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…
Everyone saw a terrible investment. Army veteran Zachary Leyden saw what Ocean View Stables could become. Driving along the California coast, Zachary noticed a run-down horse property near San Francisco. When he bought it, the barn was falling down, makeshift structures needed replacing, and the site required extensive cleanup. People…
A chance encounter at an AA meeting introduced Army veteran Zachary Leyden to a Vietnam veteran—and a Mustang named Kirby who would change how he understood trust. After returning from Afghanistan, Zachary struggled with PTSD, isolation, and the loss of military structure. Following a DUI, he attended court-required AA meetings.…
Is professional wrestling fake? Professional wrestler Chad R. Martin, known in the ring as Big Daddy Storm, gives one of the clearest answers you’ll hear. Yes, professional wrestling is choreographed. But the pain? That part is very real. During his appearance on The ToosDay Crüe, Chad explains that he views…
She helped identify victims after the Oklahoma City bombing. Then came the long struggle with what she carried home. U.S. Army Veteran and former combat medic Jenn Mangini joins The MisFitNation for a powerful conversation about PTSD, grief, the invisible wounds of service, and finding hope when you feel lost.…
Chad Martin thought he was pushing through the stress - until his doctor and close friend asked him a question he could not ignore: “Do you want to die?” At the time, Chad was working in management, dealing with extreme stress and dangerously high blood pressure. His doctor told him…
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,…
Would you return to Afghanistan knowing there was a price on your head? In this clip from The MisFitNation, Navy veteran Ed Parcaut recounts Anthony Stephen Malone’s account of returning to Afghanistan to help people escape after the withdrawal—despite the danger Ed says Malone faced. Ed describes Malone’s reported capture…
A veteran went surfing while carrying a devastating plan. Ed Parcaut shares how that experience became a turning point—and why he wants more people to hear about Operation Surf. In this clip from The MisFitNation, U.S. Navy veteran Ed Parcaut discusses Operation Surf, adaptive surfing, and the story of a…
What if a security camera could help flag a visible firearm before a shot is fired? Retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer JJ Parma explains ZeroEyes’ approach to AI gun detection in this clip from the ToosDay Crüe. JJ describes how the system analyzes camera feeds for visible firearms, sends potential…
After surviving years in war zones, Sean Carberry came home carrying trauma he did not fully understand. Then he entered a brief abusive relationship. Looking back, Sean says the warning signs were there—but PTSD, unresolved trauma, and his own tendency to keep pushing through difficult situations made it harder to…
What happens when a former law enforcement officer spends 20 years behind bars—and emerges determined to challenge the system that imprisoned him? US Air Force Veteran and former Harris County sheriff’s deputy Kent McGowen joins The MisFitNation to share his account of the shooting, prosecution, and imprisonment that changed his…
Does who you WERE have to decide who you become? Retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer JJ Parma challenges how we think about veteran identity, military transition, and personal growth in this clip from the ToosDay Crüe. After 21 years in the SEAL teams, JJ offers a powerful perspective: your service…
Sean Carberry survived years reporting from war zones. But after coming home from Afghanistan, PTSD, loss of identity, and gambling addiction nearly cost him everything. In this powerful moment from The MisFitNation, Sean shares how the adrenaline disappeared, life began to unravel, and gambling became a dangerous substitute for the…
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,…
🔥 10 MILES. POURING RAIN. ZERO QUIT! The MisFitNation conquered the Army Ten-Miler in Washington, DC, and we're rolling straight into another incredible week of Veteran stories, leadership, resilience, and conversations that matter! Here's what's happening on Cart Talk! 🎙️ LAST WEEK – THREE POWERFUL GUESTS! ⚓ FRANCINE JUHLIN: Navy…
How do you put difficult experiences into words—and find room to laugh while carrying them? U.S. Navy Veteran TK Moyer joins The MisFitNation to share the story behind Survivor’s Guilt: A Memoir in Verse and explore how poetry, storytelling, and stand-up comedy help him process military service, family, loss, grief,…
Should a veteran have to give away part of their VA back pay just to get help navigating a disability claim? Cory Gold doesn’t think so. In this clip from The MisFitNation Show, host Rich LaMonica and U.S. Army veteran Cory Gold talk about what they call the “sharks” in…
What does strength look like after war, injury, and heartbreaking loss? The ToosDay Crüe welcomes William Hansen, a USMC and U.S. Army veteran whose story connects military service, fatherhood, leadership, and rebuilding a meaningful life. A former Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant, William served 22 years in uniform with five…
When Cory Gold first started building Worth Their Weight, he was going door to door in Chattanooga telling people about his mission to help veterans. Then one organization became the first to step up. The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center donated passes that Cory could give to veterans—making…
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…
Raelyn Miranda thought she was simply a go-getter. Looking back, she recognized how PTSD and hypervigilance were showing up in her everyday life: constant activity, difficulty resting, and feeling unable to settle until everything at home was done. In this clip from The MisFitNation, the 17-year Army National Guard veteran…
Rich LaMonica puts U.S. Army veteran and Worth Their Weight founder Cory Gold on the spot: Explain your entire mission in one quick elevator pitch. Cory’s answer gets straight to the point. Worth Their Weight exists to help veterans cut through the overwhelming number of veteran programs, organizations, benefits, and…
What happens when you’ve spent years serving others—and lost yourself along the way? The MisFitNation welcomes 17-year military veteran and author Raelyn Miranda for an honest conversation about invisible wounds, PTSD, anxiety, and finding her way back to herself. In Finding My Way Back Home, Raelyn shares a deeply personal…