The On The Rise Podcast

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Matt Star — real estate investor, creative-finance educator, and founder of the Telos multifamily mastermind. Matt shares a remarkable testimony: from an immigrant kid told by his doctor he'd die of obesity, to losing 125 pounds, to letting arrogance and a transactional mindset cost him everything and leave him homeless. Anchored in a new faith, he built 130 single-family deals, pivoted to multifamily (now 370 doors), and found his footing by serving others in the Sub To community. Matt unpacks what investors really trust him with, why the best deals are the ones you don't do, and how to run a business as an act of worship.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Ryan Carriere, CPA and founder of Carriere Tax Consulting, who estimates he's saved clients over $10 million in taxes. Ryan traces his path from corporate accounting to real estate investing and tax advisory, and shares the strategies he uses for high-income earners — the short-term rental strategy, real estate professional status, cost segregation, and more. He also opens up about his faith: how Ephesians 2 made grace real to him as a gift rather than works, why he left a respected firm for "three freedoms," and how he views tax savings through a lens of stewardship. Practical, faith-centered, and full of actionable ideas.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Dani Lynn Robison, CEO and founder of Freedom Family Investments. Dani traces an unlikely path — from professional musician to Walt Disney World, cruise ships, and art auctions, to falling in love with real estate in 2008 (and with her husband "Flip" along the way). She explains why she scaled back turnkey rentals for needs-based syndications in senior housing, multifamily, and self-storage, and why character and trust matter more than any pitch deck. Dani shares her "Five A's" for vetting a deal, why she once took a loss to make lenders whole, and how "return on life" should guide every dollar. A candid conversation on trust-driven investing.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Jeff Hasselman — who built a multibillion-dollar crypto business line at Amazon Web Services and now runs 926 Ventures and Kingdom Bitcoin, a faith-forward platform on money, sovereignty, and biblical stewardship. Jeff shares why he stepped aside from a startup to protect his team, how his faith deepened over the years, and why he views Bitcoin through the lens of Proverbs 11 and "honest money." He unpacks inflation, the parable of the talents, why he calls Bitcoin "repentance, not rebellion," and how he thinks about legacy. A thought-provoking conversation on faith, money, and stewardship. (Educational only — not financial advice.)

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Alan Fruitman, founder of 1031tax.com and president of Real Estate Foundation, who has spent 33 years specializing in single-tenant, triple-net-lease real estate. Alan explains why chasing yield means chasing risk, and why quality — the best location and a national-credit tenant like McDonald's or Chase — builds lasting wealth. He breaks down why truly passive income is real, how to avoid the emotional trap of the 1031 exchange's 45-day window with his "green light day" strategy, which tenants are AI- and Amazon-proof, and why "boring" singles and doubles beat swinging for home runs. A grounded conversation on preserving wealth.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Zach, founder and CEO of Rise 48 Equity, for the story behind the company. Zach shares how he walked away from a $200K job in 2018 with no roadmap, lost his identity, and was drawn back to his faith through adversity and his now-wife Grace. He opens up about his daily prayer of gratitude and surrender, the "warrior" mindset that shapes how he leads, the company's five core values, and why he believes suffering is beautiful. He also talks candidly about facing public criticism and what God is teaching him right now. A raw, faith-centered look at building through hardship.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Jennifer Tuggle — a 19-year ER nurse and single mother of three who is transitioning into multifamily syndication and capital raising. Jennifer shares the resilience she built working her way through nursing school while raising her kids, and how that same grit fuels her real estate journey. She explains why being a limited partner is often smarter than chasing the GP role, the surprising skills nursing transfers to investing, how she demystifies syndications, and the mistakes new investors make. Above all, she confronts the biggest lie that holds people back: "I can't do it." An encouraging conversation about reinvention and financial freedom.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall reconnects with his friend Max Herman — a Salesforce account executive and co-founder of Catapult Careers. Max traces an unlikely path: a disqualified Air Force dream, coming to faith through Campus Outreach, and a winding climb through tech sales. He shares how he makes big decisions, why he built a personal "board of directors," and the origin of Catapult Careers after applying to 228 jobs. The heart of the episode is a watershed moment as the last-place seller at Sprout Social, when a coworker prayed over deals by name and reminded him: you are not the provider. A rich conversation on faith, work, and legacy.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Efri Argaman, founder and CEO of OwnEZ, a data-driven fintech company working to democratize homeownership. An economist who became an accidental landlord after the '07–'08 crisis, Efri built OwnEZ to convert "chronic renters" — people who can afford a home but are shut out of conventional lending — into homeowners. He explains why the credit system excludes gig workers, the self-employed, and thin-credit borrowers, how OwnEZ's algorithm underwrites on more relevant data, and why he calls his fund the "sexiest non-sexy investment" — a non-correlated, mortgage-backed vehicle yielding around 9%. Plus candid advice for parents and young buyers.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Keegan O'Connor, co-founder and CEO of Chill Shark, a wellness-tech company building portable cold-plunge chiller systems. Keegan shares how cold water immersion helped regulate his nervous system after a PTSD treatment program, why he funded the first clinical research on cold water immersion for PTSD, and how the company uses luxury hospitality to fund a mission of helping veterans. He also opens up about walking away from his faith, being drawn back by his brother's peace, and learning to surrender his business to God. A candid conversation on pain, purpose, and building with integrity. (Note: discusses PTSD, trauma, and veteran suicide.)

