The MisfitNation With Rchard LaMonica

What if a feeling of loneliness had followed you your entire life—but you never knew where it came from? In this unforgettable episode of The MisFitNation, Rich LaMonica sits down with Laurie Kirk, author, screenwriter, actor, neurodivergent creative, and womb twin survivor, for a deeply personal conversation about loss, identity, grief, mediumship, creativity, and the unexplained. Laurie shares how her life changed after discovering that she had lost a twin brother in the womb—someone she says she had been grieving without consciously knowing he ever existed. That discovery helped her make sense of a lifetime of isolation, sensitivity, and the feeling that something was missing. She also opens up about her experiences with mediumship, her belief that she connected with her deceased twin brother Kyle, and how those experiences reshaped the way she views grief, family, trauma, and spiritual connection. But this conversation goes far beyond the paranormal. Laurie explains how neurodivergence, childhood loss, abandonment, and feeling like an outsider became fuel for her creativity. Her obsession with twins, duality, fractured identity, and complicated family relationships now runs through her work as a screenwriter and novelist. That includes her psychological horror novel Baby Marvin, based on her screenplay This Is What Happened to Baby Marvin. Laurie reveals how, only after completing the story, she realized that Marvin’s journey through loneliness, identity, and discovering another version of himself reflected much more of her own story than she initially understood. This episode explores: What it means to be a womb twin survivor Grieving someone you never consciously knew Mediumship and connection with deceased loved ones Childhood abandonment and lifelong loneliness Neurodivergence and creative hyperfocus Why outsiders often become powerful storytellers Twins, doppelgängers, duality, and identity Turning trauma into comedy, horror, and art The inspiration behind Baby Marvin Why understanding your past can change the way you live your future Laurie also delivers a powerful message for anyone who has ever felt different: the very experiences that made you feel like an outsider may be the same experiences that give you something meaningful to create, share, and contribute. If you’re drawn to conversations about grief, spirituality, trauma, twin loss, mediumship, neurodivergence, creativity, psychological horror, resilience, or finding purpose through adversity, this is an episode you’ll want to hear all the way through. Connect with Laurie Kirk: TheLaurieKirk.com Discover more from The MisFitNation: TheMisFitNation.com The MisFitNation — Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Keep Hustling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens after a VA disability claim lands on a rating specialist’s desk? For The MisFitNation’s 700th episode, Jake and Stephen welcome U.S. Army veteran and retired VA Rating Specialist Dewayne Kimble to The Toosday Crüe. Dewayne takes listeners inside the claims process: how a rater reviews service records and medical evidence, what a C&P exam needs to address, and why a veteran’s lay statement can matter. He explains the mistakes he sees with oversized evidence submissions and unnecessary nexus letters, then shares what to check in a rating decision—even when the claim is approved. The conversation covers BDD claims for transitioning service members, buddy statements, MOS-related evidence, appeals, and presumptive conditions. Dewayne also tells the story of rescuing two children from a house fire in Germany, an act that earned him the Soldier’s Medal and changed how he approached his Army service. Whether you are preparing your first claim, reviewing a decision, or helping another veteran, Dewayne’s message is clear: “Don’t Be Frustrated – Get Educated.” Explore Dewayne’s educational resources at kmd89.com, learn about his speaking work at dewaynekimble.com, and connect with The MisFitNation at themisfitnation.com. Dewayne provides claims education and does not serve as an accredited claims representative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a Baptist pastor trades the pulpit for Quantico—and eventually becomes a 15-year FBI SWAT operator? On this episode of TheMisFitNation, former FBI Special Agent Eric Robinson joins Jake and Stephen for a wide-ranging conversation about his extraordinary journey from Christian ministry to 24 years inside the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Eric spent 12 years in ministry before entering the FBI, where he went on to work cases involving white-collar crime, public corruption, gangs, drugs, crimes against children, counterterrorism, national security, human intelligence, and more. He also served 15 years as an FBI SWAT operator, along with roles as a firearms instructor and tactical instructor. This is not the Hollywood version of the FBI. Eric breaks down what federal investigations and tactical operations actually look like, how SWAT teams prepare for dangerous arrests, why planning and overwhelming presence can sometimes prevent