Podcasts about Main Street

Delve into the captivating world of real estate with Jim Sheils, a full-time real estate investor with 24 years of experience and a fascinating journey of mastering the build-to-rent strategy. Jim shares insight into his lifestyle of working and adventuring, his family education company 18 Summers, why retirement does not interest him, and his advice for investors looking to get involved in building to rent properties. Learn what areas are best avoided when investing in rental properties, the pros and cons of specific designs, the importance of due diligence in property insurance, and much more.    Tune in now and understand why building and renting properties can be a great way to generate income!   [00:00 - 07:17] Journey From Real Estate Investor to Build-to-Rent Strategy Introducing Jim to the show What keeps him going is the "how" - the ability to work and play from Costa Rica, spend time with family, keep up with health, and take adventures   [07:18 - 14:55] Making Build to Rent Deals Work Focus on high-growth markets with population growth, economic growth, affordability index, and desirable factors Properties are B+ class with extra finishes like vinyl plank flooring, granite countertops, etc. Go for established neighborhoods with a good mixture of renters and owners Have to go to designs for different areas based on hurricane safety and aesthetics   [14:56 - 24:22] The Importance of Due Diligence and Property Insurance Owning too many properties can be a ten-year ache and pain Insurance costs have gone up in Florida, but vary by area and age of home New construction is rewarded with lower insurance premiums Due diligence is essential: visit the site and do market analysis   [24:23 - 27:48] Closing Segment Best investment: Jim's family life Worst investment: Jim's first properties in Jacksonville, Florida The most important lesson learned: play to your strengths, not your weaknesses Quotes:   "We always try to go to high-growth markets. We're only focused on Florida because we believe in the fundamentals here. We believe in the landlord laws here, which are super important when investing. You've got to be able to collect your rent." - Jim Sheils   "If I could go back 24 years, I'd own less property, a better quality with less leverage." - Jim Sheils Connect with Jim! Book: Passive Income Playbook Website: https://jjplaybook.com  Apply to Invest with Taylor at www.investwithtaylor.com   Track your wealth for free with Personal Capital, go to www.escapingwallstreet.com   Please leave a review and help others escape Wall Street and build wealth on Main Street!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed balancing family, work, and ambitions to build wealth through real estate investing? How does one give adequate time to their family, refine investment strategies, and still achieve their financial goals?    In this episode, Taylor welcomes Aileen Prak to discuss balancing life, family, work and real estate investing. Eileen shares her experience setting priorities and goals and refining the investment strategy with her husband. She talks about managing multiple family, work, and investment commitments, including building a network of connections, creating relationships, and setting small goals. She also explains how two partners with different skill sets can successfully work together to achieve their goals through communication and compromise.    Tune in for an insightful conversation on maintaining balance while building wealth!   [00:00 - 06:12] Balancing Life, Family, and Real Estate Investing Focus on the importance of time and how to spend it Set priorities, goals and delegate responsibilities Invest in multifamily apartments outside of your comfort zone Leverage the experience of a sponsor to learn and be passive investors   [06:13 - 11:26] Leveraging Strengths and Weaknesses to Achieve Goals The power of leveraging off each other's strengths and weaknesses Having a support network for help with kids and other tasks Identifying individual strengths and weaknesses Communicating effectively to divide and conquer tasks Creating a division of line between what is enjoyed doing and what is good at doing   [11:27 - 19:31] Navigating Business Goals Together Set goals based on family and overall life quality Break down goals into smaller steps Handle disagreements by understanding each other's perspective The end goal is the same, but how to get there may require compromise   [19:32 - 24:07] Achieving Financial Independence and Spending Time with Family Don't forget why you are doing it in the first place Grow business to have time freedom and be able to spend it with kids Expose kids to real estate without limiting beliefs Enjoy current job and make a decision when one of them wants to leave   [24:08 - 29:40] Closing Segment Best investment: first house bought Worst investment: a property with high deferred maintenance and low market value The most important lesson: always walk away from a bad deal Quotes:   "I wanted to gain more time and freedom to spend more with my family, not be dependent on that W-2, and have that choice to continue working because I wanted to, not because I had to." - Aileen Prak   "If you can overcome those limiting beliefs, you can get there and start so much quicker without having to feel like you're not enough. And you totally are, but you need to start making the right moves and start getting outside of your comfort zone, networking with other people." - Aileen Prak Connect with Aileen! Website: https://bonavestcapital.com  Podcast: How Did They Do It? Real Estate Apply to Invest with Taylor at www.investwithtaylor.com   Track your wealth for free with Personal Capital, go to www.escapingwallstreet.com   Please leave a review and help others escape Wall Street and build wealth on Main Street!

For whatever reason, we were feeling a bit nostalgic today. We thought back to the days when you needed specific tickets to ride each attraction at the Disney Parks. Looking back at the original lists got us wondering. What would the Modern Day D-Ticket Attractions be? So, we decided we'd go through the parks and list the ones we thought would fit right into that role. Play along and see if you agree with our lists. Once we complete our look at Modern Day D-Ticket Attractions, it's time for the Disney Stories of the Week. In this episode, we introduce you to the new Disneyland Ambassadors. We, also, share which of our favorite Disney transportation routes has made its return. And we tell you how you can celebrate a decade of Frozen! As always, we wrap it all up with tips that might help you on your next vacation.   If you have any comments or questions, feel free to Contact Us!   Want more even MORE fun Disney news? Be sure to subscribe to our weekly Hyperion Adventures Podcast Newsletter.   And, don't forget to visit our favorite Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Nate with Main Street and More Travel will give you concierge-level service planning for your next vacation. Be sure to tell him, “Tom & Michelle sent me!”   Thanks for listening! Cheers!