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Anthony Rushing — former educator, 40-unit real estate investor, and mortgage professional — about a little-known strategy: the first lien HELOC. Anthony traces his unusual path from quitting college for a rock band to Teach for America to the mortgage industry, where he discovered a product that's common in Australia and Europe but rarely discussed in the U.S. He breaks down, in plain terms, how a first lien HELOC replaces your mortgage entirely, why it can pay a home off in years instead of decades, who it actually works for, and how it can free up liquidity to start investing. A genuinely educational conversation on using debt as a tool.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Andrew McNair, founder and CEO of Swan Capital (Sleep Well At Night) in Pensacola, Florida, a firm managing north of $300 million. A self-described "generosity evangelist" who has made and lost millions, Andrew makes the case that a fulfilled life isn't about accumulating — it's about giving it away. He unpacks his 10/20/70 framework, a controversial take on estate planning, how he weaves faith and giving into his company, and how to model generosity so it passes to the next generation. A challenging, practical conversation on money, stewardship, and legacy.

In this forum episode of the On The Rise Podcast, Jeremy Dyer, VP of Capital Formation at Rise 48, welcomes Tommy Hinson, CEO of Investors 1031 Exchange, for a plain-English walkthrough of the 1031 exchange. Tommy explains how investors defer capital gains by rolling real estate into more real estate — "swap till you drop" — until a stepped-up basis erases the tax at death. The session covers the types of exchanges, the same-taxpayer rule and why partnerships cause problems, the 45- and 180-day deadlines, reinvesting 100% of equity, TIC and DST structures, the 721 UPREIT endgame, and a case study showing how much you lose by skipping a 1031. A practical primer for real estate investors.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Scott Wilson — general partner of Beyond Capital Funds, SVP at Churchill Terry, and a self-described "ragamuffin" of growth, health, and recovery. Scott opens up about the years his faith and work lived in separate rooms, his struggle with alcohol, and the sobriety journey that led to his baptism in a cold Texas river in 2016. He shares how he came to faith-based venture capital, the founders and companies he backs, and why he now weighs "return on impact" alongside return on investment. A moving conversation on brokenness, redemption, and integrating faith into work. (Note: this episode discusses addiction and recovery.)

