Veteran Ventures

10 Key Lessons for Veterans Building Their Next Chapter: Season 1 Finale | Ep 54

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/

The Best Resource for Veterans Interested in Buying a Business - Patrick Flood | Ep 53

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 - The importance of taking time to reflect before jumping into your next chapter - Lessons from military service that translate directly to business success - How Owners in Honor helps veterans enter and exit small business ownership -------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmichaelflood/ Owners in Honor: https://www.ownersinhonor.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------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 Patrick’s. And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

How to Lead Without Losing Your Faith, Family, or Integrity - LTG (R) Michael Ferriter | Ep 52

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/ ------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

How to Maximize the GI Bill and Leverage AI to Optimize Your Fitness - Adam Whisler | Ep 51

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 * Why military education benefits are often underutilized — and how to fix that * Using AI to individualize military fitness at scale * 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/ [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/ [https://www.va.gov/education/yellow-ribbon-participating-schools/] * Pat Tillman Foundation: https://pattillmanfoundation.org/ [https://pattillmanfoundation.org/] * Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) information: https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/ [https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/] -------------------------------------------------------------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 Adam’s. And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

From Israeli Special Forces to Construction Tech Founder and Podcast Host - Adam Stark | Ep 50

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 * The origin of Veterans Who Build and his top advice for veterans entering startups ------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamstark512/ Jet Build: https://jet.build/ The Veterans Who Build Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-veterans-who-build-show/id1731456067 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Adam’s. And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.