Ashley Pope is an incredible woman by any standard. She grew up mostly in the Ventura area of Southern California. She went to school graduating like any high school senior. She tried college and found that it wasn't for her. She had been working at a department store while in high school and for a bit after that including when she decided college was not her forte.   She spent a few years working in sales for an ophthalmological company before opening her own spice and tea shop in Ventura at the age of 23. During this time her son was born. At the age of two, he was diagnosed as being autistic. Ashley learned how to be a fierce advocate for him and joined forces with Autism Society Ventura where she now serves as president.   Ashley sold her business and took a position with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce to have the time to devote to her son's needs.   Life wasn't done throwing curves at Ashley. In 2020 she was feeling some health issues of her own. She thought they were stress-related. After a STAT MRI's ended in a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis she now had not only to advocate for her son but for herself as well.   You will see from listening to Ashley that she is as unstoppable as it gets. She is by any standard the kind of person I am honored to know and I do hope we will hear more from her in the future.     About the Guest:   Ashley Pope is 33 years old and lives in beautiful Ventura, California with her husband Carlos and their 10-year-old son, Gavin. She is employed by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce as a Membership Development Manager. She feels fortunate to get to work with the business community, including small businesses and non-profit organizations. Ashley is an entrepreneur, having owed a spice and tea store Downtown Ventura for 6 years before selling it, all before the age of 30. During that time, she was acknowledged for being a young business owner, most notably in the Wells Fargo Works national competition and by the National Association of Women Business Owners when she was awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015.   Ashley is also a passionate volunteer. She has worked countless hours as a volunteer for Autism Society Ventura County- a role that doubles as a hobby! She is currently the President of the organization and has served on the board for 6 years. The projects that bring her the most joy are centered around workforce development, advocacy, changing the local narrative around Autism one family at a time, and obtaining large grants to put on new meaningful projects and programs in Ventura County. Ashley is also a 7 year Rotarian with Rotary Club of Ventura East.   In 2015, when her son was 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Autism. This diagnosis rocked her world and sent her family on a quest for services and to understand what this meant for her son. Acceptance wasn't immediate, but it was fast. Ashley became a passionate advocate and began to help other families whenever she could. This quest for more led her to Autism Society Ventura County, where she was able to combine her energy with other advocates for greater impact. She credits the organization with empowering her with the knowledge and experience to be the best mom she can be. By the end of 2016, Ashley was known in her community as a disability advocate.   In 2020, Ashley came into another challenge. She had been experiencing some strange medical symptoms that she wrote off as stress induced. She was shocked when STAT MRI's ended in a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Ashley didn't know much about the condition, only that it was debilitating. She quickly learned that unlike Autism, there wasn't much fun or interesting about progressive multiple sclerosis. She is currently in the process of coming to acceptance of her own limitations and grappling with her sense of self as her ability to do a lot changes.   Through her experience with her son, Ashley has learned that the ability to communicate is a gift and is motivated to share her story, even when she feels vulnerable.   Ashley loves to read, spend time with her family, and loves her 2 cats Scarlett and Pebbles and her dog Donut.   Ways to connect with Ashley:   Instagram: VenturawithAshley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.pope.10/     About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.     Transcription Notes Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hello once again. And yep, you are absolutely right. This is unstoppable mindset. We're inclusion, diversity in the unexpected meet. And it's always fun when we get to have a lot of all of that kind of stuff on here. I'm your host, Mike hingson. We're really glad you're here with us today. And today we have a guest Ashley Pope, then Ashley would be a person I would describe as an unstoppable mom advocate and she'll tell you all about why that's the case. But that's a good description to start with. Anyway, we've been working on getting this all set up for a while and we finally got it done. And here we are. And Ashley, thank you for coming on. And welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Ashley Pope ** 02:03 Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here with you today.   Michael Hingson ** 02:06 And I am not really if you want to get technical everyone totally pleased with Ashley because she lives in Ventura, California, and I wish I were there. But no Victorville is really okay. Ventura is a nice seaside town, and there's a lot of value in being there. And it's a wonderful place and not too far from where I live. So I could get a ride there within a couple of hours or so. So not complaining too much. Right, Ashley?   Ashley Pope ** 02:33 That's right, Ventura Great.   Michael Hingson ** 02:35 Well, let's start by maybe learning a little bit about kind of the earlier Ashley, you growing up and all that kind of stuff. And we'll, we'll take it from there.   Ashley Pope ** 02:44 Yeah. So I grew up right here in Ventura, California, which is about halfway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and super sunny, beautiful place to live. And it's a wonderful place to grow up. And I have a brother and a sister and you know, my parents, we all just grew up here and and I think I think the universe all the time for allowing you to grow up and such a gorgeous place with wonderful people. I really don't think there's anywhere better in the world. And then, shortly after high school, I just jumped right into actually working full time before high school even ended. And I just always have had a really strong work ethic and a really big passion for whatever work I was doing. I never expected that I would find myself in disability advocacy, that's for sure. This is where I landed and I'm grateful to be here as well.   Michael Hingson ** 03:43 So you didn't go to college?   Ashley Pope ** 03:45 No, I did for a little bit. I went to MIT for college. Okay, great. Yeah. And I dropped out. I have I have a short attention span so I knew pretty quickly that college was not my thing. It was really hard for me to sit down and sit still I've always learned better by using my hands and my mind and getting out there and I chose the work route which you know, pros and cons but no regrets at all.   Michael Hingson ** 04:14 Well, and that's really the issue isn't that you are you're happy with what you're doing? There are no regrets. You can always do shoulda, coulda, woulda, and what good does it get us anyway?   Ashley Pope ** 04:24 Absolutely. I actually bought a business at the age of 23. A retail store in beautiful downtown Ventura. And I consider that to be my college experience. I had it for six years. And there's there's no business experience like that experience, that's for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 04:43 And what happened to the business? I sold it. See there you go. So you beat the odds first of all, because they say that typically most startups don't last five years. Not only is it yours last but then you sold it. So you can't do better than that. Unless you wanted to stay in it and there are a lot of reason Since not to necessarily do that, as I'm sure we're gonna discover, but what were you doing? You said you were working even in high school?   Ashley Pope ** 05:08 Yeah, I worked at Macy's. So when I was in high school, my parents moved to Sacramento, my dad's job got transferred. And I kind of refused to start new in high school and opted instead to do homeschooling and ended up working full time at Macy's, while homeschooling for a year, and then I moved back to Ventura to graduate, and kept the job. And shortly after graduating high school, I went on to work at LensCrafters, which was a great management experience and really taught me a lot. I think my days at LensCrafters really helped to prepare me for advocacy in a lot of ways it you know, just working with people who have vision impairments, or have medical issues and need the glasses to see it was really enlightening for me honestly, that to think somebody could lose a pair of glasses or break a pair of glasses and then be unable to see the world and maybe not have the accommodations that they needed to pick glasses right away. Rather, it was financial or transportation restraints, just to have somebody kind of be left without resources for maybe a week before they could get in for an appointment. It was really it was enlightening. For sure. It's pretty cool to to witness that.   Michael Hingson ** 06:39 It's kind of an off the topic question. But I'm just curious, it sort of pops into my head. How do we get people to recognize that eyesight is not the only game in town, and even if you lose your glasses, it's not the end of the world.   Ashley Pope ** 06:52 I mean, I think it is the end of the world in first moments, right? In the first moments, in the first moments, you see, oh my gosh, I can't work, I can't drive. I can't be an effective parent. I can't help my kid with their homework. It's like you have to learn how to deal with what life gives you. But if you only have a week to figure it   Michael Hingson ** 07:15 out, oh, yeah, that's not a lot of time.   Ashley Pope ** 07:19 But you're absolutely right. I mean, that's one thing I did not learn from LensCrafters. But maybe I learned later down the road, is that these things are not life or death. Right? It's, it's not. It's not the end of the world. You're absolutely right. But it's the end of that person's world when they have a week worth of plans that they can no longer make. It feels like the end of their world. And perhaps that's an issue with America and with the world as it is more than it is the way that those individuals were thinking,   Michael Hingson ** 07:54 Yeah, we teach. We teach people so much that I say it's the only game in town and I and I understand why for most people, it really is because that's what they know. The other part about it, and we talked about it here every so often is that somehow we've got to get away from using the term vision impairment, because for visual impairment, because we're not impaired. And people who don't hear well would shoot you if you said they were hearing impaired because they recognize it impaired means you're really comparing it with something, rather than saying, hard of hearing. And likewise, with people who are blind or low vision, that's a much better way to put it than blind or visually impaired visually, we're not different and impaired as also an inappropriate thing. But we're still a long way from getting people to understand that language. And that doesn't help people thinking that it's the end of the world. But I appreciate it. And and the reality is it's an education process. And hopefully over time, it will be something where we'll have better revolution.   Ashley Pope ** 08:58 Thank you, Michael, it. It is an educational process. And there's so many, we've we're always changing and always evolving. And that's something I didn't know I do remember prometrics at one point telling me that we should never say blind, right? And it seems like we've gone backwards or gone forwards but like it's like what used to be acceptable for a while was no longer acceptable, such as like person first language. That's another thing with autism. Like you don't say autistic, you say a person with autism. And then now we're going back to know the person that is who they are. That's part of their culture that they want to claim and part of their identity. So now we got to stick. And we always want to be respectful of the language that one wants to use in the language that's culturally appropriate and no, that's super valid. And thank you so much for for sharing.   Michael Hingson ** 09:55 Well, in the case of blind for example, and I think there are reasons why optometrists should ophthalmologists think that I'll get to that in a second. But the real issue is that blind and low vision is and or are characteristics. And the issue isn't politically correct or not the issue is accurate and how it really classifies people. And that's why the whole idea of impaired is a problem. From my perspective, the optometrist, you talked about his blind impaired, why is that any different than being blind, you know, a, maybe a better way to put it is that guy's light dependent, and he'd be in a world of hurt if the power suddenly went out in his office, and he didn't have a window to allow sunlight in. But he didn't have a smartphone right close by to be able to turn it on for a flashlight. And most people in the world are like dependent. And that's all they know, that I don't expect everyone to necessarily get to the point up front where they're experts and won't panic. But they sure also ought not to assume that just because some people aren't like them, that we're not just as capable. And of course, that gets back to the whole issue of disability does not mean lack of ability, which is something you understand very well. Absolutely. So you sold your business. Cool. That was great. What was your business?   Ashley Pope ** 11:26 It was a spice and tea store, downtown Ventura, and it's very much still there and the new owners are not new anymore. It's been four years. They are absolutely amazing. The store is called spice topia. And it's right on the 500 block of Main Street, downtown Ventura, and I love the tan family. If you drop in, you should definitely spend a lot of money and and visit the family.   Michael Hingson ** 11:52 Well, only we'll go with you. We'll have to get to Venter and do that. I've been a great fan of some Well, vibrant British teas, but I like green tea and other other teas as well. I've never been the coffee drinker and I don't know why. But I've always been since I started drinking hot drinks more of a tea drinker. Of course, I can always be spoiled with hot chocolate, but that's another story.   Ashley Pope ** 12:15 Same same. I love chocolate bars. I'm not so much of a coffee drinker anymore, either.   Michael Hingson ** 12:21 Nothing wrong with hot chocolate.   Ashley Pope ** 12:24 Especially with whipped cream. Yep. Absolutely. Do it.   Michael Hingson ** 12:28 Make it with milk? Yep. We, my wife and I in the winter would get Starbucks cocoa from Costco. And we would make it with milk never water. And so always tastes great. Yeah, spoiled me. I might just have to have some anyway today just because. Well, that comes later. But meanwhile, so what did you do after you sold the business?   Ashley Pope ** 12:59 So this is another point when I had a business, I always had another job kind of outside of the business. Because as you said, small business is hard. And retail is hard. So that was always kind of a side project for me, that I had for a long time. When I went into business, my son was just about a year old. And within another two years he was diagnosed with autism. And so I tried to kind of let go of the job that I had and went to go work my retail store and then ended up with a different kind of job sticking with the optometry ophthalmology field. I would do outside sales for LASIK and cataract surgeons. And yeah, stick with the field stick with what I knew. And then the Chamber of Commerce here in Ventura was hirings. Oh, I've actually worked for the chamber for about seven years. So there was some overlap between selling my business and the time that I worked for the chamber. The time came in 2019, I really was just beginning to feel the squeeze of having a child with special needs, doing my volunteer work that I love to do, and of course, having a job and a business. So something had to go. And I really took a good hard look and thought, what do I want to do? Do I want to quit my job? Do I want to stay in the business? And I ended up deciding to go ahead and sell the business. And that was a really great decision for me. A very wise decision in terms of especially not knowing what was coming next, which I know we're gonna get to about what less than a year after selling I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And so that was really telling why I was having some of the issues that I was having, focusing, holding conversations with fatigue EEG, all of these symptoms that I had been having just in case I was overstressed overworked, which I was, but not really answered some of those questions, and I was really grateful that I made the decision that left me with health insurance versus the one that maybe wouldn't have. So.   Michael Hingson ** 15:16 So the job that you had at that time was the Optima logical one or the optical one or what? No, with the chamber with the chamber. Okay, great. Yeah. So you got health insurance. So you had two different sets of challenges, because clearly MS is not anywhere near the same kinds of issues as as autism. And now suddenly, you had to deal with both. Is there a husband in the picture?   Ashley Pope ** 15:39 There is? Yeah, my husband, my son's dad, he is a stay at home dad, actually, to this day, really supportive also than I assume? Yeah, he's really supportive, and definitely the primary caregiver for my son being that I was working. So that's it. It's been great just being able to lean on him.   Michael Hingson ** 16:03 And, and he does that, which is so cool. Because he cares enough to do that. And so he's able to deal with your son and, and you when necessary. Oh, absolutely. I see you a lot on a lot of different ways. But with the MS and all that, does your son go to school?   Ashley Pope ** 16:23 He does. So he goes to a special education program that's been a typical school, he does have a inclusion where he sometimes goes into the general education classrooms. And he goes to public school.   Michael Hingson ** 16:38 How's he doing?   Ashley Pope ** 16:39 He's doing great. My son is so awesome. He's really positive. He's really smart. He's really happy. He has a hard time with language, both understanding complex instructions or complex ideas even. And then also verbalizing, complex feelings, emotions, he talks a little bit but mostly about, like his needs and his wants. But I really learned that there's a lot of different ways to communicate. And he's, he's a happy kid. So we're really grateful for that. Does he read? He is super good with reading? He does. He doesn't read so much. Books. And the comprehension is still a challenge. But he definitely reads words and is really good with spelling. That's he has been fascinated with the alphabet, since he was like, nine months old. He's been super drawn to numbers and letters and colors and shapes. And that's actually, I think, a pretty common thing with autism.   Michael Hingson ** 17:50 Well, that's cool. Does, does he? Have you ever tried to explore the concept of listening to audiobooks? Or is his listening comprehension just not there yet.   Ashley Pope ** 18:02 He's never really shown interest. He's just barely starting to show interest in cartoons, which is funny, because, you know, so many parents are like, Oh, too much screen time for the kids, like, you know, you don't want him glued to the TV all day. And for us, we're like, thrilled that he wants to watch cartoons and you can kind of like, maintain a focus on it. I know so many people who learn English through watching cartoons, and maybe you know, grew up on learning Spanish only. And were in households that didn't speak English at all. And were able to pick up English through cartoons. So I'm a big believer that this can be a positive thing for him. And it gives me hope, also, that he's interested in the stories being told and in the characters. So I'm interested to see where that will land.   Michael Hingson ** 18:53 Well, so of course, the issue is you're getting something out of it. And clearly, you can see that so that's a really positive thing. Needless to say. Absolutely. Yeah. So he, he watched his cartoons to see what kind of games does he play?   Ashley Pope ** 19:10 Plays, you know, it's he, he likes to do things his own way. So you can usually find him like jumping on the trampoline, he likes to go for walks, he runs around on the beach, and terms of games. He's just not into it. And we try to pull him into like, you know, our space and get him to engage in these different ways. He loves doing LEGO sets, which is really fun. The booklets like, really, really well, he does better than I do. I'll be like trying to help him and put something on backwards and he's like, no, no, like, he'll like take it from me and fix it. So it kind of comes back to that whole, you know, shapes, numbers, colors, letters thing he's really drawn to what's concrete. Which is interesting because for me, that's so not who I am as a person. So it's been fun to learn alongside him and watch the way that he learns. Just because it's so interesting and different from the way that I learned.   Michael Hingson ** 20:18 Well, clearly, there is a lot of awareness there. And that's probably the most important thing. So you may not know just what's going on in that mind. But there's something that that is going on. And he's aware of his surroundings. And I wish more people were aware of their surroundings in so many ways.   Ashley Pope ** 20:38 Yeah, he'll pick out like, the tiniest little thing and hyper focus on like, one, you know, little tiny toy or one little thing in the carpet, or whatever it might be. In so many ways, it's like he'll he'll fully get immersed in one little part of his day. And it's a really beautiful thing to watch that at attention. And that focus is really rare.   Michael Hingson ** 21:11 You've talked about autism or autistic awareness, as opposed to acceptance. Tell us about that.   Ashley Pope ** 21:17 Yeah, so autism acceptance is a term that's been used for decades, or autism awareness, I'm sorry. So autism awareness is basically like, what is autism? What are the first signs that you should reach out for help if you see these, you know, first things not talking, not smiling, not engaging, no eye contact, they have like this big long list of things for parents. And to know those things is to be aware. So society pushed that for a really long time, autism awareness, autism awareness. And just in the last maybe five years, Autism Society of America, as well as Autism Society of Ventura County, and several other organizations have said, Okay, we've kind of met awareness, people know, what is autism, people know someone with autism. People have heard the word autism. So what does it mean? What's the next step? And autism acceptance is really not only being aware of what autism is, but being accepting of who the unique individuals are, who have autism, and also taking a good look at how does our world work? And how do we make sure that it works for these populations? So for instance, in like workforce training, and education and inclusion, pretty much from birth to end of life? How do we build a world that is more inclusive? And that has been the focus now on acceptance more than awareness?   Michael Hingson ** 23:02 Yeah, it makes sense. And we'll know when there's true acceptance when people recognize that just because someone may be happens to be autistic, that doesn't make them less of a person, it means they're going to do things in a significantly different way. But doesn't mean they're less.   Ashley Pope ** 23:23 Yes, absolutely. That's the goal. We are noticing the differences and honoring the differences, and accommodating the differences when necessary. But that we're recognizing that they are just as much human and have just as much right to find their happiness and passions in the world. We're not just creating cookie cutter programs for kids that are so not cookie cutter. And we're definitely not pushing adults into cookie cutter dogs, or cookie cutter programs. And we honor the diversity of everyone else. We hope that we can honor that diversity across the autism spectrum as well.   Michael Hingson ** 24:06 Do we really know what causes autism?   Ashley Pope ** 24:09 We don't. We don't know what the causes are they they, you know, some genetic factor for sure. environmental factor for sure. But they still haven't identified what exactly causes autism. And one thing that I love most. And what really drew me to Autism Society, is that we really don't talk or work on causes or cures at all. We only focus on providing programs and making the world a better place. As a mom. I remember getting that diagnosis and seeing so many organizations that are talking about you know, finding a cure or figuring out what the cause is so that we can eliminate it and just being like, well, that doesn't really help me. Now, it doesn't help my son now like we don't we're not trying to You know, change, that he has autism, it's part of who he is, in a sense, even very early on, I knew like, I don't want to take his wonder or his joy away from him, like, I'm not trying to make him not jump in spin. That's clearly what's making him happy. But I also just want to help him whatever that looks like. And so I was really attracted to an organization that uses their donations, to help those who are already living versus looking at 20 years ahead, to see what they can figure out about causes or cures. And there's a lot of controversy there as well around even finding a cure for autism, because more and more we're learning that it's, that is the genetic makeup, it's a different wiring of the brain, it's a different way of thinking, and it's not wrong, it's not something to be fixed, it's something to be accommodated. So there's a lot of that feeling out there as well that focusing on a cure or a cause is perhaps not the right focus for the time.   Michael Hingson ** 26:10 Well, or using the words we use a little while ago, or you use a little while ago accepted. There's nothing wrong with acceptance.   Ashley Pope ** 26:18 Yeah. It's trying to convince someone that you are accepting, when in the next breath, you are looking to fix what you feel is broken. So   Michael Hingson ** 26:30 that's the issue what you feel is broken. Yeah. Which is, which is all together a different issue. What do you want parents and other people to know about having a child with autism, you must have life lessons, that would probably be valuable for people to hear about.   Ashley Pope ** 26:50 Yeah, for first getting a diagnosis, what I would tell parents is, it's definitely not the end of the world, that there are a lot of positives that can come from, even from the diagnosis, this child is still the same child, and they still have just as much to offer the world and your family as they did, before they got that diagnosis, or the moment they were born, or the moment you dreamed them up. There is still just as much value there. And I would also say that, you know, cry if you need to cry, but then wake up the next day and get to work. Because there's a lot to do, there's a lot of services to find, there's a lot to learn. And the longer you take to process, whatever feelings you need to process, whatever your your grief process looks like, quicker you can get through it. And the faster you can get to work, the better off your child will be. And the more likely they are to be able to be independent to some capacity in this world. So that's a really important message. And then for the rest of the world, I would just say that individuals with autism do deserve the same access and the same experiences. It's shocking, what we sometimes hear, right? In terms of like, well, that program exists, like isn't that enough? Or these services in the community are available? We have one inclusive Park, is that not enough? Why do you need them all to be inclusive? It's like, No, it's not enough, we deserve the same access. And so I will continue to fight those fights, not necessarily for you to park just one idea or one example. But in every area everywhere should be accessible. And the idea that we put any type of limitations on a child or on a person due to a diagnosis or disability is just not okay. So that's it gets.   Michael Hingson ** 29:03 It gets back to what we talked about earlier, blindness being the end of the world or not, and it doesn't matter whether it's being blind or have been being autistic or whatever. It is something that we've got to get to the point of saying get over it. Where's the real problem? The real problem is us who think there's a problem rather than there necessarily really being a problem.   Ashley Pope ** 29:29 The way I put it is the problem is with the world. There's nothing wrong with my son. The problem is with what the world has available for or does not have available for the way that the world perceives, or the way the world thinks about my son. That's the problem. It's not him. And so I think that's a really important piece for people to recognize is that it's the world that falls short never, never ever child and Never the person with a disability.   Michael Hingson ** 30:04 Yeah, and the reality is that we can get over it. And we can move forward. So well, let's let's talk about Gavin a little bit more. So he's 10. What do you expect will be Gavin's future? At some point, will he go into the workforce and have a job? You know, given his level of autism was I'm not going to call it a disability, because it's no more a disability than being able to see as a disability, but, but he is autistic. What, what will that mean in terms of him being able to ever work or be on his own and so on?   