Podcasts about Mount Airy

WhoRon Schmalzle, President, Co-Owner, and General Manager of Ski Big Bear operator Recreation Management Corp; and Lori Phillips, General Manager of Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain, PennsylvaniaRecorded onApril 22, 2025About Ski Big BearClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Property owners of Masthope Mountain Community; operated by Recreation Management CorporationLocated in: Lackawaxen, PennsylvaniaYear founded: 1976 as “Masthope Mountain”; changed name to “Ski Big Bear” in 1993Pass affiliations:* Indy Pass – 2 days, select blackouts* Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Villa Roma (:44), Holiday Mountain (:52), Shawnee Mountain (1:04)Base elevation: 550 feetSummit elevation: 1,200 feetVertical drop: 650 feetSkiable acres: 26Average annual snowfall: 50 inchesTrail count: 18 (1 expert, 5 advanced, 6 intermediate, 6 beginner)Lift count: 7 (4 doubles, 3 carpets – view Lift Blog's inventory of Ski Big Bear's lift fleet)Why I interviewed themThis isn't really why I interviewed them, but have you ever noticed how the internet ruined everything? Sure, it made our lives easier, but it made our world worse. Yes I can now pay my credit card bill four seconds before it's due and reconnect with my best friend Bill who moved away after fourth grade. But it also turns out that Bill believes seahorses are a hoax and that Jesus spoke English because the internet socializes bad ideas in a way that the 45 people who Bill knew in 1986 would have shut down by saying “Bill you're an idiot.”Bill, fortunately, is not real. Nor, as far as I'm aware, is a seahorse hoax narrative (though I'd like to start one). But here's something that is real: When Schmalzle renamed Masthope Mountain to “Ski Big Bear” in 1993, in honor of the region's endemic black bears, he had little reason to believe anyone, anywhere, would ever confuse his 550-vertical-foot Pennsylvania ski area with Big Bear Mountain, California, a 39-hour, 2,697-mile drive west.Well, no one used the internet in 1993 except weird proto-gamers and genius movie programmers like the fat evil dude in Jurassic Park. Honestly I didn't even think the “Information Superhighway” was real until I figured email out sometime in 1996. Like time travel or a human changing into a cat, I thought the internet was some Hollywood gimmick, imagined because wouldn't it be cool if we could?Well, we can. The internet is real, and it follows us around like oxygen, the invisible scaffolding of existence. And it tricks us into being dumb by making us feel smart. So much information, so immediately and insistently, that we lack a motive to fact check. Thus, a skier in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania (let's call him “Bill 2”), can Google “Big Bear season pass” and end up with an Ikon Pass, believing this is his season pass not just to the bump five miles up the road, but a mid-winter vacation passport to Sugarbush, Copper Mountain, and Snowbird.Well Bill 2 I'm sorry but you are as dumb as my imaginary friend Bill 1 from elementary school. Because your Ikon Pass will not work at Ski Big Bear, Pennsylvania. And I'm sorry Bill 3 who lives in Riverside, California, but your Ski Big Bear, Pennsylvania season pass will not work at Big Bear Mountain Resort in California.At this point, you're probably wondering if I have nothing better to do but sit around inventing problems to grumble about. But Phillips tells me that product mix-ups with Big Bear, California happen all the time. I had a similar conversation a few months ago with the owners of Magic Mountain, Idaho, who frequently sell tubing tickets to folks headed to Magic Mountain, Vermont, which has no tubing. Upon discovering this, typically at the hour assigned on their vouchers, these would-be customers call Idaho for a refund, which the owners grant. But since Magic Mountain, Idaho can only sell a limited number of tickets for each tubing timeslot, this internet misfire, impossible in 1993, means the mountain may have forfeited revenue from a different customer who understands how ZIP codes work.Sixty-seven years after the Giants baseball franchise moved from Manhattan to San Francisco, NFL commentators still frequently refer to the “New York football Giants,” a semantic relic of what must have been a confusing three-decade cohabitation of two sports teams using the same name in the same city. Because no one could possibly confuse a West Coast baseball team with an East Coast football team, right?But the internet put everything with a similar name right next to each other. I frequently field media requests for a fellow names Stuart Winchester, who, like me, lives in New York City and, unlike me, is some sort of founder tech genius. When I reached out to Mr. Winchester to ask where I could forward such requests, he informed me that he had recently disappointed someone asking for ski recommendations at a party. So the internet made us all dumb? Is that my point? No. Though it's kind of hilarious that advanced technology has enabled new kinds of human error like mixing up ski areas that are thousands of miles apart, this forced contrast of two entities that have nothing in common other than their name and their reason for existence asks us to consider how such timeline cohabitation is possible. Isn't the existence of Alterra-owned, Ikon Pass staple Big Bear, with its hundreds of thousands of annual skier visits and high-speed lifts, at odds with the notion of hokey, low-speed, independent, Boondocks-situated Ski Big Bear simultaneously offering a simpler version of the same thing on the opposite side of the continent? Isn't this like a brontosaurus and a wooly mammoth appearing on the same timeline? Doesn't technology move ever upward, pinching out the obsolete as it goes? Isn't Ski Big Bear the skiing equivalent of a tube TV or a rotary phone or skin-tight hip-high basketball shorts or, hell, beartrap ski bindings? Things no one uses anymore because we invented better versions of them?Well, it's not so simple. Let's jump out of normal podcast-article sequence here and move the “why now” section up, so we can expand upon the “why” of our Ski Big Bear interview.Why now was a good time for this interviewEvery ski region offers some version of Ski Big Bear, of a Little Engine That Keeps Coulding, unapologetically existent even as it's out-gunned, out-lifted, out-marketed, out-mega-passed, and out-locationed: Plattekill in the Catskills, Black Mountain in New Hampshire's White Mountains, Middlebury Snowbowl in Vermont's Greens, Ski Cooper in Colorado's I-70 paper shredder, Nordic Valley in the Wasatch, Tahoe Donner on the North Shore, Grand Geneva in Milwaukee's skiing asteroid belt.When interviewing small ski area operators who thrive in the midst of such conditions, I'll often ask some version of this question: why, and how, do you still exist? Because frankly, from the point of view of evolutionary biologist studying your ecosystem, you should have been eaten by a tiger sometime around 1985.And that is almost what happened to Ski Big Bear AKA Masthope Mountain, and what happened to most of the dozens of ski areas that once dotted northeast Pennsylvania. You can spend days doomsday touring lost ski area shipwrecks across the Poconos and adjacent ranges. A very partial list: Alpine Mountain, Split Rock, Tanglwood, Kahkout, Mount Tone, Mount Airy, Fernwood - all time-capsuled in various states of decay. Alpine, slopes mowed, side-by-side quad chairs climbing 550 vertical feet, base lodge sealed, shrink-wrapped like a winter-stowed boat, looks like a buy-and-revive would-be ski area savior's dream (the entrance off PA 147 is fence-sealed, but you can enter through the housing development at the summit). Kahkout's paint-flecked double chair, dormant since 2008, still rollercoasters through forest and field on a surprisingly long line. Nothing remains at Tanglwood but concrete tower pads.Why did they all die? Why didn't Ski Big Bear? Seven other public, chairlift-served ski areas survive in the region: Big Boulder, Blue Mountain, Camelback, Elk, Jack Frost, Montage, and Shawnee. Of these eight, Ski Big Bear has the smallest skiable footprint, the lowest-capacity lift fleet, and the third-shortest vertical drop. It is the only northeast Pennsylvania ski area that still relies entirely on double chairs, off kilter in a region spinning six high-speed lifts and 10 fixed quads. Ski Big Bear sits the farthest of these eight from an interstate, lodged at the top of a steep and confusing access road nearly two dozen backwoods miles off I-84. Unlike Jack Frost and Big Boulder, Ski Big Bear has not leaned into terrain parks or been handed an Epic Pass assist to vacuum in the youth and the masses.So that's the somewhat rude premise of this interview: um, why are you still here? Yes, the gigantic attached housing development helps, but Phillips distills Ski Big Bear's resilience into what is probably one of the 10 best operator quotes in the 209 episodes of this podcast. “Treat everyone as if they just paid a million dollars to do what you're going to share with them,” she says.Skiing, like nature, can accommodate considerable complexity. If the tigers kill everything, eventually they'll run out of food and die. Nature also needs large numbers of less interesting and less charismatic animals, lots of buffalo and wapiti and wild boar and porcupines, most of which the tiger will never eat. Vail Mountain and Big Sky also need lots of Ski Big Bears and Mt. Peters and Perfect Norths and Lee Canyons. We all understand this. But saying “we need buffalo so don't die” is harder than being the buffalo that doesn't get eaten. “Just be nice” probably won't work in the jungle, but so far, it seems to be working on the eastern edge of PA.What we talked aboutUtah!; creating a West-ready skier assembly line in northeast PA; how – and why – Ski Big Bear has added “two or three weeks” to its ski season over the decades; missing Christmas; why the snowmaking window is creeping earlier into the calendar; “there has never been a year … where we haven't improved our snowmaking”; why the owners still groom all season long; will the computerized machine era compromise the DIY spirit of independent ski areas buying used equipment; why it's unlikely Ski Big Bear would ever install a high-speed lift; why Ski Big Bear's snowmaking fleet mixes so many makes and models of machines; “treat everyone as if they just paid a million dollars to do what you're going to share with them”; why RFID; why skiers who know and could move to Utah don't; the founding of Ski Big Bear; how the ski area is able to offer free skiing to all homeowners and extended family members; why Ski Big Bear is the only housing development-specific ski area in Pennsylvania that's open to the public; surviving in a tough and crowded ski area neighborhood; the impact of short-term rentals; the future of Ski Big Bear management, what could be changing, and when; changing the name from Masthope Mountain and how the advent of the internet complicated that decision; why Ski Big Bear built maybe the last double-double chairlift in America, rather than a fixed-grip quad; thoughts on the Grizzly and Little Bear lifts; Indy Pass; and an affordable season pass.What I got wrongOn U.S. migration into cities: For decades, America's youth have flowed from rural areas into cities, and I assumed, when I asked Schmalzle why he'd stayed in rural PA, that this was still the case. Turns out that migration has flipped since Covid, with the majority of growth in the 25-to-44 age bracket changing from 90 percent large metros in the 2010s to two-thirds smaller cities and rural areas in this decade, according to a Cooper Center report.Why you should ski Ski Big BearOK, I spent several paragraphs above outlining what Ski Big Bear doesn't have, which makes it sound as though the bump succeeds in spite of itself. But here's what the hill does have: a skis-bigger-than-it-is network of narrow, gentle, wood-canyoned trails; one of the best snowmaking systems anywhere; lots of conveyors right at the top; a cheapo season pass; and an extremely nice and modern lodge (a bit of an accident, after a 2005 fire torched the original).A ski area's FAQ page can tell you a lot about the sort of clientele they're built to attract. The first two questions on Ski Big Bear's are “Do I need to purchase a lift ticket?” and “Do I need rental equipment?” These are not questions you will find on the website for, say, Snowbird.So mostly I'm going to tell you to ski here if you have kids to ski with, or a friend who wants to learn. Ski Big Bear will also be fine if you have an Indy Pass and can ski midweek and don't care about glades or steeps, or you're like me and you just enjoy novelty and exploration. On the weekends, well, this is still PA, and PA skiing is demented. The state is skiing's version of Hanoi, Vietnam, which has declined to add traffic-management devices of any kind even as cheap motorbikes have nearly broken the formerly sleepy pedestrian city's spine:Hanoi, Vietnam, January 2016. Video by Stuart Winchester. There are no stop signs or traffic signals, for vehicles or pedestrians, at this (or most), four-way intersections in old-town Hanoi.Compare that to Camelback:Camelback, Pennsylvania, January 2024. Video by Stuart Winchester.Same thing, right? So it may seem weird for me to say you should consider taking your kids to Ski Big Bear. But just about every ski area within a two-hour drive of New York City resembles some version of this during peak hours. Ski Big Bear, however, is a gentler beast than its competitors. Fewer steeps, fewer weird intersections, fewer places to meet your fellow skiers via high-speed collision. No reason to release the little chipmunks into the Pamplona chutes of Hunter or Blue, steep and peopled and wild. Just take them to this nice little ski area where families can #FamOut. Podcast NotesOn smaller Utah ski areasStep off the Utah mainline, and you'll find most of the pow with fewer of the peak Wasatch crowds:I've featured both Sundance and Beaver Mountain on the podcast:On Plattekill and Berkshire EastBoth Plattekill, New York and Berkshire East, Massachusetts punched their way into the modern era by repurposing other ski areas' junkyard discards. The owners of both have each been on the pod a couple of times to tell their stories:On small Michigan ski areas closingI didn't ski for the first time until I was 14, but I grew up within an hour of three different ski areas, each of which had one chairlift and several surface lifts. Two of these ski areas are now permanently closed. My first day ever was at Mott Mountain in Farwell, Michigan, which closed around 2000:Day two was later that winter at what was then called “Bintz Apple Mountain” in Freeland, which hasn't spun lifts in about a decade:Snow Snake, in Harrison, managed to survive:The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is a sustainable small business directly because of my paid subscribers. To upgrade, please click through below. Thank you for your support of independent ski journalism. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Piper hosts Plaidcast LIVE! from The Madeira School in McLean, VA with guests Phoebe Lang, Dr. Lisa Metcalf, DVM/MS and Dr. Kimberly Brokaw, DVM. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Phoebe Lang was born and raised in the Washington, DC area and ignited her passion for horses at Madeira's summer riding program when she was seven years old. Upon graduating from Madeira in 1985, Phoebe attending Kenyon College and then moved to San Francisco, raised her three children, and started riding again in her 30's. Phoebe has devoted the past 25 years to pursuing elite-level show jumping throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, reaching the FEI 3* level. She built her farm and training business, Zeitgeist Equestrian and Equstech, in Petaluma, CA, and has worked on developing several equine therapeutic devices. While Phebe has retired from riding competitively, she still owns and cares for six horses and has been spending time launching the breeding career of one of her former grand prix stallions. Guest: Dr. Lisa Metcalf, DVM/MS grew up on a horse farm in northern VA, and her lifelong passion for horses shaped a distinguished academic and professional journey. After attending Madeira and then earning her BA in Biology from Wesleyan University, Dr. Metcalf went on to obtain her DVM from The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and her MS in Endocrinology from UC Davis. Dr. Metcalf is a decorated and board-certified theriogenologist; a specialist in the practice of animal reproduction. Beyond her clinical work, she has held influential roles with organizations such as the Oregon Veterinary Racing Commission, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Portland Mounted Patrol Unit. An internationally sought-after speaker and widely published author, Dr. Metcalf brings deep expertise, passion, and perspective to the world of veterinary reproductive medicine. Guest: Dr. Kimberly Brokaw DVM's passion for horses and animal science, fostered by the Madeira school, led her to pursue her BS in animal science at the University of Maryland. She then earned her Doctorate from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Following her 15 years of service at the Walkersville Veterinary Clinic of Maryland, she currently brings her expertise to two impactful roles: as a Veterinary Medical Officer for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as a passionate team member at Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue in Mount Airy, MD, a nonprofit organization devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating draft horses.Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Foxhall Equine and Great American Insurance Group Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast LIVE!

This Week on the Podcast: Why Marketing Matters When Selling Your Home! Thinking of selling your home? You’ve probably wondered: Is professional marketing really necessary? Should you host an open house right away? Does the time of day make a difference? What if your home didn’t sell fast — should you still do an open house? We’re answering ALL these questions in this week’s podcast episode! Discover how a multi-tiered marketing approach can maximize your home’s exposure, bring in more buyers, and help you stand out in a competitive market. — House of the Week: 12350-A Sherwood Forest, Mount Airy — $750,000 This stunning Colonial-style home offers the perfect blend of privacy and elegance: 2.55 wooded acres 4 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms Just under 3,000 sq ft of finished living space Side-load 2-car garage Family room with cozy wood stove insert Upgraded kitchen w/ beautiful countertops Hardwood floors + new carpet + fresh paint Primary bath w/ new LVP flooring Upper-level laundry for added convenience Roof (2019) | Water heater (2021) Large composite deck for entertaining Partially finished basement with walkout Don't miss your chance to own this private retreat just minutes from town! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Kelli & Bob 'On the Road' as they visit several stops and share unique stories, including J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works in Charleston, West Virginia, Squad Car Tours in Mount Airy, North Carolina & more!

