Built For This Show

What would you do if you landed in a new country at 18 with no English, no family, and just $50 in your pocket? Ewka Kawecki did what few would dare—she got to work. From a bakery job to building a real estate portfolio across Indiana and Illinois, Ewka is the definition of grit and grace in business. In this inspiring episode, Ewka shares her journey of buying her first home after working 7 days...

In this episode, Alissa and Andrea are joined by Noel Christopher, a seasoned real estate expert whose journey spans commercial brokerage, institutional acquisitions, and single-family investments across the country. With decades of experience under his belt, Noel shares how his commercial background shaped a professional and analytical approach to residential investing—and why that’s a serious ad...

What happens when a burned-out software engineer decides he’s done with the corporate grind? In this episode of The Built for This Podcast, David Ounanian shares how he transitioned from a 12-year tech career to becoming a successful real estate investor and agent in St. Louis. Hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane dive into David’s journey, including how he scaled to 20 rental properties, the chall...

In this episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Austin Spitzenberger, founder of a thriving luxury vacation rental management company in Central Texas. Austin shares how saying "no" became the secret weapon to his success—and how focusing on one thing helped him scale intentionally, grow profitably, and still prioritize what matters most: family. Au...

In this inspiring episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with James Hwang, an oncology pharmacist turned real estate entrepreneur. James shares how a personal health scare pushed him to rethink his financial future and dive headfirst into real estate investing. Discover how James balances his full-time career while building a thriving midterm rental por...

When Adam Rojas first dipped his toes into real estate, it wasn't by choice—it was his wife's idea. But what started with hesitation quickly turned into a growing real estate side business that is helping the couple build long-term wealth and diversify their income. In this episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Adam to explore how he went from reluctant landlord to active inve...

What if your real estate investment could be more than a business—what if it could be a lifeline? In this episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Abi Horton, a midterm rental entrepreneur whose passion for people fuels her success. Abi shares how her early days as a real estate agent in the UK, her hospitality background, and her heart for service l...

In this special “hosts-only” episode of Built for This, Andrea and Alissa flip the mic on themselves to unpack a real-life investing experience that every investor can learn from. Alissa shares the story of her first duplex purchase—from the excitement of closing day to the unexpected reality of evictions, renovations, and property management missteps. This episode is a masterclass in how to keep...

From reselling sneakers to building luxury cabins — 22-year-old investor Rajan Chida proves that the hustle mindset can grow into something much bigger. In this episode, hosts Alissa Bickar (@consultress) and Andrea Lane (The Fearless Real Estate Investor) sit down with Rajan to hear how a side hustle flipping shoes turned into a thriving short-term rental business. Rajan shares how he saved his p...

When is enough truly enough in real estate investing? In this episode, Cameron Carrozza joins Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane to share his journey from sales professional to full-time real estate investor with 18 doors across Kentucky. Cameron opens up about how his entrepreneurial upbringing shaped his mindset and why his “unfair advantage” comes from staying nimble, seeing opportunities others mis...

Mark shares how his background in software development gave him an edge in real estate investing. With years of experience building solutions in tech, he learned that success comes from problem-solving—and that skill translates perfectly into real estate. He and his partner Cheryl founded QZen, combining his technical mindset with her customer support expertise to create a business rooted in pract...

In this inspiring episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with global property manager and investor Nathalie Brown. Nathalie shares how growing up in an entrepreneurial family in the Netherlands — surrounded by restaurants and import-export ventures — gave her both a business foundation and the courage to forge her own path. After years in sales and hospitality, Nathalie turned her s...

In this episode of The Built for This Podcast with Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane, meet Kansas City entrepreneur and real estate investor Troy Paul, whose creative approach to property development proves that vision and innovation can turn even the most unconventional ideas into thriving investments. Troy shares how his construction background led him from house flipping in the 1990s to building Ka...

What really happens when you buy your first investment property? Diane Jaques joins Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane to share what she’s learned from stepping into real estate after years of success in marketing and sales. From navigating her first property in Pittsburgh to managing tenants from Massachusetts, Diane’s story is full of valuable lessons for anyone ready to take action on their first de...

In this inspiring episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Ian Grodman, who shares how his 30-year legal career gave him the tools to navigate the complex world of real estate. Ian talks about the moment he decided to invest in property for a better retirement and how his legal background gives him a unique edge — especially when it comes to contracts, negotiations, and avoiding...

In this energizing episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Davis H. Son, a passionate real estate investor and founder of Luminest Homes. Davis shares how a second reading of Rich Dad Poor Dad ignited his obsession with real estate and how he transitioned from brand marketing into full-time investing. Now managing eight furnished rentals and scaling his property management busin...

What if your biggest real estate investing edge had nothing to do with tools, money, or even experience? In this insightful episode of Built For This, we sit down with seasoned investor Aaron Cox, a Jacksonville-based real estate veteran with over 40 rentals and a construction background. You’ll be surprised to learn that his "unfair advantage" has nothing to do with swinging hammers—and everythin...

What happens when a nurse leader leaves healthcare to jump full-time into real estate investing? In this episode of the Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Angie Tonini, a Louisville-based real estate agent and midterm rental investor, to explore her inspiring journey. Angie shares how her background in nursing taught her to serve, listen, and solve problems—s...

In this inspiring episode of the Built For This Podcast, Alissa and Andrea welcome international real estate investor, property manager, and licensed realtor Natalie Spielmann. Natalie shares her global journey from Ukraine to Germany, and now to Florida, where she's built a thriving real estate career wearing every hat imaginable—from Airbnb superhost to investor to landscaper when needed! Listen...

In this inspiring and down-to-earth episode of the Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa and Andrea sit down with Karrin Miller, a Charlotte-based real estate investor with a heart for community. Karrin shares how her background in nonprofit and higher education sales shaped her into a landlord who leads with compassion and practicality. From buying her first duplex with little experience to managi...

What does it take to go from buying empty lots to becoming a trusted relationship lender in real estate? In this episode of Built for This, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Christy Osterkamp to talk about her journey of evolving as an investor and building meaningful connections along the way. Christy shares how she started with raw land in California, grew into owning 14 turnkey...

What does it take to keep moving forward in real estate, even when the path isn’t always clear? In this episode of the Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Biz Wallace, a marketing professional turned investor who has built a portfolio one unique step at a time. Biz shares how she became an “accidental landlord,” how an unusual investment in a parking space tur...

What does it take to build a real estate portfolio while also building a life you love? In this episode of the Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with long-time real estate investor Pegie Brandt, who bought her very first property at just 16 years old. Pegie shares how her early start, time in the savings and loan industry, and years of experience in retail, prope...

Show Notes: In this episode of the Built for This Podcast, Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Patty Aubery, a powerhouse in publishing and real estate investing. Patty shares how her 40 years of professional experience — including building the Chicken Soup for the Soul book brand — shaped her creative approach to real estate. From starting with a single condo to managing multimillion-doll...

In this episode, Rachel Orvis shares how she and her husband ventured into real estate investing as part of their journey toward financial independence. A mother of (soon to be) four and the co-owner of an 8-unit property, Rachel talks about buying a fixer-upper, dealing with unexpected tenant challenges, and the lessons she’s learned from trusting advisors over gut instincts. Rachel also opens up...