Full Send Friday: Ty Smith on Grit, Faith, and the Journey from Military to Entrepreneurship
Release Date: 09/26/2025
⚓️ FULLSEND FRIDAY: Navy SEAL Anthony Rivera on AI-Driven Transition, Cracking the VA Code, and the "Fog of Peace"
The Two-Promises Podcast
What happens when the “Fog of War” turns into the “Fog of Peace”? In this comprehensive Full Send episode, Navy SEAL veteran and Vetivize CEO Anthony Rivera joins his BUD/S Class 267 classmate to discuss the tactical and psychological blueprint for a successful military transition. Anthony pulls back the curtain on the elite selection process, sharing raw stories from BUD/S Pool Comp and hallucinatory nights in Iraq’s Al Anbar province. He then reveals the “cheat code” he discovered in the CFR 38 that allowed him to turn around a VA disability claim in just 11 days. We explore...
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⚓ Anthony Rivera (Part 4): The Dawn of Agentic AI, Mental Health Reform, and the SOS Protocol
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does the veteran landscape look like five years from now? In the powerful conclusion of our series, Navy SEAL veteran and Vetivize CEO Anthony Rivera paints a vision of a future where technology and spirituality intersect to end the veteran suicide epidemic. Anthony challenges the current medical status quo, comparing the definitive testing for diabetes to the often "test-less" prescribing of mind-altering antidepressants in the VA system. He advocates for a shift toward "prescribing" community service, elite work ethic, and mentorship as the primary tools for recovery. We also get a dose...
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🛡️ Anthony Rivera (Part 3): The Identity Bridge—Health Vaults, Financial Gains, and Serving Others
The Two-Promises Podcast
Is your identity tied to your uniform, or is the uniform just something you wore? In Part 3 of our series, Navy SEAL veteran Anthony Rivera breaks down the ultimate Immediate Action Drill for the veteran identity crisis. Anthony explains how Vetivize acts as a secure, HIPAA-compliant Health Vault, allowing veterans to track their conditions quarterly so they never have to rely on a hit-in-the-head memory during a VA exam. We dive into the massive financial impact of veteran benefits: how the average Vetivize user increases their annual income by $14,400 tax-free, and why savvy employers are...
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⚓ Anthony Rivera (Part 2): Cracking the VA Code—AI, Automation, and the 11-Day Disability Turnaround
The Two-Promises Podcast
Why does military transition feel like "learning a new language"? In Part 2 of our 4-part series, Navy SEAL veteran Anthony Rivera explains how he applied the "Plan Your Dive, Dive Your Plan" SEAL ethos to the complicated world of VA benefits. Anthony reveals how he went from receiving conflicting advice to reading the "root source" documents—the CFR 38—and successfully turned his VA claim around in just 11 days, compared to the national average of 181. We dive deep into his new platform, Vetivize, which uses proprietary AI and automation to act as a "Yelp for Heroes," centralizing the...
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Anthony Rivera (Part 1): Mastery of Chaos—From BUD/S Pool Comp Failures to the "Wild West" of Iraq
The Two-Promises Podcast
How do you transition from the "Fog of War" to the "Fog of Peace"? In the premiere of this 4-part series, Navy SEAL veteran Anthony Rivera joins his BUD/S Class 267 classmate to relive the high-stakes selection process that forges an elite warrior. Anthony shares a raw and often humorous look at the mastery of chaos, starting with his unexpected failure in BUD/S Second Phase Pool Comp under a "chill" instructor and the overconfidence that led to his setback. We dive into the physical toll of elite training, including a "lawn dart" injury on the obstacle course that nearly ended his career, and...
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⚓️ Full Send Friday: Navy SEAL Aaron Peña on Real Estate Investing, The VA Loan "System," and Healing Invisible Wounds
The Two-Promises Podcast
Transitioning out of the elite special operations community is like "learning a new language." In this comprehensive Full Send episode, former Navy SEAL Medic Aaron Peña joins the show to share his blueprint for a successful post-service life. Aaron breaks down the exact system he used to turn his Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) into a real estate portfolio using the VA Loan. We dive deep into the technical side of property acquisition—including house hacking multi-family units and VA loan entitlement—before shifting to the raw, personal reality of service. Aaron opens up about his...
