The MisFitNation

Richard LaMonica
  • 5.0 (50)
  • Documentary
  • Semiweekly

The MisFitNation Show: Empowering Stories of Resilience and Growth Welcome to The MisFitNation Show, hosted by Rich LaMonica, a proud US Army Veteran. Alongside a fellow Veteran and a prominent business leader, our mission is clear: to inspire and empower you to become a better human being. We spotlight the remarkable stories of Veterans and First Responders, showcasing their journeys of resilience, strength, and triumph over adversity. Each episode features captivating interviews with guests from diverse backgrounds, including authors, entrepreneurs, coaches, motivational speakers, and health & fitness professionals. Listeners will gain valuable insights, life lessons, and actionable advice from those who have faced challenges and achieved success. Whether it's the grit of our Veterans and First Responders or the expertise of thought leaders, The MisFitNation Show is a vibrant community dedicated to personal growth and collective well-being. Join us for an episode or become a regular listener! If you believe your story can inspire others, reach out to us to be a guest on the show. Accolades: 2025 Veteran Podcast of The Year - American Freedom Fund 2022 - Top 40 Over 40 - Podcast Magazine 2021 - Best Society and Culture Podcast - Veteran Podcast Awards Tune in to The MisFitNation Show, your ultimate platform for inspiration, motivation, and transformation. Discover stories that uplift and empower—because every voice matters! https://linktr.ee/themisfitnation

  1. 1d ago

    Your Own Weapons. An Invisible Injury. | Blast Overpressure with Tim Grossman

    You trained to survive enemy fire. Who prepared you for the questions about your own? Thousands of mortar rounds. Repeated breaching charges. Years around heavy weapons. For the warfighters behind those systems, the conversation about blast exposure doesn’t end when the firing stops. U.S. Army combat veteran Timothy “Tim” Grossman joins Rich LaMonica and Jake Holland on The MisFitNation for a raw conversation about blast overpressure, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the invisible burdens veterans can carry into civilian life. A former mortarman with the 101st Airborne Division’s Rakkasans and the 1st Infantry Division, Tim knows the gun line firsthand. After nearly two decades in veterans advocacy, including work with Disabled American Veterans and Wounded Warrior Project, he now leads the Cohort of Overpressured Warfighters Action Council (COWAC). His message: veterans need information they can use while the larger fight for recognition continues. This episode explores military occupational blast exposure through research, advocacy, and personal experience. Tim explains why repetitive low-level blast exposure during military training deserves attention, how he approaches the gaps in the science, and why an individual veteran’s exposure history matters. Jake brings his own EOD experience into a candid discussion of memory difficulties, emotional changes, and the struggle to explain what life feels like after service. Together, we examine: • Blast overpressure exposure among mortarmen, artillery crews, breachers, EOD technicians, and special operations personnel. • Brain fog, headaches, tinnitus, sleep difficulties, and other concerns raised in the conversation. • Overlapping PTSD and TBI symptoms—and the importance of looking deeper. • The distance between military brain-health research and VA disability recognition. • Documenting military exposure and discussing it with a medical provider. • The role of medical evidence, clinician opinions, and veterans service officers in service-connection claims. • Why Tim created a reference to help clinicians and advocates understand blast exposure. At the heart of this conversation is a question every American should hear: What responsibility do we carry when the weapons we ask service members to fire may leave injuries we cannot see? If you served around heavy weapons, love someone who did, or work in veteran healthcare or disability advocacy, make time for this episode. Listen. Follow The MisFitNation. Send this conversation to the battle buddy who keeps saying, “I haven’t felt like myself since I got home.” Explore Tim’s educational resources and advocacy: https://cowac.org/ More from The MisFitNation: https://www.themisfitnation.com/ Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Keep Hustling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 2d ago

