In this powerful pre-journey conversation, TMFK! and Eli Gerhard—both veterans who have been through Ibogaine and 5-MEO-DMT—sit down with fellow veteran Mike Fransiolli as he prepares for his first Ibogaine experience. Together, they walk through the real thoughts, fears, and questions that come up before the medicine, while also sharing what brought them to their own breaking points: depression, emotional shutdown, hidden drinking, compartmentalization, and the “closet door” of stored trauma so many veterans carry.

This is the before story—raw, unfiltered, and honest. A look inside the moment when someone decides they’re ready to step into healing and fight for their life again

Links:

The Mission within Foundation

Donald Hoffman

Wisdom Dojo

Polestar coffee

Cadence Wealth Partners -Nick O'Kelly

GUEST INFO

Eli Gerhard

Retired US Army and former member of the 160th SOAR, offroad- motor sport enthusiast, Veteran advocate and board member with The Mission Within. Helps connect warriors to psychedelic-assisted healing after hitting his own breaking point and returning transformed.

Mike Fransioli

Retired US Army and former 160th SOAR crew chief turned UH-60 maintenance test pilot (MTP). Mike openly shares his pre-journey story for the first time and the moment he decided to seek true healing.