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Josh Martin seemed to be living the dream.

A West Point graduate, 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) helicopter pilot, and one of the Army's elite aviators, Josh had accomplished nearly every goal he'd set for himself. Then a devastating motorcycle accident changed everything.

After spending months in the hospital, enduring numerous surgeries, ultimately losing his leg, and fighting to return to the cockpit, Josh was forced to redefine success, purpose, and identity. His journey eventually led him through Vanderbilt's MBA program, a career at McKinsey & Company, and ultimately to discovering that family, resilience, and purpose can take forms we never expect.

In this episode, Josh shares what it takes to overcome adversity, adapt when life doesn't go according to plan, and keep moving forward when every path you imagined disappears.

Whether you're a veteran, leader, entrepreneur, parent, or simply navigating a difficult season, Josh's story is a powerful reminder that your greatest setback doesn't have to define your future.

In this episode:
* Why Josh chose West Point after 9/11
* Becoming a pilot in the elite 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers)
* What it really takes to earn a place in Special Operations Aviation
* The motorcycle accident that changed his life
* Losing his leg and fighting to return to flying
* The emotional challenge of losing his identity as a military aviator
* Earning an MBA from Vanderbilt
* Working at McKinsey & Company
* Why he stepped away from corporate life
* Fatherhood, purpose, resilience, and finding a new mission
* Tactical patience and making better decisions during adversity


⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Why is Josh Special?
02:55 Why Josh Chose West Point
08:05 The Road to the 160th SOAR Night Stalkers
18:15 Becoming a Night Stalker
25:45 The Difference Between Army Aviation and the 160th
34:50 The Motorcycle Accident
39:55 Fighting to Fly Again
48:20 Losing His Identity
55:15 Vanderbilt MBA and Reinventing Himself
1:03:00 Life at McKinsey & Company
1:10:15 Fatherhood Changed Everything
1:15:10 Lessons in Resilience and Tactical Patience
1:18:30 Final Thoughts

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

Checkout www.govx.com for great discounts and they give back to the community every month, the July GOVX Give Back supports Mission 22.

👉 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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The best teachers don't just teach subjects, they change lives.

In this episode of The Not Special Show, we sit down with Rob Hughes, Herb’s high school science teacher, coach, timber framer, outdoorsman, and one of the people who had the biggest impact on who Herb became. Long before Herb became a Green Beret, Rob saw potential in him that he didn't yet see in himself.

We talk about great teachers, leadership, curiosity, raising confident young people, education, parenting, technology, AI in the classroom, timber framing, resilience, and why the lessons that matter most are rarely found in a textbook.

If you've ever had a teacher, coach, or mentor who changed your life, this conversation is for you.

In this episode we discuss:
* Why great teachers connect while others don't
* Building confidence in young people
* Leadership lessons outside the classroom
* Curiosity, purpose, and lifelong learning
* The impact of technology and AI on education
* Timber framing and creating things that outlive you
* Mentorship, parenting, and leaving a legacy
* Why the best lessons are often never part of the curriculum
* Making Maple Syrup on land and from trees that Rob’s Grandpa harvested

Rob Hughes spent more than 36 years teaching science, coaching students, building timber frames, mentoring thousands of young people, and quietly changing lives, including Herb’s.

⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Why Rob is Special
01:24 How he Became a Teacher and Not a Park Ranger
04:10 You Should Stop Acting Dumb
05:49 The Secret to Making Students Love Learning
09:59 Why Great Teachers Change Lives
11:18 Has AI and Cellphones Made School Worse?
14:36 Why Kids Need More Boredom
16:21 The Confidence That Comes From Building Something
19:34 Why Some Teachers Never Connect
21:56 The Students You Never Forget
23:20 Herb is Thomas Jefferson to Rob
24:17 The Letter That Changed Everything
27:31 GOVX Saves You Money
28:02 Lessons That Aren't in Any Textbook
29:12 The "Amnesia Portfolio" (Everyone Needs This)
31:16 The Best Advice for Young People
32:09 Becoming a Better Parent Made Me a Better Teacher
33:34 How Timber Framing Changed His Life
44:56 Building Things That Will Outlive You
50:51 The Adirondacks and Leadership
55:31 Greatest Moments in His Career
57:55 A Leadership Trek in the Mountains Led to a Winning Swim Team
01:01:16 A Maple Syrup Legacy
01:10:02 A Passion Versus a Business, Passion Wins
01:11:15 Leadership Lessons from 30+ Years of Coaching
01:16:37 www.bigbeamstimberframes.com
01:18:47 What Rob Values Most in Life

If you enjoy conversations about leadership, education, resilience, military transition, personal growth, and the people who shape us, subscribe for a new episode every Thursday.

