In this episode of the Scrubs2Estates Podcast, Ian sits down with Michelle Stevenson — a powerhouse who went from selling luxury goods at Gucci to making six figures flipping homes. With no college degree or background in construction, Michelle started in high-ticket retail sales before getting her real estate license and working with investors. Watching them make huge profits sparked her curiosity, so she dove in headfirst — learning the fix-and-flip process, showing up on job sites, a...

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Quesada to unpack two decades of hard-earned lessons in business, leadership, and personal growth. From living out of his car as a teenager to building three successful real estate brokerages across three states, owning his own real estate portfolio, and running multiple businesses — Mark’s story is a masterclass in perseverance and self-belief. We talk about luck, recognizing opportunities when they show up, and the power of relationships — how one hands...

Nick Rossi’s story starts on the water — long days, tough conditions, and a life that demanded discipline and grit. Those years at sea forged the mindset that would later carry him through the unpredictable world of real estate and construction. After suffering an injury that forced him to pivot, Nick doubled down on growth — turning pain into purpose, learning the business from the ground up, and building a portfolio that reflects his resilience. In this episode, we talk about how the lesson...

Architect Hector Aramuro is in the middle of one of San Diego’s biggest challenges — building the city’s future while balancing the debate between affordable housing and overdevelopment. As the designer behind multiple high-infill, Complete Communities projects, Hector’s work quite literally shapes the skyline and the way people will live in the decades ahead. In this episode, we dive into how his upbringing in Mexico influenced his creative eye, how he blends art with code, and what it reall...

In this episode, I sit down with Austin Long — a full-time Stryker rep and part-time real estate investor out of rural West Virginia. We talk about how learning sales early became the ultimate meta-skill that set him up to win in both business and investing. Austin shares how living below his means gave him freedom, how he built his first deals while working full-time, and why waiting for the “right time” is just an excuse. If you want something in life, you’ve got to reach out and grab it — ...

In this episode of The Lo-Down, I sit down with my friend and fellow nurse, Lorenzo Mercado, for a raw conversation about my journey through healthcare and beyond. We talk about the early experiences that shaped me, what it was like grinding through the chaos of COVID, and how burnout became the wake-up call that pushed me to change direction. I share why I built a plan to leave nursing, what I’ve come to see in a healthcare system that feels more “for profit” than for patients, and how I mad...

This one hits hard and true. I sit down with my friend James DeLeon—a 31-year-old Marine vet who grew up hopping from motel to motel, never knowing what “home” even meant. The Marines gave him purpose. Then COVID hit and he leveraged his VA loan to score his first quadplex. That one bold move didn’t just give him a building—it gave him confidence, a full-time pivot into real estate investing, and a three-million-dollar-plus portfolio in just a few years. In this episode, we dig into identity,...

This episode is all about mindset, transformation, and the daily non-negotiables that pulled Harlan and Rob out of rock bottom and turned their struggles into the driving force behind creating their dream life. We break down the mental shifts that helped them rebuild their identity, the routines and habits that keep them moving forward, and how they’ve learned to use discipline as a tool instead of a punishment. You’ll hear how they turned adversity into opportunity, built momentum through sm...

Ryan Bakke is not your average CPA—he’s also a real estate investor who actually walks the walk. In this episode, we cut through the fluff and break down the tax game for high W-2 earners, business owners, and real estate investors. We dive deep into Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and how the 2025 tax changes are reshaping the strategies smart investors are using to keep more of what they earn. We talk about bonus depreciation and how to use it before it phases out, Section 179 and the 6,000-po...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Austin Cole—a former bodybuilder and solar hustler who’s now flipping houses full-time and building serious momentum in real estate. Austin shares how the chaos of COVID pushed him to finally get his license and step into the family business. But it wasn’t overnight success—he spent years learning from his dad, making little to no money while paying his dues. Now, he’s scaling a flipping operation that’s funding his future in multifamily and gro...

