REL Freedom Podcast

Michael Russell is a seasoned real estate investor and hospitality entrepreneur who turned short-term rentals on Maui into financial freedom before scaling into hostel and hotel investing. As the co-founder of Howzit Hostels—the #1 small hostel in North America—and Malama Capital, he brings over 20 years of experience across short-term rentals, long-term rentals, commercial real estate, and hospit...

Today we celebrate the closing of our newest acquisition, a 35 unit apartment in southern Minnesota. In addition, we cover some of the most important basics for those interested in raising capital for real estate. We break down the fundamentals of what investors actually want to know before they commit their money. From understanding the difference between equity and debt to navigating basic secur...

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Shtofman, a seasoned corporate development leader and AI-driven real estate innovator who serves as the Global Head of Corporate Development at Cheere, a data management company building AI agents exclusively for the real estate industry. With over $3.4 trillion in real estate assets flowing through a patented knowledge-graph-powered platform, he shares how...

Cory Long is a visionary entrepreneur, author, and nationally recognized business strategist who helps leaders build profitable, purpose-driven businesses through modern marketing and faith-centered leadership. With over a decade of experience generating revenue for entrepreneurs and brands, Cory is the founder of Yroc Consulting and The Entrepreneurial Forge Accelerator, where he equips business...

Amelia Turbyfill is a luxury real estate advisor and industry leader redefining high-end real estate in America’s premier mountain markets. As one of Montana’s most respected agents and the Northwest Regional Director of REAL Luxury, she blends deep local expertise with national influence, serving high-net-worth clients, investors, and developers across Bozeman and Big Sky. In under a decade, Amel...

Erin Krueger is one of the most influential real estate leaders in the country—a powerhouse agent, team builder, and now first-time author with over $2 billion in career transactions. Starting as a solo agent with a background in advertising and marketing, Erin quickly rose to become Tennessee’s #1 Realtor and later ranked #14 nationwide. She went on to build one of the top real estate teams in Am...

Matthias Gruenwald is a seasoned real estate investor and operator with nearly two decades of experience transforming distressed properties into high-performing assets. Originally from Germany and now based in Greenville, SC, Matthias is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WCG Investments, where he oversees $20M in assets across 16 manufactured housing communities.  With expertise in value-add...

Joel Kraut is a real estate investor, author, and private lender that helps real estate investors achieve financial freedom. He has funded over 1,000 loans of all types. He is the co-founder of BRRRR Loans and author of the book "7 Steps To Financial Freedom." Joel brings a unique 360 degree view as an investor, borrow, contractor, and fund manager. You'll help to learn actionable s...

From studying tax law at just 14 years old to landing her dream job inside the IRS, Carlotta Thompson seemed destined for a lifelong career in government. But once she stepped behind the curtain as an IRS auditor, she discovered something shocking: countless business owners were leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table in missed deductions — and the system wasn’t built to help them. ...

From Pharmacist to Real Estate Investor: Building True Wealth Through Commercial Real Estate. Dr. Tanh, PharmD, is a pharmacist turned real estate investor, host of the Wonton Wealth Podcast, and founder of Proton Capital. After earning his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati and pursuing a career in cardiology pharmacy, Tanh discovered his true passion—investing and building l...

We sit down with Ian Noble, founder of RunSteady Investments, to explore how he transitioned from owning a multi-location dry cleaning business in Austin, Texas, to building wealth through passive real estate investing. After 14 years leading a company with 14 locations and over 90 employees, Ian made a successful business exit in 2023 and turned his full attention to helping others invest passive...

Are you ready to buy your first investment property but don’t know where to start? We break down a step-by-step guide for beginner real estate investors to find, analyze, and secure their first rental property. You’ll learn how to define your investing goals, pick the right market, secure financing, and discover deals using MLS, off-market listings, and local networking. We cover essential tips fo...