Learn more about Rob’s timber frame work at www.bigbeamstimberframes.com

#Teacher #Education #Leadership #Mentorship #PersonalGrowth

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

Support those that support us:
Checkout www.govx.com for great discounts and they give back to the community every month, the July GOVX Give Back supports Mission 22.

👉 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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Former Navy SEAL operator, leadership coach, and Doctor of Education Dan Luna joins The Not Special Show for a conversation about resilience, leadership, purpose, and the realities of life after elite military service.

Yes, Dan served with the Navy SEALs and SEAL Team 6.

But this episode isn't about tactics or war stories. It's about what happens after the mission.

Dan shares lessons from combat, leadership under pressure, overcoming fear, transitioning from military service, processing loss, finding purpose, and helping others navigate adversity. We discuss why resilience is often misunderstood, the difference between performance and positivity, how identity shapes our lives, and what it means to continue serving long after the uniform comes off.

From growing up with a single mother in Southern California to serving at the highest levels of special operations and later earning a doctorate focused on resilience and human performance, Dan's journey offers insights that apply far beyond the military.

In this episode:
• Lessons from Navy SEAL and SEAL Team 6 service
• Leadership under pressure
• Building resilience in difficult environments
• Fear, performance, and personal growth
• Military transition and identity
• Purpose after service
• Faith, loss, and navigating adversity
• Supporting veterans beyond "thank you for your service"
• Human performance and trauma education
• What great leaders do differently

⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Why Dan Is Special
01:43 Growing Up With a Single Mom
03:01 Dan’s Secret Love For Volleyball
05:53 Being a Momma’s Boy
08:31 Joining the Navy and Becoming a Man
12:39 Navy SEAL Says Green Berts Are Cool
14:31 What BUD/S Really Teaches
19:26 Fear, Pain, and Performance Under Pressure
29:48 Naval Academy Assignment Changed His Life
34:22 The Ebb and Flow of His Faith
38:52 Educating The Mental Aspect of War
41:49 The Myth of Positive Psychology
47:49 Becoming a SEAL or Leaving the SEAL Teams Harder
51:27 The Hardest Part Wasn't Becoming a Navy SEAL
54:57 What Does Resilience Mean
1:01:01 A Civilian Mentor Meant the World to Dan
1:04:46 Building a Business In His Late 40s
1:06:31 Dan’s Recent Work in Africa
1:10:27 A Powerful Moment With a Pride of Lions
1:13:02 Charged By an Elephant
1:19:48 Has Dan Found What He Was Seeking as a Kid
1:21:48 What Dan Values Most in Life

Whether you're a veteran, business leader, entrepreneur, parent, coach, or someone facing a difficult season of life, this conversation will challenge the way you think about resilience, leadership, and purpose.

#Leadership #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #NavySEAL #NotSpecial

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

👉 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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After reaching the pinnacle of military service, former Delta Force operator Gary Harrington was unexpectedly removed from the unit he had worked his entire career to join.

What followed was a battle with identity, purpose, failure, faith, and finding meaning beyond military service.

In this episode of The Not Special Show, Gary shares his journey from Marine Corps officer to Green Beret, Special Forces operator, Delta Force member, and later CIA officer during the early years of the War on Terror. He discusses Afghanistan after 9/11, counterterrorism operations, leadership, resilience, life in elite military units, and the personal cost of operating at the highest levels of national security.

But this conversation goes far beyond combat stories.

Gary opens up about losing the identity he had built around being a Delta Force operator, the struggles many veterans face after military service, and how one of the most painful setbacks of his life ultimately became one of his greatest blessings.

