Forged In Fire

What does it take to go from complete novice to successful commercial real estate investor? Beth Underhill's journey reveals it's not expertise, connections, or money—it's the courage to raise your hand and say "I can do that" even when you have no idea how.

Beth and her husband's real estate adventure began unexpectedly in 2018 when a middle-of-the-night infomercial led them to explore house flipping. Already running a successful outdoor construction company, they thought transferring those skills indoors would be straightforward. Then COVID hit, completely shifting market demands and forcing them to pivot into commercial real estate—a wo...

Todd Mitchell transforms cybersecurity for small businesses by bridging the gap between enterprise-level protection and solo entrepreneurs who lack resources but face the same legal requirements. Drawing from 20 years of Navy experience and advanced cybersecurity training, he focuses on protecting the most vulnerable business owners by taking a people-first approach rather than just securing networks.

• Spent 20 years in the Navy before transitioning to IT and cybersecurity
• Started his business after helping his DJ friend who lost all his music to hackers
• Discovered most cybersecurity companies only serve large businesses, ignoring solopreneurs
• Takes a holistic approach...

Ever felt that gnawing sensation—the one where you're working at your corporate job until 1 AM, only to go home and hustle on your side business until 4 AM? That entrepreneurial itch that just won't go away? Matt knows this feeling all too well.

After nearly 11 years on Wall Street at prestigious institutions like Bank of America and UBS, Matt finally took the leap into entrepreneurship, founding both a private wealth management firm and a real estate investment business. But his journey wasn't an overnight success story—it was paved with baseball card trading ventures as a kid, a co...

What truly separates effective marketing from forgettable noise? The answer lies in powerful, persuasive copywriting – and few understand this craft better than Holly Seibert, founder of Holly Seibert Copywriting.

In this captivating conversation, Holly shares her unconventional path from marketing major to HR professional to successful copywriting entrepreneur. After experiencing two corporate layoffs, she realized the illusion of job security and took control of her own destiny. "Nowhere is safe," she reflects. "If your job is going to get eliminated, it's going to get eliminated. Having that control and being on my own was really what I ne...

Mark Schinski, CEO of Capital Companion, shares his journey from psychology and engineering studies to building a successful real estate investment firm with his business partner Joe. His background in construction combined with strategic partnerships has enabled him to tackle challenging properties that other investors avoid, turning the "worst houses" into profitable investments.

• Background in psychology, engineering, and 20 years in construction provides unique perspective on real estate investing
• Started as project manager for luxury custom home builder before launching his own general contracting company
• Met business partner Joe through a mentor who recognized their complementary skills...

Joe Frederick's real estate journey began with a teenage epiphany in a New Jersey beach house. "This is not the family type that I come from," he recalls thinking at 16, discovering the owner built wealth through real estate. That moment sparked a decade-long path from finance student to savvy entrepreneur.

Frederick's tactical approach to building wealth started with house hacking at 22, purchasing a duplex and renting the larger unit while living in the smaller one. Despite being younger than his tenants, he positioned himself as "just the property manager," a clever strategy that established authority while concealing...

What happens when you find yourself crawling through an attic at 2AM, breathing insulation, and realize "this isn't it"? For Alejandro, that moment sparked a transformation from blue-collar HVAC technician to successful entrepreneur helping others access interest-free capital and harness the power of AI.

Alejandro takes us through his journey of investing $40,000 in mentorships and courses (most of which he candidly admits was "bullshit") before finding the strategies that allowed him to build a thriving business. He shares how he helps entrepreneurs structure their profiles to secure high-limit, 0% interest credit cards that can be converted to capital...

Brian Briscoe never imagined he'd become a multifamily investor with $35 million in real estate holdings. After earning degrees in mathematics and serving 20 years in the military, his path took an unexpected turn when he realized the power of real estate investing.

During a military deployment with limited outside communication, Brian found himself alone with a computer and spreadsheets, calculating what it would take to achieve financial freedom. The sobering discovery? He'd need 60-80 single-family homes to replace his income – a pace that would leave him "really, really old" before reaching his goal. This revelation pushed him to ex...

Jonna Weber transforms from a reluctant investor who viewed real estate as risky to a community leader and team builder with a thriving portfolio spanning decades of experience. Her journey illustrates how consistent action over time, learning from others, and pushing through fear creates lasting success in real estate investing.

• Sold an underperforming property losing $800 monthly during a market downswing to purchase two positive cash flow properties 
• Discovered the power of investor communities by attending the first-ever BiggerPockets conference
• Created the Boise Real Estate Investor Network after recognizing Idaho's potential market growth
• Weathered the 2008 recession...

