Ken Dupar: Army, Heart Failure, and Finding Life Through Story

On this episode of The MisFitNation, host Rich LaMonica welcomes US Army veteran, author, and independent publisher Ken Dupar for a raw, funny, and deeply human conversation about survival, service, creativity, and meaning. Raised in Milwaukee and shaped by the University of Wisconsin before joining the U.S. Army, Ken found belonging, structure, and purpose in uniform. After the post–Persian Gulf War downsizing, life didn’t follow a clean exit plan. What followed was a winding civilian path, multiple deployments, leadership under pressure, and a series of life-altering moments—including heart failure during his time as a company commander. Writing became therapy. Humor became survival. And storytelling became the way Ken processed pain, loneliness, love, suffering, and resilience. Today, as an independent author and publisher living in East Tennessee, Ken continues pushing the creative boulder uphill—not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it. This episode explores military transition, identity loss, creative rebirth, leadership, suffering, and what it really means to keep running the race at 57. Learn more about Ken and his work: https://www.kennydupar.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices