The Hustle Harder Show

Jeremy Goldberg joins James and Abbey for another episode of the Hometown Hustle Series to talk about his unconventional path from the restaurant industry to becoming one of the top loan originators in the country. Jeremy shares lessons from hospitality, building culture inside the Liberty Corridor, family values, New Jersey pride, and the importance of leading with authenticity and relationships....

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James and Abbey sit down with Brendan Ochinero to discuss his journey from growing up in San Diego to becoming one of the top-producing lenders in the country. Brendan shares how an early career in renewable energy land acquisition unexpectedly led him into private lending, the coffee shop conversation that changed everything, and the lessons he learned working ev...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James and Abbey sit down with Brandon Moulton, one of Renovo’s top multifamily lenders, to discuss his path from Toledo, Ohio to becoming a nationally recognized originator in real estate finance. Brandon shares how early experiences in development and banking shaped his career, why he transitioned into private lending, and what has kept him at Renovo for more tha...

In the first installment of the Hometown Hustle series, James Gaskin and co-host Abbey Hearn sit down with Eric Workman, one of Renovo’s most tenured originators. Eric shares his journey from working in construction to becoming a top-producing lender, while helping his team approach $1B in originations. The conversation dives into what makes the Chicago real estate market unique, why it’s often mi...

In this episode of The Hustle Harder Show , host James Gaskin sits down with Dajuan Robinson, a Chicago-based general contractor, real estate investor, and mentor. Dajuan shares how he went from learning carpentry at a young age to building a thriving real estate business and leading impactful community development projects. He breaks down the lessons learned from early mistakes, navigating predat...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James sits down with Marcus Crigler, Founder of BEC CFO & CPA, to break down what truly separates real estate operators who build lasting wealth from those stuck in the hustle cycle. Marcus shares his journey into real estate-focused accounting, explains why most investors struggle with the “language of business,” and outlines a practical framework for moving...

In this episode of Hustle Harder , James sits down with John Curry, Co-Founder and CEO of Sétanta Development Capital, to break down the misunderstood world of land acquisition and development (A&D) lending. John shares his journey from Irish lawyer to U.S. real estate investor, explains why land earned its “toxic” reputation after the GFC, and walks through how modern land development actuall...

James Gaskin kicks off Season 3 with a deep dive into the major themes that shaped real estate lending in 2025 — and what's ahead for 2026. From market trends and fraud risk to AI adoption and the war for talent, James offers a candid, insightful look at the state of the industry. This solo episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom for both real estate investors and lenders navigating an uncertain...

In this episode of the Hustle Harder Show , host James Gaskin sits down with Andy Pollock, the veteran lending leader spearheading Renovo Financial’s California expansion. With nearly 40 years in the industry, Andy shares invaluable lessons from his career, his passion for building teams, and the mission of bringing Renovo’s unique people-first, locally driven model to the West Coast.  Key Po...

In this powerful and inspiring episode, Devin Ramos shares his journey from a 15-year career in the military—including time as a Green Beret—to becoming a full-time real estate investor and co-founder of a growing residential cleaning business, Maid in America. Devin opens up about the internal shift that led him from military service to entrepreneurship, the trials of his first BRRRR deal, and th...

In this inspiring episode, James sits down with Dean Rogers—former NFL player turned powerhouse real estate investor and community builder. Dean shares his raw and powerful journey, from living the dream as a San Diego Charger to walking away from football for the sake of his health, to starting from scratch and building a thriving real estate empire in Central California. Dean opens up about hitt...

In this episode, James sits down with Josh Swart in his Concord, NC studio to unpack his journey from firefighter to full-time real estate investor building and renting 70+ units a year. Josh shares how he went from grunt demo jobs as a teenager to developing subdivisions, the lessons learned from big wins and big losses, and how building the right team changed his business. They dive deep into sc...

In this roundtable, James Gaskin and Kevin Werner unpack the current lending environment and share an insider’s perspective on the real estate private credit market. They discuss trends from the recent National Private Lenders Association (NPLA) conference, the challenges of balancing abundant capital with responsible lending, and the importance of long-term credit discipline. They also touch on t...

