1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,680 is tell me about your vision when it came to Miss Fit Nation 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:05,480 and the show. 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,160 So when I first had this idea, it was at the height, 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:09,920 I guess right at the beginning of COVID, 5 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:11,160 when everything was shut down, 6 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,080 I just finished my studies at Georgetown University 7 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,240 to get my master's in disaster emergency management. 8 00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:18,080 And I told my wife, I said, 9 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:20,440 I have eight hours a week that I don't do anything now. 10 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:22,120 So I have to do something. 11 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,320 So I started researching things I could do. 12 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,400 And I figured starting a podcast 13 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,800 where I can help veterans get the pressure off their chest, 14 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,920 tell their story and stay with us longer. 15 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,760 So they wouldn't become part of the 22 a day 16 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,200 or 44 a day statistic that you hear about for suicide 17 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,040 and stay with us would be a great idea. 18 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,640 So I started it up and after about the first 12 veterans, 19 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,000 they're like, hey, this is great, but we need more tools. 20 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,440 Put my thinking cap back on and reverted my strategy 21 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,240 and started getting experts on to help them 22 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,320 mixed in with veterans along the way. 23 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:57,680 And it's been going great. 24 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:01,620 Okay, so you're basically just the show 25 00:01:01,620 --> 00:01:03,900 and then you're the connector. 26 00:01:03,900 --> 00:01:07,140 So you're the bridge to all the resources that they need, 27 00:01:07,140 --> 00:01:08,860 but yet getting them on the show 28 00:01:08,860 --> 00:01:12,860 and actually hearing what they need and then moving forward. 29 00:01:12,860 --> 00:01:15,140 That is awesome. 30 00:01:15,140 --> 00:01:17,900 So how many shows do you have in the pocket? 31 00:01:17,900 --> 00:01:20,760 I just recorded 417 on Sunday. 32 00:01:21,660 --> 00:01:23,740 Okay, okay. 33 00:01:23,740 --> 00:01:26,440 And you said this started during COVID, is that correct? 34 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:27,280 Yes. 35 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,860 Okay, and you were in studies of a master's degree. 36 00:01:31,860 --> 00:01:34,820 So how does that correlate with this show 37 00:01:34,820 --> 00:01:37,060 and what you choose to do with that master's degree 38 00:01:37,060 --> 00:01:40,460 or was it just something you decided to take? 39 00:01:40,460 --> 00:01:41,300 Polar opposites. 40 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:42,140 So that- 41 00:01:42,140 --> 00:01:43,580 Yes, yes. 42 00:01:43,580 --> 00:01:46,140 That's the emergency management. 43 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:48,780 When I finished that, I figured I'd try something else 44 00:01:48,780 --> 00:01:49,600 and that's why I did this. 45 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,360 But now I'm also going for my doctorate in Homeland Security. 46 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,440 So also way outside, both sides opposite. 47 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,560 Okay, well, you know what? 48 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,080 Now that I think about it, as I put it all, excuse me, 49 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,320 put it all together, you're just showing what you can do 50 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,520 for those that have yet to have done it, right? 51 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,960 Because there's still more people that are coming out. 52 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,560 There's still more that are actually still involved 53 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,640 and still need that encouragement. 54 00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:16,920 And so all you're doing really 55 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,020 is you're just showing them the way, which is awesome. 56 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:22,680 By the way, by example. 57 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:23,740 Absolutely. 58 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:25,960 Was it hard for school? 59 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,960 Are you online or were you taking classes? 60 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,760 It's 100% online, which it makes it harder, I believe, 61 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:33,680 because you're on your own, basically. 62 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,080 You get to chat with people, 63 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,800 unlike in the private chat we're doing here, 64 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,760 but you don't really have the interaction with humans 65 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,080 until maybe at the last second or the last minute 66 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:43,780 or through a Zoom call or something. 67 00:02:43,780 --> 00:02:45,640 So it's a little different. 68 00:02:45,640 --> 00:02:48,040 The doctorate process is way harder 69 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,520 because I only get to talk to my chair and co-chair 70 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,720 every so often as I write the paper. 71 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:54,680 So getting that feedback is kind of weird. 72 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,280 But when I get it, I just dive in and say, 73 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,520 all right, I'll fix what you said to fix and make it better 74 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:00,680 and hopefully make it better 75 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,680 so I don't have to keep doing this forever. 76 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:03,640 Wow. 77 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:05,680 How long will your doctorate take? 78 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,840 Hopefully it'll be done by either Christmas 79 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,040 or May of next year. 80 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,960 That is, I'm super proud of you for what it's worth. 81 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,720 Like that is awesome. 82 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:16,680 Thank you. 83 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,240 So you'll be Dr. LaMonica, right? 84 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:20,080 Yes. 85 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:21,040 I know that's right. 86 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,240 I'm gonna tell my wife to say that. 87 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,280 So that's my new name now. 88 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,400 Don't call me anything else but doctor. 89 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:33,480 I have another question for you. 90 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,800 What is your goal for being on the show today? 91 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,540 You run your own podcast. 92 00:03:37,540 --> 00:03:41,800 So what's the difference from coming on to Vision Pros Live? 93 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,240 I believe getting my show out there, 94 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,120 even on a great platforms like Vision Pros Live, 95 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,020 helps grow my audience by also introducing your audience 96 00:03:50,020 --> 00:03:52,440 to me and my audience, the Miss Fit Nation. 97 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,040 And so we can cross contaminate each other, 98 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,720 cross pollinate each other, I guess, 99 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,240 to get more of both of our voices out there. 100 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,760 So maybe every day we come on our show, 101 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:02,880 help one more person 102 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,520 and make that one more person strive to greatness. 103 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,600 That, absolutely. 104 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:08,460 What's your goal? 105 00:04:08,460 --> 00:04:09,600 Do you have a goal? 106 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,320 I know I was speaking with someone else 107 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:12,520 and they were talking about, 108 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,120 I desire to have this amount of shows 109 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:17,480 or reach this amount of people. 110 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:18,600 What's your goal? 111 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,040 My goal when I started, like I said, 112 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,480 was to save as many as I could. 113 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,360 And as I grew and learned from more experts 114 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,560 and teaching and reading self-help posts and such, 115 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,120 I knew that helping everyone is not, 116 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,920 I'm not Superman, I can't do that, 117 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,520 but I can help one person on every show. 118 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,280 So if all my 417 shows were recorded, 119 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:38,860 I helped one person each show, 120 00:04:38,860 --> 00:04:41,480 that's 417 people that are still with us. 121 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,480 417 people are doing better today than they were yesterday. 122 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:45,880 So that's a great goal. 123 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:47,120 The second portion of my goal 124 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,680 is to not just have me host the shows, 125 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:50,920 start the branch out. 126 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,400 So now I have three shows a week, 127 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,400 Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. 128 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,360 My Tuesday show is now hosted by my buddy Jake 129 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:58,560 and my brother Steve. 130 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,720 So they have the Tuesday crew on Tuesdays 131 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:01,560 and I just produce 132 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,000 and so that way they don't have to press the buttons. 133 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,120 I can do all the buttons, they can just talk. 134 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,960 Nice, and that's the T-O-O-S-D-A-Y, right? 135 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:10,160 I loved it. 136 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,520 I was like, shut up. 137 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,120 That's the way we should spell in general. 138 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,880 Like we should just spell how we say it and think it. 139 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,080 It makes so much more sense. 140 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:20,840 Yes, I was like, that is super cute. 141 00:05:20,840 --> 00:05:24,640 That's my favorite word is like, that is so super cute. 142 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,040 As you move along and you continue to do these shows, 143 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:31,760 is there more out of it? 144 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,040 So with becoming a doctor, 145 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,440 are you gonna branch off and be that necessary help 146 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,540 for those offering jobs? 147 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:44,720 Or what will you do that doctorate degree correlated 148 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,160 with what you're doing now or will you? 149 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,000 It's gonna be two separate lives. 150 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,400 Okay, got it. 151 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,040 Like right now I have a day job where I train soldiers 152 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,960 in during the day and at night just podcasting school. 153 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:58,840 So when I get the degree, 154 00:05:58,840 --> 00:06:01,120 I'll probably stay with my current company 155 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:02,400 but move into a different position, 156 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,520 hopefully consulting Homeland Security 157 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,760 or maybe doing something with Homeland Security directly 158 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,200 and then still do the podcast 159 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,160 and keep it two separate lives. 