What the M
Do you ever wonder who is behind the scenes collecting and processing all those monthly mortgage payments throughout the entire country? In the world of residential mortgages, the mortgage servicing industry is a critical but not always visible player in the lending and home ownership process. Unveiling how mortgage servicers manage the residential homeownership industry is the concept behind “What the M,” a new podcast that discusses the complex issues facing default services and the path forward for the mortgage industry and homeowners alike. The industry is comprised of more than 160 mortgage servicers representing more than 80% of the outstanding principal balances on mortgages in the U.S. Without the involvement of these vital mortgage servicers, obtaining and maintaining a home mortgage as we know it would not exist.“‘What the M’ features industry movers and shakers discussing the challenges faced by mortgage servicers, law firms and the American homeowner,” said Stephen Hladik, one of the co-hosts for the podcast and chair of the Advisory Council of the Legal League 100. “We will discuss trends in the economy, regulatory oversight, changes in the law, changes in technology and a myriad of other factors affecting the industry.”Hladik and co-host Kent McPhail are experienced attorneys with multistate practices in the default servicing industry. Both have decades of experience representing secured creditors; however, each host brings his own unique perspective to the podcast. McPhail hails from the Deep South (think boiled peanuts and shrimp & grits), while Hladik hails from the Northeast (think cheesesteaks and scrapple). “With this Yin and Yang, we hope to bring an entertaining and informative approach to the industry and those who make it hum,” McPhail said.Episodes of “What the M” begin airing mid-September and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episodes
The 67th episode of What the M features Joe Lara, founder of Find the X, plus a tribute to Ingrid Jaschok, a giant of the industry who we lost last week, by Michael Merritt.
In this episode, Kent and Steve sit down with Joe to discuss his company, Find The X LLC. Find the X is a veteran-owned business that provides leadership development, talent development, and career transition support for organizations operating in complex, high-...
The 66th episode of What the M features Talia Ramirez, President of Spectrum Solutions Acquisitions LLC.
In this episode, Kent and Steve talk to Talia about her journey in the mortgage default servicing industry. Talia is well known within the industry for her incredible skills, including problem-solving, developing smarter ways to increase efficiency and productivity across teams, and helping teams and companies overcome obstacles....
The 65th episode of What the M features Sam Hantosh, Real Estate Broker at RE/MAX Team 2000.
In this episode, Kent and Steve sit down with Sam to talk about what Real Estate Owned (“REO”) Sales are and what it is like to be the boots on the ground— from securing possession, to getting a property ready to market, to securing a sale. The REO process is a vital part of the finalization of the foreclosure process, and it takes not only...
The 64th episode of What the M features John Dunnery, Loan Servicing Manager at Compu-Link Corporation.
Another longtime friend of the show is back for his 2nd visit! John Dunnery returns to What the M and, as always, brings a wealth of valuable information with him. This time around, John is here to discuss reverse mortgages: the differences between reverse and more traditional “forward” mortgages, the regulatory and compliance hu...
The 63rd episode of What the M features Marcel Bryar, Founder and Managing Director of Mortgage Policy Advisors, LLC.
A longtime friend of the show is back for his 2nd visit! Marcel Bryar’s 25+ years of experience in mortgage operations, regulation, and policy oversight make him an invaluable industry resource. We feel incredibly fortunate to have him back on the show to share his thoughts on the rise of contested litigation in defa...
The 62nd episode of What the M features Kevin Shivers, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers.
In this episode, Kent, Steve, and Kevin take a closer look at the community banking industry. Community banks throughout the United States are a backbone of small community banking, lending and financial services to many. In these ever-changing times of the financial world, one area of growth and strength ...
The 61st episode of What the M features Kent McPhail and Steve Hladik wrapping up 2025 with a year-end review. Check it out to find out what happened- and didn’t happen- in the default servicing industry this year, along with what Kent and Steve predict is next to come in 2026!
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A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation pr...
The 60th episode of What the M features Sergeant Gina Dascola, retired from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and founder of Dascola Consulting, LLC.
In this episode, Sgt. Gina Dascola shares her 40 years of experience with the foreclosure sheriff sale process in Pennsylvania. While emphasizing the importance of due diligence and discussing the challenges faced during live sales, Gina also shares the impact of technology on the...