Jerome Myers shares his journey from corporate America dropout to entrepreneurship expert, revealing how he helps founders find post-exit fulfillment rather than just maximizing valuations. 

• Built a $20 million division for a Fortune 550 company before leaving to pursue entrepreneurship
• Created "the eight X's of a founder" framework to guide entrepreneurs through common pitfalls
• Advocates finding mentors who've achieved your goals rather than learning through trial and error
• Explains the "founder's exit paradox" where entrepreneurs feel lost after selling their businesses
• Shares case study of helping a dentist sell most of her practices to achieve financial f...

Nate and Cole share personal stories of their most challenging real estate moments and how they transformed these potential disasters into opportunities that strengthened their businesses and mindsets.

• Nate recounts managing a duplex that caught fire when a child found a lighter and toilet paper
• The catastrophe led Nate to purchase the property, get his GC license, and transform it into a profitable investment
• Cole details a $150,000 mistake on a 7-unit portfolio caused by misunderstanding commercial appraisal processes
• Despite the refinance failure, the resulting high cash flow became the foundation supporting Cole's entire portfolio
• Bo...

Bryan Clayton transforms a high school lawn mowing side hustle into an 8-figure landscaping company before creating GreenPal, the "Uber of lawn care" now serving 300,000 weekly users nationwide after a decade of determined building.

• Started mowing lawns in high school and grew it into a company with 150 employees over 15 years
• Sold first landscaping business for 8 figures in 2013 and quickly realized retirement wasn't fulfilling
• Identified opportunity to create an Uber-like service for lawn care despite having no tech background
• Spent first two years learning to code and building prototype, then struggling to find initial users
• Di...

Linda from Married to Real Estate shares her journey from property management to owning 193 units and developing commercial properties. Her story reveals how networking, mindset shifts, and embracing uncertainty transformed her from managing properties for others to building a substantial real estate portfolio.

• Started in property management for nearly 10 years before deciding to become an owner
• First investment was a Chicago triplex where they implemented house hacking and BRRRR strategies
• Moved to Houston after researching population growth, job growth, and crime rates in various cities
• Shifted from single-family to commercial real estate to accelerate path to...

Anthony Markey – Business Profit Advocate & Connector

With over seven years of experience as a self-employed professional, Anthony Markey specializes in helping businesses uncover hidden financial opportunities to save and maximize profits. Beginning his career in the life and health insurance industry, he transitioned into the B2B space, where he partners with business owners to identify cost-saving strategies they may not even know exist.

Anthony's passion lies in building relationships and fostering collaboration rather than competition. As the host of the I Know a Guy podcast, he connects with industry leaders, shares their st...

 Michelle Marion, a seasoned property management expert with 25 years of experience, started her journey as a single mother, unknowingly stepping into a lifelong career. 

Specializing in value-add properties, she has transformed underperforming assets into thriving investments. Her passion for real estate investing began with a $7,500 property, teaching her invaluable lessons about market potential. 

After years of career growth, she reignited her investment journey in 2022, inspired by a mentor. Michelle’s story is a testament to resilience, vision, and seizing opportunities in real...

 In this episode of Forged in Fire, Jacqueline Landry shares how she transitioned from the corporate grind to financial freedom through real estate. After a major business setback, she and her husband pivoted to multifamily syndications, leveraging their experience to rebuild and scale. 

Today, Jacqueline is actively involved in 16 syndications across multiple asset classes, including multifamily, triple net, storage, and mobile home parks. Her journey is a testament to resilience, strategic growth, and the power of real estate to create lasting wealth. 

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Episode notes

Olivia Acton is the owner and lead photographer at Olivia Acton Photography, a premier studio based in Janesville, Wisconsin.

In this episode of Forged in Fire, Olivia shares her journey from nursing to entrepreneurship—starting from scratch, signing her first clients, and growing her business into a thriving luxury photography brand. Originally trained as a nurse with a master’s degree, Olivia spent nearly a decade in healthcare before discovering her passion for photography. What began as a simple desire to capt...

Episode notes

Today, we’re joined by Rachel Cohen, who takes us through her journey, who transformed her life from being paralyzed to building a thriving real estate career.

Starting as a college athlete, Rachel’s life took unexpected turns, from managing a business with her ex-husband to facing a life-altering injury in 2006. After realizing she had no legacy to leave her children, she pivoted into real estate. Within a year of learning the ropes, Rachel became a co-GP in a 142-door property. Now, she’s focused on her seco...