TMFK! and Huckybear sit down with Dan McDermott, a Green Beret medic who opens up about the battles that don’t end when the war does. From the chaos of combat and loss to the quiet moments that nearly cost him everything, Dan shares his journey through darkness, survival, and rebuilding a life with purpose.

A raw and unfiltered look at what it means to fight your way home.Resources & Links

• Warriors Heart
• Nick O’Kelly – Silent Valor
• Need help: Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1
• Mission 22: www.mission22.com

Sponsors

• Pole Star Coffee
• Cadence Wealth Partners

In this powerful pre-journey conversation, TMFK! and Eli Gerhard—both veterans who have been through Ibogaine and 5-MEO-DMT—sit down with fellow veteran Mike Fransiolli as he prepares for his first Ibogaine experience. Together, they walk through the real thoughts, fears, and questions that come up before the medicine, while also sharing what brought them to their own breaking points: depression, emotional shutdown, hidden drinking, compartmentalization, and the “closet door” of stored trauma so many veterans carry.

This is the before story—raw, unfiltered, and honest. A look inside the moment when someone decides they’re ready to step into healing and fight for their life again

Links:

The Mission within Foundation

Donald Hoffman

Wisdom Dojo

Polestar coffee

Cadence Wealth Partners -Nick O'Kelly

GUEST INFO

Eli Gerhard

Retired US Army and former member of the 160th SOAR, offroad- motor sport enthusiast, Veteran advocate and board member with The Mission Within. Helps connect warriors to psychedelic-assisted healing after hitting his own breaking point and returning transformed.

Mike Fransioli

Retired US Army and former 160th SOAR crew chief turned UH-60 maintenance test pilot (MTP). Mike openly shares his pre-journey story for the first time and the moment he decided to seek true healing.

Former 160th SOAR(A) pilot, Green Beret, and author Nick O’Kelly joins TMFK! and Hucky Bear to talk about his new book, Stigma, and the realities of military mental health we don’t talk about. From the chaos of airborne school to the silence that follows service, this episode explores the culture of toughness, the cost of stigma, and why real leadership starts with vulnerability and a little dark humor.

Nick's Book: Stigma

Nick's website

Nick's youtube

Cadence Wealth partners-Nick O'Kelly

PoleStar Coffee

Nick O’Kelly, Stigma, Stigma book, Military Mental Health, Green Beret,
160th SOAR, Special Operations, Veteran Resilience, Breaking Stigma,
Alone and Unafraid Podcast, Mental Health Awareness, Veteran Stories,
SOAR pilot, Special Forces, Leadership and Vulnerability

In this emotional and powerful episode, TMFK and Tyler Hucky Bear sit down with Kimberly Vesey, Executive Director of Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that has changed lives since 2006 by gifting mortgage-free, fully accessible homes to wounded veterans and first responders.

Kimberly shares her journey from prosecutor to nonprofit leader, inspired by her brother’s devastating injuries in Iraq. Together, they explore how tragedy transformed into purpose — and how Building Homes for Heroes has now built or gifted over 450 homes across 37 states, operating with 96% of every dollar going directly to the mission.

The conversation moves from the personal to the powerful — from the realities of traumatic brain injuries and VA struggles, to moments of joy as families walk into their new homes for the first time.

Links:

Homes for Heroes🏠 Learn How to Support or Donate: https://www.buildinghomesforheroes.org/donate

Homes for Heroes Instagram

Homes for Heroes YouTube

Homes for Heroes LinkedIn

EOD Chocolates

UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth

CSM Ret. Gretchen Evans

Guest Info

Kimberly Vesey – Executive Director, Building Homes for Heroes
Former prosecutor turned mission-driven leader, Kimberly has helped grow the organization into a national powerhouse serving injured veterans and first responders through mortgage-free homes, wraparound services, and holistic support.

TMFK! and Huckybear sit down with Chris Maleta, a firefighter, paramedic, and founder of Carry the Flag USA. Chris shares the story behind his mission-driven brand—how a simple moment at a 9/11 stair climb turned into a movement to honor service, sacrifice, and resilience. The guys dig into the parallels between firefighting and the military, the hidden toll of trauma, the bond of brotherhood, and what it means to carry the flag for your crew, your family, and your country.

From war stories and firehouse calls to small-town politics and personal loss, this conversation is raw, real, and full of laughs. If you’ve ever wondered what keeps first responders and veterans pushing forward—this one’s for you.

