Can protest be an expression of patriotism? Author Claudia Hinz joins The MisFitNation to discuss protest, patriotism, veterans, military service, and the difficult line between questioning a government’s decision to go to war and supporting the men and women ordered to serve. Claudia explains why she views peaceful protest as…
For many veterans, leaving the military is not just a career change. It can feel like losing an identity. In this powerful clip from The MisFitNation, Chris Norris, MSW — General Manager & Lead Facilitator, Cognitive Fitness Coach talks about the transition from military service to civilian life and the…
What would happen if war stopped being something happening somewhere else—and suddenly came directly to your family? In this powerful episode of The MisFitNation, Rich LaMonica sits down with author and former television reporter Claudia Hinz, whose debut novel SAFEKEEPING imagines a near-future America where the military draft has returned.…
What actually helps when a veteran is struggling? US Navy veteran and author Rob Robertson says one of the most valuable things he has found in veteran group counseling is surprisingly simple: Veterans share tools. Not commands. Not guarantees. Not “this will fix everything.” Instead, someone says: “This is what…
U.S. Navy veteran Chris Norris, MSW — General Manager & Lead Facilitator, Cognitive Fitness Coach was excelling professionally while privately losing his battle with alcohol. Then came the night that changed everything. Chris was arrested for DUI after registering three times the legal limit—while driving a vehicle marked “For Official…
How do you stay focused when the pressure is high and there’s no easy way to step away? US Navy veteran and former submariner Rob Robertson shares one of the most important lessons he learned from operating in high-stress environments: Focus on what’s in front of you. Don’t get trapped…
What happens when the mission that defined your life suddenly ends? US Navy veteran, submariner, martial artist, and author Rob Robertson joins The Toosday Crüe for a powerful conversation about six years aboard the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Louisville, the pressure of earning his submarine dolphins, and the lessons that…
What does it really mean to earn your submarine dolphins in the US Navy? Navy veteran and author Rob Robertson explains why qualifying as a submariner was tougher than earning three college degrees or three black belts. It wasn’t just about passing tests. It was about proving to roughly 120…
How does binge drinking become so normalized that you stop realizing there’s a problem? Retired U.S. Navy Chief Rob Diedrich opens up about military drinking culture and how his own alcohol use became part of everyday life. Rob describes himself as a former functional alcoholic. He was still showing up,…
Why would the U.S. Navy send a highly trained Sailor with a drinking problem to rehab instead of simply ending his career? Retired Navy Chief Rob Diedrich explains that by the time he sought help, the Navy had already invested heavily in his training, technical skills, electronic warfare experience, and…
What happens when a generation of veterans comes home—but their sacrifice becomes harder for the public to see? Retired U.S. Navy Chief Rob Diedrich reflects on post-9/11 veterans and why many can seem almost invisible after military service. Unlike the image many people associate with earlier generations of veterans, today’s…
🔥 WAR JOURNALISM. PRO WRESTLING. 300 COMBAT MISSIONS. YEAH…THIS WEEK HAS RANGE! We've got three incredible conversations ahead across The MisFitNation and The ToosDay Crüe—and two familiar faces are coming BACK! 🎙️ SUNDAY – SEAN CARBERRY RETURNS Award-winning former NPR journalist, writer, and author Sean Carberry returns to The MisFitNation.…
🔥 WHAT A WEEK ACROSS THE MISFITNATION! Three conversations. Three completely different journeys. But one message kept coming through: What we survive and learn can become something that helps someone else. 🇺🇸 SUNDAY – SUSAN L. COMBS RETURNED! This one brought things full circle. Susan L. Combs—our 500th episode guest—returned…
When you're fighting addiction, is a 12-step program, therapy, SMART Recovery, or another path the right answer? U.S. Navy Veteran and retired Navy Chief Rob Diedrich explains that recovery isn't one-size-fits-all. Some people find success through therapy. Others through SMART Recovery, faith, peer support, or different treatment approaches. For Rob,…
How accurate are the numbers we use when talking about veteran suicide? In this clip from The MisFitNation, retired U.S. Navy veteran and author D. Paul Fleming argues that the official count does not always capture the full picture—especially when deaths involving overdose, risky behavior, or unclear intent may not…
What does flying combat missions teach you about leadership, trust, decision-making, workplace culture, and building high-performing teams? In this episode of The MisFitNation, we sit down with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ron Cooper, founder of The Cooper Culture, to explore leadership lessons forged during a 22-year U.S. Air Force career that…
What do you do when you are a single mom trying to hold everything together—work, family, finances, your goals—and you are terrified of making the wrong decision? U.S. Army Veteran and leadership strategist Caressa Bell answers that question with practical advice rooted in her own experience as a young single…
What does it take to chase a dream for 14 years and finally become a published author? In this episode of The ToosDay Crue, we sit down with author, podcast host, entrepreneur, professional wrestler, certified personal trainer, and internet radio station owner Chad Martin to talk about his unconventional journey…
What happens when you survive some of the most dangerous places on Earth… only to discover that the fight isn’t over when you come home? Sean Carberry returns to The MisFitNation for a raw and deeply personal conversation about war, identity, PTSD, addiction, and the dangerous ways we sometimes try…
What do you do when you know you need to make a bold decision—but fear is still louder than your confidence? For U.S. Army Veteran and leadership strategist Caressa Bell, the answer is simple: Close your eyes and jump. Not recklessly. Not blindly. But with the understanding that sometimes you…
What happens when life gives you no time to feel ready? For U.S. Army veteran Caressa Bell, that question became very real when she was a young soldier, a single mother to a four-month-old son, and received just one week’s notice to deploy. Fear was present. Uncertainty was real. But…
Caressa Bell grew up in a small community outside Chicago near Great Lakes Naval Base, where military life was always around her. By her junior year of high school, she had already made a decision that would change the direction of her life: she was joining the military. Caressa originally…
When someone has been inside the suicidal thought process, D. Paul Fleming says the conversation needs more empathy—and less judgment. In this clip from The MisFitNation, the U.S. Navy veteran and author of A Date With Suicide explains why he does not see suicide as simply a selfish act. Speaking…
