Not Special: A Liberty Speaks Show

Liberty Speaks | Motivational Talks & Honest Conversations
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Welcome to Not Special with Herb & Corrie Thompson Real people. Real stories. Real growth.Join Herb, a Green Beret, and Corrie Thompson, his less hairy half,  as they sit down with special guests — from veterans, leaders, and everyday people who’ve faced extraordinary challenges.Each episode of Not Special explores what it means to be human — to face fear, lead through change, and find purpose in the in life. You’ll hear unfiltered conversations about resilience, mindset, leadership, and authenticity — the kind of wisdom that helps you get unstuck and start living with more courage and clarity.💬 Honest conversations that make you laugh, think, and feel.💡 Lessons on overcoming fear, embracing failure, and leading with heart.🔥 Motivation for anyone chasing purpose, growth, or a fresh start.🎧 New episodes every Thursday — subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a story that might just change the way you see yourself.

  1. 1d ago

    She Reenlisted Because of a Car Payment, Then Made Air Force History | JoAnne Bass

    Send us Fan Mail JoAnne Bass, the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and the first woman to serve as the U.S. Air Force’s highest-ranking enlisted leader, never planned on making the military a career. She joined for the GI Bill, expected to serve four years, and jokes that she reenlisted because she still had a Honda Civic to pay for. Thirty-one years later, she retired after reaching the highest enlisted position in the United States Air Force. In this episode of Not Special, JoAnne Bass sits down with Herb and Corrie Thompson for a candid conversation about her unlikely journey from a young Airman to Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, leadership at the highest levels, marriage and family, military service, social media and misinformation, and what happens when the title you've carried for decades suddenly disappears. Bass shares the story of getting the call that she had been selected as the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, becoming the first woman to hold the position, and suddenly finding herself at the center of national attention. She also opens up about the side of leadership most people never see: criticism, online attacks, the pressure of leading during a rapidly changing information environment, and why leaders can no longer confuse the chain of command with the chain of communication. But this conversation isn't just about rank or military leadership. JoAnne talks about growing up as an Army brat, meeting her Army husband Ron at Smoke Bomb Hill, raising two daughters while both parents served demanding military careers, navigating deployments, and learning how to intentionally reconnect after retirement. She also explains why some people struggle when they leave the military or any major career and their identity has become inseparable from their title. Throughout the conversation, JoAnne returns to a simple philosophy she learned from her mother: Do your job and do it well. From a four-year enlistment to 31 years of service, JoAnne Bass's story is ultimately about service, leadership, family, resilience, identity, and using whatever position you have to make a difference. In this episode: • Why JoAnne Bass originally joined the U.S. Air Force • The Honda Civic that helped convince her to reenlist • When military service became something bigger than a GI Bill • Becoming the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force • What it meant to become the first woman in the position • Leading through COVID and an evolving information environment • Social media, misinformation, trolls, and deepfakes • Why leaders need to rethink communication • Leading five generations in today's workforce • Marriage, children, deployments, and dual-military life • Why retirement and identity can be such a difficult transition • Finding purpose after taking off the uniform • The leadership philosophy JoAnne still carries today ⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why JoAnne Is Special  01:19 Growing Up an Army Brat  03:36 Why Jo Joined the Air Force  04:58 The Honda Civic That Kept Her in the Military  07:03 She Once Said She’d Become the First Female CMSAF  10:39 GOVX 11:44 Meeting Her Husband at Fort Bragg 14:18 Marriage, Kids & Five Deployments  17:46 Learning to “Get Along on Purpose”  19:20 Becoming Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force  21:42 “You Made the Right Damn Decision”  22:13 The Gut Punch of Online Hate  25:14 Trolls, Misinformation & the Information War  30:48 Deepfakes & the $15,000 JoAnne Bass Scam  33:40 The Pentagon Assignment She Didn’t Want  37:12 “Do Your Job and Do It Well”  41:54 Chain of Command vs. Chain of Communication  46:12 What Retirement Really Felt Like  52:04 When Your Identity Is Tied to Your Title  55:20 Finding a New Way to Serve  56:01 Operation Military Move https://a.co/d/0fbKz29T 59:50 Jo’s Three Rules for Life After Service  1:02:57 The Audience Jo Most Wants to Reach  1:04:25 From “I Never Want to Speak Again” to the National Archives  1:08:40 What Jo Values Most in Life 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 September GOVX Give Back supports the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund https://nleomf.org/ and Concerns of Police Survivors https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org/ Both are doing incredible work to honor those we lost and support those left behind. 👉 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.

