Misfit Social

Get out and see the world!

Cliff Nance promised his children two things: an education and a nice set of suitcases — because the best education might just happen outside the classroom.

In this Season 5 finale episode of Misfit Social, Roy, Paul, and Cliff unpack what happens when you leave your bubble and truly experience life through another culture's lens. From Cliff's three weeks off-grid in the African bush (with a whole fish staring back at him at breakfast), to Paul's culture-shocking teen travels through Asia with his dad, to Roy's jarring encounter with post-Apartheid Johannesburg — these aren't travel brags. They're life-altering moments that permanently shifted how each of them sees humanity.

The guys dive deep into the difference between knowing about something and actually living it — why your social media opinion on Ukraine hits different when you have real friends getting bombed there, why commenting on Charlie Kirk's tragedy before you've done your homework might say more about you than him, and why humility in conversation desperately needs a revival.

They also explore practical ways to help the next generation pack their own suitcase — from gap year programs and mission trips to simply getting to know the neighbor who doesn't look like you — and lay out the three Laws of Incarnation: enter another's world, hold on to yourself, and learn to hang in the tension between both.

Whether you've traveled the world or never left your zip code, this one will make you want to go somewhere new — or at least see your own backyard differently.

This week, the Misfits welcome a very special guest — Julie Cook, wife of co-host Paul Cook — and yes, Paul gets an earful!

Julie shares her deeply personal journey through infertility and adoption, offering an honest look at the emotional highs and lows that come with building a family in unexpected ways. The guys also shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes in early childhood education and the teachers who shape lives long before kids ever set foot in a classroom.

From conflict resolution to the very real childcare crisis facing American families, this episode is equal parts heartfelt and thought-provoking. Julie's story is one of tenacity, empathy, and lionheart courage — a reminder that the road less traveled often leads to the most cherished destinations. Don't miss this one.

What does General Patton have to do with building a great company culture? More than you'd think.

In this extended episode of the Misfit Social Podcast, Cliff Nance, Paul Cook, and Royce Wilson go deep on psychological safety — the shared belief that a team is safe enough to take risks, speak honestly, and challenge without fear of retaliation. Royce unpacks the framework he's been coaching at Tungco, pulling from Harvard Business School's Ranjay Gulati, Frances Frei's Trust Triangle, Google's Project Aristotle, Phil Jackson's championship philosophy, and more.

The guys get personal about their own leadership failures, the cost of silencing voice and choice on a team, and why the best leaders — from Patton to Michael Jordan — could have been even greater if they'd built safety instead of fear. This one runs longer than most episodes, but it's worth listening to every minute.

Everyone loses something. A person. A relationship. A version of the life you thought you'd have.

In this episode of the Misfit Social Podcast, Cliff Nance, Paul Cook, and Royce Wilson sit down for one of their most human conversations yet — grief.

They walk through the five stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance), share personal stories of loss, and ask a harder question: how well are we actually doing at grieving as a society? Spoiler: not well. The guys dig into what it looks like to move from grief toward forgiveness, why bargaining and depression often cycle together, and why the stories we tell ourselves after a loss are everything. Whether you've lost a person, a relationship, a career, or a sense of purpose — this one's for you. Dare to hope.

This episode shares personal experiences and perspectives on grief. It’s intended for general conversation and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health support. If you’re struggling, consider reaching out to a qualified healthcare provider

What happens when a guy from youth ministry, banking, and the coal mines lands at one of the world's leading tungsten recycling companies — and becomes their best buyer ever?

Meet Rob Doner.

Rob's journey to Tungco started long before his first day on the job. He first crossed paths with Misfit co-host Paul Cook back in the late '90s through youth ministry in Ohio. And his connection to CEO Cliff Nance? That goes even deeper — Rob married Cliff's cousin. But don't let the family ties fool you into thinking it was all smooth sailing. Cliff once told Rob on a fishing trip at Peewee Lake in Madisonville, Kentucky — at just 15 years old — "I don't like you." Three fingers pointed and everything. But that’s water under the bridge and they can laugh about it today.

Fast forward through banking careers, a stint working in the coal mines to make ends meet, and a pivotal Christmas Day conversation — and Rob found his way to Tungco, where he's now been for over a decade as a Senior Buyer in Procurement. He's built relationships with suppliers that took nine years of calls, visits, and trade shows before he ever bought a single pound of material. That's grit. That's tenacity. That's the Tungco way.

