes Home | Matthew Buckley Jr. and the Weight of the Dignified Transfer
Whiz sits down with his oldest son, Matthew Buckley Jr., to debrief his active-duty tour with Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware — the single port of entry where America’s fallen come home.Matthew walks through the process and the procedures: what happens from the moment an aircraft touches down, how our heroes are received, and the standard of care that never bends. He debriefs the high-profile dignified transfers he supported, including ones attended by the President, the Secretary of War, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan “Razin” Caine.He also debriefs his mission to Edwards Air Force Base following the June 15, 2026 crash of a B-52 Stratofortress — call sign Torch 11 — and the eight crew members lost. It is the heaviest part of this conversation and he does not flinch from it.The two of them close on what comes next. The No Fallen Heroes Foundation was awarded the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant, and Matthew steps into a new role as Veteran Outreach Coordinator — from receiving the fallen to reaching the living before we lose them.In this episode:- Inside Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover- How a dignified transfer actually works, start to finish- The Edwards AFB B-52 crash and the eight lives of Torch 1-1- The SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant and Matthew’s new role with NFHFSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- 2 weeks ago50 min
Ep. 164 - Two Oceans Won't Save Us | 9/11 at 25, the FDA Opens the Door, and the Navy's Disgrace
Whiz goes solo this week with a brief from Washington and a hard look at where we stand 25 years after September 11.He starts with the FDA's public hearing on psychedelic therapeutics, held September 14 at the agency's White Oak headquarters. Whiz explains why he deliberately stayed away: commenters got two minutes apiece in front of a panel that asked no questions, and he's been making that case for over five years already. The pace of movement in the healing space right now is real and it is fast — but two minutes at a microphone isn't what moves it.Then the warning. Twenty-five years after the towers fell, Whiz believes we are less safe today than we were on September 10th, 2001. Drones, UAVs, missiles, submarines — two oceans don't protect the homeland anymore. What we need is a whole-of-American-industry effort, from the defense primes to the AI companies, and we need it now. We cannot wait for what's coming.Finally, the flamethrower. Whiz takes Navy leadership apart for refusing to look into the health of their most elite aviators — the story that landed him in the New York Times. The House Oversight Committee is now weighing whether to take it to the full Congress and force the Navy's hand through legislation. It should never have come to that. Whiz has been blazing this trail for over five years, raising awareness of what these aviators are carrying and the healing potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy.In this episode:The FDA hearing, why Whiz skipped it, and how fast the healing space is movingWhy the homeland is more exposed now than it was in 2001The whole-of-industry effort we need before the next attackNavy leadership, the New York Times story, and the fight over aviator healthSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Sep 22, 202659 min
Ep. 163 - 39th Floor, Tower One: A 9/11 Survivor's Road Home with Psychedelics
On September 11, 2001, John Kostick was working as an electrician on the 39th floor of Tower One. He got out. Then he went back and spent the next 12 to 18 months at Ground Zero doing rescue and recovery.He carried it for decades: the smoke, the smells, the horrors. Then came the physical toll. In 2004 his voice started to fade, one of many injuries left by the trauma and toxins of that site. John also talks about a hard truth. Civilian 9/11 survivors never got the same standard of care as first responders.In this episode, Whiz and John talk about how John finally found peace. Dr. Lance Cutsforth brought him to a retreat in Colorado with Mons Sana, where he met Whiz. Through ceremony and entheogenic medicine, John was cracked wide open. He purged 23 years of trauma and shame and came out with a new truth: 9/11 didn't happen to him. It happened for him.Today John is on a new mission with the 9/11 Project (911project.org). He's building a full list of 9/11 memorials across the country. He makes a point of visiting the small, overlooked ones that mean the most to their local communities, so that no one's memory is lost.In this episode:Surviving the North Tower and the long months at Ground ZeroThe health fallout and the gaps in care for civilian survivorsHow medicine and community helped John heal his Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI)Why small memorials matter, and the work of 911project.org🔗 911project.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Sep 8, 202657 min
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/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Sep 1, 20261h 3m
Ep. 161 - Thirty Days That Changed Everything
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Aug 4, 20261h 3m
Ep. 160 - From Wall Street to the Warfighter: A Critical Update
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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Jun 18, 202642 min
Ep. 159 - Operation Epic Fury: Why Proportional Warfare Is for Losers
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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About MAX Afterburner
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.
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