The MisFitNation

Richard LaMonica
  • 5.0 (40)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Welcome to The MisFitNation Show, hosted by Rich LaMonica—a US Army Veteran who, alongside a fellow US Army Veteran and a Business Leader. Our mission is simple: inspire and empower you to be a better human being. We highlight the powerful stories of Veterans and First Responders, sharing their journeys of resilience and strength. Through captivating interviews, we also bring you guests from all walks of life—authors, entrepreneurs, coaches, motivational speakers, and health & fitness professionals. Each episode features individuals who have overcome challenges and achieved success, offering valuable insights, life lessons, and actionable advice. Whether it's stories of grit from our Veterans and First Responders or expertise from thought leaders, The MisFitNation is a community dedicated to personal growth and collective well-being. Join us for one 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! 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 The MisFitNation Show is your go-to platform for inspiration, motivation, and transformation. Want to be a guest on The MisFitNation? Send Rich LaMonica a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/richlamonica

  1. 4D AGO

    Bryan Stern: The Warrior Who Built a Global Rescue Mission

    On this powerful episode of The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica welcomes Bryan Stern, U.S. Army & Navy combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation—one of the most effective civilian-led rescue organizations in the world. After witnessing Americans and allies abandoned during the Afghanistan withdrawal, Bryan didn’t wait for permission—he built a rescue network. In their first mission alone, Grey Bull saved 117 stranded Americans in one day. Since then, Bryan and his elite team of former special operations and intelligence professionals have conducted over 700 missions, rescuing 7,000+ lives in war zones, disaster areas, and hostile environments across Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and right here in the United States during Maui wildfires and Hurricane Ian. This episode goes beyond headlines to explore what it means to act when governments fail, why moral courage matters, and how warriors can continue serving when the uniform comes off. Learn more or support the mission: https://greybullrescue.org 🎯 Subscribe | Like | Share | 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation 🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  2. 6D AGO

    Daryl Mackin: Honoring Fallen Heroes by Loving the Children Left

    On this powerful episode of The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica welcomes US Navy Veteran Daryl J.W. Mackin, founder of A Soldier’s Child Foundation (ASC)—a nonprofit born from loss, love, and an unshakable commitment to the children left behind after military service. After the death of Marine Staff Sergeant Marcus Golcyznski in Iraq, Daryl took a deeply personal call to action: “Love the child left behind.” Since founding ASC in 2008, Daryl and his team have served over 5,000 Gold Star and fallen-hero children, honoring their parents’ sacrifice through birthday celebrations, camps, mentorship, scholarships, and leadership development. This episode dives into the reality of post-service loss, the veteran suicide epidemic, and how ASC is restoring hope to families impacted by combat loss, illness, and suicide. Daryl shares how love, consistency, and community can change the trajectory of a child’s life—and how everyday Americans can stand beside the families of our fallen. 🔹 Topics include: • Gold Star family support • Veteran suicide and its impact on children • Healing through community and mentorship • Honoring the fallen through action • Faith, service, and legacy Learn more: www.asoldierschild.org 🎯 Subscribe | Like | Share | 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation 🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m

  3. JAN 8

    Kevin Odom: Recovery, Service & Trauma-Informed Leadership After War

    On this episode of The ToosDay Crue, we welcome US Army National Guard Veteran Kevin Odom—a seasoned behavioral health clinician, leader, and person in long-term recovery—whose life and career sit at the intersection of service, healing, and purpose. Kevin honorably served as a mechanic in the Army National Guard before dedicating their post-military life to behavioral healthcare. Drawing from lived experience in recovery, Kevin now works on an inpatient unit at Novant Health, providing clinical assessments, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and patient advocacy. Their work also includes trauma-informed care for vulnerable populations, including screening undocumented patients for trafficking risks and connecting them with life-saving resources. Beyond direct care, Kevin is a respected leader in the field—overseeing SAMHSA-funded initiatives, guiding major EMR transitions, supervising counselors, and mentoring future clinicians through national fellowship programs. This conversation dives into recovery, ethical leadership, mental health in the veteran community, and what sustainable healing really looks like. This episode covers: • Recovery-informed leadership • Trauma-informed and ethical care • Veterans and behavioral health • Building sustainable clinical programs • Service beyond the uniform Check him out here: https://www.tiktok.com/@onemomentpodcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/mhsua https://www.facebook.com/keod3025/ https://www.facebook.com/OneMomentPodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onemomentpodcast/  🎯 Subscribe | Like | Share | 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation 🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 4m

  4. JAN 5

    Bootstraps, Battle Scars & Reinvention with Entrepreneur Chris Shurian

    On this episode of The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica welcomes entrepreneur, storyteller, and resilience expert Chris Shurian for a raw and unforgettable conversation about grit, reinvention, and what it really takes to keep going. Chris’s life reads like a movie—growing up between Southern California and rural Montana, navigating deep spiritual transitions, surviving cancer, completing two Ironmans, and building (and rebuilding) businesses across nine industries over nearly four decades. He’s won big, lost big, and learned the lessons most entrepreneurs only talk about. As the founder of Bootstraps & Battle Scars and creator of Founders Exchange, Chris now helps entrepreneurs in the trenches strip off the armor, get honest, and grow into extraordinary leaders—without the fake hustle. This episode dives into: • Reinvention after failure • Lessons earned the hard way • Entrepreneurship without the highlight reel • Purpose beyond profit • Why scars matter more than success stories If you love real stories from real people who’ve lived it—not just preached it—this one’s for you. 🎙️ Check out Chris’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisshurian2025 🎯 Subscribe | Like | Share | 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation 🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    58 min

