Flex Forward

On this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, we're joined by Paul Montelongo—serial entrepreneur, investor, and lifelong learner. Paul takes us through his journey from flipping his first property at 19 to managing a diversified real estate portfolio that now includes data centers and student housing.

He shares key strategies behind his success in multifamily and commercial real estate, talks about converting under...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Deon Hill, founder of Uninstone Investments, to explore his journey from a cleaning business to building a growing real estate operation. Based in Georgia, Deon shares how he began wholesaling in 2017 and is now expanding into the multifamily commercial space.

Deon breaks down the strategies that set him apart in a competitive industry—particularly his focus on...

What does it take to transition from flipping homes to building a multifamily real estate portfolio? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Jimmy Edwards, partner at High Five Multifamily, shares his journey from finance and single-family investing into the world of multifamily real estate.

Jimmy opens up about lessons learned through trial and error, the importance of people over spreadsheets, and why commun...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Brayden Hudson, co-founder and CFO of Trellis Energy Partners, to talk about building a lean, relationship-driven business in the oil and gas industry.

Brayden shares how Trellis Energy Partners is opening doors for individual investors to access non-operated oil and gas opportunities across the U.S.—a traditionally difficult-to-reach market. He explains h...

What does it take to build wealth through passive investing while balancing risk and reward? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Nic sits down with seasoned investor and entrepreneur Sandhya Seshadri, founder of Engineer Capital, to explore how she built her portfolio across multifamily real estate, oil, and stocks.

Sandhya shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. with just two suitcases and a tight...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Derrick Johns, a former Marine turned medtech entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. Derrick shares the journey behind founding Diffusion Technologies, a company developing revolutionary biomaterials like ZFuse—designed to overcome chronic inflammation caused by traditional implant materials like titanium and stainless steel.

Derrick opens up about starting ...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Dr. Cristin Dickerson, founder of Green Imaging, shares how she went from avoiding the business side of healthcare to running a nationwide imaging network that serves over 2.5 million health plan members. She reveals how a sudden spike in MRI prices inspired her to create a cost-saving solution, and how her unique partnerships with imaging centers have set Green Imaging ...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Sheldon Krancher, a pioneer in the aligner orthodontics industry. With nearly two decades of experience, Sheldon has played a transformative role in shaping the future of dental and orthodontic care.

Sheldon shares how his journey led him to identify a major gap in aligner-based treatments—clinical diagnosis—and how his company, Clear Forward, now serves t...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Jason Surat shares how his career evolved from the corporate world and short-term rentals into owning and operating large multifamily properties. He talks about his early days in sales, his transition into fix-and-flip projects, and why short-term rentals became his gateway to bigger deals. Jason also breaks down what sets him apart as an operator, from disciplined budge...

What if the future of space travel relied on oceans—not just Earth’s oceans, but ones hidden beneath the icy surfaces of moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Paul Mamakos, founder of Space Ocean Corp, to explore the innovative concept of harvesting extraterrestrial water for space exploration.

Paul shares how his journey—from studying nuclear engineering and avia...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Jesse Dishaw, founder of “Your Water Guy” and a serial entrepreneur in the water filtration space. Jesse shares how a shocking water test led him to co-found Living Water Systems, scale it to millions in revenue, and eventually launch his own affordable water filtration company. Learn how Jesse is shaking up the industry by offering whole-house water filtr...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with real estate investor and entrepreneur Lane Kawaoka. Lane shares how he transitioned from being a civil engineer to building a multifamily investment business and founding his company, The Wealth Elevator.

Lane opens up about his early real estate journey—starting with single-family homes and eventually moving into multifamily syndications and private equity. He...

On this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with long-time friends and seasoned real estate investors, Phyllis and Ken Salverson. With decades of success in corporate America—Phyllis in high-level government tax management and Ken in IT and vendor management—they share how they transitioned into multifamily real estate investing later in life.

Ken and Phyllis dive into their journey of self-education, mentors...

In this inspiring episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, we sit down with John Kirk, a former college and arena football player, forest firefighter, gym manager, car salesman, and now Inside Sales Manager at a nationwide roofing company. John's journey is anything but traditional, and it’s packed with lessons in perseverance, adaptability, and pursuing what matters most—family, freedom, and fulfillment.

John shares h...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Chris Soignier, a seasoned real estate entrepreneur, Bitcoin maximalist, and success coach. Chris shares his journey from a finance career to leading one of the top 30 teams at eXp Realty and diversifying into syndications in oil, gas, private equity, and lending funds. He opens up about navigating the shift from W-2 life to business ownership, and how boo...

In this episode, Nic Espanet sits down with long-time friend and seasoned IT professional Kris Becan. Kris shares insights from nearly three decades in the tech industry, where he’s specialized in identity, infrastructure, and security. From earning elite certifications to consulting for major government agencies, Kris discusses what it takes to stand out in a competitive industry.

The conversation goes deeper, touching on personal...

Jeremy Hans began his career as a Navy helicopter pilot before diving headfirst into investing—with a $55K loss during the 2008 market crash. But that failure turned into the foundation of a successful entrepreneurial life. In this episode, Jeremy takes us through his evolution from active duty to real estate syndicator and business operator. He shares what it’s like to scale a classic car restoration company, insights into buying ...

Kathryn Stevens brings a rich mix of marketing expertise and real estate insight to this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet. From her early days at Apple to hands-on home renovations and now serving clients as a residential real estate agent, Kathryn shares the winding journey that led her to a career where she thrives.

In this candid conversation, Kathryn discusses her transition into real estate, the lessons lea...

Darren Atwood, a respected physician in rural West Texas, shares a candid journey from his early days in medicine to leading a struggling hospital into national recognition. Through heartfelt stories, including a powerful moment from Nic's own life that Darren witnessed, they unpack what it really means to leave a legacy. From turning hardship into growth to the importance of mentorship and mindset, this episode is rich with insigh...