Episode Details

In this episode of The Wealthyist, Kent Halleen sits down with John Choate — former Navy SEAL officer, successful entrepreneur, and founder of Apogee Travel, a transparent hotel booking platform that supports veteran causes and charities like St. Jude.

John shares hard-earned leadership lessons from the SEAL teams that translate directly to building high-performing businesses and living a wealthy, purposeful life. Key topics include:

• Anticipating the “adversary’s vote” and stress-testing plans (the military “murder board” approach)
• The power of decentralized command and building a culture that allows smart failure
• Why the right people always matter more than perfect processes
• The challenge high-achievers face when transitioning out of high-intensity careers — and how the drive never really turns off
• Current trends in physical security for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (the shift to low-visibility, concierge-style protection)

Blending battlefield discipline with entrepreneurial wisdom, John delivers practical, no-nonsense insights on leadership, legacy, risk, and staying grounded while chasing meaningful success.

A must-listen for executives, founders, and anyone building wealth with impact.