Alone and Unafraid

In this powerful pre-journey conversation, TMFK! and Eli Gerhard—both veterans who have been through Ibogaine and 5-MEO-DMT—sit down with fellow veteran Mike Fransiolli as he prepares for his first Ibogaine experience. Together, they walk through the real thoughts, fears, and questions that come up before the medicine, while also sharing what brought them to their own breaking points: depression, emotional shutdown, hidden drinking, compartmentalization, and the “closet door” of stored trauma so many veterans carry.

This is the before story—raw, unfiltered, and honest. A look inside the moment when someone decides they’re ready to step into healing and fight for their life again

Links:

The Mission within Foundation

Donald Hoffman

Wisdom Dojo

Polestar coffee

Cadence Wealth Partners -Nick O'Kelly

GUEST INFO

Eli Gerhard

Retired US Army and former member of the 160th SOAR, offroad- motor sport enthusiast, Veteran advocate and board member with The Mission Within. Helps connect warriors to psychedelic-assisted healing after hitting his own breaking point and returning transformed.

Mike Fransioli

Retired US Army and former 160th SOAR crew chief turned UH-60 maintenance test pilot (MTP). Mike openly shares his pre-journey story for the first time and the moment he decided to seek true healing.

Former 160th SOAR(A) pilot, Green Beret, and author Nick O’Kelly joins TMFK! and Hucky Bear to talk about his new book, Stigma, and the realities of military mental health we don’t talk about. From the chaos of airborne school to the silence that follows service, this episode explores the culture of toughness, the cost of stigma, and why real leadership starts with vulnerability and a little dark humor.

Nick's Book: Stigma

Nick's website

Nick's youtube

Cadence Wealth partners-Nick O'Kelly

PoleStar Coffee

Nick O’Kelly, Stigma, Stigma book, Military Mental Health, Green Beret,
160th SOAR, Special Operations, Veteran Resilience, Breaking Stigma,
Alone and Unafraid Podcast, Mental Health Awareness, Veteran Stories,
SOAR pilot, Special Forces, Leadership and Vulnerability

In this emotional and powerful episode, TMFK and Tyler Hucky Bear sit down with Kimberly Vesey, Executive Director of Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that has changed lives since 2006 by gifting mortgage-free, fully accessible homes to wounded veterans and first responders.

Kimberly shares her journey from prosecutor to nonprofit leader, inspired by her brother’s devastating injuries in Iraq. Together, they explore how tragedy transformed into purpose — and how Building Homes for Heroes has now built or gifted over 450 homes across 37 states, operating with 96% of every dollar going directly to the mission.

The conversation moves from the personal to the powerful — from the realities of traumatic brain injuries and VA struggles, to moments of joy as families walk into their new homes for the first time.

Links:

Homes for Heroes🏠 Learn How to Support or Donate: https://www.buildinghomesforheroes.org/donate

Homes for Heroes Instagram

Homes for Heroes YouTube

Homes for Heroes LinkedIn

EOD Chocolates

UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth

CSM Ret. Gretchen Evans

Guest Info

Kimberly Vesey – Executive Director, Building Homes for Heroes
Former prosecutor turned mission-driven leader, Kimberly has helped grow the organization into a national powerhouse serving injured veterans and first responders through mortgage-free homes, wraparound services, and holistic support.

TMFK! and Huckybear sit down with Chris Maleta, a firefighter, paramedic, and founder of Carry the Flag USA. Chris shares the story behind his mission-driven brand—how a simple moment at a 9/11 stair climb turned into a movement to honor service, sacrifice, and resilience. The guys dig into the parallels between firefighting and the military, the hidden toll of trauma, the bond of brotherhood, and what it means to carry the flag for your crew, your family, and your country.

From war stories and firehouse calls to small-town politics and personal loss, this conversation is raw, real, and full of laughs. If you’ve ever wondered what keeps first responders and veterans pushing forward—this one’s for you.

Carry The Flag

Polestar Coffee Company | Veteran-owned Specialty Coffee Roaster

Cadence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly

Tell this Story-Doug White

Guest Info

Chris Molita is a firefighter and paramedic who founded Carry the Flag USA, a brand and movement born from a moment of reflection at a 9/11 memorial stair climb. His mission is to inspire Americans to “carry the flag” for something greater—family, community, and the next generation

firefighter podcast, veterans, first responders, 9/11, Carry the Flag, service and sacrifice, brotherhood, mental resilience, leadership, military mindset, Alone and Unafraid, Chris Molita, duty, courage, heroism, firefighter stories, Carry the Flag USA

Marine combat veteran and entrepreneur Deric Keller shares how one simple shift—asking better questions—can completely change your path. From the battlefield to the boardroom, he opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating career pivots, and building a mindset rooted in resilience.