violence, and what civilians often misunderstand about how tactical teams decide when and how to engage. He also takes us inside the human side of federal law enforcement. Eric explains how his years as a pastor became one of his most valuable tools as an FBI agent. The ability to listen, build trust, withhold judgment, communicate under pressure, and understand what motivates people helped him interview suspects, work with victims, recruit confidential informants, and navigate some of the most difficult conversations imaginable. The crew also gets into: How FBI agents recruit and develop confidential informants What actually happens during federal interrogations Why yelling and table-slamming are often ineffective How agents prepare for long-term criminal investigations The difference between FBI arrests and local law enforcement encounters What FBI SWAT operators do before entering a dangerous situation How counterterrorism investigations are built What happens when suspects refuse to cooperate The reality of multi-agency investigations How Behavioral Analysis is actually used inside the FBI What shows like Criminal Minds and other FBI dramas get right—and very wrong The strange, disturbing, and unforgettable cases agents encounter that never make television How decades of investigating people from every walk of life changed Eric’s understanding of human behavior Eric also shares stories from counterterrorism cases, gang investigations, threats against public officials, undercover operations, informants, SWAT callouts, and some truly unbelievable moments from his career. Through it all, one theme keeps coming back: no matter how advanced the technology, how powerful the tactical equipment, or how large the investigation becomes, law enforcement eventually comes down to one person trying to understand another. Eric is now turning those experiences into stories through his upcoming book and speaking work. Connect with Eric Robinson: https://preachertobreacher.com/ Connect with TheMisFitNation: https://www.themisfitnation.com If you enjoy unfiltered conversations with veterans, first responders, law enforcement professionals, investigators, leaders, survivors, and people who have lived extraordinary stories, follow TheMisFitNation and share this episode with someone who loves real stories from behind the badge. Topics: FBI, FBI SWAT, FBI Special Agent, federal law enforcement, counterterrorism, confidential informants, interrogations, criminal investigations, Quantico, tactical operations, Behavioral Analysis Unit, undercover investigations, true crime, gangs, terrorism investigations, human behavior, faith, ministry, law enforcement leadership, and real FBI stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would happen if war stopped being something happening somewhere else—and suddenly came directly to your family? In this powerful episode of The MisFitNation, Rich LaMonica sits down with author and former television reporter Claudia Hinz, whose debut novel SAFEKEEPING imagines a near-future America where the military draft has returned. Set in 2027, SAFEKEEPING follows Tenley Ward, a wealthy Dallas mother whose 19-year-old son receives a low draft lottery number and is suddenly facing military service. Desperate to protect him, Tenley launches MOMS — Mothers Opposing More Senselessness, an anti-draft movement that grows from one mother's fear into a national force. As the movement gains momentum, the consequences reach deep into her marriage, family, identity, and relationship with Leland “Privately” Marks, a young Marine veteran carrying the emotional weight of combat. But this conversation goes far beyond the pages of a novel. Claudia and Rich explore the uncomfortable questions that surface when patriotism, protest, service, privilege, motherhood, and war collide. Can someone passionately support veterans while opposing the war they were sent to fight? Would Americans think differently about military conflict if their own sons and daughters could be drafted? And after service members come home, are we truly prepared to understand what they experienced—or do we too often reduce their stories to “thank you for your service” and move on? Claudia shares how her fascination with these questions began in childhood, when her father hosted Vietnam veterans and POW/MIA families in their home. She remembers listening to their conversations and recognizing, even as a child, that some families bore an enormous burden while others remained largely untouched by war. Later, as a television reporter, she covered military stories from bases in California, Texas, and Washington. One image would eventually become a major creative spark for SAFEKEEPING: graffiti photographed at a Marine base in Ramadi declaring that while America continued with everyday life, Marines were the ones actually at war. In the interview, Claudia explains how that idea forced her to confront the divide between the people who serve and the much larger civilian population that can often remain distant from the consequences of conflict. Rich brings his own combat-veteran perspective into the conversation as they discuss