  5. 12/30/2025

    Arlene Miller: Work-Life Harmony, Leadership & Negotiating from the Heart

    In this episode of The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica welcomes Arlene Cohen Miller, CEO of Jewel Consultancy and a certified Work-Life Harmony & Leadership Coach. 👉 www.jewelconsultancy.com Arlene brings decades of experience helping women—and leaders everywhere—create lives filled with confidence, clarity, and harmony. A Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation, A-V Rated Colorado Attorney, Certified Meditation Facilitator, and Transformational Holistic Counselor, Arlene blends professional excellence with deep compassion. Her signature topics include: 💎 Negotiating from the Heart: finding confidence and clarity in difficult conversations 🌿 From Stress to Serenity: 3 keys to transform your life and well-being ✨ Work-life harmony: leading with compassion while achieving your goals This conversation is filled with practical strategies for reducing stress, enhancing leadership, and embracing a more fulfilling life. 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation 🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com #WorkLifeHarmony #Leadership #StressManagement #MisFitNation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    56 min

  6. 12/24/2025

    Jim Tracy on Leadership, Resilience & Culture | The ToosDay Crue Podcast

    In this episode of The ToosDay Crue, Stephen, Jake, and Rich welcome Jim Tracy—one of North America’s most in-demand speakers on workplace culture, resilience, and leadership. 👉 Learn more at: www.thejimtracy.com | www.thegrampion.com Jim brings decades of experience as a CEO, bestselling author, jet pilot, podcaster, and Grampion to 18 grandkids. With a career filled with resilience and team-building, he’s been recognized with honors like induction into the Wireless Hall of Fame, the Bill Carlson Lifetime Service Award, and being named a Business ICON of Idaho. In this conversation, Jim shares: ✈️ Lessons from leadership, aviation, and business growth 📚 How he built, scaled, and sold multiple companies 🎙️ Insights from over 350 podcast interviews and 3 books 🏆 Why resilience and culture are the keys to success Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or simply chasing growth, Jim Tracy delivers powerful insights with humor and heart. 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation 🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Resilience #TheToosDayCrue #JimTracy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  7. 12/23/2025

    Paul Pape: Gamify Business & Break the Starving Artist Stereotype

    In this episode of The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica welcomes Paul Pape, creator of Gamify Business and the man behind the TEDx talk Santa for Nerds. Paul spent 20 years proving the critics wrong—transforming from a struggling theater designer into a thriving creative entrepreneur. Along the way, he’s worked with Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon, and The Tonight Show, and built a coaching methodology that helps creatives understand business through gaming concepts. With Gamify Business (👉 www.gamifybusiness.com), Paul turns intimidating business jargon into quests, levels, and character creation that make sense for creative minds. What you’ll get from this episode: 🎭 Paul’s journey from starving artist stereotype to successful entrepreneur 🎮 How to translate business strategies into gaming language 🚀 Practical tools creatives can use to thrive without sacrificing artistry 💡 Entertaining behind-the-scenes stories from working with major entertainment companies If you’ve ever thought business wasn’t for you, Paul will change your mind. #BusinessCoaching #Entrepreneurship #GamifyBusiness #MisFitNation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    54 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    USAF Veteran Dennis McCurdy: Resilience, Business, and the Power of Connection

    In this episode of The MisFitNation Show, host Rich LaMonica sits down with US Air Force Veteran, entrepreneur, author, and speaker Dennis McCurdy to talk about resilience, business, and the power of connection. Dennis’s story is one of grit and determination—starting work at age 12, graduating near the bottom of his class, and bouncing back after early career setbacks. By 36, he had built a net worth of over a million dollars, launched 10 businesses, and authored four books, including Suck It Up Cupcake and his newest release, Unleash the Power of Connection. Today, Dennis helps others break through procrastination, set meaningful goals, and embrace the power of mastermind groups and accountability partners. His mix of humor, authenticity, and no-nonsense advice makes this conversation one you won’t want to miss. 👉 Learn more about Dennis: www.dennismccurdy.com 👉 Subscribe for more stories of grit and resilience: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation #Veterans #Resilience #Entrepreneurship #PersonalDevelopment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
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5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Welcome to The MisFitNation Show, hosted by Rich LaMonica—a US Army Veteran who, alongside a fellow US Army Veteran and a Business Leader. Our mission is simple: inspire and empower you to be a better human being. We highlight the powerful stories of Veterans and First Responders, sharing their journeys of resilience and strength. Through captivating interviews, we also bring you guests from all walks of life—authors, entrepreneurs, coaches, motivational speakers, and health & fitness professionals. Each episode features individuals who have overcome challenges and achieved success, offering valuable insights, life lessons, and actionable advice. Whether it's stories of grit from our Veterans and First Responders or expertise from thought leaders, The MisFitNation is a community dedicated to personal growth and collective well-being. Join us for one 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! 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 The MisFitNation Show is your go-to platform for inspiration, motivation, and transformation. Want to be a guest on The MisFitNation? Send Rich LaMonica a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/richlamonica

Information

  • Creator
    Richard LaMonica
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    607
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Richard LaMonica
  • Show Website
    The MisFitNation