Start Name Artist Album Year Comments Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose? Jonas Nordwall Vintage Dendy Vol 1 1974 3-15 Wurlitzer, Dendy Theatre, Brighton, Melbourne, Australia. Originally from Capitol Theatre, Melbourne 3:49 Near You Tony Fenelon, John Atwell Vintage Dendy Vol 1 1981 3-15 Wurlitzer, Dendy Theatre, Brighton, Melbourne, Australia. Originally from Capitol Theatre, Melbourne 6:50 Song Of Paradise Horace Weber Au Revoir To The Capitol Wurlitzer [Crest CRE-12-LP-008] 1963 3-15 Wurlitzer, Capitol Theatre, Melbourne, Australia; Last performance on November 17, 1963 10:52 Children of the Regiment David Shepherd Cinema Organ Encores Vol 97 - In Australia [Deroy 1440] 1978 2-12 Wurlitzer, Wyatt Hall Pulteney Grammar School, Adelaide 14:28 Destiny Waltz David Hamilton In A Gypsy Mood [Crystal CRY3023] 1972 3-10 Wurlitzer, Gaumont Cinema, Bradford, Yorkshire 18:30 Sugar Blues Al Melgard This Is Melgard [Replica 518] 1958 4-24 Wurlitzer, Replica Studio, Des Plaines, IL (William Huck) 21:40 I Feel Pretty Larry Ferrari At The Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ [Sure Volume 706] 4-34 Wurlitzer, Senate Theatre, Detroit, MI 25:09 A Garden In The Rain Don Kinnier Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot [WGRL-OR-3] 1967 3-19 Moller, Sedgwick Theatre, Mount Airy, Philadelphia, PA; Final concert May 21, 1967 29:19 Sophia Vic Hammett At The Wurlitzer Organ [Saga Society SOC 1037] 1967 3-10 Wurlitzer, Town Hall, Buckingham; ex-Metropole, Victoria 31:45 Noche Caribe Ann Leaf Spectacular Pipe Organ [Warner Bros. WS 1609] 1965 3-27 Wurlitzer-Morton, Buddy Cole Studio. North Hollywood, CA (3-17 Wurlitzer Ex United Artists Theatre, Los Angeles & 3-9 Robert Morton from Capitol Theatre, Marshalltown, Iowa 35:46 Sweet Georgia Brown Bryan Rodwell In Modernistic Mood [Deroy ADM 38] 1955 3-8 Wurlitzer, Granada Cinema, Clapham 38:56 Sweet Someone Bill Coffman One Hour With You [LRS 2274] 1962 4-21 Wurlitzer in the Woodcutter's Studio. Originally 3-11 from the Long Beach, CA Municipal Auditorium. Now a 4-26 in the Old Time Music Hall, El Segundo, CA. 41:55 Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs Phil Kelsall Thank You For The Music [One Up OU 2211] 1978 3-14 Wurlitzer, Tower Ballroom, Blackpool; Phil's first album 44:41 Military March No. 5 from Othello Suite Frederic Bayco Music For The Theatre Organ [EMI CLP 1777] 1964 4-36 Christie, Odeon, Marble Arch, London 47:27 I Get The Blues When It Rains Buddy Cole Pipes, Pedals and Fidelity [Columbia CS 8065] 1957 3-9 Robert Morton, original Buddy Cole Studio (1947-59), Farmdale Avenue, North Hollywood, CA; ex-Capitol Theatre, Marshallstown, IA; then UA Studios; then KMTR Radio, Los Angeles. 51:02 Chu Chin Chow Charles Smitton Double Touch [LTOT/Acorn CF-210] 4-20 Wurlitzer, Paramount/Odeon Theatre, Manchester 55:56 Prisoner Of Love Leonard MacClain Plays For Theatre Organ Lovers [Ralbar SOLP 6301] 1963 4-34 Robert Morton, Lorin Whitney Studio, Glendale, CA 59:23 Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines George Blackmore Magnificent Compton Music Machine [EMI Studio 2 TWO 236] 1968 Dual Console 4-50 Compton and Melotone, Guildhall, Southampton, England

Kelli and Bob visit Squad Car Tours in Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Join Kelli & Bob 'On the Road' as they visit several stops and share unique stories, including Squad Car Tours in Mount Airy, North Carolina, BattleField Farms in Knoxville, Tennessee & more!

Join No Vacancy Live host Glenn Haussman as he explores the magic behind adaptive reuse and hotel design with industry leaders Sharon Bilbeisi AIA LEED AP (SVP of Design, IIG Design) and Jocelyn Lurie (VP of Procurement, Throughline by IIG). This episode uncovers how old structures—from historic mills to outdated hotels—are being turned into extraordinary hospitality experiences.

Join No Vacancy Live host Glenn Haussman as he explores the magic behind adaptive reuse and hotel design with industry leaders Sharon Bilbeisi AIA LEED AP (SVP of Design, IIG Design) and Jocelyn Lurie (VP of Procurement, Throughline by IIG). This episode uncovers how old structures—from historic mills to outdated hotels—are being turned into extraordinary hospitality experiences.

In 2000, 2 mysterious gravestones popped up at the Oakdale Cemetery in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Both read "Deceased had contact and conversations with Outerspace Life..." starting in 1928. Asherz was introduced to these graves in June of 2024, but could not find the story behind them. Even stranger, the locals did not seem to know the story either. Until now. In 2013, aspiring filmmaker Lance Johnson learned about the graves and decided to do his own research. He noticed one of the owners of the graves was still alive. Lance made contact with Jack Overby and was the only one to document his story. This episode, we are joined by Director Lance Johnson to discuss the story of Jack Overyby and to finally share the mystery behind these graves.Watch the documentary:https://www.youtube.com/@OuterspaceLifeDocumentaryFollow Lance:https://www.instagram.com/lancekestrel/Follow Tobias:www.SingularFortean.comFollow Asherz:linktr.ee/itsasherzBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/on-wednesdays-we-talk-weird--5989318/support.

Host: Allan NewsomeRunning time: 0:28:56 Mayberry Days is a great time to be in Mount Airy, NC and the 35th annual Mayberry Days lived up to that statement. A highlight of every Mayberry Days is the “super bowl” of Mayberry Trivia. This episode we go through the Qualifying Round questions and answers of the 2024 […]

Most people know Andy Griffith as the loveable sheriff of Mayberry, the town based in Mount Airy, NC. Beyond the role, Griffith was a musician and entertainer who shared his knowledge and love of traditional music with his audiences. 

Most people know Andy Griffith as the loveable sheriff of Mayberry, the town based in Mount Airy, NC. Beyond the role, Griffith was a musician and entertainer who shared his knowledge and love of traditional music with his audiences. 

While going through a divorce, Robin Shine Maddox realized we need more opportunities to celebrate women. So she started Celebrating Sisterhood, which grew from a gathering of friends into the annual She Shines conference, which is in Philadelphia on November 9. Robin and her She Shines sisters Tracey Calhoun and Lynn Michelle Austin join host Racquel Williams to talk about the conference and share their stories of how they found passion and purpose through their struggles. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard reconnects with drummer Russell Dabney at his old Philadelphia house to hear more about the history of the Village People, from the wild parties they threw in Mount Airy to their new single. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host: Allan NewsomeRunning time: 0:32:43 Mayberry Days 2024 was held the last full weekend of September (25-29) and it was wonderful. That doesn’t mean there weren’t some snags related to hurricane Helene that struck hard about an hour and a half south of Mount Airy but the inconveniences suffered were minor. By just after mid-day […]

We dive into how and why to consider using Lactipro from Axiota Animal Health as a cattle probiotic.  We have the latest news and markets, plus your chance to get your hands on more Ranch It Up gear.  Tune in to this all new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show.  Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. EPISODE 198 DETAILS Why Lactipro As A Probiotic For Cattle How Lactipro Works As A Probiotic For Cattle  Introduction to Lactipro Lactipro is a rumen-native probiotic containing a live, stable strain of Megasphaera elsdenii (Mega e®), an effective lactic acid utilizer. It helps cattle producers maintain healthy rumen pH and improve profitability by accelerating finishing diets and reducing post-terminal processing mortality. Key Benefits of Lactipro Shortens step-up period by 50% or more Reduces post-terminal processing performance losses Supports rumen health in hospital cattle Lactipro promotes rumen health during transitions to higher-grain diets, grazing crop residue, and as bulls move to higher energy diets during development. How Does Lactipro Work? Naturally occurring Mega e takes weeks to handle grain-based diets effectively. Fast-growing bacteria produce excessive lactic acid, lowering rumen pH and causing health issues like acidosis. Lactipro introduces Mega e directly into the rumen, consuming lactic acid and producing butyric acid, which promotes cell growth and better VFA absorption. The Importance of Mega e Strain MS Biotec's patented Mega e strain is selected for its: Rapid growth and resilience Production of butyric acid Compatibility with feed additives Enhanced rumen fermentation with other microbials Two Formulations of Lactipro LactiproNXT® An easy-to-use drench available in 200 mL and 1,000 mL pouches, ideal for processing multiple cattle. LactiproFLX® A small capsule in a 25-capsule resealable pouch, perfect for individual animals or small groups. Administration Both formulations provide equal bacterial counts and are effective, with an extended shelf life requiring refrigeration. LactiproFLX comes in three types: Dairy – for replacement heifers and mature cows Feedlot – for feedlot cattle and developing bulls Calf – for young calves Use Cases Accelerated Step-Up Shortens step-up period by 50% or more for a faster diet transition. Terminal Processing Reduces post-terminal processing performance losses. Other Use Cases Supports rumen health during diet transitions, grazing, and bull development phases. Integrating Lactipro ensures a healthier rumen, leading to better overall cattle health and profitability. Latest Cattle Industry News North Carolina Man Pleads In Nation-Wide Cattle Theft Conspiracy According to the U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina and MeatingPlace.com, a North Carolina man pleaded guilty to implementing a scheme to steal $1 million worth of cattle across the country. From April 2018 to October 2022, William Dalton Edwards, 25, of Mount Airy, N.C., and an accomplice defrauded livestock markets in North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia by writing worthless checks for cattle purchases, according to the plea. The stolen cattle were then transported out of state and resold, resulting in losses exceeding $1 million to family-owned sales barns. Edwards' guilty plea includes charges of conspiring to defraud the U.S. and violate federal laws. The statutory maximum sentence for the offense is five years in prison. Edwards is currently out on bond, with a sentencing date yet to be determined. U.S. Beef Export Value Nears Two-Year High The value of U.S. beef exports hit a near two-year high in June, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) commented late last week. Despite lower volume compared to a year ago, US beef exports in June were worth $938.3 million, a 22-month peak.  Exports to Japan rose, and Taiwan continued buying US beef at near-record levels. Exports to Canada were at a near-decade high. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said June beef exports performed very well in Japan, which was great to see given the significant headwinds U.S. beef has faced there this year. Export value also rebounded nicely in Korea and shipments to Taiwan and Canada were outstanding. This made for another strong month in terms of export value per head slaughtered, which was nearly $460 in June. Beef export value per head of fed slaughter was up 13% in June from a year ago. For the first six months of 2024, beef export value was $5.22 billion, 5% higher than the same period a year earlier. Beef export value per head of fed slaughter was more than $418 for the first half, an increase of 6% from the same period in 2023. Asian Longhorned Tick Confirmed In Oklahoma The invasive Asian longhorned tick has been found in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, confirmed the presence of this non-native arachnid, which was found in Mayes County.  Asian longhorned ticks are light brown and extremely small in size. The Asian longhorned tick was first detected in the United States in 2017 when it was found in New Jersey. Oklahoma is now the 20th state to confirm a case of Asian longhorned tick. Asian longhorned ticks are native to China, Japan and Korea. They can vector both human and animal diseases and cause severe anemia in animals. With the confirmation of this invasive species, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry  encourages all Oklahoma residents to report additional Asian longhorned tick encounters to the state.   Western Video Market Live America Sale - Cheyenne, Wyoming Western Video Market Live America sale results HERE. RanchChannel.Com Now Has The Futures Markets Futures Markets RanchChannel.com now has futures markets at your fingertips!  Feeder Cattle, Live Cattle, Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, Soybean Oil, Milk Class IV, and Ethanol.  Information is provided by DTN and market information may be delayed by as much as 10 minutes.  Click Here for more information! The Ranch It Up Radio Show Beef Trivia Contest What is the name of the record $1.51 million bull raised by Schaff Angus Valley? The first correct answer will get a Ranch It Up T-Shirt!  The correct answer is America! UPCOMING SALES & EVENTS ISA Beefmasters: October 5, 2024, San Angelo, Texas World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale: May 15 - 18, 2025 BULL SALE REPORT & RESULTS Churchill Cattle Company Van Newkirk Herefords Gardiner Angus Ranch Cow Camp Ranch Jungels Shorthorn Farms Ellingson Angus Edgar Brothers Angus Schaff Angus Valley Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Clear Springs Cattle Company CK Cattle Mrnak Hereford Ranch Frey Angus Ranch Hoffmann Angus Farms Topp Herefords River Creek Farms Upstream Ranch Gustin's Diamond D Gelbvieh Schiefelbein Farms Wasem Red Angus Raven Angus Krebs Ranch Yon Family Farms Chestnut Angus Eichacker Simmentals & JK Angus Windy Creek Cattle Company Pedersen Broken Heart Ranch Mar Mac Farms Warner Beef Genetics Arda Farms & Freeway Angus Leland Red Angus & Koester Red Angus Fast - Dohrmann - Strommen RBM Livestock Weber Land & Cattle Sundsbak Farms Hidden Angus Wheatland Cattle Company Miller Angus Farms L 83 Ranch U2 Ranch Vollmer Angus Ranch A & B Cattle Carter Angus Farms Roller Ranch Montgomery Ranch Jorgensen Farms DLCC Ranch Four Hill Farm North Country Angus Alliance Spruce Hill Ranch Wilson Angus   FEATURING Dr. Kevin Cain, DVM Axiota Animal Health https://axiota.com/ @MultiMinUSA Kirk Donsbach: Stone X Financial https://www.stonex.com/   @StoneXGroupInc    Mark Vanzee Livestock Market, Equine Market, Auction Time https://www.auctiontime.com/ https://www.livestockmarket.com/ https://www.equinemarket.com/ @LivestockMkt @EquineMkt @AuctionTime Shaye Koester Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ @cattleconvos Questions & Concerns From The Field? Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Or email RanchItUpShow@gmail.com FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow SUBSCRIBE to the Ranch It Up YouTube Channel: @ranchitup Website: RanchItUpShow.com https://ranchitupshow.com/ The Ranch It Up Podcast is available on ALL podcasting apps. https://ranchitup.podbean.com/   Rural America is center-stage on this outfit. AND how is that? Because of Tigger & BEC... Live This Western Lifestyle. Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/ #RanchItUp #StayRanchy #TiggerApproved #tiggerandbec #rodeo #ranching #farming REFERENCES https://www.stonex.com/ https://www.livestockmarket.com/ https://www.equinemarket.com/ https://www.auctiontime.com/ https://gelbvieh.org/ https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ https://alliedgeneticresources.com/ https://westwayfeed.com/ https://medoraboot.com/ http://www.gostockmens.com/ https://www.imiglobal.com/beef https://www.tsln.com/ https://transova.com/ https://axiota.com/ https://axiota.com/multimin-90-product-label/ https://ranchchannel.com/ https://www.wrangler.com/ https://www.ruralradio147.com/ https://www.rfdtv.com/ https://www.facebook.com/annualfcaqualityreplacementheifersale https://transova.com/ https://hpj.com/2024/08/06/asian-longhorned-tick-confirmed-in-oklahoma/ https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/115565 https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/115575  

27 years of career and volunteer experience. A Battalion Chief over Special Operations & Hazardous Materials for Montgomery County Fire/Rescue & Former Fire Chief for 6 years now Firefighter for Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company in Carroll County Maryland. Even though Ivan is a Chief who rides the car at his career department he still dabbles in being a backstep, riding the seat and driving the Engine, Tanker, Rescue or Ladder truck at Mount Airy. He's a Chief who has never forgotten his roots still loves running calls and remembers what it's like as a Firefighter. Ivan's humility and outlook towards the job shows how much passion he still has for it and is a great example of leadership. IG: enginecompany

On this episode of Citizen of the Week, every neighborhood should be as lucky to have a “non-leader” like Steve Stroiman, who serves Cresheim Valley Neighbors in Mount Airy. He is a shining example of how to bring a neighborhood together and how to get things done.

