For 31 years, Sergeant Mike McGrew saw the darkest side of humanity—crime scenes, violence, addiction, suicide, and unimaginable loss. But when trauma, grief, and hopelessness nearly crushed him, God met him in the middle of the pain and completely transformed his life.

In this deeply moving episode of Your Biggest Breakthrough Podcast, Mike shares how he survived devastating personal tragedy, including losing both of his sons, battling stage 4 cancer, and years of emotional trauma as a police officer. He opens up about alcoholism, faith, healing, supernatural experiences, and how God led him to create a life-changing ministry helping first responders heal from trauma.

If you’ve ever struggled with grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, or feeling completely overwhelmed by life… this conversation will encourage you, strengthen your faith, and remind you that God is not done with your story.

Chapters

[00:00] Podcast Preview

[01:28] Topic and Guest Introduction

[04:20] Meet Sergeant Mike McGrew

[05:20] The Hidden Trauma of First Responders

[07:10] His Son’s Cancer Diagnosis Changed Everything

[09:05] Why Trauma Destroys So Many People

[11:22] Alcohol, Isolation & Emotional Shutdown

[13:22] The Chris Tomlin Concert That Changed His Life

[16:09] How Faith Transformed His Police Work

[17:40] Losing His Son to Suicide

[18:55] The Supernatural Signs After His Son’s Death

[21:40] Why Men Struggle to Ask for Help

[24:20] Turning Pain Into Purpose

[26:25] Why First Responders Avoid Therapy

[27:24] Creating 911 At Ease International

[30:34] Using Music to Help Heal Trauma

[32:15] Finding Purpose Through Pain

[34:24] Losing His Second Son to Addiction

[35:45] The Calls That Changed His Perspective

[37:50] Battling Stage 4 Cancer With Faith

[39:30] Miracles, Deliverance & Spiritual Warfare

[44:37] Conclusion

Resources mentioned:

911 At Ease International

A Higher Call to Duty

Guest's bio:

Sergeant Mike McGrew is a highly decorated 31-year veteran of the Santa Barbara Police Department, where he served as a major crimes homicide detective, hostage negotiator, and president of the Police Officers Association. A third-generation first responder, Mike dedicated his life to serving and protecting others while facing the harsh realities of violence, trauma, and loss on a daily basis.

Behind the badge, Mike endured profound personal battles, including failed marriages, his son’s cancer diagnosis and tragic loss, another son’s battle with addiction, and his own ongoing fight with stage 4 cancer. After years of silently carrying emotional trauma, Mike experienced a life-changing encounter with God that transformed his pain into purpose.

Today, Mike is the co-founder and executive director of 911 At Ease International, a nonprofit organization providing free and confidential counseling services to first responders and their families. He is also the author of A Higher Call to Duty, where he shares his remarkable journey of faith, healing, resilience, and breakthrough.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

What do you do when God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you expected? 💔 In this powerful episode, Naomie Katalika shares her heartbreaking story of losing her baby girl—and how she found unexpected joy, healing, and deeper faith in the middle of unimaginable pain. Watch now to discover how God can transform your pain into purpose.

If you’ve ever felt disappointed, confused, or abandoned by God… this conversation will speak straight to your heart.

Naomie opens up about:

• Losing her baby at 17 weeks (stillbirth)
• Wrestling with God through grief, anger, and disappointment
• Finding joy in pain—not after it
• How God uses broken seasons to build intimacy and purpose
• The power of healing your heart so you can heal others

This isn’t just a story of loss; it’s about transformation, faith, and discovering God in your darkest moments.

👉 Watch the full episode and experience a breakthrough for your own life.

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Podcast Preview

01:10 Topic and Guest Introduction

03:40 A Story That Stops You Cold

05:40 The Day Everything Changed: Losing My Baby Girl

09:06 Dealing with a "Sideways" Pregnancy & Loss

10:00 Resentment: When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer

10:47 The Wake-Up Call: Focusing on Present Blessings.

13:54 Shifting Perspective: From "Why Me?" to "What Now?"

16:57 Family History: Breaking the Cycle of Miscarriage

19:48 Can Joy and Pain Coexist?

22:27 Getting Raw and Honest with God

28:53 Expectations vs. Facts in the Hospital

34:48 Who is "Assigned" to Your Season of Grief?

38:58 Healed People Heal People: Creating a Legacy

42:50 The Mission: Healing 10,000 Hearts

📚 Resources Mentioned:

The Joy of Losing My Baby Girl by Naomie Katalika

Guest's bio and social handles:

Naomie Katalika is a devoted wife, mother of three boys, and a passionate advocate for emotional and spiritual healing. She is the author of The Joy of Losing My Baby Girl and the visionary behind Hearts Healing Hearts—a faith-driven movement dedicated to restoring and empowering broken hearts.

With over 20 years of leadership experience in the corporate world, Naomi brings both strength and compassion to her mission of helping others transform pain into purpose. Her life and message were profoundly shaped by her own personal loss, including the heartbreaking experience that inspired her book.

Through her story, Naomi shares a powerful truth: joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of God within it. Today, she is on a mission to see hearts healed across generations—equipping individuals, families, and communities to walk in wholeness, faith, and purpose. Naomi believes deeply that what you carry in your heart will overflow into others… and that healed people heal people.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!