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The Lo-Down

The Lo-Down

By: Lorenzo Mercado
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 The Lo-Down brings conversations with people from all walks of life who are relentlessly pursuing success. Hosted by Lorenzo Mercado this podcast dives into the stories behind the grind and uncovering the mindset and strategies that drive growth. From entrepreneurs and season investors to business owners and visionaries, every guest shares a unique perspective on what it takes to achieve success. Whether you're building a business, chasing a dream, or striving for personal growth, The Lo-down is your source for inspiration, actionable insights, and the motivation to level up.Lorenzo Mercado Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Hard Money Lending, Risk, and Real Estate Deals | Hemant Raju Mahajan

    Hard Money Lending, Risk, and Real Estate Deals | Hemant Raju Mahajan
    Dec 24 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with Hemant Mahajan, a Bay Area real estate developer, hard money lender, founder of Newbridge Equity, and author of Buying Back Your Life, to explore what really changes when you operate as both the lender and the investor.Hemant breaks down how seeing deals from both perspectives completely transforms risk assessment, deal structure, exits, and long-term wealth creation. With over 15 years of experience, nearly 100 funded deals, and millions deployed across residential, commercial, and development projects, he shares hard-earned lessons most investors only learn the painful way.This conversation goes deep into:• Hard money lending explained in plain English• How lenders actually think when deals go sideways• Structuring joint ventures using both debt and equity• Real-world examples of complex, high-risk deals• Biggest investing mistakes and mindset shifts• Buying back time using real estate and passive incomeIf you want to understand how experienced capital really moves in real estate, this episode is essential.ABOUT HEAMANT MAHAJAN:Hemant Mahajan is a Bay Area–based real estate developer, private lender, and founder of Newbridge Equity, a California-licensed finance lender. He specializes in hard money loans, second-position lending, joint ventures, and complex real estate projects that most investors avoid.With a background in tech and over 15 years in real estate, Hemant focuses on combining debt and equity strategies to create flexible deal structures that protect capital while maximizing long-term returns. He is also the author of Buying Back Your Life, a book centered on reclaiming time through smarter investing.


    Connect with Hemant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meetrajum/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmahajan/Connect with Lorenzo:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercadoWebsite: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983
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    59 mins
  • The Mindset of a Top 1% Trader | Kam Dasani E37

    The Mindset of a Top 1% Trader | Kam Dasani E37
    Dec 11 2025
    In this episode of The Lo-Down, Lorenzo sits down with trader and educator Kam Dasani, who became a millionaire by 30 and now trades seven-figure prop-firm capital without risking his own money. But this conversation isn’t about hype or shortcuts — it’s about the mindset, emotional control, and disciplined decision-making that separate the top 1% of traders from everyone else.Kam opens up about the habits that helped him grow a $700K personal account, why 99% of traders lose, and how he built a system that can be executed in under a minute a day. He also breaks down how prop firms actually work, why emotional regulation matters more than strategy, and how Bitcoin’s four-year cycles shape long-term wealth.This is a raw, grounded look at what it really takes to succeed in an industry where most people fail — and how the lessons from trading apply to life, business, and personal growth.KEY TOPICSThe mindset and discipline behind top 1% tradersWhy most traders fail before they even startTrading with $0 of your own capital through prop firmsHow Kam built a $700K personal accountEmotional control, rules, and decision-makingThe truth about “passive trading”Bitcoin cycles and long-term wealth frameworksMentorship, accountability, and escaping the corporate pathConnect With Kam: Instagram: @profitwithkam(https://www.instagram.com/profitwithkam/?hl=en)LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kam-dasani-937005101/Connect with Lorenzo:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercadoWebsite: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983Chapters:0:00 – Intro to Kam: millionaire by 30, unique trading approach1:00 – Why 99% of traders fail2:30 – Emotional control and trading psychology4:00 – Gambling vs trading: what separates pros from amateurs6:20 – Kam’s $700K portfolio + $1M+ prop-firm capital7:00 – How prop firms REALLY work: the catches and advantages10:00 – Exclusive partnership: funding traders in-house12:00 – Who Kam trains and why beginners succeed faster14:00 – Time freedom, remote lifestyle, trading anywhere in the world17:00 – How much time you actually need to trade daily18:00 – Can trading become passive? Where it can and cannot20:00 – If Kam had to invest everything into one thing today22:00 – Bitcoin cycles and why Kam never sells25:00 – How Kam handled family and friends thinking he was crazy28:00 – Kam’s “why” for building wealth and proving doubters wrong30:00 – Empowering others through trading education33:00 – College debt, corporate life, and why most people stay stuck36:00 – Why now is the best time to invest38:00 – Entrepreneurship loneliness vs corporate comfort41:00 – Circle shrinking: why you can't tell everyone your dreams45:00 – Advice for beginners: how to start trading today47:00 – What working with Kam looks like (options + futures training)50:00 – How he used $92K of credit to change his life53:00 – Choosing between active income vs passive income54:00 – Where to find Kam & how to work with him
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    51 mins
  • Tired of Real Estate Headaches? Use THIS Overlooked Strategy to Earn Bigger Returns With No Tenants or Repairs | Darius McClelland E36

    Tired of Real Estate Headaches? Use THIS Overlooked Strategy to Earn Bigger Returns With No Tenants or Repairs | Darius McClelland E36
    Nov 26 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with Darius McClelland, a private money lender, investor, and content creator who has quietly built a six-figure passive income business by lending over $620,000 of his own money.He breaks down how he started, how he made $20,000 doing absolutely nothing, and why private money lending is one of the most underrated and powerful strategies in real estate.Darius also shares how social media helped him raise over $600,000 from just one Instagram post, how he vets borrowers, protects his investments, and the importance of transparency in building trust.If you’ve ever wanted to become the bank, earn high passive income, or understand the real behind-the-scenes of private lending, this episode is a must-watch.You’ll Learn* How Darius lent out $620K and built a six-figure lending business* The first deal that made him $20K completely passively* How private money lending works (in simple English)* The exact steps to vet and protect yourself as a lender* Red flags when someone asks you for money* Why private lending beats rentals for cash flow* How he raised $600K from one Instagram reel* How to get paid monthly, quarterly, or balloon payments* Starting a fund and scaling passive income* How social media built his entire business* Why transparency + storytelling converts* The mindset needed to press record and overcome fearKey Topics* Private Money Lending 101* Real Estate Flips & Exit Strategies* Social Media for Raising Capital* Building Trust Online* Self-Directed IRAs & Equity Leverage* Starting A Fund* Passive Income Systems* Travel + Lifestyle FreedomConnect With DariusInstagram: @dariusmcclelland(https://www.instagram.com/dariusmcclelland/)Connect with LorenzoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercadoWebsite: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983
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    55 mins
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