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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 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.

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
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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.