If you're interested in Delta Force, Special Forces, the CIA, Afghanistan, military leadership, veteran transition, personal growth, faith, purpose, and overcoming adversity, this episode offers a rare and honest perspective from someone who lived it.

Sometimes the thing we believe will destroy us becomes the thing that transforms us.

⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Why Gary Is Special
01:51 - Marine Corps Office to Enlisted Green Beret
06:10 - Being a Green Beret
07:46 - Did He Like Special Forces or Delta Better
10:41 - Kicked Out of Delta Affected Him
12:47 - Difference Between Delta Force and Green Berets
17:39 - What Happened After He Got Kicked Out of Delta Force
19:59 - A Panic Attack Going to 5th Special Forces Group
26:23 - Going to Yemen Before the USS Cole Attack
31:01 - September 11th 2001
36:01 - Tora Bora and the Early Afghanistan War Days
41:09 - First Day at Special Forces, Delta Force or the CIA Stick Out
42:25 - Thank God I Was Kicked Out of Delta Force
45:00 - The Toll of a Legendary Career
49:46 - Advice Learned From Being in Rooms With the Best and Worst of Humanity
54:37 - The One Thing That Made Him Successful
56:12 - Giving Himself up to God
57:38 - Meeting the Love of His Life
01:01:51 - Being a Honest Rule Breaker
01:02:53 - How His Faith Evolved
01:07:11 - Giving Advice to Young Gary
01:08:12 - What Gary Values Most in Life

#NotSpecial #DeltaForce #GreenBeret #CIA #VeteranStories

Connect with Liberty Speaks:
🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com
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Green Beret Magnus Johnson shares his experiences in Ramadi, Army Special Forces, Mission 22, veteran mental health, military transition, purpose after service, resilience, leadership, and life after combat.

Magnus joins Herb and Corrie Thompson to share his journey from the battlefields of Iraq to helping thousands of veterans find purpose after military service. He opens up about serving in Ramadi during the Iraq War, earning the Green Beret, navigating the difficult transition home, and the lessons he learned while building Mission 22 into one of the most recognized veteran organizations in America.

We discuss veteran mental health, resilience, leadership, purpose, faith, physical wellness, POTS syndrome, healing through art, and why many veterans struggle after leaving the military. This is an honest conversation about what it takes to rebuild your life after service and create a mission bigger than yourself.

Whether you're a veteran, first responder, military family member, or simply someone looking for greater purpose and resilience, this episode offers hard-earned wisdom and practical lessons that apply far beyond the military.


⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Why Magnus Is Special
01:34 Watching 9/11 Changed Everything
03:07 Ramadi 2006: Entering the Fight
04:03 Why He Chose the Green Beret Path
05:12 What Life on an ODA Team Was Really Like
07:30 Leaving Special Forces After Three Deployments
08:33 The Hard Reality of Coming Home
11:10 How Art Became a Lifeline
16:22 Building a Monument That Started Mission 22
21:27 What Most People Get Wrong About Veteran Mental Health
29:10 How Civilians Can Better Support Veterans
31:24 How to Help Mission 22
33:41 POTS
43:19 Learning From History
49:19 What we Eat Affects us
52:16 Writing “The Men We Make”
57:17 What Magnus Values Most in Life

#GreenBeret #Mission22 #VeteranMentalHealth #SpecialForces #notspecial

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

👉 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.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a former Green Beret and a former police officer stop surviving and start healing?

In this powerful episode we sit down with Chris and Marcia Lessard to discuss Special Forces, law enforcement trauma, PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), addiction, marriage, autism recovery, hyper-vigilance, mental health, veteran healing, and the groundbreaking brain treatments changing lives for veterans, first responders, and families across America.

Chris Lessard, a former Green Beret, opens up about combat trauma, alcohol abuse, prescription medication dependency, identity loss after military retirement, and the life-changing treatments that helped him reclaim his life. Marcia Lessard shares her journey as a police officer, young mother, trauma survivor, and advocate for mental health and neurological healing. Together, they reveal how brain mapping, MERT therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, neurofeedback, functional medicine, and trauma-informed care transformed not only their marriage—but their son’s severe nonverbal autism diagnosis.