the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the treatment of Vietnam veterans, military families, reintegration after service, mental health, VA care, loss of purpose after leaving the military, and the responsibility Americans have to distinguish between the people sent to war and the political decisions that put them there. This episode asks listeners to wrestle with some difficult questions: Would a military draft bring Americans closer to understanding the true cost of war? Can protest itself be an expression of patriotism? How should civilians start more meaningful conversations with veterans? What happens when someone leaves a highly purpose-driven military life and suddenly has to build an entirely new identity? And perhaps the biggest question of all: What would you do if the draft notice had your child's name on it? SAFEKEEPING explores motherhood, activism, grief, privilege, desire, patriotism, veteran experience, the civilian-military divide, and the ripple effects of war far beyond the battlefield. Claudia's press materials describe the novel as a story designed to provoke conversations about who bears the burden of conflict and how families and communities are changed by it. Connect with Claudia Hinz Website: www.claudiahinz.net Instagram: @claudiahinzauthor Connect with The MisFitNation Visit www.themisfitnation.com for more conversations with veterans, first responders, authors, leaders, advocates, and people sharing stories that challenge the way we see the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the mission that defined your life suddenly ends? US Navy veteran, submariner, martial artist, and author Rob Robertson joins The Toosday Crüe for a powerful conversation about six years aboard the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Louisville, the pressure of earning his submarine dolphins, and the lessons that came from serving in an environment where trust, discipline, teamwork, and accountability were not optional. Rob takes The MisFitNation beneath the surface and into a world most civilians will never experience. He shares what daily life aboard a nuclear attack submarine was really like, including long stretches without sunlight, demanding qualification standards, sonar operations, cramped living conditions, intense watch schedules, and the constant understanding that even a small mistake could become a serious problem. But this conversation goes far beyond submarine life. After leaving the Navy, Rob faced an entirely different mission: adapting to civilian life while dealing with service-connected injuries, chronic pain, struggles with the VA system, and the challenge many veterans face when the structure, purpose, and identity of military service suddenly disappear. Rob explains why he believes veterans are often wired to be mission-focused—and why losing that mission without finding a new outlet can become dangerous. He also shares the mindset that helped him continue moving forward: pursuing three college degrees, earning three black belts, building a career in management and security, teaching martial arts, and continuing to learn even through adversity. In this episode, Rob and The Toosday Crüe discuss: • What it really takes to earn submarine dolphins • Why trust between submariners can literally be life-or-death • Staying mentally focused in high-pressure environments • Life aboard a nuclear-powered attack submarine • What sonar operators actually hear beneath the ocean • Leadership, accountability, and attention to detail • Why the Navy taught Rob how to truly study and prepare • The transition from military service to civilian life • Finding purpose after losing the structure of the military • Service-connected injuries and navigating the VA • Why veterans need community, connection, and a new mission • Martial arts, resilience, discipline, and continuing to move forward • Why failure does not mean the journey is over Rob also discusses the story behind his book: A Submariner’s Tale: After the Dolphins: The Cost of Carrying On The book explores his journey from becoming a submariner to navigating the physical, emotional, and personal challenges that followed his military service. It is ultimately a story about endurance, identity, adaptation, and learning how to keep moving forward when life changes the mission. 📚 Find Rob Robertson’s book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hOgJbXc One of the most important themes of this conversation is simple: You may not be able to control every situation you face—but you can control how you respond, what you learn, and whether you continue moving forward. For veterans, military families, leaders, first responders, and anyone rebuilding their sense of purpose after a major life transition, this is an episode worth hearing. If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who may need to hear it. And remember: check on your people. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988. Veterans can press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. Welcome to another conversation from The MisFitNation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices