Unsubscribe Podcast #248 Summary: "I Received The Medal Of Honor But I Felt Like A Failure"

Recorded January 25, 2026
Host(s): Eli Doubletap, Donut Operator, Brandon Herrera, The Fat Electrician
Guest: Dakota Meyer (Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Corps veteran, firefighter)

Episode Overview

This episode features a deeply candid, insightful, and at times humorous conversation with Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer. The hosts and Dakota discuss military culture, leadership, generational shifts, mental health, the realities behind combat and recognition, and the weight and complexity of living with the nation’s highest military honor. Dakota provides honest reflections on his service, his failures, and what truly matters during and after combat, making this episode essential listening for anyone interested in military life, leadership, or resilience.

Featured Segments & Timestamps

1. Introductions & Medal of Honor Running Joke (00:30–03:20)
2. Dakota’s Military Career & Reenlistment (03:28–06:35)
3. On Today’s Service Members & Generational Differences (06:35–11:42)
4. Military Leadership, "Why" Questions, and Feedback (11:42–18:34)
5. Dakota’s Path to the Marines and Sniper School (24:27–29:18)
6. Combat Experiences in Iraq (29:38–36:33)
7. On the Realities & Costs of Combat (39:17–45:50)
8. Mental Health, PTSD, & Suicide (46:37–57:33)
9. First Responders vs. Veterans: Trauma & Resilience (60:31–66:24)
10. Media, Perception, and Social Media in Veterans’ Lives (66:24–77:40)
11. Leadership, Politics, and Systemic Challenges (77:40–87:22)
12. The Battle of Ganjgal: Medal of Honor Action (116:45–153:44)
13. Dakota's Reflections on Failure, Legacy, and Moving Forward (153:44–165:07)

Highlights & Discussion Points

1. Dakota’s Background, Reenlistment, and Perspective Shifts

• After 15 years out of the military, Dakota rejoined and describes the challenge of going through rigorous recon training at age 37 (04:54).
• On serving with a new generation:
  “If you took my generation of service members and put them on the battlefield against this generation... they would wipe us off the map in 24 hours.” — Dakota (06:35)
• Praises the resilience, intellect, and sense of purpose among Gen Z recruits, noting a dramatic drop in drinking culture, a stronger desire for earned merit, and willingness to question and improve processes (09:48).

2. Generational Changes and Modern Military Leadership

• Dakota argues that asking “why?" is not a sign of insubordination, but an opportunity for real leadership and buy-in (13:24).

  “The 'why' question is a powerful diagnostic tool and an opportunity to create buy-in.” (13:24)

• He links his own Medal of Honor experience to poor leadership:

  “I got a Medal of Honor because leadership didn’t want to listen... Instead of answering why, they set me aside and my team walked into an ambush.” (17:47)

3. Reflections on Combat, Heroism, and Truth

• Dakota rejects the glorification of combat, saying:

  “Every time I started getting shot at and it was real, I’d have given anything not to be getting shot at.” (41:07)

• Questions the narrative veterans promote, noting that war trauma is not unique to them:

  “If war was so awesome and fun like people try to make it out to be, we wouldn’t have so many people [dying by suicide] and PTSD.” (41:33)

• Advocates for honesty, not victimhood:

  “The worst day of my life is no more significant than the worst day of your life. Why are we trying to out-victimize each other?” (53:48)

4. Mental Health, PTSD, and Accountability

• Dakota is blunt about veteran suicide:

  “If you commit suicide, it is a cowardly act... you’re passing the pain to people who care about you.” (55:10)

• He stresses the importance of honest discussion, leader example, and moving past the idea of being permanently broken:

  “PTSD, depression and anxiety: They are injuries, not terminal illnesses… Be more than a victim of your own service.” (53:48–54:38)

• Mental health advances and the danger of toxic nonprofit cultures are explored.

5. Lessons from First Responders

• Dakota claims first responders see more trauma and violence than most military veterans, often without warning or separation from civilian life:

  “What cops and firefighters see makes what I seen in combat look like a Mickey Mouse clubhouse.” (59:44–60:31)

6. The Weight of Recognition—Medal of Honor Reflection

The Battle of Ganjgal (116:45–153:44)

• Dakota describes the events of September 7th, 2009, in Afghanistan: unexpected leadership failures, difficult comms, frantic rescue attempts, overwhelming enemy fire, and catastrophic loss.
• He details his efforts to rescue both Afghan and American teammates under fire, sometimes alone, under constant personal risk.

Notable Moment:

“I got a Medal of Honor, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t fail that day. It was the biggest failure of my life.” (03:30 and 153:44)

• Dakota’s pain over losing his entire team, the “cowardice” he feels for turning back the vehicle, and living publicly with the burden of recognition:

  “I have a medal because I know what a bad day looks like, not because I’m a hero.” (153:44) “It’s a medal there because of failures in leadership and decision-making.” (153:44)

• Dakota stresses facing harsh realities, not hiding from them, and living a life worthy of the fallen.

  "Every day that I don’t go out and make the most of it is a day that I’m doing nothing but spitting on their graves.” (163:15)

• Dakota’s practical, data-driven sense of self-improvement:

  "Most people finish a race and they want to look at their time… I’m just looking for the next race. I don’t show up for the results. I show up for the test.” (161:59)

Notable Quotes

• On generations:
  “They’re smarter than us. They are more in tune than we were… I truly believe with every moral fiber of my being…” — Dakota (06:35)
• On why leadership matters:
  “I don’t think we have a generational problem. I think we have a leadership problem that’s failing a generation.” (12:02)
• On questioning tradition:
  “I didn’t know how to saddle a horse in case my Humvee broke down either… Where does it stop?” (07:04)
• On the Medal of Honor:
  “I got a medal … but it doesn’t mean I didn’t fail that day. It was the biggest failure of my life.” (03:30, 153:44)
• On mental health:
  “PTSD, depression, and anxiety: they are injuries, not terminal illnesses. Don’t be a victim.” (53:48)
• On resilience and legacy:
  “Every day I don’t go out and make the most of it is a day I’m doing nothing but spitting on their graves.” (163:15)
• On internet/haters:
  “For the first time in history, the haters are actually writing it.” (167:21)
• On society and civic action:
  “The system is set and it does work. I do believe it does work.” (78:09)
• On heroism:
  “What that medal represents is literally the potential inside of every human being…” (157:28)

Tone, Dynamics, and Memorable Moments

• The episode maintains Unsubscribe's signature blend of irreverent humor and unguarded sincerity.
• Ongoing running joke about Brandon Herrera being a “fake” or “honorary” Medal of Honor recipient (multiple times, e.g., 03:30, 106:33).
• Numerous lighthearted exchanges about military group chats, funerals, and internet rumors contrast with heavy, emotional storytelling.
• Dakota’s humility and willingness to confront uncomfortable truths set the tone throughout.

Conclusion

This episode stands out as a powerful mix of insight, humility, and unfiltered truth. Dakota Meyer offers listeners a rare glimpse behind both the mythology and agony of combat, service, recognition, and loss. The hosts balance humor with respect, and the episode manages to be inspiring, somber, and deeply human.

For listeners:
Whether you’re a veteran, a leader, or someone seeking meaning from society’s loudest voices, this episode cuts through noise to the heart of what matters: honesty, courage, selfless service, and the enduring power of living for others.

Note: This summary excludes ad reads and introductory/concluding banter, focusing on the central conversation and themes as discussed.