What if your biggest vacation frustration became your next business breakthrough? That's exactly what happened to Troy Evans, founder of LRVP (Luxury Residence Vacation Portfolio). After years in corporate America, Troy found himself increasingly annoyed by inconsistent vacation rentals that never matched their photos and failed to deliver the experience his family deserved.

In this captivating conversation, Troy reveals how he transformed this personal pain point into a thriving business that's disrupting the luxury vacation rental market. Rather than accepting the status quo of unreliable vacation homes, he built a portfolio of carefully selected multi-million dollar properties and a service model focused on creating unforgettable family memories.

"We're not really selling vacation space, we're selling memories," Troy explains, highlighting the emotional connection that drives his business philosophy. "When you're with your family, creating memories that literally last the rest of your life – you don't want to leave that to chance."

The genius of Troy's model lies in its dual approach: LRVP raises capital from investors to purchase luxury properties worldwide, while Oasis Vacations handles the rental management and exceptional customer experiences. Investors enjoy attractive returns (projected 30% IRR) and even complimentary vacation stays, while travelers gain access to consistent, high-quality accommodations without the $150,000 membership fees charged by exclusive destination clubs.

Beyond the business model, Troy shares profound insights about entrepreneurial success that apply across industries. He articulates the critical difference between necessary perseverance and continuing with a flawed business model, emphasizes the importance of thinking "who not how" when building a team, and reveals why wealthy customers will pay a premium for time savings and certainty.

Whether you're a real estate investor seeking new opportunities, an entrepreneur looking for inspiration, or simply someone who values exceptional travel experiences, Troy's journey from corporate employee to innovative founder offers valuable lessons and a compelling vision for the future of luxury travel.

Ready to learn how Troy is reinventing vacation rentals while generating exceptional returns? Listen now, and discover how solving your own problems might lead to your next big breakthrough.

Send us a text

When Radhika Rastogi purchased her first condo in Long Beach a decade ago, she never imagined it would spark a journey toward a multimillion-dollar senior living portfolio. Today, as co-founder and managing partner of Relik Capital Group, she oversees 300 senior housing units with more than $17 million under management—all while balancing a Fortune 20 corporate career and motherhood.

The turning point came during her maternity leave with her second child. While her wife bonded with their newborn, Radhika dove deep into real estate, moving from fix-and-flip projects into commercial properties. That exploration ultimately led her to the overlooked but rewarding niche of senior living.

Central to her success is her “P-Execute” framework—a disciplined system for evaluating investments based on execution probability. She learned early that deals themselves aren’t the real challenge; operators are. After interviewing forty operators, she selected just one trusted partner for her Texas and Arizona markets.

Radhika also reveals how she connects with investors through storytelling, documenting small daily moments that later build powerful trust. Her viral LinkedIn journey began with a simple three-word post: “testing 123.” Today, her authentic stories about family and purpose consistently outperform technical real estate content—proving that relationships drive results.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Radhika’s advice is clear: “Start by building a personal brand. Action beats sitting still any day of the week.”

Send us a text

Could mobile home parks be the most overlooked wealth-building opportunity in real estate?

On this episode of the Forge In Fire Podcast, we sit down with Chad Freeman, Founder of MHPinvestors and commercial airline pilot, to explore how he turned a side hustle into a portfolio of more than 200 mobile home pads.

Chad’s story started with a crash pad for fellow pilots and a duplex house hack — but his real turning point came in 2015 when he recognized the unique economic advantages of mobile home parks. With virtually no new parks being built since the 1970s, shrinking supply from annual closures, and undervalued mom-and-pop operations, Chad saw a critical opportunity in affordable housing.

In this episode, Chad shares:

• How he applies aviation-style checklists and KPIs to run his business efficiently.
• The market fundamentals that make mobile home parks such a compelling asset class.
• His transition from side hustles to scaling with his wife as a business partner.
• How he overcame imposter syndrome and built trust with investors to raise capital.
• Why persistence and disciplined execution are the keys to growth.

