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The Two-Promises Podcast

The Two-Promises Podcast

Written by: BD
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 When you're out for a night with the BD, it's bound to be an adventure. Along the way you'll likely encounter myths, moonshiners, and mad mojo. With experiences like these, where deep roots are formed and you never know where the adventure may lead next, it's bound to lead to deep connections and lots of laughter. Having been overseas and out of touch with the USA for the last 14 years, a lot has changed. With your help, BD can better understand a world that was once familiar but is now somewhat foreign, his home… America. So what do you have to lose? Join us on the journey by simply entering your email below for access to the weirdness, wild times, bourbon and all sorts of other curious shenanigans. This is our story. If you want to know more about what it is going to be like, well we can only make you Two Promises.Copyright Two-Promises 2020 Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 🛡️ Anthony Rivera (Part 3): The Identity Bridge—Health Vaults, Financial Gains, and Serving Others

    🛡️ Anthony Rivera (Part 3): The Identity Bridge—Health Vaults, Financial Gains, and Serving Others
    Jan 12 2026
    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 using this platform to save thousands in corporate healthcare premiums. Beyond the numbers, Anthony shares a powerful philosophy on mental health: the antidote to self-loathing is Service. From belly button gazing to burning the boats on your old identity, this episode is a blueprint for anyone who feels their best days are in the rearview mirror. Key Topics & Search Insights The $14,400 Pay Raise The concrete statistics behind veteran benefit increases and how it changes a family's financial trajectory Corporate ROI on Veterans Why businesses pay for veteran benefits programs to reduce their own insurance matching costs and HR turnover The HIPAA-Compliant Vault The importance of data security and why no one, not even the CEO, has a backdoor into your medical records The Service Antidote Why focusing on others is the fastest way to climb out of the poo-poo place of depression Identity vs. Job Moving past the I am a SEAL or Green Beret mindset to embrace deeper roles as a father, husband, and servant ⏱️ Timestamps 01:11 The Vetivize Vault Security, encryption, and why your data is for your eyes only 03:14 The $14,400 Bump How engaging the system increases annual tax-free income 04:20 Employer Upside How veteran benefits save businesses $13k to $15k per employee 05:38 Private Insurance vs. VA Choosing the right healthcare path to save on monthly premiums 07:50 The Startup Hell Week The daily grind of entrepreneurship and solving fires with action 11:51 The Mental Health Spillover How veteran lessons in resilience will eventually heal civilian communities 13:34 The Antidote to Self-Loathing Why serving others is the root source of healing 15:15 Incremental Steps How better food and exercise follow the decision to serve others 17:30 The Rumination Lie Identifying the ego voice that wants to keep you isolated 19:00 The Immediate Action Drill Replacing a lie with a truth in your mental rehearsals 20:41 The Identity Crisis Why the military indoctrinates us to believe we are our jobs 21:50 Belly Button Gazing Analyzing the decisions that got you here and where you want to go next 23:08 I used to suck on my mommy's titty A humorous reality check on leaving the past behind 24:30 Infinite Time Span Realizing we are dead soon and why there's no time to waste on a victim mindset About the Guest Anthony Rivera is a retired Navy SEAL, CEO, and founder of Vetivize. He is a recovering team guy who has transitioned into a servant-leader in the tech space. His mission is to ensure that the 19 million veterans in the U.S. are treated with honor, security, and the financial integrity they earned through their service. Connect with Anthony Rivera: Website: https://vetavize.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyriveraexecutiveleader Don't wait until your ticket gets punched to plan your exit. Anthony Rivera's experience proves that knowledge is only potential power—it becomes real power through implementation. Whether you're dealing with service-connected injuries or navigating the VA system, you don't have to hike Mount Everest in the wrong shoes. You are not your job. You never were. Anthony Rivera reminds us that while the military is an incredible chapter, it isn't the whole book. Whether you're a husband, a father, or a friend, your next mission is waiting and it requires you to be all in. Ready to engage? Check Your Vault Start documenting your health wins and losses this week. Don't rely on a foggy memory. Serve Someone Else If you're in a dark place, find one person to help. Watch how the lights turn back on. Spread the Word Send this episode to a veteran who is struggling to find their identity outside the uniform. ▶️ What's Next? This is only Part 3. Stay tuned for Part 4 of 4 with Anthony Rivera, where the focus shifts to legacy, long-term impact, and how veterans move beyond personal recovery to become force multipliers for their families, communities, and future generations of service members. 🌎 Connect with the Two Promises Podcast 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify 📲 Follow Us: Youtube Tiktok Facebook Instagram #VeteranIdentity #VABenefits #FinancialAutonomy #NavySEAL #Vetivize #ServiceAboveSelf #MilitaryTransition #MentalHealth #VeteranOwnedBusiness #FunctionalMedicine #SelfAccountability #Entrepreneurship #TwoPromisesPodcast #VeteranWealth #GrowthMindset
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    27 mins
  • ⚓ Anthony Rivera (Part 2): Cracking the VA Code—AI, Automation, and the 11-Day Disability Turnaround

    ⚓ Anthony Rivera (Part 2): Cracking the VA Code—AI, Automation, and the 11-Day Disability Turnaround
    Jan 5 2026

    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 40,000+ disorganized veteran nonprofits into one seamless interface.

    Whether you are active duty planning an exit via the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program or a veteran who has been out for 40 years, this episode is a tactical guide to documenting your health (from migraines to IBS) and reclaiming the benefits you've earned.