In this episode, Rob and Cliff sit down with the Misfit crew (including co-hosts Paul Cook and Royce Wilson) to talk about what it really means to build trust in business, why relationships matter more than résumés, and how a father-son duo (Rob and his son Nate Doner) are now working side by side on the Tungco procurement team.

You'll also hear about Nate's journey through the National Guard and Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, the story behind Tungco's "10 Truths," why Rob believes you have to be willing to do what other people won't, and a hilarious mountain-climbing story from Austria that still needs some therapy.

🎧 This one's got heart, laughs, and wisdom for anyone in sales, procurement, or business relationships.

Is the traditional college path still worth it? Cliff Nance, Paul Cook, and Royce Wilson discuss noteworthy opinions on higher education such as Sam Altman's (OpenAI) controversial advice to delay college.

They share their diverse educational journeys—Bible school, National Guard, self-taught tech—and discuss why hunger for learning matters more than credentials. The Misfit examine skilled trades facing massive worker shortages while universities sit on billion-dollar endowments yet charge crushing tuition. They explore practical alternatives: gap years for work experience, community college, apprenticeships, and personality assessments like Myers-Briggs and StrengthsFinder.

Tungco is building its own internship programs instead of waiting for universities to deliver job-ready workers. AI is bringing "university in your pocket"—how do we prepare the next generation for this disruption?

When does government involvement in business help workers, and when does it hurt them? Recorded in Hanover, Germany during ITIA, Misfit Social Podcast hosts Cliff Nance, Paul Cook, and Royce Wilson dive into the expanding role of government in workplace decisions—from the U.S. Steel acquisition debate and tariff policy to healthcare mandates and the Affordable Care Act's impact on small businesses.

The conversation explores real consequences: how Tungco's insurance costs skyrocketed after the ACA, why China produces 4x more steel than the U.S., and whether protectionist policies protect jobs or delay economic reality. They examine the German social democracy model where 50%+ taxes fund government-mandated benefits, compare capitalistic "grind it out" values against socialistic safety nets, and wrestle with questions about consumerism, debt culture, and generational expectations.

From monopolies to super PACs, late-stage democracy to AI governance, this episode tackles uncomfortable truths about freedom, responsibility, and who should solve society's problems.

Tungco CEO and Misfit, Cliff Nance, sits down with Markus Ewecker, Managing Director of Tungco GmbH (since 2022) and HSS GmbH (appointed 2025 following Tungco's acquisition), for an inside look at Tungco's European operations recorded on-site at EMO Hannover. Markus shares the 20+ year journey from that first meeting with Steve Nance in Prague back in 2003, becoming a Tungco team member in 2013, to leading one of Europe's most sophisticated tungsten recycling operations today alongside his wife Jolanda and key team members Serdal Akpinar and Kerstin Bente near Düsseldorf, Germany.

This conversation covers the nuts and bolts of tungsten procurement across Europe versus North America, the reality of German regulations (spoiler: it takes 12 months of paperwork just to move into an existing building), and how Markus' team sources material everywhere from Germany to the Middle East. You'll hear about the advantages of having a state-of-the-art, in-house laboratory that delivers analysis results in 48 hours instead of two weeks, the complexities of cross-border tungsten trade, and why stainless steel scrap traders often have tungsten carbide hiding in their yards.

Markus opens up about team building and the DISC profiles that make procurement work, the transition when Tungco closed its Ireland facility and turned plant manager Jimmy Greene into a procurement rockstar (Cliff gives Jimmy a great shoutout around the 41-minute mark). He also reflects on learning by doing, adapting his communication style, and credits Harry Stender - founder of HSS Recycling - as the misfit who brought him into the Tungco family.
Whether you're in the tungsten industry or just curious about how global metal recycling actually works behind the scenes, this episode delivers real talk about building relationships, navigating international business, and what it takes to run a specialty metals operation in Europe.

When does regulation protect us, and when does it hold us back? Recorded live at EMO in Hanover, Germany, Tungco CEO Cliff Nance and co-hosts Paul Cook and Royce Wilson dive into the difference between sensical and nonsensical regulation. Inspired by a scene from Yellowstone where Governor John Dutton challenges bureaucrats over "empirical evidence," the conversation explores everything from tungsten carbide and cobalt regulation under REACH and EPA frameworks to broader questions about human flourishing, personal freedom, and institutional trust. The team examines hazard vs. risk, correlation vs. causation, and why context matters more than blanket policies—whether discussing recycling sustainability, transgender rights, or road infrastructure. It's a frank, thoughtful exploration of how to evaluate policy through the lens of truth, scientific rigor, and pro-human values.