Ashley Pope ** 30:47 Here, as the world would say, and this is another term, not, we don't really use, but he does have a lot of needs. And so sometimes in the autism community, we'll hear, Well, is he low functioning, or is he high functioning, or somewhere in the middle, and that is another category of words that we want to kind of let go of using because just because somebody is high functioning doesn't mean that they don't really struggle with things related to their autism. And just because somebody is low functioning, doesn't mean they don't have anything to offer the world. And that the way that we perceive low functioning and high functioning are not, they mean, really very little to like, the actual experience that that person is having. So we've tried to get away from using that language. And my son does have a lot of needs, and he will hopefully be able to work if that's what he is driven to do. He is really interested in things that I think would be good qualities to have as an employee. He's super happy. He's really good at like keeping things organized and clean, you'd make a great merchandiser, for instance, however, he is easily distracted, and he's not really so into direction at this point in his life. He's also 10. So you never know. So to answer that question, I don't really know, I guess it could be anywhere between having a day program or volunteer opportunities up to being like, a legal engineer, I don't know, could be anywhere. So we're not so sure. Um, fortunately, he has a lot of family support. And we've gotten a lot of the supports and systems in place for him, so that he will be okay financially, and with people around him that care for him, he will never be fully independent, which is hard to say or think about. But that's just the reality of it. And a lot of you know, a lot of people in this world won't. So how are we as society, protecting the interests and the rights and the safety of those amongst us who will never be fully independent, or independent, even partially independent, they'll always need someone   Michael Hingson ** 33:27 kind of almost really submit that most all of us really need someone, and that none of us are totally independent. Probably some people would disagree. But the reality is that we all are interdependent on each other in so many ways, and I don't see a problem with that.   Ashley Pope ** 33:45 Yeah. I hear you. I think, obviously, there's levels and you're right. Everybody's independent, in some sense, but But yeah, it's dependents will be a little bit more   Michael Hingson ** 34:01 payments will be a little bit more than, than a lot of people and so on. You know, but he may end up being a great card shark in Las Vegas. We'll see.   Ashley Pope ** 34:10 That's right. You never know, either. Maybe   Michael Hingson ** 34:12 they'll be supporting you. Yeah,   Ashley Pope ** 34:14 it's very true.   Michael Hingson ** 34:16 Does he have any siblings?   Ashley Pope ** 34:19 He does not. So. But no siblings. He's,   Michael Hingson ** 34:23 he's, he's a lot to concentrate on. Right? Yeah. He and her husband for you?   Ashley Pope ** 34:28 Yes. That's enough for me. Yeah, that's   Michael Hingson ** 34:32 a lot of work all the way around. Or your husband has you and he and Gavin to concentrate on and that's a lot for him too. So that is my wife. My wife and I chose not to have kids. We chose to spoil nieces and nephews. So at the end of the day, we could ship them off to home.   Ashley Pope ** 34:49 Nice,   Michael Hingson ** 34:50 worked out well. Yes, it did. Well, we valued each other we valued our togetherness. She was in a wheelchair. And so as I always told people she read, I pushed worked out really well. And so we work together, we relied on each other. And that's, that's as good as it could possibly be as well. So I appreciate though the the fact that we all do happen to be interdependent in one way or another. Absolutely, which is pretty cool.   Ashley Pope ** 35:23 It is really cool.   Michael Hingson ** 35:25 Well, so for you. What, when? When are you when you discover a parent who has encountered autism? And we've talked some about that, but do you have any other advice or any other kinds of words of wisdom that you want to pass on for parents to think about,   Ashley Pope ** 35:48 um, I sometimes come across parents who won't want to tell their child that they have autism. And I think that that's cruel. For lack of a better word, we'll hear that these kids are having a hard time socially, emotionally, maybe with learning. And parents will just be like, oh, you know, I don't, I don't want to give them the label. I don't want them to, you know, feel like they're living with this or under this. Yeah. And we oftentimes hear from adults with autism, that it answers so many questions to have the diagnosis. And so I think that being able to give them the gift of knowing as early as possible, and have them grow up around the word and around being proud of having a different mind, and aware that their mind is different. And there, they may have some struggles, like they may learn a little bit different, or they might have some social issues or difficulties or differences. But that the family loves them and that they are proud of who they are. And that autism is something to be proud of. Because in a lot of ways, it's also a superpower. And look at all the things that you're great at. That is a better approach, and just not addressing it at all, can be really hurtful   Michael Hingson ** 37:21 to that whole thing of living with autism or whatever, it's the same thing about what we were talking about with blindness or any other kind of so called disability. The reality is we've got to get beyond these words that really are only hurtful and not accurate anyway.   Ashley Pope ** 37:39 Yeah, it's, it's a gift to be able to grow up knowing and to find your pride and sense of self, within the life that you have, you're not going to have another one, it's not going to change, you know that you're not going to one day wake up and not have autism. So just live with it. And you loving that about your child empowers them to love themselves, regardless of any difficulties that they may have.   Michael Hingson ** 38:09 And they're going to know that you love them. And if you don't, they're going to know that. It's it's something that so often we don't understand. Children and and other people in general, really observe instinctively as much as anything else. And they know when you're blowing smoke or when you're genuine, whoever you are, and whatever you do. And I, and it's, you know, I learned it a long time ago, I have been very much involved in sales. And I learned a long time ago in sales. They know when you're faking it, they know when you're telling the truth. And you can try to pull the wool over people's eyes. But the reality is, it doesn't work. People really can sense it. I was interviewing someone actually on a recent episode, who was talking about self confidence, and we talked about confidence and arrogance. And one of the points that he made was with arrogance, it's usually because there's an insecurity and you can bluster and, and do all sorts of things. But the reality is, if you're truly confident in yourself and what you're doing and so on, that shines through and people can tell the difference.   Ashley Pope ** 39:27 Very true.   Michael Hingson ** 39:29 And so love is extremely important. And I'm I'm really glad to hear that you can can really support that in the you guys are doing that and Gavin's gonna certainly appreciate it and give it back in return and that's is important as anything else.   Ashley Pope ** 39:46 Yes, he is so happy and and I think lucky. Just how much support he has. And we don't put him in situations where We don't feel like he is fully accepted and embraced and loved. Ever. So if there was a teacher that I felt was not fit, then we would find a new one. It's like those types of situations, because we can't. I want him to be happy and to live that fullest life. And in order to do that he needs to be around people who believe that he can and that he's worth that,   Michael Hingson ** 40:25 who believe in Him. Uh huh. Well, so I want to talk more about you in terms of your diagnosis and so on. But first, what do you do for the chamber,   Ashley Pope ** 40:39 I do membership development. So I meet with different businesses and organizations and people around the community and bring them into the chamber. I also do a lot of the events work, so help to organize events. It's really awesome to be able to connect with the business community on a really deep level. It's a really supportive community here in Ventura. We have a ton of nonprofits who do really great work, and the business community really comes out and supports them. So I'm really in a position to uncover unmet need, and also to find organizations and people who can help to meet that need. And it's one of the things I'm most grateful for when it comes to my job. Oh,   Michael Hingson ** 41:25 percentage wise, how many businesses are in the chamber? And when not only in winter? But typically speaking? How does that work? Do most businesses join their local chambers?   Ashley Pope ** 41:38 So our chamber has 700 businesses as members, we represent over 25,000 employees. So it's a really big network. Every chamber is different. They're all operated independently, they all have different initiatives, different boards of directors. So Chamber of Commerce in one city could be doing completely different things than a chamber of commerce. And another one. So yeah, I mean, Fincher is is fantastic. And chambers in general, do networking, business advocacy, it just kind of depends city to city. I love today, a lot of small businesses join. It's hard to give like a percentage or, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 42:22 yeah, I was just curious. I didn't know whether that was even an answerable question. Because unless you have some real way to track every single business, it's it's kind of hard to tell.   Ashley Pope ** 42:33 Yeah. And there's a lot of businesses that do. Like, if you looked at a business license list, you would see a lot of businesses that pull like a one day permit or do business in the city, but aren't actually like based in the city, and so no different than hard to measure for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 42:51 In our post COVID world or sort of post COVID world do you find there are a lot more home based businesses and there used to be   Ashley Pope ** 43:02 a lot of businesses have gone virtual. Although that is slowly but surely, people are getting back into the offices. So back to the physical location, we saw it with big tech first, a lot of big businesses called their people back. And now there's data coming out around productivity, not in the favor of the work from home people. So I think we'll continue to see that those commercial spaces will fill back up. But that will always be able to do some things hybrid and have zoom meetings. And definitely people are working from home when they're sick now, which is a nice change because people used to go to work sick. And now that's kind of unimaginable, you wouldn't go to work sick, that's the worst thing to do ever. So definitely some positive change there. They will be really interesting to see what happens in the next 510 years. If the work from home thing sticks at all.   Michael Hingson ** 44:04 I hope it sort of sticks I think what what you just said is true that there there's this whole work life balance but even in addition to that there's virtual verse is in person life balance and the fact is that there's there's value in letting people do some of their work at home. It's great to get away from the office and the inherent pressures that that provides and do some of your work at home. My job is pretty much all at home except for a few times and when I go speak places of course, and I love to go speak in person because I get to interact with audiences even in ways that I can't virtually but between that and then working with accessibly I actually get to go to accessory in Israel this year, which will be fun. And I go to a couple of conventions a year but the I'm used to working at home, and a lot of my sales life, I did remote offices. So sometimes I was at home and sometimes I was in the office. So I kind of got trained to be able to do it and be disciplined to work at home, which is not something that a lot of people are totally used to yet, but I hope that they get there and that they recognize that there's value in having a little bit of both.   Ashley Pope ** 45:24 I hope so too. I really hope that for our community and for America, especially we're known as workaholics and and not to take enough time, at home or enough time to self. On one hand, the ability to work from home, I think causes people to continue to work when they're done working at the office. But we just have to find the balance there. And we have to be able to maintain some of the positive that came out of COVID as negative as it was there was a silver lining there. Yeah. We kind of toggle back and forth on being able to maintain that as a society or not. And I know for sure in Ventura, but I think that's been kind of a worldwide struggle of do we want our employees to be able to work from home a day, a week or five days a week? Or do we want everybody back in the office? And when do we want things to go back to the way that they were. And every business has different needs. And every manager manager is different, but it's definitely still a demand. This next generation Gen Z, I believe we're calling them they are not going to go work in any setting for 40 hours a week. So there's that generation that's going to change things, and a lot of ways, but definitely the workforce, they're not willing to work. Eight to fives like we were. So that's   Michael Hingson ** 46:57 well, and the reality is that normal will, you know, people can talk about getting back to the way we were but normal will never be the same again. And there have been there are, there's always change. There are times in our history where there have been quantum sudden changes. I mean, September 11 was one which of course I'm very familiar with, but the pandemic is another one and there have been others that are dramatic changes, normal will never be the same again. And there's nothing wrong with not trying to get back to the way everything was before. Because if we do that, then we're going to play in forget what we learned. And so we don't want to do that.   Ashley Pope ** 47:42 No, we don't want to do that.   Michael Hingson ** 47:46 So you had your own diagnosis, you talked about Multiple Sclerosis, and so on. How did you're learning to be an advocate for Gavin, and all that you learned about Gavin and his experiences and adventures? How did all that help you? Because now suddenly, it hits even closer to home for you?   Ashley Pope ** 48:09 Yeah, it was definitely a mind switch. I learned so much through advocating for my son. So being able to immediately know, okay, like I can get through this. I've been through other hard things. And I just need to know what's out there. And I need to find the resources and absorb all of the information that I can and find people who can help. And I'll be okay. So that was kind of my initial thought I immediately reached out to the Multiple Sclerosis Society thinking okay, well, if Autism Society has gotten me this far, breastfeed, MS society that can help as well. And we did there was a lot of help there. There's not a lot of answers with a mess, there's more questions than there are answers. And that has been one of the most difficult things for me. I do find peace through information and through knowing what is going to happen knowing what's gonna come next. And that really went out the window with Ms. I would say with my son, there's this constant belief that things are going to improve and they have improved and they'll continue to improve will continue to learn and older and learn new skills and we can be there for him and with him. And a mess is different, rather than things are going to get better. It's kind of knowing that things are going to get I don't want to say well worse but it is a progressive, debilitating conditions. So   Michael Hingson ** 49:56 unless, unless of course somebody finds a way to birsa Cure,   Ashley Pope ** 50:00 yes, a cure. And that is part of the mission of the MS Society is to find a cure and restore what's been lost, which is awesome. So yes, fingers crossed, but I do have to prepare for more needs down the line. And already in the last few years, I've lost some strength in my hand, and in my right hand and my left foot. So it's just becoming, finding a different level of acceptance. So in a lot of ways, I did it, I don't think I really went through the same. I call it a grief process, I feel like there should be a better word because you don't you grieve when somebody dies. And as we've already talked about, nobody's dying. So but it is that same kind of process, right? Where like, okay, things have just changed, I'm kind of going to grieve things as they are, or denial, or denial, right. And he goes through like the same process of like denial, and, you know, the bargaining and anger or whatever, whatever. So, of course, I went through a little bit of that with my son early on. But I felt like with that mess, it was just like, so much easier to just get straight to acceptance. And I talked to a therapist, and I was like, I know, this sounds crazy, but I think I just like, the whole process. And I think it's because fairly recently in the last decade, I already went through something that's it's not similar, but it's still similar in a way like, they're, they're not connected, but I feel like I was just immediately able to be like, okay, Ms. Like, what is it? How do we deal with it and what comes next, and I just kind of skipped, like, all of these stages of grief or whatever we want to call it these stages that people usually go through when they get news like this. And that I think, was interesting. And I do think it was directly related to the work that I've already done around accepting things as they come being okay with not having all the information. The fact that I'll always be an advocate for my son, but that job is never going to be able to retire from that job. Not that I would ever want to, but it made it easier in a way to find the information and just to move through to where I can have an impact. And I was ready to share pretty early on. I didn't make it super public. But because I was on immunosuppressants during COVID I wasn't shy about telling people like hey, you know, if you're if you feel sick at all, or if you haven't been vaccinated, these are my limitations in that I just started on immunosuppressants. So I did feel really vulnerable in those early days, especially before I knew what immunosuppressants meant for me and during a pandemic.   Michael Hingson ** 53:01 Did you get vaccinated and all that stuff?   Ashley Pope ** 53:03 I did. But with the, the drug that I'm on, it actually greatly reduces the effectiveness of the COVID vaccination, it kills the B cells like that you're the COVID vaccine attaches to to get to its destination. I'm not a scientist, so forgive me if I said that wrong. But basically, I didn't have the cells to carry the vaccine. So I did get it. And then off the boosters, and I, you know, I did all the things, but it was very clear, like, that may have been just basically a shot of water for you, and may or may not have actually worked for you. So I was nervous about dying, because I feel like it's fair to be. But I think, yeah, it just it really did change the way that I think about it, these processes that we go through because I didn't handle it so different at time. And it also the vulnerability, I think is the biggest thing for me that I had to deal with. That was different from my son. Because as a mama bear, you know, you defend your kid at all costs, you get out there and you make things happen for your kid. But when it came to advocating for myself, I found that I would kind of lose the words when it would come time to talk to the doctor, I found myself kind of been like, oh, you know, it's not these things are not that bad or kind of stretching. Like if they'd asked me a question like, how can you do this? I would so want to say like, yeah, I can do that I can do this and that and this hasn't changed that much and just kind of predict things in a positive light. So I kind of had to start thinking like I have to advocate for myself as if I'm advocating for somebody else because it's really hard for me to say that I need help.   Michael Hingson ** 55:00 The same process does fit. We, I was in New York on March 5, of 2020, to do a speech and flew back early on March 6, because of COVID. And also, my wife had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2017. So she was on medications to suppress part of her immune system to help deflect or deal with the RA. So we immediately went into lockdown, and just stayed home. And, and then when the vaccinations when the vaccines came out, we started taking them. And in fact, I, we both were all up to date. And then I learned that being over 65 I could get another vaccination recently. In fact, I could have gone in late February, but I didn't know it then. But anyway, I just went in today for another vaccination, because I'm going to be doing some traveling and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that I can be as protected as possible. And I recognize that the vaccine doesn't keep you from getting COVID. But it certainly mitigates it a lot. So my intention is not to get it. I also don't mind wearing masks. I've been on airplanes for long periods of time with a mask doesn't bother me. And it doesn't seem to bother my guide, dog Alamo. He doesn't look at me differently, because I happen to wear a mask, so I'm not going to worry. Yeah. But you know, the fact of the matter is that it's something that is part of our world. And there's nothing wrong with it.   Ashley Pope ** 56:43 Yeah, I may be on the same drug as your wife. Actually. They're both autoimmune conditions. So she took her brinsea Oh, no, I'm mine for Tuckson. So but probably still do the same things. amatory processes similar. Yes, different different parts of the body, tissues, whatever.   Michael Hingson ** 57:03 Same concept, in a lot of ways. Well, so obviously, you have a disease that's very progressive, and I do hope that we find cures for that and other things, or, or at least things to improve it for you as time goes on. But how for you? How has your own diagnosis really affected? How you deal with being an advocate, and how you encourage others to advocate for themselves? You've I think you've hit on some of that. But if you want to summarize, you know, you're, you're now having to be a double advocate, if you will, how is your own diagnosis help with that?   Ashley Pope ** 57:46 Yeah, I think the vulnerability has been good for me, in a sense, I don't think I've ever truly felt vulnerable in my life. Until I got my diagnosis, even through my son's diagnosis, I always have been like that I can handle it, I can handle it, I'll do it. I'll make it happen type of person. And feeling firsthand, like things need to change so that I can live a fulfilling life is a much different place to come from then, even when you're advocating for your own kid. There's a sense of, it's probably, I would think how someone feels when they have a child with special needs. And there they are ending. Like nearing the end of their own life. They probably feel like oh my gosh, who's gonna protect my, my kid, if I can't, and I know that a lot of parents feel that as they age. But this was my first experience with like, oh, I have something that can impact my ability to do what I want to do in my life. And it just made me more I think sensitive, and I have a lot more empathy for people and their unique situations now, because it's a situation that I never could have imagined myself in until I found myself in it.   Michael Hingson ** 59:21 Yeah. What do you want people to know about? Somebody who has a progressive, debilitating diagnosis? How do you? What do you want people to think about that? And what would you like them to do?   Ashley Pope ** 59:37 I see. A lot of people don't know how to respond. Social relationships can become a little bit strained. Because things change in your ability. Like in my case, my ability to say yes to everything. I really had to stop saying yes, which I should have stopped doing a long time ago. But I'm definitely like I've said a couple of times there. In this conversation, I'm a doer. And I had to start saying like, No, I can't, I can't take that on, I really need to prioritize that I'm going to prioritize. And there have been some people in my life who didn't like that so much, or felt that like, I was changing, which I have changed. Obviously, these situations have changed who I am a little bit as we should, I would just say, just be a friend. And don't be afraid to ask how somebody is doing. Don't stop checking in and just, you know, do what you would want somebody to do for you in that situation, which is not to disengage. And then general public. I would say that one in four adults in their lifetime will have a disability. So when you vote, and when you advocate for things to be a particular way, keep in mind that that could be you or someone that you love, that has some kind of condition or extra need. And so we should always take care of each other and consider that things should be accessible to all once again, kind of circling back to that, you know, we can we can do so much better with our resources in this country. And it's rarely the wrong decision when it allows more people access, whatever, whatever it is that we're looking at, that's just a very general statement. But if you're looking at opening the world to more humans who live on it, then that's probably the way to go. Because it's just the right thing to do.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:53 And I think the most important thing you said is be a friend, there's nothing wrong with different. There shouldn't be, even if the different is something that maybe you've been taught is a bad thing. Is it really? And yeah, Multiple Sclerosis is progressive right now. But we've seen so many modern kinds of progresses in so many ways. Who knows, and autism the same thing, or blindness or even being a politician? I'm sure there's a cure for that. But I haven't found that one yet, either. So that's another story. But the bottom line is that, in reality, we're all different. And you're right. 25% have what's considered a typical disability, although I've made the case before that everyone has a disability who lives on this planet. And for most people, it's like dependents. But you know, the bottom line is that we all have different challenges. And we all by the way, have gifts that we get to use, if allowed the opportunity. And that's the most important thing. And I'm really excited about hearing and having had the opportunity to hear all the things that that you do and get to do. So what are you going to write a book about all this?   Ashley Pope ** 1:03:09 You know, that was something that I was actually in the process of writing a book when I was diagnosed with autism. And I set it aside, and I just was like, so everything changed. In that moment, I have written quite a bit around diagnosis and accepting of diagnosis and how to be a friend in diagnosis. Rather, it's been a friend to, you know, parent who has a newly diagnosed child, or what that looks like mostly around autism, because that's my experience. And then I had this experience, and I really just had to set it aside and kind of find my, my opinion, and my, my thoughts. But who knows, maybe down the line right now, I'm just trying to juggle everything I juggle. But we'll see, you know, you never know, they may,   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:05 you may find that sitting down and writing about some of it will be a help to you. And you now clearly have a whole new dimension that you can add to it, I would think it'd be very powerful, which isn't to say just drop everything and do it. But you might certainly sit down and continue to write thoughts because those then that will help you. I know for me, people have asked if I've ever gone to therapy after September 11. And my response is I hadn't but I started getting requests for television and radio and newspaper interviews and so on and chose to accept those if it would help people move on from September 11. And I got to teach people about blindness and guide dogs and all that. And I've realized over the years that literally going through hundreds of those and talking about September 11 Being asked the dumbest and the most intelligent questions, was invaluable at learning to deal with it, and to talk about it, and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. And so it is, you know, I do know that writing is a valuable thing. You know, we wrote thunder dog, which I actually started in 2002. And it took over eight years to complete. But right from the beginning, I started writing a lot of my thoughts, and that was helpful. So even just writing things down, although you may not ready to be ready to put them in a book might be helpful.   Ashley Pope ** 1:05:33 Yes, absolutely. Or, you know, there's also like voice recording and just getting your thoughts out, I think is really important. So I am a big proponent of therapy and talking and learning, right learning and sharing, I find a lot of peace and volunteering and giving back and talking to other parents and giving people resources. And just learning obviously, even today, it's been a learning experience. I've learned something new about you know, your, your experience, and it's, it's all empowering.   Michael Hingson ** 1:06:15 It is and, and you, like all of us can choose how we deal with our gifts and what we know and what we do and what we use. And so I'm sure it's all gonna work out well for you. And I'm really glad that we had the chance to do this. If people want to talk with you, is there any way they can reach out to you or interact with you?   1:06:36 Sure, I would say let's enact first by email. And the email I will give is my Autism Society email. It's Ashley a s h l e y at autism ventura.org. That's a s h l e y autism a u t i s m Ventura, v e n t u r a.org.   1:06:58 And Ventura really means in parentheses hingsons jealous. But that's another story. That's great.   Ashley Pope ** 1:07:05 If anybody is it, is it it's a fantastic place and also a good place to live. It's a good place to live for people with autism because there's great services California in general, has more than a lot of other states. And a mess wise now I'm like, sorry, sorry, family, I can't go visit you. Unless it's less than 87 or 87 degrees, it's probably pushing it like 85 degrees. But I've always been so spoiled here in Ventura, because it's like, we pretty much live between 65 and 73. Like, doesn't change much from there. That's where this town's is all year long. So really good for somebody with an autoimmune condition for sure.   1:07:49 There you go. Well, I want to thank you for being here. And I want to thank you for listening. So if any of you would like to chat with us about this, please feel free to email me. You can reach me at Michaelhi, m i c h a e l h i at accessibe  A C C E S S I B E.com. Or go to our podcast page www dot Michael Hingson m i c h a e l h i n g s o n.com/podcast. But wherever you're listening, please give us

