Flex Forward
FLEX Forward is a powerful podcast showcasing stories of resilience, reinvention, and rise. Hosted by Nic Espanet, each episode delves into the inspiring journeys of professionals who have overcome obstacles, made bold career pivots, and discovered new paths to personal and financial growth. With a theme of Growth. Grit. Gains., FLEX Forward highlights the determination and adaptability that drive success. Whether it’s bouncing back from setbacks, reinventing one’s path, or climbing to new heights, these conversations prove that every story of struggle and triumph has the power to motivate others. Tune in for real, raw, and relatable stories that will push you to flex forward in your own life.
Episodes
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Adam Roberts, co-founder of A&E Investments, to talk about the evolution of his investment journey—from flipping single-family homes to scaling into multifamily, mortgage notes, and oil & gas.
Adam shares insights into what sets his investment firm apart, why transparency and communication are non-negotiables, and how building a consistent "operati...
In this episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Angel Flores, a multifamily broker deeply rooted in the DFW real estate scene. Angel shares his journey from Navy nuclear program and chemical engineering to building a career in real estate investment and multifamily brokerage.
Angel opens up about what sets him apart from other brokers, how he values relationships over transactions, and his perspective on today's multifamily market—part...
In this insightful episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Eddie DeCurtis, CEO and co-founder of Sush, to explore the future of digital identity and network authentication. Eddie shares how his company is reshaping online security by eliminating outdated two-factor authentication and enabling seamless, secure logins using mobile network data.
Eddie opens up about his entrepreneurial journey—from failure...
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet welcomes Manuel Newburger, Vice President at Barron & Newburger, a law firm specializing in consumer financial services law. With over 42 years of legal experience, Manuel brings a unique perspective from having worked on both the consumer and industry sides of litigation.
Manuel shares his insights on what it means to practice with integrity, the value of being clie...
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Perry Lunsford, founder of Healthy Insurance Dude, for an honest and high-energy conversation about entrepreneurship, health insurance, and the life lessons that come from failure.
Perry opens up about his unconventional journey into the insurance world, how past business failures shaped his success, and why he believes trust—not insurance—is what he's tru...
From civil engineering to civil litigation, Deniz Kilic’s career journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Deniz joins Nic Espanet to share how his background in engineering shaped his legal career and why he's passionate about solving problems efficiently—not perfectly. He opens up about immigrating from Turkey, building a life in Texas, and how failure and growth go hand-in-hand.
Deniz also discusses the importance of cr...
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Joseph Perlman, a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 40 years of experience, to explore how plastic surgery and regenerative medicine are evolving to meet the needs of today’s aging population. Based in The Woodlands, TX, Dr. Perlman shares insights from his decades-long career, his approach to individualized patient care, and how his practice i...
What happens when a successful cardiologist steps off the traditional career path to reclaim his time, freedom, and family life? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Ryan Mallory, an interventional cardiologist and founder of Halftime Freedom, to explore how he's redefined success on his terms.
Ryan shares his transition from a full-time employed physician to a 1099 locums lifestyle—working ju...
In this powerful episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Alex Gilmore, co-owner of CDR Construction & Roofing, to explore his journey from early struggles to entrepreneurial resilience. Alex opens up about overcoming addiction, supporting a brother through repeated battles with cancer, and navigating financial and legal chaos—all while building a successful construction company from scratch.
Listeners will hear how CDR Construction...
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet is joined by Scott Bullington, founder of Integrated Medical Services. With over 30 years of experience, Scott shares what makes his healthcare consulting firm different: a deeply personalized, transparent approach to medical billing and business coaching for medical practices.
Scott discusses the business side of healthcare — from helping doctors realize they’re running a bu...
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Greg Roberts, founder of Funding Your Way, to discuss how he's helping business owners access capital—especially when banks say no. Greg breaks down how his agency supports both startups and established companies, dives into the niche of business expense reduction, and shares why the human side of lending is what drives him most.
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In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Steve Patrick, CEO of Level the Playing Field LLC, to dive into the complex world of insurance claims — and how contractors can negotiate better outcomes for their clients.
With nearly three decades in the industry, Steve shares his journey from paramedic to contractor, to claims adjuster, and finally to educator and entrepreneur. His mission? Training contract...
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Kyle Shafer, founder of Zera Music Company, to explore how passion for music and a heart for transformation led to building a thriving business from the ground up.
Kyle shares how his journey from a music education student to entrepreneur began with a desire to elevate both students and instructors. He dives into the challenges of launching a business with...
Dr. Hardik Chodavadia, co-founder of Enamel Dentistry, joins Nic Espanet to share his entrepreneurial journey from his first practice in 2016 to launching his 10th location. Hardik discusses the value of authentic relationships in dentistry, why transparency matters more than ever, and how embracing communication—not just operations—led to exponential growth.
They dive into:
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The importance of building trust with patients and ...
Nic Espanet sits down with entrepreneur John Schissler, who dives into his journey of building a thriving franchise business. From taking a leap into an industry he’d never worked in, to scaling operations and building community-driven locations, John shares the mindset, values, and strategies that have helped him succeed.
They explore how John prioritized human connection and community involvement in an industry often driven by sp...
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet reconnects with Shane Thomas, co-founder of Catalyst Equity Partners. Shane shares his journey from early investments in Class C properties to navigating complex financing and strategy shifts in today’s multifamily real estate market.
Shane gives listeners a candid look at the lessons he's learned since launching Catalyst in 2017, managing over 2,000 units as lead GP, an...
Nick Lee, founder of Iceberg Cabinets, joins Nic Espanet on this episode of the Flex Forward Podcast to share the story behind his unique role as a cabinet and shelter specialist in the telecom world. From the roadside cabinets that power our internet connections to the massive nationwide push for rural broadband, Nick gives an eye-opening look into a side of tech infrastructure most of us never think about.
He talks about designin...
In this episode, host Nic Espanet chats with Duke Vashisht—an aerospace expert, strategic advisor, and global connector. Duke brings a fascinating blend of experience across continents, having worked in aerospace, nuclear, and now space investment. He discusses how growing up in Haryana, India, shaped his engineering curiosity, which led to a career that has spanned Europe, Asia, and now the U.S.
Duke shares insights into aerospace...
In this inspiring episode, Gabriel Griess joins Nic Espanet to share his powerful story of transformation—from a Nebraska farm boy with dreams of flying, to an Air Force veteran, to co-founder of Excel Medical Staffing. Gabriel opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the influence of military values in business, and a deeply personal story of faith and family resilience as his daughter battled life-threatening health...
On this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet chats with Carson Jones, a commercial real estate broker who has shifted from multifamily investments to oil and gas—and is now eyeing opportunities to re-enter the real estate market.
Carson brings sharp economic insights to the table, unpacking complex market shifts and explaining how global factors like job cuts, tariffs, and deportation trends impact housing demand and ca...
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