Cole Farrell, owner of Vulcan Capital, discusses his 54-unit apartment investment in Mount Airy, NC. He plans to renovate and increase rents, shares his journey from smaller to larger deals, and emphasizes building investor trust and transparency about risks.   Sponsors: Viking Capital Apartments.com

– Never was the real answer. I left disappointed and broken-hearted.Mother started me on an adventure and took me into a mystery.Martha Rowe Vaughn lives in Mount Airy, North Carolina and is a member of a local writers group that has been meeting for over 15 years. During that time, she has published two books: Grandma's Trunk (non-fiction) and Crossroads (fiction). An interest in genealogy and family history prompted her to write both books. She graduated from The University of Kentucky with a degree in horticulture and owned and operated a tree nursery for 22 years. In retirement, she volunteers her horticulture knowledge and skill to local non-profit organizations.

Working together in a Philadelphia yarn store, Kate Gagnon Osborn and Courtney Kelley learned how to help customers choose the right yarn for a project, welcome in timid new knitters, and create samples to help move yarn out the door. They learned what didn't work (donut-shaped balls of yarn that hopped off the shelves and tangled, patterns that used a few yards of a 100-gram skein) and what did (unfussy classic yarns, wearable sweaters, and lots of fun-to-knit hats). They founded Kelbourne Woolens in 2008 to offer yarns and patterns to local yarn shops like the one where they met. Their academic and artistic backgrounds gave them a love of fibers—both studied weaving and dyeing—but much of what they've learned in business has been gleaned through trial and error, common sense, and their extraordinarily collaborative partnership. They have developed a slightly eclectic grouping of yarns based on natural fibers: a range of colorwork-friendly 100% wools, a trio of heathered and tweed yarns milled in the Donegal tradition, some lightweight summer cottons, a mohair blend, and several other projects at various stages of development. Their Germantown yarn, named for the Philadephia neighborhood and the centuries-old American wool yarn tradition, was fueled by Courtney's love of history and Kelbourne's desire to offer a domestically grown and spun yarn that welcomes knitters at all levels. In addition to developing yarns for the Kelbourne Woolens label, they distribute a small number of other yarn companies, bringing their yarns to American knitteyarn stores. That includes Faroese company Navia, which preserves the knitting and agricultural heritage of a tiny group of North Atlantic islands, and Misha & Puff, a knitwear company that offers a RWS-certified line of yarns and patterns. Having recently opened a retail space attached to their warehouse in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadephia, Kate and Courtney now have their own space to welcome knitters in person, experience the currents of the knitting world, and learn to suppport other yarn shops. Links Kelbourne Woolens's website (https://kelbournewoolens.com/) and store locator (https://kelbournewoolens.com/pages/store-locator) Read more about the history of Germantown yarns in “Yarn with a History as Old as America” in PieceWork Winter 2022. (https://shop.longthreadmedia.com/products/piecework-winter-2022) The Wool Islands, (https://www.thewoolislands.com/) a short documentary about Faroese wool and yarn This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). You'll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you'll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. KnitPicks.com has been serving the knitting community for over 20 years and believes knitting is for everyone, which is why they work hard to make knitting accessible, affordable, and approachable. Knit Picks responsibly sources its fiber to create an extensive selection of affordable yarns like High Desert from Shaniko Wool Company in Oregon. Are you looking for an ethical, eco-friendly yarn to try? Look no further than Knit Picks' Eco yarn line. Need needles? Knit Picks makes a selection for knitters right at their Vancouver, Washington headquarters. KnitPicks.com (https://www.knitpicks.com/)—a place for every knitter.

The Federal Reserve has a lot of official statistics it can look at to try and gauge the state of the overall economy. But there's also room for incorporating on-the-ground anecdotes and real-time color. When it comes to collecting this kind of information, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin might be the biggest road warrior on the FOMC. In mid-April, Odd Lots tagged alongside Barkin as he undertook one of his many trips around his district, speaking to local businesses about what they're seeing in terms of inflation, consumer demand, and the labor market. We traveled with him to North Carolina, making stops in Mount Airy, Winston-Salem and Yadkinville, to better understand what it is that a regional Fed president actually does when he's collecting info on the ground, and how it informs his thinking. It's a rare inside look at the day-to-day work of a Fed president. In this episode, you'll learn what kind of questions Barkin is asking businesses. And you'll learn about some local businesses themselves — everything from carport manufacturing to producing thermal underwear to spinning yarn. We also take a look at some of the big picture challenges facing America's smaller towns, including shrinking populations, a shortage of housing, and the scarcity of essential services like childcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of 2023, there was a lot of optimism that the US economy was on that glide path to a soft landing. But at least in the first quarter of this year, inflation has come in hotter than expected. So is this just a speedbump on the way back down to 2%? Or is this a new trajectory for inflation that will make the Federal Reserve rethink its existing approach? On this bonus episode of Odd Lots, we caught up with Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin in Mount Airy, North Carolina, to get his assessment of the latest data, and what it means for policy. He explains why he thinks policy is still restrictive, and why he doesn't see evidence yet of overheating demand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PEASELEY, Eleanor Barry, widow of Gabriel Bradstreet Peaseley 5th, died April 6, 2024. She was born July 31, 1932, in Philadelphia, the first child of John Aloysius Barry of Philadelphia and Edith Maigret Barry, originally of Beaucourt, Territoire de Belfort, France. Eleanor and her brother grew up first in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia and then, after their father's untimely death, in the Mount Airy neighborhood, with her mother, maternal grandmother, and paternal aunts. The family spent each summer at "Pochuck," their Pocono Mountain farm, picking huckleberries and apples, reading by lantern light, and tramping barefoot along stone walls...Article LinkSupport the show

This week, we're in Mount Airy, NC, known as "the real Mayberry!" The original home of Andy Griffith is now home to Pages Books & Coffee, and owner Cynthia Taylor joins us to discuss the shop. We're also joined by Barb Collins, organizer and promoter of the Writers Roadshow Tour, a new series of events that's bringing authors to rural North Carolina through a partnership between the Northwest Regional Library System and Pages.

We're about to have a golden opportunity to see Philadelphians shine on a global scale: at the 2024 Academy Awards. Colman Domingo, born in West Philly, is nominated for Best Actor for his performance in "Rustin", and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, from Mount Airy, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "The Holdovers". Both are Temple University graduates. Sabrina Boyd-Surka digs into their Philadelphia origin stories and how the city has shaped who they are today, with help from KYW's Nigel Thompson.Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for IMDb.

Zack Shattuck discovered swimming in 2015, but didn't start swimming competitively until college, where he swam for four years at Frostburg State University. The Mount Airy, Maryland native went on to compete at the 2020 Paralympics and recently earned a silver and bronze at the Parapan American Games in Chile. In addition to competing personally, he is also coaching.

Cindy Martin is a retired West Virginia educator who now resides with her husband, Wayne, in Mount Airy, North Carolina. She has written freelance for West Virginia South Magazine and Yadkin Valley Magazine for over 20 years. Her work has also been featured in the Raleigh Register and the Mount Airy News. Cindy is involved in the Read Aloud Program and is totally committed to furthering the love of books and the written word.

There's a little radio station in Mount Airy, North Carolina that signed on in February of 1948 with a promise to preserve and promote the music of the Blue Ridge. 76 years later they're still at it.

Check out part two, where coach talks sports, from Duke basketball, to the history of Mount Airy football. And we get his reaction to Donald Trump's latest commercial. All this and more on Culture No Cap! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eric-spencer/message

It is a pleasure to welcome recording artist Laura Bryna as the latest guest on The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. Based in Nashville and Los Angeles, Laura has spent much of the past year working with A-list collaborators like producer Damon Sharpe (a Grammy Award winner known for his work with icons like Jennifer Lopez), building up a batch of songs that bring a gritty but fun-loving flavor to modern-day country music. Listing everyone from Etta James to Wynonna Judd to Joan Jett among her inspirations, Laura Bryna grew up on timeless pop songs from the 1950s and 1960s thanks to the jukebox in her family's basement in Mount Airy, Maryland.Soon after moving to Nashville, she inked a deal with a record label, then made her debut with Trying to Be Me—an album featuring "Hometown Heroes," a straight-from-the-heart track she co-wrote in tribute to the Air National Guard which premiered on Fox's Monday Night Football. Along with opening for major artists like Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Luke Bryan, Bryna has since brought her soul-stirring vocals and radiant presence to a multitude of USO events, including a 2019 tour that traveled to such far-flung countries as Kuwait and Kosovo. A passionate humanitarian, Laura is also closely involved with such causes as Homes For Our Troops (a nonprofit that provides specially adapted custom homes for injured veterans) and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A true force of nature, she made her debut as a children's book author just a month after releasing "Jawbreaker," then delivered her Christmas single "Wishlist" to enormous fanfare (including landing on over 20,000 user playlists across Spotify and emerging as an instant holiday classic). The smash success of "Wishlist" capped off a blockbuster year that also included the release of "Body First"—a smoldering single in the vein of past hits like "Sweet Revenge," a dance-leaning 2019 track whose Dave Aude-produced remix shot to number 10 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. But for Laura, the most excellent satisfaction comes from interacting with her fanbase, a deeply devoted following named "The Bryniacs. In this edition of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Laura Bryna spoke about the lessons she learned from opening for Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Tim McGraw, along with the story behind "Wishlist."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jakes-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

Martha Rowe Vaughn lives in Mount Airy, North Carolina and is a member of a local writers group that has been meeting for over 15 years. During that time, she has published two books: Grandma's Trunk (non-fiction) and Crossroads (fiction). An interest in genealogy and family history prompted her to write both books. She graduated from The University of Kentucky with a degree in horticulture and owned and operated a tree nursery for 22 years. In retirement, she volunteers her horticulture knowledge and skill to local non-profit organizations.

Bet Boys Podcast is presented by WagerWire. Download WagerWire and use promo code: BetBoys 00:00:00 - Introduction and Sponsorship00:01:35 - Casino Weekend Recap00:02:35 - Sports Betting at Mount Airy Casino00:03:26 - Betting on Sports and Slots00:04:19 - Issues with Betting Apps00:05:25 - Slot Machine Experiences00:06:32 - NFL Slot Machine Game00:07:09 - Betting Strategies and Mishaps00:07:50 - FCS Football and Jake Paul Fight00:08:51 - More on Jake Paul and UFC00:09:14 - UFC Fight Discussions00:10:09 - Nebraska Cornhuskers and UFC Updates00:11:07 - Jake Paul Fight Controversy00:11:50 - UFC Event Recap00:12:24 - Colby Covington Critique00:13:18 - UFC Fight Schedule00:13:30 - Christmas Plans and Preferences00:14:42 - Christmas Cookie Rankings00:16:46 - Bet Boys Christmas Party and ESPN Bet App00:18:16 - Black vs. White NFL Pro Bowl Discussion00:20:28 - Medieval Mixed Martial Arts00:21:21 - Bowl Game Schedules and Preferences00:22:09 - UFC Gladiators on TikTok00:23:26 - Medieval Combat Clarification00:24:09 - Bowl Game Gifts and Prizes00:25:24 - College Bowl Pick'em Standings00:26:10 - Bowl Game Betting Strategies00:27:20 - Christmas Gift Wishes00:28:13 - Last-Minute Christmas Shopping00:29:14 - Christmas Cookie Discussion Continues00:30:16 - Bet Boys Picks for Upcoming Games00:31:02 - Cookie Making Disaster Story00:32:06 - More Christmas Cookie Talk00:33:08 - Favorite Christmas Cookies00:34:29 - Christmas Cookie Debate00:35:37 - Transition to Betting Picks00:36:01 - Shoutout to Dan the AI Gambler00:36:44 - College Bowl Game Picks Recap00:37:15 - More Bowl Game Betting Discussions00:38:00 - Betting on New Mexico State and UCLA00:38:51 - Betting on UTSA and Marshall00:39:19 - Upcoming Bowl Game Picks00:40:23 - Bet Boys College Bowl Pick'em Update00:41:45 - South Florida vs. UCF Betting Picks00:42:42 - More Bowl Game Picks and Strategies00:43:43 - Exciting Bowl Games to Watch00:44:52 - Alamo Bowl and Other Anticipated Games00:45:25 - Ole Miss vs. Penn State Game Discussion00:45:50 - Final Thoughts on Bowl Games and Betting Welcome to the Bet Boys Podcast Episode 20 - The Christmas Spectacular! In this episode, Bet Boy Sam and I shoot the breeze and reflect on the past year in sports and our personal lives. We also have some exciting news to share in the following episode, so stay tuned! This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors, WagerWire. Don't forget to use promo code BETBOYS when signing up for the app to track all your bets in one place. Join us as we discuss all things sports and betting in this festive Christmas special. Enjoy!

Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Rabb represents the 200th district of Philadelphia County, which includes, as he calls it, The People's Republic of Mount Airy.  He is also non-religious and is proudly open about it. We talked to RepRabb about politics, religion, and why the twain should never meet. This one is fast and furious and 100% on point!Thanks for listening! Now follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. And become a Patreon supporter at www.podcastunreasonable.com. It's a small price to pay to keep America from becoming a theocracy, dontchya think?

"Open the eyes of my Heart, Lord" is a powerful song of inspiration that may help to heal, inspire or facilitate reflection and solitude. It has been a rough year for many. and it continues to be for many more. One gentlemen stopped for a chat while walking his dog this morning on my street, a next door neighbor. It was calm and peaceful morning with birds chirping. He was wearing a hoodie and had a small dog. I was out for a stroll and we greeted each other and then he lunged in with words that he could not hold back anymore; "this is a devil year!" It's is tough and families are breaking up and so many deaths, wars hatred and chaos. He seemed perplexed. I had just lost several close friends and loved ones and learned just this morning that another friend died, a young 24 year old, shot and killed in North Philadelphia, ways away from the serenity of my community in Mount Airy which has been quiet and tranquil for sometime. Yet I felt a sense of loss and insecurity. However, my faith and profound sense of the divine is what has helped me to get through this year and has given me tremendous hope. I sense a great urge and decided to share this song and provide these words of encouragement to help others in this ominous time. We are always surrounded with stimuli that degrade or create more chaos and hurt. May this episode break from that to promote love, reflection and an opportunity for spiritual connection. The NeoLiberal Round Podcast is a production of The NeoLiberal Corporation by Renaldo McKenzie, serving the world today to solve tomorrow's challenges by making popular what was the monopoly. Visit us at https://renaldocmckenzie.com or https://theneoliberal.com. Subscribe for free to our podcast on any stream and support us at https://anchor.fm/theneoliberal/support. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/@renaldomckenzie Renaldo McKenzie is a Doctoral Candidate at Georgetown University, Adjunct Professor at Jamaica Theological Seminary, Author of Neoliberalism and the upcoming book, "Neoliberal Globalization Reconsidered," Host and Creator of The NeoLiberal Round Podcast and President of The NeoLiberal Corporation. Follow Renaldo on Twitter at https://twitter.com/renaldomckenzie or Facebook: https://facebook.com/renaldo.mckenzie --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theneoliberal/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theneoliberal/support

Direct-to-consumer mattress pioneer BedInABox got its start in 2004 by establishing a radically new way to sell mattresses. Since then, the industry has been swarmed with competitors, and the same shipping method that BedInABox innovated has been exploited by copycat importers. But BedInABox has leveraged its Mount Airy, N.C., production to differentiate itself from the pack. Chris Bradley, Executive Vice President of Consumer Products at NCFI Polyurethanes, discusses BedInABox's strategy and how it's contending with pressures from dumped imports. Photo courtesy of BedInABox

The guys were in Mount Airy this past Saturday for the Autumn Leaves Festival and not only did they have the best pork sandwiches ever, they also had to best waitress ever!