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Tony Figliola, founder of Passive Investment Pros, who helps engineers and technical professionals diversify beyond the stock market into private multifamily real estate. A mechanical engineer himself, Tony shares how he moved from trying to operate deals solo to building a rigorous vetting process for investing passively. The conversation digs into the non-negotiables when evaluating operators and deals, the assumptions that make pro formas unrealistic, why analysis paralysis holds smart investors back, and how retirement accounts can be repositioned into real estate. A practical listen for analytical investors weighing their first passive deal.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Nick Stromwall talks with Frank Herman, CEO of Premium Holdings and a multifamily and student-housing investor, for the Faith Driven Leaders series. Frank shares how he left a 16-year residential career in Silicon Valley, moved his family to the South, and lived in a hotel for six months while stepping out on faith. He tells two contrasting stories — a costly deal he pursued after ignoring God's warning, and a 216-unit deal he prayed God would shut the door on, which went full cycle at nearly 2.5x in 18 months. A candid conversation on obedience, integrating faith and work, and using business as a tool for the kingdom.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Bob Bernotas, a franchise veteran who's worked every side of the industry since 1986 — multi-unit owner-operator, franchise CEO, and growth advisor. Bob helps corporate professionals build wealth through smart, semi-passive franchise ownership. He unpacks the biggest misconceptions high earners have, why you should only invest behind strong franchise sales organizations and brand aggregators, and why timing is franchising's "dirty little secret." The conversation covers building an exit strategy from day one, why boring service businesses outperform flashy brands, and financing options like the ROBS program. A practical roadmap for anyone eyeing an eventual exit from corporate America.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Nick Stromwall talks with Robert Szewczyk, co-founder and designated broker of Rise 48 Equity, for the Faith Driven Leaders series. Robert shares his journey from growing up in communist Poland — where scarcity bred a lifelong hustle — to earning architecture degrees and building a billion-dollar multifamily portfolio. He explains how he met his partners, why the team vertically integrated, and how faith shapes the way he leads investors, employees, and residents. The conversation goes deep on housing as service, the lessons only hard markets teach, and staying honest when it's hardest. A candid, faith-centered look at building with integrity.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy sits down with Tom Suvansri, founder of Perennial Pride, who helps high-income earners and business owners deploy capital into tax-efficient real estate and private investments. Tom shares how he became a "corporate refugee," why mainstream financial advice leaves most people boxed into deferral-only strategies, and how changing your facts can legally change your taxes. The conversation digs into what generational wealth actually requires beyond a will, how active earners should balance liquidity against illiquid real estate, vetting operators over pitch decks, and why last-minute year-end tax investing so often backfires. A practical listen for anyone rethinking how they build and protect wealth.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Nick Stromwall talks with Matt Johns, managing partner of Honey Hive Capital, where he helps Christian investors put their capital to work in ways that line up with their faith. Matt traces his path from a soup kitchen and Catholic Charities into private-market finance, and explains why ESG left him searching for real, measurable outcomes. He breaks down the framework from his book Purpose Driven Capital — stewardship, empowerment, and alignment — and shows how the "spirit behind" a real estate deal shapes how residents are treated. A thoughtful conversation on impact investing, community, and why no investment is truly neutral.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy sits down with Jon Ostenson — founder and CEO of FranBridge Consulting, top 1% franchise consultant, and author of the bestseller Non-Food Franchising. Drawing on his own corporate exit and years leading the Shelf Genie franchise system, Jon dispels the myth that franchising means food and fitness, and unpacks the booming world of home and property service brands. He covers how franchising mitigates startup risk, what separates successful owners from strugglers, financing options like SBA loans and the ROBS program, and why so many real estate investors are diversifying into franchises. A practical conversation for anyone weighing business ownership.     00:00 Introduction 01:08 Jon's Path Into Franchising 02:32 Why Franchising Attracts High Earners 05:50 Debunking the Non-Food Myth 07:52 Franchise vs. Starting From Scratch 11:00 Who Should (and Shouldn't) Buy a Franchise 13:55 Side Hustle to Full-Time Owner 15:57 Why Real Estate Investors Are Diversifying 20:27 Surprising Franchise Success Stories 25:58 Financing: SBA Loans and the ROBS Program 27:29 The Future of Franchising

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Bill Haley — Phoenix real estate professional, former headmaster, and father of ten — for the Faith Driven Leaders series. Bill shares how a sudden demotion forced him to anchor his identity in God rather than his job, why he pivoted from education into real estate, and how he and his wife Maureen lead a thriving household of twelve. He speaks candidly about walking with a son through a decade of addiction, the daily rhythms that keep his marriage first, and the legacy his father left behind. A grounded conversation on faith, family, and leading with character.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, the tables are turned as Maria Zondervon — a seasoned passive real estate investor who has worked with multiple operators and asset classes — sits down with Rise48 Equity VP of Capital Formation Jeremy Dyer to ask him the question investors really want answered: why did you stop investing across dozens of operators and go all in with one? Jeremy shares the framework he developed after 70-plus deals across multiple asset classes, the three risk factors every investor should evaluate, why the heart of the operator matters more than the pitch deck, and how Rise48's vertical integration and supply chain strategy have protected investors through COVID, tariff scares, and a historic market downturn. A candid, investor-to-investor conversation that pulls back the curtain on how sophisticated passive investors actually make decisions.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with his friend and hero Erik Olson — entrepreneur, CEO of Dignity Made, and former humanitarian worker who spent a decade serving the poor in Iraq, Yemen, Greece, and the Philippines. Erik shares how a painting business in college led to a fork-in-the-road moment in 2003 Iraq, how nine years of humanitarian work revealed that economics — not just charity — is the root solution to poverty and trafficking, and how a question he asked a coconut farmer in a bamboo hut in the Philippines became the catalyst for building a business that is transforming an entire rural community. It is a story about faith, sacrifice, proximity to the problem, and what it looks like to build something that serves people made in the image of God.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Kelsey Dineen, Director at Equity Trust Company, to walk through one of the most powerful and least understood tools available to real estate investors — the self-directed IRA. Kelsey unpacks exactly how investors can move old 401k and IRA dollars out of Wall Street and into passive real estate investments like those offered through Rise48 Equity, without triggering taxes or penalties. She covers the IRS rules that allow it, the common mistakes that destroy the tax shelter, how the process works step by step, and answers the most frequently asked questions investors have when they first discover this strategy. A practical, information-dense episode for any investor who has money sitting in a retirement account and wants to put it to work in real estate.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Adam Link, founder of Fireweed Capital — a comprehensive wealth management firm based in Northern Minnesota that takes a deliberately active approach to navigating market cycles. Adam breaks down why he disagrees with the "set it and forget it" investing philosophy, how active risk management protects investors from the behavioral mistakes that cost them the most, and how to think about portfolio construction across different time horizons. He also shares his perspective on AI's impact on the economy, how to calculate escape velocity from inflation, and why knowing what you want your money to do is the foundation of every good investing decision. A candid, practical, and intellectually honest conversation for any investor looking to think more clearly about wealth.

