Raising Kids Who Have "A Battle" Worth Fighting For featuring John Sapiente

John Sapiente never planned to become a charitable force in the veteran community, he just wanted to play golf with a celebrity at a charity gala. That single decision in 2013 led him to a life-changing weekend with military families, a friendship with Folds of Honor founder Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, and eventually the creation of Volition America, a lifestyle apparel brand that has raised over $2 million for veteran and first responder families by donating 13% of profits, a number tied to the 13 folds of the American flag.

In this conversation with Larry, John shares the origin story behind brand partnerships with Puma, Cobra Golf, and Luminox, the moment he surprised a wounded Navy SEAL with a custom Jeep on July 4th, and his approach to raising four kids while running two manufacturing companies and a nonprofit-adjacent brand. He's candid about the tradeoffs of building a business empire, protecting Mother's Day as sacred family time, and 30 years of weekly date nights with his wife. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to turn a single meaningful moment into a lasting mission, this episode is a direct look at how that actually happens.

 

Timeline Summary

[1:02] The 2013 charity golf event that sparked John's "patriotic awakening"

[4:58] Meeting wounded veterans and hearing taps played during a tournament, and the impact it had

[9:22] Becoming friends with Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder of Folds of Honor

[10:07] The origin of "volition" as a word and a brand philosophy: the power of choice

[12:31] A full introduction to John: founder of Volition America, raising over $2 million for veterans

[14:32] Raising a confident, self-sufficient daughter, and the values he prioritized as a father

[21:56] The family rule that sports never come before Mother's Day

[25:43] Referencing Dr. John Delony's take on travel sports ruining the family dinner table

[26:46] The mandatory Sunday family dinner tradition that started when the kids were young

[28:34] The family rule that every kid needs "a battle," something they're passionate about, one at a time

[29:19] A son's question about whether John was disappointed he chose band over sports

[31:10] Supporting a daughter who hated soccer but lit up when she found dance

[32:13] The father-son talent show plan built around a shared love of Michael Jackson

[34:01] Thirty years of marriage and the weekly date nights that started when their kids were young

[36:15] Why "if you have to think about your last date night, it's been too long"

[43:40] Introducing Volition America and the $2 million raised for Folds of Honor

[47:20] The story of surprising Navy SEAL Jeff Samuels with a custom Jeep on July 4th

[50:25] How brand partnerships with Puma, Cobra Golf, and Luminox actually came together

[53:21] Upcoming brand extensions: a cigar line with Gurkha and a new wine label

[55:55] Where to find Volition America and support the mission

 

Five Key Takeaways

1. A single moment of unexpected exposure, in John's case a charity golf outing, can become a life's mission if you stay open to what it reveals. He wasn't looking for a cause; the cause found him.
2. Kids need something they're passionate about, one thing at a time, not necessarily a sport. Supporting a child's actual interest, whether it's marching band or dance, builds more confidence than pushing them toward what you expected.
3. Protecting non-negotiable family time, like Mother's Day or a weekly date night, requires real boundaries. John's family skipped championship games that landed on Mother's Day because some things matter more than convenience.
4. You cannot build a major business while being a 50/50 present parent every single day. Real tradeoffs exist, and the goal is being genuinely present in the time you do have rather than pretending you can do everything equally.
5. Purpose-driven business partnerships can create value for everyone involved. Brand collaborations built around a genuine mission bring new audiences to both the cause and the partner brand, not just a marketing gimmick.

 

Links & Resources

• Volition America: https://volitionamerica.com
• Folds of Honor: https://foldsofhonor.org
• The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1529
• Roommates to Soulmates: http://thedadedge.com/soulmates
• The Board Room Mastermind: Guest Session: http://thedadedge.com/guest 

 

Closing

What stays with me from this conversation is how one afternoon of golf, entered into for the wrong reasons, turned into a mission that's raised over $2 million for the families of fallen and disabled service members. John didn't set out to build a movement, he just stayed open to what that weekend showed him. Whether it's a cause, a kid's unexpected passion, or a weekly date night you've let slide, the same principle applies: show up for the thing in front of you, and let it become what it's going to become. Go out and live legendary.