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⚓ Aaron Peña (Part 4): Building the FOB—Brotherhood, Invisible Wounds, and the Power of Surrender
The Two-Promises Podcast
What does it mean to be a committed leader when the mission shifts from the battlefield to the home front? In the final chapter of this four-part series, former Navy SEAL Aaron Peña gets vulnerable about the Invisible Wounds of a 20-year career. Aaron discusses the deep sense of loneliness that often follows a military transition and how he took purposeful action to build a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for SEALs in Northeast Florida. From managing the “rabid spider monkey” energy of community service to the harrowing story of a life-threatening spontaneous pneumothorax as a new guy,...
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🏠 Aaron Peña (Part 3): Triage in Real Estate—Translating SEAL Team Discipline to Negotiations and Risk Assessment
The Two-Promises Podcast
How does the intense triage mindset of a combat medic translate directly to managing complex, costly civilian transactions? In Part 3 of this four-part series, former Navy SEAL Corpsman Aaron Peña shares his approach to applying the high-stakes discipline of the SEAL teams to real estate sales and negotiations. Aaron discusses why real estate deals are "not high stakes" compared to the battlefield, detailing his Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for client management that instill Confidence and eliminate chaos. In a moment of levity, Aaron recounts a classic Failure and Resilience story...
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🩺 Aaron Peña (Part 2): Triage Under Fire—How a SEAL Medic's Grit Translates to Complex Real Estate Deals
The Two-Promises Podcast
How does the grit, urgency, and disciplined focus of a combat medic translate into the world of real estate? In Part 2 of this four-part series, former Navy SEAL Corpsman Aaron Peña shares the story of his military identity—how he became a healer in a community of warriors—and how those high-pressure skills now shape the way he navigates complex real estate deals. Aaron talks about the academic firehose of the Joint Special Operations Combat Medic (JSOCM) course, the struggle to prove wrong those who said he couldn’t pass without a college degree, and the kinetic learning style that...
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🏠 Aaron Peña (Part 1): Going from the Trident to Deeds—Leveraging the VA Loan for Financial Reinvention
The Two-Promises Podcast
How do you find your Identity and next purposeful mission after decades of service? In Part 1 of this four-part series, we sit down with former Navy SEAL Corpsman Aaron Peña to discuss his strategic career pivot from elite medic to successful real estate investor and advisor. Aaron reveals why he made the tough decision to pull his Warrant Officer package and Surrender a 30-year career goal to prioritize his family's needs. He shares the foundational secrets to his financial growth, detailing exactly how he used the VA loan early in his career to convert his Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)...
info_outlineThis is the Full Send Friday release — the complete episode with Ty Smith on the journey from military service to entrepreneurship. Every Friday, we publish the full version of episodes we previously released in parts, a segment we call Full Send Friday.
In this conversation, Ty Smith shares personal stories from his military experiences, the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, and the lessons he’s learned in building businesses and serving communities. He talks about grit, leadership, faith, and resilience while exploring the role of mentorship, the dangers of misinformation, and the importance of walking in the image of God. The episode concludes with insights on future plans and his mission of helping others succeed in their personal and professional lives.
Key Takeaways
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Grit is essential for entrepreneurship.
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Transitioning from military to civilian life is challenging but rewarding.
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Business success often comes from learning through mistakes.
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Faith and purpose are critical drivers of resilience.
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Helping others is a key aspect of leadership.
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Life involves unseen spiritual battles that require awareness.
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Serving communities is vital for living with meaning.
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Critical thinking is needed to navigate misinformation.
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Walking in God’s image means serving and loving unconditionally.
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Growth comes from continuous learning and teaching.
Timestamps
⏳ [00:00] Intro Music
⏳ [00:57] Introduction to Ty Smith
⏳ [05:14] Deployment Stories and Challenges
⏳ [14:00] Transitioning from Military to Business
⏳ [18:43] Hero Consulting and Coaching Philosophy
⏳ [28:41] Navigating Modern Challenges and Misinformation
⏳ [38:30] Walking in the Image of God
⏳ [47:57] Future Plans and Closing Thoughts
⏳ [1:02:30] BD&C
⏳ [1:04:03] Outro Music
Thank you for joining us for this Full Send Friday episode with Ty Smith. His story is a reminder that grit, faith, and service can guide us through life’s toughest transitions while empowering others along the way. Stay tuned every Friday for more complete episodes where we go all in on stories of resilience, growth, and purpose. And don’t miss the upcoming exciting episodes from the Two Promises Podcast — you won’t want to miss what’s next.