_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall reconnects with one of his most significant mentors — Paul Poteat, Midwest Network Director for Campus Outreach, 27-year campus ministry veteran, and the person Nick has called when navigating his toughest decisions. Paul unpacks a practical triangle framework for making wise decisions, shares how a triplex purchase near the University of Minnesota became an unexpected real estate investing journey, and delivers one of the most grounded and actionable frameworks for understanding and managing leadership anxiety. He also speaks to the danger of an external world that outgrows an internal world — and what leaders need to protect their integrity when the pressure to compromise is real. A rich, deeply human conversation for any leader who wants to grow in wisdom, steward anxiety well, and live with genuine integrity. _*]:min-w-0 gap-3">  

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Tom St. John — a real estate investor who spent nearly two decades grinding from single family homes to multifamily, made a major exit at the peak of the COVID-era market, and then lost a significant amount of money on his very first LP investment by failing to vet the operator properly. That painful experience became the foundation of his current work as a fund manager — traveling the country, meeting operators face to face, stress testing their deals, and only placing capital in investments he personally participates in. Tom and Jeremy cover operator vetting, stress testing underwriting assumptions, why alternative investments are often overlooked, and why the next five to ten years may be the decade of operational excellence in commercial real estate.

_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with John Laine — a real estate syndicator with nearly 40 years of investing experience and over $175 million in closed transactions. John shares a remarkable journey marked by a golf ball-sized brain tumor in his early 30s, the loss of $77 million in assets during the 2009 crisis, and the development of a business model he calls compassionate capitalism — one that generates market-rate returns for investors while converting apartment-dwelling renters into first-time homeowners. Through StarterHome.fund, John partners with nonprofit housing providers to buy deeply discounted apartment buildings and sell the converted units to working families at prices $200,000 to $300,000 below market. A conversation about suffering, character, purpose-driven business, and what it actually looks like to build wealth and community at the same time. _*]:min-w-0 gap-3">  

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Wayne Courreges III, founder and managing partner of CREI Partners, recording live from his family's nine-month RV road trip across the country. Wayne shares how discipline, fixed-rate debt, and an unwavering buy box have allowed CREI Partners to grow to over $60 million in assets under management — even while many operators in the multifamily space have struggled. He breaks down his non-negotiable underwriting rules, why he never looks at broker numbers, the case for fixed-rate debt over bridge loans, and why passive investors should be doing deep diligence on the heart of the operator, not just the pitch deck. He also shares his perspective on the RV and boat storage niche and when it makes sense for an investor to go active versus passive. A grounded, practical, and refreshingly candid conversation.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Dan Rosenblatt — commercial insurance franchise owner, founder of 72 Ministries, men's ministry leader, and faith-driven entrepreneur coach. Dan shares how a 70% pay cut and 80-hour work weeks eventually gave way to one of the most integrated, purpose-driven lives he has ever lived. He talks about how his mentor's cancer diagnosis finally pushed him to launch the ministry idea that had been sitting in a note on his phone for years, why fear is false evidence appearing real, and how every business meeting is an opportunity to be a pastor, a friend, and a confidant. A warm, vulnerable, and deeply practical conversation for any leader who feels like they are living two separate lives.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Michael Uadiale, a CPA who helps entrepreneurs and families build lasting financial freedom that can be passed on for generations. Michael shares his own painful introduction to the US tax system after immigrating from Nigeria — and how that experience shaped his conviction that too many business owners are giving away money the government never asked for. He breaks down why taxes are not a punishment but a set of government incentives, what red and green flags to look for in a tax advisor, why meeting with your CPA once a year is a losing strategy, and what it means to turn 13 to 18 years of your productive work life over to the IRS through simple inaction. A practical and eye-opening episode for any entrepreneur who wants to stop being reactive and start building real tax strategy.   00:00 Introduction 00:52 Michael Uadiale's Background and Immigration Story 02:15 The $80,000 Tax Bill That Started a Mission 03:48 Too Many Business Owners Are Overpaying Taxes 05:56 Why Jeremy's Early CPA Said "You Make a Lot, You Pay a Lot" 07:49 Taxes Are a Roadmap — Not a Punishment 09:30 How COVID Proved the Government Uses Tax Law to Shape Behavior 11:00 Why Real Estate Has Such Strong Tax Benefits 13:17 How to Find the Right Tax Advisor for You 14:00 Red Flag — All You Hear Is No 16:30 Specialist vs. Generalist — Why It Matters 18:55 The Customer Avatar — Finding Your Tax Advisor Match 20:44 Why Meeting Once a Year Is a Losing Strategy 23:25 Looking Through the Windshield, Not the Rearview Mirror 24:58 The 13 to 18 Year Tax Jail Explained 26:27 The First Step to Getting Right With Your Taxes in 2026 27:01 How to Connect With Michael Uadiale

