00:14 — Ken Huey: Today’s guest is James Garofalo, a veteran entrepreneur and co-founder of Lokiten Behavioral Health, a Colorado-based mental health startup redefining how care is delivered… From combat zones to startup stages, James’s journey is about resilience, reinvention, and the power of purpose. Thanks for being with us, James.
00:57 — James Garofalo: Of course—thanks for having me on, Ken. It’s a pleasure to be here.
01:00 — Ken: What’s your “why”? With a background through the military and now mental health care—why this work?
01:11 — James: My “why” started during that transition out of the military… I served four years active-duty Army, spent about 12 months deployed and another six months as a contractor in Iraq. In 2009, getting out, I began losing buddies to suicide, substance use, and the justice system. That pulled me into this space—and I’ve kept coming back for 15–17 years.
02:16 — Ken: You’ve been in the field 15–17 years—so why start Lokiten?
02:24 — James: First, it’s Lokiten (people often mispronounce it). This is my second project. I founded a company in 2017/2018 that was later acquired. After a couple years, I had that entrepreneurial itch—problem-solving, leading, and addressing the persistent flaws and stigma in mental health. We’ve got a great founding team and wanted to do it differently this time.
03:27 — Ken: “Trauma” gets used a lot. From your military experience, what do people often miss about trauma?
03:47 — James: Trauma is different for everyone. Two people can experience the same event—one is traumatized, the other isn’t. It can be more insidious than pop culture suggests. It shows up differently and often subtly.
05:04 — Ken: How did it affect you? Did it roll off or did you have to work through it?
05:21 — James: I do carry residuals from service as an infantryman. Some things stay with you. Over time I recognized panic and anxiety showing up. But I also feel pride and gratitude for my service—and that perspective has helped me process it.
07:09 — Ken: Tell us about the name—how do you say “Lokiten” and what’s the story?
07:13 — James: “Lock it in.” We actually opened as Collective Health Partners in fall 2023 and got a cease and desist weeks before launch. We kept saying, “we’ve got to lock in a new name.” My partner finally said, “Let’s just go with Lokiten.” It stuck.
07:59 — Ken: You’re getting attention—what’s creating the buzz? What are you doing differently?
08:02 — James: We’re laser-focused on the problem: a big gap between people who need care and those who get it. Cost, access, and stigma matter—but traditional treatment models also have flaws. We’re building an accelerated treatment platform with a fuller continuum of care and integrated AI to keep patients engaged. Early signs are good; there’s still a lot to do.
09:48 — Ken: Your background is varied—entrepreneur, military, clinician, and artist. What’s your art, and how does it fit?
10:00 — James: I’m an avid painter and longtime musician (guitar). Creativity has always been part of my life. These days the art shows up in how I solve problems at work—bringing creativity into operations and care. I still paint and write; sometimes the guitar comes out late at night.
11:21 — Ken: You present as confident, not arrogant—comfortable in your own skin. What brought you there?
11:40 — James: Thank you. Time and authenticity. If we’d done this seven years ago, I was a different leader. As I’ve moved through my 30s, I’ve seen how being true to myself improves relationships and outcomes. The more authentic I am, the better things go.
12:51 — Ken: You did field research with former child soldiers in Uganda. What did you learn?
12:57 — James: It was a humbling experience—interviewing former child soldiers from Joseph Kony’s LRA. Personally and professionally transformative. Biggest takeaway: a deeper understanding of privilege in the broadest sense—and gratitude for the life I have.
14:08 — Ken: If you could change one thing in mental healthcare delivery right now, what would it be?
14:19 — James: Two things:
- Stigma—we’ve made real progress, but it still keeps people quiet and out of care.
- Silos—patients bounce between providers and levels of care. It’s disorienting when they’re already struggling. Technology isn’t everything, but smart integration can make the journey easier and more humane. That’s what we’re building at Lokiten.
16:28 — Ken: People call you “driven.” What fuels that as a founder and clinician?
16:33 — James: Honestly, I love the work. When I’m in the right environment, the energy is natural. I’ve felt the weight of an eight-hour day in the wrong role. Finding alignment with what I’m passionate about makes the long days easy.
18:03 — Ken: You’ve called yourself a dreamer and a rebel—say more.
18:07 — James: I’ve often been an outsider. In environments I’m not passionate about, there’s pushback—I’d be a tough employee. I’ve learned to channel that rebel energy constructively. As for dreaming: our team has big aspirations. People have taken a chance on me; I feel responsible to build something worthy for them.
19:37 — Ken: Last one: this show is The Voice of Hope. In a pessimistic world, what gives you hope—for your business and for people healing?
20:00 — James: Intentionality. Hope doesn’t happen by accident. The world can kick your butt. You have to intentionally seek hope—people, environments, habits that keep it present in your life.
21:32 — Ken: I love that. Thanks for being here, James.
21:57 — James: Thank you, Ken—and thanks for the work you’re doing.
22:06 — Ken: Thanks, Jake. (laughs)