Bruce and Konstantina, as they take you on a journey through the enchanting ceremony of the flag retreat at Disneyland, honoring military personnel both past and present. They'll also share their personal experiences enjoying delicious treats while riding the Walt Disney Railroad. You'll uncover valuable tips for planning your visit to Disneyland, from choosing the best time of year to exploring Main Street's hidden gems.  But that's not all! Bruce and Konstantina will also offer insights on the perks of staying at the Grand Californian hotel, as well as the adventure of a lifetime that you won't want to miss. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be immersed in the wonder and nostalgia of Disneyland on this episode

The Yarmouth expo is named for a 1967 incident where multiple witnesses in Shag Harbour reported seeing bright lights disappear into the ocean. They suspected a plane crash, but nothing was ever found. Mainstreet spoke with Chris Styles, an active UFO researcher and panel, about this weekend's event.

Jonathan and Gary review the big events of the past couple of weeks at the Plaza downtown - none bigger than U2 playing a popup show on Main Street right in front of the Plaza. The group shot a new video that's part of its new show inside The Sphere. John Katsolimetes, aka Johnny Kats of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, describes getting word of the show and following leads all over downtown before the band rolled up on a flatbed truck in front of the Carousel Bar. Kats also talks about The Sphere experience, his career path to page A3 of the R-J every day (and online all the time), his new podcast series with Oscar Goodman, and advice for young people getting into any business.    Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Gary Vickery  

In this episode, Phil and Alexa recap the Survivor 45 premiere! Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/survivorspecialists Also, follow us on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@survivorspecialists Looking to plan a Disney World or cruise vacation? Phil has joined Main Street 55 Travel. Contact him for his services. They are of NO COST to you. Contact him today: https://mainstreet55travel.com/phil-wood-travel-request-inquiry/ All opinions are our own! #survivor  #survivor45  #survivorcbs

Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell and Assistant City Planner Revee Needham talk about the Artists on Main Street program, a community development initiative exploring the intersection of arts and culture, downtown revitalization, and historic preservation by investing in “creative placemaking” projects. This year's theme is Meet Me at the River and 8 projects were selected by a Public […]

Welcome to the Main Street to the World Podcast, where family adventures and unforgettable moments come to life! Join us as we journey back to the exciting time when April, Whitney, and their little ones took on the dazzling city of Las Vegas.In this episode, we explore the Venetian hotel, a slice of Italy in the heart of the desert. The family shares their experiences, from reminiscing about real gondola rides in Italy to their not-so-pleasant dinner escapade in Vegas. They'll take you on a rollercoaster of emotions as they recount their encounters with larger-than-life Disney characters and the unexpected surprises of Sin City.But that's not all! Listen in as they spill the beans on Vegas' enchanting showgirls, an experience that left their kids wide-eyed and their parents just a tad uncomfortable. And what's a trip to Vegas without a glimpse of the famous Bellagio fountains? Find out if they managed to catch the breathtaking water display during their adventure.Join us for laughter, excitement, and the occasional mishap as we relive this unforgettable family escapade through the streets of Las Vegas. From Italian feasts to kitty cafes, this episode is a wild ride from Main Street to the World!

Hosts Lex Shady and Chris Tobin talk with Sean Duffy about firefighting and a fire incident that put him out of work for months.   Brought to you by TenCate and Emergency Networking.

Let's cover some of the interesting topics since we been upgrading some of the podcast programs. Especially the hacking taking place on the Las Vegas strip from the MGM Properties and even the Caesars Properties & How they were effected and rather you should cancel your upcoming trips or not.Witnessing 21 different hand pays in the casino with our buddy Shaunt at the plaza and how the stuff was running around every different machine to pay him out lol. We cover a new way of dining jay got to experience at Sake & Sushi with omakase style dinning and why he was blown away by this place and its operation. Plus the guy who try to fly out of Las Vegas with 15 pounds of cacaine in his possession. The new lane that may cause problems for California traveler heading home after weekends. We have an update on the Oakland A's new proposition for the team and how Las Vegas may benefit from this. The topic of standing up vs sitting at concerts/events came to a discussion and we would love your feedback and thoughts on this too. U2's surprise performance on Main Street in front of the Plaza Hotel & Casino, Totally Free BTW. WE mention the case of the recently retired las vegas police chief that was run down  and rather they should be trialed as adults and should be held accountable? finally we cover a very hot topics of different performers and some of the stories that go along with these will make you smile for sure like running into Kelly Clarkson on the Las Vegas strip and she takes over your song.  Plus the ever so popular food vending topic comes up nd we give our options about if we think vendors should be allowed to operate on the strip, But with recommendations on how the city county should mandate certain things about the way they operate. Hope you folks enjoy this weeks topics, Cheers & Enjoy! Royal Fluhsers/Karens ALS Fundraiser Link: https://t.co/RNcPOhCGcf Check out The New FREE Vegasnearme App & It's got everything you need to See & know before you go, Enjoy

Early experiences often shape our entire lives. The inspiring story of our guest - Jennifer Openshaw - shows what's possible to achieve when you choose to own your destiny. Being a child of divorce and watching her mother struggle as a single mom to make ends meet shaped Jennifer's entire career journey. Her first “real” job was working as a maid in a motel while her mother worked two full-time jobs as a waitress to support the family. At an early age, she decided to make it on her own and to make a big impact. Now as CEO of Girls With Impact, the nation's leading business education program for young women, she empowers women all around the world with the business and tech skills to become future leaders. Jennifer's story illustrates the power of vision, determination and tenacity in your pursuits. She achieved her ambitions by looking at how other people got to where they are and always surrounding herself with a community of next level peers. She has broken barriers and paved the way for others to follow.  Visit gobeyondbarriers.com, where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Jennifer. Highlights: [02:18] What shaped Jennifer's young life [04:19] Jennifer's young career choices [08:05] Pursuing passions or pursuing money [14:44] Looking for opportunities [15:57] Dealing with fear of rejection or failure [18:17] Lessons learned as an entrepreneur [24:09] Gen Z in the workforce and the benefit of failing [27:36] Ready for the “what if” [30:05] Women when it comes to finances [32:14] About Girls With Impact [34:56] Taking her mission to the next level [43:57] Companies attracting entrepreneurs and Gen Z [49:21] Lightning round questions Quotes: “Sometimes the way to move up is to move out.” – Jennifer Openshaw “I'm a believer in not taking a leap until you know what you're leaping to.” – Jennifer Openshaw “It shows people something when you're willing to raise your hand.” – Jennifer Openshaw Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - "If there's a will there's a way.” And “The answer will reveal itself.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - What leapfrog move can take you to where you want to go? What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? - Being grateful every day. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “Ain't No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross. About Jennifer Openshaw: Jennifer Openshaw – called “one of the most outspoken proponents for empowering women to control their financial lives” by CBS MarketWatch – is CEO of Girls With Impact, the nation's leading business education program for young women. Her expertise and national reputation as a financial innovator have made her a valuable ally in the media – from “Oprah,” “Dr. Phil” and “Today” to CNN, Fox and CNBC. At the age of 14, Jennifer took on her first “real” job as a maid in a motel while her mother worked two full-time jobs as a waitress to support the family. In 2000, Jennifer was named one of the Internet's 25 Rising Stars as a result of her work as CEO and founder of Women's Financial Network, a company created as a result of her experience in the industry and as the “Money Expert” for KCBS-TV. The company was acquired by Wall Street legend Muriel Siebert (NYSE: SIEB). Jen's financial industry experience includes senior roles at Bank of America, leading pension advisor Wilshire Associates, and BankOne (now JP Morgan Chase). She also headed the 60-year-old Financial Women's Association and, most recently, was Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at global consulting firm Mercer, where she led the When Women Thrive research platform. She started her career in the California State Treasurer's Office. Drawing from her experience in Silicon Valley, Wall Street and Main Street in tech, education, and the financial industry, Jennifer has been a fixture in the media. Her roles have included “Money Expert” for KCBS-TV, host of ABC Radio's Winning Advice, and columnist for Dow Jones' MarketWatch. She's the author of three books: The Socially Savvy Advisor (2015); The Millionaire Zone (Hyperion), based on research about the social networking strategies of the wealthy; and What's Your Net Worth? (Perseus), turned into a Public Television Show. Jennifer has been an advisor to Fortune 500 firms, including Microsoft, where she also served as national spokesperson. She writes regularly for Dow Jones, USA Today and as a LinkedIn Influencer. Jennifer holds an MBA in finance and BA from UCLA. She is a member of the New York Economic Club and was appointed by the California Governor to the Commission on California Government Efficiency. Links: Website: https://www.girlswithimpact.org/ LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenopenshaw/ LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/girlswithimpact/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlswithimpact/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jopenshaw Twitter: https://twitter.com/GirlsWithImpact

In this episode, Phil is joined by Vaughn, as the two place their prop bets for Survivor 45. Want to play along for the chance to win a buff?! Join here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... And don't forget to join our Bootlist game! Join here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/survivorspeci... Also, follow us on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@survivorspeci... Looking to plan a Disney World or cruise vacation? Phil has joined Main Street 55 Travel. Contact him for his services. They are of NO COST to you. Contact him today: https://mainstreet55travel.com/phil-w... #survivor #survivor45 #survivorcbs

Are you ready to tap into your memory bank and embark on a magical journey through the enchanting world of Disney? Let's kick off with a captivating game of Name That Tune, Disney Parks style! Do you think you can identify the auditory delights from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or the lively tunes of Toy Story Land Midway Mania? If nothing else, it's sure to inject a bit of joy into your day as we reminisce about our favorite Disney experiences. Join us as we challenge each other to recognize some of the most iconic melodies from the most magical place on earth.Have you ever noticed how a simple tune can transport us back to some of the most magical moments of our lives? That's the power of Disney Park's music. It's an integral part of the Disney experience and brings alive memories that we've held dear. We'll take a walk down memory lane discussing the captivating soundtracks of Disney World's Happily Ever After and Disneyland's Wondrous Journeys shows. And what about the Canadian national anthem? Ever thought it could be a great track for a Disney show? Tune in to find out our thoughts on this!Lastly, we'll take you on a nostalgic trip back to the history of drum corps performances at Epcot and share our favorite musical pieces that evoke some of the most cherished Disney memories. Plus, we've got a fun challenge for you - Guess the Songs on Main Street! So, whether you're a seasoned Disney fan or a newbie, this episode is sure to stir up a sense of enchantment and nostalgia. Grab your headphones, sit back, and let's dive into the magical musical world of Disney Parks together!Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you know when there are new episodes.Do you want to share your experiences? Be sure to leave us a voice mail on our website and we'll play it on our show! Let's talk on our social media pages or send us an email! Join our Facebook Community group for exclusive work from Topper Helmers and Tom Thordarson. FacebookInstagramWebsiteAlso find Mykhailo on Kylo and Kristin's Magical Life YouTube channel. You can also find Bryan on Bryan and Tammy's Thotful Spot Podcast We appreciate you joining us this week and every week and would love to hear from you! Finally, please leave us a review and rate us on Apple Podcasts and Podchaser so that others can find us!It's time to press play – Let's talk about it!

