Colin Gibson on Military Contracting, PTSD & The Power of Being Yourself

Colin Gibson on Military Contracting, PTSD & The Power of Being Yourself

Author: Matthew Thompson November 6, 2023 Duration: 4:33:12

Colin Gibson is an ex-soldier, military contractor, scuba-diver, and owner of Talon: a security training company based in Northern Ireland. He’s served in Iraq and Afghanistan, lived in Belize for 6+ years and has been on a rollercoaster journey of dealing with combat-induced PTSD and childhood trauma.

In part one of this epic four-part special we talk about:

  • The effects of growing up with an abusive father
  • How violence dominated his early years
  • Getting in trouble with the police
  • The moment his life changed and all the anger disappeared
  • Walking through fields barefoot in the rain
  • The one positive male influence on his life
  • Moving to Belize
  • Scuba diving stories: manta-rays, blackness and pica-pica jellyfish
  • Finding happiness for the first time
  • And a few teasers to what you’ll hear in part two.

In this part two we talk about:

  • Getting his feet washed by an Iraqi driver
  • Being challenged to a fist-fight by his girlfriend’s dad
  • Getting thrown into a Belize prison cell with 20+ other people
  • What led him away from Belize
  • Why he ended up joining the military
  • And a few stories from his deployment…

In part three we talk about:

  • The specific combat-event that “sent him down the rabbit-hole”
  • Dealing with survivors guilt
  • And battling with suicide.

In part four we talk about:

  • How his experiences affect his life today
  • Why he’s thrown himself into serving others through his new teaching business
  • (Talon Security Training)
  • What he’s focused on
  • Why he started opening up about his experiences
  • And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old version of himself

Check it out.

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/colin-gibson-talon-security


There's a deeper, richer narrative woven into the fabric of Northern Ireland, and Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast is where you'll hear it. Host Matthew Thompson sits down each week with the remarkable individuals who are shaping this place, moving the conversation far beyond familiar headlines. This isn't about nostalgia or simplified history; it's a living, breathing collection of over three hundred conversations that reveal the true pulse of the city and its people. You'll find a genuine connection here, a break from the noise, as you listen to stories from an astonishingly diverse range of voices. From NASA scientists and Oscar-winning artists to billion-dollar founders and nonagenarian athletes pounding the pavement at local park runs, the guest list is as unpredictable as it is inspiring. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair in a Belfast pub for a fascinating chat you won't find anywhere else. It’s an ongoing exploration of society, culture, and place, dedicated entirely to the incredible things happening right now, hosted by someone who knows that the best stories are always told by the people who live them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast
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