  2. Aug 27

    Inside the U.S. Army’s $200 Billion Budget | Marc Andersen Interview

    Send us Fan Mail Marc Andersen, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller, helps oversee roughly $200 billion in U.S. Army resources with one overriding mission: making sure America’s warfighters have what they need to fight and win. In this episode of the Not Special Show, Marc takes us inside the Pentagon and the enormous responsibility behind managing the U.S. Army budget, funding military readiness, navigating Congress, supporting defense innovation, and preparing soldiers for both today's threats and the future fight. But this conversation goes far beyond defense spending. Marc shares the unlikely path that took him from growing up in small towns and a log cabin in Idaho to senior leadership in business and ultimately one of the most consequential civilian positions in the U.S. Army. He also opens up about growing up with hearing loss and a speech impediment and the teacher who challenged him to stop hiding what he was capable of. That lesson became part of a larger philosophy Marc has carried throughout his career: get comfortable being uncomfortable, do good work, treat people well, and don't assume your path will be linear. Marc's career certainly wasn't. Before joining the Army, he co-founded a software company, became a senior leader at EY, helped build its government business, and worked in venture capital. He once thought he might become U.S. Ambassador to Denmark. Instead, a call from Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll ultimately led him to the Pentagon. Marc also talks candidly about leadership, marriage, raising grounded kids, faith, friendship, public service, political division, and why relationships built on trust matter more than transactions. We get into: *What managing a roughly $200 billion Army budget actually means *How Army funding affects the individual soldier *The Pentagon, Congress, budgets, audits, and defense spending Military readiness, lethality, technology, and the future fight *Why Marc believes America's military should always have overwhelming advantage *His unexpected path from the private sector to public service *Growing up with hearing loss and a speech impediment *Why discomfort can be one of life's greatest opportunities for growth *Building relationships based on trust instead of transactions *His 35-year marriage and the importance of family and faith *Raising successful but grounded children *Why Marc believes Americans agree on far more than our politics suggest *The responsibility each generation carries to preserve American liberty ⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why Marc is Special 04:01 Growing Up in Rural Idaho 10:48 Marriage, Family & 35 Years Together 13:44 Raising Grounded Kids in a Successful Family 23:38 Blessed to Live in America 25:10 Overcoming Hearing Loss & a Speech Impediment 26:12 The Teacher Who Changed Marc’s Life 27:54 GOVX 31:00 From EY & Venture Capital to the Pentagon 34:58 It’s About People, Relationships and Trust 37:30 The Long Road to a Presidential Appointment 39:56 Managing the U.S. Army’s $200 Billion Budget 41:30 How the U.S. Army Decides Where the Money Goes 47:11 Will the U.S. Army Pass Its Audit? 51:01 America’s Adversaries & Peace Through Strength 54:01 Why America’s Political Division Worries Marc 01:01:25 Faith, Family, Friendship & Freedom Marc describes these government roles as temporary projects rather than lifetime appointments. His question is simple: What can we get done with the time we have? That idea runs through this entire conversation. Do good work. Treat people well. Serve something bigger than yourself. And don't be surprised when life takes you somewhere you never planned to go. 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 August GOVX Give Back supports the Travis Manion Foundation. 👉 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.

  3. Aug 13

    Gold Star Parents Share the Untold Story of Their Navy SEAL Son | Feeks Interview

    Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to become a Gold Star Family? How do you move forward after losing a Navy SEAL son in combat?  In this powerful episode of The Not Special Show, former Navy pilot Tom Feeks and registered nurse Ginny Feeks share the story of their son, Navy SEAL Patrick "Pat" Feeks, their daughter Regina Feeks, a Navy officer and physician assistant, and the journey of faith, family, military service, and resilience after unimaginable loss. This conversation explores life in a military family, deployments, raising children while serving, the realities of combat, and what it means to honor a fallen warrior while continuing to live with purpose. If you're interested in Navy SEAL stories, Gold Star families, military life, veteran stories, Special Operations, leadership, and overcoming grief, this is a conversation you won't forget. Tom and Ginny don't consider themselves special. After listening, you will. In this episode: * The life and legacy of Navy SEAL Patrick Feeks * Becoming Gold Star parents * Tom's 28-year career as a U.S. Navy pilot * Ginny's career as a registered nurse and military spouse * Raising children through military moves and deployments * What families experience while loved ones are deployed * The phone call that changed everything * Faith, resilience, and finding purpose after loss * Lessons every parent can learn from * Why service continues long after the uniform comes off ⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:24 Why Tom & Ginny Feeks Are Special 02:38 Tom's Journey to Becoming a Navy Pilot  05:59 Ginny's Nursing Career & Military Life  10:46 Navigating a Career as a Military Spouse 14:08 GOVX 15:45 Courtship Before the Internet at the Naval Academy 25:28 Going Home to a Controlling Dad 29:24 Raising Kids and Balancing Careers Around the World 33:54 Signs of a Navy SEAL as a Child 39:51 GI Joe in Real Life 42:48 Two Kids Deployed  47:16 Having a Daughter Deployed to Combat 49:26 OPSEC 52:12 Funny Navy Story Drinking at a Brothel 53:50 The Phone Call No Parent Wants, Outside of Protocol 1:00:57 Becoming Gold Star Parents  1:07:12 Humor in the Worst Moments of Grief 1:11:40 Overloaded With Admin Tasks  1:16:17 A Moment of Clarity in the Loss 1:18:15 Leadership is Showing You Care 1:20:39 What Helped Them Get Through the Tragedy 1:25:50 Navy SEAL Saves Green Beret’s Life 1:30:46 When She Knew It Would Be OK 1:35:26 Questioning Himself Teaching Military Officers 1:38:59 Lessons on Grief, Family & Purpose  1:53:07 Honoring the Pat Feeks Legacy  2:08:04 Impact of Kids Reading Young 2:11:42 Top Secret Story 2:15:15 What they value most in life Links mentioned in this episode: Fundraiser: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-frogs-wine-tasting-to-benefit-the-navy-seal-foundation-tickets-1990181159422 Fields of Athenry: https://fieldsofathenryfarm.com 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 August GOVX Give Back supports the Travis Manion Foundation. 👉 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.

