423 Military Creator Con: Celebrating Military Creators & Entrepreneurs with James Van Prooyen and Marah Lago
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In a business world awash with endless content, few voices cut through the noise like Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. In this episode, we sit down with the co-founders of Military Creator Con, James Van Prooyen and Marah Lago, for a candid conversation about the untapped entrepreneurial potential of America’s military veterans and their families.
The three dive into the values, mindset, and experiences that position veterans as pioneering creator capitalists, explore the origin and purpose of Military Creator Con, and unpack the unique blend of community, grit, and creativity shaping this movement.
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Veterans as America’s Untapped Entrepreneurial Force
One of the central themes in this conversation is the notion that military veterans embody many of the qualities that make great entrepreneurs. All three agree that the ability to problem-solve under pressure, think outside the box, and adopt a daring, “pirate mentality” are forged through military service as much as through business challenges. James shares firsthand how being tasked with mission-critical communication and IT projects in remote environments taught him to adapt quickly, improvise, and persist; skills invaluable to starting and growing any venture.
Marah, coming from a creative civilian background, adds that seeing military spouses and families approach challenges with ingenuity and resilience gave her new appreciation for the community-oriented nature of military life. Both agree that, contrary to common stereotypes, the military is not merely an environment of rigid order-following. Instead, it is a crucible for innovation and resourcefulness, making veterans natural candidates for building businesses or leading creative projects.
Building a Community of Military Creators
Military Creator Con was born out of a desire to unite veterans, active duty, and military-connected families who were blazing trails in art, digital media, entrepreneurship, and beyond. James and Marah recognized a gap for military creators and entrepreneurs: while the discipline and camaraderie of military service fostered community, transitioning out of uniform often led to a sense of isolation in the civilian creative or business worlds. They envisioned MCC as a gathering to break down those silos, offering a space to learn, share ideas, and collaborate freely.
The event’s spirit is deliberately inclusive, welcoming not only veterans but also their spouses, families, and anyone connected to military life. Attendees range from podcasters and artists to business founders and technologists. Workshops and keynote talks are designed to equip participants with practical skills in storytelling, marketing, AI, and social impact — delivering on the promise to empower military-connected visionaries to realize their entrepreneurial dreams while staying true to their roots.
Lessons in Grit, Creativity, and Community
Throughout the episode, the trio reflects on what sets this community apart. There is an acknowledgment that veterans, and the military world in general, are often filled with what Lochhead calls “misfits”: people who don’t always fit into conventional molds and are thus drawn to forging new paths. This trait, they argue, is the beating heart of entrepreneurship and creator culture. MCC aims to harness this shared sense of adventure, service, and innovation, nurturing it through mentorship, new technology, and peer support.
Stories about overcoming challenges, learning on the fly, and even embracing some chaos, like a good laugh about rationed whiskey or unscheduled road trips, underscore the theme that creativity thrives on adaptability and boldness. By tapping into these lived experiences, Military Creator Con is more than just an event; it’s a movement rallying a diverse community to shape the narrative of what it means to create, lead, and make an impact after service.
To hear more from James and Marah about the MCC, download and listen to this episode.
Bio
James Van Prooyen and Marah Lago are the founders of Military Creator Con (MCC).
James Van Prooyen, a U.S. Air Force veteran, launched MCC in 2020 as a way to bring military-connected creators, such as podcasters, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs, together to share their experiences and grow their impact.
Marah Lago, his wife and co-founder, serves as the CEO of MCC and has been instrumental in expanding the event into a national gathering focused on community, mentorship, and creative empowerment.
The conference has grown significantly since its inception, with the 2026 edition scheduled for April 16–18, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
Links
Connect with James Van Prooyen and Marah Lago
James Van Prooyen: Veterans is Business Show | The Ragnar Life Podcast | LinkedIn
Marah Lago: LinkedIn
Want to get tickets for Christopher Lochhead’s panel for Military Creator Con? Grab your tickets for the Category Design Intensive!
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