Chad’s journey is proof that even with a demanding career, you can carve out time to build long-term wealth. His blend of systems thinking, niche investing, and family partnership offers valuable lessons for both new and experienced operators.

Send us a text

What does it take to trade a dream tech career for a life of financial freedom and purpose?

On this episode of the Forge In Fire Podcast, we sit down with Georgy Marrero, founder of Equis Capital, whose journey spans from coding as a kid in the Dominican Republic to managing a $28M multifamily real estate portfolio.

After teaching himself to code at age 9, Georgy left his home country at 18 with just $1,000 and a dream. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a computer science degree and landed roles at Amazon and Meta, eventually earning $800k a year. But despite his success in tech, Georgy felt a deeper calling.

A single “accidental investment” — buying a home for his grandmother that later returned 20% in just seven months — sparked his passion for real estate. What began as a side project grew into Equis Capital, where Georgy has since raised $9M from investors and scaled to $28M AUM through multifamily acquisitions and syndications.

In this episode, Georgy shares:

• The mindset shift it took to walk away from stability and pursue entrepreneurship.
• How he built Equis Capital through partnerships, discipline, and systems.
• Lessons learned in leadership, investor trust, and scaling without burnout.
• Why financial freedom is about more than money — it’s about impact and purpose.

Georgy Marrero’s story is a powerful reminder that forging your path often means stepping into discomfort, betting on yourself, and building something bigger than a paycheck.

Send us a text

What happens when you trade a secure healthcare career for the uncertainty of real estate?

On this episode of the Forge In Fire Podcast, we’re joined by Lee Yoder, Founder & CEO of Threefold Real Estate Investing, whose journey from physical therapist to real estate syndicator shows the power of perseverance, partnerships, and methodical scaling.

Lee’s story began in 2017 with a single house flip while still working his W-2 job. That project revealed a crucial insight: flipping houses was just another job, not the passive income path he wanted. From there, he pivoted to rental properties — starting with a duplex and eventually building a 34-unit portfolio.

The turning point came at the end of 2020, when Lee sold all 34 units, quit his job, and went all-in on syndications. Starting 2021 with zero units, he scaled rapidly through capital raising and partnerships. Today, Threefold Real Estate Investing owns nearly 900 units worth about $70M across Ohio and Indiana, with a focus on value-add multifamily housing.

Lee also shares why he decided to vertically integrate property management, how his team tracks weekly metrics to stay on top of operations, and the mindset he calls the “compound effect” — momentum that builds slowly before accelerating into exponential growth.

Key insights from Lee:

• Why persistence is the most important trait of successful entrepreneurs.
• The role of strategic networking in gaining an “unfair advantage.”
• How to scale smartly without losing control of operations.

Lee’s journey is a reminder that ordinary professionals can achieve extraordinary results by sticking with it, surrounding themselves with the right people, and staying disciplined in their approach.

Send us a text

What does it really take to thrive as an entrepreneur in today’s challenging real estate market? In this episode, we sit down with Lilian Chen, founder of Proptimal, the 10X real estate analyst platform for lean teams.

Lilian’s experience spans multifamily, commercial, and hospitality deals, having advised on over $2B in transactions, including $100M+ acquisitions and major projects like the Iovance Biotherapeutics HQ in Philadelphia. She’s worked with 200+ real estate firms, teaches 300+ high-net-worth investors how to underwrite and structure deals, and has guest lectured at Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

We trace her journey from corporate financial analyst to digital nomad entrepreneur, building her business while traveling to 40+ countries. Lilian shares why entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, the courage it takes to be disliked, and how persistence (“If you don’t quit, you can’t fail”) fuels success.

We also dive into the evolution of her business, from offering financial analysis services to building software that democratizes sophisticated underwriting tools, giving everyday developers and investors access to resources usually reserved for large institutional teams.

Whether you’re a seasoned real estate pro or just beginning to explore entrepreneurship, this episode delivers both inspiration and actionable insights on building confidence, prioritizing what truly matters, and scaling without burning out.