  4. Jul 30

    Kicked Out of College. Became a Green Beret. | Prescott Engle

    Send us Fan Mail How does a Green Beret become a private equity executive, business leader, and president of a multimillion-dollar company?  In this episode of The Not Special Show, former Green Beret Prescott Engle shares the incredible journey from getting kicked out of college to earning the Green Beret, serving during the Cold War in Central America, walking away from the CIA, building a successful career in insurance, private equity, and business leadership, and ultimately leading Alliance Nationwide Exposition. Prescott opens up about the lessons that shaped him: resilience, leadership under pressure, overcoming failure, raising eight children, making difficult career transitions, and why success starts with serving others. Whether you're a veteran, entrepreneur, business leader, or someone navigating life's next chapter, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and unforgettable stories. In this episode, we discuss: * Getting kicked out of college—and the conversation that changed his life * Earning the Green Beret and surviving Special Forces training * The instructor who tried to make him quit * Cold War missions in Central America * Why he turned down a career with the CIA * Building a successful career in insurance and private equity * Leadership lessons from the military that apply to business * The importance of mentorship and earning confidence * Raising eight children and building a lasting marriage * Why education and intelligence are not the same thing ⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why Prescott is Special 01:43 Growing Up Wild & Burning Down a Cornfield  05:03 Getting Kicked Out of College  07:53 What He Told Himself on the Way to Boot Camp 10:08 The Green Beret Recruiting Pitch  12:42 Special Forces Selection Begins  18:22 "I'm Going to Make You Quit"  26:46 Earning the Green Beret  28:02 GOVX 28:36 Life in 7th Special Forces Group  31:03 Cold War Missions in Central America  35:17 Leadership Lessons from Special Forces  36:57 Education is Not a Relative Indicator of Intelligence 40:22 Why He Turned Down the CIA  42:55 Starting Over in Insurance  46:25 The Sales Lesson That Changed Everything  48:20 Meeting His Wife & Building a Family  51:03 Liberty Speaks 52:06 From Business Consultant to Company President  57:55 A Lesson From Desert Storm 01:01:40 Surprises in the Industry 01:05:47 Changes in the Events Industry 01:07:27 Business Need to Read the Room 01:09:16 Balancing Business and Family 01:10:29 “I Was a Shit Father” 01:15:09 Finding Your Tribe 01:17:39 Getting From and Giving to the Army 01:19:17 What he Would Tell his Younger Self 01:25:24 What He Values Most in Life Prescott's story is a reminder that your biggest setback doesn't have to define you. The discipline, humility, and perseverance that carried him through Special Forces became the same principles that helped him succeed in business and life. 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.

  5. Jul 16

    He Was an Elite Army Pilot. Then Everything Changed | Josh Martin

    Send us Fan Mail 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.

  6. Jul 9

    The Teacher Who Changed My Life | Rob Hughes

    Send us Fan Mail 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.

  7. Jul 9

    The Hardest Part Wasn't Becoming a Navy SEAL | Dan Luna

    Send us Fan Mail 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.

  8. Jul 9

    Kicked Out of Delta Force And It Saved His Life | Gary Harrington

    Send us Fan Mail 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  🔗 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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About

Welcome to Not Special with Herb & Corrie Thompson Real people. Real stories. Real growth.Join Herb, a Green Beret, and Corrie Thompson, his less hairy half,  as they sit down with special guests — from veterans, leaders, and everyday people who’ve faced extraordinary challenges.Each episode of Not Special explores what it means to be human — to face fear, lead through change, and find purpose in the in life. You’ll hear unfiltered conversations about resilience, mindset, leadership, and authenticity — the kind of wisdom that helps you get unstuck and start living with more courage and clarity.💬 Honest conversations that make you laugh, think, and feel.💡 Lessons on overcoming fear, embracing failure, and leading with heart.🔥 Motivation for anyone chasing purpose, growth, or a fresh start.🎧 New episodes every Thursday — subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a story that might just change the way you see yourself.

Information

  • Creator
    Liberty Speaks | Motivational Talks & Honest Conversations
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Not Special: A Liberty Speaks Show
  • Show Website
    Not Special: A Liberty Speaks Show

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