Burning The Ships

In today’s episode, I sat down with Peter Russell, a real estate entrepreneur who took his wholesaling business experience and turned it into a unique solution for the investing world—transactional funding specifically designed for wholesalers. Peter shares how he transitioned from putting up bandit signs to scaling a wholesaling business and how spotting pain points led him to create Double Close...

In this Weekly Ramble, I unpack one of the most game-changing mindset shifts I’ve ever made—learning to treat time like money. Most people know time is more valuable, but our habits, calendars, and lifestyles say otherwise. I walk through the exact shift that happened after leaving my corporate job, how I restructured my calendar to reflect what matters most, and how I went from being “time bankru...

For Episode 150, I’m flipping the mic toward the man behind this very show—Josh Culler of Culler Media. If you’ve noticed how the podcast audio, video, and consistency leveled up… that’s all Josh. But today’s episode goes deeper than tech and editing. Josh shares his journey from forklift operator to founder of a media company serving real estate brands, coaches, and investors nationwide. We talk...

In this weekly ramble, I break down one of the most influential books I’ve ever read—Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink. This episode isn’t a chapter-by-chapter summary. It’s a deep dive into how the mindset of extreme ownership has transformed the way I lead, parent, invest, and handle adversity. I share real-life stories—from my early flips and hiring missteps to leading a sales agency and raisi...

In this powerful sit-down with my good friend Tim Bratz, we go beyond real estate and straight into resilience, ego, family, and leadership. Tim’s story isn’t just about building a real estate empire, it’s about rebuilding with intention when everything gets hard. From climbing to 4,800 doors and then intentionally scaling back to just 2,000, Tim shares the lessons he learned the hard way—through...

In this week’s ramble, I dive deep into a book that hit me harder than I expected: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. This isn’t just another mindset book, it’s a framework for how to reclaim your peace, your focus, and your freedom by letting go of the things you can’t control… especially what other people think. From family drama to business gossip to childhood wounds, I unpack how this book re...

In this special episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Matt Brooks, guitarist and founding member of the hard rock band Like a Storm—one of the most successful musical acts to come out of New Zealand. Matt pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to turn a dream into a worldwide touring machine. We talk about the band’s DIY beginnings, how they used grit, belief, and bold thinking to...

In this Weekly Ramble, we’re going deep into a topic that everyone needs more of: gratitude. Not the kind you post about on Thanksgiving, but the kind that grounds you in chaos, sharpens your leadership, and brings more meaning to your life and relationships. I share personal stories, including a powerful leadership lesson I picked up from PGA pro Jordan Spieth, and how practicing gratitude throug...

In this episode, I sit down with my good buddy Tyrone Taylor, someone I’ve admired for a long time because of how he carries himself – with humility, resilience, and an unshakable commitment to growth. Tyrone shares his incredible story: growing up in Philadelphia, watching his blue-collar father and entrepreneurial mother model grit and vision, bouncing back from career setbacks, and building a r...

In this Weekly Ramble, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the most important things I’m trying to build and it’s not a business. It’s raising independent, resilient, kind, and grateful kids. Parenting isn’t about getting it perfect, it’s about staying intentional. In this episode, I break down the strategies my wife Katie and I are using every day to raise children who can figure things out, w...

Today I sit down with my good friend Josh Dixon, a powerhouse in real estate development and an even greater human being. Josh is a general contractor, real estate investor, visionary entrepreneur, and father to eight kids. This episode is a deep dive into what it means to go all-in on your purpose without sacrificing your priorities. Josh walks us through his early years on job sites, building a...

In this Weekly Ramble, I’m breaking down one of the most powerful books I’ve revisited in years, Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday, and unpacking the lessons it taught me about leadership, humility, failure, and purpose. I’ve lived this book. From corporate highs to entrepreneurial struggles, I’ve learned that ego isn’t confidence – it’s the voice that tells you you’ve arrived when you still need t...

