1 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: On this episode of the News World. As many of 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: our listeners know, I've been doing a series of podcasts 3 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: about ibogain and how it is helping veterans recover from 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: issues they face when they come home from their tour 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: of duty. Marcus Capone served our country for thirteen years 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 1: as the Navy Seal. He faced challenges like depression, isolation, 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: cognitive impairment due to a traumatic brain injury. His wife, Amber, 8 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: was determined to find a treatment plan that could help him. 9 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,639 Speaker 1: She found a clinic where he could undergo treatment with Ibogain. 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: The treatment and experience changed Marcus's life and led to 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 1: the founding of their nonprofit organization VETS, which stands for 12 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions in twenty nineteen. Since their founding, 13 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: they've helped hundreds of fellow veterans undergo Ibogain treatments. I'm 14 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: really pleased to welcome my guests, Marcus and Amber Capone. 15 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: Marcus is the co founder and chair of the board 16 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: of directors and Amber is the co founder and chief 17 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: executive officer of VETS. Marcus and Amber, welcome and thank 18 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: you for joining me on News World. 19 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 2: Yes, Speaker gamers, thank you so much. We welcome the opportunity, 20 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: were grateful for it. So thank you and thank you 21 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 2: for doing this story. And I have a gain when 22 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 2: this was presented to us almost nine years ago. Now, 23 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 2: probably like you, we thought this was a little outside 24 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 2: the box and a little different. But we appreciate you 25 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 2: doing a story because it's extremely important. 26 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: And Amber, we're glad to have you with us too. 27 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for your leadership on this. It's 28 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 3: an honor to be with you. 29 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: So Marcus, you served as a Navy seal for thirteen years, 30 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: much of that time deployed to combat zones. When you 31 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: transitioned out of the seal teams, what were the biggest 32 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: challenges you faced in adjusting to civilian life. 33 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: You know, I thought transitioning out would be extremely easy. 34 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: I thought I was ready. You know, I was really 35 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: burnt out. Towards the end of my military career. I 36 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: started having real symptoms of if you want to call 37 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: mental health, symptoms of depression and anxiety. I had a 38 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 2: history of traumatic brain injuries that I think were catching 39 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: up with me. And then the transition out. I went 40 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 2: to work in private banking. I went to work in 41 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 2: Beverly Hills, which is probably the worst thing I could 42 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: have done going from the sale teams crossing over in 43 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: the private sector. But it just got worse from there, speaker, 44 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 2: you know, it was really isolated. I kind of lost 45 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 2: that tribe, that safety net of really amazing individuals that 46 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: I had served with for so many years, and that's 47 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 2: your family. I was with those individuals for you know, 48 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 2: close to three hundred days a year, and it was 49 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: a shock to the system. And I think when you 50 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: take some challenges with mental health, some TBIs and then 51 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 2: transition into private sector life, it's kind of a storm. 52 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 2: And I was just experiencing isolation and anger and sadness. 53 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: You know, I was experiencing headaches, so I was having nightmares. 54 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 2: I mean, I was experiencing all the things that you 55 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: hear and read about. And unfortunately, for people like me, 56 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 2: you think you're the only one that's struggling, and so 57 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 2: you're afraid to reach out for help. You're afraid to 58 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,119 Speaker 2: talk to your friends and others. And what we're finally 59 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: realizing now that you're not the only one. There's many, unfortunately, 60 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 2: that are struggling out there, and we just need to 61 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: ask for help. And so twenty seventeen. Lucky for me, 62 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: Amber had been working in the background with a few 63 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 2: doctors and friends, and they enabled me to go receive 64 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: treatment outside the country. 65 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: Amber, how did you actually find eye again? 66 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 3: Honestly, I didn't find it myself. A friend suggested it 67 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 3: because he knew that we were struggling and thought that 68 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 3: it could be helpful for Marcus. He had a positive 69 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 3: experience with it and was able to direct us to 70 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 3: the clinic where Marcus would eventually go for treatment. Now, 71 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 3: I approached Marcus with this idea in twenty sixteen, and 72 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 3: for a year he was very reluctant because it was 73 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 3: more or less saying what is available in Mexico that 74 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 3: I can't get here in the United States were the 75 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 3: most medically advanced country in terms of healthcare in the world. 