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. Networking with curiosity and adding value first

6. Selling yourself

7. If you're feeling imposter syndrome, lean in

8. You're not committing to a contract

9. Leveraging veteran resources

10. Transition is a lifelong process

- 4 things to do immediately after leaving the service: SkillBridge, using your VA home loan (especially for multi-units), taking the VA claims process seriously, and maximizing education benefits (GI Bill, VR&E, veteran scholarships).

- The three biggest “losses” veterans face post-transition: purpose, tribe, and security.

We close Season 1 the same way we started — making the military transition easier, one conversation at a time.

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

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 renewed purpose in guiding service members toward entrepreneurship.

We talk about:

- Why buying a business can be a better path than starting one from scratch

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 pioneering Army combatives and becoming the only father-son duo to ever command the same Ranger Regiment Company.

We talk about:

- Why your faith, family, friends, and integrity should remain intact at all costs

- “Hands-on inspired leadership” and his command philosophy: Do your best, do what’s right, improve daily, build teams, show you care, and never quit

- How to recognize when someone’s asking you to compromise your values — and what to do about it

- Building and maintaining teams in uniform and beyond

- His work with the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, The Ferriter Group, and veteran mental health initiatives

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with LTG Ferriter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelferriter/

The Ferriter Group: https://www.theferritergroup.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

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If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like LTG Ferriter’s.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

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 how he and his wife both funded several advanced degrees using nothing but the GI Bill and smart scholarship strategies.

We discuss:

• How to fully leverage GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, and outside scholarships

• Lessons from applying (and reapplying) for the Tillman Scholarship

This episode could literally be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars if you’re a service member or veteran planning for school.

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-whisler-2021/

• GI Bill Comparison Tool for finding out if the University accepts GI bill: https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/
• Yellow Ribbon Tool to see if the University offers Yellow Ribbon Coverage, how much, and for how many students: https://www.va.gov/education/yellow-ribbon-participating-schools/

• Pat Tillman Foundation: https://pattillmanfoundation.org/
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) information: https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

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If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Adam’s.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

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 platform that spotlights veteran entrepreneurs in the tech and real estate space.

We dive into:

• What Adam learned from his parents—who fled Morocco and Hungary—and how it shaped his entrepreneurial mindset

• His transition from the IDF to the U.S. startup world

• Building Jet.Build and scaling in the proptech space

• How podcasting can deepen relationships, increase opportunity flow, and shape community

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 Hold the Reins and who it’s for

• How high performers benefit from slowing down and reconnecting with nature

• The similarities between surfing and riding — and why horses can unlock healing

• Navigating the post-military identity shift

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 navigating uncertainty after service.

We cover:

- Why doing “everything right” doesn’t guarantee fulfillment

- The power (and danger) of identity anchors from the military

- Misapplied purpose: how to recognize it and recalibrate

- Advice on navigating missteps, emotional burnout, and leadership friction

- Lessons from building Red Thread X, a company transforming the conference experience in tech and defense

Jay’s story is a reminder that transition isn’t a single event - it’s an ongoing journey that requires curiosity, courage, and the willingness to reinvent yourself.

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Jay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaymiseli/

Red Thread X: https://www.theredthreadx.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

-------------------------------------------------------------If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Jay’s.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

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, both in the U.S. and internationally.

We talk about:

- How to “stay in touch just enough” to be top of mind for your next opportunity

- The power of connections that are three or four degrees of separation away

- Leaning into the network established while in the military, even if it's intimidating or initially unclear that network even exists

- Leveraging the soft skills and valuable experience gained from service

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Louis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-netherland-922795a6/

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

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If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Louis'.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

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 mission-critical parts to companies like Raytheon. He’s also a veteran advocate, entrepreneur, and investor with a deep passion for helping service members avoid the “transition trap”—falling into misaligned careers after military life.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Patrick shares hard-earned insights on:

• What veterans get wrong about their first job after the military

• The value of asking good questions and having 50+ career conversations

• The pros and cons of working at big companies vs. scrappy startups

• Building companies with purpose and reinvesting in veteran talent

• Lessons from early mistakes and the power of reinvention after setbacks

• • Why your values—not your resume—should shape your transition

  -------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmalcor/

  https://ajax-defense.com/

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  Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

  Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

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  If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Patrick's.

  And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

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 REV Mortgage team and helps veterans across the country understand and leverage their VA loan benefits to build generational wealth.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Chris started his career buying a small townhouse with a VA loan and leveraged that into his current portfolio

• Why every veteran should understand their VA loan

• What to do when your transition plans take an unexpected turn

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-cano-18251842/

https://www.gorevmortgage.com/

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Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

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If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Chris'.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.