Lately, I’ve been thinking about peace and realizing how terrible I am at it.

Christmas is supposed to be joyful, but I’m stressed out, overwhelmed, and turning into a version of myself I don’t even like. We’re obsessed with being busy and perfect, and it’s messing everything up.

I caught myself being completely un-peaceful more times than I want to admit and had to call my own bullshit on it. So sorry, this episode isn’t some feel-good pep talk. It’s me being real about where I’m at, what I’m trying to unlearn, and why I’m done with chaos in 2026.

That’s all.
Merry Christmas!

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Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production

If you haven't heard the first three conversations I recorded with Major General Terry “Max” Haston, go listen to those now!

In Part 4 of my conversation with Major General Terry “Max” Haston, we pick up right where we left off: Pushing past the polite version of leadership and getting into the messy, uncomfortable truth.

We talk about what really happens behind the scenes when someone climbs the ranks in the military… the jealousy, the backstabbing, the politics, and the weight of responsibility that nobody outside the uniform sees. Max opens up about becoming a general, losing friends in the process, and why firing people (even people he loved) broke his heart.

Then we go straight into the topics everyone tiptoes around: Memphis. Chicago. Crime. National Guard deployments. Veterans. Homelessness. The VA system. Unions. Bureaucracy. What’s getting better, what’s getting worse, and what flat-out pisses us off.

If you’ve been listening to Parts 1–3, you already know: Max doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and I’m not here to interrupt him with polite talking points. I’m here to ask the questions most people are too scared to ask, and he answers them with the honesty of someone who’s actually lived it.

This conversation isn’t meant to change your mind, but it is meant to challenge your thinking. Take what resonates, question what doesn’t, and let’s get into it.

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It’s just me this week and I am here to admit a couple hard truths I’d rather not, but here we are. After skipping out on Career Day at Mac's school I realized I’ve somehow started to think that being “just a mom” isn’t enough, even though I get on this podcast all the time talking about how motherhood is literally the most important job out there.

I’m also diving into the hilarious (and slightly alarming) differences between raising boys and girls especially now that Charlie has cracked the code to my phone and is basically a tiny fashion critic with zero filter. Her obsession with screens has me rethinking my own habits and relationship with screens.

If you’re a mom who needs a reminder that what you do actually matters, or you just want to feel seen in the chaos this one’s for you.

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Liz Durham Instagram | Website
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Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production

If you haven't heard the first two conversations I recorded with Major General Terry “Max” Haston, go listen to those now!

In this third part of my conversation with Major General Terry “Max” Haston, we are not pulling punches. I’m done with surface-level takes and polite conversations. This episode gets into the real, uncomfortable truths about the U.S. military, global power, and what’s actually happening behind the headlines.

Max shares stories that sound unreal, like hitting golf balls near Saddam’s courthouse, and then turns around and breaks down the current state of our military in a way that’s impossible to ignore. We get into the hard questions: Are we helping Ukraine or draining ourselves dry? Are China and Russia thinking ten steps ahead while we’re reacting to yesterday’s problems? And what happens when we place too much faith in technology and forget the basics of actual readiness?

We talk Iraq, we talk global conflict strategy, we talk the threats most people don’t even know to fear, including what happens if we ever face a true EMP scenario. Max has been in the rooms where decisions get made. He’s seen it. He understands it. And he’s not sugarcoating a thing.

If you want a sanitized, diplomatic conversation, this is not that episode. But, if you’re ready to hear what’s really going on in the world of modern warfare, buckle up. This might just change the way you see everything.

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Liz Durham Instagram | Website
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Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production

This one’s probably going to ruffle some feathers, but when do they not? I want to revisit my earlier episode about why we chose not to do my son’s summer packet and clarify what I actually meant. It’s not about being anti-school. It’s about kids being kids, following their interests, and parents having a real voice in their child’s education.

I’m sharing what happened after that episode aired, including my meeting with my child's school, why I stand by what I said (yes, including the F word), and why I think the conversation around parental partnership, school policies, and childhood itself has gotten so messy.

If you’re a teacher, administrator, or parent, I would LOVE to actually talk about this. Let’s stop being afraid of disagreement and start having real conversations again.

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Liz Durham Instagram | Website
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Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production

If you haven’t listened to part one of this conversation, do that now!

In this second part of my conversation with Major General Terry “Max” Haston, I sit down ready to ask the questions most people tiptoe around. I’ve always believed you can support the troops and still challenge the story we’ve been told about military service, and Max meets me there with honesty, grit, and zero sugarcoating.

We get into what deployment really feels like and Max breaks down what it’s like to bounce between war zones and everyday civilian life. He shares about the pressure of leading people who depend on you, and the hard truth that budgeting and bureaucracy can shape missions just as much as bravery does.

What struck me most is the way he talks about leadership. Hearing him describe the resilience it takes to train, deploy, adapt, and still come home standing hits a lot deeper than the patriotic slogans we’re all used to.

If you’ve ever questioned the narrative, wondered what service actually demands of a person, or wanted to understand the human being inside the uniform, this episode is where that conversation starts.

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Liz Durham Instagram | Website
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Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production

In part one of my conversation with Major General Terry “Max” Haston, we go back to where it all began. Terry grew up in small-town Middle Tennessee, surrounded by family, faith, and a deep sense of duty. He opens up about what life was like in the 1970s, how the Vietnam War shaped his generation, and what drew him to ROTC and a lifetime of service.

What struck me most was how clear his purpose was, even early on. From those small beginnings to his first military assignments, you can see the through line of integrity, courage, and commitment that defines his leadership today.

If you’ve ever wondered what true service looks like, or how a leader is shaped long before the uniform, this conversation will stick with you.

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This week I sit down with Michelle Compton, one of the most impactful teachers in my kids’ lives, for a conversation every parent needs to hear. Michelle opens up about her journey from public schools to private education, the mentors who shaped her, and why she believes childhood should be full of curiosity, play, and joy.

We talk about what’s broken in our schools, from standardized testing to one-size-fits-all curriculums, and how she’s built a classroom that looks and feels completely different. Michelle shares how Reggio Emilia, inquiry-based learning, and maker spaces are transforming the way kids engage and grow.

If you’ve ever questioned the system or wondered what education could look like when kids (not tests) come first, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

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Liz Durham Instagram | Website
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Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production