The Mortgage Rainmaker Podcast

What does it take to transition careers, move across the country multiple times, raise a family, and still close $41 million in a year? Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode of the Mortgage Rainmaker Podcast, I sit down with Lucy Thornton, a vibrant loan officer. Lucy’s journey from real estate agent to top-producing loan officer is full of heart, hustle, and hard-earned wisdom. Now based in Sava...

🔥 Want to 10x your results? It starts with this truth: high performance isn’t about talent. Or even mindset...it’s about habits. Hey there, Rainmakers! Today I’m sharing the mindset, energy, focus, and discipline that actually separates top performers from everyone else. I’m not talking about cheesy affirmations or surface-level strategy. I’m talking about building a way of being that becomes hab...

Drowning in leads but struggling to hire help? You’re not alone — and I’ve got your roadmap!  Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode, I’m diving into a powerful office hours convo where Rox — a solo-producing loan broker getting 20–30 referrals a week — asks the million-dollar question: How do I hire the right support without repeating past mistakes? She’s tried VAs, bank referrals, even recr...

From $6M to $57M...To $2B? Maui Parra’s Blueprint for Bold, Heart-Led Growth What does it take to scale from $6M to $57M in six years, build a thriving team, and still show up with heart and hustle? Maui Parra is here to tell you. Hey there, Rainmakers!  From three Subway sandwiches and ten people in a room to 100+ attendees at her monthly Spanish-speaking events, Maui Parra’s rise as a top-p...

Think you need to hustle 60+ hours a week to grow your business? Think again. Hey there, Rainmakers! This episode is a masterclass in sustainable success from one of the most technically brilliant—and heart-centered—leaders in our field: Chantry Abbott from St. George, Utah. In a town of just 200,000 people, Chantry and his Guild Mortgage team have carved out 20% market share—with Chantry himself...

Feeling like you're getting your ass handed to you in this business? Good. That means you're growing. Now let's do something about it. Hey there, rainmakers! If you’re in the mortgage business, you’ve felt it: the pressure, the fires, the ghosting, the chaos. In this solo episode, I pull back the curtain on my own journey—after 6,500+ closings—to share the mindsets that keep you stuck … and what i...

You’ll never hit your next level of success by doing more of what’s already burning you out. Hey there, rainmakers! I used to believe my worth was in my speed, my availability, and how much I could cram into a day. I prided myself on closing over 200 loans a year—alone. No team, no boundaries, no balance. Just pure hustle. But inside, I was exhausted, stuck, and unsure how to break the cycle. In t...

🔥 Are your consultations killing your closings—or creating lifetime clients? Hey there, rainmakers! In this high-energy, soul-stirring episode, I sit down with the one and only Dino Rossetti —a five-time Blue Dragon award winner–if you know you know ;-) - former Core Training coach, and current powerhouse behind Ultimate Business Partner . From pounding the pavement in 110-degree Sacramento heat...

 What if showing up as yourself– and focusing on service–is the most powerful sales strategy? Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode, I sit down with one of my dearest friends and powerhouse producers, Andy Zemon — and let me tell you, this man is the definition of humble, heart-centered hustle. Andy isn’t flashy. He calls himself “average.” But last year, he closed 177 units for $83M in prod...

What if the secret to scaling wasn't speed... but slowing down to advise better? Hey there, Rainmakers! This episode right here? It's one of those "drop everything and listen" convos. I sat down with Brendan Donelson—legendary LO, longtime leader, and one of the most consistent, humble top producers I know. He’s been in the game for over 30 years, closed nearly $18M YTD, and he’s still having fun...

What if your greatest power is hiding in plain sight? Hey there, rainmakers! Today’s episode of The Mortgage Rainmaker Podcast is a masterclass in rising from the shadows and stepping fully into your power. I’m joined by the incredible Rosa Izzi — a woman who spent 20 years in operations, underwriting and closing loans behind the scenes, before boldly stepping into the spotlight as a producing bra...

My guest today has a formula for success "The 3 'C's". Are you using them all? Hey there, rainmakers! If you've ever felt like you had to claw your way out of the mud just to take a breath — this episode is for you. I sat down with Amir Syed, a powerhouse coach, mortgage OG, and former telemarketer turned empire-builder, to talk about the grit it takes to become self-made in this business and in l...