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Elzie Flenard III — known as Elzie the Entrepreneur — a faith-driven business coach, speaker, and host of the Journey to Mastery podcast. Elzie shares the journey of how God spent years nudging him toward a more explicitly faith-forward business identity, why he resisted it, and what finally happened when he surrendered to it. He also unpacks his Joy Meter framework for making business decisions, how he coaches faith-driven entrepreneurs to create space to hear from God, and why the partnership between the marketplace and the church may be one of the greatest untapped opportunities for kingdom impact today. A warm, honest, and deeply practical conversation for any leader wrestling with how faith and business fit together.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Ben Reinberg, a prominent commercial real estate investor and founder of Alliance CGC, to talk about why hard assets remain the most reliable path to generational wealth — especially in a market cycle defined by trillions of dollars in maturing loans and ongoing economic uncertainty. Ben breaks down why hoarding cash is the wrong response to market volatility, what makes medical office one of the most recession-resilient asset classes available, and why the ability to hold is the single most important variable in any real estate investment. He also shares what separates capital raisers who consistently win, how to evaluate an operator beyond the pitch deck, and what investors sitting on the sidelines in 2026 should be doing right now.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with his friend Cameron Clark — a former digital marketing entrepreneur and agency director who, after losing his job due to debilitating chronic migraines in 2019, found himself in an unexpected and transformative season as a stay-at-home dad. Cameron shares with remarkable honesty what it felt like to watch his professional identity disappear, how comparison and isolation nearly swallowed him whole, and how a single perspective shift — maybe you're being planted, not buried — began a multi-year journey toward a contentedness he never expected. He also shares a powerful framework for how faith-driven leaders can experience the presence of God in the middle of their darkest seasons, and practical advice on how to find and approach a mentor. A deeply personal and quietly profound conversation.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Brett Swarts, founder and CEO of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, to unpack one of the most powerful and least understood wealth preservation strategies available to entrepreneurs, investors, and high net worth individuals — the Deferred Sales Trust. Brett breaks down the critical differences between the traditional 1031 exchange, the Delaware Statutory Trust, and the Deferred Sales Trust, explains why the 1031 exchange puts buyers at a negotiating disadvantage, and shares real client stories of people who preserved millions in capital gains by having a plan before their liquidity event. He also addresses the three most common objections head on — legality, control, and fees — and makes the case that truly passive income, not just passive income, is the ultimate goal. A must-listen episode for anyone approaching a major exit event in real estate, business, Bitcoin, or beyond.   00:00 Introduction 00:52 Brett Swarts' Background — From Bay Area Real Estate to Tax Strategy 05:30 The 1031 Exchange Problem — Blockbuster vs. Netflix 07:00 Breaking Down the Delaware Statutory Trust 09:00 The Lazy 1031 and When It Works 10:30 The Traditional 1031 — Time, Debt, and Asset Constraints 12:00 What Makes the Deferred Sales Trust Different 14:00 The $13 Million Car Wash Exit Case Study 17:05 Don't Trade What's Priceless for What's Profitable 18:15 The Deferred Sales Trust as a Joint Venture Partner 21:30 How to Rescue a Failed 1031 Exchange 23:30 It Sounds Too Good to Be True — Addressing the Objections 26:09 The Trustee Structure and How Control Works 27:39 Fees — What to Expect and Why the ROI Still Works 29:00 What to Do If You Already Missed the Window 31:00 How to Prepare for Your Next Liquidity Event 32:00 How to Connect With Brett Swarts