    Paralyzed, Still Serving: Casey Callister’s Next Mission

    Casey Callister was preparing for life after the Army when a head-on collision changed his future. Paralyzed from the waist down, he faced more than learning to use a wheelchair. He had to rethink his independence, his identity, and how he would show up for his wife and two children. Then his young son asked a question that stayed with him: “What do you do for work?” Casey had always taught his children to work hard and take responsibility. That question challenged him to lead by example—and helped push him toward a new way to serve. On The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica sits down with the U.S. Army veteran, former medic, and co-founder and president of Vet5 Foundation for a candid conversation about spinal cord injury, veteran mental health, accepting help, and finding purpose after a life-changing setback. Casey shares how twenty years of reunions with his Army brothers became the foundation for helping other disabled veterans and their families reconnect with life. Through adaptive fishing, hunting, outdoor experiences, and accessible family retreats, Vet5 creates opportunities to rediscover confidence and build friendships that continue after the trip ends. The details make this conversation powerful: inspecting hotel rooms to ensure accessibility, offering electric fishing reels, and helping an injured veteran shoulder a shotgun so he could enjoy shooting skeet again. Each story shows how thoughtful support can make something that feels impossible become possible. Casey also speaks honestly about the help he still struggles to accept, why healing looks different for everyone, and the often overlooked weight carried by spouses and caregivers. His approach to nonprofit partnerships offers another lesson in leadership: cooperation expands what a community can accomplish. For veterans, first responders, military families, caregivers, and anyone rebuilding after adversity, this episode offers a personal perspective on moving forward without having every answer. Your next chapter may look different. It can still be meaningful. Connect with Vet5 Foundation:https://vet5.org/ Explore The MisFitNation:https://www.themisfitnation.com Watch the interview and subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@The_MisFitNation Follow The MisFitNation on your favorite podcast app, share this episode with someone facing a difficult transition, and tell us: What helped you find your next mission? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 4d ago

    The Mustang That Changed Everything | Army Veteran Zachary Leyden

    When Zachary Leyden left the Army after serving in Afghanistan, he expected civilian life to be his next adventure. Instead, he felt lost without the mission and the people beside him. After a DUI, a Vietnam veteran invited him to work with Mustangs. One horse, Kirby, would not let Zachary near him. Zachary spent days trying to earn his trust—until he stopped chasing, sat down in the pasture, and let Kirby come to him. That moment changed how Zachary understood horses, himself, and the people he hoped to help. On The MisFitNation, Zachary tells Rich LaMonica how he built Ocean View Stables near San Francisco, where veterans have been invited to ride free since day one. He shares why working with a horse begins with presence and clear communication, how people can unintentionally teach a rescue horse to fear them, and what “soft is strong” means when you are standing beside a 1,200-pound animal. Their conversation also reaches beyond the barn: the challenge of asking for help after service, leadership without rank, the founding of Saved by the Saddle, and Soft Is Strong: The Art of Horsemanship, the book Zachary wrote with his wife, Kalea. When Rich asks him to set every title aside and name his mission now, Zachary’s answer is simple: to be a good father. Connect with Zachary:Ocean View Stables: https://www.oceanviewstables.comSaved by the Saddle: https://www.savedbythesaddle.orgLeyden Horsemanship: https://www.leydenhorsemanship.com Explore The MisFitNation: https://www.themisfitnation.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Oct 23

    300 Combat Missions. One Leadership Lesson That Changes Everything | Ron Cooper

    Before Ron “Toes” Cooper became an F-4 fighter pilot and squadron commander, he was a young man afraid to ask questions. Four people believed in him when he struggled to believe in himself. Their influence helped shape a 22-year Air Force career that included more than 300 combat missions—and the work he does with leaders today. Ron joins Rich LaMonica on The MisFitNation for a conversation about what pressure reveals. In the cockpit, he learned to think ahead, prepare for what might go wrong, and adapt without losing sight of the mission. In organizations, he sees the same need for clear communication, genuine trust, and people willing to listen before they lead. They also explore how a leader can rebuild trust after losing it, why a company’s everyday behavior matters more than its stated values, and how mentoring someone can change the direction of a life. Ron’s story is a reminder that confidence can grow—and that the people we believe in may carry that belief far beyond us. Connect with Ron and The Cooper Culture: https://thecooperculture.com/Explore The MisFitNation: https://www.themisfitnation.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Oct 20

    He Spent 14 Years Trying to Finish One Book | Chad Martin’s Fight to Reinvent Himself

