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In this powerful episode of Not Special, Herb and Corrie sit down with Johnny Vargas, aka Viva La Vargas — U.S. Army NCO, viral content creator reaching 30–40 million views a month, and one of the most influential voices in the military community.

Johnny opens up about his rise from everyday soldier to one of the military’s most trusted online storytellers. He shares how he turned humor, truth, and authenticity into an online movement, all while balancing fatherhood, serving on active duty, earning his master’s degree, and advocating for troops and families who often feel unheard.

This episode goes deep — trauma, resilience, haters, leadership, viral growth strategy, and a Pentagon phone call that changed everything.

If you’re in the military, a veteran, a military spouse, a creator, or someone trying to overcome your past… this one will hit home.

⏱️ CLICKABLE TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Why Johnny says he’s not special
01:11 – Herb & Corrie introduce Johnny Vargas, aka Viva La Vargas
01:55 – How a burning car led him to join the Army
03:37 – Meeting the recruiter who changed his life
04:31 – Becoming the leader he wished he had
05:23 – Shipping out on New Year’s Day
05:41 – How his content career accidentally started
06:15 – MRT school, resilience, and early struggles online
06:48 – The viral skit that changed everything
08:02 – Stories that “don’t translate” to civilian life
09:00 – Balancing family, Army, school & creating
10:25 – The dinner plate life analogy
10:33 – Pursuing a master’s to become a Licensed Professional Counselor
11:20 – Why military families deserve more
12:17 – The “influencer” label & legal realities
12:33 – Coolest opportunities—celebs, events & impact
13:21 – Johnny opens up about surviving childhood sexual abuse
15:07 – The messages that change lives
15:47 – Mistakes, lessons & doing hard things
16:41 – Dealing with haters & turning critics into friends
18:03 – Story of the soldier who transformed his life
19:30 – Keyboard warriors & real-world courage
20:20 – Why people lash out & how to respond
20:43 – Tips for people who want to grow on social media
21:55 – Johnny’s formula: 3 videos/day for 365 days
23:04 – Authenticity - trends
24:17 – Meeting creators who aren’t who they pretend to be
24:49 – Being recognized in public
25:08 – Staying grounded with family & purpose
26:05 – Reaching 30–40 million people monthly
27:02 – Building trust with an audience
27:33 – Why he engages with supporters daily
28:02 – VA loans, helping service members build wealth
28:59 – Buying his first home as a specialist
29:17 – Educating troops on the VA loan
30:18 – Why he partnered with Veteran Lending Group
32:21 – The Army’s impact on his life
32:33 – Content dreams that came true
33:02 – Celebrity stories: Kevin Hart, Chef Rush & more
33:40 – Jocko’s team follows him
33:57 – Live TV moments with his kids watching
35:02 – Corrie’s hilarious Denzel Washington story
37:37 – Advocating for the overlooked: families & junior soldiers
41:20 – The “Barracks Batman” nickname
43:10 – The Fort Myer washer incident
45:05 – Pentagon phone call
47:36 – Meeting with senior leaders
48:28 – Standing his ground & advocating for troops

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

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Dr. Jim Lynch our episode sponsor at www.drjameslynch.com
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In this insightful episode of Not Special, Herb and Corrie sit down with Nic Adams, former National Security Advisor to 2 Senators and one of the most sought-after voices on government dynamics, intelligence operations, and the hidden gears that make Washington move. Nic pulls back the curtain on what really happens on Capitol Hill—from political power plays to decision-making under pressure, intelligence failures, national security blind spots, and what the public never hears about behind closed doors.

This conversation goes far beyond politics. It’s about leadership, truth, and the reality of serving at the highest levels of government. Nic Adams reveals lessons that apply to decision-makers in any industry—how to think clearly when stakes are high, how to communicate under pressure, and how to navigate environments dominated by ego, secrecy, and competing agendas.

Whether you’re a policy nerd, a leadership junkie, or just fascinated by inner workings of Capitol Hill, this episode delivers a candid, unfiltered look inside the machine.

⏱️ Clickable Chapter Timestamps
0:00 – Intro: Meet Nic Adams
2:31 – Life Inside National Security
8:52 – Capitol Hill Power Dynamics
15:40 – What the Public Never Sees
22:18 – Leadership Under Crisis
31:03 – The Fractures Inside Government
40:22 – Nic’s Most Intense Moment on the Job
51:10 – The Future of U.S. National Security
57:45 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

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.

#NationalSecurity #Leadership #CapitolHill

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Meet RJ Casey, the real-life Most Interesting Man in the World — Green Beret, Air Force Pararescueman, SpaceX astronaut-recovery specialist, Hollywood aerial safety consultant, and co-founder of Four Branches Bourbon.

In this episode of Not Special, RJ takes us on an unbelievable journey through Special Operations, crash-site rescues in Colombia, astronaut recovery missions with SpaceX, behind-the-scenes stories from blockbuster movies like Inception, Dunkirk, and Extraction 2, and the origin story of veteran-founded brand Brigands.

If you're into military special operations, Hollywood stunt work, space exploration, or veteran entrepreneurship, this is an episode you cannot skip.

⏱️ Clickable Chapter Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Why RJ Casey is the Most Interesting Man in the World
00:15 – Childhood in Cold War Europe & the spirit of adventure
03:45 – Sports, travel, and growing up without cell phones
05:08 – Becoming a Green Beret (and why the Guard/Reserve path was unique)
07:00 – Working with 5th Group, 7th Group & Special Operations
07:40 – Becoming an Air Force Pararescueman (PJ)
09:50 – Choosing PJ life: short deployments & elite medical training
11:50 – The intensity of PJ training & why it’s considered the hardest pipeline
14:10 – The three skills that guarantee Special Operations contracting work
15:30 – Explaining crash sites & the Colombia FARC rescue mission
17:30 – Hostages, executions & five-year captivity: the real story
18:40 – How astronaut recovery works for SpaceX
20:00 – Building the modern Astronaut Rescue & Medical Program
23:10 – Hollywood entry: Ranger School → We Were Soldiers
24:45 – Almost landing a speaking role, choosing Paris instead
27:00 – Christian Bale, late nights, and the truth behind his “on-set audio”
28:40 – Working with stunt legends like Tom Struthers
29:30 – Behind the scenes of Inception & Dark Knight Rises
32:00 – Dunkirk: flying behind WWII Spitfires for aerial safety
34:10 – Why the stunt crew won major awards
35:20 – Upcoming film: Alone at Dawn (John Chapman / Roberts Ridge)
36:50 – Adam Driver & Anne Hathaway joining the cast
39:20 – Filming “Eden” in the Galápagos
41:00 – Brigands origin story & Ranger Battalion roots
43:00 – Service before self: the meaning behind Brigands
45:00 – Closing reflections

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 subscribe, like, and share if you found this conversation valuable. Your support helps us bring more stories of resilience, leadership, and freedom to light.

#GreenBeret #AirForcePJ #SpecialOperations #HollywoodStunts