    Key Topics

    The CFR 38 blueprint and VA rating language

    The BDD program advantage for active duty members

    AI-generated documentation and quarterly health reports

    The frog in the pot syndrome with chronic symptoms

    Fixing the veteran nonprofit efficiency gap

    ⏳ Timestamps

    01:00 Facing the identity crisis of leaving the SEAL Teams

    02:00 The 11-day VA claim turnaround versus the 181-day average

    02:31 Why Anthony ignored peer advice and read CFR 38

    04:00 The creation of Vetivize using AI and automation

    04:53 Centralizing 40,000 veteran nonprofits into one system

    06:30 The donor paradox in veteran nonprofit culture

    09:06 Failing through the cracks during COVID-era transition

    12:15 The BDD program and the six-month submission window

    15:10 Mapping the veteran journey and VA customer experience

    17:39 Documentation over memory for TBI and head injuries

    18:37 Migraine and IBS language the VA needs to hear

    20:42 The NSAID trap and long-term stomach damage

    22:00 AI avatars helping veterans with reading retention

    24:00 Matchmaking veterans to services through Vetivize

    About the Guest

    Anthony Rivera is a retired Navy SEAL and the founder of Vetivize. After a decade of elite service and a high-speed transition into the civilian sector, Anthony dedicated himself to helping 7,000+ veterans navigate the VA. Today, his company uses AI to automate the benefits process, ensuring veterans are connected to the federal, state, and nonprofit resources they deserve.

    Connect with Anthony Rivera:

    Website: https://vetavize.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyriveraexecutiveleader

    Don't wait until your ticket gets punched to plan your exit. Anthony Rivera's experience proves that knowledge is only potential power—it becomes real power through implementation. Whether you're dealing with service-connected injuries or navigating the VA system, you don't have to hike Mount Everest in the wrong shoes.

    ▶️ What's Next?
    This is only Part 2! Stay tuned for Part 3 of 4 with Anthony Rivera, where we break down real-world execution—how veterans apply AI, automation, and documentation systems to avoid delays, reduce friction, and take control of their VA and transition outcomes.

    🌎 Connect with the Two Promises Podcast
    🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

    • Apple Podcasts

    • Spotify

    📲 Follow Us:

    • Youtube

    • Tiktok

    • Facebook

    • Instagram

    #AnthonyRivera #NavySEAL #VADisabilityClaimProcess #CFR38 #BDDProgram #BenefitsDeliveryAtDischarge #VADisabilityCode #VeteranTransition #Vetivize #VeteranAITechnology #AutomatedVAClaims #CombatTrauma #TBIDocumentation #IBSVARating #MigraineVARating #VeteranBenefits #TwoPromisesPodcast
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    28 mins
  • Anthony Rivera (Part 1): Mastery of Chaos—From BUD/S Pool Comp Failures to the "Wild West" of Iraq

    Anthony Rivera (Part 1): Mastery of Chaos—From BUD/S Pool Comp Failures to the "Wild West" of Iraq
    Dec 29 2025

    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 the grueling reality of frogman Friday evolutions.

    The conversation shifts downrange to Anthony's first deployment in Iraq's Al Anbar province. From hallucinations of dancing dragons caused by extreme sleep deprivation to burning a "Lord of the Flies" style bonfire as they shuttered a base on the Syrian border, Anthony provides an unfiltered look at the Special Operations lifestyle. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, process-driven culture, and navigating the mental revving that occurs when the engine of the mind won't shut down.

    Key Topics

    The BUD/S selection process and Pool Competency
    Managing chaos through SOPs and process-driven culture
    Extreme sleep deprivation and the revving mind
    Combat operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province
    Transitioning into the Fog of Peace through Vetivize

    ⏳ Timestamps

    01:10 Class 267 reunion and reconnecting after full Navy careers
    02:45 Pool Comp secrets and the "chill" instructor
    05:28 Surf hits and underwater de-rigging chaos
    07:52 The Pool Comp failure caused by overconfidence
    10:10 Obstacle course lawn dart injury before graduation
    12:14 FTX realities and operating injured
    14:31 The Wild West of Iraq in Ubaidi, Al Anbar
    15:50 Dancing dragons and hallucinations from sleep deprivation
    19:05 The engine in the mind and mental overdrive
    21:06 Involuntary combat stress inside CHUs
    24:22 Lord of the Flies moment during base shutdown
    27:49 Enlisted-heavy leadership dynamics in SQT
    32:28 Hypoxia and blackout during the BUD/S tread
    36:14 Entering the Fog of Peace and founding Vetivize

    About the Guest

    Anthony Rivera is a retired Navy SEAL and a graduate of BUD/S Class 267. After multiple deployments to Iraq and serving as a BUD/S First Phase Instructor, Anthony transitioned to the civilian sector with a mission to help veterans navigate the Fog of Peace. He is the founder of Vetivize, a platform dedicated to providing resources and clarity for military members entering the civilian world.

    Connect with Anthony Rivera:

    Website: https://vetavize.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyriveraexecutiveleader

    Whether you're battling dancing dragons in a combat zone or navigating the uncertainty of a career change, the lesson is the same: lean into the process. Anthony Rivera's journey reminds us that even when you lawn dart into failure, the community and the SOPs you build will carry you to the next ridgeline.

    ▶️ What's Next?

    This is only Part 1! Stay tuned for Part 2 of 4 with Anthony Rivera, where we dive deeper into the specific mission of Vetivize and the tactical steps for a successful career transition.

    🌎 Connect with the Two Promises Podcast
    🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

    • Apple Podcasts

    • Spotify

    📲 Follow Us:

    • Youtube

    • Tiktok

    • Facebook

    • Instagram

    #NavySEAL #BUDS #IraqWarStories #VeteranTransition #CombatStress #SleepDeprivation #MasteringChaos #SpecialOperations #Vetivize #SEALTeam #MilitaryMindset #PoolComp #Frogman #FogOfWar #TwoPromisesPodcast
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    38 mins
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