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…
In this clip from The MisFitNation, U.S. Navy veteran and author D. Paul Fleming challenges the way veteran suicide is often discussed—especially when the conversation becomes centered almost entirely on firearms. D. Paul argues that focusing too narrowly on one method can distract from the larger issue: why so many…
Retired Fire Lieutenant and EMT David Dachinger has one message every first responder needs to hear: You do not have to carry it alone. Firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, police officers, dispatchers, and veterans spend their lives helping everyone else—but that does not mean they should suffer in silence. In this powerful…
A two-time Grammy-nominated music professional, retired firefighter/EMT, cancer survivor, author, and first responder advocate shares what happens when the helper becomes the one who needs help. Spotify / Apple Podcasts Description: What happens when a man who spent more than two decades running toward emergencies suddenly finds himself facing one…
After surviving Stage IV cancer, retired Fire Lieutenant and EMT David Dachinger says his definition of a “bad day” completely changed. During cancer treatment, even something as simple as finding one food that tasted good became a victory. That experience recalibrated how he saw adversity, gratitude, time, and the value…
When a veteran finally opens up, don’t interrupt. Don’t immediately offer advice. Don’t listen just to prepare your response. U.S. Navy veteran and author D. Paul Fleming explains one of the simplest—and most important—ways families, friends, leaders, and fellow veterans can support someone carrying trauma: Just listen. As D. Paul…
🔥 SOME STORIES DESERVE A SECOND CHAPTER—AND THIS WEEK WE'VE GOT THREE GREAT ONES! From amplifying the voices of female Veterans, to surviving a heart transplant, to fighting for Veterans who don't know what benefits they've earned—there's a lot coming your way! 🇺🇸 SUNDAY – SUSAN L. COMBS RETURNS! This…
🔥 WHAT A WEEK ACROSS THE MISFITNATION! Recovery. Faith. FBI SWAT. Reinvention. Loss. Mediumship. Psychological horror. Yeah...we covered some ground this week! ⚓ SUNDAY – MATTHEW STATES Rich welcomed U.S. Navy Veteran Matthew States, founder of Divine Chosen Ones and Soul Shine Struggle. With more than 24 years of military…