Send us a text

What happens when the security blanket of a 20-year career gets ripped away in an instant? For Stephen Predmore, a seasoned engineer in the automotive industry, that shocking moment became the catalyst for an extraordinary transformation in his financial future.

Stephen's journey begins with a gut punch—his entire department walked out after two decades of service, shattering the illusion of job security despite working on cutting-edge electric vehicle technology. While devastating, this moment accelerated a path he'd already been exploring through real estate investment education.

Like many newcomers, Stephen started with single-family homes in Baltimore, purchasing properties for around $65,000 with modest renovations. These investments crushed the coveted 1% rule on paper, but reality struck hard during COVID when his tenant stopped paying rent. The subsequent six-month eviction process in tenant-friendly Baltimore taught him a crucial lesson: "Just because it works great in a spreadsheet doesn't mean it works well in life."

Rather than giving up, Stephen adapted brilliantly. He first pivoted to Section 8 housing for more reliable government-subsidized rent payments, then gradually transitioned to larger multifamily deals. His approach was methodical—joining real estate masterminds, becoming a limited partner in syndication deals to learn the mechanics, and eventually taking more active roles in joint ventures.

Perhaps most fascinating is how Stephen funded his first investment: by taking a loan against his 401(k)—not a withdrawal with penalties, but a strategic loan against 50% of the value. "Your first deal is always the hardest," he notes. "Once you do your first deal, the juices start flowing."

Today, Stephen maintains his W2 engineering job while running a side handyman business through TaskRabbit, channeling all those earnings directly into his next real estate investment. His portfolio spans seven syndication deals across multiple states, focusing on "red states" with landlord-friendly legislation.

Stephen's most valuable insight? "It's really the operator, not just the deal." Rather than chasing markets or property types, he emphasizes partnering with trustworthy, experienced operators who have boots on the ground.

Whether you're contemplating your first investment or looking to scale your portfolio, Stephen's journey offers a blueprint for combining W2 security with real estate wealth-building. As he puts it, what separates successful investors is being "willing to get up after they get punched in the face."

Ready to learn more? Visit talbotinvestments.com to explore Stephen's current opportunities and connect with him directly.

Send us a text

Pricing your products or services is perhaps one of the most emotionally charged decisions entrepreneurs face. In this deeply insightful conversation with Etiosa, CEO of Decision Alpha, we uncover the psychological underpinnings of pricing strategy and how behavioral economics can transform business monetization.

When asked what emotions come up around pricing, business owners typically respond with words like "dread," "anxiety," and "fear." Most admit they're "guesstimating" or "undercharging." This widespread uncertainty highlights the critical need for a science-based approach to pricing. Etiosa's firm helps businesses not only determine optimal price points but also craft compelling narratives that make those prices resonate with potential customers.

Beyond pricing psychology, our conversation explores the fundamental building blocks of entrepreneurial success. Etiosa shares her journey from corporate finance to founding Decision Alpha, emphasizing the power of process goals over outcome goals. Rather than fixating on revenue targets, she tracks activities within her control—how many speaking engagements she secures, how many pricing audits she conducts, how many coffee meetings she arranges with potential clients. This process-oriented approach reduces anxiety while building consistent habits that drive success.

Perhaps most refreshingly, Etiosa champions high-touch business development strategies in an era obsessed with automation and scaling. Her success comes through genuine human connection—coffee dates, one-on-ones, speaking engagements, and offering free pricing audits. These approaches may not scale efficiently, but they build trust no automated outreach can match. "You can't make up care," she notes. "There's just no way to hack that."

Whether you're looking to optimize your business pricing, struggling with entrepreneurial mindset challenges, or preparing to leave your corporate job, this episode delivers actionable insights and psychological frameworks to help you build with intention and confidence. As Etiosa reminds us, success is built grain by grain—seemingly boring consistency that eventually becomes a mountain of achievement.

Send us a text