    What if the thing you were meant to do took you 14 years to finally finish? On this episode of The ToosDay Crüe, Stephen and Jake sit down with Chad R. Martin — author, professional wrestler, podcast host, entrepreneur, personal trainer, and lifelong storyteller — for a conversation about reinvention, persistence, and what happens when you stop putting your own dreams on hold. Long before he became a published author, Chad was stepping into wrestling rings as Big Daddy Storm. He started out as a shy introvert who was uncomfortable talking to people. Professional wrestling changed that. It taught him how to read a room, connect with an audience, create emotion, think on his feet, communicate under pressure, and tell a story people could actually feel. Those lessons followed him everywhere. Into business. Into podcasting. And eventually, into writing. Chad first began working on his novel Hale County years ago, but life kept getting in the way. Work, family, responsibilities, unfinished drafts, creative roadblocks, and the habit of putting everyone else's needs ahead of his own kept the book unfinished for more than a decade. Then one person kept asking him the same question: “Where’s the book?” For 14 years. That simple question eventually became the push he needed. Once Chad finally discovered how the story ended, he outlined the rest of the novel and completed it in roughly 60 days. After 14 years of waiting. And once that door opened, the stories started pouring out. This conversation goes far beyond writing. Chad talks about the physical reality of professional wrestling, why wrestlers have to trust each other even when they don't like each other, the psychology of engaging an audience, why communication matters more than flashy moves, and why some of the hardest lessons in life come from failure. He also opens up about why authenticity matters so much to him now. His philosophy is simple: Be yourself. Stop trying to become the version of yourself you think other people want. Make mistakes. Fail. Learn. Adapt. And keep moving. Stephen, Jake, and Chad also get into science fiction, aliens, podcasting, management, audience connection, classic rock, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, DC vs. Marvel, wrestling stories, writing across multiple genres, and the kind of unpredictable rabbit holes that make The ToosDay Crüe what it is. If you've ever had a dream sitting unfinished in the background of your life, this conversation is for you. Because sometimes the dream didn't disappear. You just haven't finished it yet. Learn more about Chad R. Martin and his books: https://chadrmartin.com/ Visit The Misfit Nation: http://www.themisfitnation.com In this episode: Chad Martin, Big Daddy Storm, Hale County, professional wrestling, indie authors, writing, storytelling, podcasting, personal growth, reinvention, perseverance, overcoming fear, creativity, entrepreneurship, communication, and learning from failure. The ToosDay Crüe — real people, real conversations, and zero idea where the ride is going next. Be humble. Stay hungry. Keep hustling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Oct 15

    He Survived War Zones. Then the Real Battle Followed Him Home | Sean Carberry

    What happens when you survive war zones—but struggle to survive the life waiting for you when you come home? In this powerful episode of The MisFitNation, Rich sits down with award-winning journalist, former NPR Kabul correspondent, and author Sean Carberry for a deeply personal conversation about war, trauma, addiction, identity, and what happens when the adrenaline suddenly stops. Sean spent more than 15 years reporting from some of the most dangerous places in the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Congo, and Yemen. For years, danger was normal. There was always another story. Another mission. Another place where the stakes were high and the people around him understood exactly what it meant to live on edge. Then he came home. And everything got quiet. That silence became its own kind of battle. Sean opens up about how PTSD showed up in ways he did not immediately recognize—hypervigilance, disconnection, restlessness, loss of purpose, and the inability to feel at home in ordinary life. Then came gambling. What started as entertainment turned into high-stakes video poker, massive wins, devastating losses, casino perks, and an increasingly dangerous cycle of chasing the next rush. At one point, Sean could lose more than $10,000 in a day—then hit a jackpot moments later and convince himself he could keep going. That cycle became the foundation for his new memoir: Doubling Down: A Memoir of War, PTSD, and the Dangerous Bets We Make But this conversation is about much more than gambling. Sean and Rich dig into the psychology of coming home after living in high-intensity environments, the loss of identity that can follow military service, journalism, first-response work, and other mission-driven careers, and why people who appear successful on the outside can still be falling apart privately. They also explore something rarely discussed: What happens to journalists, contractors, humanitarian workers, and civilians who experience war-zone trauma but do not have the same support systems available to military veterans? Sean explains why simply telling someone, “There’s a counselor you can call,” is not enough—and why organizations that send people into dangerous environments must take greater responsibility for what happens when those people come home. You’ll also hear Sean talk candidly about destructive relationships, chasing danger long after leaving Afghanistan, the seductive power of casino culture, and the moment he began recognizing a recurring pattern in his life: When the smarter decision was to walk away, he often chose to double down. This episode is raw, thoughtful, sometimes funny, and deeply human. It is a conversation about what trauma can look like when no one else can see it. About why purpose can disappear overnight. About the danger of replacing one adrenaline rush with another. And about how rebuilding your life often begins with recognizing the patterns that keep pulling you back toward the edge. Sean also shares one simple piece of advice that could matter more than we realize: Check on the people you haven’t heard from in a while. You do not always know who is struggling behind the version of themselves they show the world. Listen to this episode through the end for an unforgettable conversation about war, PTSD, gambling addiction, recovery, purpose, connection, and what it really means to come home. Learn more about Sean Carberry: https://passport-stamps.com/ Learn more about The MisFitNation: http://www.themisfitnation.com If this conversation speaks to you, share it with someone who may need to hear it. And if you are struggling, reach out to someone you trust. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Oct 13