76 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 3: And I was able to convince him to go finally 77 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: after a year, because he tried all of these things 78 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 3: in the United States and they were unsuccessful. And when 79 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 3: you have someone who is used to achieving goals or 80 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 3: very driven to find relief and they're not finding relief, 81 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 3: that's where things can get dangerous. 82 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 1: Marcus, was your reluctance that it was going out of 83 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: the country or what slowed you down. 84 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: Really slowed me down? Was I didn't understand Initially this 85 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: was presented to me as a psychedelic right. I grew 86 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: up in Long Island playing ball. I went to a 87 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: hole boys Catholic high school in Queen's Holy Cross High 88 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: School like so for me, this was so far outside 89 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 2: my com for its own. It just didn't experience anything 90 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,359 Speaker 2: like this. And all I grew up understanding was, you know, 91 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 2: the War on drugs, psychedelics or recreational drugs, and that's 92 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: all I knew. And when I started diving into ibygain, 93 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: I realized that it wasn't traditional psychedelic. It was something 94 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:18,799 Speaker 2: that had been utilized for thousands of years for mental health, 95 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 2: for stomach ailments, for infections in the body. So this 96 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 2: was a medicine that had been used forever. It was 97 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 2: brought over in a Western society, and initially Western culture, 98 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: the French used this as a medicine. And so it 99 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 2: took me a while of my own research and talking 100 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 2: to individuals to say, hey, this is not a fun experience, 101 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: this is not a recreational drug, this is real work. 102 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: And there was an individual before me that was on 103 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 2: the brink of suicide and he did a one eight. 104 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 2: This was like your typical as you would consider tier 105 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: one operator that for thirty years, that had done multiple deployments. 106 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,919 Speaker 2: That was one of the hardest individuals that you know, 107 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: and is life changed and got better. And so for 108 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 2: me to see that was convincing that this is probably 109 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 2: something I should try. On another note, I don't know 110 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 2: if many people know this. On the low end, thirty 111 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 2: percent of US thirty percent of individuals speaker in the 112 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: US don't respond to traditional standards of care, and traditional 113 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: standards right now for US are really antidepressants and specific 114 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 2: types of talk therapy. On the high end, roughly fifty 115 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: or fifty five percent, so let's just say almost half 116 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 2: the population that's being treated for mental health cannot and 117 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 2: will not respond to the current treatments that are available. 118 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 2: It's just genetically biologically we won't respond, and so we 119 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 2: need access to treatments like ibeganan and others. I mean, 120 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 2: there's others coming. 121 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: You made the decision. How hard was it to get accepted. 122 00:06:59,279 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 2: I don't think it was. 123 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 3: I was actually handling a lot of the logistics of that. 124 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 3: It wasn't that hard for him to get a spot 125 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 3: at the clinic. But there were a lot of troubles, 126 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 3: you know, getting out of the country, and it's very 127 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 3: nerve wracking, especially for someone that's dealing with post traumatic 128 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: stress type symptoms, you know, to leave the safety of 129 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 3: the United States to go into Mexico, you know, without protection. 130 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 3: I can't speak from Marcus, but you know I can 131 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 3: tell you that from a logistics standpoint, it was quite 132 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 3: complicated and quite nerve wracking for me as well to 133 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 3: send him. 134 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: There were the complications, essentially government regulations. 135 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 2: What were the complications, Well, I begain like all psychedelics 136 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 2: in nineteen seventy were through the Controlled Substances Act. We're 137 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 2: all classified as schedule worn drugs. Scheduling drugs means one, 138 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: there's no health benefit to them. Number two, they have 139 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: a high risk of addiction, and we know now that 140 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: both of those are extremely untrue. These drugs will being 141 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: utilized now across the board over too under clinical trials 142 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 2: for medical use, for medical treatments, and we know many 143 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: of these psychedelics are actually non addictive, and there are 144 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: many folks going to retreats and clinics in countries where 145 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: they're legal or unregulated to actually get themselves off of opioids, 146 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: heroin stimulants, alcohol abuse, and so it's really the opposite. 