Carry The Flag

Polestar Coffee Company | Veteran-owned Specialty Coffee Roaster

Cadence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly

Tell this Story-Doug White

Guest Info

Chris Molita is a firefighter and paramedic who founded Carry the Flag USA, a brand and movement born from a moment of reflection at a 9/11 memorial stair climb. His mission is to inspire Americans to “carry the flag” for something greater—family, community, and the next generation

firefighter podcast, veterans, first responders, 9/11, Carry the Flag, service and sacrifice, brotherhood, mental resilience, leadership, military mindset, Alone and Unafraid, Chris Molita, duty, courage, heroism, firefighter stories, Carry the Flag USA

Marine combat veteran and entrepreneur Deric Keller shares how one simple shift—asking better questions—can completely change your path. From the battlefield to the boardroom, he opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating career pivots, and building a mindset rooted in resilience.

This conversation dives into how military discipline translates into business success, why self-doubt can actually fuel growth, and what it really takes to build teams with trust and transparency. Whether you’re battling imposter syndrome or searching for a way to level up in life and leadership, the lessons here will resonate.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Deric Keller on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Battlefield Boardroom & Exit Momentum

• Cadence Wealth Partners – Nick O’Kelly

• Polestar Coffee

• Visit: aloneandunafraid.org

Guest Info

Deric Keller is a Marine veteran turned entrepreneur, coach, and business builder. From scaling an infectious disease lab to transforming the car business with integrity, he now helps leaders and teams unlock their potential through Exit Momentum and Battlefield Boardroom. His focus: empowering others to ask the right questions, build resilience, and take ownership of growth.

This is a reissue of Episode #51 after Spotify accidentally deleted the original. We didn’t want you to miss it, because this Gripes & Grinds session hits on everything from lazy questions and fast food fails to broken schools, youth sports burnout, Hollywood inaccuracies, and the slow death of common sense in 2025.

In this short but sharp episode, TMFK! and Hucky deliver the kind of funny rants, cultural commentary, and unfiltered veteran banter that define the Alone and Unafraid podcast.

If you’re looking for a funny complaints podcast, culture podcast, or real talk on modern life, this one’s for you.

👉 Since this is a reissue, help us out: subscribe again, share it, and leave a quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so the episode regains traction.

Sponsors:

Candence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly

Polestar Coffee

Former Special Forces NCO and 160th SOAR aviator Nick O’Kelly lays out a practical roadmap for identity, mental health, and money after the uniform. We cover rituals for closure, building your next tribe, training attention and emotion, smart finance (emergency funds → investing), and how to protect time for family and travel. We also give brief, balanced context on the Tim Kennedy situation and why integrity—and what we amplify online—matters.

Resources & Links

• The Nick O'Kelly-

  Home - Silent Valor

  Stigma Pre-Order - Silent Valor

  Nick's YoutubeBrain to Brain Communication Article⁠

  ⁠Optimal Brain Health for Warfighters

  SponsorsNick O’Kelly — Cadence Wealth Partners

  Polestar Coffee

  Alone and Unafraid podcast: aloneandunafraid.org

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• Nick O’Kelly — Special Forces 18C (Engineer Sergeant) → 160th SOAR pilot → financial advisor. He focuses on behavioral finance, mindset, and practical frameworks that help veterans (and anyone under pressure) build resilient, wealthy, and meaningful lives.

  • “Talk about mental health out loud—or stigma wins by default.”

  • “Your DD-214 isn’t your identity—build a new mission and tribe.”

  • “Cash buys choices. Fund the emergency account first.”

  • “Name the feeling; then you can steer it.”

  • “Use social media with integrity—reputations are built (and burned) there.”

  If you’re into this and you are a veteran, active duty service member, first responder, or anyone really, check out our podcast Alone and Unafraid. You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts and check out our website aloneandunafraid.org.
  If the episode helped, share it with a teammate and leave a 5★ review—it really helps.

  keywords: psychedelics for veterans, psychedelic therapy, psilocybin empathy, MDMA-assisted therapy (veterans), mental health stigma military, veteran transition, special operations mindset, behavioral finance veterans, emergency fund military, Tim Kennedy situation, military integrity, CrossFit risks, time management veterans, travel with family, networking after military