    His Parachute Failed. Then He Spent 4 Years Without VA Benefits | Cory Gold

    U.S. Army veteran Cory Gold thought his military career was just beginning. Then a parachute malfunction during Airborne School changed everything. The hard landing left Cory with a broken back, traumatic brain injury, and a future that looked nothing like the one he had planned. His time in the Army ended quickly, but the physical and psychological aftermath followed him home. What Cory didn’t know was that help was available. For nearly four years after leaving the military, he lived with pain, instability, and untreated challenges without realizing he could access VA disability benefits and other veteran resources. It wasn’t until another veteran he met at a dog park told him about the VA that Cory began the process of getting the support he had earned through his service. That moment changed his life. In this episode of The MisFitNation Show, host and U.S. Army veteran Rich LaMonica sits down with Cory to talk about his military experience, the parachute accident that ended his Army career, the long road to understanding his VA benefits, and the mission that grew out of everything he endured. Today, Cory is the founder of Worth Their Weight, an organization focused on connecting veterans with the programs, services, and accredited support that fit their needs—at no cost to the veteran. The conversation also explores why so many veterans never file for benefits, why some feel they don’t “deserve” support, the dangers of paying unnecessary fees for claims assistance, and why organizations may need to stop waiting for struggling veterans to walk through the door and ask for help. Cory also shares what it took to build a nonprofit from the ground up, how Worth Their Weight reaches unsheltered and underserved veterans, and why something as simple as transportation, a phone, or one trusted connection can completely change someone’s path. This episode covers: • Surviving a parachute malfunction during Airborne School • Living with a broken back and traumatic brain injury • Spending four years without knowing VA benefits were available • Navigating VA disability claims and ratings • Why intent-to-file timing matters • The role of VSOs and accredited veteran representatives • Avoiding unnecessary fees and predatory claims services • Supporting homeless and unsheltered veterans • Post-service identity and purpose • Family support, mental health, and recovery • Building Worth Their Weight • Connecting veterans with the right resources • Why veterans should never assume they have to figure everything out alone Cory’s story is about more than a failed parachute. It’s about what happens when a veteran survives the injury—but doesn’t know where to turn afterward. Learn more about Worth Their Weight: https://worththeirweight.org/ Explore more episodes from The MisFitNation: http://www.themisfitnation.com If this episode resonates with you, share it with a veteran, military family, or someone who may not know what resources are available to them. Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Keep Hustling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Oct 8

