Built For This Show

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...

This week on the Built For This Podcast, Alissa and Andrea sit down with real estate investor Joyce Kraley, who jumped head-first into property ownership by purchasing five units right out of the gate. Joyce shares her journey from considering fix-and-flips to building a steady stream of income through buy-and-hold properties, all while navigating property managers, turnover, and unexpected curveb...

What happens when you combine creativity, people skills, and a love for community? You get Molly Welpott’s real estate journey. In this episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Molly, a Pennsylvania-based realtor and investor who’s been in the game for more than a decade. Molly shares how a late-night infomercial first sparked her interest in real es...

What does it really take to build a successful real estate business? In this episode of The Built for This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Jeff Gill, a buy-and-hold investor with over 20 years of experience, who currently manages 20 units in Corpus Christi, Texas. Jeff shares his unfiltered perspective on the realities of real estate investing—the good, the bad, and the...

What if the best real estate deal you’ll ever find is closer than you think? In this episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Columbus-based investor Jennifer Marlatt to hear how her journey started with a neglected duplex right next door—and grew into a thriving rental portfolio. Jennifer shares how her upbringing, industrial design background, and...

In this episode of the Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Ricardo Sheard, a real estate investor turned mortgage lender, who shares how his love for numbers and his “why” — his family — fuel his journey. Ricardo opens up about how he and his wife started in real estate investing, the lessons they learned through Fortune Builders, and how he transitioned into...

Real estate investing can look exciting from the outside, but the real lessons often come from the struggles. In this episode of Built For This, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with investor and commercial real estate agent Dayna Klein to talk about the real-life challenges behind building a portfolio. Dayna shares her family’s generational story of investing — from her great-grandmot...

What do you do when your biggest investment turns out to be a mistake? For Laura Hollis, the answer was simple: keep going. Laura opens up about her journey from healthcare into real estate, where her background in management and patient care taught her how to build strong teams and stay resilient under pressure. She shares stories about transforming neighborhood eyesores into beautiful rentals, c...

In this episode, Anita Onesti joins Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane to share her powerful transformation from flipping homes to building a sustainable, long-term rental portfolio. With over 30 years in corporate finance, Anita brings a unique lens to real estate—blending professionalism with passion. Learn how her over-renovation strategy helps her attract long-term tenants and why building relation...

In this episode, Jill Camardese joins Alissa and Andrea to share her transition from CFO-level roles to owning and managing short-term rentals with her husband. Jill opens up about the reality of closing her first major investment property, the lessons she's learning, and the importance of balancing data-driven decisions with gut instinct. You'll hear Jill’s honest take on: Why she left her corpor...

Built For This is the show where real-life skills meet real estate success. Hosted by Andrea Lane and Alissa Bickar, we spotlight everyday investors who bring the best of who they are into their rental strategies. Whether you’re managing a few doors or just getting started, you’ll hear real stories, honest struggles, and unique insights from people who are building wealth their way. If you’re a hi...