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…
How do you lead when your title carries no weight? Army veteran Zachary Leyden explains what horses taught him about leading without authority—and why those lessons matter in the workplace. In this clip from The MisFitNation, Zachary describes the challenge of communicating with a 1,200-pound animal that has no reason…
This week on The MisFitNation and The ToosDay Crüe, we're bringing you three powerful Veteran guests and a special Veterans RoundTable! 🇺🇸 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 – KEITH BARTON The MisFitNation welcomes U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Keith Barton! A former Recon Marine, military aviator, business operations leader, and author, Keith is…
This week on The MisFitNation, two extraordinary Veterans shared stories of trauma, survival, resilience, and the lasting impact of events that changed their lives forever. 🇺🇸 SUNDAY – KENT MCGOWEN | FROM AIR FORCE VETERAN TO A CONTROVERSIAL SHOOTING Kent McGowen entered the U.S. Air Force at just 17 years…
The combat ends. The questions about blast exposure don’t. U.S. Army veteran Timothy Grossman joins The MisFitNation to discuss military occupational blast exposure, blast overpressure, veteran brain health, and the fight to get invisible wounds recognized. A former 11C indirect-fire infantryman, Timothy served with the Rakkasans of the 101st Airborne…
Who are you when the uniform comes off, your career changes, or life forces you to start over? Marine veteran Zurriane “Mr. Z” Bennett joins The ToosDay Crü3 for a powerful conversation about rebuilding your identity, reclaiming confidence, and finding purpose in your next chapter. A retired U.S. Marine Chief…
What happens when a Marine aviator turns his attention to government waste, congressional accountability, and family court reform? USMC Veteran Keith Barton joins Rich LaMonica on The MisFitNation for an unscripted conversation about military leadership, broken systems, and what it takes to turn experience into action. A former military aviator,…
What happens when a veteran enters the justice system—and someone sees an opportunity to help them rebuild? In this clip from The MisFitNation, Navy veteran Ed Parcaut and host Rich LaMonica discuss support for justice-involved veterans. Rich shares a local Veterans Treatment Court graduation involving nine veterans and active-duty service…
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…