This episode dives deep into Special Forces culture, law enforcement stress, childhood trauma, veteran mental health, first responder burnout, emotional compartmentalization, healing relationships, addiction recovery, brain inflammation, sleep issues, toxic exposure, and finding purpose after service.

If you’re a veteran, first responder, military spouse, or someone struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, TBI symptoms, addiction, trauma, or autism in your family—this conversation could change your perspective forever.

Topics include:

• Green Beret life and military transition
• PTSD and traumatic brain injury recovery
• Veteran addiction and alcohol abuse
• Law enforcement trauma and hyper-vigilance
• Autism recovery and brain treatment therapies
• MERT therapy and neurofeedback
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans
• Functional medicine and mental health
• Marriage, trauma bonding, and healing
• Childhood trauma and emotional compartmentalization
• Mental health in Special Operations and policing
• Veteran suicide prevention and recovery
• Brain health optimization and performance

⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Why Chris & Marsha Are Special

02:21 – Marsha’s Story: Becoming a Cop at 21 as a Single Mom

04:48 – Chris Lessard: From High School Dropout to Green Beret

07:00 – How a Green Beret & Police Officer Met on Match.com

09:34 – Ride-Alongs, PTSD & The Difference Between War and Policing

12:33 – Trauma, Marriage & Learning to Be Vulnerable

14:46 – Childhood Trauma, PTSD & Emotional Compartmentalization

16:37 – Dopamine, COMT Mutation & Why High Performers Keep Chasing

21:24 – How Their Son’s Autism Diagnosis Changed Everything

25:44 – The Autism Treatment That Changed Their Son’s Life

28:28 – Green Berets Opening Up About Trauma Around the Campfire

29:22 – Alcohol, Painkillers & the “Dark Years” After Service

32:02 – VA Programs, Medications & Finally Finding Real Healing

34:48 – Sleeping Normally Again After Years of PTSD & Hypervigilance

36:51 – SGB From Dr. James Lynch

37:32 – Marriage, Masculinity & Learning How to Fight Fair

43:08 – From Johns Hopkins to Opening Brain Treatment Clinics

48:53 – Why Veterans Get Help Easier Than Police Officers

50:28 – The Difference Between Combat Trauma & Police Trauma

54:56 – Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Neurofeedback & Functional Medicine

57:47 – Toxic Exposure, Burn Pits, Lyme Disease & Brain Health

01:03:18 – The Most Rewarding Part of Helping Veterans Heal

01:10:53 – The Biggest Surprise Dealing With Clients

01:15:49 – What They Value Most in Life

For more information go to the NoVa Brain Treatment Center website: https://www.braintreatmentcenterashburn.com/

Connect with Liberty Speaks:
🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com
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Our great episode sponsor improving lives with SGB treatments www.drjameslynch.com

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Former Special Operations PsyOps expert Stuart Gallagher and women’s health clinician Jamie Gallagher join the Not Special Podcast with Green Beret Herb Thompson and Corrie Thompson for one of the most powerful conversations yet. From Russia, Ukraine, psychological operations, Special Forces selection, cancer survival, veteran health, testosterone, prostate cancer awareness, hormone therapy, PTSD, military medicine, and life after service — this episode is packed with raw truth, hard-earned wisdom, and real conversations every veteran and family needs to hear.

Stuart opens up about joining the military at 27 after working overseas in Russia, navigating Special Operations culture, serving in PsyOps, advising across government agencies, and watching modern warfare evolve through AI, drones, information operations, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Jamie shares critical insights into hormone health, perimenopause, veteran healthcare gaps, prostate cancer screening, diabetes, longevity, and why early detection saves lives. Together, they reveal what military families, veterans, and everyday Americans are missing when it comes to resilience, performance, and health.