160 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,240 So I'll basically have my life, 161 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,760 my life and my wife, my wife, my work 162 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,200 and then this, so three different chapters every day. 163 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:20,440 No, every day. 164 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,760 And you definitely have to make sure 165 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,160 that you care for yourself, Rich. 166 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:27,000 Yes. 167 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,480 And that you get you some me time, 168 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:29,760 whatever that looks like 169 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:34,200 because I see that you have your hands full already 170 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,760 but also with the doctor degree, oh my goodness. 171 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,840 That's gonna be a lot, a lot more. 172 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:44,640 What did it take for you to get to this point? 173 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,920 Did you have to fund anything? 174 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:48,880 Did you have to figure things out? 175 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,240 Were you pretty much in this alone? 176 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,400 I know you said you have your friend and your brother now 177 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,640 but what was it like starting this all on your own 178 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,160 pretty much as a entrepreneur? 179 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:00,960 It was straight out of pocket. 180 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:05,920 So my first studio setup was really my MacBook 181 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,080 and a very cheap microphone. 182 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,320 And then as you grow, you start testing other things, 183 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:12,840 you test other microphones and such. 184 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,280 And I did some interviews just in my Jeep. 185 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,280 I'd be in my Jeep and just do audio only 186 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:18,560 and you know, Jeeps are not quiet. 187 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,120 And so they're pretty loud vehicles 188 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,080 and I'm doing my, and I've learned and grew along the way. 189 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,480 And then my wife bought me a Rodecaster 190 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,440 for my birthday a couple of years ago. 191 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,960 So the Rodecaster Pro for Sound, I got a Rode mic, 192 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,240 got a better Mac now, double screens in front of me 193 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,720 but everything is self-funded for people to saying, 194 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:38,720 hey, here's a couple of dollars, let me help you out 195 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:39,760 and stuff like that. 196 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,320 I haven't really started any GoFundMe's ring like that 197 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:44,400 but I do have a buy me a coffee site 198 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,520 if you wanna buy me a coffee, help me out. 199 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,600 No way, I'm writing that down. 200 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,120 Throw that in the private chat for me. 201 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:56,680 All right, copy the link here. 202 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:00,680 And does that really buy you a coffee? 203 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:01,880 Do you drink coffee? 204 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:06,880 I do, yeah, but that is for my streaming costs. 205 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,720 That makes all the sense in the world. 206 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:11,560 So now I have a question for you. 207 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,840 Why do leaders hide from funding their vision? 208 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,960 What's the fear in, or did you even have any fear? 209 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:19,440 What would you tell an entrepreneur 210 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,560 trying to do what you're doing? 211 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,640 I don't think I had, I guess concerns. 212 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:24,720 I don't think I had real fears. 213 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:26,240 I knew if I got to a point 214 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,680 where I was bankrupting my family, I would stop. 215 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:29,520 Got it. 216 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:30,400 So I didn't get close to that point. 217 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:31,400 I wasn't really scared of it. 218 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,880 I knew my vision was, 219 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,000 I don't think it was skyrocket high for my goal at first. 220 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,200 So I would hit that ellipse and fall down. 221 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:40,640 I didn't think that would happen. 222 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,000 I thought maybe if I just start small 223 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:44,800 and keep growing and growing, things would be great. 224 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,520 And I think it's been on a pretty good trajectory right now. 225 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,920 I get enough people to donate that pay for my streaming 226 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,000 and keep us online so we get more people involved. 227 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,360 Thank you for being here today. 228 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,840 I'm really happy that you tuned in to Vision Pros Live. 229 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,520 I'm looking forward to seeing your reactions 230 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,840 as these episodes continue to move forward. 231 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:04,520 This is gonna get more and more fun. 232 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:06,320 We'll have more and more engagement as well. 233 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,440 We'll invite people to participate in the show 234 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,800 and thank you for giving us your time and attention. 235 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,520 Have an excellent time building out your vision 236 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:32,520 and becoming a Vision Pro yourself.