Today's guest is Tom Dunkel.   Having spent his early career as an accomplished corporate finance leader with over $1.2B of middle-market M&A and financing transaction experience, and possessing a proven track record as a trusted decision-making partner to C-level executives, Tom turned his entrepreneurial energy and enthusiasm toward building a self-storage investment business.   Show Summary:    Tom shares his journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, discussing his experiences in self-storage, short-term rentals, and distressed mortgage debt. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing technology and marketing strategies in the self-storage industry, and shares insights on market dynamics and competition.  -------------------------------------------------------------- Intro [00:00:00] Tom Dunkel's background and journey [00:01:27] Reasons for pivoting businesses [00:04:24] The importance of KPIs for mom and pop operators [00:11:13] The advantages of raising rates in self-storage [00:12:08] Factors influencing being a price leader or follower [00:13:11] Closing [00:22:36] -------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Tom:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tom.dunkel.1  https://www.facebook.com/belrosestoragegroup Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomdunkel/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/belrose-storage-group/ Web: https://belrosestoragegroup.com/   Connect with Sam: I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns.     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowtoscaleCRE/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwilsonhowtoscalecre/ Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com   SUBSCRIBE and LEAVE A RATING. Listen to How To Scale Commercial Real Estate Investing with Sam Wilson Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-scale-commercial-real-estate/id1539979234 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4m0NWYzSvznEIjRBFtCgEL?si=e10d8e039b99475f -------------------------------------------------------------- Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below: Tom Dunkel (00:00:00) - Over the past 40 years, the US economy has been bouncing around like a really wicked roller coaster. Right? Good times, bad times, everything in between. But storage, it's like. It's like that lazy river. Sam, when you got your little cocktail, you're floating around at your resort on your little inner tube there. I mean, it's just gently meandered between about 80 and 90% for that same time period, 40 years. So we really like that, that steady predictability and the increasing demand, and that's high cash flowing business. So we're really enjoying it. Welcome to the How to scale.   Sam Wilson (00:00:33) - Commercial real estate show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big. Tom Dunkel is a former aerospace M&A guy. He's got 17 years as a full time real estate investor. If you don't know, Tom actually came back on the show September 18th of 2022, which if I'm not mistaken, that was episode number 658. If you want to go back and hear a little bit more of Tom's story, you can go back there again.   Sam Wilson (00:01:04) - Check that eight. Check that out on September 18th of 2022, Episode 658. Otherwise, Tom, welcome to the show. There are three questions that I always ask every guest who comes on. I know you got this question last time, but maybe you'll answer it differently this time. And if our listeners haven't heard that, they want to hear it again anyway. So where did you start? Where are you now and how did you get there? In 90s or less?   Tom Dunkel (00:01:27) - Got it. Thanks, Sam. It's great to be with you and the listeners once again. Great show. Yeah. So as you mentioned, I started out in corporate America after business school was I was kind of the number crunching, you know, Excel spreadsheet nerd. I was putting together the projections and the pro formas for our aerospace acquisitions, doing the valuations, doing the the, the market work to see like, who are the competitors out there, What were they doing, You know, how could we position ourselves and all those kinds of things.   Tom Dunkel (00:01:59) - So I got to work with some amazing people Harvard MBAs, Wharton MBAs, Naval Academy graduates, Chicago MBAs, retired Air Force colonels, and even some astronauts. And if you catch up with me after the show, if you visit with me on my website, I'll be happy to share with you the two astronauts that I've actually had lunch with. But yeah, so from there, Sam went into a couple other jobs corporate wise, and I just knew all along that, you know, scraping and clawing up that corporate ladder just, just just wasn't for me. I knew there would be a better way. So 2006, I got my opportunity when I was fired for my corporate job. Finally gave me the kick in the pants that I needed to go out and do my own thing. So of course, 2006 was a rough time to get started in real estate. But, you know, I went in full bore and got my butt whooped pretty good those next few years. But, you know, learned a lot, got some battle scars and but persisted.   Tom Dunkel (00:03:01) - And now here, 17 years later, I've built multiple seven and one eight figure business and now we're in the self storage space, which is a ton of fun. And I'm sure we'll get more into the details there later. But in the 90s, that's the story.   Sam Wilson (00:03:19) - That's the summary. I love it. I love it. Have you always done just self storage or do you have other real estate holdings as well?   Tom Dunkel (00:03:28) - Yeah. So right now self storage is our primary business, but we do through the years, of course, being entrepreneurs, we try out different things. So we also do have a short term rental portfolio in the there's a, there's a mountain in Lake Region here north of Philadelphia called the Poconos. And so we picked up some Airbnb rentals up there, which were really hot during Covid. And then we also have a distressed mortgage debt business. And that was the business that I started after getting my butt whooped in the residential world in 2009, I started buying notes and then 2010 and etcetera.   Tom Dunkel (00:04:05) - And that business has done real well for us over the years.   Sam Wilson (00:04:08) - Considering the various businesses that you're involved in. What were some of the hallmark or hallmarks, rather, of why you pivoted from one to the next? And was there any expense in not staying with just one?   Tom Dunkel (00:04:24) - Yeah, that's a great question, Sam. So distressed mortgage debt has been great. I mean, we've generated over $53 million of revenue in that business and we're not a big company. So that's that's done real well for us. Problem is, it's extremely unpredictable and it's not like we can go up to Big Bank USA, knock on the door and say, hey, sell us some loans. So we were strictly at their behest, you know, their whim as to what loans they were going to sell, how many and when. And so for like an MBA guy like me, you know, taught how to put business plans together and KPIs and whatnot, I mean, it just became impossible to really predict the future in any way, shape or form for distressed debt.   Tom Dunkel (00:05:04) - So even though that business is still rolling today, it's strictly, you know, when when a deal comes up, we kind of shift and we jump at it. We have a team that's able to do that and then we got to shift back. But so along the way, we had been looking for an asset class where there was some predictability. You know, there was some staleness there was, you know, a way to put a plan together and put a team together and really, you know, build a business. So we actually started out looking at private lending, hard money lending, and we really liked that business. And we still do a little bit of it sort of on the side. But but we were just not able to get the traction to get that business up and running. And one of the big reasons is its super duper competitive. So that's a big takeaway I would give the folks out there is, you know, be careful about what asset class you choose because if it's super competitive, you know, you're going to have a hard time making hay.   Tom Dunkel (00:06:02) - So when that business didn't work out the first time, we thought, Hey, let's try this again. We did this so good the first time. So we failed at that business twice. And we start we got involved with the title company and because again, we thought that was going to be a lot of a lot of small transactions and predictable, but again, couldn't find really the right relationships and team to put to bear there. And then about 2017, 2018, we started hearing more and more about self storage. We were like, Hmm, okay, this is checking a lot of boxes, very fragmented industry. So it's, you know, there's a lot of moms and pops. The big names that you've heard of out there, they only control about 30% of the market, the public storage, extra space, cube, smart, etcetera, those big guys. So the vast majority of the market is just small ones, two mom and pop owners, which was very attractive. The second thing we found super attractive was just the adopt, the adaptability, the market penetration of self storage.   Tom Dunkel (00:07:03) - A few years back, only about 8% of households in the US, we're using storage. Fast forward to today, it's going on 11% and increasing and I know maybe 3% doesn't sound like a lot, Sam, but when you consider there's 120 million households in the country, every 1% move is 1.2 million new self storage customers. And they're just not building them fast enough. So we've got increasing demand, you know, supply increasing not as much, which means there's going to be upward pressure on rates, which is awesome. And then I guess the last thing I would throw out there is just that over over time, over the past 40 years, you know, the US economy has been bouncing around like a really wicked roller coaster, right? Good times, bad times, everything in between. But storage, it's like it's like that lazy river. Sam, when you got your little cocktail, you're floating around at your resort on your little inner tube there. I mean, it's just gently meandered between about 80 and 90% for that same time period, 40 years.   Tom Dunkel (00:08:06) - So we really like that, that steady predictability and the increasing demand, and that's high cash flowing business. So we're really enjoying it.   Sam Wilson (00:08:15) - No, I think that's all of those are excellent, excellent reasons to get involved. I'm I'm shocked that 30% only 30% of the self storage market is controlled by big names. That's a shocking statistic to me. The big one, I would not have guessed that today that that's still. But that's still the case. Which obviously I guess it is. I would think that that though having those big industry names behind it, like those those consolidating entities, is probably a good thing, just in the sense that it brings market awareness. It brings. I mean, it has to improve resale value of your guys facilities if you decide to resell it all, if that's even part of your strategy. Is that not a fair, fair analysis?   Tom Dunkel (00:09:07) - Yeah. So so the rights are it's kind of a double edged sword with them. So if they are in a market where we are, they I mean, they have a lot of sway, right? They've got big marketing budgets.   Tom Dunkel (00:09:19) - You know, it's usually a big shiny building right on the corner in the middle of town, you know, that kind of thing. So when they come into town, especially if they're building a new facility, what they will do is they'll really drive down the rates in the entire market just to get their facility filled up. And then they'll kind of boil the frog slowly and up, up, up the rates. And so, you know, in that situation, we have to follow them, unfortunately. So that's part of our analysis. When we are looking at acquiring a facility, we're looking to see who are the competitors. Is it, you know, is it Joe's self-storage or is it, you know, public storage? And do we So we need to be cognizant of the fact that there are there is a REIT or our REIT's in the market. And so that's just going to just make us think a little bit more about how we're going to address that. But yeah, the the thing though is if they are already established in the market, they're going to be pushing rates.   Tom Dunkel (00:10:16) - So that's the other edge of the sword is, you know, we can then ride that wave as well by. Either, you know, doing maybe a small discount off of what they're doing or if all the facilities in the in the market are full, which does happen, then we know we can really kind of push that demand curve and push those rates and just kind of see where that equilibrium is and and really be more aggressive about bumping up our rates. Yeah.   Sam Wilson (00:10:45) - That's interesting. I would have I mean, it makes sense, obviously what you said, but I would have guessed the other way around would be that your mom and pop owners would be the ones that are keeping prices artificially low because, well, you know, we've all we just had our prices here and we don't want to upset our customers. So we're going to keep it here. It's like.   Tom Dunkel (00:11:05) - No, you're spot on. That's 100% correct. Sorry if I got off on a off the rails there, but no, no, you're 100% correct.   Tom Dunkel (00:11:13) - And that's one of the things we look for when we're acquiring a facility is a mom and pop, you know, their big KPI. And we're talking about KPIs, key performance indicators before we hit record. And that's their like only KPIs seems like is are all my units full, right? That's what the mom and pop operator does. The last thing they want to do is have to have to have a fancy website or implement technology or a marketing program or, you know, God forbid, throw out some Google ads, you know, something like that. It's just not how they run their business. Right. They're just looking for that mailbox money and they know their rates are low. They know that their delinquencies are high, but they just don't want to upset the apple cart because they know they know all their customers a lot of the time. Right.   Sam Wilson (00:12:02) - That makes that makes a lot of sense. But, I mean, that's where the that's where the meat on the bone lies, right? It's like, okay.   Tom Dunkel (00:12:07) - 100%.   Sam Wilson (00:12:08) - 100%. I'm thinking about a which we're we're long in the laundry business. And I was thinking about a store we just bought and we literally raised rates 53%.   Tom Dunkel (00:12:19) - Oh, yeah, right.   Sam Wilson (00:12:21) - Because it's who knows how long it's been since they've raised rates. I mean, of course that's right. It's all the little sophisticated. I'm not going to call it sophisticated little things that you can do that drive a business in a meaningful way that you just mentioned. Like. Yeah. Oh, hello. Google ads. Okay. Pay per click campaigns. Okay, we're marketing. Okay. We have a phone line.   Tom Dunkel (00:12:40) - Right?   Sam Wilson (00:12:42) - I mean, how many of these facilities you're buying where you're like, you guys don't have a site and a phone number that there's a.   Tom Dunkel (00:12:47) - Person and we're actively surveying the market to see like who's charging what and how busy are they, Right?   Sam Wilson (00:12:54) - Yeah. And those are those are where your competitive edges lie. What's your thought? Maybe you answered this, but I'm going to ask it again anyway just to see if there's more more to this than not.   Sam Wilson (00:13:05) - What's your thought on being a price leader or a price follower?   Tom Dunkel (00:13:11) - Yeah, good question. You know, and I hate to I hate to say this, but it's going to depend on the market. So, for example, we acquired a facility in Mount Airy, North Carolina, a couple of years ago. And the entire market in our analysis, we discovered that the entire market was full. And so we knew when we acquired our facility there, Granite City Storage, we knew that if there's a customer in that market that wants a storage unit, they're going to have to pay more because if we bump up the rates even on our existing customers, where are they going to go? So we we were able to successfully play that game in that market and we increased our rates about 21% in the in the first few months. And then we were just able to bump it up kind of incrementally from there. But yeah, I mean, that's that's a big factor is what's going on at the other stores.   Tom Dunkel (00:14:06) - But like we talked about a minute ago, you know, if there's a big new development going in and there's a REIT coming in, you know, we're going to be more of a price follower in that situation. Oh, and what I meant to add on to for my first example in North Carolina, all the other competitors in that market, they followed us after they saw that we were bumping up our rates. They all, you know, bump, bump, bump, bump, bump up their rates. Right. And then, you know, we I don't remember getting like a holiday card or like a commission check that year from those guys, but we should have for sure. But yeah, on the other side with the with the big rates coming in or big developments coming in you know you're going to end up most times being a price follower in that situation.   Sam Wilson (00:14:55) - Right Yeah it's it's a it's a temporary race to the bottom.   Tom Dunkel (00:15:00) - That's right. But but honestly, which is why I'm sorry to interrupt, but which is why like, you know, people look at these really hot markets, you know, like down in Florida and, you know, millions and millions of people moving there, or at least hundreds and hundreds of thousands.   Tom Dunkel (00:15:16) - But we don't like to see that the market being too hot because we know that's going to attract the REIT's. You know, so we're looking for that Goldilocks situation where it's growing but enough to increase demand but not enough to increase, to increase or attract a lot of competition.   Sam Wilson (00:15:35) - What's one of the things that you have done from a management perspective and you're based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, so. That's right. And you're buying things in Mount Airy, North Carolina. That's more that's more than a five minute drive from your house.   Tom Dunkel (00:15:50) - That's right.   Sam Wilson (00:15:51) - So how how have you established systems and got the in and established the right people to manage these at scale from a distance?   Tom Dunkel (00:16:02) - Yeah, I mean, that's really, you know, the magic, you know, the secret sauce, although it's not very secret. I mean, you hit the nail on the head. It's. It's getting the right team together, right with the right systems. And of course, we're leveraging technology to the max. So those moms and pops that we buy from, a lot of times they don't even have a website.   Tom Dunkel (00:16:24) - And if they do, it's stale information. You know, it's rates from a few years ago and the phone numbers wrong, you know, all those kinds of things. So we implement what we call a hybrid management strategy. So each of our facilities has a human that is assigned to it. But because we leverage technology, the phone number that is at the facility, you know, if they call our facility in Douglasville, Georgia, it's going to ring on the cell phone of the human manager. But they might be out in Missouri. And so but because of technology, they're able to answer the phone. Hi, it's Douglasville Self Storage. And then, you know, nine times out of ten, they can handle whatever the customer inquiry is just right there on their smartphone. Right. And in the event that the manager is busy or maybe they are not able to pick up the phone, if the customer is at the facility, they're going to they're going to see one of these they're going to see a QR code.   Tom Dunkel (00:17:28) - And if anyone out there wants to have a little fun, you can scan this on your phone and you can run a unit from us at our Baltimore facility. But the the customer can just go up, scan that QR code, it'll take them to the website, They can fill out all their personal information load in their credit card for autopay, which is awesome. And then just sign the contract with their finger. And then once they submit all that, they get a gate code texted to them while they're right there standing outside the gate punching the gate. Code gate opens up. They go inside, they find their unit, empty out their stuff, lock it up, and they're on their way without having to interact with the human at all. So so we love doing that and it allows us to really drive down our operating expenses at our facilities, which is everyone out there, I'm sure knows because you've got a smart audience that drives up net operating income, which drives up the value of the facility, which is the whole purpose of our value add strategies that we implement.   Sam Wilson (00:18:32) - And it improves the customer experience. I mean, that's the last thing is, yes, it drives up in why. But Tom, if you gave me the option to rent from you where I can do it from my phone, plug in my information and be done in five minutes versus walking inside hand it being handed, you know, 42 pieces of paper and filling out all information.   Tom Dunkel (00:18:51) - That's right. That's right. And and you got that generational difference, too, right? I mean, you know, millennials are our biggest generation right now in the US. And that's you know, they were all born with a smartphone in their hands. Pretty much. Right. Right.   Sam Wilson (00:19:05) - For better and probably for worse. That's right. Yes. That's that's very, very true. Tom, we've got a few minutes here left, and I wanted to highlight a couple of things and just get your thoughts on them. This is, again, you know, the fact that we talked about this in the beginning. You came on September 18th or the show published September 18th of last year.   Sam Wilson (00:19:25) - Some things have changed. It's some things have changed in the financing side of things. On the sales side of things. Yeah. Tell me, how are you guys navigating the current lending environment? How has that affected deal flow? How has it affected pricing fast? Three questions and money as opposed to ask one at a time. So it's up to you now.   Tom Dunkel (00:19:45) - Sure. Yeah. I mean, things have certainly been dynamic the past nine months since we spoke last. And, you know, rates are interest rates are up, you know, 4 or 5%. I mean, which is huge, right? I mean, we were doing deals that, you know, three and three quarters or 4% debt back then. But, you know, now it's a different ballgame. And, you know, we've been able to adapt. Of course, none of this was really a surprise. I mean, we all saw, you know, all the money that had been printed and, you know, that inflation was coming and that was going to push up rates.   Tom Dunkel (00:20:17) - And so we, you know, having been around, you know, the deals and projections and all that for for many, many years, jeez, you know, Wow. Going on 30. Wow. Anyway, I'm not that old. So we knew this was coming, right, Sam So we were we were already adjusting our models, adjusting our exit Capri assumptions and our future rate assumptions and all those kinds of things. And and so we've, we've been very disciplined and about the facilities that we purchased. And for that reason, we've, we haven't purchased a whole heck of a lot. I mean, we're we just closed on our 13th facility. We've got our 14th coming up here soon. But our acquisition pace definitely slowed down because. A lot of sellers were looking back a year saying, Oh, I want that value, you know, from back then. And we're saying, Well, sorry, that's off the table now because our cost of capital is up and we have return targets that we need to hit for our investors.   Tom Dunkel (00:21:15) - So that's definitely slowed us down. But I guess the good news about that is because of the run up in pricing the last few years, there's a lot of owners out there sitting on a lot of equity and that has allowed us to to take advantage of seller financing. So we have we did a seller financing deal in the fall and we have two seller financing deals lined up here that are that will be closing here in the next month or two. And the beautiful thing about that is, well, it's really a win win, right? Because the seller, they're not getting a big tax hit right up front because if they took the whole purchase price, net purchase price and in cash, they'd have to pay a big chunk of taxes on that. So seller financing allows them to kind of push push out their tax liability there. And then for us, there's no big onerous underwriting process that you have to go through with an institutional lender. There's typically no personal guarantees, which again, on smaller deals from a credit union or a small local bank, there's going to be looking for personal guarantees, and the terms are typically pretty great.   Tom Dunkel (00:22:25) - So we're seeing interest only payments, which of course means lower lower payments, higher cash flow left over for our investors. So. So we love to see that.   Sam Wilson (00:22:36) - Absolutely. Tom, this has been enlightening. Thank you for taking the time to come on the show today and share your thoughts. You're kind of updated thoughts here with us on the market, how you guys are handling it, what you guys are doing there in the self storage space. It's a pleasure, of course, to have you come on a second time. You're an absolute wealth of knowledge. I do appreciate it. If our listeners want to get in touch with you and learn more about you, what is the best way to do that?   Tom Dunkel (00:22:59) - Sure, Sam. It's been great. Love the questions. Great energy. Love it. So, yeah. I'm Tom Dunkel. I'm the chief investment officer here at Belrose Storage Group. You can find us at Belrose Storage Group. We also have a Facebook page. If you want to search Belrose storage group on there, you can find my past podcast interviews and other articles and value add that we put out there for our investor community.   Tom Dunkel (00:23:25) - So yeah, I'd love to love to hear from you and I'd love to schedule a call. You can do that from our website as well. But yeah, we, we're active, we're out there doing self storage deals and we're, we're doing syndications with accredited investors. So I'd love to have you come join us.   Sam Wilson (00:23:38) - Fantastic. Belrose Storage group. We'll make sure we include that there in the show notes. Tom, thank you again for your time today. Do appreciate it.   Tom Dunkel (00:23:46) - Thank you, Sam.   Sam Wilson (00:23:47) - Hey, thanks for listening to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate podcast. If you can do me a favor and subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, whatever platform it is, you use to listen. If you can do that for us, that would be a fantastic help to the show. It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank higher on those directories. So appreciate you listening. Thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.  

