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.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.