From U.S. Army Special Forces to building tactical gear companies and operating international logistics businesses in Panama, Travis Rolph has spent his life adapting to new missions.

In this episode of the Veteran Wellness Podcast, host Erik Lawrence sits down with fellow Green Beret Travis Rolph to discuss his remarkable journey from the 82nd Airborne Division and 5th Special Forces Group to founding Mayflower and becoming a partner in Velocity Systems.

Travis shares firsthand stories from the early days of Special Forces, deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and how his experiences designing equipment for operators helped shape an innovative tactical gear business.

But the transition from military service to entrepreneurship came with challenges he never expected.

“I had more stress in business than I ever had in the military.”

Travis opens up about the pressure of running a company, the mental toll of constant international travel, and why he eventually stepped back from day-to-day operations. He and Erik also discuss traumatic brain injuries, treatment experiences, physical endurance, and the importance of finding what works for your own mental and physical wellness.

From the battlefield to the boardroom, this is a conversation about service, innovation, resilience, and learning when it's time for a new mission.

🎖️ WELCOME & SUPPORT OUR FOUNDING SPONSORS

Velocity Systems | Founding Sponsor

Proudly supporting the Veteran Wellness Podcast and our mission to share the stories and experiences of those who have served.

Velocity Systems is known for developing and manufacturing high-performance tactical gear and protective equipment for military, law enforcement, and other professionals who depend on their equipment when it matters most.

Learn more about Velocity Systems:
https://www.velsyst.com/

Support The Mission:

Green Beret Guide to Baofeng Radio: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1961989255?tag=vssbooks-20

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/eriklawrencevss

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErikLawrenceVSS

Instagram: @realeriklawrencevss | @erikthehiker

🐾 HEALTHYBUD | SUPPORT YOUR DOG'S HEALTH

Our dogs take care of us in more ways than we sometimes realize. Taking care of them matters, too!

We're proud to partner with Healthybud.

Shop: https://healthybud.co/OTAGO

Use code OTAGO for 20% off your first order!

🎖️ SUPPORT THE VETERAN WELLNESS PODCAST

Our mission is to share the stories, experiences, and resources that help veterans and their families navigate life beyond military service.

Subscribe for more conversations with veterans, Special Operations professionals, and people making a difference in the veteran community.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eriklawrenceVSS

Support the mission through Patreon, explore official podcast merchandise, and find our latest resources through the links provided on our channel.

DISCLAIMER: The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own. Discussions of health, wellness, and treatment experiences are informational and are not a substitute for professional medical advice.

#VeteranWellnessPodcast #TravisRolph #SpecialForces #GreenBeret #MilitaryTransition #VeteranWellness #Entrepreneurship #VelocitySystems

Surviving the mission is one thing. Learning how to live afterward is another.

Dave LaMorte joins longtime friend Erik Lawrence for a candid conversation about bomb disposal, Special Forces, intelligence work, and the path that eventually led him toward helping other veterans.

Dave recounts chemical exposures during his years as a bomb technician, the challenges he says followed, and experiences with psychedelics that changed how he viewed his life. He also shares a recent heart-failure diagnosis and the procedure that opened a blocked artery.

But this conversation goes beyond survival stories.

Erik and Dave revisit the ayahuasca retreat they attended together, the difficult emotions Erik confronted, and the changes he describes afterward. They discuss meditation, spiritual beliefs, supporting people through painful experiences, and why the work continues long after a retreat ends.

From serving alongside his brother Scott to finding purpose in supporting fellow veterans, Dave returns to a familiar commitment: taking care of your people.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Dave's path from bomb disposal to Special Forces and intelligence work
• His account of repeated chemical exposures and their aftermath
• Brotherhood, leadership, and serving alongside Scott LaMorte
• Erik's personal experience with ayahuasca
• Meditation, spirituality, and changing old patterns
• The role of support, integration, and aftercare
• Finding a new way to serve after the uniform comes off

For veterans, first responders, and anyone carrying difficult experiences, this is an honest conversation about seeking support, making sense of the past, and finding purpose in what comes next.

Subscribe to Veteran Wellness Podcast for real conversations about service, health, resilience, and life beyond the mission.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Michael Newton Institute: https://www.newtoninstitute.org/

Connect with Erik:
VSSBooks: https://www.vssbooks.com/
Fire Support: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1961989204
Email / guest inquiries: support@vig-sec.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErikLawrenceVSS
Instagram: @realeriklawrencevss | @erikthehiker

Erik's Spooky2 link:
https://www.spooky2-mall.com/product/spooky2-central-generatorx-kit/ref/533

DISCLAIMER
This episode shares personal recollections, opinions, and spiritual beliefs. Historical and medical claims reflect the speakers' accounts and have not been independently verified. This is not medical or mental health advice. Psychedelics can carry serious risks and interact with medications; personal experiences do not establish safety or effectiveness. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions or changing medication.

Some links may be affiliate links and may support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

#VeteranWellness #DaveLaMorte #SpecialForces #VeteranStories

The mission ends. The brain doesn't always get the message.

Brain fog. Memory problems. Irritability. Feeling more comfortable in chaos than in the quiet of home. For veterans who recognize those experiences, this conversation is about seeking answers and understanding what an assessment can reveal.

Erik Lawrence sits down with Dr. Sergio Azzolino, a doctor of chiropractic and family nurse practitioner whose practice focuses on functional neurology and integrative care. Erik shares his own experience at the Azzolino Clinic and why seeing his assessment results gave him hope.

Dr. Azzolino explains his approach to evaluating balance, eye movements, coordination, reaction time, and cognition. They discuss repeated blast exposure, concussion history, sleep, and the importance of establishing a baseline so changes can be tracked over time.

They also explore the clinic's rehabilitation tools and treatment approaches, including GyroStim, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), hyperbaric oxygen, and laboratory testing. Dr. Azzolino shares his perspectives on Lyme disease, environmental exposures, and brain health.

At the heart of the conversation is a message veterans hear too rarely: asking for help is a strength.

IN THIS EPISODE

• The invisible toll of repeated concussive exposure
• Brain health, PTSD, and life after service
• What eye movements, balance, and reaction time can reveal
• Dr. Azzolino's BRAIN360 approach to assessment and rehabilitation
• Why a baseline matters when tracking changes
• Erik's personal experience seeking care
• Getting help before your world falls apart

Subscribe to Veteran Wellness Podcast for honest conversations about service, health, resilience, and life beyond the mission. Share this episode with someone who has been putting off asking for help.

CONNECT WITH DR. SERGIO AZZOLINO
Azzolino Clinic: https://azzolino.com/
Dr. Azzolino's background: https://azzolino.com/doctors/sergio-azzolino/
BRAIN360: https://azzolino.com/brain360/
Clinic: San Francisco, California
Phone: 415-563-3800

CONNECT WITH ERIK LAWRENCE
VSSBooks: https://www.vssbooks.com/
Fire Support: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1961989204
Email / guest inquiries: support@vig-sec.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErikLawrenceVSS
Instagram: @realeriklawrencevss | @erikthehiker

DISCLAIMER
This episode presents the host's personal experiences and the guest's clinical perspectives for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Treatment approaches discussed have varying levels of evidence and may not be appropriate for everyone. Personal results do not establish safety or effectiveness. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment or medication.

Some links may be affiliate links and may support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

#VeteranWellness #BrainHealth #TBI #PTSD #SergioAzzolino