The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

The military taught us discipline, leadership, and resilience—but it never taught us how to build wealth or create true financial freedom. That’s where we come in. I’m Markian Sich, a United States Marine turned real estate investor, and I know firsthand how tough it can be to figure out what’s next after service. That’s why I started The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast—to bring you real stories, real strategies, and real success from military investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who’ve been where you are. We talk about leveraging your VA Loan, Military House Hacking, and proven investing strategies to help you build passive income, transition with confidence, and take control of your financial future. You’ve fought hard to defend the American Dream—now let’s make sure you own a piece of it. Subscribe now and start your journey to financial freedom!

Episodes

February 19, 2026 61 mins

In this powerful episode of the ADPI Podcast, Markian Sich sits down with Marine Corps veteran, ADPI Hero, and mobile home park investor Joe Jackson for one of the most raw and inspiring conversations we’ve ever had.

Joe shares his journey from growing up in a mobile home park, hitting rock bottom with no power and no direction, to building and operating a mobile home portfolio spanning 1,000+ pads across multiple states. This episo...

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Guests: Trey Stone & Ian Stapleton

Hosts: Markian Sich & Eric Upchurch

Real estate investor Trey Stone and digital entrepreneur Ian Stapleton reveal how they built massive wealth through multifamily investing, why veterans are uniquely suited for real estate, and how “unpopular” properties can become the safest and most profitable assets when operated correctly.

From turning around D-class neighborhoods to raising capital ethi...

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Starting With $1K: Military Discipline, Investing Smarts & Defining a Rich Life with Darren Ick

In this episode of the ADPI Podcast, host Markian Sich sits down with Air Force veteran and long-time investor Darren Thedieck, who shares how he built financial freedom starting with just $1,000 and a Roth IRA. Darren opens up about his humble beginnings, growing up in a split household, and the financial lessons he learned watching ...

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From Marine Raider to ADU Builder: Finding Freedom, Purpose, and a New Mission with Mark Brookman

In this powerful episode, Markian sits down with Marine Corps veteran and real estate investor Mark Brookman to unpack the part of the military story most people never see—the invisible battles after the uniform comes off. Mark shares how micro–traumas from Afghanistan and Iraq slowly piled up, what it felt like to “look fine” on paper ...

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Markian sits down with Cheyenne Wachtendorf, a new ADPI member whose path runs from military service to creative deals—live-in flips, seller finance—and a 106-acre VA loan purchase. Cheyenne shares the mindset behind taking calculated risks, learning from setbacks, and his vision for Walk Squad Haven: real estate development, experiential recreation, and community mentorship.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction and Conference Recap

 01:30 ...

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From ROTC to Real Estate: Landon Fillmore's Journey of Investments and Identity

In this episode, host Mark chats with Landon Fillmore, a member of the military community who has successfully navigated his way into real estate investing. Landon shares his journey from joining the ROTC in college, to buying his first fourplex property, to managing rentals while stationed overseas. They discuss the pivotal conversations, education...

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Blockchain and Real Estate: A Deep Dive with ADPI Experts

In this engaging episode of the ADPI podcast, host Tim Kelly chats with Seneca Peña Colazo about the intersection of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and real estate investing. They clarify misconceptions about crypto, likening blockchain to a highway where scams are the driver's fault, not the road's. Highlighting the permanence and transparency of blockchain, the episo...

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Uncovering Creative Financing: A Deep Dive with Adam Catledge

In this episode, we welcome Adam Catledge, a Marine Corps veteran and seasoned entrepreneur, to demystify the complexities of creative financing in real estate. Known for his profound knowledge in sub-2s and wraparound mortgages, Adam shares his journey from military service to becoming a successful real estate investor. He elaborates on his first deals, the mechanics of ...

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In this high-energy episode, Markian interviews Rob Pekarek, a Naval Academy graduate and active-duty Air Force officer, who shares his inspiring journey in real estate investing while serving in the military. Rob discusses his initial steps in real estate, starting from a single-family house hack to joining a general partnership team for multifamily deals. He emphasizes the importance of adding value, building strong teams, levera...

