Michael Lopez (Escaping Gang Life, Overcoming Addiction and the Healing Power of Service) - Episode 290
Behind The Shield
James Geering
4.9 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 7 February 2026
⏱️ 101 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Michael Lopez turned a life of addiction and gang life into a degree in forensic psychology and the genesis of Mission Echo, helping feed the homeless on Skid Row. We discuss childhood trauma, the tribal element of gangs, addiction, finding the power to change, altruism and much more.
As a young man, Michael Lopez found himself on a path of gang life and addiction. One day, he made the decision to turn his life around. He now is a Forensic Psychology graduate and the man behind Mission Echo, feeding Skid Row’s homeless.
Mission Echo: https://www.instagram.com/mission_echo/
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode is sponsored by 511 Tactical, a company who I've used for well over a decade now |
| 0:04.8 | and who are reaching out to you guys, the audience, to offer you 15% not only off one purchase, |
| 0:11.4 | but an ongoing 15% that will only ever be trumped if something is even for sale for a higher |
| 0:16.9 | discount than that 15%. |
| 0:18.5 | I'm going to give you that discount code in just a moment, but I want to talk about another product and showcase that, and that is the AMP, which is the |
| 0:25.5 | All Missions Pack. So what they've done with this, they've taken an extremely comfortable backpack, |
| 0:30.5 | you know, hiking quality with some incredible webbing and straps to really even out that load. |
| 0:35.3 | But they've added what they call the gear set. I think this is |
| 0:38.1 | extremely pertinent for us because we are Jack of All Trays Master of None and we're not just a firefighter |
| 0:43.6 | a police officer. You're a father. You're an athlete. You're a hiker. You're a gun owner. Whatever it is |
| 0:49.3 | that you use. And so each of these sets can be added to the pack or taken off. So for me personally, I have the shove it kit, which allows me to put in brush gear and actually slide my helmet in there if I deploy on a brush fire. There is a med pouch, which I think doubles very well for a wash bag. Again, I snap it on if I go to the station, and then I can remove it for the next two days when I don't need it. |
| 1:11.2 | So it allows you to have one backpack that's extremely versatile. |
| 1:14.8 | There's also an element where if you do have weapons, you're going to the range, you can have a |
| 1:19.1 | short barrel rifle in there. |
| 1:20.2 | There's a concealed carry pocket. |
| 1:22.3 | So extremely versatile all around one specific backpack. |
| 1:26.4 | So the discount code for this and anything else on |
| 1:29.0 | their site is Shield 15, S-H-I-E-L-D-1-5. And as I said, that will get you a discount over and over again |
| 1:37.0 | if you go to www.511 Tactical.com. Welcome to episode 290 of Behind the Shield podcast. |
| 1:46.1 | As always, my name's James Gearing, and this week I am extremely excited to welcome on the show, |
| 1:50.6 | Michael Lopez. |
| 1:52.3 | Now, Michael has an incredibly powerful story that I was given a glimpse of through one of the |
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