In this solo episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall introduces the Triple Win Framework — a simple but powerful way of thinking about what it actually means to win as a faith-driven leader. Most high-performers are great at one of three things: their work, their home, or their community. Rarely all three. Nick makes the case that these are not separate arenas to be balanced, but one integrated life to be lived — with the same values, the same faith, and the same person showing up in every room. He also challenges the lie of compartmentalization and invites listeners to score themselves honestly across all three wins. A clarifying and convicting episode for any leader who is succeeding by some measures but wondering if the full picture adds up.   Scripture Referenced: Colossians 3:23 — "Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, working for the Lord" Deuteronomy 6 — Teaching God's commands in every part of life   00:00 Introduction — The Faith-Driven Leaders Series 01:00 Are You Actually Winning? The Real Question 02:00 The Lie of Compartmentalization 03:00 Colossians 3:23 — Your Work Is Worship 03:45 Win One — Winning at Work as a Faith-Driven Leader 05:00 Win Two — Winning at Home Is the Hardest Fight 06:30 Win Three — The Most Overlooked Win — Community 07:30 Integration, Not Balance — One Person in Every Room 08:00 Deuteronomy 6 — The Biblical Blueprint for the Triple Win 08:30 The Challenge — Score Yourself One to Ten 08:49 Closing and How to Connect With Nick  

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Wayne Seminoff, a 50-year real estate veteran who has built a career doing something almost nobody else does — buying overlooked, problematic pieces of raw land for pennies on the dollar and converting them into highly valuable buildable lots. Wayne breaks down his seven techniques for transforming junk land into gold, from clearing clouded titles and solving landlocked access issues to building on wetlands and splitting parcels. He shares real examples of buying land for $250 and $1,000 and turning those investments into $400,000 and $1,000,000 outcomes. For any investor curious about a niche, low-competition corner of real estate that most people walk right past, this episode is a fascinating deep dive.

In this solo episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall gets personal about fatherhood. Nick shares a vulnerable realization — that his kids were getting his leftovers at the end of the day, not his best. Inspired by John Tyson's book The Intentional Father, he and a small group of dads built a framework for raising their sons with intention — culminating in one of the most memorable days of his life. He also shares three practical shifts that have changed the way he fathers, and makes a compelling case that the systems and intentionality we bring to work need to show up at home just as much. A challenging, honest, and encouraging episode for any parent who loves their kids but suspects they could be more present.   Book Referenced: The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson Scripture Referenced: Proverbs 22 — "Train up a child in the way he should go" Psalm 78 — "We will not hide these things from our children" Proverbs 3:5-6 — "Trust in the Lord with all your heart"   00:00 Introduction — Intentional Fatherhood 01:00 The Question That Wrecked Nick 01:30 My Kids Were Getting My Leftovers 02:15 The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson 02:52 Starting a Thursday Morning Dad Book Club 03:30 The Day That Marked Something — The Rite of Passage 05:30 Why Witnesses Matter in a Boy's Transition to Manhood 06:00 We Are Intentional at Work But We Wing It at Home 06:30 Shift One — Design Your Home Culture on Purpose 07:21 Shift Two — Be Present, Not Just Available 07:40 The 60-Second Driveway Transition Ritual 08:00 Shift Three — Plan for Your Kids Like You Plan for Work 08:30 Each Child Needs Something Different From You 09:00 You Cannot Give What You Do Not Have 09:30 The Challenge — Find Your People and Start a Book Club 10:30 Closing Prayer and Final Challenge

  In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Eric Runge, a registered investment advisor with 20 years of experience who now specializes in helping family offices integrate Bitcoin into their long-term wealth preservation strategies. Eric breaks down why inflation is far more destructive than most people realize, how government money printing silently transfers wealth from everyday citizens to those closest to the newly created money, and why Bitcoin's stateless, fixed-supply design may represent the most significant monetary innovation since the gold standard. He also addresses the most common objections head-on — from Bitcoin's volatility and intangibility to the fear of government bans and its association with criminal activity. A thought-provoking and genuinely eye-opening episode for any investor curious about the future of money. 0:00 Introduction 00:52 Eric Runge's Background — From Retail Advisory to Family Offices 02:21 How Bitcoin Changed Eric's Understanding of Money 04:47 Why Family Offices Are the Right Fit for Bitcoin 05:48 Inflation as the Silent Killer of Purchasing Power 07:52 Why CPI Understates the Real Rate of Monetary Inflation 09:04 M2 Money Supply and the S&P 500 — The Hidden Correlation 11:51 Money Printing Is Legal Counterfeiting — The Cantillion Effect 14:30 Addressing Critics — Is Bitcoin Actually Tangible? 16:13 Nixon, the Gold Standard, and Why 1971 Changed Everything 17:06 How Bitcoin's Statelessness Breaks the Cycle of Broken Money 19:34 What Happened in 1971 — The Cultural and Economic Fallout 21:00 The Government Ban Question — And Why It Is Fading 22:29 Is It Too Late to Buy Bitcoin? 25:10 Bitcoin as a Store of Value in an Ever-Growing World 27:47 Dispelling the Criminal Currency Myth 29:24 How to Connect With Eric Runge  