147 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 2: So we're using these things to get people really off 148 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 2: of that fight with addiction that so many people have, 149 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: and so they were considered schedule one and so we 150 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 2: just don't have access here in the US, and we 151 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 2: also can't research them. That's the other part is all 152 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: the major academic institutions and AMBER can talk a little 153 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: bit about the new bill that was passed in California 154 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 2: called rap C, which will open up research. But for 155 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 2: years or research has been closed off, and so that's 156 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 2: what we've been trying to do since day one is 157 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 2: really just open up research. Research. Church provides data. Data 158 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 2: provides lawmakers with the ability to make rational decisions. 159 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: When you went down there, how long was the treatment process? 160 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 2: Consider the treatment like an impatient process. I begain tends 161 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 2: to be a little bit longer compared to some of 162 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 2: the other psychedelic treatments which can be shorter lasting. But 163 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: I began as a good twenty four hours where you're impatient, 164 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 2: you're doing blood work before you're doing your analysis, you 165 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: do an EKG, you're hooked up to a heart monitor. 166 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 2: This is an extremely medically supported experience, and we believe 167 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: as you bring these treatments to the US, they should 168 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: be clinician guided and medically supported as much as they can. 169 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 2: And I believe the new administration is extremely positive on 170 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 2: these treatments, but they also want to see this done 171 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 2: the right way. We don't want to happen what happened 172 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 2: in the sixties and seventies where these were abused as 173 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 2: recreational drugs. There's a real chance here to advance mental 174 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 2: health care like we've never seen it before through innovative treatments, 175 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 2: and we just need to do it the right way, 176 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: and the way to do it is through this medically 177 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: guided approach. 178 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: How many people are time tend to be at that clinic. 179 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,479 Speaker 3: That is sponsoring approximately five, you know, sometimes it fluctuates 180 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 3: between four and six, but five individuals per week who 181 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 3: are loading up in a van, crossing the border, heading 182 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 3: down for a five day clinical or retreat experience and 183 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: then back to the United States roughly five at a time. 184 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 2: I think it's safe to mention that through our nonprofit VETS, 185 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 2: we have supported over one thousand individuals, now spouses and 186 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 2: military veterans to receive access to this treatment and we 187 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 2: can't handle the demand. Speaker, the demand is overwhelming. We 188 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 2: probably get ten applications to every one grant that we 189 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: can award. 190 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: Is there a limit on how many of these sites 191 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: could be built in Mexico. 192 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: There's not a limit. The rate limiting factor, like everything else, 193 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 2: is proper train, proper licensing. I would say we're an 194 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 2: inning one and so if and when we get approval 195 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 2: in the US, there's gonna be a bottleneck. There's gonna 196 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: be a bottle neck and therapist, there's gonna be bottleneck 197 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: and providers. So it's definitely gonna take time. We're gonna 198 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 2: need to figure that piece out. It's not the part 199 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,839 Speaker 2: you know we're currently working on, but this is definitely 200 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 2: gonna be challenging. It's not going to be able to 201 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 2: just turn on overnight just because these are FDA approved. 202 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 3: The entire goal of our organization, honestly, is to not 203 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 3: have to rely on treatments being done in Mexico because 204 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 3: of the treatments are available here in the United States. 205 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 3: It's a necessary stop gap and it is not an 206 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 3: ideal long term solution. 207 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: So I go back to your personal experience. You arrived 208 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: on there. How long does the treatment take is a days, weeks, months? 