Storis of Northeast Georgia as portrayed in newspapers around the country.  We start with a two hundred pound baby in Mount Airy and explore Rabun, Habersham, Banks and Jackson counties.  And, yes... we see just about every southern stereotype there is.   The Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon.   But they are dead - A look at mourning and notable burials in Northeast Georgia

Frommm Wessssst Philadelphia, Ezra Cohen, raised in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, initially pursued a career in animation inspired by the Dire Straits' video "Money for Nothing." He attended the University of the Arts where he delved into various artistic mediums but found his true passion in metal sculpture, particularly artisanal blacksmithing. However, after graduation, a lack of resources and studio space led him and his friend to shift their focus towards graphic design. They established themselves in Philadelphia and New York for their work in Flash animation, featuring in the Macromedia 5 Flash Bible. However, the dot-com crash led to a significant downsizing of their operations, with Cohen transitioning to remote work and ultimately relocating to Prague in 2004.In Prague, after a considerable period of inactivity, Cohen took on a project for AOL following a mass layoff at the company, leading to a year of intensive work. The successful completion of this project resulted in a shift in his career trajectory. He moved to Olomouc, where he began to transition from Flash to open-source CMSs like WordPress and Drupal. This organically evolved into enterprise-level CMSs, custom software development, and eventually a return to front-end design. Cohen's success in his career, as he asserts, largely stemmed from effective networking, an aspect he continues to utilize extensively in his professional pursuits.On a personal note, around a decade ago, Cohen began focusing on his health in preparation for starting a family. He adopted a regular workout routine, reduced alcohol and coffee intake, and started following a flexitarian diet. Inspired by a documentary about longevity featuring Chris Hemsworth, he also explored various wellness practices such as cold therapy and microdosing. Furthermore, Cohen envisions opening a mega art studio equipped with everything from glassblowing to metalworking tools, designed to serve as a creative space for aspiring artists who lack resources, reflecting his own struggles as a young artist.Connect with Jay on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/The First Customer Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcastThe First Customer podcast websitehttps://www.firstcustomerpodcast.comFollow The First Customer on LinkedInhttp://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

Lesley highlights the remarkable stories of individuals who have overcome barriers and stepped out of their comfort zones to make a positive impact. Explore the multi-faceted nature of professional identities and learn how to navigate life's imperfections while finding balance and getting back on track.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co . And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:How the impact you have is a testament to the work you have done.Overcoming barriers and vulnerability to step out of comfort zones.Recognizing the multi-faceted nature of individuals and their professional identities.Embracing the imperfections of finding balance and getting back on routines.Episode References/Links:Mentions, Rebecca Circle, an agency memberMentions, Yasmine Scholten, an eLevate memberMentions Allison, an agency memberMentions, Sam, an agency memberGet Kim Scott's book Radical Candor here  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.Get your 15% discount for Toe Sox – use coupon code LESLEY15Be It Till You See It Podcast SurveyBe in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipResourcesWatch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable PilatesSocial MediaInstagramFacebookLinkedInEpisode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:05  It's Fuck Yeah Friday.  Brad Crowell 0:05  Fuck yeah.  Get ready for some wins. Lesley Logan 0:12  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Hello, happy Fuck Yeah Friday! What's up my loves? What's up Be It babes? You guys are phenomenal. Welcome to the Friday after a holiday in the US. I don't know what the Friday after the first Friday ish in July is like for you around the world, but I hope you're having a fun time celebrating what you have done this week. And if you've never joined us for a Fuck Yeah Friday, here's what it is. You sit down and you celebrate your wins, no matter how small they are. Because I've had so many people in our lives that are like, I've heard them slamming the wins because they're just not big enough. Like it was a good thing that happened but it could have been bigger. So I'm not going to celebrate what did happen because it wasn't bigger. What the fuck is that? Who taught us that? Ladies? Look, I'm sure there's some dudes out there who can celebrate their wins too but I'm gonna call up my loves because most of the people who listen our people identify as women and Hi, I see you, recovering overachiever and perfectionist over here. My name is Lesley Logan, and I'm a seven on the Enneagram, which I've heard is like the only one who has two gas pedals, which is why it's hard for me to celebrate wins, which is why we have this episode. Because it forces me to celebrate my wins with you and celebrate your wins and inspire you to show up for yourself, you're frickin kicking ass. And so what if it wasn't as big as you expected? You know what? here's the deal. Most things are never as big or as shitty as we think they're gonna be, you know when you're like, Oh my God, this could blow up on my face and you like tell yourself some story that can be the worst thing in the world. And then you have this dream, this vision, this goal, like it's going to be like this. There's gonna be unicorns and rainbows. There's gonna be glitter everywhere. Nothing is usually as glittery or as shitty. As our mind takes us there. It's often somewhere in the middle which is why it's so important for us to celebrate these wins because we have to acknowledge we're kicking some fuckin ass. Alright, so, that's what this episode is and we kick off with your kick ass moments. So here we go. Here we go. So, Rebecca Circle she's an Agency member of ours. She said, she has three wins for you, one, one of my virtual clients upgraded from once a week to two times a week sessions with me which is humongous. Anytime anyone says you know what I want to spend not just one hour with you but two hours with you because you're like changing my life that's a massive win and should not go unnoticed because that is a testament to the work you're doing Rebecca. Number two, one of my old clients from Scottsdale saw posts I was moving to Mount Airy, Maryland and contacted me for Pilates sessions for her and her daughter. They moved to the same area and now live only 15 minutes away. Holy frickin Molly, Rebecca that is so cool. That's so fun. This is why it's important to share with people you never know what's going to happen in your life because of it. And number three, she converted two of her in person clients from Arizona to be virtual clients. Rebecca, it's so huge, you're making a big life change, I had to do that in 2020 and it's humongous. I disappointed a lot of people by moving. Oddly enough, the most people I disappointed were the ones who were not taking virtually with me at that time. And realize I was never going to reopen because I was moving but it is a massive deal when you can change your life and take on the next steps and be there for the family you want to be there for and your clients are so impacted by you. They know that they can get the same amount of amazingness from you virtually as they could in person. So congratulations. Thanks for sharing your win. All right, our next FYF is from Yasmine Scholten, she is eLevate round two, I love this human so much. So she said she had a good practice session with her partner, Karen. We laughed a lot and we know each other so much better and I'm feeling safe talking, safe with my talk around English and air quotes. And parentheses she means, I don't know a lot of English words. So I talk around the word to explain it. And I love this one so much because Yasmine is an amazing teacher and I have watched her teach for many, many months now. And I actually think your English is phenomenal. But I do know it's your third or fourth language. And I just love that you're putting yourself out there in this very vulnerable state and you love Pilates so much that you are willing to put yourself out there and challenge yourself in such a big way. So thank you for sharing this with people. I'm sure there are many people where English is their first language and it scares them so much to teach another teacher. And I hope that this one inspires so many to show up and teach other people because you know what, teachers need teachers too. And if you're not a teacher, listen to this. Whatever modality that you are in, allow someone to pour into you and allow yourself to pour into that, you'd be surprised how much you do know, and how amazing it is to give to someone else. All right, our next one before I share mine (...) So, we've been following her FYF journey, I'm sure you know. She is longtime listener longtime caller. So, she started her new job at Washington University. I remember she was like trying to find a job and we found the job and she was like being until she saw it and like, boom, so she's got to start her new job. She had a fantastic first week the work is fun, and the people are great. This is the place I can stay for a while. It feels so so so good to be back in higher education. I really feel like the universe is paying me back for everything I sacrifice and struggle with in the past year. Added that I am a Pilates instructor to my LinkedIn tagline. I am both a higher education professional and a Pilates professional. No more either or no more pretending to be my colleague to my colleagues that there's only one face in my professional life. I'm still figuring how I want to show up on the LinkedIn with regards to reaching my ICA. But this is a big first step. Okay, I'm going to just take a sidetrack before I get her next bullet. Fucking phenomenal. I love when we own all the multi hyphenate we have in this world. We are not just one thing or another, people. So way to go Allison. Third point had a fantastic trip to London this week, including hanging out with Sam. How amazing I can friends wherever I go. I'm so glad I took the plunge on that trip. So Sam is one of our other Agency members at Elsinore Agency, and they got to meet up on another side of the world which I fuckin love. I'm going to call a little win on that for myself. And her fourth one is had fun discussing radical candor at book clubs. So glad I finally made it to one, feeling good as I'm heading into the weekend, y'all if you haven't read Radical Candor, you should is a phenomenal book about how to speak to people in your life. And it's really hilarious. My husband only found out recently what my original, what my original degree was in, in college, which is interpersonal organizational communication. And oh my gosh, Radical Candor has been so helpful, and just how we show up as humans in our own companies and how I like to show up working with our team and I don't always do it the way I want to. I'll be really frickin honest. It's not always possible. But we're not fucking perfect. So there's that. But I do love lean on Radical Candor to at least apologize and own where I am, You know, I didn't say that the way I wanted to say that. Let me say that a different way. All right. Well, it wouldn't be FYF I didn't share my win. So, my win this week. It's actually, it feels quite simple. In fact, I paused for a length of time that my team had to edit out for you. Because I have to remind myself, this is a massive win. So, the month of June was pretty chaotic. Okay, first of all, it was my dad's birthday and my sister's birthday. There's Father's Day. One of our OPC teachers come in to film then that teacher left literally five hours before some friends flew in from Atlanta. And so she's taking off, we're going to dinner with people that are coming in that we want to see, I wanted to see, but like after a whole weekend of filming with someone, there's like a lot going on there. Then they were here for three days. They left my sister drove in. Nice sister's birthday was on the 15th. My sister on the 14th. so I got to see her for dinner. Our friends landed after her dip birthday dinner. Like literally on the 14th the day before our birthday. So we made her celebrate early thanks Lacy. They land, we pick them up. I'm like okay, you're here. I'm going to bed. Then we like did an amazing weekend trip as I told you about last week. And it was phenomenal. But here, I sit here, and we are back on our gameplan, back in our habits, back in our routines and it was actually not hard to get back there. And I show this as a win because this, you're never going to have 300 and whatever 50 something days of the year have your perfect routines. There are going to be many a days that do not fall in line with a routine that you wanted or the plans that you had. And especially when two to three weeks of a month can be completely outside of your routine. It is so easy to just go after routine. Nothing goes, it's a free for all ,here I go. But the truth is that even though I slept in when my friends were here and we like enjoyed ourselves and party like it was 1999, like I was 21 again, which we are, no we figured that out real quick. The day after they left I dropped right back into my routines and I dropped back into, What is the purpose of this week? What is the purpose of this day? Why are we doing what we're doing? And that is a win. And I will shout that out as a win every single week. Even if I have to pep talk myself to give it to you, because you have to know we have to hear that all the people that you're following, all the people you're listening, all the people you think are experts in their area, and I say experts with some quotations around it. They are also human beings trying to figure their shit out. They are, and if they are not, run the fuck away. If they're like, I have all the answers, only me. I've got it. I think that's a sign of a cult leader. Just gonna say that. No, I have a lot of answers from a lot of experience of fucking things up and hiring amazing people who've been where I want to go. But I'm still a human being in process. And not every day is a morning routine I want, not every night is the evening routine I want, some nights are vacation. But I am celebrating the win that I went from vacation mode to the routine that makes me feel like a massively amazing human within 24 hours. And you do not need to have these wins that are like, oh my god, I had a lunch it was six figures. Oh my god, like, I'm just like so perfect in meal prep and I like got eight hours asleep and I don't text them people are there and my phone is away and I'm so present all the time. No one is. So, my goodness you do not need to be. I promise that. And if you are a real human being celebrating these little wins where you're like, you know what, I did the fucking thing to the best of my ability. F Yeah, I'm here to celebrate that with you. Thank you so much for listening this podcast. Share your wins with us so I can share them with everyone and have an amazing day.That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram.   I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. Brad Crowell 11:44  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Leslie Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 11:44  It is produced, edited by the Epic team at Disenyo.  Brad Crowell 11:44  Theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music, and our branding by designer and artist Gianfranco Cioffi.  Lesley Logan 11:44  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals and Ximena Velazquez for our transcriptions.  Brad Crowell 11:44  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all the content to our website. And finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.Transcribed by https://otter.aiSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On December 15, 1996, Baltimore police discovered the body of twenty-three-year-old Kimberly Spicer buried under a trailer on the property of a pallet factory in the city's southwest side. Later that day, police arrested Joseph Methainy, a man who lived and worked at the factory where Spicer's body was discovered. It didn't take long for police to solidly connect Methainy to the murders of two additional Baltimore women as well. In his wild confessions he claimed massive victim numbers and even cannibalism. Thanks to Dave White for research assistance!ReferencesAssociated Press. 1997. "Man's trial in slaying of 2 women is postponed; change of venue sought." Baltimore Sun, July 8: 4B.—. 1996. "Accused killer called fun-loving." Daily Times, December 20: 2.—. 1997. "Mount Airy scientits finds where the bones are buried." Star-Democrat, February 5: 13.—. 1998. "Officials: Methainy attempted suicide ." Star-Democrat, March 24: 6.—. 1996. "'Practical joker' held in 3 slayings." The Capital, December 20: 14.—. 1997. "Suspected serial killer indicted." The Daily Times, January 29: 2.Hermann, Peter. 1996. "Suspect charged in 2 more slayings." Baltimore Sun, December 19: 25.—. 1996. "Suspect gives police details of 4 slayings." Baltimore Sun, December 21: 1A.—. 1996. "Suspect in slaying says he killed 2 others Police searches yield." Baltimore Sun, December 18.Higham, Scott. 1998. "Methainy found guilty of killing woman." Baltimore Sun, May 15: 8B.Hopper, Dale. 1997. "Murder suspect convicted of kidnapping, assault." Star-Democrat, November 18: 3.Investigation Discovery. 2016. Serial killer Joe 'The Cannibal' Methainy, served human burgers at his BBQ stand, dead in cell. December 19. Accessed February 27, 2023. https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/serial-killer/joe-the-cannibal-Methainy-the-serial-killer-with-a-penchant-for-human-flesh-burgers.Irwin, Richard. 1996. "2 men charged in woman's stabbing death." Baltimore Sun, December 16: 2B.Jacobson, Joan. 2000. "Court voids death verdict." Baltimore Sun, July 25: 11.—. 1998. "Killer given death penalty." Baltimore Sun, November 14: 1.—. 1998. "Methainy sentencing testimony begins." Baltimore Sun, November 10: 27.James, Michael. 1997. "As police sift claims, families seek solace." Baltimore Sun, January 13: 1.Methainy v. State of Maryland. 2000. 149 (Court of Appeals of Maryland, July 24).Pekkanen, Sarah. 1998. "Suspect's confession to killing played in court." Baltimore Sun, May 1: 1B.Penn, Ivan. 1997. "Slaying suspect on trial in attempted murder." Baltimore Sun, November 6: 11B.—. 1997. "Woman describes night of attack." Baltimore Sun, November 7: 7B.Prudente, Tim. 2017. "Convicted murderer dead in his cell." Baltimore Sun, August 8: A2.Shatzkin, Kate. 1997. "Death penalty to be sought in slayings of 2." Baltimore Sun, March 21.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This podcast and my mission are about changing culture. The Color of Law compiled our culture's practices that I can only see as cruel and unfair. As long as they're hidden, we can't do much about them. Listen to my episode with Richard and read that book if you aren't on top of America's history of cruel and unfair housing policy.Once you're outraged, then what? In this episode, Leah answers that question. She shares at a high level what people can do in their communities.You'll hear a couple extra notes of interest from me. One is to see what techniques in the culture she's changing can apply in changing our culture in sustainability. The other is that my episodes with my mom talking about the racially integrated neighborhood she and my father chose to raise us in, as well as the neighborhood itself, Mount Airy, Philadelphia, factored into her research.You'll also hear me recognizing a new element in how a cultural practice could start for one reason, say racism, then even after people in that system oppose racism, that system can continue and perpetuate the racism. At a certain level, I knew it already, but it hit me more viscerally when Leah explained it. You'll hear.The Just Action web pageJust Action on Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Steven Albritton, Lacey Roberts and Fletcher Keel as they discuss a fatal shooting Monday in Cincinnati's Mount Airy neighborhood, an effort by Cincinnati leaders to lower speed limits on some roads, the continued investigation into a suspicious bet placed on an Alabama baseball game at Great American Ballpark and more.NEED MORE than just a dose? Watch the NOWCAST of our latest WLWT News 5 show here: https://www.wlwt.com/nowcastFOLLOW:Steven Albritton: @Steven Albritton (Twitter), Steven Albritton - Anchor/Reporter (Facebook)Kelly Rippin: @KellyRippin (Twitter), Kelly Rippin (Facebook), @kellyrippinnews (Instagram)WLWT: @WLWT (Twitter) WLWT (Facebook), @wlwt5 (Instagram)GET IT ALL: Breaking news, weather and local stories on WLWT.com

