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.

Season 4 finale! The Misfits close out Season 4 with some fun campfire talk about bourbon, books, business, believers, bird dogs, ballads and, of course, bungholes. Stay tuned for Season 5, filmed in Germany, where Tungco attended the EMO trade show.

What is Extractive Metallurgy? Misfits Cliff Nance, Paul Cook and Royce Wilson welcome guest Joseph Pearlman as he explains what that means (according to Joseph, it's "selectively extracting a target metal - such as ore or recycled materials - from a substrate"). Among other nuggets of knowledge, he also shares that there's 50 millions tons of e-waste generated per year... that's a lot of potential product to get out of our “trash”. Not just brains as a chemical engineering major - he was also on the track and field team.

When good leaders go bad. Have you ever experienced the disappointment when you find out “the truth” about someone you looked up to? Also, as a leader, have you ever considered the fear people have of disappointing you? Both perspectives can be revealing. Hosts Cliff Nance, Paul Cook and Royce Wilson share their stories - from both sides of the fence.

The Misfits - Cliff Nance, Paul Cook and Royce Wilson - discuss China's tech rise and how their GDP rivals ours in the time of Trump 47. Also covered in this week's episode is NATO’s effectiveness and tariffs. Are these worldwide tariffs critical to our economic survival? Are they ostensibly targeting China and are the pains of inflation worth it in the long game?

Hosts Cliff Nance, Paul Cook and Royce Wilson discuss what it takes to have a Healthy Herd and how to avoid Toxic Tribes.

Join the conversation with Cliff Nance, Paul Cook and Royce Wilson as The Misfits discuss vocation vs occupation. Can they co-exist or are they mutually exclusive?