This episode dives deep into:

• Special Operations selection & mental toughness
• Psychological operations (PsyOps) explained
• Russia vs Ukraine analysis from a former insider
• Drone warfare, AI, and the future battlefield
• Surviving cancer while serving in Special Forces
• Veteran healthcare failures & lessons learned
• Prostate cancer awareness for men & veterans
• Hormone therapy, menopause & performance health
• Marriage, entrepreneurship & building a business together
• Life after the military and finding purpose again

CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Why Stuart Is Special

00:45 Working in Russia Before Joining the Military

02:00 Why He Joined Special Operations at 27

03:20 Running a Business With His Wife

04:20 Russia vs Ukraine Explained by Former PsyOps Operator

06:40 The Future of Warfare, AI & Drone Technology

09:25 Why the Ukraine War Matters to Americans

11:15 What Psychological Operations (PsyOps) Really Are

13:00 How PsyOps Works in Modern Warfare

15:10 Deception Operations & Military Strategy

17:10 Social Media, Technology & Information Warfare

18:15 Surviving Cancer During Special Forces Selection

20:00 Diagnosed With Cancer After SF Selection

21:10 The Mindset Required to Survive Special Operations

22:15 Special Forces Selection & Mental Toughness

23:45 Why Most Companies Fail at Hiring Talent

25:10 Hiding Cancer While Attending Military Schools

27:30 Admiral McRaven Story & Military Resilience

30:20 Jamie Gallagher on Veteran Health & Early Detection

31:00 How Jamie Helped Save Stuart’s Life

33:00 Why Prostate Cancer Screening Matters for Veterans

36:10 The Importance of Men’s Health Awareness

37:50 Why Veterans Avoid Going to the Doctor

39:40 Type 2 Diabetes in Veterans Explained

41:00 Problems With Military Healthcare & Prevention

45:50 Recovering From Prostate Cancer Surgery

49:40 Building Their Health & Wellness Business Together

50:40 Hormones, Anxiety & Perimenopause Explained

53:00 What Women Need to Know About Hormone Health

56:00 The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy

59:20 Menopause, Longevity & Modern Healthcare

1:02:00 Working Together as Husband & Wife

1:04:40 What Men Should NEVER Say to Their Wife

1:05:40 Strategic Communication in Marriage & Relationships

If you enjoy authentic veteran stories, Green Beret interviews, Special Operations insights, military leadership, resilience, health optimization, and unfiltered conversations — this episode is for you.

#PsyOps #SpecialForces #Veterans #MilitaryPodcast #CancerSurvivor

Connect with Liberty Speaks:
🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com
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In this episode of Not Special, Karen and John share what it was really like inside the CIA, SEAL Team 6, Afghanistan, and the mission environment that led to the Osama bin Laden raid.

Karen spent 26 years serving as a CIA operations officer, deploying to some of the world’s most dangerous environments after 9/11. John served as a Navy SEAL and later as deputy commander at SEAL Team 6. Together, they open up about leadership, sacrifice, intelligence work, combat operations, and how America’s national security system evolved during two decades of war.

From the chaos of early Afghanistan deployments to the inner workings of the intelligence community, this conversation gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people and relationships that shaped modern history.

🎙️ In this episode:
• Karen’s first deployment to Afghanistan after 9/11
• Growing up in a CIA family
• John’s unexpected path to becoming a Navy SEAL
• What SEAL Team culture was like before social media
• The reality of Hell Week and BUD/S
• CIA and military cooperation during the War on Terror
• Inside the environment surrounding the Osama bin Laden operation
• Leadership lessons from elite teams
• The future of national security and cyber warfare
• Why service, mentorship, and purpose still matter

⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Why Karen & John are Special

02:53 – CIA is More Scary Than Navy SEALs

04:15 – How Karen Got Into the CIA

09:12 – Whatever Led John to the Navy and SEAL Teams

20:39 – BUD/S and Hell Week

24:32 – What Was the First Day at the CIA Like

26:45 – Was Karen Ready for the CIA

32:06 – Reporting to SEAL Team 2

33:55 – The First Days in Afghanistan

36:53 – CIA and Military Power Struggle

40:26 – The Army - Navy Rivalry

41:56 – The Bin Laden Raid from the NSC

47:46 – The bin Laden Raid from the SEALs

51:56 – The Beauty of Afghanistan

54:35 – National Security in the US

1:02:02 – Balancing a CIA Career and Being a Mom

1:07:09 – Leaving the SEAL Teams

1:14:38 – Harry Potter Wisdom

1:18:02– Who is the Plus 1?

1:24:53 – How Karen & John Met

1:30:48 – What They Value Most in Life

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