209 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 2: The treatments overnight, let's just say the sun goes down 210 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: and you take medicine around eight or nine o'clock. By 211 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 2: four or five am in the morning, you're kind of 212 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: coming down off of this really intense experience, and then 213 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 2: within a few hours, most people can take a nap 214 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 2: or go to sleep. Some people, you know, may have 215 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 2: to stay up a little bit longer. It may still 216 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 2: be in the system, but it's a six to eight 217 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: hour peak experience with several hours after of kind of 218 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 2: a reflection time where you're dozing off into like twilight 219 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 2: where you're able to you know, take little cat naps, 220 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 2: and then by the evening of the next day you 221 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 2: should be able to go to sleep and you feel 222 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 2: one hundred percent the following day when you wake up. 223 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 2: Many individuals that we have supported through our program, it 224 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: can be a one and done. For others, there's a 225 00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 2: lot of things to work through, you know, especially if 226 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 2: there's cole moorming diagnosis. If a person has serious traumatic 227 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 2: brain injuries, they're really struggling with their mental health and 228 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 2: they're let's say, abusing alcohol, and individual may have to 229 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 2: go back a second time or a third time. We're 230 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 2: also seeing people ask and then just pay on their own. 231 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 2: Some people go for a yearly reset or they go 232 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 2: every two years, because it's like a reboot. You know, 233 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 2: our brains are filled up with the phones and the 234 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 2: laptops and the constant pinging. It's just like our cup 235 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 2: just keeps overflowing. This kind of allows the brain to 236 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 2: completely reset and give a person an opportunity to think 237 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 2: again versus just react to everything that's going on in society. 238 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: When you begin to realize how much this was changing 239 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: your life, how did the two of you decide that 240 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: you need to help others and that you needed to 241 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: found veterans exploring treatment solutions in twenty nineteen. How long 242 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: did that transition from your own experience to thank you 243 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: you had to share up with others. 244 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,080 Speaker 3: About an hour. No, I'll let Marcus answer that, but 245 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 3: it was very quick. 246 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, speaker geg Rich. So, I was so excited to 247 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 2: see Amber. Within the first forty eight hours, I just 248 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 2: felt this complete relief of just everything everything I feel 249 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 2: like I'd been dealing with over the last ten years. 250 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 2: And I gave her a huge hug and I said 251 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 2: this is exactly what the guys need. I mean, it 252 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: was like that simple. So within two hours, I said, 253 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: this is exactly what the guys need. And I don't 254 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 2: really know what that means because someone paid for my treatment. 255 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 2: These treatments are expensive and somewhere between five and ten 256 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 2: thousand dollars, and we need to figure out a way 257 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 2: to pay for that, right, that's the next part after 258 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 2: the FDA approves these treatments. But I said, immediately, this 259 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: is exactly what we need, and we need to figure 260 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: out a way to pay it forward. And that's really 261 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 2: was kind of the grassroots effort of what started. That's 262 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 2: received its five H one C three status in twenty 263 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 2: nineteen after its first application, and we haven't stopped or 264 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: looked back ever since. 265 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: When you take the drug, is it essentially reorganizing your 266 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: brain or what is it doing? 267 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 2: I think that's part of it. I think part of 268 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: it is like defragging your brain. I consider it where 269 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: you just have so much mush and information that's going on. 270 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 2: It kind of takes all that and it files it 271 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: for you. So I think it allows individuals to think 272 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 2: clearly again when they come out of it, because just 273 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 2: like a car or a computer system when there's just 274 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 2: too much going on, it just doesn't operate correctly. So 275 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 2: I would consider it defragging your brain in a way 276 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 2: and being able to organize your thoughts in a way. 277 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 3: It certainly seems as though there are common threads and 278 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 3: everyone's experiences. If you would have given us relief in 279 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 3: one of the four major categories that I'm again seems 280 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 3: to address, it would have been life changing. It was 281 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 3: more than I kind of ever asked for or dreamed 282 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 3: for that we would receive relief in all four. So 283 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 3: the first area is a deep psychological purging of trauma. 284 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 3: A lot of that trauma is rooted in childhood, definitely 285 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 3: some war trauma. I mean, we've witnessed hundreds, now over 286 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 3: one thousand other experiences and the trauma purging is very consistent. 