In this episode of The MisFitNation Show, host Rich LaMonica sits down with John DeDakis, former CNN journalist turned award-winning novelist, editor, writing coach, and keynote speaker.

With 45 years in journalism, including 25 years at CNN, John covered presidents, riots, and history in the making—while also facing unimaginable personal losses: his sister to suicide and his son to a heroin overdose.

John shares how these experiences shaped his acclaimed Lark Chadwick thriller series, and how writing can become a powerful tool for healing from grief and trauma. He also pulls back the curtain on publishing—sharing his 10-year journey to find an agent and how persistence and resilience fuel success in both writing and life.

📚 Whether you’re an aspiring writer, navigating grief, or simply love political thrillers, this conversation will leave you inspired.

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#WritingCommunity #GriefHealing #PoliticalThriller #Journalism #MisFitNation #JohnDeDakis #VeteranPodcast #AuthorInterview #BookTalk

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Join The ToosDay Crue as we welcome Bart Merrell—International Entrepreneur, Author, and Creator of Monetize Your Mindset. Bart has been building businesses since he was a kid, taking on wild opportunities (including introducing the first commercial bungee jump to Japan!) and turning everyday skills into sustainable income streams.

Bart’s mission is simple but powerful: help ordinary people create extraordinary financial security by monetizing what they already know.

In this episode, Bart breaks down:

Find out more here: https://bartmerrell.com/

If you’re looking to prepare for life’s curveballs, take control of your financial foundation, or build a future-proof side hustle, this episode is packed with actionable value.

Hit LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to support veteran-led shows and keep the mission growing.

📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation

🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com

Challenge Accepted. Stack Victories. Do Hard Things. Don’t talk about it—be about it.

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Join Stephen and Jake on The ToosDay Crue as they welcome US Army Retired 1SG Will Eller, an EOD veteran, firearms and situational awareness instructor, and community enabler. Will shares his journey from the Gulf War to deployments in Bosnia and Serbia, and the lessons learned through service, family, and life after the military.

📌 Topics Covered:

EOD and tactical experiences in combat

Firearms training and situational awareness strategies

Overcoming TBI, PTS, and military injuries

Serving the community through leadership and mentorship

Faith-driven purpose and ministry with Fishers of Men

🌐 Connect with Will Eller:

  🎯 Subscribe | Like | Share |

📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation

🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com

#ToosDayCrue #WillEller #EODVeteran #FirearmsTraining #SituationalAwareness #USArmyVeteran #MilitaryLeadership #FaithAndService #CommunityImpact #FishersOfMen

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Host Rich LaMonica welcomes USMC Veteran, attorney, and author Rand R. Timmerman, Esq. to The MisFitNation for a powerful conversation spanning combat, law, leadership, trauma, recovery, and a life dedicated to service.

Rand enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966, serving with the 1st Marines in Vietnam, where he rose to Corporal and was temporarily promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in-country. Following combat service, Rand became a JAG officer, serving four additional years before transitioning into a 40-year career as an attorney across multiple New York counties.

After retiring in 2012, Rand began writing books and short stories, including A Spiritual Passage, chronicling his Appalachian Trail journey with his brother at ages 71 and 73. Today, he divides his time between Knoxville and Syracuse, remains deeply committed to the recovery community, and continues writing stories that honor service, spirituality, and resilience.

In this episode you'll hear:

Learn more at RandTimmerman.com

This is an inspiring, grounded, and deeply human conversation with a Marine who has spent a lifetime serving others.

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Join host Rich LaMonica on The MisFitNation as he welcomes US Navy Veteran Chris Norris, founder of Cognitive Fitness Coach, endurance athlete, mindfulness teacher, and a veteran with 24 years supporting Naval Special Warfare Operators across the most demanding environments on Earth.

Chris’s journey is equal parts grit, trauma, transformation, and rebirth. After years of high-stress operations led to burnout, addiction, anxiety, and depression, he rebuilt his life from the inside out—earning a Master’s in Social Work, recovering his mental health, and discovering the power of meditation, breathwork, and neuroscience-based training.

Today, Chris helps high performers, veterans, teams, and leaders develop clarity, focus, emotional balance, and sustainable resilience. His approach—Cognitive Fitness—trains the mind like a muscle, blending mindfulness, breathwork, and neuroplasticity to help people break patterns, rewire habits, and create a healthier, more intentional life.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Chris’s raw personal story—from combat support to collapse to rebuilding

• How mindfulness and breathwork changed his life and now change others

• What “Cognitive Fitness” really means and how to train it

• Tools for managing stress, trauma, and mental overload

• How veterans and high performers can create balance without losing their edge

Learn more at CognitiveFitnessCoach.com

🔥 This is a powerful, necessary conversation for anyone navigating pressure, trauma, or the pursuit of clarity and purpose.

