Dream Start Own Podcast - The Path to Own Your Time

What happens when your kid says, “I miss you,” and you decide you’re done with life on the road? Eric Richards shares how he left a high-paying union job to build a real estate business rooted in ethics, reputation, and real solutions for buyers who need a path to ownership. What we cover: The moment that triggered Eric’s “all gas, no brakes” shift Why rent-to-own gets a bad name—and how to struct...

If you’ve ever wondered how investors buy distressed houses ethically and turn rough properties into safe homes and thriving neighborhoods, this episode is for you. Kevin Dairaghi breaks down the systems, mindset, and team-building behind RestoreSTL. What we cover: The “dream, forge, finish” framework (and why half-finished bridges fail) Doing 8 acquisitions/month with a team—and avoiding burnout...

What does it actually take to build (and turn around) RV parks—while keeping the “people” side of the business front and center? In this episode, Mychele Bisson shares the real mechanics behind outdoor hospitality and how she’s turning personal loss into a mission-driven portfolio. What we cover: Mychele’s “Turning Loss Into Purpose” mission for families facing heart transplants How she negotiated...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with Benjamin Huang—a former biomedical engineer/scientist who went from W2 life (Harvard Medical School + reporting to the White House) to buying cash-flowing businesses using creative structures, partnerships, and relationship-first dealmaking. Benjamin breaks down how he underwrote 162 businesses before buyi...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with Hung Mai from VIP Casa Rentals to break down why Airbnb/STR success isn’t luck—it’s systems, SOPs, and revenue management. Hung shares how he got proof-of-concept starting with arbitrage, scaled to 17–18 properties under management across multiple states, and why most hosts leave thousands on the table by...

Buy a Home Without a Bank | Iva Norris on WeHome500, Wraps (Subject-To) & Creative Finance Description In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with Iva Norris, creator of WeHome500, a mission to help 500 families buy a home by “being the bank”—especially buyers who don’t qualify for traditional loans. Iva breaks down how her team finds homes (mos...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with Army veteran and investor Rachel Davis to unpack why so many service members struggle after they separate—and how housing, community, and the right “entitlements” can change everything. Rachel breaks down the VA disability conversation most vets avoid, why VA benefits aren’t “handouts,” and how to use your...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with founder, investor, and Thrive Banking strategist Teresa Villaruz to break down how to “earn like a bank” using infinite banking, cash value life insurance, and private lending—without risking your own money. Teresa shares how a stage of invasive breast cancer and $275,000+ in medical bills almost forced he...

In this special episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado answers the big question: “Is Subto worth it?” by letting actual Subto, Gator, and Owners Club members share their own stories—how the community helped them close their first creative deals, find accountability partners, and get into rooms they never thought they’d be in. Instead of hype, you’ll hear real clips f...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with former top-producing agent and investor Tim Street to expose the truth sellers never hear about realtor fees, for sale by owner (FSBO), and what really determines the value of your home. Tim breaks down why 90% of FSBO attempts fail and why the “successful” ones still make about 11% less than agent-listed...

Money Is Just a Tool | Badass Lender Jenn Billet on Credit, Creative Loans & Land Deals In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with licensed lender and investor Jennifer “Badass Boss Jenn” Billet to talk money mindset, fixing credit fast, creative loans for self-employed borrowers, and why “money only has the power you give it.” Jenn shares how...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with veteran investor and closer Derby Perez to unpack how mindset, visualization, and the right rooms took him from hustling in real estate since 1985 to 300+ fix and flips, 1,800 home sales, 89 rentals, and big commercial deals—including a historic $11M hotel project. Derby shares how he used goal-setting, jo...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with Phoenix investor Kyle Karges to unpack how he went from a shy, head-down introvert to a highly connected leader in Subto and the Owners Club—scaling fix and flips, co-living, and multifamily across multiple markets. Kyle shares how 18 years in real estate changed once he finally started networking, joining...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with 23-year real estate veteran Philip Warrick to break down how creative finance, subject-to deals, lease options, and Airbnbs helped him leave the family sign business and become a full-time investor in Houston. Philip shares how a late-night Carlton Sheets infomercial, growing up as a missionary kid in Braz...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with lender, builder, and fund manager Julian Rizov of DealFunding360 to break down DSCR loans, hard money, construction financing, and how to avoid paying for money you can’t actually use. Julian shares how he went from doing 250+ fix and flips to building new construction in Atlanta, creating co-living, Airbn...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with capital raiser and entrepreneur Colin Yeap to break down how he went from a pharmaceutical W2 to owning laundromats, running a landscaping company, and building a thriving capital-raising/connecting business—all by walking into the rooms everyone else avoided. Colin explains how he started as a private len...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with recruiter, AI strategist, and investor April Elias to unpack how she’s using creative finance, international real estate in Portugal, and AI to build freedom—without walking away from a W2 she actually loves. April shares the story of their subject-to hybrid deal on Portugal’s “California of Europe,” how s...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with co-living investor and Subto Semesters instructor Dustin Geroski to unpack the “secret sauce” behind his high-performing rent-by-the-room portfolio, 10-bed co-living new builds in Houston, and how he’s raised over $2M through fractional partnerships. Dustin shares how he went from wholesaling and a few co-...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with Peter Roisman, co-founding principal and CEO of REV, a multifamily leasing company that’s trained hundreds of leasing pros and created the REV Leasing University and REV Leasing Score to help owners fill vacancies and boost NOI. Peter shares how he went from law and sports business to medical real estate d...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with investor and builder Rayce Barnes to break down how he scaled from renting out spare rooms in his own home to running multiple high-performing Airbnb units, adding hot tubs and arcades, and even building new construction duplexes for short-term rentals in Central Washington. Rayce shares how he started hos...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” sits down with married investing duo Linda and Connor Holtz of M2RE (Married to Real Estate) to unpack how they scaled from a Chicago house hack during COVID to syndicating 100+ unit multifamily deals across the Texas Triangle and beyond. They share how property management in Chicago, an FHA 203k house hack, and a big move to la...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” sits down with construction expert and investor Jim Vani (“Jim Vani Builds”) to break down how he blends 15+ years of construction experience with creative real estate to build fix and flips, ground-up developments, and affordable housing projects across the country. Jim shares how he went from growing up on job sites with his d...

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” sits down with capital raiser and mortgage veteran Joshua Sun to break down how he helps families in foreclosure, rescues investors from bad deals, and channels real estate profits into orphan care, anti-trafficking, and housing for domestic violence survivors. Joshua shares how he went from 20 years in mortgage to becoming a fu...

In this solo episode of the Dream Start Podcast, Edgar "The Connector" Salgado shares how he's building a mission-driven real estate portfolio focused on impact first: affordable housing through rent-by-the-room, sober living communities, veteran housing, and solutions for young adults aging out of foster care. Edgar opens up about growing up as a first-generation American, his early...

What if you could quit your corporate job and build a business that makes money while you sleep? 💰In this inspiring episode of Dream Start Own, host Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with Neil Twa, founder of Voltage Digital Marketing (voltagedm.com) — a visionary entrepreneur who went from IBM executive to building multi-million dollar Amazon brands. Neil reveals how he built over a dozen...