Driveway Beers PodcastFederal Shutdown!!A Federal Shutdown looms large... again. Why do we seem to always have this happen every year? Every time this happens we always seem to land in the same spot, so why even bother with the shutdown in the first place? We explore all of it on this episode and sweat a lot. Put the explicit tag on this one. Sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation. Leave a comment or a review if you can.Please subscribe and rate this podcast on your podcast platforms like Apple, Google and Spotify as it helps us a ton. Also like, comment, subscribe and share the video on Youtube. It really helps us get the show out to more people. We hope you enjoyed your time with us and we look forward to seeing you next time. Please visit us at https://drivewaybeerspodcast.com/donate/ to join us on The Driveway.Please visit our sponsors:Cheers and Spirits, 1460 Ritchie Highway, Arnold, MD 21012 in the Arnold Station Plaza https://www.facebook.com/ArnoldStationCheersandSpirits/ANDBrian Schilling, Long & Foster Real Estate, 145 Main Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. https://annapolishomeexperts.com (410) 263-3400If you'd like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode, please email us at contact@drivewaybeerspodcast.com.To listen on any platform go to linktr.ee/drivewaybeerspodcastFacebook Page https://www.facebook.com/drivewaybeerspodcast/The discord link to join is https://discord.gg/yg6csU5Q if you're interested in getting some weekly NFL picks for free!#asmr #podcast #whiskey #bourbon #federal #shutdown #congress #republicans #democrat #gop #politics #budget #work #money

Have you ever dreamt of breaking the chains of routine, retiring early, and traveling the world?    In this episode, we chat with Erik Hemingway, a highly experienced self-storage investor who achieved early retirement and used his wealth to travel the world. We discuss his journey of building his first storage in Arizona in 2006, moving to Costa Rica a year later, and living on a sailboat in Greece for three and half years while traveling to 24 countries. We learn how they sold their cars, houses, and possessions to make the journey possible and met other boaters who encouraged them. After returning to the US, Erik reveals how he invested in fixing and flipping, constructing buildings, and converting them into storage units to build a nest egg.    Join us as we dive deep into Erik's story of taking risks and achieving financial freedom through self-storage investing!   [00:00 - 07:47] From Construction to Self Storage Investor Introducing Erik to the show He and his family took an early retirement through self-storage investing and traveled the world   [07:48 - 15:17] Exploring the Possibilities Through Boating and Real Estate Investing Living on a boat is economical and freeing Found fix and flips, built new construction, and got back into storage Launched Nomad Capital off the boat adventure   [15:18 - 22:47] Facing Fear and Following Gut Heavy-value add projects like renovating old buildings, grocery stores, K-marts, hosiery mills, and soda bottling facilities Fear is a muscle that you can exercise   [22:48 - 26:23] Closing Segment Best investment: Worst investment: The most important lesson learned: Quotes:   "One key thing about life is always being willing to be surprised. Let life surprise you. And it's certainly done that for us. And I think that's a great way to live." - Erik Hemingway   "It's surprising how little you can live on when you're just not distracted by everything that everybody's telling you when you're not kind of sucked into the consumer stuff of just every day on the treadmill." - Erik Hemingway   "Fear is kind of a muscle that you can exercise. And as you step out of your comfort zone, that muscle gets strengthened suddenly. The next stretch is not so hard." - Erik Hemingway Connect with Erik! Website: www.NomadCapital.us  Email: erik@nomadcapital.us Phone: 910-431-3855 Apply to Invest with Taylor at www.investwithtaylor.com   Track your wealth for free with Personal Capital, go to www.escapingwallstreet.com   Please leave a review and help others escape Wall Street and build wealth on Main Street!

Mike and Paul return to talk more Unstoppable Doom Patrol goodness, including military funded scientific shenanigans in seemingly normal towns! Doom News - 14:04 Doom Clock – 26:23 Doomsplaining- 31:26 - We discuss issue 5 of Unstoppable Doom Patrol! Mailbag O Doom - 52:34 If you'd like to support the show, please visit our Buy Me A Coffee page to donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waitingfor6 - thank you! 

In this episode, host David Ponraj speaks with Matt Wagner, Ph.D, Chief Program Officer at National Main Street Center, about the vital role small businesses play in communities across America. They discuss how local businesses are the heart and soul of Main Street, serving as hubs for social connection and economic growth. Matt also speaks about his new podcast, Main Street Business Insights, and its inspiration to uplift the stories of small business owners who invest in their neighborhoods and towns, providing a platform for peers to learn from each other and highlight the convergence of social and economic impact.Matt was a previous guest on Breaking Down Barriers in 2021. Check out that episode here: https://economicimpactcatalyst.com/matt-wagner-on-breaking-down-barriers/About Main Street Business Insights podcastEach week, join host Matt Wagner, Ph.D., as he travels the country and takes a deep dive into the personal journeys of downtown and neighborhood entrepreneurs. The stories that far too often go unheard. Learn about the innovative ways that these Main Street businesses have overcome adversity, whether it's starting a new enterprise or keeping a multi-generation business alive, and the advice they have for others on how to keep their businesses on track. Available where you get your podcasts. Subscribe today and get inspired, get informed, and get in motion. Learn more and listen here: https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/mainstreetbusinessinsightspodcastAbout National Main Street CenterMain Street was established as a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980 as a way to address the myriad issues facing older and historic downtowns during that time. Working with a nationwide network of coordinating programs and local communities, Main Street has helped over 2,000 communities across the country bring economic vitality back downtown, while celebrating their historic character, and bringing communities together.An exciting new chapter for the organization began on July 1, 2013, when the Main Street program launched as an independent subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This transition enables Main Street to build on its three-decade record of success, with new leadership and new resources that will help communities respond to evolving needs and opportunities in the commercial district revitalization field.In 2015, the Center launched a new program brand for the network of Main Street programs—Main Street America™—to reinvigorate our collective look, feel, and strategy to position Main Street as a leader locally, regionally, and nationally. Main Street America is based in Chicago, Illinois, with an office in Washington, DC, and field staff located throughout the country.

Woodstock's Scarecrow Invasion returns Oct. 2 From the Ingles Studio this is your news minute on the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast presented by Powers Electrical Solutions. Today is Monday, September 25th and I'm Keith Ippolito. The Woodstock Scarecrow Invasion is set to return to downtown Woodstock on October 2nd, featuring over 230 scarecrow designs from local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. Most scarecrows will be displayed in the Park at City Center and the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater, with Main Street locations located north of Arnold Mill Road. People can vote for their favorite scarecrow at the Woodstock Visitors Center for a $1 donation, with proceeds benefiting Downtown Woodstock beautification projects. Additionally, a Scavenger Hunt related to specific scarecrows will be held, offering participants a chance to win a special prize. For more news about our community, visit tribuneledgernews.com. For the Tribune Ledger Podcast I'm Keith Ippolito www.powerselectricga.com www.ingles-markets.com www.henssler.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a young intern with a passion for real estate go on to raise over 1.2 billion for student housing projects?    Dive into the world of Fred Pierce, an experienced and successful investor who has raised over 1.2 billion in investments for his student housing projects across 39 states. He'll dive into how he jumped the queue and attracted capital from institutional investors, family offices, and retail investors. We'll hear about the different tiers of investor capital, from friends-and-family capital to country club capital to family office and institutional investors. He'll also walk us through his capital life cycle in commercial real estate and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each type of investor.    Tune in to gain powerful insights from Fred Pierce!   [00:00 - 06:22] Becoming a Billion-Dollar Student Housing Investor Fred Pierce is an experienced real estate investor, having done over 1.2 billion in student housing projects His journey started when he was 21 and interned at the Goodkin Group, a market research firm He took his platform national in 2006 and, within 90 days, had 1.2 billion of development rights at two major universities   [06:23 - 12:49] How to Leapfrog the First Couple Rungs in Commercial Real Estate The capital life cycle in commercial real estate consists of four main food groups and niche sectors Early in their career, people usually start with friends and family capital Country club capital route is the next tier, which involves friends of your friends and family The third tier is the family office, managed by millionaires or billionaires The fourth tier is institutional capital from investment advisors with multi-billion dollar commingled funds   [12:50 - 25:59] Exploring the Benefits for Retail and Family Office Investors Retail investors have been gaining access to student housing investments Student housing is a defensive and recession-resistant asset class Starting in 2016, institutional investors began to allocate capital into niche sectors of commercial real estate such as student housing, senior housing, self-storage and data centers Transaction volume has slowed significantly, and valuations have decreased due to the higher cost of debt   [26:00 - 32:20] Closing Segment Best investment: in Fred's own company Worst investment: Fred's first and second home purchase due to bad timing. The most important lesson learned: keep it simple and scalable Quote:   "Keep it simple and scalable if you want to accept exponentially growing your business and your opportunities." - Fred Pierce Connect with Fred! Website: https://pepstudent.com  Number: 619-297-00400 Apply to Invest with Taylor at www.investwithtaylor.com   Track your wealth for free with Personal Capital, go to www.escapingwallstreet.com   Please leave a review and help others escape Wall Street and build wealth on Main Street!

"DAMN THE VALLEY" was a phrase regulary uttered by the men that spent any amount of tme in the Arghandab River Valley during the deployment of 2 Fury to Afghanistan in 2009-2010." The above blurb comes from a press release for a new book, "Damn the Valley," by first-time author Will Yeske, an 11-year combat veteran who participated in the mission that received little attention from the media and remains largely unacknowledged by the US Government. Already receiving advanced praise from, among others, General David Patraeus, "Damn the Valley" will be available on October 31st.  Connecticut-born, Will now lives in Bel Air with his wife, an Air Force veteran and native of Harford County.  In search of a more stable life for this young famiy, Will decided to leave the military in 2018 and now runs No Limits Marketing Group (NLMG) and is finishing up a degree at Columbia University.  A self-professed "non-writer," Will's motivation for writing "Damn the Valley" was his desire to tell the authenic stories of the men with whom he served on a mission that suffered a 52% casualty rate.  Learn more about "Damn the Valley"damnthevalleybook.comdamnthevalleybook on Facebookdamnthevalley on Xdamn the valley on AmazonSupport the showPlease visit our sponsor. Your Pet AuPairMention the Mainstreet Podcast and receive 10% off your first invoice with Your Pet AuPair. Please consider supporting The Mainstreet PodcastPatreonBuy Me A CoffeeMainstreet on the web and social mediaWebsiteFacebookTwitterInterested in sponsoring Mainstreet or have guest suggestions, please email us at: info@themainstreetpodcast.com

Please Subscribe/Follow and leave us a 5-star rating and review. Click here to donate to the show. Click here to go to our website. Click here to go to Tipsy and Witchy Podcast. The award-winning Podcast, Tipsy & Witchy is hosted by mother-daughter duo, Chelsea and Donna Roberts. Formerly Spirit Sisters podcast. Live every Tuesday at 7 pm, where the ladies talk about all the topics paranormal. With topics such as the History of fairies, Stimson Hospital investigation, serial killers, haunted stories by states, Spirit Walkers. Their latest episode was about the history and hunts of West Branch Michigan. Chelsea and Donna have been blazing a haunted trail thew the cemetery of your mind since April 2020 and will continue to bring you interesting guests and topics for many haunted nights to come. In 1938, ownership belonged to Dr. & Mrs. Stimson and Bernice Bowman and was now named Stimson Community Hospital. Dr. Stimson passed away in 1943 and the hospital closed for good in 1957. Now the building is an apartment house with 4 units. Renters have reported strange noises coming from the basement, objects moving by themselves, household appliances malfunctioning and disembodied voices. Children spoke of an 'imaginary friend'  they would speak with; the odd thing is, all the children who admitted this to their parents all mentioned the same last name of this 'imaginary' man.  After approximately 40 years of being a hospital, there were naturally countless deaths. Do ghosts of past patients haunt the building or is it the spirit of Dr. Blanchard who fell to his death down the elevator? Or did the entity of early owner Dr. Puffenberger return to his former home and set up  This haunted lcoation is located at 101 W. Plains Street (corner of W. Plains and Main Street), Eaton Rapids. Why listen to paranormal podcast? The paranormal genre is perfectly suited to podcasts, given how its ties to myths and legends are rooted in oral storytelling. Paranormal podcasts explore the unexplainable and abnormal aspects of our mysterious universe, creating a spooky backdrop which is fascinating and chilling at the same time.   Please consider joining our Patreon, subscribing or making a donation to help keep the show going! See our website for details!

There were a couple of classic '90s groups that made headlines last week. So, we thought we'd ride that momentum and delve right into that decade of music. That's right! This week we're doing '90s Hits We Wish Were Disney Songs. No matter what genre of music you enjoy, there was some fantastic music during that period. Find out what songs we think could fit right in with a Disney Attraction, Nighttime Spectacular, or Film. Once we complete our look at '90s Hits We Wish Were Disney Songs, it's time for the Disney Stories of the Week. In this episode, we tell you where and when you'll be able to check out that Disney Animated Short we were raving about a couple of weeks ago. We also tell you about a couple of great Walt Disney World deals you may want to take advantage of if you have Disney on your credit card or happen to reside within the Sunshine State. As always, we wrap it all up with tips that might help you on your next vacation.   If you have any comments or questions, feel free to Contact Us!   Want more even MORE fun Disney news? Be sure to subscribe to our weekly Hyperion Adventures Podcast Newsletter.   And, don't forget to visit our favorite Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Nate with Main Street and More Travel will give you concierge-level service planning for your next vacation. Be sure to tell him, “Tom & Michelle sent me!”   Thanks for listening! Cheers!

The student housing crisis has become a huge issue here in Nova Scotia, but what can we do about it? Mainstreet's been talking about possible solutions all week long. We spoke with Rylan Kinnon, the CEO of Spaces Shared, Georgia Saleski, the Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia, and Mitchell Archibald, the Executive Director Halifax Student Housing Society.

Phil and Alexa are joined by Peridiam to predict the boot order of the Survivor 45 cast. Want to play along for the chance to win a buff? Join here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Also, join our Prop Bet game for the chance to win a buff! Episode coming Monday: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/survivorspeci... Also, follow us on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@survivorspeci... Looking to plan a Disney World or cruise vacation? Phil has joined Main Street 55 Travel. Contact him for his services. They are of NO COST to you. Contact him today: https://mainstreet55travel.com/phil-w...

West Hants has been through a lot this year. Four people died during the flash flooding in July and the damage to roads, bridges, dams and other infrastructure is far from being repaired. On Wednesday night, West Hants Mayor Abraham Zebian hosted a Q&A session at the Windsor Community Centre. Mainstreet's Preston Mulligan called him to ask how the meeting went.

GDP Script/ Top Stories for Sept 22nd Publish Date:  Sept 21st From the Henssler Financial Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast Today is Friday, September 22nd, and happy heavenly birthday to MLB HOF Tommy Lasorda. ****LASORDA**** I'm Bruce Jenkins and here are your top stories presented by Peggy Slappey Properties. Georgia Gwinnett College ranked most diverse Southern college for 10th straight year Grayson High grad supports versatile missions while serving at U.S. Navy Helicopter Squadron Snellville will hold liquor store license lottery on Sept. 25 All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!    Break 1 : M.O.G.          Story 1: Georgia Gwinnett College ranked most diverse Southern college for 10th straight year   Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has been ranked as the most ethnically diverse Southern regional college by U.S. News and World Report for the 10th consecutive year. In the latest rankings, GGC secured the top spot for diversity in the Southern region and ranked fourth nationally for ethnic diversity among regional colleges. The rankings are based on data from the fall 2022 semester, with GGC's student body comprising 32% Black/African American, 27% Hispanic, 24% white, 12% Asian, and 4% multi-ethnic students. GGC also earned high marks in other categories, including undergraduate teaching, public schools, least debt, and international student representation.…..read more at gwinnettdailypost.com STORY 2: Grayson High grad supports versatile missions while serving at U.S. Navy Helicopter Squadron   Petty Officer 1st Class Johnny Rosario, originally from Grayson, serves as an aviation electronics mate at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3. Rosario joined the Navy seven years ago for educational benefits, having attended Grayson High School and college. He credits his hometown's culture of staying calm and focused in fast-paced environments for helping him succeed in the Navy. HSC 3 conducts various missions, including search and rescue, air assaults, and medical evacuations. Rosario takes pride in being part of the Navy, contributing to national defense, and appreciates the guidance of mentors like Senior Chief Ronnie Mendoza and Chief Sean Fagan.   STORY 3: Snellville will hold liquor store license lottery on Sept. 25 Snellville officials are using a lottery to decide which business owner will be granted a liquor store license to operate a package store in the city. Five groups have submitted proposals, and the lottery, scheduled for September 25th at City Hall, will determine the recipient. This decision follows voter approval last November for the issuance of liquor store licenses. Initially, three proposals were approved for the lottery, but two more groups successfully appealed their denial, making a total of five eligible proposals. The lottery includes proposed sites near Main Street, McDonald's, Autobell Car Wash, Hampton Inn & Suites, and QuikTrip on U.S. Highway 78. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We'll be right back   Break 2:   Slappey - Tom Wages - Obits – Cumming Fair             STORY 4: The new Elizabeth H. Williams library in Snellville merges literacy with entrepreneurship   The new Elizabeth H. Williams Branch in Snellville is unlike any other Gwinnett County library. It shares a building with business entrepreneurs, offering a sprawling library on the ground floor and a Thrive Coworking space for small businesses on the second floor. The facility, costing $10.2 million in special purpose local option sales tax funds, is twice the size of the old Snellville branch and is unique for being the first library in the county to incorporate co-working spaces. Snellville's Mayor, Barbara Bender, sees it as an opportunity to support local entrepreneurs in a city known for its business community.   STORY 5: 4-H Farm Friends exhibit continues to connect people with animals at Gwinnett County Fair   The Gwinnett County 4-H Farm Friends exhibit at the Gwinnett County Fair continues to provide visitors with the opportunity to interact with farm animals. The exhibit, now in its 32nd year, features cows, a donkey, goats, sheep, newly hatched chicks, and ducklings. Visitors pay $1 per person to see the animals, and the funds raised serve as a significant fundraiser for the Gwinnett County 4-H group, covering expenses for various activities throughout the year. It also offers suburban children the chance to experience farm animals up close and learn about their care.   We'll be back in a moment   Break 3:  ESOG – Ingles 9   STORY 6: Four from Gwinnett Heat up for ASPIRE Awards   Four individuals affiliated with the Gwinnett Heat have been nominated for the Fifth Annual ASPIRE Awards presented by the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs. These awards recognize outstanding contributions to support student-athletes with physical disabilities. Ed Shaddix, recently retired athletic director for GCPS, is nominated for the Eli Wolff Award for Advocacy. Jeff Jones of the Gwinnett Heat is a nominee for the Gail Hendrick Award for Volunteerism. Additionally, two Heat coaches, Len Boudreaux and Lynette Swanson, are nominated for Junior Varsity Coach of the Year. The awards banquet will take place on October 22nd in Atlanta.   STORY 7: Rebecca Miranda breaks Brookwood career assists record in win over Parkview   Brookwood's volleyball team celebrated Senior Night as they defeated Parkview with a score of 25-18, 25-10, 25-23. Rebecca Miranda achieved a career milestone by breaking the program record for career assists with a total of 1,253 assists, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. The win ties Brookwood with Grayson for first place in Region 4-AAAAAAA, both holding 3-0 records. Kate Phelan, Sarah Sanders, and Rayne Williams also made significant contributions to the team's success.   We'll have final thoughts after this.   Break 4: Henssler 60 Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Gwinnett Daily Post podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Read more about all our stories, and get other great content at Gwinnettdailypost.com. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. www.wagesfuneralhome.com  www.psponline.com  www.mallofgeorgiachryslerdodgejeep.com  www.esogrepair.com  www.henssler.com  www.ingles-markets.com  www.downtownlawrencevillega.com  www.gcpsk12.org  www.cummingfair.net www.disneyonice.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nimbus's mini-literary festival Word On The Hill is back! The publisher's book block party is happening tomorrow on Strawberry Hill in Halifax. Mainstreet's Rose Murphy dropped by to chat with Terrilee Bulger, manager and co-owner of Nimbus, and author and photographer Len Wagg.