This conversation dives into how military discipline translates into business success, why self-doubt can actually fuel growth, and what it really takes to build teams with trust and transparency. Whether you’re battling imposter syndrome or searching for a way to level up in life and leadership, the lessons here will resonate.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Deric Keller on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Battlefield Boardroom & Exit Momentum

• Cadence Wealth Partners – Nick O’Kelly

• Polestar Coffee

• Visit: aloneandunafraid.org

Guest Info

Deric Keller is a Marine veteran turned entrepreneur, coach, and business builder. From scaling an infectious disease lab to transforming the car business with integrity, he now helps leaders and teams unlock their potential through Exit Momentum and Battlefield Boardroom. His focus: empowering others to ask the right questions, build resilience, and take ownership of growth.

This is a reissue of Episode #51 after Spotify accidentally deleted the original. We didn’t want you to miss it, because this Gripes & Grinds session hits on everything from lazy questions and fast food fails to broken schools, youth sports burnout, Hollywood inaccuracies, and the slow death of common sense in 2025.

In this short but sharp episode, TMFK! and Hucky deliver the kind of funny rants, cultural commentary, and unfiltered veteran banter that define the Alone and Unafraid podcast.

If you’re looking for a funny complaints podcast, culture podcast, or real talk on modern life, this one’s for you.

👉 Since this is a reissue, help us out: subscribe again, share it, and leave a quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so the episode regains traction.

Sponsors:

Candence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly

Polestar Coffee

In this shorter, off-the-cuff episode of Alone and Unafraid, TMFK! and Hucky riff on the everyday frustrations that turn into bigger conversations about work ethic, education, and culture. From people who ask Googleable questions to the quirks of military in-briefs, customer service fails, and why Burger King might be a lost cause, the guys dig into laziness, problem-solving, and situational awareness.

They also talk about:

• Why abstraction and context seem to be disappearing as skills

• The burden of carrying others at work while they coast

• School systems, seatbelts on buses, and whether homework even helps

• Sports burnout for kids (and parents) in 2025

• Hollywood’s decline in creativity and the irritation of “Huey sounds” in every helicopter scene

• Plus a mid-season update: YouTube launch, subscriber goals, and some fun giveaways

It’s a mix of laughs, gripes, and big-picture insights that will leave you thinking about how much harder (or easier) we make life than it needs to be.

Resources & Links

• Cadence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly

  Polestar Coffee

  Subscribe on YouTube: Alone and Unafraid Podcast

• Instagram: @alone_and_unafraid

• TikTok: Find us on TikTok (yes, China has our data!)

• Email: [email protected]

Guest Info

No guest this week — just TMFK! and Hucky trading stories and perspectives in a short-form episode.

Standout Quotes

• “Humans are inherently lazy… or maybe just not situationally aware.”

• “If you just show up on time, dress professionally, and have a little bit of manners, you’ll dominate in any field.”

• “Everything’s my fault… but that means I don’t need permission to fix things.”

• “We treat every kid like a rocket scientist, then shit on the ones who can’t keep up.”

Former Special Forces NCO and 160th SOAR aviator Nick O’Kelly lays out a practical roadmap for identity, mental health, and money after the uniform. We cover rituals for closure, building your next tribe, training attention and emotion, smart finance (emergency funds → investing), and how to protect time for family and travel. We also give brief, balanced context on the Tim Kennedy situation and why integrity—and what we amplify online—matters.

Resources & Links

• The Nick O'Kelly-

  Home - Silent Valor

  Stigma Pre-Order - Silent Valor

  Nick's YoutubeBrain to Brain Communication Article⁠

  ⁠Optimal Brain Health for Warfighters

  SponsorsNick O’Kelly — Cadence Wealth Partners

  Polestar Coffee

  Alone and Unafraid podcast: aloneandunafraid.org

Nick O’Kelly — Special Forces 18C (Engineer Sergeant) → 160th SOAR pilot → financial advisor. He focuses on behavioral finance, mindset, and practical frameworks that help veterans (and anyone under pressure) build resilient, wealthy, and meaningful lives.