287 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 3: It's very anti addictive. I begain has traditionally been used 288 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 3: for addiction, as full blown heroin addicts have come off 289 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 3: of heroin without any cravings are withdrawals. Also works for 290 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 3: alcohol use disorder, et cetera. So very anti addictive. Number 291 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 3: two number three, it's doing something in the brain physiologically, 292 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 3: and this is what doctor Nolan William Stanford's study was 293 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 3: so paramount to observe that it is having some sort 294 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 3: of profound physiological impact on the brain. And then the 295 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 3: fourth thing is it's creating connection, most notably connection back 296 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 3: to self, to God and then everything external from there, 297 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 3: so nature, relationships, family, purpose, community. This reconnection gives people 298 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 3: the will to want to live again. It's very profound. 299 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:19,880 Speaker 1: When you first talked to Marcus after the treatment, how 300 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: much did you notice the change immediately? 301 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 3: I have known Marcus since I was seventeen years old. 302 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 3: I don't want to date myself, but we're getting close 303 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 3: to three decades here. I never wanted to think that 304 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 3: the Marcus I met was completely gone, but he had 305 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,679 Speaker 3: turned into someone that I no longer recognized, and I 306 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 3: wanted some sembilance of the man that I married. It 307 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 3: was devastating to witness someone be willing to sacrifice their 308 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 3: life for this country, survive the wars, and come home 309 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 3: a shell of who you remember them to be, and 310 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 3: I wanted that relief for him. When I saw him, 311 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 3: it was immediately as though I was transported back to 312 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 3: not only the man I married, but the man that 313 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 3: I met. The charismatic larger than life, super easy going, 314 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 3: laid back. Just his presence was safe again. He was 315 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 3: himself again, and I immediately felt that energy shift, and 316 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 3: I was reminded of exactly who I met and fell 317 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 3: in love with within seconds. 318 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 2: Speaker Gengrish. I've had more than one person say like, 319 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 2: what'd you do? You have this glow and you look 320 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 2: ten years younger. And that wasn't just one person, that 321 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 2: was many. There's obviously something happening there when you kind 322 00:18:39,200 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 2: of repeat the same things. 323 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: You two created veterans explos or in treatment solutions or 324 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: vets as a nonprofit, how do you fund bets? What 325 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: you're undertaking is big. 326 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, it has been the honor of a lifetime. I 327 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 3: certainly think that it is why we were put on 328 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 3: this earth. I have a very deep Christian faith, so 329 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 3: this seemed to be in the beginning somewhat opposed to that. 330 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 3: I had to really reconcile that. And yet what I 331 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 3: have witnessed over the last eight years is this incredible 332 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 3: series of bondages being broken over all of these lives, 333 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 3: and these individuals who have given so much are reclaiming 334 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 3: their lives and living fully for perhaps the first time 335 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 3: in their adulthood. It is a huge undertaking, and we're 336 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,640 Speaker 3: one hundred percent supported through philanthropy, although I will tell 337 00:19:55,680 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 3: you every time that this is abundantly blessed, divinely blessed. 338 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 3: We are donor dependent, like I said, and so more 339 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 3: information can be found about Vet's on our website, which 340 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 3: is veslutions dot org. The bread and butter of this 341 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 3: is where we started supporting Marcus's friends and former teammates, 342 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,360 Speaker 3: which grew to all of the Sealed Community and now 343 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 3: all branches of Special Operations and now in many cases 344 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 3: all military. We're supporting the individuals who are leaving the country, 345 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 3: but we'll never get ahead of that demand. So we're 346 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 3: also supporting research like the Stanford ibagain study. When we 347 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 3: pair those voices from our programs alongside the data, we 348 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 3: can then advocate for state and federal policy change to 349 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 3: bring these treatments here in the United States. 350 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: Can you share with us, Marcus, what Amber's rule was 351 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: on how it evolved. 352 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 2: Amber's the savior here. The spouses of the military community. 353 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:58,919 Speaker 2: I really think the spouses of many of us that 354 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 2: are away doing what we love. The spouses are at 355 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 2: home taking care of the family, really holding it all together. 356 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 2: Amber's just been such a steadfast I call her my 357 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 2: guardian angel. She's done everything. She saved me, she saved 358 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 2: our marriage, she saved our family, and she is such 359 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 2: a north star to other spouses out there that are 360 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 2: really struggling and really searching for something. She's just a 361 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 2: voice for them because she's been there and done that. 362 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 2: And she's been a starter since she's been a child. 