How does a 94% conversion rate sound? 250% growth in one year? Hey there, rainmakers! In this episode, I’m talking with someone I’ve nicknamed The Gangster — Alex Dykes. And trust me, it fits. Alex has gone from a loan officer assistant to a branch leader running multi-state teams, growing his business 250% in just one year , from 19 to 67 agent relationships — all in one of the toughest mortgage...

How does a dad of five, in a new market, outgrow an entire industry that's shrinking? Hey there, rainmakers! This episode hit me in the feels. I sat down with Ed Stratton, the guy closing $66 million in loans while raising five kids and rebuilding his business from scratch in a brand-new state. We talked about what it really takes to grow when most people are pulling back, and how being genuine (n...

What if the struggle is actually the shortcut? Hey there, rainmakers! This one’s close to my heart. I sat down with my sister and sales manager, Katie Besso, for one of the most raw, real, and revealing conversations I've had on the mic. Katie didn’t just fall into this industry — she fought her way to the top. From dialing 200+ leads a month in a cubicle to running a $60M+ team by 30, her rise is...

What if the key to leveling up wasn’t being louder — but being braver? Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode of The Mortgage Rainmaker podcast, I met with my longtime friend and Guild Mortgage veteran Brandy Marshall — and we went deep on what it means to shift from being the one in the background to being the one who makes it rain. Brandy built her business in a tight-knit Nevada market, working...

Is your sales strategy aligned with your personality? If not, you could be missing out... Hey there, Rainmakers! In this game-changing April Sales Mastery community call, I reveal how knowing your Rainmaker Archetype is the secret to building a scalable, sustainable mortgage business — without burnout or cold calls. Are you a Trust Builder? Technician? Marketer? Or Networker? You’ll discover how t...

What happens when a Division 1 basketball coach pivots into mortgage, moves to a new city, and decides to build a mortgage career from scratch, with ZERO connections? Paula Nirschl is what happens! Hey there, rainmakers! With over 18 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Paula is a passionate and dedicated leader who coaches and empowers loan officers to achieve their professional goals. A...

What if you could meet with fewer buyers, close more deals, and get realtors to send you leads because of your process — not despite it? Jason Jacobs isn't playing the volume game the same way everyone else is. He’s doing 261 units a year in St. Louis. In this episode, he shares exactly how he does it — step by step. In this episode of The Mortgage Rainmaker Podcast, Shayla sits down with Guild Mo...

What if the worst chapter of your life could unlock your greatest mission? Hey there, rainmakers! Amber Coleman has been a powerhouse at Guild Mortgage for years — but what you don’t see on the leaderboard is the hell she walked through to get here. I’ve watched her grow from 231 units to 435 in a single year — that’s an 89% increase, totaling $155M in volume. But her results are rooted in somethi...

What if by holding on too tight...you’re holding yourself back? Hey there, rainmakers! This week I sat down with mortgage coach and powerhouse mortgage banker Denise Donoghue, aka The Mortgage Nerd, for a raw and inspiring conversation about growth, leadership, and the sometimes brutal journey of building a sustainable business. Denise Donoghue, known as "The Mortgage Nerd," is one of Dallas’ top...

What does it take to grow a $150 million mortgage branch and still show up with joy every day? In this high-energy episode, I sit down with Jimmy Parsons — a producing branch manager, Elevate coach, and the guy behind the legendary Jimmy Text and Hammer 100 endurance challenge. Jimmy breaks down how he built trust-based partnerships with 73+ realtors, scaled through coaching, and uses creativity (...

From tuna and mustard to 240 loans a year — Josh Sigman’s story is wild. But what’s even wilder? How he helped me 3X my income, coached me through nursing a newborn, and changed the entire trajectory of my career. I was six years into the mortgage business when I met Josh Sigman — exhausted, on the loan rollercoaster, and clinging to hustle as my only strategy. What I didn’t know then is that Josh...

What if your pain wasn’t holding you back—but was actually the fuel to everything you’re meant to become? Hey there, Rainmakers! This episode is straight-up fire. I sat down with powerhouse speaker and peak performance coach Ben Newman, right after he lit up the stage at our Guild Leadership Summit. And instead of keeping it surface-level, we dove deep—into pain, drive, legacy, and the kind of dis...

What if going broke was the best thing that ever happened to you..? Hey there, Rainmakers! In this episode, I sat down with the one and only Sean Herrero — a total technician turned $100M+ loan officer who’s done it his own damn way. Sean gets real about going broke in 2016, walking away from a cushy wholesale job, and rebuilding from the ground up as a solo LO with a serious mission: to do right...