In this solo episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall shares a framework that changed the way he approaches his life, his marriage, his parenting, and his business. Inspired by Michael Hyatt's book Living Forward, Nick walks through the practice of designing your life backwards — starting with the end in mind, writing your own eulogy, and then building specific, scheduled commitments that close the gap between the life you are currently living and the life you actually want. He grounds the practice in Scripture and offers a clear, practical starting point for any leader who is productive but drifting. A concise and deeply personal episode that is worth sharing with anyone who is building a successful life but starting to wonder what it is all for. Book: Living Forward by Michael Hyatt Scripture Referenced: Psalm 90:12 — "Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom"   00:00 Introduction — Designing Your Life Backwards 01:30 The Most Productive, Unintentional Person in the Room 02:10 Michael Hyatt's Living Forward — The Book That Changed Everything 03:00 Most People Plan Their Vacation Better Than Their Life 03:42 The Eulogy Exercise — Starting With the End in Mind 05:00 The Gap Between Your Current Reality and Your Desired Future 05:30 The Life Account Framework — Faith, Marriage, Parenting, Work 06:10 Intentions Without a Schedule Are Just Wishes 06:44 Psalm 90:12 — Life Planning as an Act of Stewardship 07:30 Practical Next Steps — Your First Life Plan 08:03 Financial Freedom Is the Starting Point, Not the Destination 08:45 Closing Challenge — Share This With Someone Who Is Drifting

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer welcomes a very special guest — his own son, Jack Dyer. At just 19 years old, Jack has already launched and operated multiple business ventures, from a drop shipping company and a coffee roasting brand to a six-figure outdoor services company. He and Jeremy have an honest, energetic conversation about what it really looks like to scratch the entrepreneurial itch early, why college isn't the only path to success, how faith shapes the way Jack approaches risk and purpose, and what he's building next. A refreshing and inspiring episode for parents, teenagers, and anyone who believes the entrepreneurial spirit doesn't have an age requirement.   00:00 Introduction — Jeremy's Most Special Guest Yet 01:06 Meet Jack Dyer — Young Entrepreneur 01:57 Early Sales Instincts — Flowers, Car Parts, and a School Competition 03:49 First Job, First Lesson — Working for Someone Else 04:31 The Drop Shipping Company in 10th Grade 08:14 The Stir-Six Coffee Roasting Business 09:51 Lessons Learned From Early Failures 12:13 Keep Moving — The Best Advice for Teenagers 12:36 Rebranding and Running Superior Ground Management 13:51 Why Jack Stepped Away From the Lawn Care Business 14:22 LandClear — Starting Again With More Experience 16:00 College vs. Entrepreneurship — Jack's Honest Take 18:23 How Faith Shapes Jack's Entrepreneurial Path 20:23 Daily Habits, Avoiding Doom Scrolling, and Staying In Motion 22:20 Fake Productivity vs. Real Progress 25:24 Why Ownership Will Always Beat a Salary for Jack 27:49 What the Next 5-10 Years Look Like 29:26 Parting Advice — Find Your Inspiration and Follow It 31:15 Accountability, Co-Founders, and Closing Thoughts

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Brittany DeRoche — cancer survivor, heart failure survivor, five-time Ironman finisher, mom of four, and founder of Church Activation Strategies. Brittany shares a remarkable and deeply moving story of trial after trial — from a tumor the size of an ostrich egg at 19, to full-blown heart failure two days before Christmas, to pulmonary embolisms following a hysterectomy — and how her faith carried her through each one. She also unpacks the work she is doing to help churches turn underutilized space into sustainable revenue through strategic childcare partnerships, and what it means to finally be walking in the vocation she believes God designed for her. An unforgettable conversation about resilience, surrender, and purpose.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Robert Rolih, an international investor educator who has guided tens of thousands of investors across 73 countries to grow their wealth by avoiding the hidden traps of the financial industry. Robert shares his remarkable origin story — growing up in communist-era Slovenia, building a successful business, and then losing most of his profits to financial advisors he trusted blindly. That painful experience became the foundation for his life's mission and his book, The Million Dollar Decision. He breaks down the six dark forces of investing, why hidden fees quietly destroy wealth, how emotional decision-making is the investor's greatest enemy, and why the simplest strategy almost always wins. A straight-talking, eye-opening episode for any investor at any level.   00:00 Introduction 00:52 Robert Rolih's Background — From Communist Slovenia to Global Investor Educator 02:12 Losing His Business Profits and Starting Over 04:12 Why Investors Lose Money — Bad Decisions, Not Bad Markets 05:48 The Commission Camouflage Effect Explained 07:12 The Lure of the Shiny Next Big Thing 09:07 Buying When Others Are Panicking — The Bitcoin Story 11:13 The Right Balance for the Busy Professional Investor 13:43 Dollar-Cost Averaging and Keeping Dry Powder 17:09 Why Diversification Can Quietly Sabotage Returns 20:24 Inflation's Hidden Impact on Stock Market Returns 23:23 The One Rule That Protects You From 90% of Investing Mistakes 25:21 How to Connect With Robert Rolih

