Veteran Ventures

In our Season 1 finale, we wrap up with practical advice for veterans navigating the transition and reflect on the biggest lessons shared by our incredible guests. In this episode, we cover: - 10 key lessons from Season 1: 1. Defining your own version of success 2. Starting with what you don't want 3. If you chase money, it runs4. Experimenting and iterating to find the right fit for YOU 5. Ne...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Patrick Flood — former Green Beret with 26 years of service, Duke MBA, and founder of Owners in Honor , a company dedicated to helping veterans buy and sell businesses. Patrick’s journey is anything but typical. He’s been injured in Afghanistan, bitten by a cobra, worked in finance, distanced himself from the veteran community, and then found...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with LTG (Ret) Michael Ferriter — a career Army leader whose service spanned 35 years, from mechanized infantry platoon leader to commanding the U.S. Army’s Advising and Training Mission in Iraq. Michael’s journey is filled with lessons in integrity, resilience, and leadership — from being the only Captain to graduate in his Ranger School class, to...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we talk with Adam Whisler — a former Infantry Officer in the 10th Mountain Division, Tactical Strength & Conditioning Specialist for the U.S. Space Force, and 2023 Tillman Scholar. Adam shares his unique journey from combat arms to academic research, and how he’s using AI to revolutionize physical training in the military. More importantly, he breaks down...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Adam Stark — former Israeli Defense Forces Airborne Special Forces operator, real estate tech founder, and host of the Veterans Who Build podcast. Adam shares his remarkable journey from a military upbringing shaped by his family’s immigrant resilience, to launching a construction management software company, Jet. Build , and building a platfo...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Mike Hall and Rich Garner — former Navy SEALs and the co-founders of Hold the Reins , a nonprofit dedicated to equine-assisted wellness and coaching for SEALs, SWCC, and EOD personnel. We explore how horses became an unexpected — but deeply powerful — path to healing, transition, and continued service. We discuss: Why Mike and Rich started Hol...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Jay Miseli — a former Army Armor Officer turned executive and entrepreneur. Jay shares his journey of post-military reinvention: from starting with a traditional transition playbook to realizing he had fallen into the trap of not breaking the paradigm. His reflections are brutally honest, deeply relatable, and incredibly helpful for any veteran...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Louis Netherland — a former Army Cavalry Officer, Foreign Area Officer, and current Business Development leader at Collins Aerospace. Louis offers a thoughtful and realistic look at the veteran transition process. After a decorated military career, Louis found himself navigating multiple career pivots — from consulting to business development,...

After leaving the Army as an Armor officer in the early 2000s, Patrick Malcor didn’t follow a traditional path. Instead, he jumped into the deep end—taking on opportunities in Iraq and the defense contracting world before eventually becoming CEO of a family office-backed defense company in Europe. Today, Patrick is the founder and CEO of Ajax Defense , a precision manufacturing firm that supplies...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Chris Cano – Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and Partner at REV Mortgage. Chris spent 10 years in the Navy on fast attack submarines. He started originating loans while still on active duty and went on to buy 7 houses in Hawaii, proving that building wealth doesn’t have to wait until after the military. Now based in San Antonio, Chris leads the RE...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Liz Johnson, a former Army Signal Corps soldier and police officer who transitioned into a successful real estate career. Liz opens up about the identity loss that often follows transition, what it’s like to step into commission-only work, and the mindset shifts that helped her persevere. Her story is a real look at what it takes to rebuild af...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Colonel (Ret.) David Rozelle , a combat-wounded Army officer who didn’t just recover - he came back stronger than ever. After losing his right leg from the knee down in Iraq, Dave became the first amputee since the Civil War to return to combat in the same theater. His story isn’t just one of physical recovery - it’s about identity, leadership...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Harrison Lewis , a former Army Special Operations soldier turned physical therapist and entrepreneur. Harrison served in the 10th Mountain Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, and 160th SOAR before transitioning into civilian life and launching GRND , a fitness and wellness brand focused on performance, resilience, and mental clarity. But his path...