363 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 2: She used to play games when she was ten years 364 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 2: old about building a company and building a retail store, 365 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 2: and so she's just always been an entrepreneur. She had 366 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,959 Speaker 2: her own real estate team back in the day, and 367 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 2: then when this started, she was the founder of Vets 368 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 2: and now she's the CEO, and she's just a go getter. 369 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 2: And I think sometimes we forget, but she's the one. 370 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 2: I call her the engine. I'm just the paint that 371 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 2: you can change colors, but she's really the one that 372 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 2: keeps the thing going every day. So I owe it 373 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 2: all to my baby. Thanks. 374 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: I'm really curious, ever, you seem to have had a 375 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:08,199 Speaker 1: very dramatic growth over these last six years. Can you 376 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: sort of share with us how when from being a 377 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 1: dream to being a real organization. 378 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 3: Well, I will say, first and foremost, it's been abundantly 379 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 3: divinely blessed. It doesn't make human sense how we have 380 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 3: been able to achieve such market growth. But I will 381 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 3: also say that when you pair something that's so efficacious 382 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 3: within a community that has such high levels of trust 383 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 3: and suffering, everyone wants to share this with someone that 384 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 3: they know. We take care of one another. And so 385 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 3: I think that we have been effective in keeping up 386 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 3: with the demand to a certain point. But ultimately the 387 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 3: growth that needs to continue from here is really at 388 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 3: the governmental level. We can simply not meet the demand 389 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 3: despite the market growth we've experienced. 390 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: Part of it also has beens. I understand it that 391 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: you have a direct effect on the suicide rate among veterans. 392 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 3: I would certainly like to think so our driving goal 393 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 3: is to end veteran suicide. It's a lofty goal, but 394 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:14,439 Speaker 3: we have to ask ourselves why are we fighting the 395 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:19,880 Speaker 3: suicide epidemic, which is largely unchanged and grossly underreported. Why 396 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 3: are we fighting that epidemic with medications linked to suicide? 397 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 3: The primary tools and the VA healthcare system are SSRIs, antidepressants, 398 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 3: and talk therapy, And every antidepressant bottle comes with a 399 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 3: warning label on the side that it could increase suicidality. 400 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 3: That to me is asinine. Why are we fighting suicide 401 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 3: with medications linked to suicide? There's a better way? 402 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 1: Well, I was shocked. Apparently for younger veterans one hundred 403 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: and forty five, suicide's the second leading cause of death. 404 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you think about the post nine to eleven 405 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 3: era soldier. The first time in American history, Street that 406 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 3: our military has been forward deployed for two decades of 407 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:10,439 Speaker 3: sustained combat. Marcus went to Buds in two thousand. His 408 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 3: Buds is Navy seale training. His Bud's roommate is still serving. 409 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 3: So we're talking about over twenty five years of service 410 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 3: and now transitioning out of the military at fifty ish. 411 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 3: What do we have to offer him as a nation. 412 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 3: How is he supposed to transition into civilian life after 413 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 3: so much combat and be unscathed, And how are we 414 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,199 Speaker 3: supposed to meet him with the current tools that are available. 415 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: It's kind of like we're way behind the curve. Texas 416 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: and California and other states are doing very positive things 417 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: in this direction. Could you come and just REMNTEO what's 418 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: happening at the state level. 419 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 3: Sure, the biggest win thus far on ibigain has certainly 420 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 3: been in the state of Texas, which is where we reside. 421 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 3: And Texas just shows up to support its veterans. So 422 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 3: when we were able to get behind this bill and 423 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 3: take grant recipients mark Is included to the state capital 424 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 3: to share their stories, it moved lawmakers in a very 425 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 3: significant way. So Texas is the first state and only 426 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 3: state to appropriate fifteen million dollars for i BE again 427 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 3: clinical trials, which will happen right here in the state 428 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 3: of Texas. That will be matched by fifty million dollars 429 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 3: from a drug developer and in working with the FDA, 430 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 3: i begain trials will begin. Now. I begain does have 431 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 3: cardiac risks, it's not risk free, so the necessity of 432 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 3: doing this in a medical setting cannot be overstated. 