In this episode of Hustle Harder , host James Gaskin sits down with real estate investor, property manager, and podcast host Mark Ainley. Mark shares his journey from growing up on the less affluent side of Chicago to building GC Realty & Development, a firm that manages over 1,400 residential units and one million square feet of commercial space. He unpacks his first experience with house hac...

In this roundtable edition of The Hustle Harder Show , James Gaskin and Kevin Werner are joined by Brett Sims, Head of Growth at Renovo Financial, for a high-level conversation on economic shifts, capital markets, and strategic growth. The trio dives into policy changes around Fannie & Freddie, inflation data, Fed leadership speculation, bond market concerns, and the importance of discipline a...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James sits down with Tiffany Taylor and Aloni Harris to explore the mission-driven work of the C3 Impact Fund, a subsidiary of Renovo Financial and a certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). They share personal stories, the transformative role of C3 in underserved communities, and the ways they’re using real estate to close the wealth gap, cre...

In this premiere episode of the new Hustle Harder roundtable format, host James Gaskin is joined by Renovo Financial CEO Kevin Werner and Chief Credit Officer Darren Weaver to unpack current events shaping the U.S. economy and housing market. The trio revisits predictions from earlier in the year and evaluates how they’ve held up amid Moody’s credit rating downgrade, rising national debt, and pers...

In this episode of the  Hustle Harder  podcast, host James Gaskin sits down with Patrick Soares, a South Florida-based real estate investor and construction entrepreneur. Starting from a family-run countertop business, Patrick walks us through his journey of intentional growth in real estate — from his first rental in 2013 to a 94-unit portfolio today. He shares the pivotal moment when h...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James Gaskin sits down with Brentin Hess, a dynamic real estate investor from Pasadena, Maryland. Brentin shares his journey from growing up in a real estate family to flipping his first house at 21 and scaling up to 100 flips annually. He reflects on the lessons learned from early challenges, the importance of trustworthy contractors, and the value of building a...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James Gaskin interviews Jon Grabowski, CEO of Red Cedar Capital Partners. Jon shares his journey from a pharmaceutical sales rep to a leader in real estate development, detailing Red Cedar Capital's innovative approach to land development and home building. He discusses the company's growth, the importance of relationships and trust, and the role of thoughtful des...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James Gaskin sits down with Paul Sparks, a real estate investor based in Denver, Colorado, and founder of The Whale Club. Paul shares his unconventional journey from engineering sales to real estate investing, discussing the evolution of his business strategy, the importance of relationships, and the lessons learned along the way. He emphasizes the value of unders...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James Gaskin interviews Jeff Nydegger, co-founder of Kendall Partners, a top direct-to-seller house-buying company in Chicago. Jeff shares his journey from military service to building a successful real estate business with his partner, Kevin Hanson. He explores their early challenges, including launching during the 2008 financial crisis and the strategies that he...

In this episode of the Hustle Harder Show , host James Gaskin welcomes Darren Weaver, Renovo Financial's Chief Credit Officer, to discuss the highs and lows of 2024 and the outlook for 2025 in the real estate market. Darren shares key insights into risk management, credit structuring, and the unique collaboration between lending and credit teams that sets Renovo apart. The conversation covers chal...

In this episode of Hustle Harder, James Gaskin interviews Scott Randall, a real estate investor and builder based in Tampa, Florida. Scott shares his journey from a corporate finance career in Dallas to becoming a successful builder in the Tampa Bay area. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of his first real estate deal, his analytical approach to selecting Tampa, and his experiences in const...

In this debut episode of Hustle Harder, host James Gaskin sits down with Kevin Werner, CEO of Renovo Financial, to introduce the podcast's vision and explore Kevin's entrepreneurial journey. They discuss Renovo's customer-centric approach to lending, emphasizing the importance of storytelling from successes and setbacks. Kevin shares his early experiences in the lending business, from selling ice...