• “Talk about mental health out loud—or stigma wins by default.”

• “Your DD-214 isn’t your identity—build a new mission and tribe.”

• “Cash buys choices. Fund the emergency account first.”

• “Name the feeling; then you can steer it.”

• “Use social media with integrity—reputations are built (and burned) there.”

If you’re into this and you are a veteran, active duty service member, first responder, or anyone really, check out our podcast Alone and Unafraid. You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts and check out our website aloneandunafraid.org.
If the episode helped, share it with a teammate and leave a 5★ review—it really helps.

keywords: psychedelics for veterans, psychedelic therapy, psilocybin empathy, MDMA-assisted therapy (veterans), mental health stigma military, veteran transition, special operations mindset, behavioral finance veterans, emergency fund military, Tim Kennedy situation, military integrity, CrossFit risks, time management veterans, travel with family, networking after military

In this in-person episode, TMFK! and Hucky Bear sit down with Logan Brokaw and Mike Maynard—two longtime friends and veterans of the special operations community. What starts with sharp humor and shared memories turns into a raw, deeply personal conversation about survival, recovery, and brotherhood.

Logan shares the story of a catastrophic freefall accident that changed the trajectory of his life and career. Logan turned to alternative medicine—specifically Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT—as a last-ditch effort to reset his life.Mike, who witnessed the impact firsthand, brings his perspective on loyalty, trauma, and showing up when it matters most. Together, they unpack the physical, emotional, and mental toll of elite military service—and how the bonds formed in the most intense environments can carry someone through their darkest chapters.

This episode is about more than just the military—it’s about identity, resilience, and the quiet strength found in true friendship.

Sponsors:

Polestar Coffee Company | Veteran-owned Specialty Coffee Roaster

Finance 4 Vets- Cadence Wealth Partners -Nick O'Kelley

Fitness Society Supplements

Standout Quotes:

“You just know. The second I hit the ground, I knew I broke my back.”
“That was the first time in my life I got tunnel vision from something someone said.”
“This is the only time in the Army I was just trying to chill... not better myself.”

👥 Guest Info

Logan Brokaw – Former 160th SOAR member and Special Mission Unit operator. Logan shares the intense story of a freefall training accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. His experience is a testament to resilience, recovery, and the strength found in community.

Mike Maynard – Former 160th SOAR member and Special Mission Unit operator. Mike brings a grounded, unfiltered perspective on service, loyalty, and what it means to show up for your teammates—especially when things go sideways.

Keywords: Ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT, psychedelic therapy, veteran healing, psychedelic healing, trauma recovery, special operations, PTSD, veteran mental health, post-traumatic growth, plant medicine, psychedelics for trauma, Ibogaine for PTSD, 5-MeO-DMT experience, elite military recovery, psychedelic-assisted therapy, freefall accident recovery, spinal cord injury, combat trauma healing, alternative medicine for veterans

AI Says There’s a 5% Chance It Ends Humanity—"Cool Cool Cool” What do brain health, AI collapse, and dolphin rides have in common? More than you'd think.

In this episode, TMFK and Hucky Bear start with working-from-home challenges and end up in a wild conversation about why your brain can’t multitask, how to actually improve mental clarity, and why artificial intelligence might be quietly plotting our extinction. They also somehow squeeze in dolphin encounters, Discovery Cove reviews, and the true origin of the word “poppycock.”

It's part neuroscience, part retirement planning, and part Seinfeld-style chaos — a show about nothing that ends up being about everything.

Sponsor LinksCadence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelley

Thrive With Nick-Youtube series

Polestar Coffee

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Center for BrainHealth – SMART Program

• Discovery Cove Orlando

• The Real Anthony Fauci – Audiobook

• Joe Rogan episode with Roman Yampolskiy (re: AI risk)

• Episode with Tim Thomas (breathwork & nervous system reset)

  MK ultraTuskegee Syphilis Study - Wikipedia

💬 Standout Quotes

“Your brain’s not multitasking—it’s just bad at switching.”“Poppycock literally means soft poop. Enjoy your popcorn.”“AI says it’s not going to kill us… but also says there’s a 5% chance it will.”“I just want land, chickens, and to pet a dolphin before the machines take over.”

If you’re into brain health, mental clarity, or just listening to two dudes go full Seinfeld with real talk and dark humor, hit Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who still thinks multitasking works.