    A New Heart, 20 Years Sober, and a Marriage Worth Fighting For | Gaylen Wilson

    What do you do with the years you were never promised? For Gaylen Wilson, that question became very real. After a lifetime of reinvention—from farmer to stockbroker, computer consultant, entrepreneur, and beyond—Gaylen faced battles that would reshape everything he thought he knew about survival, identity, and purpose. He battled alcoholism and ultimately built more than 20 years of sobriety. Then, years later, a virus damaged his heart and began a three-and-a-half-year decline into severe heart failure. Eventually, the reality became unavoidable: without a heart transplant, he was going to die. Gaylen and his wife, Heather, had already begun preparing for the possibility that their time together was running out. Then the call came. A donor heart was available. The next morning, Gaylen received a new heart—and with it, a second chance at life. But survival created a new question: What do you do with the years you were never guaranteed? In this episode of The ToosDay Crüe, Gaylen joins the crew for a deeply personal conversation about sobriety, heart transplantation, masculinity, marriage, emotional safety, intimacy, erectile dysfunction, conflict, second chances, and the power of intentionally rebuilding your life. Gaylen shares how his own experiences eventually led him and Heather to become Certified Thriving Relationship Coaches and create The Monument Method—an approach centered on protecting the relationship instead of protecting the ego. He explains why so many arguments are really about threats to emotional connection, how fight-or-flight can take over a relationship, and why couples can do lasting damage when they focus on winning the argument instead of protecting the bond. You’ll also hear Gaylen break down the idea of using a shared “sacred word” to interrupt escalating conflict, turn toward each other, restore emotional safety, and prevent small disagreements from becoming deeper wounds. The conversation also goes into a subject many couples struggle to discuss openly: erectile dysfunction and intimacy. After years of working with men and women dealing with ED, Gaylen saw how quickly physical challenges can create shame, fear, emotional withdrawal, loss of affection, and mistrust inside a relationship. He explains why rebuilding intimacy often begins with emotional safety—not performance. Gaylen also shares what more than two decades of sobriety taught him about recovery, why purpose matters as we get older, and why he believes your later years do not have to be a slow fade into the background. Sometimes the third act becomes the most meaningful part of the story. In this episode: • Surviving alcoholism and maintaining more than 20 years of sobriety • Living through severe heart failure and receiving a heart transplant • Reinventing yourself after failure, addiction, loss, and major life changes • Why emotional safety matters in marriage • How fight-or-flight affects communication and conflict • Why “winning” an argument can still damage the relationship • The philosophy behind The Monument Method • Using a sacred word to interrupt destructive conflict • Rebuilding intimacy in long-term relationships • Erectile dysfunction, shame, connection, and communication • Becoming your partner’s refuge instead of another source of stress • Finding purpose after 50, 60, and beyond • Building a meaningful life with the years you still have Gaylen’s story is ultimately about more than getting a second chance. It is about deciding what to do with it. Learn more about Gaylen Wilson and The Monument Method Institute: https://www.monumentmethodinstitute.com/ Learn more about The MisFitNation and The ToosDay Crüe: https://www.themisfitnation.com If this episode connects with you, follow the show, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform. Be humble. Stay hungry. Keep hustling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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5
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

The MisFitNation Show: Empowering Stories of Resilience and Growth Welcome to The MisFitNation Show, hosted by Rich LaMonica, a proud US Army Veteran. Alongside a fellow Veteran and a prominent business leader, our mission is clear: to inspire and empower you to become a better human being. We spotlight the remarkable stories of Veterans and First Responders, showcasing their journeys of resilience, strength, and triumph over adversity. Each episode features captivating interviews with guests from diverse backgrounds, including authors, entrepreneurs, coaches, motivational speakers, and health & fitness professionals. Listeners will gain valuable insights, life lessons, and actionable advice from those who have faced challenges and achieved success. Whether it's the grit of our Veterans and First Responders or the expertise of thought leaders, The MisFitNation Show is a vibrant community dedicated to personal growth and collective well-being. Join us for an episode or become a regular listener! If you believe your story can inspire others, reach out to us to be a guest on the show. Accolades: 2025 Veteran Podcast of The Year - American Freedom Fund 2022 - Top 40 Over 40 - Podcast Magazine 2021 - Best Society and Culture Podcast - Veteran Podcast Awards Tune in to The MisFitNation Show, your ultimate platform for inspiration, motivation, and transformation. Discover stories that uplift and empower—because every voice matters! https://linktr.ee/themisfitnation

Information

  • Creator
    Richard LaMonica
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    702
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Richard LaMonica
  • Show Website
    The MisFitNation