GBH's Antiques Roadshow made a surprising discovery in Charleston, SC in 2000 – a circa 1850 two-seated chair made for famous conjoined twins Cheng and Eng Bunker. DETOURS host Adam Monahan long believed there must be a second chair lost to history, but a serendipitous phone conversation with humorist Mo Rocca not only solved the mystery of the missing chair, but also revealed Mo's own historical look at the famous twins captured in an episode of his podcast Mobituaries.  Here for DETOURS listeners is Mobituaries episode “Cheng and Eng: A Messy American Dream “ where Mo travels to Mount Airy, North Carolina - the inspiration for Andy Griffith's Mayberry and the real life home of conjoined Siamese twins, Chang and Eng - to join their many descendants for their annual family reunion.

John Carbutt is the forgotten pioneer of Philadelphia photography.  Born in England, he spent the first years of his career as a railroad photographer in Canada and the American West.  After settling in Mount Airy and opening a factory in Wayne Junction, Carbutt was the first person in the country to commercially produce dry photographic plates, the first to produce sheets of celluloid coated with photographic emulsion for making celluloid film, and the first to make commercially available dry plates for x-rays.  Around 1890 he made film 35 mm width for the Kinetoscope, which set the 35 mm film standard for motion picture cameras and still cameras.  At the time of his death in 1905, he was working on a method to produce color film.  John Carbutt is buried in an unmarked grave at Laurel Hill West.  

Season 3 Episode 13 - Mounds Park & Mount Airy in MinnesotaSome stories from Peb Hmoob Forum—SPONSOR—Magic Mindmagicmind.co/MYXCode: MYX— CONTACT ME / SEND ME A STORY — If you have a TRUE scary story to share, please send it to myxinthedark@gmail.com— WHERE TO LISTEN TO MYX IN THE DARK — YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MYXinTheDark Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MYXInTheDark BuzzSprout: https://myxinthedark.buzzsprout.com/You can also find me on various podcasting stations such as Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeart Radio, Pandora, etc.— MUSIC CREDITS — Music Provided By Vivek Abhishek - Horror Ambience— ART WORK CREDITS — MYX in The Dark Logo Design: MVThaoMYX in The Dark Artwork: Mktoonzy, Sheng Xiong, & MaiYang— TIP ME — If there's a story that you think deserves a tip because you enjoyed it, please send it through Venmo under the business profiles. Thank you so much!Venmo: @myxinthedark (business profile)— MYX IN THE DARK MESSAGE — The use of this narration audio for any projects (including animation) without expressed permission is not allowed.Reuploading any of these videos or translating without expressed permission is not allowed.

Today we travel to Mayberry for all you Andy Griffith Show fans. Jimmie & Patricia Spann were the first mid-term rental in this area and now have 5 mid-term rentals in Mount Airy, NC which is Andy Griffith's childhood home and the inspiration for Mayberry. Jimmie & Patricia also have 3 homes in California and one apartment they rent as a mid-term rental. Some of their additional income streams include a carpet cleaning business and interior design business. In this episode we cover:(Points organized in episode order)California & North Carolina PortfolioNavigating real estate crashesLong term to mid term transitionThe feel of Mount Airy, NC aka “Mayberry”Renting a 3 bedroom on Furnished FinderWho's renting in Mount Airy?Tenant communication & management from across the countryBe a hound dog & a kitten at the same timeFurnished Finder House Rules is quick and efficient communicationPre-season checks provide peace of mindIn emergencies, think quick, communicate right away and provide solutionsSavvy systems and upgradesJimmie's got a great tip for organizing the keys for all your rentalsStarting a medium-term rental in a new city with limited to no MTR dataHow are your mid-term rentals doing?Running business with your spouse or a partnerEnjoying our show? We would be honored to receive your 5* review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-landlord-diaries/id1641540804 https://open.spotify.com/show/4SvrXhCVRZMkbVDTF2Fyh2?si=f3d62047d84244a9 Website Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property-owners Jimmie & Patricia's Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=James.and.Patricia.Spann The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for only $99 per year and no booking fees!