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Ryan Sudeck, CEO of Sage Investment Group — an Inc. 5000 recognized real estate platform converting distressed hotels into naturally affordable housing without government subsidy. Ryan shares the origin story of Sage, how a COVID-era pivot from student housing unlocked an entirely new mission, and why he believes the private sector — when disciplined and patient — can solve the affordable housing crisis at scale. He also opens up about how his Jesuit education shaped his leadership philosophy, what it means to care for the whole person as a leader, and how AI is transforming the way his team operates day to day. A rich, wide-ranging conversation for any leader who wants to build a business that does well and does good at the same time.   00:00 Introduction — Faith-Driven Leaders Series 00:43 Meet Ryan Sudeck and Sage Investment Group 02:05 The Origin Story — How a COVID Pivot Created a Mission 04:40 What the End Product Looks Like for Residents 05:53 Markets, Amenities, and the Community Vision 07:25 Which Markets Sage Is Targeting and Why 08:36 Cities Are Asking Sage to Come Help Them 10:41 Does Doing Good Also Do Well for Investors? 11:25 Rejecting the False Choice Between Profit and Purpose 13:55 No Government Subsidies — How That Works 16:39 The Distressed Hotel Market Opportunity 18:45 Why So Many Hotels Are Struggling Post-COVID 22:27 How Faith Shaped Ryan's Leadership Philosophy 24:35 Cura Personalis — Care for the Whole Person 26:41 Investing in People's Growth, Not Just Output 28:45 Active Listening and Working Through Conflict 31:39 A Season of Challenge and Leaning on Faith 34:45 How AI Is Transforming Sage's Operations 37:13 Practical AI Tool Recommendations for Leaders 41:03 Superhuman Email and Whisper Flow 43:29 Final Thoughts and How to Connect With Ryan

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, Rise48 Equity VP of Capital Formation Jeremy Dyer is joined by a member of the Rise48 acquisitions and asset management team for a deep dive into the company's disciplined, three-level underwriting methodology. Taken from the Fundamental Forum December 2025 Session. From initial market screening and qualitative filters to financial modeling, stress testing, and field-level validation, this episode pulls back the curtain on how Rise48 evaluates hundreds of deals to find the two to three percent that actually meet their standards. They also cover lessons learned from the 2021-2022 rate environment, how AI is being integrated into the underwriting process, and what the disposition outlook looks like heading into 2026 and 2027. An essential listen for any passive investor evaluating multifamily operators.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Will Harvey, a real estate fund manager and hard money lender based in the Richmond, Virginia area. Will shares a remarkably candid story — from battling alcohol addiction in college, to finding sobriety and faith, to building a career in mortgage lending, house flipping, and ultimately launching his own investment funds. He opens up about how his faith shapes his business decisions, his marriage, and how he is raising his two young boys. He also shares his vision for using wealth as a tool for eternal kingdom impact rather than earthly recognition. A deeply honest and inspiring conversation for any faith-driven investor or entrepreneur.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer sits down with Philip Ganz, president and founder of Next Wave Mortgage, with over 25 years of industry experience and more than a billion dollars in personal loan closings. Phil shares how he built a mortgage company on a digital land grab — owning over 155 niche websites — and why that strategy is beating AI rather than being beaten by it. He breaks down the difference between smart debt and bad debt, how to evaluate deals with brutal honesty, why lifestyle creep destroys more wealth than bad investments, and the timeless principle of knowing when to walk away. A candid, no-nonsense conversation for any investor or entrepreneur looking to build lasting financial success.

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Henry Kaestner — entrepreneur, investor, co-founder of Bandwidth, Sovereign's Capital, Faith Driven Entrepreneur, and Faith Driven Investor. Henry shares his remarkable journey from Wall Street to faith-fueled entrepreneurship, including the moment at age 28 that transformed his relationship with God and the question at age 38 that completely changed how he thought about money and generosity. He unpacks what it means to lead with purpose, invest for kingdom impact, and why he believes faith-driven entrepreneurs are uniquely equipped to solve the world's greatest problems. A deeply inspiring conversation for any leader looking to integrate faith and work.