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In this episode of Not Special, we sit down with a retired Command Sergeant Major to unpack one of the most powerful and overlooked stories from the war in Ramadi.

What begins as a conversation about leadership quickly becomes something much deeper.

You’ll hear firsthand what it was like leading soldiers during one of the most dangerous periods of the Iraq War—where attacks were constant, casualties were mounting, and survival was never guaranteed.

At the center of this story is Sergeant Marquise Quick, a soldier who made a split-second decision that saved the lives of his teammates.

This episode explores:

• The reality of combat leadership under extreme pressure
• The emotional and psychological toll of sustained warfare
• The moments that define courage and sacrifice
• How extraordinary acts of heroism can be overlooked in the chaos of war
• The ongoing effort to ensure those actions are properly recognized

This is not just a story about war, it’s about responsibility, reflection, and what it means to lead when everything is on the line.

More info about SGT Quick and the drive to get him the Medal of Honor: https://www.drivenperspectives.com/medal-of-honor

Connect with Liberty Speaks:

🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com

🔗 Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/_ownyourjourney_

Support those that support us:

Our great sponsor ZeroEyes doing incredible work saving time, saving lives. www.zeroeyes.com

Our great sponsor improving lives with SGB treatments www.drjameslynch.com

👉 Don’t forget to give us a rating and share if you found this conversation valuable. Your support helps us bring more stories of resilience, leadership, and freedom to light.

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Medal of Honor recipient Jim McCloughan doesn’t believe he’s special.

But during one of the most intense battles of the Vietnam War, he ran into enemy fire over and over again saving dozens of lives while wounded, outnumbered, and refusing evacuation as the enemy flowed down the hill like lava.

In this episode of Not Special, Jim shares:
* What it’s really like to arrive in Vietnam
* The moment that changed how he saw war forever
* Why he ignored direct orders to leave
* And the promise he made that shaped the rest of his life
* He is lucky to have been a teacher and coach for nearly 40 years

This is a story about sacrifice, brotherhood, and what it means to show up when it matters most.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Then make the call you’ve been putting off.

Connect with Liberty Speaks:
🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com
🔗 Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/_ownyourjourney_

Support those that support us:
Our great sponsor ZeroEyes doing incredible work saving time, saving lives. www.zeroeyes.com
Checkout the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention 2026 in Detroit, MI. www.medalofhonordetroit.com

👉 Don’t forget to follow, like, and share if you found this conversation valuable. Your support helps us bring more stories of resilience, leadership, and freedom to light.

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Alex Dekker is a former Green Beret, combat veteran, and author of Desert Heist.

After being severely injured by a Taliban grenade, Alex fought his way back to his team—eventually deploying again while still recovering. In this episode, he shares the mindset behind Special Forces, the realities of war, and how his experiences shaped a novel that blends fiction with hard-earned truth.

This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and what comes after the mission ends.

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Ricky Mills is a former Army Ranger and Green Beret whose story goes far beyond combat.

From a difficult childhood to elite military service, Ricky built his identity around strength and resilience, until a near-fatal accident and traumatic brain injury forced everything to unravel.

In this episode, he shares:

• What it’s like to lose your sense of self
• How trauma affects families, not just individuals
• The long road back from isolation and brokenness
• Why helping other veterans became his mission

This is a raw conversation about identity, leadership, and what it takes to rebuild your life from the ground up.

Connect with Liberty Speaks:

🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com

🔗 Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/_ownyourjourney_

Support those that support us:

ZeroEyes www.zeroeyes.com

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What happens when a “normal” guy walks into a world built for SEALs, Rangers, and operators and refuses to quit?

In this episode of Not Special, Bryan Mabry shares the inside story of going from overlooked candidate to CIA Global Response Staff (GRS) operator. He eventually lead training for the next generation in this elite unit.

We go deep into:
* Getting rejected and coming back stronger
* Earning respect in a room full of elite operators
* What real leadership looks like under pressure
* Life after the CIA: tech, venture capital, and defense innovation
* The hidden challenges of transitioning out of high-stakes environments
* Why decision-making, not perfection, is the ultimate advantage

This isn’t Hollywood. This is what it actually takes.

Connect with Liberty Speaks:
🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com
🔗 Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/_ownyourjourney_

Support those that support us:
Dr. James Lynch www.drjameslynch.com
ZeroEyes www.zeroeyes.com

👉 Don’t forget to follow, like, and share if you found this conversation valuable. Your support helps us bring more stories of resilience, leadership, and freedom to light.

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Clinical psychologist Dr. Chris Frueh explains Operator Syndrome and the hidden physical and psychological costs of elite military performance in this honest conversation that impacts veteran stories.

In this episode of Not Special, Herb and Corrie Thompson sit down with clinical psychologist, professor, and researcher Chris Frueh, author of Operator Syndrome.

Dr. Frueh has spent decades studying combat veterans, special operations forces, and high-performance military communities. His work explores the complex mix of physical strain, neurological stress, hormonal changes, and psychological pressure that can accumulate after years of elite operational tempo.

The conversation begins with Frueh’s early life growing up with a Vietnam War veteran father, which shaped his interest in psychology and trauma research. From there, the discussion dives into how long-term exposure to high-intensity environments can affect the body and mind in ways that traditional PTSD models often fail to explain.

Herb, Corrie, and Dr. Frueh discuss:

• The origins of Operator Syndrome
• Why many high-performing warriors struggle after their careers
• The long-term physical toll of combat deployments
• Why traditional PTSD narratives don’t explain everything
• Identity, purpose, and life after the mission
• What leaders, families, and veterans need to understand

This episode offers a deeper look at the human side of elite performance and why understanding the full picture is critical to supporting those who serve.

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Navy SEAL Mike Lahiff doesn’t believe he’s special.

But he understands something most people don’t, ownership changes everything in this honest conversation.

In this episode of Not Special, we talk about risk, pressure, building teams, and what success actually costs. This isn’t surface-level business advice. It’s about responsibility, discipline, and the weight that comes with leadership.

If you’re building something — a company, a career, or a life — this conversation will challenge how you think about success.

Mike is the CEO of ZeroEyes, an AI-based, human-verified gun detection software that integrates with existing security cameras to identify brandished firearms in real-time.

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Mike flew elite combat missions. He commanded one of the most selective aviation units in the U.S. military. He was told growing up he wasn’t intelligent.

In this honest conversation, Mike Athanasakis shares his journey from a troubled childhood and Tourette diagnosis to Apache pilot and Battalion Commander in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

After years of high-risk deployments and leadership at the highest levels of special operations, Mike made an unexpected pivot: becoming an Owner-Operator with Chick-fil-A — one of the most selective franchise systems in America.

He breaks down:

• Why Chick-fil-A’s operator selection process mirrors elite military assessment
• How special operations leadership translates to business
• Building culture in a high-performance restaurant environment
• Leading teams without rank
• Redefining success after combat

This episode is about identity, pressure, transition, faith, family — and discovering that impact doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, the office of Dr. James Lynch. The incredible work that Dr. Jim and his wife Jodi do changes peoples lives. Check out their website for more information at https://drjameslynch.com/

Connect with Liberty Speaks:
🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com
🔗 Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/_ownyourjourney_

Support those that support us:
Fire Department Coffee https://alnk.to/74xixOf

👉 Don’t forget to follow, like, and share if you found this conversation valuable. Your support helps us bring more stories of resilience, leadership, and freedom to light.