The Mortgage Rainmaker Podcast

How does a 94% conversion rate sound? 250% growth in one year? Hey there, rainmakers! In this episode, I’m talking with someone I’ve nicknamed The Gangster — Alex Dykes. And trust me, it fits. Alex has gone from a loan officer assistant to a branch leader running multi-state teams, growing his business 250% in just one year , from 19 to 67 agent relationships — all in one of the toughest mortgage...

How does a dad of five, in a new market, outgrow an entire industry that's shrinking? Hey there, rainmakers! This episode hit me in the feels. I sat down with Ed Stratton, the guy closing $66 million in loans while raising five kids and rebuilding his business from scratch in a brand-new state. We talked about what it really takes to grow when most people are pulling back, and how being genuine (n...

What if the struggle is actually the shortcut? Hey there, rainmakers! This one’s close to my heart. I sat down with my sister and sales manager, Katie Besso, for one of the most raw, real, and revealing conversations I've had on the mic. Katie didn’t just fall into this industry — she fought her way to the top. From dialing 200+ leads a month in a cubicle to running a $60M+ team by 30, her rise is...

What if the key to leveling up wasn’t being louder — but being braver? Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode of The Mortgage Rainmaker podcast, I met with my longtime friend and Guild Mortgage veteran Brandy Marshall — and we went deep on what it means to shift from being the one in the background to being the one who makes it rain. Brandy built her business in a tight-knit Nevada market, working...

Is your sales strategy aligned with your personality? If not, you could be missing out... Hey there, Rainmakers! In this game-changing April Sales Mastery community call, I reveal how knowing your Rainmaker Archetype is the secret to building a scalable, sustainable mortgage business — without burnout or cold calls. Are you a Trust Builder? Technician? Marketer? Or Networker? You’ll discover how t...

What happens when a Division 1 basketball coach pivots into mortgage, moves to a new city, and decides to build a mortgage career from scratch, with ZERO connections? Paula Nirschl is what happens! Hey there, rainmakers! With over 18 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Paula is a passionate and dedicated leader who coaches and empowers loan officers to achieve their professional goals. A...

What if you could meet with fewer buyers, close more deals, and get realtors to send you leads because of your process — not despite it? Jason Jacobs isn't playing the volume game the same way everyone else is. He’s doing 261 units a year in St. Louis. In this episode, he shares exactly how he does it — step by step. In this episode of The Mortgage Rainmaker Podcast, Shayla sits down with Guild Mo...

What if the worst chapter of your life could unlock your greatest mission? Hey there, rainmakers! Amber Coleman has been a powerhouse at Guild Mortgage for years — but what you don’t see on the leaderboard is the hell she walked through to get here. I’ve watched her grow from 231 units to 435 in a single year — that’s an 89% increase, totaling $155M in volume. But her results are rooted in somethi...

What if by holding on too tight...you’re holding yourself back? Hey there, rainmakers! This week I sat down with mortgage coach and powerhouse mortgage banker Denise Donoghue, aka The Mortgage Nerd, for a raw and inspiring conversation about growth, leadership, and the sometimes brutal journey of building a sustainable business. Denise Donoghue, known as "The Mortgage Nerd," is one of Dallas’ top...

What does it take to grow a $150 million mortgage branch and still show up with joy every day? In this high-energy episode, I sit down with Jimmy Parsons — a producing branch manager, Elevate coach, and the guy behind the legendary Jimmy Text and Hammer 100 endurance challenge. Jimmy breaks down how he built trust-based partnerships with 73+ realtors, scaled through coaching, and uses creativity (...

From tuna and mustard to 240 loans a year — Josh Sigman’s story is wild. But what’s even wilder? How he helped me 3X my income, coached me through nursing a newborn, and changed the entire trajectory of my career. I was six years into the mortgage business when I met Josh Sigman — exhausted, on the loan rollercoaster, and clinging to hustle as my only strategy. What I didn’t know then is that Josh...

What if your pain wasn’t holding you back—but was actually the fuel to everything you’re meant to become? Hey there, Rainmakers! This episode is straight-up fire. I sat down with powerhouse speaker and peak performance coach Ben Newman, right after he lit up the stage at our Guild Leadership Summit. And instead of keeping it surface-level, we dove deep—into pain, drive, legacy, and the kind of dis...

What if going broke was the best thing that ever happened to you..? Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode, I sat down with the one and only Sean Herrero — a total technician turned $100M+ loan officer who’s done it his own damn way. Sean gets real about going broke in 2016, walking away from a cushy wholesale job, and rebuilding from the ground up as a solo LO with a serious mission: to do right...

Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode I sat down with my former LOA turned powerhouse loan officer Amanda Rea, and together we unpacked a decade of grit, growth, and radical consistency. Amanda started working for me at $15/hour back in 2012 — and now she’s crossed $4 million in personal net worth, over $679 million in closed volume, and built a retention machine most Loan Officer’s only dream ab...

Hey there! I’m Shayla Gifford, and I’m so stoked you’re here! What if business could be simpler, more fun, and wildly more successful—without the stress and chaos? That’s exactly what I’ve spent my career figuring out, and now I’m here to share it with you. I started in this industry at 23, broke and terrified, hustling non-stop just to survive. As a Loan Officer I rode the rollercoaster of succes...