[00:00:00] Welcome to the Successful Life Podcast. I'm your host, Corey Berrier, and today, folks, I got a wild fucking story for you. I'm going to tell you a little bit about the last four years of my life, and I'm going to tell you something. It's been a struggle because running a business has a lot of twists, a lot of turns, and a lot of stuff you can't anticipate happening. [00:00:45] Why? Because you don't have the experience. To know how to anticipate these things. Now, you've probably figured out a few things at this point, probably making money. You've probably gotten married, you might have bought a house, maybe you got a couple of dogs, and life is good, right? And then Daniel presents himself as a partnership with you, right? [00:01:08] Daniel says, Hey, I got an opportunity. We should partner up. The prospect seems like it's gonna be great. It feels like it's gonna be great because Daniel has everything that John doesn't have. He's got the li the list could go on, right? He just knows. He feels like Daniel's got some pieces that, could make this pie hole. [00:01:37] The issue was, There was no clear expectation set because each of you has your own business, right? And you all are just going to work it out. Y'all are gonna work together because y'all are tight, right? That's why you're going into business together. It's a great idea because y'all, look, you get along unbelievably great, right? [00:01:58] And then you realize once you get in the business, holy shit, he knows less than I do about. Holy shit, what am I going to do? I've depended on Daniel to do these things, and it didn't happen. And now, because of my lack of experience, I'm sorry, because of John's lack of experience, you had to close the [00:02:26] doors. [00:02:26] Now look, [00:02:31] this was my story a few years. [00:02:37] And it was one of the darkest times of my life. And so I'm gonna tell you I, I just want you to imagine for a second, what you know, you own a business, you go into your business just like any other day, right? And your business partner walks in and says, I'm not gonna pay you anymore. Now I lost my shit, as you can imagine. [00:03:07] And I'll get into that story a little bit further in just a moment, but in 2017 before this happened, I sold my personal training studio, and I sold it so I could open up a brand new YOU md, which was a cutting. TRT clinic, testosterone replacement therapy. We had a whole bunch of stuff in there. [00:03:28] Human growth hormone. We had peptides, we had laser hair removal, we had vaginal rejuvenation. We had all kinds of crazy stuff. Now, I put in a lot of sweat equity going into this. I didn't put as much financial equity in it as I did sweat equity, because I understood. I thought I understood how to run this. [00:03:49] Because I'd come from the fitness industry and I'd already been dealing with some peptides and some hcg, and so I did have an idea of what to do, but I didn't know how to run a brick-and-mortar doctor's office, but I thought how hard it could it be. Of course. That's what I thought, because, I think I could do everything well. [00:04:09] This was a dream. Like I thought this was it. We built out this gorgeous clinic in Raleigh, down in North Hills. It was so beautiful, and it was a prime piece of real estate. I was so proud of it. I'll be honest with you, I was so proud of it. I thought this was it for me. I loved it. [00:04:26] I loved business. I love being a business owner. I love being like a brick-and-mortar business owner. I loved doing just something a little bit different than what I've been doing. [00:04:36] And so I thought this was a deal of a lifetime. I had this guy that wants to invest in me, he wants to build this thing out with me. He's excited, and I'm excited. He's got money. I've got the experience, and I've got the knowledge of, and I've got the [00:04:52] contacts of how to make this happen, right? The clinic was open from, 10:00 AM. [00:04:57] To 6:00 PM every day. It was literally like a dream because look, I come from the personal training world. I was at the gym at 5:00 AM training people sometimes I was there till 7:00 PM It was really long day and it was taxing. And, moving to this new model was like, I felt like I had arrived, which was part of the problem. [00:05:15] I don't know if you've ever experienced hiring someone that didn't really work out for you. You probably have, if I had to guess. And being the inexperienced person I was, I hired the first person that came through the front door. Now you already know how that turned out. Because she, it felt like this girl lady knew everything that I didn't know. [00:05:35] She seemed like she had her stuff. . It was, that was the furthest thing from the truth, but I didn't know. I had absolutely no idea. And so I had to hire. I had to hire a female because of the lasers that we had in the clinic. Now, I mentioned this a moment ago. I mentioned the vaginal rejuvenation machine and the laser hair removal machine, and we had a couple of other machines too. Actually, now that we're on the subject, I might as well tell you we also had one that actually would help me and get harder actions. [00:06:10] Believe it or not, it was an interesting process. Neither says I didn't do that and I didn't do the other, I didn't do the vaginal rejuvenation, but I had to have a female in order to do these things because as a male a heterosexual male, I ain't about to go in. A room and try to stick something. I don't need to go into much detail there, but it is exactly what you think it is. [00:06:29] It tightens up after you've had a baby. It's called incontinence if you wanna know the technical term for it. But it's basically, so when women, after they've had a baby, they're, we tighten up their vagina because you just put, yeah. Anyway, you get the point. And I empowered her, right? I empowered this lady because I believed. [00:06:48] She was the best fit. I didn't have many comparisons. She was one out of one, so of course, she was the best fit because I hadn't looked at anybody else. And so [00:07:01] I wound up having to call the cops on her because she was crazy like she was batshit crazy. It was one of the hardest things that I've had to do in business because I had to fire her 10 days before Christmas. Now, I'll just tell you, I felt dirty. I felt disgusting because I [00:07:18] had to do that. [00:07:19] But guess what? There's really not a good time to fire anybody. I don't care when you have to fire somebody. It's never a good time. But it just so happened I'd never had, I've had to fire and hire a bunch of people, but I've just really never had to fire anybody around Christmas. I'm not sure how, but I just never did. [00:07:35] And at the end of the day, it had to, it had, if you're in business, which you probably are, you understand this, you've gotta cut loose the people that are holding you back because at the end of the day, it hurts you and it hurts your business by keeping people around that suck or that are causing you problems. [00:07:53] In, I'll just tell you, I was, I. I was unbelievably nervous calling the cops on this lady because I'm a convicted felon. That was a drug. I got caught selling drugs in 2005, and now I own a doctor's office where we prescribed drugs. And it was legal. Now, was it a little bit gray? Yeah, probably It was a little bit gray, but guess what? [00:08:20] I went through my attorney, and she helped me go through all this stuff and make sure it wasn't too gray. And so I knew I was safe, but there's still that element of could something go sideways? And I couldn't afford to have that happen. I had risked everything on this. And [00:08:40] I hit risk. Everything on this business. I mentioned earlier how I getting married and getting, buying cars and houses and dogs and that was me. I had just bought a house not a couple of years before that, and dogs and wives and or wife and, We run by our own business here. [00:09:00] By her. She, my wife runs her own business. I run my own business. It's not like we have a steady paycheck coming in every month, right? Yes. But it is what it is, right? That's the risk you take when you're in business. So my point is I was nervous because I had a lot to lose and I did own 50% of the company,, but the problem is, I mentioned him coming in and telling me he wasn't gonna pay me. He controlled the checkbook. Now I had access to the bank account that didn't have any money in it, which did me no good. So I kept working after October 1st, and. [00:09:33] God Almighty. It was the beginning of the darkest time since I've been sober, now, I've been sober for 13, over 13 years, but [00:09:44] around a little bit before that, I stopped going to AA because things got really good, right? Things got really good, and I didn't need to go to aa, and I said, I am not an alcoholic. I don't have to go to aa. [00:10:00] And here's where that was my ego talking. And I don't identify as an alcoholic. I identify as a recovering alcoholic. I haven't had a drink in over 13 years, so you can't, I just don't agree with me saying I'm still an alcoholic now. I still think like an alcoholic for sure. It's just a play on words. [00:10:19] It really doesn't matter what you say. I know. I got I, I know I have issues, and I know that Alcoholics Anonymous helps me with those issues. I'm not even so sure if I was supposed to say that here, but I guess I am. I'm not promoting aa. I can promise you that, but I'm just telling you my experience, so I don't give a shit if you go to AA or not. [00:10:35] But what I'm telling you is my experience with AA first six years was interesting. It helped me get to where I am. But then I turned my back on it because I thought I didn't need it anymore. And I'm lucky I didn't drink. Really. I haven't had the desire to drink, to be honest with you. And that, for a lot of people may sound hokey pokey, but it's the truth. [00:10:54] I just don't have that desire. But I do have the desire to be the best MF that I can be to my customers, to my clients, to this podcast, and to you, the listener. I take a lot of pride in what I do, and I do everything the best that I possibly can do it. And so just like this clinic, I did it as hard as I possibly could. [00:11:28] I did everything in Corey's power to try to make this thing work, and that was the problem. I didn't. I didn't rely on God. I didn't rely on God, and I know better than that. But I'm telling you, dude, I would sit here in my office right here where I'm recording this show. I would cry. I'd cry. I would cry as quietly as possible to be honest with you, which was, I was pretty good at that cuz ego didn't want my wife to hear me. [00:11:57] Cause I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed that I gambled. on this business. [00:12:07] I gambled on this clinic [00:12:10] only for October 15th to roll around and him not pay me again. And so I had to back up a U-Haul, and I took 50% of the equipment out. Now, naturally, I took the 50% that was making money because I wanted him to move. I wanted him to pay. And I'm gonna, I wanted to make sure he was gonna pay me. [00:12:33] And so I calculated this. I consulted with attorneys. I knew what I was doing, and I knew what I was doing was right. I recorded it all. I took notes. I had three people with me. Like I did everything exactly right. And I'll tell you something really funny. , dude, when I installed a camera so I could watch the people in my office because I couldn't see them from my office. [00:12:52] Nobody knew that. And so I watched that camera the next morning. I wish I had that recording. I watched them go in the scramble. They thought somebody robbed them. It was absolutely priceless. It was the best thing I could have ever seen. [00:13:09] During this time, right after I left there, right? We had, I got, I got sued, of course. And I sued immediately, and so they had to come and get the stuff, and I didn't do anything wrong. So I actually walked away. This is a double-edged sword. I walked none of the debt, which was almost, it was about $350,000. [00:13:34] And I also walked, but I also walked away with no money. I walked away with nothing. I walked away with a zip, nothing. And I failed several things in my life, but this was one of the biggest. This took me, it took me down, dude. It took me down. It was the worst. I can remember since I've been sober the worst. [00:14:03] And so I didn't know what to do because I was starting over with zero confidence and zero belief in myself. And I'm gonna tell you, my wife is a saint, my wife. Didn't make me feel bad. Not one time. She never ever made me feel like a failure. She carried us through this time. She never took Corey to get a job at some menial job. [00:14:33] She said, I believe in you, and I [00:14:36] believe in what you're doing, and I believe in all the things that you believe. And I don't even know if I believed him to be honest with you, but her belief in me really carried me. It made me. Leaving myself to a degree, right? And I wasn't all the way there. I'll tell you that. [00:14:57] We were four months behind on our house payment. Dude. I thought we were getting ready to lose our house. So I applied for some assistance, like government assistance. I've never told anybody this in my life cause it's embarrassing, but I wasn't too good to ask for. Because I needed it in Jesus Christ, it was a relief. [00:15:24] It was unreal. It was such a close call, and that was one not, that's one thing I'll tell you right now that I do believe in. I say that I was away from God, but I knew, I really did know, we weren't gonna lose our house. I knew in my heart we were not gonna lose our house. I didn't know how the hell we weren't gonna lose it. [00:15:45] But what I knew, we weren't gonna. When I was gambling on me, again, the guy that keeps letting me down, right? And that's how I felt. You let yourself down again, dude. You effed up again. [00:16:06] And so I had to visualize, I had to start visualizing the outcome that I wanted. I had to start putting myself around people. That would help me change the way I think because my thinking got me here. My thinking was broken. And that March, I went and got my coaching certificate and my neuro-linguistic programming, and my hypnosis certificate. [00:16:36] And I went through a two week, oh, it was a really, it was actually a pretty intensive course in Atlanta and. We got down there. I, we had barely any money. It was awful. Dude. It was awful. So late OC around October, November it was actually in November. Oh, October, sorry. In 2019, I joined the RT syndicate, the r Corey. [00:17:01] You didn't [00:17:02] have any money, dude. You're right. We didn't have any money. My wife didn't even know we were paying. She did not know we were paying for this, cuz I couldn't, I; there's zero chance I could have explained to my wife that we needed to spend $400 a month on a mastermind when I didn't have a job. [00:17:24] I didn't have money coming in. How would I explain that to her? It would've been impossible. I'm a great salesperson, but I'm not that good. , but I knew in my heart there was something in that group that I needed, and I needed to be a part of it because I wanted what they had. And so then, so I did. I joined it and now am a part of the cool kids with no money. [00:17:54] Right? Which sometimes made me feel even worse. . But I'll tell you, because of that decision, this podcast was born, the one you're listening to right now. I asked Ryan Williams, the very first person that was on my show. He's a Navy Seal, and I am a rock star in the business. Multi, multi multimillionaire. I had no idea any of this when I asked him, and I almost shit myself when I went and looked him up because I'm like, holy crap, I've got this dude on the first show I had; look, I'd never. [00:18:25] Open my mic on for this pod. How do you? I had the show slug. I technically had a podcast, but there was nothing there. Zero. I didn't note the first thing about podcasting. I just knew I was gonna do it. And so, I've used this podcast to collaborate with influencers and to grow this show organically. [00:18:50] Here's the crazy part, I didn't realize that's what I was. I didn't realize that was gonna put this podcast ranked in the top 5% in the whole world. I didn't know any of that, but I'll tell you, this thing has helped me have high-level conversations with people, which has helped my confidence, and it's helped me become the person I am today. [00:19:14] And it's because I put myself in those uncomfortable spots. Because I knew I needed to get better. I wanted to grow. I wanted to be the best EMF where I could be. And so that's [00:19:28] exactly what I did. And I just, they say fake it till you make it. It's exactly what I did. I had to fake it till I made it. [00:19:35] And it is what it is, what I mean, and I can talk about it now cuz it is what it is. I don't have to do that now. And so I didn't really recognize, This, but during that really dark period, I wrote a book called The Training Code. And so because I didn't do with my life, because I had one skill, which was to be a trainer in sales, and I was so down I couldn't sell a thing, dude, I couldn't sell Jack. [00:20:05] But what happened? With me writing that book and getting it edited and getting it formatted and everything, that was the foundation of my new number one bestseller on Amazon, meaning I wrote that book, and it helped me. With that second book, I never published the first book cuz I was fearful, right? I didn't want to, I didn't want to publish a book about selling fitness when I had no desire to sell fitness. [00:20:37] So my thought was, if I put this book out, people are gonna contact me just like they do now about in the trades wanting me. Help them with their fitness. And I'm like, I don't wanna put myself in that position cuz I didn't want anything to do with it. And so during that, I put in there my sales process, and so it's the same sales process like it's refined now, obviously, but it's the same stuff. [00:21:02] And that's what I, that's why I wrote nine simple steps to Sell More Shit. Because if you hate reading as much as I do, you'll love this book cuz it's short. It's short, it's got pictures. And most people that are gonna read that book have ADHD. Most likely. Most likely, you have it. Who knows? But I have it, and I write about it at the back of the book. [00:21:20] Cause I think it's important for people to understand this is a serious thing. And keep in mind, by the way, I am from Mount Airy, North Carolina. I'm from Mayberry. I barely made it out of high school. I certainly was not supposed to. A number-one bestselling author in a top podcaster, but I believe that I could do that. [00:21:44] I believed I could write that book with zero proof of success, and it was a gamble. Like I said earlier, I was, again, I was gambling [00:21:54] on gambling with the guy that had let me down so many times. Me, the odds weren't stacked in my favor. There were many times over. The last few years, like I said, with the RTE stuff, that I had to hide that stuff, and I hated it, but I knew it was for the greater good, and I would never hide anything that was super important, right? [00:22:18] I just knew there was no way that I could convince my wife we need to spend $400 a month on a mastermind, right? And so it worked. It worked. My plan worked. In the last year, I've spoken live at the podcast, which holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest global podcast event in history. I spoke on that stage twice. [00:22:49] I've been interviewed on the number one ADHD podcast, faster than Normal, as well as the real Brad Lee twice dropping bombs. And you might think I'm dropping names, but I'm just telling you. A couple of things that you might recognize and look at; it's weird for me to say all these things, right? I spoke this year at the National P HCC Connect event. [00:23:13] That's unbelievable. I've worked with companies in the last year in Peru, Columbia, Chile, Argentina, Canada, and, naturally, the US, And I help leaders with their communication, building relationships, and sales. And now I solely work with organizations in-home services because y'all are just like me. [00:23:33] Y'all are just like me. You cuss, and you forget to follow up with things, right? It's things that I've under. I understand because I've walked through the shoes that you're in currently with that clinic. It was a different type of business, but I made every single, I made every single damn mistake that you made or that you're making every one of them. [00:23:58] I try to do everything myself. I tried to hire people, but I hired the wrong people cuz I was a dumb ass. I didn't know. I did the best that I could with the information that I had just like you do. But I promise you, dude, there's a better way out there. I promise you there's a better way, and I want you to win. [00:24:18] I want you to crush [00:24:20] it. I want you to be so successful that it blows your mind because I'm gonna be such a success. That blows. Am I a millionaire? No, I am not. But I will be. I'll be a multi-millionaire. There's zero chance that I'm not gonna because I know what I've been working on and I know the relationships that I have, and I know where I'm going. [00:24:45] And look, you can get on board or not; it doesn't matter to me cuz I'm going regardless. And I hope today has given you a little picture, a little peek, inside of my crazy life over the last four years. It's nuts. It's absolutely nuts. And listen, do me a favor. If I've touched you in this show today, if I've said something that makes you say yes, I need to check into it. [00:25:17] Or if I've said something that makes you really think about a decision that you've made in the past that maybe you need to redo, or maybe you need to, I don't know. I want you to share the show with somebody. I want you to share it with one person. I want you to share the show with one person. [00:25:34] Share the show with one person. We don't run ads. I don't run ads for the show. It's all organic. I don't run any ads for this show. It's complete. And it helps when you share the show. We'll see you guys on the other side.  I educate and develop sales teams in home services businesses, specifically plumbing and HVAC. You can go to www.hvacplumbingsales.com   You can also visit the Successful Life Podcast at www.Successfullifepodcast.com   You can download my #1 best-seller on Amazon. Relevant Links: Please join my free Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeschools  Follow me at: https://www.instagram.com/coreyberrier/ www.linkedin.com/in/coreysalescoach  https://thetradeschools.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreyberrier/channels 9 Simple Steps to Sell More $H!T!  