In this episode, I sit down with real estate developer Justin Goodin, who went from flipping homes during college to building luxury multifamily developments across Indiana. This is a masterclass in burning the ships and going all-in on your vision. Justin shares how his background in finance and time as a commercial underwriter gave him a strategic edge as a real estate investor. From his first 2...

In this week’s Weekly Ramble, I’m getting raw and real about one of the most important battles I’ve fought—and still fight every day: health and wellness. This isn’t a “fitness influencer” episode. I’m not an expert. I’m a regular guy who used to eat like crap, live on autopilot, and ignore the compounding damage I was doing to my body… until one picture at the beach woke me up. In this solo deep...

Today’s guest is someone I’ve admired for a while now not just for what he’s building, but for how he’s building it. Tim Olson is the managing partner of Aspire Finance, and in this episode, we walk through his journey from a commission-only equipment finance rep to launching a nationwide lending firm, acquiring companies, and raising capital for real estate syndications all while staying grounded...

There’s a common message floating around the entrepreneurial space: “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so cut out anyone who’s not helping you grow.” I don’t buy it. In this weekly ramble, I break down why I believe some of the most valuable people in your life may have nothing to do with your business but everything to do with your heart, identity, and sanity. Th...

In this episode, I sit down with one of the most electric humans I know—Jen Josey, the self-proclaimed (and trademarked) Bestower of Badassery. Jen’s a former music teacher turned real estate mogul, coach, podcaster, author, and all-around badass. We get into everything from her first deal off Craigslist, to co-founding multiple real estate companies, launching a mastermind for investors, and how...

This one’s personal. In today’s episode, I’m diving deep into the role your marriage plays in your entrepreneurial success—not just as a support system, but as a strategic advantage most people overlook. I’m breaking down what it’s meant for me to be married to a spouse who’s never tried to change me, always supported me, and gives me the space to fully be who I am. From emotional bandwidth and sh...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Joe Robey, a humble, no-BS entrepreneur who went from growing up with little to leading a thriving nationwide fiber optics company while raising six kids and living life on his terms. We talk about everything from overcoming adversity, to how sports built his confidence, to how he uses business as a tool to bless others. Joe gets real about his rough...

In this episode, I’m diving deep into something we all face—adversity—and why it’s not something we should run from, but something we should lean into. I’ll share how the hardest moments in my life became the very foundation for my discipline, resilience, and success—and why I believe your toughest battles are actually building you. I also break down why it’s crucial to teach our kids how to face...

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I talk with Philip Thai, who left a stable software engineering career to build wealth through real estate investing, lending, and business acquisitions. He shares how he burned the ships, scaling from his first wholesale deal to managing 60+ flips, 80+ wholesale transactions, and commercial properties. Philip also reveals how he’s using seller financing to ac...

Welcome back to Burning the Ships, where we go all in on taking risks, pushing boundaries, and eliminating excuses. Today, we’re diving into grit—the unshakable quality that separates those who succeed from those who quit too soon. You’ve heard the word before, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, I break down G.R.I.T. into four essential traits: Gratitude, Resourcefulness, Intentional...

From bartending to building a multimillion-dollar brand—that’s the story of Dan Oliver, founder of Dan-O’s Seasoning. In this episode of Burning the Ships, Dan breaks down how he turned a homemade seasoning blend into a national brand sold in Walmart, Kroger, and 20,000+ retailers across the U.S. We get into the grind behind the growth—from flea markets to viral TikTok success, why having no Plan...

Work-life balance? It’s a myth—unless you create it with intention. In this episode of Burning the Ships, I break down how I went from grinding 24/7 to building a life where business and family actually work together. I’ll share the hard lessons I learned, why most entrepreneurs get this completely wrong, and how simple shifts like time-blocking and setting real boundaries can change everything. I...

In this episode of Burning the Ships, we sit down with Q Moldrik to explore the power of reputation management, scaling a business with strategic automation, and the importance of celebrating wins along the journey. Q shares valuable insights on how businesses can control their online reviews, the impact of perception on customer trust, and why timing matters when asking for testimonials. We also...