Bonny Wayman is a real estate investor, asset manager, and multifamily strategist passionate about helping others achieve financial freedom through real estate. With an MBA from the University of Denver and a background in marketing, analytics, and project management, she combines data-driven strategy with hands-on experience to drive strong investment performance.  As the multifamily asset manage...

Neil Henderson is a seasoned real estate investor, co-host of the Truly Passive Income Podcast, and General Partner at Nomad Capital. After nearly two decades as a defense contractor, Neil transformed his career by pursuing financial freedom through real estate investing. Starting with a simple house hack in Las Vegas, he’s now helped investors participate in over $75 million in commercial real es...

We apologize for any lag in audio/video. Lindsay Davis is CEO of Spartan Invest, a nationally recognized turnkey real estate investment firm helping investors build passive income through single-family rentals. Spartan operates across Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, managing the entire lifecycle of investment properties—from sourcing and renovations to construction, sales, and long-term property...

Jack Corrigan is an accomplished real estate investment professional with deep experience in private equity, capital markets, and financial modeling. As Investor Relations & Fund Associate at The Lucky Group, Jack plays a key role in capital raising, investor communications, and fund operations—helping bridge the gap between strategy and execution. Jack’s career includes time at Greysteel and...

Keren Gonen, a top-producing New Jersey real estate agent whose journey is as inspiring as it is powerful. Born and raised in Israel, Keren grew up in an entrepreneurial household before moving to the U.S., where she built a thriving logistics business alongside her father. After experiencing profound personal loss and a major life pivot, Keren reinvented herself—diving into real estate at 39 and...

We’re celebrating 300 episodes and 5 years of the REL Freedom, the real estate investing podcast designed to help you build wealth, grow your business, and create financial freedom. In this special anniversary episode, host Mike Swenson shares the origin story of the podcast, the biggest lessons learned from interviewing top real estate investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, and some behi...

Nick Price, Florida-based real estate investor, broker, and founder of First Lending Network. With over a decade of experience flipping houses, house hacking, and leading $30M+ in real estate transactions, Nick shares how he built businesses, scaled investments, and now helps investors unlock smarter financing solutions.  Through his brokerage, Price Properties, Nick has guided buyers, sellers, an...

In this episode, From Tesla to Target: Real Estate vs. Stocks When Executives Cause Chaos, we dive into how high-profile scandals and polarizing decisions from executives at companies like Tesla, Target, Bud Light, and Cracker Barrel have shaken investor confidence and sent stock prices tumbling. While Wall Street investors are left riding out the volatility, real estate investors enjoy more contr...

Steven Carroll is a former financial planner who has discovered the benefits of real investing and is focused on helping others learn how to "do money better." Through the power of building great relationships with amazing real estate investors and entrepreneurs, Steven has been able to invest in multi-family properties, mobile home parks, motels, short-term rentals, as well as other sma...

Imagine working helping to grow a tech company from 20 to 1,000 employees, going to New York for the celebration of taking it public, and then getting let go just 2 days after returning from paternity leave with your first child. This is one of Kyle Luetkehans' most difficult challenges that he's turning into his greatest success story. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he rolled up...

Fuquan Bilal’s story is proof that hustle, strategy, and vision can turn obstacles into opportunities. Starting from scratch 25 years ago, Fuquan built his real estate empire during one of the toughest markets in history—the 2008 financial crisis—while others were running for cover. By mastering creative investing strategies, he transformed distressed properties into profitable assets and built a...

Cherie Walters & Nicole Juarez are two faith-driven moms growing businesses inside of real estate. Cherie has spent 13 years on the lending side. With a goal to outwork everyone, she specializes in VA loans, loves serving people, and stays committed to her daily routine and personal development. Nicole is an agent with 10 years experience. She navigates meeting the needs of her clients while s...

Joel Friedland is a 43+ year real estate investing veteran specializing in single-tenant industrial properties in the Chicago area, with a track record of acquiring 104 buildings valued at over $300 million for more than 300 investors. Known for his ultra-conservative, debt-free syndications and long-term hold strategy, Joel brings a uniquely risk-averse mindset shaped by weathering four economic...