433 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 2: Amber, do you want to add about the recent win 434 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:47,439 Speaker 2: in California. 435 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 3: California is I would say less impactful. It's really just 436 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 3: getting step one out of the way so that we 437 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 3: can to do something more aggressive next session. But California, 438 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:03,120 Speaker 3: in essence high had some additional delays in Schedule one 439 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,719 Speaker 3: research that we were able to successfully mitigate this session 440 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 3: with plans to go back next session. But there are 441 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 3: other states that are very interested, particularly in ibagain, and 442 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 3: a lot of those states have massive opioid dependency issues. Ibogain, 443 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 3: of course, is the premier treatment for opioid dependency. So 444 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 3: I think that veterans are largely leading the way for 445 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,679 Speaker 3: many other indications which could be addressed with ibagain, But 446 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 3: the research is lacking, and that's where the needs to start. 447 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: I've done an interview about the study at Stanford, but 448 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: Ohio State they're also looking at the impact in terms 449 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: of people recovering. 450 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:51,159 Speaker 3: We actually have worked with doctor Allen Davis said Ohio 451 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 3: State for a number of years, and he will soon 452 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 3: begin publishing the data that he's collected on the VETS program, 453 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 3: and the vast majority of those study participants have chosen 454 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,440 Speaker 3: to do I be again in Mexico. 455 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 1: What are the key steps that citizens should be asking 456 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: for in order to accelerate access to IB again for veterans. 457 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 3: What my experience has been is that we are all 458 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 3: united by one degree of separations through suffering, and we 459 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 3: all know someone who has suffered either with depression or 460 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 3: suicidal ideation, chemical dependency, et cetera. So I think that 461 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 3: there's a real impetus for the American people to better 462 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 3: understand options that might be available that are currently not 463 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 3: accessible here in the United States. So a robust education 464 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 3: campaign is necessary, and approaching this with caution and curiosity 465 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 3: is an important next step as well. That we'll be 466 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,360 Speaker 3: advocating again at the state and federal levels of government 467 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 3: for reducing barriers to research and expanding access to care. 468 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,359 Speaker 3: But I think ibagain holds so much promise that that 469 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:09,400 Speaker 3: will always be our driving vision for where we take this. 470 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: I'm really curious you got a chance to talk directly 471 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,359 Speaker 1: with Secretary Doug Collins. What would your message to him be? 472 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 3: If I have the opportunity to sit down with Secretary Collins, 473 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 3: I would first of all say that I know he 474 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 3: wants better for our veterans. That's evident. I also understand 475 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 3: that he's trapped by much of the bureaucratic red tape 476 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 3: that exists in DC. At the end of the day, 477 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 3: the treatments that are currently available for our veterans are 478 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 3: not working. Marcus oftentimes says that battlefield tactics must evolve 479 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 3: with each generation of warfighter. We are still using tactics 480 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 3: that were developed thirty five years ago. In terms of SSRIs, 481 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 3: the veterans suicide rate is unchanging and it's grossly underreported. 482 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 3: So how can we work together and creating research that 483 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 3: can produce data that leads to outcomes. VETS was recently 484 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 3: tasked with putting together a coalition to work on this 485 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 3: topic in Washington, d C. And I'm proud to say 486 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 3: that on day one of our launch of the Valor Coalition, 487 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 3: we were able to sit down with the Chief of 488 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 3: Staff for Doug Collins, and he's very willing to listen. 489 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 3: We just need to find ways in which we can 490 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 3: work together. So Valor is a coalition of four founding 491 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 3: members that plan to go the distance on this topic 492 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 3: in DC. Alongside the VA, it's VETS, the Navy Sale Foundation, 493 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 3: the Greenbery Foundation, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Other organizations 494 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 3: will surely sign on to support. But I'm very optimistic 495 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 3: about what we can do with this administration and what 496 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 3: we could do with Secretary Collins inside the VA. 497 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 1: You have an upcoming Netflix documentary. 498 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 3: Tell us about that, Marcus Neudegg that one he's the 499 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 3: star of the documentary one of three. 