Navy SEAL on PTSD, Ibogaine & Rebuilding His Marriage After War | Marcus & Amber Capone
The Gabby Reece ShowSummary
Amber and Marcus Capone share their transformative journey through the challenges of military life, mental health struggles, and the healing power of psychedelics. Their relationship faced significant strain during Marcus's time as a Navy SEAL, particularly after the events of 9/11, which led to numerous deployments. Amber describes the emotional toll of raising their children alone and the gradual distancing that occurred between them. Despite the hardships, she emphasizes the importance of love and commitment, which ultimately kept their family together.
The couple discusses Marcus's battle with PTSD and the unsuccessful attempts at traditional treatments, including pharmaceuticals and therapy. It wasn't until a friend introduced them to Ibogaine, a psychedelic treatment, that they found a path to healing. Marcus recounts his intense experiences during the treatment, which allowed him to confront past traumas and emerge with a renewed sense of self. Amber highlights the importance of integration after such experiences, noting how they have both learned to communicate better and support each other in their healing journeys.
Now, they are dedicated to helping other veterans through their nonprofit organization, VETS, which provides funding for psychedelic treatments and advocates for policy changes to improve mental health resources for veterans. They stress the urgent need for effective solutions, given the alarming rates of veteran suicide and the limitations of conventional treatments. Through their podcast, "Conversations with the Capones," they aim to share their story and provide guidance to others navigating similar challenges, emphasizing the power of love, resilience, and community support in overcoming adversity.
Show Notes
Some marriages get tested by distance. This one got tested by war, by silence, and by a version of a man that combat left behind. In this episode, I sit down with Marcus Capone, a retired Navy SEAL of 13 years, and his wife Amber Capone, co-founder and CEO of VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions). We walk through the true cost of elite military service and their recovery, individually and as a couple. Marcus speaks candidly about compartmentalization, a survival skill that protects a SEAL in combat but erodes his home life, his drinking habits, treatments that failed him, and a period when suicide felt logical. Amber talks about her resentment and the personal work that freed her from waiting to be rescued.
It's a story of refusing to stay stuck, and of a treatment that changed everything afterward.
What we explore: - How deployment trains you to compartmentalize, and why that skill quietly erodes a marriage. - Why conventional PTSD treatments failed Marcus, and the undiagnosed traumatic brain injury behind it. - What ibogaine treatment actually involves and what shifts after. - How Amber healed through therapy, faith, and surrender rather than waiting on Marcus. - Why heavy drinking and pharmaceuticals became coping tools, and what finally broke the cycle. - Why roughly 17 veterans die by suicide daily, and what VETS is building to change it.
Chapters: 00:00 A Navy SEAL Couple's Journey to Healing 02:17 Choosing the SEAL Path After 9/11 06:17 Raising Kids Alone as a SEAL Wife 11:41 The BUD/S Mindset That Changes You 16:21 What Constant Deployments Do to a Family 18:09 How SEAL Wives Compartmentalize Marriage 21:26 Life After the Teams and Losing Purpose 29:35 Why He Left the SEALs for Banking 35:24 The Therapy Breakthrough That Saved Amber 43:34 How Suicidal Thoughts Start With Numbing 45:57 Why Ibogaine Worked After Everything Failed 52:56 What Happens During an Ibogaine Trip 01:01:00 How Amber Saw Her Husband Change 01:05:08 Fighting FDA Barriers to Fund Veteran Healing 01:08:31 How to Support Veterans With PTSD
About Marcus and Amber Capone: Marcus Capone served 13 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL before facing a harder battle at home: depression, TBI, PTSD, and treatments that never held. Amber Capone supported that career while raising their family, then drove the search for what conventional medicine missed. In 2019 they co-founded VETS, a nonprofit expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans through treatment grants, research, and policy reform
Connect with Marcus and Amber Capone: Website: https://thecapones.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@conversationswiththecapones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcus_amber_capone Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ssUKN0CoCBU0SRDqFCYIu
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The Gabby Reece Show
This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece:
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