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Join Host Rich LaMonica on The MisFitNation as he welcomes David Pasqualone, marketing guru, sales coach, and host of the Remarkable People Podcast. David shares insights on clarifying purpose, leading with vision, and achieving personal and professional growth. Learn how to take consistent action, inspire others, and live a remarkable life guided by faith and focus.

📌 Topics Covered:

Leadership principles and vision clarity

Motivation and personal growth strategies

Purpose-driven life and decision making

How to take daily action and achieve goals

🌐 Connect with David Pasqualone:

  🎯 Subscribe | Like | Share | 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation

🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com

#MisFitNation #DavidPasqualone #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Motivation #FaithDrivenSuccess #PurposeDrivenLife #MarketingGuru #SalesCoach #RemarkablePeople

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In this electrifying episode of The MisFitNation, Host Rich LaMonica welcomes Cauveé—TEDx speaker, strategist, coach, and The Inspiration Engineer®. With unstoppable energy and wisdom, Cauveé blends strategy, instruction, and programming (S.I.P.®) to ignite personal growth and business acceleration like never before.

Known for his signature MotivationMusic™, Cauveé fuses entertainment with empowerment to help clients build legacy-driven brands, optimize performance, and awaken their inner greatness.

Featured in Forbes, Influencive, HuffPost, Spotify, Thrive Global, and more, Cauveé’s impact reaches entrepreneurs, dreamers, and visionaries around the world.

🎙 In this episode:

How to reverse-engineer your dreams into reality

The S.I.P.® Methodology for lasting success

Branding with soul, impact, and strategy

MotivationMusic™ and why energy drives action

How Cauveé coaches through love, alignment & purpose

🔔 Subscribe to The MisFitNation:
https://www.youtube.com/@The_MisFitNation

Free Gift for The MisFitNation

http://www.inspirationegineer.com/monetizeu

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In this powerful episode of The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica welcomes Dr. Eugene Lipov — physician, researcher, and the world’s leading expert on using Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) to treat post-traumatic stress.

Dr. Lipov pioneered the use of SGB for trauma recovery in 2006, adapting a decades-old FDA-approved procedure into a breakthrough therapy for PTSD. He later developed the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR) protocol, which has helped thousands experience rapid and life-changing relief.

Motivated by his own family’s experience with trauma, Dr. Lipov is also a global advocate for redefining PTSD as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) — a term that removes stigma and reflects the biological nature of the condition.

His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fox National News, NBC, and numerous medical journals. He has testified before Congress, worked with military organizations worldwide, and continues to push trauma treatment into a new era of science-backed innovation.

Learn more at DrEugeneLipov.com

http://thegodshotbook.com

🔥 Like • Comment • Subscribe to support veteran voices and trauma-healing education.

🎙️ More episodes at TheMisFitNation.com

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Join The ToosDay Crue as hosts Stephen and Jake sit down with Gene Campbell, founder of True Patriot Outfitters, an organization changing lives through mission-driven outdoor experiences, kayak fishing, and friendship-centered healing.

Gene spent 20+ years in the IT industry, coached youth athletics for over a decade, and rediscovered purpose after volunteering with Purple Heart veterans—a moment that reshaped the trajectory of his life. Today, his nonprofit brings connection, coping tools, and renewed purpose to veterans, first responders, and warfighting families through the power of the outdoors.

In this episode, Gene breaks down:

Learn more about True Patriot Outfitters at TruePatriotOutfitters.org

🔥 If you believe in our veterans and our heroes, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

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This Veterans Week, The MisFitNation welcomes U.S. Army Veteran Olivia Nunn — a trailblazer who transformed two decades of military service into a mission of empowerment, advocacy, and authentic storytelling.

As CEO of Olivia Nunn Communications, host of Unbreakable Storm and Women of War, and VP of Communications for PPALM, Olivia helps shape conversations on leadership, resilience, and the veteran experience.

Join us as we explore her journey from Army officer to public relations powerhouse, her dedication to veteran mental health, and the power of storytelling to heal and connect communities.

🎙️ Watch, subscribe, and share this episode to honor those who serve and continue to lead beyond the uniform.

🔗 Connect with Olivia:

#VeteransWeek #OliviaNunn #MisFitNation #WomenOfWar #UnbreakableStorm #VeteranAdvocate #Leadership #Resilience #MilitaryWomen #MentalHealth #VeteranVoices

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