The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

Most people think entrepreneurship builds character. Build long enough and you learn the harder truth: it doesn't build character, it exposes it. In this episode of the Active Duty Passive Income Podcast, Markian sits down with Tim Krambs — 24-year Army veteran, former combat aviation and foreign area officer, ADPI coach, and full-time real estate investor — for one of the most honest convers...

I moved from Ukraine to America at 15 years old, and one thing immediately stood out: Americans were playing a completely different game when it came to wealth. Years later, I realized the U.S. tax code isn’t just a tax system — it’s a blueprint for building wealth. In this episode, I share how growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine gave me a unique perspective on America, entrepreneurship, real estate...

In this episode, Markian breaks down the real unfair advantage military members can bring into commercial real estate. It is not ego, superiority, or a belief that service members are automatically better investors. It is team-building. Military life forces people to operate with different leaders, different personalities, tight timelines, imperfect conditions, and real pressure. That experience t...

Most investors focus on cash flow. The smartest investors focus on taxes too. In this episode of the Active Duty Passive Income Podcast, Markian Sich breaks down how military families can use real estate investing to potentially reduce taxable income, keep more of what they earn, and accelerate long-term wealth building. You’ll learn how depreciation, cost segregation, bonus depreciation, and Real...

Markian records this episode live from a hotel room in Indianapolis — mid property tour, mid investor meetings — and delivers one of the most honest takes on passive income you'll hear. The premise: passive income is the biggest lie in entrepreneurship. The context: this is coming from the founder of Active Duty Passive Income. In this episode, Markian unpacks the myth vs. the reality. He wal...

Most people start with single-family rentals. I did too. My first deal made about $200/month. Then I bought a 56-unit apartment complex with my parents as investors, and that deal changed everything. In this episode, I break down why I switched from single-family to multifamily, including: How multifamily properties are valued Why cap rates matter How raising rents can increase property value Why...

This wasn't the episode I planned to record. But it needed to be said. Your health is not separate from your wealth. It is the infrastructure your wealth runs on. And for most military investors and entrepreneurs — that infrastructure is quietly degrading every single morning before the workday even starts. In this episode, Markian breaks down the exact system he uses to protect his most valu...

The military made you disciplined, structured, and mission-driven. But somewhere along the way, it may have also quietly killed the one thing that made you special in the first place — your wild bone. In this episode, I get personal.  I share the story of how my dad lit a fire under me with one blunt question, how chasing my now-wife Katya taught me the most important lesson about entrepreneurship...

Most military investors are holding onto properties right now thinking a low rate means they're winning. They're not. A 2.7% rate attached to a bad strategy is still a bad strategy. And if you're PCS'ing every 2–3 years, dealing with compressed timelines, and trying to build real wealth before you take off the uniform — emotional attachment to one variable can cost you years. I...

Hard work gets you paid. It doesn't get you free. Those are two completely different destinations — and most military families spend 20 years chasing the first one wondering why the second one never shows up. In this video I break down the one thing the military never teaches you about money, why discipline alone creates a ceiling you can't work your way through, and what actually bridge...

You’re Not Behind… You’re Just Using the VA Loan Wrong Most military members don’t have an income problem. They have a strategy problem. In this solo episode, Markian breaks down why the VA loan is either your biggest wealth tool… or your biggest miss, and how most people unknowingly reset their progress every time they PCS. This isn’t about learning more. It’s about using what you already have, t...

Show Summary: In this solo episode, Markian cuts straight to the point: if you're still consuming content but haven't taken action on your first (or next) real estate deal, you don't have an information problem — you have a plan problem. He shares his own story of staring at the military pay chart and realizing his income ceiling was controlled by someone else, then walks through th...

In this episode, Markian shares the story of his first commercial deal. It’s a 56-unit apartment complex outside Indianapolis. It still pays him $3,500 a month. It pays his parents $7,000 a month. This isn’t a get rich quick story. It’s about feeling stuck. Staring at the military pay chart. Realizing your income has a ceiling. And then finding a different path. You’ll hear how he found the deal....

