Rebuild and Rise Show

I used to think I just needed more willpower. Turns out, I had a spending problem disguised as a saving problem. In this episode of Rebuild and Rise, I get real about the years I spent living paycheck to paycheck—the debt, the impulse buys, the expensive jacket I bought just to impress someone. I share the exact moment I decided enough was enough, and the simple mindset shift that took me from dro...

In this episode, I had the privilege of talking with  Jon Tallinger , Chief Growth Officer at Class Valuation, whose journey from being the company's very first employee to helping lead one of the nation's largest appraisal management companies is nothing short of inspiring. What struck me most wasn't John's title or the size of the company he's helped build—it was his mindset. We talked about the...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I sit down with renovation and construction lending expert Barry Koven to explore how the right financing strategy can unlock opportunities most buyers never see. Barry shares his incredible journey from the music industry to becoming one of the nation's top mortgage professionals and explains how renovation and construction loans are helping people creat...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I sit down with author, speaker, coach, and real estate leader  Kendra Cooke  for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what it really takes to rebuild your life from the inside out. Introduced by the incredible Amberly Lago, Kendra and I instantly connected as kindred spirits with a shared passion for helping people rise through life's hardes...

In this episode of the  Rebuild and Rise Show , I'm challenging one of the biggest misconceptions I see among business owners: that expensive money is always bad money. For years, I would have looked at a high-interest funding offer and immediately walked away. But what I've learned is that when used with intention and the right strategy, short-term, high-cost capital can become one of the...

In this episode of the Rebuild and Rise Podcast, I tackle one of the most common and costly mistakes business owners make: funding their businesses with personal credit. While many entrepreneurs focus on growing revenue and serving customers, they often overlook the financial foundation required to become truly bankable. I explain why relying on personal credit cards can hurt your credit score, li...

In this episode of the Rebuild and Rise Podcast , I sit down with Cullen Canazares, the innovative CEO of Rental Kharma, to discuss a powerful financial strategy that could completely change the way you build credit. We dive into the growing impact of rent reporting and how something as simple as your monthly rent payment could help boost your credit score and open doors to your future opportuniti...

In this episode, I’m thrilled to sit down with host Darrin Harvey as a featured guest on Financial State of Minds to pull back the curtain on my entire journey—from a volleyball player in the Junior Olympics and a competitive bodybuilder in Colorado, to moving across the country to New York City and eventually founding Micah Abigail LLC. Being interviewed on the show gave me a chance to open up ab...

In this episode of Rebuild and Rise, I sit down with SBA expert and Lendstra founder Sterling Birdsong to uncover the business funding strategies most entrepreneurs never hear about—and how to avoid the financial traps that destroy countless startups before they ever get a real chance to grow. With over a decade of banking experience, Sterling breaks down what it really takes to secure funding, wh...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I sit down with Michelle Elise, a powerhouse sales trainer who has built a multi-million dollar sales operation. Together, we break down the #1 habit that separates average performers from elite closers: consistent, intentional daily practice. If you’re a CEO, team leader, or salesperson tired of chasing lukewarm leads or managing untrained teams, this conver...

In this episode, I break down a major transformation happening in how lenders evaluate borrowers. New credit scoring models like VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T are changing the game. VantageScore 4.0 now factors in non-traditional trade lines like rent and utilities when available — giving more data points that can impact your credit profile. This isn’t just theory — it’s already rolling out, and i...

Most of my journey as an entrepreneur and leader, I struggled with trusting my gut—until I started seeing the real cost of ignoring it. Toxic culture, bad hires, and moments of self-doubt nearly derailed everything I was building. In this episode, I open up about how I learned to turn pain into purpose. I talk about what it really means to hold unwavering standards, trust my intuition, and fiercel...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I dive into a conversation we don’t hear often—but desperately need to have:  when money quietly becomes the thing we serve . After hearing a sermon that deeply challenged me, I realized that before we talk about fixing credit, eliminating debt, or building wealth, we have to first rebuild our  relationship with money itself . Too many people are financially...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I’m diving into one of the biggest challenges people are facing right now—housing affordability—and what we can actually do about it. I break down key insights from an article by Sean Dobson, CEO of Amherst Group, to explain why housing costs remain so high, from tight mortgage credit to low inventory caused by homeowners holding onto low interest rates. More...

In this heartfelt episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I sit down with a very special guest,  Carina Tom , president of  NU World Title , to share a story that’s as powerful as it is personal. Carina opens up about her journey—from working at a mall to becoming a respected leader in the real estate industry. But beyond the success, she courageously shares the most painful chapter of her life: the devast...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I take a deep dive into what  presence  really means—comparing the power of simply being there for the people we love versus trying to show love through material gifts. I share a story that hit close to home: an older couple whose long-standing financial habits kept them from achieving their dream of homeownership. It’s a sobering reminder of how repeated fin...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I’m opening up about the real foundations of building a successful business—from the messy early stages of doing everything myself to the humbling lessons of leading a team. I share how stepping out of solo entrepreneurship forced me to confront my own limits, delegate with intention, and create solid SOPs so my business could finally run on structure instead...

In this deeply personal episode of  Rebuild and Rise , I’m opening up about the real story behind my entrepreneurial journey—how I went from building ideas in a basement to leading a business I once could only pray for. I share the emotional battles I faced, the moments that stretched me, and the pivotal day I walked away from a stagnant corporate job to finally build something of my own. I break...

Are finances causing tension in your relationship? In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise Show , I open up about the real conversations couples need to have around money, credit, and long-term goals. Avoiding the money talk only leads to bigger problems later—and I’ve lived that lesson myself. Grounded in  Proverbs 31 , I share my journey toward becoming a woman of wisdom and stewardship. I talk abo...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise Show , I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the biggest milestones of my life—four years of running my own business, Micah Abigail LLC. This journey didn’t come wrapped in comfort. It came with pressure, hard resets, and the kind of moments that force you to either crumble or rise. I opened up about navigating COVID, losing my sense of direction, and the...

In this episode of Rebuild and Rise, I sit down with my good friend and trusted mortgage lender, Kei Kullberg—powered by GoRascal. Kei shares his inspiring journey in the mortgage and real estate industry, starting back in 2017 and working his way up from processing and underwriting to becoming a successful loan officer helping families achieve the dream of homeownership. We dive into how understa...

In this special episode of  Rebuild and Rise Show , I sit down with  Isis Richardson —a proud military veteran and social worker with a Master’s from Fordham University—who shares her powerful journey of rebuilding her credit and achieving her dream of homeownership. Isis opens up about the emotional and financial challenges she faced, the lessons she learned along the way, and how seeking help fr...

In this solo episode, I get real about one of the hardest seasons of my life — facing financial irresponsibility and the consequences that came with it. I talk about what it was like to go from enjoying the highs of young adulthood to hitting a wall of debt, bad credit, and denial. But this isn’t just a story about struggle — it’s about rebuilding. I share how I slowly learned to take ownership of...

In this episode of  Rebuild and Rise Show , I sit down with  Lindsay Stevens , one of Hudson Valley’s leading voices in real estate and leadership. Lindsay’s been in the industry since 2009, and what she’s built is nothing short of inspiring — a thriving team, a powerful mindset, and a deep commitment to personal growth. We dive into what it really means to  show up , lead with purpose, and overco...

In this inspiring episode of Rebuild and Rise, I have the privilege of sitting down with Alexander Zakharin — a driven and accomplished real estate agent who’s made his mark in the heart of New York City. Alexander takes us through his incredible journey — from growing up in Russia and Ukraine, navigating life across different countries, to finding success in one of the most competitive real estat...