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In this episode of the ADPI Podcast, host Markian Sich sits down with powerhouse military spouse, real estate investor, and soon-to-be author Kaitlyn Dannhardt, who reveals the wildly creative strategies that turned a broke PCS move into a full-fledged short-term rental business — all starting with just $1,500 and a VA loan.

From pioneering “TDY hacking” to PCS’ing with a garage full of Wayfair furniture, Kaitlyn breaks down how she...

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In this episode, Markian dives deep into the world of real estate syndication with legal expert Mauricio Rauld. The conversation starts with an informal introduction and segues into Mauricio's extensive background in syndication and securities law, detailing his journey from litigation to becoming a prominent figure in the real estate legal space. They discuss the intricacies and legalities of raising capital for real estate d...

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Markian sits down with Thach Nguyen to blend mindset and tactics for today’s market—how military precision can become analysis paralysis (and how to beat it), why rapport is the real negotiation edge, and the ADU/DADU playbook to force value, boost cash flow, and even approach 1–2% rule outcomes.

What You’ll Learn

  • The mindset shift from “perfect plan” to “action first” (especially for vets).
  • Rapport frameworks that turn negotiatio...
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From VA Loan House Hack to $22M Portfolio with Michael Mnatsakanian

In this episode of the ADPI podcast, host Markian Sich sits down with Michael Mnatsakanian, a military veteran who turned a single VA loan house hack into a real estate empire worth over $22 million. Michael unpacks the mindset shifts, strategic moves, and creative financing tactics that helped him scale fast—all while staying true to his mission of financial freedo...

  • Navigating Real Estate and Military Transition with John Rabino

    In this episode of the ADPI podcast, the host welcomes an esteemed guest, John Rabino, who shares his captivating journey from his military service to becoming a successful real estate investor. Rabino delves into his background, growing up in Brooklyn and being influenced by a family of business owners, including his father, a Marine Corps veteran. He describes his pat...

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    Navigating Real Estate and Life Challenges with Erica Lehmkuhl

     In this episode, Markian welcomes Erica Lehmkuhl, a retired Army First Sergeant and successful real estate broker in Hawaii. Erica shares her vast experience in real estate, discussing her transition from the military to entrepreneurship, her strategic property investments, and unique insights into the Hawaii real estate market. She emphasizes the importance of offering...

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    Unlocking Capital Raising: Strategies and Mindsets for Success

    In this solo episode of the ADPI Podcast, the host delves into the art of capital raising. Starting off with the importance of putting in consistent efforts and tracking data through lead and lag metrics, the speaker shares insights on reaching out to personal networks and leveraging social media for better conversion rates. Additionally, the episode covers concepts from...

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    From Military Service to Financial Mastery: Travis’s Journey of Entrepreneurship

     In this episode, host Markian Sich interviews Travis Salley, a military officer and entrepreneur, about his journey of navigating both the military and the business world. Travis shares his background, including his military career, investment experiences, and transition to financial advising. He discusses the highs and lows of real estate investments ...

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    Navigating Real Estate and Mortgages with Ted Canto

     In this episode of the Active Duty Passive Income Podcast, Marky sits down with Ted Canto, a seasoned entrepreneur, loan officer, and mortgage expert, to dive deep into financial literacy and real estate for military families. They discuss common pitfalls in buying homes, understanding credit scores, and the importance of being 'brilliant in the basics.' Ted also shares ...

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    Navy Vet Cracks the Code on Low-Maintenance Real Estate (While Others Struggle with Problem Tenants)

    Navy veteran Trevor Mathena didn't just stumble into real estate success—he engineered it. In this episode, discover how Trevor built a profitable portfolio of single-family homes in Toledo, Ohio, while most investors are drowning in tenant headaches and maintenance nightmares.

    You'll learn Trevor's ...

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    In this inspiring episode, join the Active Duty Passive Income (ADPI) team as they welcome Betty Boyce, a dedicated community member turned team member and now VP of Operations at ADPI. Betty shares her incredible journey from joining the National Guard to becoming a real estate investor leveraging VA loans. Discover her strategic approach to midterm rentals, the nuances of VA loan entitlements, and the importance of educating ones...

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