He Walked Away After 12 Years… Here’s Why It Paid Off Mike Goering on Sunk Cost, Multifamily, and Community-First Investing | ADPI Podcast In this episode of the Active Duty Passive Income (ADPI) Podcast, Mike Goering shares the real story behind walking away from a 12-year military career… and why staying “safe” was actually costing him more. We break down the sunk cost trap, how one rental becam...

From Military Service to Financial Freedom: Seneca Peña-Collazo on Real Estate, Reputation, and Building the Right Team In this episode of the ADPI Podcast, Seneca Peña‑Collazo shares his full journey—from growing up in Philadelphia to serving in the Army, and ultimately building long-term wealth through real estate, business ownership, and intentional team building. Seneca breaks down how a singl...

In this powerful episode of the ADPI Podcast, Markian Sich sits down with Marine Corps veteran, ADPI Hero, and mobile home park investor Joe Jackson for one of the most raw and inspiring conversations we’ve ever had. Joe shares his journey from growing up in a mobile home park, hitting rock bottom with no power and no direction, to building and operating a mobile home portfolio spanning 1,000+ pad...

Guests: Trey Stone & Ian Stapleton Hosts: Markian Sich & Eric Upchurch Real estate investor Trey Stone and digital entrepreneur Ian Stapleton reveal how they built massive wealth through multifamily investing, why veterans are uniquely suited for real estate, and how “unpopular” properties can become the safest and most profitable assets when operated correctly. From turning around D-class...

Starting With $1K: Military Discipline, Investing Smarts & Defining a Rich Life with Darren Ick In this episode of the ADPI Podcast, host Markian Sich sits down with Air Force veteran and long-time investor Darren Thedieck , who shares how he built financial freedom starting with just $1,000 and a Roth IRA. Darren opens up about his humble beginnings, growing up in a split household, and the f...

From Marine Raider to ADU Builder: Finding Freedom, Purpose, and a New Mission with Mark Brookman In this powerful episode, Markian sits down with Marine Corps veteran and real estate investor Mark Brookman to unpack the part of the military story most people never see—the invisible battles after the uniform comes off. Mark shares how micro–traumas from Afghanistan and Iraq slowly piled up, what i...

Markian sits down with Cheyenne Wachtendorf , a new ADPI member whose path runs from military service to creative deals—live-in flips, seller finance—and a 106-acre VA loan purchase . Cheyenne shares the mindset behind taking calculated risks , learning from setbacks, and his vision for Walk Squad Haven : real estate development, experiential recreation, and community mentorship. Time Stamps 00:00...

From ROTC to Real Estate: Landon Fillmore's Journey of Investments and Identity In this episode, host Mark chats with Landon Fillmore, a member of the military community who has successfully navigated his way into real estate investing. Landon shares his journey from joining the ROTC in college, to buying his first fourplex property, to managing rentals while stationed overseas. They discuss...

Blockchain and Real Estate: A Deep Dive with ADPI Experts In this engaging episode of the ADPI podcast, host Tim Kelly chats with Seneca Peña Colazo about the intersection of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and real estate investing. They clarify misconceptions about crypto, likening blockchain to a highway where scams are the driver's fault, not the road's. Highlighting the permanence and t...

Uncovering Creative Financing: A Deep Dive with Adam Catledge In this episode, we welcome Adam Catledge, a Marine Corps veteran and seasoned entrepreneur, to demystify the complexities of creative financing in real estate. Known for his profound knowledge in sub-2s and wraparound mortgages, Adam shares his journey from military service to becoming a successful real estate investor. He elaborates o...

In this high-energy episode, Markian interviews Rob Pekarek, a Naval Academy graduate and active-duty Air Force officer, who shares his inspiring journey in real estate investing while serving in the military. Rob discusses his initial steps in real estate, starting from a single-family house hack to joining a general partnership team for multifamily deals. He emphasizes the importance of adding v...

In this episode of the ADPI Podcast, host Markian Sich sits down with powerhouse military spouse, real estate investor, and soon-to-be author Kaitlyn Dannhardt , who reveals the wildly creative strategies that turned a broke PCS move into a full-fledged short-term rental business — all starting with just $1,500 and a VA loan. From pioneering “TDY hacking” to PCS’ing with a garage full of Wayfair f...