500 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm the subject. As I say, I'm still waiting 501 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 2: for my tea shirt from the directors to say lead subject. 502 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 2: We were approached by Participant Media a number of years 503 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 2: ago when they heard this story. And usually when someone 504 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 2: has an idea for a movie, they write a story 505 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,239 Speaker 2: and they pitch it to a production company and then 506 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 2: they go out for funding. Well, this happened the opposite. 507 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 2: They had heard about these two individuals that were funding 508 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 2: special operations veterans, initially Navy seals to go receive treatment, 509 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 2: you know, in countries where they were legal, and that 510 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 2: was Amber and I, and they flew us up to 511 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 2: their offices and they just said, hey, we want to 512 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 2: fund this story. We think it's so powerful. And we said, hey, 513 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 2: we think this could potentially, you know, change the world, 514 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 2: change the future of mental health care if we do 515 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 2: this the right way. And so they wanted to tell 516 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 2: that story, and so we filmed for the last five years, 517 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 2: tons of interviews, and they tied the story around three 518 00:30:56,000 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 2: of us, myself and two just incredible Navy seals that 519 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 2: I worked with and served it for many years, DJ 520 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 2: Shipley and Matt Roberts, and we just had a story together. 521 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 2: Matt Roberts was part of unfortunately the Loan Survivor Task 522 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 2: Unit initially on that helicopter and got off that helicopter 523 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 2: before it took off, and unfortunately we lost all the 524 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 2: individuals on that helicopter. And then and DJ Shipley worked 525 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 2: together in their second platoon and there was a major 526 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 2: injury there, and so there was just a story that 527 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 2: was tied together. But the long story short of it 528 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 2: is that all three of us kind of came back 529 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 2: and got whole again through I began treatment and I 530 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 2: helped those individuals seek out that treatment and kind of 531 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 2: walk them through the whole process and same thing. Their 532 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 2: families were saved, they were saved, and they just wanted 533 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 2: to pay it forward. So it's a really beautiful story. 534 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 2: It's a bit intense. They open it up with a 535 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 2: little bit of hey, here's the history of what sale 536 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 2: teams look like, just to show everybody what it's like. 537 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 2: But then it goes into what I began is, and 538 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 2: then what the treatment is, and then they go into 539 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 2: the Stanford study, so speaker, they kind of tie in 540 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,719 Speaker 2: everything and so it's really powerful, powerful story. 541 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 3: It premieres on Netflix November third, so I hope you'll 542 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 3: be able to watch it. 543 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: Well, that's great and if people do want to help you, 544 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: what's the best way they can support you. 545 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 3: There are donation links on our website as well as 546 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 3: our social media accounts. That solutions dot org is our website. 547 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 3: We're on all platforms of social media, as well as 548 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:37,320 Speaker 3: simple Google search of veterans ib again Marcus, Amber Capone, 549 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 3: that will probably lead people there. But the website again 550 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 3: is vetsolutions dot org. 551 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: Dan Bryan Marcus, I want to thank you first of 552 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: all for serving the country. I want to thank you 553 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: for the pioneering work you're doing to help others, and 554 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: I want to thank you for joining me. Our listeners 555 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: can find out more about the incredible work you're doing 556 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: by visiting your website at vetsolutions dot org, which we 557 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 1: will have on our show page. But thank you very 558 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: much for being. 559 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 3: With me, thank you for having us, Thank you, Thank you. 560 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 1: My guest Marcus and Amberka Hoome. You can get a 561 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: link to vets on our show page at neutworld dot com. 562 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: New World is produced by Ginglish three sixty and iHeartMedia. 563 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Guarnsey Sloan. Our researcher is Rachel Peterson. 564 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 1: The artwork for the show was created by Steve Penley. 565 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: Special thanks to team at Ginlishtree sixty. If you've been 566 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: enjoying newts World, I hope you'll go to Apple Podcasts 567 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: and both rate us with five stars and give us 568 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: a review so others can learn what it's all about. 569 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:42,360 Speaker 1: Right now, listeners of New World can sign up for 570 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: my three free weekly columns at ginglishtree sixty dot com 571 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:50,240 Speaker 1: slash newsletter. I'm Newt Gingrich. This is Newsworld