The 59th episode of What the M features Glenn Brooks, President of Genstone Asset Disposition.
In this episode, Glenn shares his journey into the industry, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that have shaped his career over the past three decades. Glenn also discusses the current state of the REO market with Kent and Steve and shares his predictions for the future, including the role of technology and...
For the 58th episode of What the M, Kent McPhail and Steve Hladik honor John Bell, a titan of the mortgage industry and dedicated public servant.
John Bell III attended Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee before spending more than 15 years in the private sector, including serving as the Vice President of VA Real Estate Management at Bank of America. John was a Navy Veteran who served in both the Gulf War and Operation Restore H...
In the 57th episode of “What The M,” hosts Kent McPhail and Steve Hladik dive into the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA). Steve, taking the guest seat, breaks down what FAPA is, why it was enacted, and how its retroactive application has created major challenges for lenders, investors, and servicers. From constitutional implications under the Takings Clause to ripple effects on the secondary market and loan originations, Kent...
The 56th episode of What the M features Michael Merritt, Senior Vice President of Customer Care and Default Mortgage Servicing at BOK Financial.
A longtime friend of the show is back for his 3rd visit! Michael Merritt has returned to What the M. This time around, he is here to share his thoughts on the topic of the new HUD bidding guidelines and their impact on the industry. Michael is the Senior Vice President of Customer Care and ...
The 55th episode of What the M features LeAllen Frost, Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel - Head of Litigation at Pennymac.
It’s that time again… for a new episode of What the M! Kent and Steve are excited to be joined by LeAllen Frost, Deputy General Counsel at Pennymac—a top lender and servicer that has helped more than five million homeowners achieve their aspirations of homeownership.
In this episode, Kent, Ste...
The 54th episode of What the M features Rick Sharga, CEO and President of the CJ Patrick Company, and Daren Blomquist, Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com.
It’s that time again… for a new SEASON of What the M!
Over the first three seasons of What the M, Kent and Steve have been fortunate enough to interview an incredible roster of talented professionals about their insights and predictions for the default servicing ind...
Welcome to the season 3 finale of What the M!
This season, Kent and Steve have interviewed amazing, thoughtful, and brilliant guests. Each guest has been uniquely qualified to speak about different aspects of the default servicing industry, and has provided valuable information to What the M’s listeners. Each guest is unique, but they all have one thing in common: they all got to answer “The Last Question.”
At the end of each episo...
The 52nd episode of What the M features Gina Gallutia, Executive Membership Director of the Five Star Institute, and David Mulkay, Director of Legal League. Gina and David are long-time friends of the podcast and stopped by to discuss the benefits of Five Star and Legal League, trends in the default servicing industry, and upcoming industry events. With their extensive experience in- and knowledge of- the default industry, Gina and...
For the 51st episode of What the M, Kent and Steve have a "fireside chat" about the economy, current regulatory conditions… and whether you should use ChatGPT for your March Madness bracket! Listen on for up-to-the-moment updates about the default servicing industry.
Steve Hladik is a Partner at Hladik, Onorato, and Federman, LLP. He received his undergraduate degree from Penn State University (Let’s Go State!), before go...
The 50th episode of “What the M” features Walter Mullen and Michael Keaton from Onity Group, Inc.
This episode focuses on the changes taking place on a state and federal level within the default servicing industry, the record-high credit debt and auto loan defaults that Americans currently face, and the use of technology within the industry. We are extremely fortunate to have Walt and Michael as our guests this week, as they have an...
The 49th episode of “What the M” features the return of Michael Merritt, Senior Vice President of Customer Care and Default Mortgage Servicing at BOK Financial.
This time around on "What the M," Michael is here to share his thoughts on the topic of AI in the servicing industry. Michael is the Senior Vice President of Customer Care and Default Mortgage Servicing at BOK Financial. Michael attended Arizona State University, w...
The 48th episode of “What the M” features Dusten Hendrickson, Founder and CEO of Mailbox Money.
Mailbox Money specializes in transforming real estate development through strategic land selection, wellness-focused design, and innovative project leadership. Dusten’s expertise extends to real estate syndication, working closely with partners to structure impactful, high-yield opportunities for investors. He is deeply committed to addr...
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