Today we’d like to introduce you to Orion “Bad Karma” Mata.
Hi Orion “Bad Karma”, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a U.S. Army Military Policeman Veteran and 30-year law enforcement professional. I spent my entire adult life on the front lines of public safety as a Patrolman, School Resource Officer, Detective, Federal Task Force Officer, federal court-recognized drug trafficking expert, NRA Certified firearms instructor, SRT Operator, Police Sniper, and Defensive Tactics instructor. I realized that a book full of accommodations, and awards is not the legacy I want to leave behind. It’s the memories of days at the lake, lounging around the house, family vacations and the love I show to the people around me that make my legacy last for generations.
I have a beautiful wife, three sons, a daughter, and three wonderful grandchildren. Over my 30 plus years in law enforcement my relationship with my family was strained to mere threads, but after making a conscious decision to work on myself, I can say those relationships are rebuilding even stronger. This career has taken its toll on me mentally and physically, but my mind is healthy again, and I have dropped over 85 pounds since November of 2024, and can say I’m in the best physical shape of my life.
Beyond the badge, I channel that same tactical discipline into raw creativity and leadership, whether I’m writing gritty psychological thrillers, shaping raw lumber into custom woodwork, leading the Shepherds Public Safety Motorcycle Club, or working with other Veterans and First Responders on their life reset goals through my unique One Notch at a Time program.
My perspective is forged in the trenches of real-world experience, and I approach every project, story, and mission with a relentless commitment to live purposefully and stay deadly. I’ve been through the void, almost losing my marriage, my family, and almost losing my daughter to suicide. I have taken what I learned through all of that and developed a program to help my Veteran and First Responder community to either avoid those same pitfalls, or if they’ve already fallen, a path to get back to where they want to be. Health and mental wellness are my new mission. I have developed the discipline to stay on track, regardless of what life throws at me. I’m bringing my knowledge back to the front lines in the form of Bad Karma Coaching. I have established an online presence for my brand, and post about the struggles of Veterans and First Responders along with my own personal story of my struggles. My main focus is on accountability, self-regulation, discipline, and mental and physical health. I know from my own experience, that you cannot become a whole person if you don’t like who you see in the mirror, whether that is physically or mentally.
I have developed an 8-week program designed as a complete life reset for Veterans and First Responders. The program is called One Notch at a Time program and is based on the premise that we didn’t get unhealthy overnight, it took one notch at a time in the duty belt to get out of shape and that is how we are going to get back on track. It is a squad-based program, with weekly roundtable cohort sessions, designed to talk about different issues every week. By sharing out struggles, we begin to realize other people are going through similar things and can use our collective experience to start the healing process. Those issues range from nutrition and fitness to more serious topics like hypervigilance, disconnection with family, making friends outside of our field, alcohol abuse, etc. There is a workout and nutrition program, a daily protocol to improve sleep, lower cortisol, reconnect with one’s spouse and children, and taking time for yourself. I took different things I’ve learned over the years of recovery, to build a comprehensive outline for my program and make it a total life reset.
I also published my second book earlier this year. “Murderous Daydreams,” is a psychological thriller that follows a young woman plagued with violent daydreams, only to find out those daydreams are happening in real life. the murderer is a highly trained black budget government asset, that makes his murders look like suicides or accidents. I have my previous book “Our Friend Abe” which is now an audiobook available on all major platforms. I am currently working on two more novels that I hope to get published by the end of the year. One of them will be an autobiography, told in a fantasy world of knights, wizards, and dark kingdoms. It will be based on my revelations that, I have been fighting my whole life to build a legacy my own father never left behind, and that debt was never mine to pay.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I honestly wouldn’t want an easy road, because what fun is that? Nothing that comes easy is worthwhile, nor is it cherished. The biggest challenge for me was getting behind the camera and telling my story. It wasn’t because of a fear of public speaking, it was an ego thing that I had to overcome. At first, it felt awkward and I wasn’t sure if people wanted to hear what I had to say. I will say that I know my story is important, and a message of vulnerability coming from a 30-year law enforcement officer and veteran holds weight among the community I am trying to help. I’ve done a couple podcast appearances and told my story, and the more I talk the easier it becomes.
I held the belief that my struggles were my own, and that I needed to handle them privately. While I may not go into specifics about some issues, I can generalize enough to make an impact through my work. I genuinely love my new path, and although it gets frustrating at times, I know I am on the verge of helping thousands of people like me who struggle with putting the armor away and walking in the front door as a loving father or wife. It’s never too late to make that change and forge a new path through life, leaving behind a legacy of love and understanding that will last for generations.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
From a professional standpoint, I have worked in law enforcement for over 30 years. Starting out in the Army as a military policeman for 8.5 years and then moving to the civilian side. I did over ten years at a federal task force, where I was extremely successful in fighting the drug epidemic that is plaguing our community. The federal cases I investigated resulted in over 1,000 combined years of prison sentences and not one of those cases ever went to trial. I have been on SRT or SWAT for the majority of my career and also a police sniper. I found my time at the task force to be the most challenging and at the same time most rewarding. Knowing I was making a difference, because the drugs we were getting off the street were drugs that wouldn’t be there for someone to try for the first time. We also took some very violent people off the street, and with the federal sentencing guidelines they received significant prison time.
Personally, building my coaching brand and writing books has been a true adventure, and has become my real passion in life. Knowing the program, I built will either get people out of the pit this career field creates or giving them the tools to avoid it is very rewarding. I realize that I am a wealth of knowledge and I have the respect of my peers who trust me to listen when needed, guide them when asked, and put a boot in their butt when necessary. My program is not an “Admin-Approved,” touchy feely course, but a real-life reality check with some stringent protocols to address years of damage in 8-weeks.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m interested in podcast appearances, speaking engagements, and local Veteran and First Responder wellness events. The biggest thing people can do to support me is give me a follow, on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or YouTube and then like and share my content. If you are or know a Veteran or First Responder that is struggling with his or her health, or in their relationships with friends and family share this story or send them one of my videos that you think they would connect with. I have two podcast appearances where I tell my story, and how I recovered from the mental trauma of the job, with a few more that will be coming out later this year.
Podcast links:
A lot of my videos are very raw and I tell it like it is, but sometimes that’s just the wakeup call people need to check themselves.
Pricing:
- $2,500 for the 8-week program
- $1,500 for the first 40 participants in the program
- Speaking fees vary, but hotel and travel to be covered
- $6,000 Executive 6-month program designed specifically for high level executives.
- $50,000 Corporate program for up to 10 leaders, focuses on leadership, health and communication.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.badkarmacoaching.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orionbadkaramamata
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orionbadkarmamata
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orion-mata-2344753b6
- Twitter: https://x.com/Bkarma1513
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@badkarmapublications
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@badkarma_1513