In this episode, we go deep. Peter Eberhardt isn’t just a real estate investor—he’s someone who’s done the inner work to figure out who he is and what success really means. A former BMX athlete who once had Olympic dreams, Peter started his real estate journey by driving Uber to fund his first deal. Now flipping houses in Bakersfield, California, his story is one of transformation—not just in business, but in life. We dive into the mental side of entrepreneurship: how to improve relationships...

In this episode, we sit down with a CPA who’s not your average number cruncher. He specializes in strategy, not just filing. We dive deep into powerful tax loopholes—especially around real estate and short-term rentals—and break down how high-earning W-2 and 1099 professionals are legally reducing their tax bills. Whether you’re an investor, healthcare worker, or just someone tired of overpaying Uncle Sam, this episode will change how you think about taxes. Spoiler: If you’re still doing your...

Nicole Bansal is the definition of doing it all—without losing her mind. By day, she’s a high-level marketing exec helping startups scale fast. By night (and weekends), she’s flipping homes, managing Airbnbs, investing in real estate, and raising a family in San Diego. In this episode, we dive into how she’s built a life that balances career, family, and financial freedom—and why she believes real estate is the most powerful tool for reclaiming your time. We talk about how she transitioned fr...

Thinking about getting into real estate but have no idea where to start? This episode is for you. Eva Goetze and I both started from ground zero—no experience, no connections, just curiosity and a willingness to figure it out. In this conversation, we break down exactly how we got started, what steps we took early on, and how we overcame imposter syndrome and analysis paralysis. If you're on day one of your journey, take notes—this episode is packed with simple, real-life strategies to help y...

In this episode, I sit down with my girlfriend Paulina — a Mexican immigrant who moved to the U.S. just five years ago with a dream of owning a home in America. That dream felt nearly impossible in a place like San Diego… until we learned how to play the game differently. When I moved here as a travel nurse, I also thought homeownership was out of reach. But through creative strategies like co-living, high-leverage loans, and house hacking, we turned that dream into reality. Together, we brea...

Jack McColl, known as the “King of Debt,” built over $300,000 in 0% interest business credit and used it to unlock the kind of lifestyle most people only dream about. In this episode, Jack breaks down exactly how he leveraged credit to fund business ventures, travel the world in first class using credit card points, and live life completely on his terms. From jet-setting across the globe to flying top-tier airlines for next to nothing, Jack shares how he turned strategic credit into fre...

What happens when your childhood home burns to the ground… and you watch it rise again, piece by piece? For Preston Dubreville, it sparked a lifelong obsession with design, construction, and the emotional weight that homes carry. Today, he’s one of Southern California’s most elite luxury spec home designers — building ultra-modern mansions for the ultra-wealthy. In this episode, we dive into Preston’s origin story, how personal tragedy shaped his creative eye, and what it takes to thrive in o...

Carl Dumesle is a Haitian immigrant and UCSD alum who’s gone all-in on the real estate game, and it shows. In just five years, he’s built a multi-million dollar portfolio, launched his own property management company, and is now mentoring the next generation of investors and developers. In this episode, we dive into how Carl found his passion, became obsessed with development, and how we teamed up on a 16-unit project in Kensington, San Diego that’s projected to force over $2.4 million in equ...

From Chicago hustle to San Diego domination — meet Mike & Tracy Cain, the mortgage broker power couple who closed $136 million in loans in 2024. They’re #1 at C2 Financial nationwide, #11 in the country for VA loans, and living proof that hard work and great service never go out of style. We talk mindset, marriage in business, what it takes to win in the lending world, and why San Diego is the dream.

In this episode of The Scrubs to Estates Podcast, I sit down with Jarvis Leverson — keynote speaker, business coach, and creator of The Morning Hero. Before helping thousands of entrepreneurs unlock peak performance, Jarvis was a burnt-out sales executive grinding through 80-hour weeks. Hitting rock bottom forced him to rebuild his life — and in the process, he created a system that helps others win their mornings and master their time. We break down the Win Every Day framework, why waking up...