AIME Podcast Network

Episode 81: Conference Season Takeaways Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy wrap up the conference season with honest takeaways from a full year of events. They discuss what loan officers actually want to hear, why rate talk falls flat, and what conference organizers should stop doing....

Episode 80: The WMN and VA Summits Debrief Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy take you behind the scenes of Fuse 2026, shining a spotlight on some of the best moments from the WMN and VA Summits and explaining what it takes to build an event of this scale. Broker Buzz – Which lea...

In this week’s special episode, Samantha Shelton talks with Carol Pope, Andrea Nemetz, and Meghan Sarbo about their experience at the WMN Summit during Fuse 2026. They get honest about the nerves of walking into a room where you don’t know anyone, the way women tend to pick themselves apart on video, and why showing up as yourself is the real superpower. They also share the challenge that st...

Episode 79: Know Thy Numbers Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy break down Know Thy Numbers, a framework for tracking the five metrics that tell you exactly where your business is succeeding and where it is falling apart. They also debrief on Fuse 2026 and why this year felt different...

Most loan officers have a production plan. Very few have a career blueprint. But what if that’s the difference between burning out and building something that lasts? Megan Marsh brings over eighteen years of experience, including eight years as a top producer and building her own brokerage from the ground up. On this week’s episode, Laura Brandao sits down with Megan, Founder of CoLab Lendin...

Episode 258 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Jason duPont (Chief Strategy Officer at NEXA Mortgage) This week’s episode features Jason duPont, a thirty-year mortgage veteran who started as a broker, spent time in retail, built and sold his own brokerage, retired early, and found his way back to the business he loves. Now the Chief Strategy Officer at NEXA Mortgage,...

Episode 78: Our Favorite Fuse Memories Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy look back on their favorite Fuse memories and preview what is coming to Austin. They share the moments that made them laugh, the people who made an impact, and why this community keeps showing up year after year....

What if the secret to growing your mortgage business wasn’t working more hours, but working more intentionally? In this episode, Michelle Chretien sits down with Brittney Morris, Director of Sales for Grand Line Lending, to talk about her journey from accidentally applying for a mortgage instead of a job to becoming a top producing loan officer and sales leader. Brittney candidly talks about...

Episode 77: Building Trust and Converting Applications with Samantha Shelton Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, featuring special guest Samantha Shelton, AIME’s Director of Membership (Regional) and broker owner of Align Lending. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy are joined by Samantha Shelton for a conversation...

Episode 257 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Ashley Bedford (Loan Originator at appli Home Loans) This week’s episode features Ashley Bedford, a top producing loan officer who found her way into mortgages after a life-changing home buying experience. Ashley shares how she went from a one-bedroom with her mother-in-law to closing twenty to thirty loans a month, all...

What if the key to surviving motherhood and mortgage wasn’t finding perfect balance, but finding your people? In this episode, Samantha Shelton sits down with her broker bestie, Kristin O’Neil of Open Door Lending, to share an incredibly honest and loving conversation about the beautiful chaos that comes with being a mom in the mortgage industry. They get honest about the guilt of taki...

Episode 76: The Online Troll, Mr. Fuse, and Protecting Your Mindset Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy tackle the growing challenge of protecting your mindset in a world designed to keep you distracted. They discuss the Online Troll and Mr. Fuse video series coming to Fuse 2026 and why...

It’s time to leave a conference with more than just notes and short-term inspiration. What if you could walk out with a carefully crafted plan to help find synergy between your life and business? In this special episode of the WMN Podcast, Kirstie MacArthur hosts a powerful conversation with Kim Clancy, Ellen Petry Leanse, and Erin Bradley about the upcoming WMN Soulful Success Summit and the bene...

Episode 256 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Jason Kindler (President of First Coast Mortgage Funding) This week’s episode features Jason Kindler, a 25-year mortgage veteran who started as a broker, moved to retail, and came back to the broker channel with a fresh perspective. Jason shares why independence was the catalyst for his return, how brokers can successful...

Episode 75: Behind the Curtain for Fuse 2026 Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this milestone episode, Jonathon and Tommy pull back the curtain on everything coming to Fuse 2026 in Austin, Texas. They share behind the scenes details on breakout sessions, swag, a guest bartender, a lassoing cowboy, the return of the p...

What if the key to building a thriving mortgage business wasn’t chasing agents, but genuinely connecting with people? In this episode, Gabi Wiartalla sits down with Alexa DePaolo to talk about her journey from the reception desk to producing at a high level, why she made the switch from retail to broker, and how she built a business where over 60% of her opportunities come directly from her...

Episode 74: The Pendulum Sale Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon kicks off a six-week long crash-course that’ll be breaking down Jonathon’s top sales strategies. Broker Buzz – Whether a parent can buy a primary residence for a college student without putting them on the loan, and why...

Jonathan Haddad’s story took him from bartending at Buffalo Wild Wings to standing tall as the CEO of AIME, but the real story comes from the women who helped shape him into the person he is today. Molly Meeker sits down with Jonathon for a conversation that goes far beyond mortgages. He opens up about the women who shaped him, including his grandmother and great grandmother, whose resilience taug...

Episode 73: Six Sales Strategies to Win Every Deal Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon opens up his playbook and shares six of his top sales strategies for controlling conversations and closing more loans. He breaks down how to approach different client personalities and why the right question ch...

What if one decision you make today could give you more choices tomorrow, even during life’s most unexpected and difficult moments? In this episode, Laura Brandao sits down with Celeste Sierra, better known as Your Mortgage Geek, for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about preparation, resilience, and the freedom that comes from planning ahead. Celeste has nearly thirty years of ex...

Episode 255 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: John McLaughlin (Broker & Owner of McLaughlin Mortgage) This week’s episode features John McLaughlin, who started in real estate as a top 1% agent before transitioning into the mortgage space. After two years in retail lending, John made the jump to the broker channel and hasn’t looked back. He shares how he bu...

Episode 72: Reverse Engineering Success with Michelle Mikel Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, featuring special guest Michelle Mikel , author of The Black Line and creator of Beyond The Method. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy are joined by returning guest Michelle Mikel for a conversation about reverse engineering y...

Episode 254 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Joseph Dionne (Managing Partner at appli Home Loans) This week’s episode features Joseph Dionne, who took a job out of college as a real estate assistant and built it up into a thriving mortgage brokerage. It wasn’t always easy! His turning point came after a car accident left him with a broken back and a choice to make....

Episode 71: How Many Questions Are You Asking? Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy challenge listeners to think about the questions they are asking, both in sales conversations and in life. Jonathon shares a stat he learned on a recent Mortgage Morning Call that might make you rethink h...

Stacy Pingree was told she “wouldn’t make it” in the mortgage industry after just one week. She ignored that advice. Today, she’s the founder and CEO of Radiant Financial Group, a real estate investor, and the host of the Legacy Wealth Podcast. Safe to say, she made it. Shelby Vinson sits down with Stacy Pingree, founder and CEO of Radiant Financial Group, real estate inves...