Martin Perdomo also known as "The Elite Strategist", is an inspired instructor, speaker, and entrepreneur that has inspired thousands around the globe and is the host of Latinos in Real Estate Investing Podcast. Martin is now available for leadership training, Sales Training, Business consulting, and coaching. Martin's Elite Real Estate Strategies with the Elite Strategist DVD is Featured on Amazon and all major online and offline retailers.   Martin is the founder and host of the Stroudsburg Real Estate Investors club. With his leadership, the group has gone from zero to over three hundred members in less than two years. He currently manages and operates a Real Estate Investing firm operating over five million dollars in assets and he helps investors get above-average returns by investing passively in multifamily Real Estate with him and his team. In this episode, Sam and Martin are going to discuss why to educate people on real estate investments, the passion that Martin made him start his podcast, and the journey that led him to find financial freedom through real estate investing.   Highlights:   [00:00 - 05:45] Hustling Until You Achieve Your Goals Martin Perdomo is a real estate entrepreneur, trainer, podcast host, speaker, consultant, and mindset strategist. He aims to educate people and get them started on their journey to financial freedom through real estate investing. Martin started investing in real estate in 2007, bought his first property two years later and it burned down in 2012. Since then, he's learned to focus on the long term and has shifted his thinking when evaluating properties. He currently owns 108 units of multifaceted real estate, including 40 units next to each other.   [05:45 - 11:04] Alternative Real Estate Investments Martin shares his story about the dream that he had when he found his passion for real estate investments, at 17 years old. He discusses his latest long-term goal to be true: owning a hotel. He then explains the advantages of why owning a hotel can be a great investment. Martin talks about his diversified assets and his strategies to make those assets scalable.   [11:04 - 15:33] Finding Your Public Martin talks about how TV commercials gave him a great lead in the area that he works. He shares how he identified the demographic that he wants to buy from and the strategies to do that. Why TV commercials are an underrated strategy to scale your real estate investments.   [15:33 - 19:38] Helping the Community: A Passion Martin shares his real purpose in the business of the real estate. He discusses the importance of mindset and skill set in achieving success, and how shifting to an abundance mindset has changed his life for the better. He also discusses his podcast and his meet-ups, and how he created those spaces to help others achieve success in the business of real estate.   [19:38 - 20:56] Closing Segment Reach out to Martin See links below Final words   Tweetable Quote   “You gotta let people know what you're doing. You gotta take action. Like the old saying of ready, fire, aim. Just ready, action, and then readjust and aim again and adjust accordingly”. – Martin Perdomo   “Once I shifted my mindset right from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset, my life changed”. – Martin Perdomo -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Connect with The Elite Strategist himself, Martin Perdomo on his Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or check out more ways to reach him out in his Link Tree. Also, check his podcast Latinos In Real Estate Investing Podcast, and his YouTube Channel.   Connect with me:   I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns.    Facebook   LinkedIn   Like, subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or whatever platform you listen on.  Thank you for tuning in!   Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com       Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below:   00:00 Martin Perdomo: And if you're doing something you gotta let the world know that you're doing it. You're doing something. "Hey, this is what I'm doing. You're raising money. "Hey, I'm looking to help people, get above average return on their investments, right? You gotta let people know what you're doing. You gotta take action. Like the old saying of ready, fire, aim. Just ready, action, and then readjust and aim again and adjust accordingly. 00:19 Intro: Welcome to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate Show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big. 00:31 Sam Wilson: Martin Perdomo is the host of Latinos and Real Estate Investing podcast. Martin aims to educate people and get them started on their journey to financial freedom through real estate investing. Martin, welcome to the show. 00:43 Martin Perdomo: Sam, thank you for having me, brother. It's a pleasure and an honor to be able to share with your audience. 00:48 Sam Wilson: Awesome Martin. Glad to have you on today. There are three questions I ask every guest who comes on the show. In 90 seconds or less, can you tell me where did you start? Where are you now, and how did you get there? 00:58 Martin Perdomo: Started investing in real estate in 2007. Bought my first property. I was a mortgage broker, so I had FOMO, fear of missing out. Everyone was buying real estate and I was giving money away basically back in those days. In '05, '06 and '07. And I bought my first investment property, paid $275.000 for it. Knew nothing about real estate investing. Only did it because I knew that was a way to financial freedom. You hear it, you know it intuitively, but there's more to it than that, as you know. Bought it two years later, a hundred thousand under water, same property, was worth $179,000 and 14 years later had an appraisal come here. Last month I bought a property not too far from it. He was using a comp property, same property, two doors down, exact same property. Sold for $385,000. So don't wait to buy real estate. Buy real estate and wait. 01:47 Sam Wilson: What did you do with that house? 01:50 Martin Perdomo: Good question. I've had it, I bought it cuz it was close to the university by ESU University and I rented it to college students. And what college students typically do is they rent it in, they rent it around May, and they go to May right when school starts and around May, around April, they start winding down. These kids didn't pay their light bill, so one kid was studying with a candle in the. And the curtain caught on fire. Mattress caught on fire. They burned my house down. I like to think that I kind of attracted that because I was like my energy energetically, I was felt like, so stuck with that property cuz I didn't know what I was doing. That it was like the universe, God was the way of getting me out. 02:38 Sam Wilson: What year did it burn to the ground? 02:40 Martin Perdomo: I burned to the ground in 2012. 02:44 Sam Wilson: Okay, so you held it through the recession? 02:47 Martin Perdomo: Yeah, I held it. 02:47 Sam Wilson: Held it, which is, yeah, which is the right move. 02:50 Martin Perdomo: Yeah. There was no other move. I was broken. I didn't know what to do, brother. I didn't have the education I have today. But in hindsight, you know, it was a, if I would've held on. I still would've won. 02:59 Sam Wilson: You still would've won. And I think that's the thing that, the lesson that so many people probably didn't employ, you know, for those that were in unable to, hold on. That's a different story, but everybody panics when they see that the comp value of their property goes down. How has your thinking shifted now when you evaluate and look at properties in light of that experience? 03:20 Martin Perdomo: That's a great question. I just bought a quad. Up the street from here. And I was just in a meeting with my business coach this morning and he asked me a similar question cuz we're looking at: "Hey, the stuff we're flipping". And the difference in my mindset and what I look at now is I look at the longview. I focus on 10 years, 15 years. I look at the long view of things. I don't just focus that interest rates are going up. Hey, this happens. Interest rates go up. I don't concern. Prices are going down. Hey, this happens. Prices went down. There's always a panic in the market, Sam, no matter what. Last year's panic, what was it? "Oh, this is a bubble. People paying $20,000, 40,000 over asking 22, 21". Right? 21 and 20. That was it. In '19 and '18 before Covid, what was it? "Shit, any moment of recession's gonna happen, we're due. It's been, we're the longest bull market in history, and we're due". So, it's the media. There's something about human beings. We're always looking for what's next around the corner that can come kill us. But if we can just, when it comes to real estate, I like to think of it as long term and when I think of it of long term, all the noise goes away, right? All of the noise goes. 04:24 Sam Wilson: That's exactly it. Yeah. Somebody, and this is kind of in line with that, but somebody asked me this yesterday. It was like talking about a couple bees of real estate we own. I said "Look, I'm gonna hold those forever. It's long term I'm gonna hold 'em until I no longer want to own them". Like we buy stuff today that produces an income and I wanna hold it. No, I don't want to anymore. And I really don't care what the value of it is on paper, as long as it continues to produce revenue. I'm happy man. Yep, that's that's really cool. You mentioned a quad, you mentioned a single-family residence. How many aspects of real estate are you involved in at the moment? 04:58 Martin Perdomo: So, we buy apartment buildings. We currently own 108. It goes up and down cuz we flip and we also flip. So, we currently own 108 doors. We own a bunch of assets. Our biggest asset is 40 units. And 17, right next to each other. So, we do a multifacet of things. We currently have a television commercial locally. We're marketing to motivated sellers. We're just kind of lining ourselves and getting ourselves ready for if there is, and I use that word intentionally, if there is a real correction, because it's just so different, you know? We have people with interest rates of 2% and 3% that, yeah, they might have overpaid last year, but where are they going? There's an affordability issue. Where are they going? They can come rent from us, from you and from me for, you know, for what they're paying for. The less, they're paying less for mortgage. I don't know, you know, there's a lot of hype about the market this to market that. Either way I always plan for worst case scenario. I'm planning when the fear starts, because the fear mongering has already begun. Mainstream media is already, you know, putting the fear and human beings, especially people that aren't like you and I in this business, educated, they're gonna panic and they're gonna get scared. We flip, we buy fix and flip properties. I enjoy that. That is fun for me. And we also buy and hold long term. We're in the middle of buying a hotel right now. We're looking to acquire a hotel right now. I'm really excited about the future. Future's Bright Sam. Future's bright, brother. That's all I could tell you. man. Future is bright. I'm excited about the future. 06:27 Sam Wilson: I love that attitude. Somebody asked me that a couple weeks ago. They said, Hey: " Is now a good time to get under real estate?" I'm like: "Yes, absolutely it is. Like now is a great time to get in". Tell me about your hotel. We've talked about multifamily; you've talked about single family residences; you've talked about flipping. Tell me about your hotel, and then I got some other follow up questions, but we'll start on this. 06:49 Martin Perdomo: Yeah, so as a young, as a kid, right? I remember, I'll share the story with you. My wife and I, we've been together 25, 26 years now, and we were teenagers, we were kids, right? When we first started dating. And one day I used to work in the body shop in New York City in Harlem. I dunno if you're familiar with Harlem. It's, you know, common place in New York City. And it was really rough man. Really rough place. It was burnt down buildings, crack buildings, low place in the late eighties, nineties. And it was 1997. One day I used to work in this place called The Body Shop on one 25th and Fifth Avenue. My wife comes to pick me up, my girlfriend at the time, and I look across the street and I see this building and this burnt down. In the hundred 25th and fifth, and I say, you see that building across 300? I said: "If I could buy that building, fix it, and renovate it and rent it, we can be rich". I'm 17 years old, right? And she's no way. She's looking at the area and she's saying: "No way". But we've always, my wife and I have always romanticized with owning bigger assets. We're owning big assets. We've always talked about owning a hotel, like that's a play. So, I'm at a place in my career where it's about the game. You know, this is fun for me. And it's like Monopoly. So, you buy houses, and then boom, you put the hotel. So, one of my long-term goals is, has always been to own hotels and we are about to, we've looked at a couple, I think we're about to go on the contract with one. It's 38 keys cuz that's the language in hotel. So, it's 38 doors equivalent to 38 doors. So, it's 38 keys. Its small hotel here in the Poconos, but it's the locations amazing. The locations across the street from a casino, from Mount Airy casino. Here in, in the Poconos and it's close to the ski resorts. It's like the strategy. We did the numbers and we're talking about 173% return on investment to our investors when we raised that capital. It's an amazing deal where we don't have on the contract yet, but by the time this podcast comes out, it should be on the contract. 08:35 Sam Wilson: Man, that's awesome. I love that. I love that. What are you doing with it? Are you gonna turn it into? A lot of not a lot of, but many guests who come on the show that are buying hotels, are doing like the Airbnb model, getting rid of the front desk. They're making it keyless. They're going to... 08:50 Martin Perdomo: Yeah, so we're toying around with that idea because we're in the Poconos. So, Poconos is a very resorty vacation area, so it's perfect. It's across street from the casino. We're toying around with that idea. You know, we have an affordable housing crisis across the whole country. 09:04 There's no different here, right? We're thinking about creating some extended stay. We're toying around with that idea, but that's the primary right now, what we're thinking is creating it into an experience type of hotel. And what I mean by that is partnering up with a bus company that'll bus people into: Hey, the ski resort, bring you back to the hotel, take you to the casino, take you to the indoor water park that we have here. Just kind of making it that hub. But not the price of Camelback where they have the indoor waterpark and all that stuff, right? But uh, kind of, that's what we're envisioning right now as we're in the beginning stages of that particular deal. 09:38 Sam Wilson: That's really cool. Let's talk about how you are finding opportunities. There's, each of these channels has their own unique acquisition strategy, you know? 09:49 Martin Perdomo: Yes, sir. 09:50 Sam Wilson: So how are you having such a diverse asset? Or such diversified assets that you're investing in and then finding opportunity in a meaningful way? 09:58 Martin Perdomo: So that's a really great question. I do multiple things. First thing is, we have our own marketing channel. All our properties, we buy 'em off market. Everything's off market. We do it through mailers. We don't do a lot of mailers, but yet we do. We have a television commercial, just gives us local branding recognition. We get a lot of calls from there. I'm actually hosting tonight, my every other month meetup. So, I host a meetup and I fill the room with investors and I just educate and empower and help, you know, just give, I give, I like to give. This is why I do things like this. I like to give and help others come up. And through that means it just kind of gives us that credibility and they know we're real buyers cuz there's a lot of pretenders out there. As you know, Sam, there's a lot of guys: "Oh, I'm a buyer". And we have a broker channel. We have relationships. Just through the year that I built through all the stuff that I do: the meetups, the advertising, just I'm very involved. This is what I do. I do this. Every day, all day, every day, 24/7 a week, brother. This is all I do is real estate. We've got multiple angles and multiple things that we work on. Property managers bring us deals, brokers bring us deals, wholesalers bring us deals. We have our own marketing that bring us deals. So, we are just constantly letting people know we're buying. And if you're doing something you gotta let the world know that you're doing it. Right. You're doing something. "Hey, this is what I'm doing. You're raising money. "Hey, I'm looking to help people, get above average return on their investments, right? You gotta let people know what you're doing. You gotta take action. 11:29 Sam Wilson: I love that. 11:30 Martin Perdomo: You gotta take action. I like the old saying of ready, fire, aim. Just ready, action, and then readjust and aim again and adjust accordingly. 11:39 Sam Wilson: That's awesome. Tell me about the TV commercial. That is not a medium that many people are utilizing today. How do you calculate return on investment on that? 11:51 Martin Perdomo: That's an amazing question. And before we did it, we toyed around with that. And the thing is, that really gets us deals for our single-family distress owners. And it's very strategic. We're very strategic in where we advertise, what TV channels we advertise on, and who is it that's watching what we're selling, right? And we advertise on like the Jerry Springers of the world shows. The court tv, daytime shows. Right? Well, who's watching those? The people that are distressed, they're going through a divorce, people that are losing that don't have a job or, and we advertise day at night, right? Third shift people. So, we're very specific on the demographics and who we're getting in front of, you know, maybe grandma, grandpa that's got that old house that's falling apart or it's got that old 10-unit apartment building that they no longer can handle. And here's this guy on TV saying: "Hey, we'll buy it 21 days or less, or we'll give you an extra $5,000, regardless of the condition". 12:45 Sam Wilson: And that, that's the demographic. I guess that was gonna be my follow up question is who's the demographic who you're shooting for? And... 12:52 Martin Perdomo: Yeah, that's the demographics for that's what's watching that, right? It's not, you know, guys like you and I are not watching Judge Judy. Let's be real, right? We're not watching Jerry Springer, right? We're working, we're hustling, we're running and we're leading our teams, and we're doing things differently. 13:05 Sam Wilson: Yeah. No, we are not watching either of those daytime TV shows. I wish it'd be nice to have that amount of free time to go, you know? But I wouldn't spend it doing that if I did have the free time. So regardless, I'm still not watching it. What about cost on that? I know that there is no cost when advertising works, right? It's a return on investment is what you're really looking for. But I am really curious, like when you look at that and before you launched into it, was it a tough pill to swallow to say: "Man, we gotta shell out X number of dollars for a TV commercial? 13:35 Martin Perdomo: It was not cuz I just believe in investing in my business. It's just: " Hey, I'm gonna invest in my business no matter what". I processed it when I looked at it, I processed. I said: "This makes sense". And this is a model that's working for the other investors across the country. And then when I looked at the numbers, it made even more sense. I got one of my invoices and I'm looking at the invoice, gives me the time and what channel it plays and what I'm paying for that slot. 32nd slot. I mean, I am blessed brother because of where I'm located. I'm not in Philadelphia or the New York City market. I'm like kind of in between. And so, the slots that I'm paying $15 for a 32nd commercial. Dude. I know some late-night ones I'm paying $5; some I'm paying $35. In other slots, I'm paying $50 depending on the show and the slots. So, I'm looking at it and I'm saying, hey man, what does it cost me to pay per click, right? What does it cost me on the PPC leads. The PPC leads, because I do that too, those things cost me. I'm bidding, right? That's my money's going up. I gotta bid a dollar amount that I bid every day, and when I use it, it's over. I'm like: "Hey, wait a minute. If I'm gonna spend $5 in a commercial on the low end, $50 on the high end". Depending, I got commercials from $5, $15 and $35 and $50. I'm like: "This makes sense". And not only that, but I get the credibility in the community like: "Hey, these guys are the real deal". If they're on TV, they must be doing something right. It's the psychology of what people think. And when my sales guys show up, their life is so much easier, right? Cause hey, we got you from the TV there. They're not competing with wholesalers. It's my guys show up and if there's a deal to be done, we're gonna do the deal. So, the cost is not cost prohibitive. However, I did want to go into other markets closer to the Philly market. Lehigh Valley area, which is closer to the Philly market. And now it starts getting whoa, really expensive per spot. $350 per spot. And again, I'm just, you know, in the right location for what we're doing. 15:33 Sam Wilson: Right. 15:35 Martin Perdomo: But again, I mean if, let's say that ad ran 15 times at 400 bucks a slot. That's, let's call it six grand you went out the door and you closed one good deal out of it. Yeah, so I did the numbers. The numbers for us. I could tell you; I don't mind sharing this. The numbers because of my market, my demographics, the numbers wind up being somewhere close to six grand a month. After it's all said and done, I'm probably in $95,000 a year. But if I do a couple flips and like we make usually our return on our investment in the first quarter for the year. Like we know how to run the numbers. We know the market; we understand interest rates are going up. So, we know, if we're buying a property to flip. In this economy, we're not buying anything that ARVs over 300. We want to stay low for affordability, cuz we're always gonna move that product. And then, we're always picking up stuff. We're always adding to our portfolio. So, we pick up through that commercial, a 10 unit, a 15 unit, cuz a grandma will watch us or the grandson is gonna watch us with grandma and say: "Hey grandma, we gotta call that guy cuz that apartment building you have is falling apart. We need to sell it". 16:37 I Sam Wilson: It's brilliant. I love it. You know, the other thing I love about that is that it separates you from everyone else. And I always said that with pay per click, back when I was doing single family stuff, it was like I can outspend most of my wholesale competition. And while you might say on the front end, that doesn't make any sense. Well, like you said, you know, you're paying for that in the first quarter. I remember my pay per click budget. I did single family 2018, and in the first 30 days I'd already paid for my years budgeting with pay per click. It was like, I can outspend you and that puts me the front of the pack over everybody else because I can do that. And it's a different medium. This is a very different medium as well, so you're separating yourself both by medium type and by the amount of money you can devote to actually advertising on that front. So that's really, really cool. Martin, before we sign off here, I do want to hear about your podcast. Why you started it and just gimme a little bit of insight on that. 17:32 Martin Perdomo: So, for me, I'm a big personal development guy. I'm a big mindset guy. I believe that success is 80% mindset and 20% skill set, and that's combined is a hundred percent success. And for me, coming up I realized that once I shifted my mindset right from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset and that's a loaded statement. But once I shifted my mindset from one to the other, my life changed. And that's when I really started celebrating my growth. And I really started making bigger and power moves. And I've always, the purpose of my life is to empower others to be the best version of themselves. So, while I love real estate. I love the game. I love what I do. I really do. And I also host a podcast, cuz I wanna help other people come up. I really want to wholeheartedly like: "Hey man, you can do this too". If a poor guy like me from the ghetto and the hood in Washington Heights in New York City can come from nothing and do this. So can anyone else! If you are not, if you are really determined and you wanna, and you work on yourself, and you work on your mindset and you work on your skill set, you can do it right? Everything about: "Oh, I don't have enough money". It's a limiting belief. Who says you need your money. That's all limiting belief. It's just, go get educated, listen to podcasts like this. Listen to Sam, listen to podcasts like mine. Go and listen to other smart people that are doing it. Gather the information. Take action. Then adjust. Ready, fire, aim. Right? Take action to adjust. So, it's because I just love to empower and help others. I'm hosting my meet up tonight. That thing takes me five hours out of my day. Five, six hours. I gotta go set up at the church, cuz I host it at the church. I gotta go set up, prepare the content, write all this stuff, and it's It takes a lot of work to do. But it's more fulfilling to me when I see that guy that does his first deal and they're like: "Martin, thank you cuz you shared that and you showed me this and you showed me that". Man, that fills me. 19:31 Sam Wilson: Right. That's really... 19:33 Martin Perdomo: It's all worth it when like I see others like helping others and others are coming up. 19:38 Sam Wilson: Martin, I absolutely love it. If our listeners wanna get in touch with you or learn more about you, what is the best way to do that? 19:43 Martin Perdomo: Yeah, they could just go to Latinos and Real Estate Investing podcast, check out my podcast or check out my YouTube. I'm constantly putting out vlogs out on my projects and what's going on. I literally just walked from one of my projects up to the road here. My roofers are putting on the roof and that property I just bought. So, I'm constantly putting up content, giving people the real deal, right? On my channel, YouTube channel. I give people the real deal. I tell you the truth about evictions and what really happens. I give it to you all straight. Construction workers, what really happens with them if you're not, if you're not doing it the right way, they will kill you. They will hurt your business if you know them. 20:16 Sam Wilson: Right, right. 20:17 Martin Perdomo: You know, they can check out my YouTube: The Elite Strategist. Or my podcast: Latinos and Real Estate Investing podcast. Or Instagram. I'm on Instagram and Facebook. "The Elite Strategist. They can let me up there too. 20:26 Sam Wilson: Awesome. Martin, thank you so much for coming the show today. I certainly appreciate it. 20:30 Martin Perdomo: Thank you brother. I appreciate you! 20:32 Outro: Hey, thanks for listening to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate Podcast. If you can, do me a favor and subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, whatever platform it is you use to listen. If you can do that for us, that would be a fantastic help to the show. It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank hire on those directories. So, appreciate you listening. Thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.