Skip the Lines Podcast, with Jonathan Mitchell

Can the grind of knocking doors and learning from family bankruptcy turn you into a top-tier broker in one of the toughest markets in America?

Austin Huffman, Vice President at Marcus & Millichap, to unpack his journey from cold calls to closing multi-million-dollar multifamily deals in San Diego. Raised in a real estate dynasty that built over 600 properties, Austin shares how family legacy, market crashes, and intense work eth...

What would your life look like if you stopped waiting to feel ready and just went for it?

Hilarious and multi-layered Mehdi Amani, former international school teacher turned standup comic. From living in Saudi Arabia and teaching across three continents to crushing mics in Chicago, Mehdi unpacks his deeply honest, wildly funny, and unexpectedly insightful journey. He shares stories about growing up in gang-heavy Chicago, surviving c...

What does it take to turn a modest house flip into a multimillion-dollar construction and real estate empire?

San Diego developer and operator Carl Dumesle traces a wild path from Haiti to the Dominican Republic and then to the United States after surviving the 2010 earthquake. A Nestle rescue flight got his family out, and nearly a decade in the DR taught him languages and grit before an MBA brought him to San Diego. 

Once here, Car...

What changes when you stop chasing units and start treating every building like a business that must truly perform?

San Diego developer and operator Carl Dumesle traces a wild path from Haiti to the Dominican Republic and then to the United States after surviving the 2010 earthquake. A Nestle rescue flight got his family out, and nearly a decade in the DR taught him languages and grit before an MBA brought him to San Diego. 

Once her...

What would happen if you stopped copying strategies and built where demand is already begging for you?

Brandon Blum joins host Jonathan Mitchell on Skip the Lines to unpack two decades of wins losses and lessons across student housing Texas multifamily and commercial plays. Brandon credits his early edge to living with his customers at SDSU learning streets culture and unmet needs then reverse engineering product finance and operati...

What big decision are you avoiding today that would make everything else easier?

Sundae co-founder and CEO Josh Stech sits down with host Jonathan Mitchell to unpack the mantras and moments that shaped his path from Stanford grad to Vegas flipper to co-founder of LendingHome and now the operator behind Sunday. He shares why “tough decisions easy life” guides how he hires, pivots, and right sizes, plus how timing and integr...

Is San Diego really too saturated for newcomers, or is decisive action the ultimate advantage?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with San Diego native and JG Investments founder Josh Giordani to unpack how he left a well-paid corporate role, went all in on coaching, and rapidly scaled a lean wholesale and flipping operation. Josh shares why people and relationships outlast any single deal...

What is the one fear that is quietly stopping you from your first deal and what happens when you ask yourself why five times to kill it at the root?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with Henry Washington. Henry breaks down how he went from bad credit to portfolio pro by walking into a community bank with a signed contract and walking out with a plan. We talk portfolio lending, the real d...

What have you seen in the market as it shifted, and how did that change your playbook?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with Mike Tighe. Mike breaks down why the classic value add multifamily play faltered when interest rates outpaced cap rates, creating negative leverage that killed the old arbitrage. He walks through Take Off Capital’s pivot into coastal San Diego development, where ma...

What if you could scale a 45-door short-term rental portfolio and build an AI company before hitting 30?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell speaks with Jay Ullrich. Jay’s journey is anything but ordinary. At just 28, he’s already transitioned from a civil engineering degree at Cal Poly to running Select Stays, a San Diego-based short-term rental management company with 45 doors. Growing up in Maryla...

How do you rebuild your life and business when both your health and the housing market throw you curveballs?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with powerhouse real estate investor and social impact entrepreneur Melissa Meza. With over two decades in acquisitions, portfolio strategy, and distressed asset repositioning — and more than $1 billion in transactions — Melissa shares how she clim...

What if everything you lost was actually setting you up to build the life you truly wanted?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with Garin Heslop, entrepreneur, coach, and founder of Gyngergy and Date Zero. From growing up in a household impacted by addiction to becoming a self-made millionaire in real estate by 23, Garin’s story is one of resilience forged in fire.

If Garin’s journey inspir...

What if your next big win came not from working harder, but from building systems that set you free?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with the phenomenal Zandra Ulloa, a San Diego-based real estate powerhouse who's closed over $3 billion in sales. Zandra shares how her passion for architecture and a disappointing first home-buying experience inspired her to reshape the real estate g...

What would your career look like if you stopped fearing rejection—and started embracing it?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with San Diego real estate legend Sal Cefalu, a 21-year industry veteran with over 600 homes transacted. Sal dives deep into how old-school grit, street knowledge, and an unshakable reputation have helped him thrive in one of the most competitive markets in the cou...

What if the fastest way to your dream job… was to take the longest route?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with his long-time friend and Lakers insider Allen Sliwa to unravel a story of grit, creativity, and relentless drive. From humble beginnings in El Cajon, California, Sliwa shares how being the son of Iraqi immigrants shaped his relentless work ethic.

Now an independent content creat...

What separates those who dream about success from those who actually build it

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell welcomes Carson Trujillo, co-founder of Whitewater Commercial Real Estate. Carson shares his incredible journey from growing up in Kentucky and selling mattresses on Craigslist to becoming a top commercial real estate broker in San Diego. With humor and raw honesty, Carson reveals how the...

Is San Diego’s affordable housing crisis solvable, or are we destined to price out the next generation?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with Thomas DeFranco, Director of Policy at the San Diego Housing Commission, for a deep dive into the city’s affordable housing challenges and opportunities. Thomas sheds light on the intricacies of Section 8 housing, federal subsidies, and the role of...

What does it take to leave a traditional job, face down fear, and build a thriving real estate business from scratch?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell sits down with entrepreneur and real estate investor Oliver Davis. Originally from France, Oliver moved to the U.S. and dove headfirst into real estate, evolving from ADU development to wholesaling high-ticket properties. His story highlights the re...

Can your mindset design your life as powerfully as blueprints design a building?

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell welcomes Heather Medina, the dynamic founder of ArchiDev Studio, to discuss the intersection of architecture, personal resilience, and city-building.

Heather dives deep into the challenges of being a woman in construction, navigating San Diego’s evolving zoning laws, and leading a desig...