Ronnie sits down with Robert “Gunny Claus” Porter, the Marine who somehow managed to combine Marine Corps discipline, law enforcement precision, Toys for Tots chaos, and a Christmas beard that could pass a urinalysis with flying colors. Before the red suit ever touched his shoulders, Porter served 21 years in the United States Marine Corps.
Filmed on 11/10/25 in Philadelphia, right at the birthplace of the Marine Corps, this conversation hits every part of Marine identity: the traditions we cling to, the memories we carry, the losses we don't talk about, and the way a dysfunctional family of warfighters still shows up for each other. Marines flooded the streets, Tun Tavern was packed with ghosts and leathernecks, and the city felt like a live-fire nostalgia drill.
Gunny Claus opens up about:
• the first time he put on the uniform
• the Vietnam Marine who inspired his entire “Gunny Claus” identity
• how Toys for Tots was tied to Walt Disney
• why Marines still gather for body checks, bad jokes, and worse decisions
• his work with Rolling to Remember, Irreverent Warriors, and every veteran who needs a lift
• the silent weight Marines carry when the holidays feel heavy
• how community keeps us from becoming the ones who disappear quietly
He talks about marching alongside the Gary Sinise Foundation… turning fidget spinners into tax-write-off gold… painting his own campaign cover like a holiday arts-and-craft disaster… and why Marines instantly recognize him even before he throws out a “Semper Festivus.”
This episode is part therapy, part stand-up, part Marine Corps history, and part sleigh bodies motivation. It's exactly what happens when you take two Marines, drop them into the birthplace of the Corps, add some emotional truth, and wrap it all in a red-and-gold combat Christmas stocking.
If you've ever worn the uniform, or loved someone who did, this conversation will hit deep.
Because Marines don't just tell stories… Marines deliver them.
Sometimes in a bag. Sometimes on a motorcycle.
Sometimes with a “gung ho ho” and a reminder that none of us are doing this alone.
Stories over stigma.
Semper Fi.