Johnny DeMaddalena straddles two worlds: service in the Army Reserves and scaling startups in the civilian sector. In this episode, we unpack his unique journey - from starting a dog treat company in high school to launching a web platform for small businesses. Johnny shares lessons from trial-and-error ventures, his approach to time-boxing new ideas, and how being a reservist has shaped his entre...

Alex Lisot is a former Air Force F-15 pilot, digital nomad, real estate investor, and founder of Master of the Military , a veteran-focused platform helping service members maximize their benefits and build lives they actually want. In this episode, Alex shares his journey from flying fighter jets to backpacking across the globe, launching e-commerce businesses, investing in real estate, and desig...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we talk with Dan Sepulveda — a Navy corpsman who served alongside the Marine Corps in Afghanistan before transitioning into a thriving career in real estate in Hawaii. After saving six figures while on active duty, Dan purchased his first condo and never looked back. His focus on competency, discipline, and daily improvement helped him grow from a new agent to...

Brendan Aronson is a Naval Academy grad, former Marine infantry officer, Wharton MBA, and founder of The Military Veteran (TMV). He turned down offers from Google, Goldman Sachs, and other top companies to launch ventures supporting the veteran community. In this episode, we cover : The biggest lessons from hosting over 100 episodes of the MilVet Podcast. Why "distribution is the first proble...

Today's guest is Julian Larimer , a former Army Armor Officer whose journey spans from Company Command in Hawaii to building a thriving career in defense technology. Julian shares how he: Made the difficult decision to leave the Army after eight years, despite a promising path ahead. Used unstructured time — surfing, reflecting, and coaching — to redefine his identity and career goals. Pivoted...

Jesse Iwuji is a Naval Academy graduate, former Surface Warfare Officer, and current professional NASCAR driver and entrepreneur. But his path was anything but conventional. In this episode, Jesse shares how he went from a late start in football to playing Division I at the Naval Academy, then made the improbable leap from active duty to professional racing - without a racing background, connectio...

Ben Balsley has spent the last decade as a private equity-backed operator - leading teams, scaling companies, and executing buy-and-build strategies across multiple industries. But before his success in the business world, Ben started his professional career as a Field Artillery officer in the Army. After earning his MBA from UNC, Ben held leadership roles in logistics, telecom, mortgage services,...

After five years as an Infantry Officer in the Army, Paul Weber knew he wanted to help athletes optimize their performance. But getting there wasn’t easy. He tried in-person training, worked with kids, coached athletes, and dabbled in different fitness roles before launching his online business. Then came six months of crickets - zero clients, few followers, and a lot of anxiety. Today, Paul runs...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Patrick J. Murphy - a third-generation veteran, former Army JAG officer, and the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army. Patrick was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, where he helped co-author the Post-9/11 GI Bill and led with a deep sense of purpose and patriotism. His journey since leaving the military includes law, politics, entrepr...

This is a conversation where we explore what happens when a cyber-curious Marine steps into the world of NCIS, then climbs through the ranks of the tech and cybersecurity industry. In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Brent Maynard , a former Marine who parlayed his early technical experience into roles with the NSA, NCIS, Amazon, Microsoft, Schwab, and other household names. Now...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we dive deep into the inspiring journey of Sam Westfall. After a devastating accident in the Army left him medically discharged, Sam faced years of recovery and the challenges of transitioning into civilian life. Struggling with depression and loss of purpose, Sam discovered an unexpected form of therapy: archery. This new passion not only became a source of h...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Quinn McArthur , a former Special Forces officer who transitioned from military service into real estate investing - eventually finding his niche in land-backed mortgage notes. In this episode, Quinn shares how he leveraged networking, strategic decision-making, and his passion for financial freedom to build a life on his own terms. Key Highlights : 🔹 T...