Send a text

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.

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.

Send a text

Kevin didn’t make it into the Navy SEALs on his first try.
Or his second.
He didn’t even make it through his first week of BUD/S.

Kristen left a stable teaching career, built a nutrition coaching business, burned out… and started baking sourdough bread from home.

Today, this veteran entrepreneur couple runs Crafted Coastal Bakery in Encinitas, California . Scaling from eight loaves a week to more than 100, while raising two young boys and debating whether to risk everything on a retail storefront.

In this episode of Not Special, we dive into:

• Kevin’s journey from Marine Corps officer to Navy SEAL
• The brutal reality of military transition
• What being in the SEAL teams is actually like
• Why most people aren’t gluten intolerant — they’re reacting to commercial bread additives
• How cottage food laws make small business ownership possible
• The financial and emotional math of scaling a family business
• Working with your spouse without wrecking your marriage
• Why local politics impact entrepreneurs more than national politics

This conversation is about resilience, reinvention, clean food, leadership, and building a meaningful life after military service.

If you’re navigating military transition, starting a small business, balancing family and ambition, or questioning your next move, this episode will resonate.

New episodes of Not Special drop weekly featuring veterans, entrepreneurs, and leaders who don’t think they’re special… but absolutely are.

Send us a text

In this deeply personal episode, Herb Thompson former U.S. Army Green Beret, Drill Sergeant of the Year, Ivy League MBA, speaker, and entrepreneur, shares the moments that shaped him most: combat leadership, chaos, addiction, recovery, marriage, and learning how to finally slow down.

From leading troops through some of the most kinetic fighting of his career, to struggling with silence once the mission ended, Herb opens up about what elite performance really costs and how purpose evolves after service.

This episode goes beyond military stories. It’s about identity, resilience, leadership, and the lifelong process of becoming whole.

⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Why this episode is different (The co-host becomes the guest)
01:35 – The moment an 8-year-old decided his future
02:48 – Earning the Green Beret wasn’t the finish line
03:41 – 10 days, nonstop gunfights, and real leadership
06:20 – The General Patton story (almost getting killed by accident)
08:07– What people get wrong about Special Forces
10:28– Teaching, culture, and force multiplication
11:39 – Becoming a myth among Afghan commandos
15:38 – Leaving the military and still feeling unfinished
18:41 – Operator speed, chaos, and life after war
21:35 – Alcohol, avoidance, and the moment things changed
23:32 – Asking for help at Warriors Heart with Tom Spooner
27:26– Stillness, Jamaica, and learning how to stop
31:48 – Marriage, business, and being co-founders
33:44 – Liberty Speaks and leadership after service
40:36 – Why overcoming adversity matters most
41:56 – What Herb values most: liberty and freedom
43:00 – Final reflections + subscribe

#specialforces #podcast #greenberet #leadership #mentalhealth

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