Noah Oliver | How “Flow State” Became a Business: From Combat Mindset to Creative Freedom Artwork

Built For Legacy

Built For Legacy (previously The Nichols and Dimez Show) is the podcast for high performers navigating major transitions and building work that lasts. Hosted by Chris Nichols, this show features candid conversations with athletes, veterans, and entrepreneurs who have boldly shifted from peak careers into purpose-driven ventures built to leave lasting impact. Whether stepping off the field, leaving the military, or walking away from a corporate ladder, our guests share how they embraced their next chapter to grow, lead, and build with intention. Each episode dives into the mindset shifts, strategies, and lessons they used to move beyond their first chapter — from launching a business to scaling a personal brand. Built For Legacy offers actionable insights, inspiring stories of reinvention, and a playbook for those determined to make their next move the most meaningful yet.

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Built For Legacy

Noah Oliver | How “Flow State” Became a Business: From Combat Mindset to Creative Freedom

November 13, 2025 • Chris Nichols • Episode 94

Noah Oliver is a former Navy EOD specialist turned entrepreneur and founder of Flowhold, a San Diego–based MMA and BJJ training apparel brand built around the idea of “flow state.” After six years in the military and earning his MBA, Noah explored multiple ventures—from Amazon FBA to surf ponchos—before launching Flowhold in 2018 while still in business school. What began as a socks company evolved into a full-time mission-driven brand focused on mindset, performance, and purpose. In this conversation, we discuss Noah’s transition out of the military, his early lessons in entrepreneurship, and the mindset shift that helped him build Flowhold into what it is today. We also talk about finding gratitude before success, the balance between discipline and creativity, and how to create products—and a life—that embody flow.

Partners:

HOSTAGE TAPE: https://www.hostagetape.com/CHRIS28059

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

06:15 – The Birth of Flowhold: How Flow State, Jiu-Jitsu, & MMA Inspired a Brand

10:10 – Starting Small: From Socks to a Standout Training Brand

13:40 – Life After Service: Transitioning Out of the Navy & Into Entrepreneurship

21:25 – Early Ventures: Surf Ponchos, Amazon FBA, and the First Lessons in Business

26:15 – What Every Entrepreneur Learns Too Late: From Product Development to Purpose

31:00 – Building Flowhold: Turning a Passion Project Into a Movement

38:55 – Gratitude Over Grind: Finding Happiness Before Success

42:00 – Mindset Tactics for Internal Peace and Long-Term Fulfillment