Driveway Beers PodcastWeight Loss Updates!!!We haven't given weight loss updates in a while. Have we lost more weight? Gained weight? Fallen off the wagon completely? In this episode Mike and Alex will update everyone on where they're at in getting healthier. Please subscribe and rate this podcast on your podcast platforms like Apple, Google and Spotify as it helps us a ton. Also like, comment, subscribe and share the video on Youtube. It really helps us get the show out to more people. We hope you enjoyed your time with us and we look forward to seeing you next time. Please visit us at https://drivewaybeerspodcast.com/donate/ to join us on The Driveway.Please visit our sponsors:Cheers and Spirits, 1460 Ritchie Highway, Arnold, MD 21012 in the Arnold Station Plaza https://www.facebook.com/ArnoldStationCheersandSpirits/ANDBrian Schilling, Long & Foster Real Estate, 145 Main Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. https://annapolishomeexperts.com (410) 263-3400If you'd like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode, please email us at contact@drivewaybeerspodcast.com.To listen on any platform go to linktr.ee/drivewaybeerspodcastFacebook Page https://www.facebook.com/drivewaybeerspodcast/The discord link to join is https://discord.gg/yg6csU5Q if you're interested in getting some weekly NFL picks for free!#asmr #podcast #whiskey #bourbon #weight #fat #ozempic #mounjaro #semaglutide #exercise #health #wellness #keto #testosterone #gains

Episode #100 Andrew Espino, Owner of 1Culture Art Gallery @1culture_ Growing up in Eastside San José, Andrew Espino loved both Hip-Hop and oldies, graffiti and lowrider culture, and football. He carried all of these inspirations through college as a St. Mary's football linebacker and into his post-college career in real estate. Andrew frequented art galleries during business travels but found the art that spoke to him was in galleries off Main Street and on back streets. He started buying art representing the streets that told stories about an urban environment. Andrew, a businessman by nature, realized that the mainstream market for the artwork he appreciated was limited and considered assisting artists he met at street markets to sell their work. He began a journey as a traveling art vendor, popping up and selling work he curated on commission. He quickly realized that he needed a brick-and-mortar gallery to elevate the experience of purchasing art that represented his experience as a Chicano kid from the city. Andrew opened 1culture Art Gallery & Collective in May of 2022. The gallery rotates shows every six to eight weeks. Andrew is working more with guest curators to increase his impact on the scene. This year, he coordinates trips for San Jose Artists to display at the Bedstuy Walls Mural Festival and Art Basel Week in Miami. Rooted in originality, creativity, and unity, 1culture hopes to provide a platform for artists and add to San Jose's artistic culture, making it a destination for experiencing art. 1culturegallery.com 136 & 144 E. Santa Clara St San Jose, Ca 95113 Andrew Espino was also featured in Issue 15.1 of Content Magazine https://www.content-magazine.com/articles/15-1-1shopculture/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/content-magazine/support

Welcome to the Main Street to the World Podcast! In this solo episode, Lynne shares some exciting travel updates as we approach the busy season. The agency meeting in October is on the horizon, and new advisers are joining the team. But Lynne also has some fantastic holiday gift ideas to share, and she starts by discussing ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System, which will be required for travelers visiting European countries starting in 2024. Lynne breaks down the details and how to apply for ETIAS.But that's not all! Lynne has some exclusive Disney promotions to share. As of September 19th, 2023, there's a Disney Dining Promo Card offer available for select dates in 2023 and early 2024. You can save up to $1000 on a Disney Dining Promo Card when you purchase a five-night, four-day vacation package. Lynne explains the various resort options and discounts available, ensuring you get the most out of your Disney experience.Additionally, Disney Visa Card members can save up to 35% on select Disney Resort hotels in early 2024. Lynne provides a breakdown of the savings and eligible resorts, so you can plan your magical Disney getaway.But the podcast doesn't stop there! Lynne also gives you a sneak peek at Sandals and Beaches Resorts' 7-7-7 promo, offering 7% off seven room categories and a seven-day offer at their stunning Caribbean resorts. She highlights the room categories and travel windows, ensuring you can secure the perfect tropical escape.Join us next week when Whitney and her girls share part 1 of 3 from their recent trips, and don't forget to tune in for more exciting travel updates, tips, and insights. Subscribe and stay connected with Main Street to the World for your dose of travel inspiration!#TravelUpdates #ETIAS #EuropeanTravel #DisneyPromotions #SandalsResorts #CaribbeanGetaways #MainStreettotheWorld #TravelPodcast #TravelTips Support the show

Sean and Bryan discuss some Disneyland Forward details, the Run Disney medals, new eats and drinks at Disneyland restaurants, and the upcoming FanX event! Join us at FanX Salt Lake on September 21, 22, & 23! Use promo code MAINSTREET to save 15% off tickets! We have new merch! Buy now at: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/word-on-the-main-street-podcast?ref_id=26007 We have a sponsor: Get Away Today! Use our referral link to get $10 off any 2+ night Southern California package! www.getawaytoday.com?referrerid=7479 or use promo code mainstreetpod10 Buy us a churro! www.buymeacoffee.com/wotms Stay at Homewood Suites Anaheim Resort and save 10% by calling Mike Ransom at 714-750-2010 and mentioning Word on the Main Street Podcast! 10+ room group rates also available! Contact the hosts: Voicemail: 801.923.2455 Sean - sean.wotms@gmail.com Bryan - bryan.wotms@gmail.com

Is rural America endangered, thriving, or just scraping by? The answer depends on who you ask and where you ask. As we finish our mini-series on change in rural communities, we're exploring the challenges and opportunities of rural life in the 21st century. Hear from everyday people reflecting on their communities and how they are adapting and reinventing themselves. View the episode transcript. Visit the Museum on Main Street website's story portal to share your own story about rural America! Thanks to our storytelling partners at Be Here Stories at The Peale, Baltimore's Community Museum. Use the online recording tool to tell the Smithsonian about how you experience rural America. This episode was written, produced and edited by Better Lemon Creative Audio. Your hosts are Hannah Hethmon and Bobby Harley.  

Georgia Ray Guest is a Grade 8 student from Dartmouth, N.S., who is training in the National Ballet School's Professional Ballet-Academic Program. Mainstreet's Josefa Cameron spoke with Georgia about her experience and what advice she has for other dancers.

On this magical episode of Dis-List Podcast, your favorite Disney-loving dads, Nick and Rob, are back with another enchanting countdown! Join them as they embark on a journey through the wonders of Disney World, sharing their top 5 must-have souvenirs that they simply can't resist bringing home from their unforgettable vacations.From whimsical Mickey Mouse ears to collectible pins that tell the tale of their adventures, Nick and Rob have curated a list that will make any Disney enthusiast's heart skip a beat. Listen in as they reminisce about the joy of wandering through the bustling shops of Main Street, U.S.A. and exploring the treasures scattered throughout the parks.Whether you're a seasoned Disney World traveler or dream of your first visit, this episode is sure to sprinkle a little extra pixie dust into your day. So, grab your favorite Disney plushie, sit back, and join Nick and Rob as they unveil their top 5 souvenirs that capture the essence of the most magical place on Earth! Don't miss out on this enchanting journey into the world of Disney collectibles on Dis-List Podcast. Follow: Instagram: @dislistpod X: @dislistpod Threads: @dislistpod YouTube: @dislistpod TikTok:@dislistpod Support Us: www.patreon.com/dislistpod --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-dis-list/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-dis-list/support

(Lander, WY) – The KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM Today in the 10 interview series Coffee Time continued today with host Vince Tropea, who recently spoke with Owen Sweeney, the Executive Director for the Lander Chamber of Commerce, and Helen Wilson, the Executive Director for the Wind River Visitors Council. Sweeney and Wilson stopped by to talk about the September Business After Hours happening this Thursday, September 21. The Wind River Visitors Council has joined forces with the Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce and Wyoming Economic Development Association to host the Wyoming Working Together Conference's Thursday evening reception as part of the Lander Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours. The reception will serve as an informative celebration of Lander-South Pass City's designation as a Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Gateway Community. (The Business After Hours portion of the evening will be catered by Bunks BBQ and takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, 209 Main Street.) Hear all about it from Sweeney and Wilson in the Coffee Time interview below! Be sure to tune in to Today in the 10 and Coffee Time interviews every morning from 7:00 to 9:00 AM on KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM, or stream it live right here.

Is a Third Park featuring Arendelle, Zootopia or Corona Coming to Disneyland, California? With all the Blue Sky discussion about the potential new lands at Walt Disney World, Disneyland has been quietly moving ahead with plans to add a third park to Disneyland Resort. As reported by several California media outlets recently, the much-discussed major expansion for Disneyland seems to be one step closer to reality. The city of Anaheim released a major 17,000-page environmental assessment report for the Disneyland Forward project, and while there are a number of issues noted, all signs point to this project moving forward. Exactly when this might happen isn't clear just yet, but talks of the Peoplemover and Skyway making return appearances are part of the discussion. The land would be built on what is currently a parking lot east of Disneyland, along with surrounding areas. It would also including walking bridges over Harbor Boulevard and Disneyland Drive, to allow guest to move around easier. -- Disneyland Park Just Upped its Game When it Comes to Park Food River Belle Terrace, Cafe Orleans, and Carnation Café are all serving up new dishes, as well as some non-alcoholic and alcoholic specialty drinks.  River Belle Terrace Located near Tarzan's Treehouse in the heart of Frontierland, River Belle Terrace has great riverfront views and features Southern-inspired cuisine. Here's what's new for food and drinkFood Items:  Warm Bacon & Spinach Salad: Bacon vinaigrette, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and cheese curds (New) (brunch only) American Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, apple wood smoked bacon, breakfast sausage, house fries, and a biscuit (New) (brunch only) Signature Pancakes: Pumpkin-spiced pancakes for the fall season (New) (brunch only) Roasted Summer Squash: Heirloom tomato sauce, heritage grains succotash, greens, and tofu (New) (brunch and dinner) Chicken Pot Pie Soup: Chicken, carrots, celery, and onion (New) (dinner only) Pork Chop: Buttery mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and bourbon-apple sauce (New) (dinner only)  Blackened Sustainable Fish with tartar sauce and pickled vegetables served with house fries (New) (dinner only)  BBQ Brisket Burnt Ends Pasta: Pappardelle pasta, caramelized onions, and wild mushroom (New) (dinner only)  Chocolate Chip Cookie (New) (Available for dinner only) Plant-based Ice Cream (New) (Seasonal topping available on request) (dinner only)  Drinks:  Mississippi Mud Pie: Sprite, chocolate fudge syrup, and cream topped with whipped cream and crumbled chocolate cream cookies (Non-alcoholic) (New)  Wildberry Mule: Tito's Handmade Vodka, blackberry purée, lime, and ginger syrup and blackberries (New)  Nielson Wines Chardonnay (New) Meiomi Wines Pinot Noir (New) Modelo Especial Mexican Lager (New) Smog City Brewing's Sabre-Toothed Squirrel Hoppy American Amber Ale (New) Cafe Orleans in New Orleans SquareWith French Quarter flair. Cafe Orleans has long been a Disneyland favorite. Here's what new on the drinks menu.Drinks:  Bayou Punch: Minute Maid Lemonade Zero Sugar, orange juice, strawberry purée, blueberry syrup, and an alligator-shaped gummy (Non-alcoholic) (New)  House Hurricane: Pimm's No. 1 Liqueur, Bacardi Superior Rum, orange juice, strawberry purée, sweet and sour mix, simple syrup, and orange garnish (New)  McBride Sisters Chardonnay (New) Mirassou Wines Pinot Noir (New) Karl Strauss Brewing Company Follow the Sun Blonde Ale (New) Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Hazy Little Thing IPA (New) Carnation Café An American comfort food spot on Main Street, U.S.A., Here's what you'll now find at Carnation Café. Food Items:  Veggie Skillet: Three-cheese eggs, breakfast potatoes, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and spinach topped with cheese and fresh tomato garnish (New) (until November 9)  Walt's Chili-Cheese Omelet: Cheese omelet topped with chili, cheese, and chives served with breakfast potatoes (New) (until November 9, breakfast only) Brownie with Chocolate Sauce (Plant-based)  Drinks:  Orange Creamsicle: Sprite, candied orange syrup and cream topped with a candied orange slice (Non-alcoholic) (New)  Lavender Mimosa: Chandon California Sparkling Wine and lavender syrup (New) (breakfast only) Orange Juice Mimosa: Chandon California Sparkling Wine and orange juice (New) (breakfast only) Bloody Mary: Tito's Homemade Vodka and Cutwater Bloody Mary Mix with a bacon and celery garnish (New) (breakfast only) Peach Pie Margarita: Patron Tequila Silver, peach purée, sweet and sour mix, lime juice, and lime garnish (New)  Chandon California Sparkling Wine (New) (breakfast only) Fess Parker Winery Chardonnay (New) Silver Palm Wines Cabernet Sauvignon (New) Michelob ULTRA Light Lager (New) Golden Road Brewing Ride On 10 Hop Hazy IPA (New) Thank You for Listening to the Disney Travel PodcastThank you very much for listening to this episode, Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes (or on whichever app you choose to listen). A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes each week.Sharing the podcast with your friends and on social media is also extremely helpful and very much appreciated.Contact 1923 Main StreetThank you for listening to the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes.Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.Thank you for listening and have a magical day!Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic--Media provided by Jamendo

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page edition - with Edison Emmons from Luray/Page Chamber of Commerce took me to Main Street Flavors to meet owner, Tydel Wilson. Tydel gave us a bit of background for how he came to be the owner of the ice cream shop that features Hershey's Ice Cream as well as several flavors from local creamery, Smiley's in Bridgewater, VA. He told us what his first idea was when he purchased the business - which was already an ice cream shop - and why that idea wasn't something he pursued. Main Street Flavors also carries a large variety Dippin' Dots flavors - which Edison enjoyed during our conversation - plus offers milkshakes, smoothies and even ice cream(s) for dogs complete with biscuits for toppings. On Thursday, September 21, 2023, he will be hosting the chamber's Business After Hours be sure to ask about the "speakeasy" if he doesn't have your flavor in the case. Main Street Flavors is located at 40 E. Main Street in Luray (across from the pink movie theatre) and is open Thursday - Monday from 1pm - 10pm. Click here to follow them on Facebook. 

On this episode, we discuss a lot of the things that were announced at Destination D23!  If you're looking to go to a destination such as Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in Southern California, Sandals, Beaches, any Cruise line, whether it be Disney or beyond, contact Main Street and More Travel! Let one of our agents make your trip easy and stress FREE! Oh, did I mention that it is FREE to use a travel agent from Main Street and More? If you like the show, please subscribe anywhere you listen to Podcasts! You are always welcome to join us on our Mouse and More Podcast Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. If you REALLY like us, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We love GOOD reviews! Hope you enjoy this episode! Talk to you soon! 

Welcome back to another episode of Crawfordsville Connection! This week we are joined in the studio by Sue Lucas and Erin Azar from Crawfordsville Main Street. In this episode you'll learn about the Architectural & Engineering (A&E) grant program, updates on the Crawford Fountain at Marie Canine Plaza, and some information about upcoming improvements and events in downtown Crawfordsville! To learn more about the A&E Grant: https://www.crawfordsvillemainstreet.com/ae-grant  Stay up to date on all things Crawfordsville Main Street by following them on all social media channels - Crawfordsville Main Street Yodel Community Calendar & News Feed: https://events.yodel.today/crawfordsville  To ask any questions about this podcast or to submit topic ideas, please email Sarah Sommer at ssommer@crawfordsville-in.gov

Have you ever wondered why many business owners struggle to retire comfortably despite their business's apparent success?    In this episode, Josh Patrick uncovers the secret to success for business owners who want to retire with financial security. Josh speaks about his four-box strategy of financial independence, which includes pre-funding a 401k plan, having an emergency fund, investing in the stock market, and buying real estate. He also discusses the importance of making businesses' sale ready' and how to delegate tasks and trust employees to make mistakes.    Please tune in to hear about crucial strategies for business owners to ensure their retirement is secure and financially free.   [00:00 - 07:41] How to Retire Comfortably Businesses need to go through different stages to reach the scale so that the owners can walk away and the business will run itself A business is worth a lot to you as an owner, but when you go to sell it, taxes and fees take away 40% of the value   [07:42 - 15:38] Planning for Retirement: A Four Box Strategy for Business Owners The four boxes of financial independence include the value of your business, qualified retirement plan, rental building, and cash flow  Business owners need to plan for retirement and pay attention to their business. Making the business sale ready is vital for businesses that want to be sold in the future. To make a business run on its own, teams and systems must be created   [15:39 - 23:06] Delegation: The Hardest Skill to Learn for Business Owners There are two systems to help with delegation: EIA and Inspect and Adopt Mike Michalowicz's book 'Profit First' and Gino Wickman's book 'Traction' can be used as guideposts for creating a business Having a coach can help with the process of learning how to delegate   [23:07 - 26:54] Closing Segment Best investment: in the food service business Worst investment: cashflow The most important lesson learned: restaurants are a tough business to get into Quotes:   "A business is worth a lot to you as an owner, as an operating entity." - Josh Patrick   "Only 50% of businesses that go to market ever sell. So, if you want to sell your business, you have to do something called making it sale-ready. Being ready doesn't mean I'm about to sell my business. It just means I've created a business that other people want to own." - Josh Patrick Connect with Josh! Website: www.SustainableBusiness.co/freedom  Apply to Invest with Taylor at www.investwithtaylor.com   Track your wealth for free with Personal Capital, go to www.escapingwallstreet.com   Please leave a review and help others escape Wall Street and build wealth on Main Street!   LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to explode their business growth by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

What's up, dudes? 40 years ago, the Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade was broadcast live on National TV! Disney connoisseurs Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House and Charlie Ague from Closer to Christmas and Ague Designs are here with me to break it down!Joan Lunden and Mike Douglas host this 1983 Christmas parade with narration written by Doug Cody. The production was directed by Chico Fernandez. Tinkerbell opened the show, and Cinderella and her entourage processed down Main Street USA. Pinocchio and the Jungle Book crews followed right behind her.The Alice in Wonderland performers come next, along with Herbie the Love Bug and a Dumbo's Circus float. Soon followed the World Champion Percheron horses hitched to wagon commissioned by Disney. Goofy drove his jalopy immediately afterward, and Robin Hood and his Merry Men succeeded him. After Carol Lawrence and the Voices of Liberty Singers performed at Epcot, Mary Poppins and Cruella de Vil glide down Main Street. The toy soldiers from “Babes in Toyland” march along, and Mickey and Minnie ride a coach behind them. Donald, Snow White, and Mrs. Claus follow on floats, accompanied by characters from Peter Pan, Chip and Dale, and the Hundred Acre Wood. Finally, Santa Claus himself flew in to close out the celebration.Victorian garb? Check. Anthropomorphic bipedal reindeer? Yep. Endless commercials from Days Inn and Eastern Airlines? Definitely! So grab your a add and top hat, hop on a float, and ride down Main Street USA to this episode all about the Very Merry Christmas Parade!Advent Calendar HouseFB: @adventcalendarhouseTwitter: @adventcalhouseIG: @adventcalendarhouseCloser to ChristmasTwitter: @closertoxmas IG: @closertoxmasAgue DesignsIG: @aguedesignsCheck us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

On this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan and Corey are joined by Stansberry colleague Greg Diamond the editor of Ten Stock Trader, a trading service based on technical analysis. Dan and Corey cover the European Central Bank raising its rates to a multidecade high, inflation "killing people on Main Street" who are racking up credit-card debt, and poverty levels rising. (00:41) Next, Greg joins the conversation by talking about his overall perspective on the market. He explains why he thinks "2024 is going to be a trader's market" despite believing that huge uptrends will come to an end. And he says banks will play a crucial role in determining overall market health (18:03) Regardless of these concerns, Greg maintains a bullish sentiment as long as the existing upward trend remains intact. "It's not time to sell yet," he emphasizes. He then proceeds to share his insights on the Fed, highlighting its inherently political nature and its susceptibility to political influence.  (30:53) Finally, Greg discusses his primary objective when determining whether a market is poised to rise or fall. To leverage his positions, he frequently embraces higher risk levels but carefully optimizes his trading advantage in other ways. (40:14) ➡️ Watch Here

