What happens when a group of "misfit toys" on a 2010 deployment to Kandahar becomes the name of an award-winning veteran podcast?
On this live episode of The Bunkhouse Podcast, I sit down with Rich LaMonica: 22-year U.S. Army veteran, author, speaker, mentor, and founder and host of The MisFitNation.
Rich deployed multiple times in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and along the way he learned from great mentors that leadership starts with taking care of people. When he retired in 2015, he spent a full year figuring out who he was without the uniform. That year became the fuel for everything he's built since, starting with two years mentoring other veterans through the same transition he'd just fought through.
In 2021, Rich launched The MisFitNation with a simple goal: inspire people to be better humans through stories of grit and resilience. More than 700 episodes later, it's become a home for veterans, first responders, Gold Star families, and anyone who's pushed through adversity. The show was named 2025 Veteran Podcast of the Year at the M3 Gala and is part of the Heroes Media Group network.
In this conversation, we get into:
- Rich's 22 years in the Army and the mentors who shaped how he leads
- The Kandahar deployment that gave The MisFitNation its name
- The year after retirement, and what transition really taught him about purpose and identity
- Building a veteran media platform from scratch, and what 700+ conversations have taught him about resilience and mental health
- The organizations and causes Rich is partnering with right now
- His books, including "Out of The Darkness" and "13 Step Guide to Success"
- Why "Challenge Accepted" is more than a catchphrase, and why asking for help is a sign of strength
- What's next for Rich and The MisFitNation
Army and Marine Corps at the same table. Some ribbing is guaranteed. But whether you've been out a month or twenty years, this one is for anyone who's felt like they didn't quite fit after the uniform came off.
Different stories. Same tribe.
🔗 CONNECT WITH RICH LAMONICA & THE MISFITNATION
Website: https://www.themisfitnation.com
Heroes Media Group: https://heroesmediagroup.com/podcasts/the-misfitnation-show/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_MisFitNation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_misfitnation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richlamonica
🎙️ CONNECT WITH THE BUNKHOUSE PODCAST
Website: https://thebunkhousecast.com
Guest, sponsor & media inquiries: info@thebunkhousecast.com
Follow. Listen. Watch. Share. If this conversation helped you, send it to someone who needs to hear it.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255, to reach the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7.
Be The Light In Someone's Dark.
#TheBunkhousePodcast #TheMisFitNation #Veterans #VeteranMentalHealth #MilitaryTransition #LifeAfterService