The Fed can raise interest rates, but they cannot create housing supply.  Housing intelligence analyst Rick Sharga joins us for the second week in a row. This housing market is awful for primary residence homebuyers. But at GRE Marketplace, you can still buy income properties with rates as low as 4.75%. Rick tells us that the most prosperous markets now favor the: Midwest and Southeast, single-family homes, rental property investors with buy-and-hold strategies. National home prices are appreciating modestly. Home sales volume is still down. Investors now account for more than one-quarter of property purchases. Mortgage delinquencies are near an all-time low. Rick and I discuss why this market is so bad for flippers.  High homeowner equity positions ($300K+) support this housing market.  Timestamps: The impact of rising mortgage rates [00:02:37] Discussion on how the Federal Reserve's raising of short-term rates has caused mortgage rates to go up, affecting the housing market. The affordability challenge [00:03:38] Exploration of the impact of higher mortgage rates on homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers, and the decrease in affordability. Low supply of homes [00:08:48] Analysis of the low inventory of homes for sale, with a decrease of 9% from the previous year and 47% from 2019, leading to a challenging market. The mortgage rate lock in effect [00:11:05] Discussion on how the mortgage rate lock in effect can crimp demand but cannot create supply. Hottest markets in the Midwest and Southeast [00:11:05] Analysis of the hottest real estate markets in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. Positive turn in home price appreciation [00:13:06] Explanation of how home price appreciation went down but has recently turned positive again. Housing Permits, Starts, and Construction [00:21:24] Discussion on the trends and levels of housing permits, starts, and construction, and the need for builders to increase production. Investor Activity in the Residential Market [00:22:28] Exploration of the percentage of home purchases made by investors, with a focus on small and medium-sized investors and the misconception of institutional investors dominating the market. Delinquencies and Foreclosures [00:24:36] Analysis of mortgage delinquency rates, foreclosure activity, and homeowner equity, highlighting the low delinquency rates, the presence of equity in foreclosed homes, and the importance of early-stage foreclosure sales. The future direction of rents [00:32:00] Discussion on the potential upward pressure on rents due to low affordability and high homeownership rate. Inventory coming to the market [00:33:03] Exploration of the impact of expensive inventory coming to the market and its effect on rent prices. The overall economy and housing market [00:34:03] Consideration of the possibility of a recession, unemployment spike, and foreclosures affecting the housing market. The coach's role in finding real estate deals [00:43:06] Explanation of how an investment coach can help you find the best real estate deals in the marketplace. Advantages of buying properties from marketplace [00:44:20] Reasons why buying properties from marketplace can lead to good deals, including lower prices and absence of emotional seller involvement. Resources mentioned: Show Notes: www.GetRichEducation.com/467 Rick Sharga's website: CJPatrick.com Rick Sharga on X (Twitter): @RickSharga Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments. You get paid first: Text ‘FAMILY' to 66866 Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search “how to leave an Apple Podcasts review”  Top Properties & Providers: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREmarketplace.com/Coach Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— text ‘GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Keith's personal Instagram: @keithweinhold   (00:00:01) - Welcome to. I'm your host, Keith Weinhold. Hold a terrific discussion today on the direction of the housing market, including lessons that you can learn for all time plummeting home sales volume and direly low home inventory. Why home price appreciation is taking place now. Could the government soon penalize you for owning too many rental properties? What's the best place for a real estate investor to position themselves in this era? And more today on Get Rich Education.   (00:00:33) - You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is Get rich education.   (00:00:56) - Walking from Horseheads, New York to Nags Head, North Carolina, and across 188 nations worldwide. I'm Keith Weinhold. And you're listening. To get rich education, you are going to get a fantastic market update today. And along the way, you'll also learn lessons if you're consuming this 5 or 10 years from now. Our expert guest was with us last week to discuss the economy. This week, it's episode two of two as we discuss the real estate market.   (00:01:25) - He has been the executive VP of markets at some of America's leading housing intelligence firms, and today he's the founder and CEO of Patrick Company, either a market intelligence firm for the real estate and mortgage markets. And he has 20 plus years of experience in those industries. It's the return of Rick Saga Part two of two. It's not imperative that you listen to last week's Part one of two that we can help you see the big picture. Enjoy this long, unbroken interview and then after the break, I'll come back to close it. Just you and I. We're talking with Rick Sagar, expert housing analyst, previously. We talked about the general condition of the economy. And now Rick and I are going to break down the housing market with what's happening there. There's so definitively connected. Keith One of the things to that the Federal Reserve has done by raising those short term rates is caused mortgage rates to go up, right? Mortgage rates tend to run loosely in line with the yields on the ten year US Treasury bonds that we talked about at the end of the first segment.   (00:02:37) - Those are now up around 4%. And typically a 30 year fixed rate mortgage will be between one and a half and two percentage points higher than that yield. So in a normal market, we'd be looking at a mortgage rate today of about five and a half to 6%. Instead because of the risk and the volatility that the market is pricing in because they're not sure what the Federal Reserve is going to do next. We're looking at mortgage rates for a 30 year fixed rate loan of over 7%. The most recent numbers from last week from Freddie Mac, we were at almost 7.2% on that average, 30 year fixed rate loan and 6.5% on a 15 year fixed rate loan. You and I were talking before the show and and you know, historically speaking, if we keep these things in context, we're still actually below the 25 year average, which was 8%. But we have a whole generation of homebuyers who've come of age during the period of the lowest mortgage rates in the history of the country. They got spoiled, they got spoiled.   (00:03:38) - And to be clear, it's one of the reasons that home prices rose as rapidly as they did and got as high as they are is because you could afford to make monthly payments with a two and a half, three, 3.5% mortgage. Now, you still have home prices about as high as they were then, and you have a mortgage rate that's doubled. And for most home buyers, particularly first time home buyers that make your monthly mortgage payment was going to go up by 45 to 60%. And most of us didn't get that 45 to 60% raise last year. It really had a huge impact on affordability. In fact, this is such an unusual occurrence that according to Freddie Mac, it's the only time in US history when mortgage rates doubled during a calendar year and they didn't just double in a calendar year. Keith They doubled in the space in a few months. It was that kind of systemic shock to the system that really hit the housing market as hard as it did. Right. And they've also nearly tripled in a pretty short period of time.   (00:04:35) - Yeah, they really have. And again, going back historically speaking and and get this from Gen Z folks and millennials, when I talk about, you know, the old days of mortgage and I do remember my first mortgage had two numbers to the left of the decimal point. I forget if it was 11 or 12%, but it was something like that. And they basically say, okay, Boomer, but that 11% mortgage was on your $70,000 house, Right. And not, you know, today's median priced home of $430,000 or whatever it is. So it's a fair point. Mortgage rates are not high, historically speaking, but that monthly cost, because of the combination of home prices and higher interest rates, is choking some people and making affordability a problem. And because of that, one of the forward looking metrics that I take a look at is the purchase loan mortgage application index from the Mortgage Bankers Association. So this is the number of people that are applying for loans with the purpose of buying a house.   (00:05:35) - They're off almost 30% on a year over year basis right now. You can see without straining your eyes at all the impact that these higher mortgage rates are having on the housing market. And we had almost record numbers of purchase loan applications from the time people who are allowed out of their house during the pandemic until these mortgage rates doubled from 2020 through the early part of 2022, mortgage rates were in the threes and fours and sometimes even in the twos. Yeah, everyone wants to talk about mortgage rates and it is an important discussion to have here at Marketplace with our investment coaches. Rick Some builders, as you know, they commonly offer rate buy down incentives to buyers of new homes. And what some of our providers are doing here, Rick, is we have one builder where if you use their preferred lender, they're buying down your income property's mortgage rate to 5.75%. And we have another builder where if you use their preferred lender, they're still buying down your mortgage rate to 4.75%. And of course, with Non-owner occupied property here, you know, previously you had talked about mortgage rates in excess of seven.   (00:06:47) - They might normally be about 8% for non owner occupied property, but you're able to buy them down to five and three quarters or even four and three quarters with one of our providers for new builds right now, that's a great deal and your listener should really be taking advantage of those opportunities. We'll get into new homes in a few minutes and what we're seeing builders do for consumers, But have to tell you, those numbers are better deals than consumers are getting right now. And you're being generous when you're talking about private lending rates right now. Most of the lenders I'm familiar with are nine, ten, 11%, depending on the nature of your investment. So your folks are getting a great deal with those rates. We talked about purchase loan applications. The other advanced predictor I look at is pending home sales. These are people that are entering into contracts. The deal hasn't been closed yet. Has it been recorded yet? This comes out from the National Association of Realtors. And those numbers are down on a year over year basis as well.   (00:07:42) - There's a lot of rate sensitivity in the market, though, Keith. And if you go back to March when rates went down just a fraction of a percent, we saw more purchase loan applications. We saw more pending home sales. But as rates have climbed back up over seven, we've seen both of these metrics go down. Yeah. So we're talking about pending home sales. We're talking about sales volume that's down in this discussion, not sales price. And anyone might be hard to say, but when you see sales volume that's down, including pending sales, how often is that due to worse affordability and how often is that due to low supply of homes? Why don't we jump right into that? Keith That's a great segue. And this is a very difficult time in the housing market because it has both of the factors that you just mentioned, two very difficult headwinds for the market to try and overcome. And and we'll get into details on both of those in just a minute. Because of that, existing home sales were down in July and they were down pretty significantly on a year over year basis, about 16%.   (00:08:48) - And that's the 23rd consecutive month where existing home sales were lower than they were the prior year. January was the lowest month of sales this month, and it broke a streak we started this year. I was forecasting that we'd see between 4.3 and 4.4 existing home sales. That's down from about 5.2 last year in about 6.1 million the year before. Right now, we're trending at a little over 4 million existing home sales for the year. So even my relatively low forecast for the year may have been overly optimistic. You mentioned inventory and inventory is a huge headwind for the market. Inventory of homes for sale today is down about 9% from where it was a year ago. It's down 47% from where we were in 2019, which was probably the last normal year we've had in the housing market. In a normal year, we would be looking at about a six month supply of homes available for sale. That's what economists or housing market analysts will look at as a balanced market balance between supply and demand. We're at about two and a half months supply right now nationally and in many states it's much lower than that.   (00:09:56) - So there's just not much out here. And the only reason the inventory number looks as good as it looks and it doesn't look very good is because it's taking a little longer to sell properties once they hit the market. If you were looking at new listing data, it's even worse. There's very little inventory coming to market in the way of new listings, and that's because of the rate increases we talked about a minute ago. 90% of borrowers with a mortgage have an interest rate on that mortgage of 6% or less. 70% have an interest rate of 4% or less. If you're sitting on a mortgage rate of 3.5% and you sell your house and buy a house at the same exact price with a 7% mortgage, you've just doubled your monthly mortgage payment. It's not that people psychologically don't want to trade a low rate for a high rate. There's a financial penalty for them doing so. And until we see mortgage rates come down a bit, probably into the fives, we're just not going to see a lot of inventory coming to market except for homeowners who need to sell or have so much equity and maybe you're going to downsize into a smaller property that they don't care about that kind of shift.   (00:11:05) - Yeah, that is the mortgage rate lock in effect. Perfectly explain. And the Fed with the raising rates, they can crimp demand. But one thing that the Fed cannot do is create supply. As much as you might like to see Jerome Powell in work boots with a nail gun, that just doesn't happen. There's an image for you, for your listeners. Yeah, and I'm not sure I'd want to. I'd want to live in that house. That's not Chairman Powell building, but inspection. Yeah. Good economist. Maybe not a carpenter. We were talking about this a little bit earlier, too. And if you're an investor, this is probably worth noting, whether you're a fix and flip investor or investor who's buying properties to rent out a lot of the interest. This is from the sharing some data from Realtor.com and they've taken a look at where people are searching for properties and where transactions are taking place and they're finding that Midwest Southeast are really the hottest markets, places that are a little off the beaten path, you know, places in New Hampshire and Connecticut and Maine and Ohio and Wisconsin.   (00:12:06) - But interestingly, some of the markets that had been suffering a little bit, they're starting to see a little more interest in whether it's California, but off the coast or markets in Colorado or Washington state. But clearly, a lot of the activity, a lot of the money is moving into the Midwest, in southeast. That's right. With the work from anywhere trend, you might see this small flattening and not as much of a disparity in home prices between markets. You're certainly still going to see that, but that can just help create a mild flattening when it doesn't matter where you live anymore and you can go ahead and purchase in lower cost markets. Yeah, and what I'm sharing now is national home prices, home price. And I'm glad you mentioned what you just did, Keith, because the fact of the matter is this has been a very localized correction. And if you're in San Francisco or San Jose, if you're in Seattle, if you're in Austin, if you're in Phoenix, you're in markets where prices are off 10% or more from peak.   (00:13:06) - If you're in Boise, Idaho, you're off more than 10% from peak of Boise had oil prices go up by 47% in a single year, a year or so ago. So he just overshot the mark. One of the reasons the national numbers don't show more volatility is because of what Keith just mentioned. It's because people are trading in where they are in a high price, high tax state moving into a lower price state and candidly outbidding local buyers and probably overpaying a little bit for those properties. So you're seeing home prices go up in some of those less expensive markets much more rapidly than they would under normal circumstances. And what we're talking about here is national home prices that are appreciating at a modest rate now. Yeah, and they are. So if you look at whether you're looking at the Case-Shiller index, it gets published monthly or the National Association of Realtors data. We saw home price appreciation start to go down last year. It was still positive but going down and that was true until pretty much the end of the first quarter this year when the data went negative for the first time in years.   (00:14:15) - So we were seeing on both a month over month and year over year basis home prices go down and that happened until June, June, things flatlined in July. Prices actually went up ah, year over year. So if you're looking at the median home price compared to the peak price a year ago, it's actually up about 1% from where we were last year, which is kind of amazing. The Case-Shiller index is a little bit of a lagging indicator and it rolls three months together, but it also started to turn the corner with its July report. So after almost a full year of price appreciation coming down and prices in decline, we've seen both of these indexes turn and are starting to go positive. It does show you that there continues to be demand for properties that are brought to market. And while home price appreciation certainly isn't soaring by any means, it's back in positive territory now. And that's something that a lot of people hadn't predicted this year. When the supply of homes is this low, it keeps generating a few bids for any available home.   (00:15:21) - Now, not as many bids as it did back in 2021. But besides generating bids, you have these huge population cohorts of millennials and Gen Zers that are growing, and they're in their prime homebuyer years moving through the system to go ahead and place those bids and keep just modest home price appreciation here lately. That's sort of how I see it. Rick If you want to add any color or thoughts to that, I think you're spot on. Keith It's the largest cohort of young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 in US history. That's prime age for forming a household. 33 to 34 is the average age of a first time buyer right now. And so these people would like to buy a house. And for people who are investing in single family rental properties in particular, at least short term, the affordability issue is something that definitely works in your favor. If somebody was looking to buy a house, they might prefer to rent a house rather than rent an apartment. I've read research that shows somewhere between 20 and 30% of people who had planned to buy have decided to rent for the next year or two while market conditions settle down or while they can put aside more money for a down payment.   (00:16:27) - These market conditions are playing in favor of people who have rental properties to offer. One other metric I'd like to share in terms of home prices, Keith is the FHFa puts out its own index. FHFa is the government entity that controls Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. So these are your conventional bread and butter, vanilla kind of 30 year fixed rate loans. If you look at their portfolio, home prices are actually up 3.1% year over year. And every sector of the country is showing positive rice appreciation except for the Pacific states and the mountain states. And those are some of the markets we talked about earlier. And even those are very close to breaking even at this point. So HFA breaks it into about ten regions, nine of those ten currently appreciating year over year. Yep, something like that important for you to know again as an investor as to what's happening in your region. Again, whether you're you're planning to sell the property or rent it out. You talked about what builders are doing for your investor folks.   (00:17:28) - Yeah, we're seeing new home sales actually improving to consumers as well for a lot of the same reasons, incentives. So a lot of builders are coming to the closing table with cash. They're paying points on mortgages and getting those rates down where they're short term or long term. They're offering discounts, they're offering upgrades to properties. And so new home sales are still down, but just slightly on a year over year basis and have actually been beating last year's numbers for the last four months. My original estimate for new home sales this year was about 600,000. I think we're going to probably coming closer to 675,000 this year. And the only reason we won't sell more is because the builders aren't building that fast enough. But one of the reasons people are buying these new homes is because that's what's on the market today. People would have bought an existing home, can't find one. Here's the other factor. New home prices are down 16.4% from last year's peak. Now, this is informative. Think this would surprise a lot of people? Well, it surprises me.   (00:18:28) - It should surprise people because new home prices almost always go up, right? This does not mean builders are discounting homes 16.4%. What's happening is they are building less expensive homes, They're less expensive per square foot, and they're building smaller homes. And they're doing that in acknowledgement of the higher cost of financing. That also, by the way, is in sending people to look at these properties as either a starter home or a minor move up kind of property. But it is one of the reasons why new home sales are doing better than existing home sales right now on a percentage basis. That's an interesting number, Rick. A few weeks ago, I shared with our newsletter audience that builders are building homes smaller and closer together, which might be reflected in lower prices, but just didn't think it would be 16.4% lower from peak. Now, if you're doing year over year, it's probably not that big of a drop, but from the peak price we are off. And it is to your point, it's a pretty significant number.   (00:19:26) - It would be a problematic number if it was the existing home market, right, because then you'd be looking at the same property being worth 16% less. But a builder can kind of play with those numbers a little bit. Single family housing starts after falling for quite a while, are now back going back up only slightly from where they were a year ago, but they are moving in the right direction. Multifamily starts have actually tailed off a little bit after reaching record high numbers. There could be as many as a million apartment units coming to market this year. Yeah, which would be an all time record. So we've seen building on those multifamily units slow down a little bit. If you look at at new home starts for single family properties still below where they were a year ago. But again, for the first time in quite a few months, starting to trend up. A couple of things to share with your viewers here, Keith. In terms of construction, we're seeing construction continue to grow in the multifamily market because of all the starts we saw previously.   (00:20:23) - We are seeing single family construction slowed down, but that's because the builders are working their way through a glut of homes that was under construction. So we had a really weird happenstance about a year ago, a little over year, we had the highest number of homes under construction ever. And this data goes back to the early 1970s, and we had the lowest number of completed properties available for sale ever. And a lot of that was due to supply chain delays and to labor shortages. And over the last year to 15 months, the builders have gradually begun working through this glut of homes that were started but not finished. And we've seen the number of completed homes go up a little bit, almost back to normal levels, not quite there. One of the reasons they're not quite there is people are buying these homes before they're completed. They're working with the builder. Buying a home is it's almost ready to go, but still under construction. What's been encouraging, looking into the future is that permitting has increased a bit over the last two quarters.   (00:21:24) - We know builders are betting on the future. They're not necessarily breaking ground on all these properties they have permits for because they don't want to oversaturate either. And they're being very judicious with their building because they got caught with a ton of inventory during the Great Recession that they wound up selling at fire sale prices. But the trends are long term, looking like they're going in the right direction right now for new homes. So to help the viewer and listeners chronologically, we're talking about housing permits followed by housing starts. And then finally, housing construction. Right? Permits are up, starts are up recently, but down year over year. And the construction numbers are getting back close to normal levels. And we need the builders to build more because even before the rate lock effect took effect and existing home inventory got so scarce we didn't have enough housing in the works, we were depending on whose numbers you believe, somewhere between 2 and 6 million units short. We need the builders to come back to market. Note for your folks.   (00:22:28) - Keith Investors continue to account for a fairly significant amount of activity in the residential market. Over a quarter of home purchases 26% in June, which is the most recent data we have, were made by investors and believe this number actually under reports the number of investor purchases because it's from a company called CoreLogic, it's accurate data for what they count, but they only count investor purchases where the buying entity has an LLC and LP Corp kind of entity. And we know that a lot of buyers don't do that who are investors. So it probably understates it. But the fact of the matter is that historically speaking, 26% of residential purchases being done by investors is pretty high number. That's a pretty high number and as you alluded to, is probably actually higher than 26% of home purchases being made by investors. And so the headlines will breathlessly tell you that Main Street is being gobbled up by Wall Street. Oh, I know. And those institutional investors are evil people. They're buying everything that the truth is is completely the opposite.   (00:23:31) - If you look at investors who are buying properties, it's really the small investors who are buying about 46% of those investor purchases and medium sized investors about 35%. If you're looking at the biggest of the big investors, they're buying less than 10% of what's going out today. And they still own collectively about 3% of the single family rental stock. It's the mom and pop investor who continues to drive the market. Yeah, I'm glad you bring this up, Rick, because there seems to be this outsized perception that institutional money through someone like, say, in Invitation homes is just gobbling up all the good investor homes. And and they're really not. It's mom and pop investors that rule. In fact, there's some legislation pending in D.C. right now that's aimed to keep these institutional investors from doing what they're already not doing and have some tax penalties for anybody who owns. Here's the number that's important. More than 50 properties well, Invitation Homes owns significantly more than 50 properties. I know a lot of medium sized investors who own more than 50 properties.   (00:24:36) - Yeah, they're certainly not institutional investors. They certainly don't have a hedge fund behind them. Important again, for folks in this market to be in touch with their legislators and let them know what's really going on in the marketplace so we don't get this kind of bad legislation. It makes it tough for the average investor to really take full advantage of the opportunities that are out there. 100%. Mom and pop investors might need more than 50 units to obtain financial freedom. Yep. Just to wrap up, Keith, a couple of points on delinquencies and foreclosures. I know a lot of investors got into the business, you know, a decade or so ago and there was just a rash of foreclosure activity and you could buy a distressed property by just walking down the street and knocking on doors. It's a little different these days because of that strong economy we talked about earlier. In that low unemployment rate. Mortgage delinquencies are at an all time low. Mortgage Bankers Association reported that the midpoint of this year, at the end of the second quarter, the total delinquency rate was 3.37%.   (00:25:36) - To put that in context, historically the number is somewhere between 4 and 5%. So not only are we not seeing a lot of delinquencies, we're seeing less than we would see normally as seriously delinquent loans. The ones that are 90 days plus past due is as low as we've seen it in probably the last 6 or 7 years. That's really interesting. So not very many homeowners are in trouble with making their payments, which to some people might seem like a conflict with what we described back in the earlier part of the chat about low savings and higher credit card debt. So many of these homeowners are locked in to these really low payments where they got low mortgage interest rates. Plus inflation cannot touch those fixed rate payments. And that's an important point for those people that are in these homes. It would be more expensive for them to go rent right now, probably because they got such a good deal on the mortgage rate. There's usually a pretty strong correlation between unemployment rates and mortgage delinquency rates. So I mentioned that the most recent report had unemployment at 3.8%.   (00:26:37) - I think at the end of June it was a 3.5%. So we might see delinquency rates tick up a little bit. There was also some really bad social media memeing going on during the government's mortgage forbearance program. There was even an economist who predicted that almost everybody who got a forbearance was going to go into default and that would have been a catastrophe. If you look back a little over a year ago, actually more like two years ago when there was there were a lot of people in forbearance. You saw delinquency rates very high, but that was because people were allowed to miss payments. They were just being counted by the industry as delinquent. The fact is that less than a half of a percent, less than one half of 1% of the borrowers who were in forbearance and there were 8.5 million of them have defaulted on their loans. The overwhelming majority have done very, very well with that program. So it really didn't contribute to any kind of delinquency or default activity. So strong economy, extremely high, low quality because lenders really haven't been making many risky loans since the Great Recession.   (00:27:40) - The record amount of of homeowner equity that's out there. Yeah. Is keeping this market pretty solid to the point where foreclosure activity today is still running at a little bit less than 60% of pre-pandemic levels. So in a normal market, about 1 to 1.5% of loans are in some state of foreclosure. In today's market, it's about a half a percent. So we're just not seeing much go into foreclosure and the properties that go into foreclosure. The homeowners have a significant amount of equity. 92% of borrowers in foreclosure have equity in their homes, which is wildly different from where we were during the great financial crisis, when a third of all homeowners were underwater on their loans. At just about everybody in foreclosure was upside down. And people push back at me when I'm out talking at conferences about this. Keith Oh, yeah, they have equity, but they don't have enough equity to make a difference. Oh, yes, they do. 88% of the borrowers in foreclosure have more than 20% equity. That's typically the magic number that a realtor will tell you you need in order to sell your property and avoid any other kind of complications with one of these foreclosures, preventing any sort of fire sale and lowering of prices that makes all home prices go down in a neighborhood where not anywhere near that.   (00:28:57) - No, not at all. And in fact, some other data that I'll share with you and your listeners is that about 62% of the distressed property sales we see right now are properties in the early stage of foreclosure prior to the foreclosure auction, which means these distressed homeowners are protecting their equity by selling the property before it gets sold at a foreclosure sale. And so they're protecting the vast amount of this equity. But if you're an investor in today's market, there's some really important information in what I just gave you. You can't wait for the bank repossession. In this cycle, bank repossessions are running 70% below where they were prior to the pandemic, so there's fewer properties getting to auction because 67% of these distressed property sales are prior to the auction. Properties that get to auction are selling through at about 60% rate. So there's nothing going back to the lenders. So if you want to buy a property in some stage of foreclosure, your best bet in today's market is to get a list of people in the early stages of foreclosure and reach out directly to them.   (00:30:01) - Your second best bet is to get to that foreclosure auction. Be ready to move at the auction, and your worst bet is to wait for the lender to repossess the property. And in fact, I've seen anecdotal data that suggests that those properties are actually more expensive than the ones you could buy from the homeowner or at the auction because the lenders are fixing them up and selling them at full market price. Good guidance for those chasing distressed properties. So that's what's going on in the foreclosure market. I don't see foreclosure activity being back to normal levels until sometime next year. And I don't see activity bank repossessions being back to normal levels even next year. It's a very different marketplace. This is what I was just talking about. Keith If you were to break up what selling and what stage of the foreclosure process right now, about 64% of distressed sales are taking place prior to the foreclosure auction and less than 20%. Distressed sales today are those background properties. So it's a very different world than what a lot of investors grew up in.   (00:31:03) - Rick is about to share his summary with us, his closing thoughts. Before he does that, I've got two questions for you, Rick. I hear some people out there, it seem