Why This 7-Figure Flipper Walked Away to Find Real Freedom featuring Alex Pardo
Release Date: 10/21/2025
How Elite Operators Win When the Market Shifts featuring Benmont Locker
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with who I call the ultimate utility player in our industry—Benmont Locker. If there’s anyone uniquely positioned to talk about what’s working right now for real estate investors, it’s Benmont. From operations and growth strategy to sales training and talent development, he’s been in—and built—nearly every seat that matters. We dive deep into why 2026 is a year of stabilization, not reckless scaling, and why the operators winning today are the ones obsessing over fundamentals: leads, sales, people, and...
info_outline
Craig Filek: Why Building Your Legacy & Authentic Self Starts Now
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this CG Live episode from Oceanside, California, I sit down with Craig Filek, founder of Purpose Mapping, for a powerful conversation about identity, burnout, and what lies beyond business success. If you’re at that stage of life where you’ve hit your revenue goals, built the systems, and delegated the day-to-day—but still feel restless or stuck—this one’s for you. Craig breaks down his “Two Mountains” framework and explains why so many high-achieving entrepreneurs find themselves burned out, drifting, or trapped in the golden hamster wheel. We explore what it...
info_outline
Scaling to $10M+ with Inbound Marketing & Lead Generation featuring Adrian Hernandez
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Adrian Hernandez for a powerful conversation on vision, belief, and what it really takes to scale a real estate business without losing yourself—or your family—in the process. Adrian’s story is one of clarity from a young age, relentless energy, and the courage to burn the boats when it was time to go all in. We talk about Adrian’s journey from starting as a real estate agent at 19 to building a dominant wholesale and fix-and-flip operation across Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire. Adrian...
info_outline
Chris Porter: Why Demographics Are The Most Powerful Driver of Market Trends
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this special CG Live episode from Oceanside, California, I sit down with Chris Porter, Senior Vice President at John Burns Research & Consulting, for a data-driven look into what’s ahead for the housing market. Chris shares powerful insights into the demographic and economic trends that are shaping the next decade—and what investors must prepare for heading into 2026 and beyond. From immigration policy to housing affordability, construction labor shortages to rental market shifts, Chris breaks down how real-time data helps decode the future of real estate. If you’re...
info_outline
The Real Cost of Scaling a 200+ Deal Business featuring Clint Cooper
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Clint Cooper out of Atlanta, Georgia, for one of the most honest, transparent conversations we’ve had about growth, risk, and the real cost of scaling fast. Clint’s journey is a perfect example of what happens when ambition, talent, and opportunity collide—and why maturity, systems, and people ultimately decide who survives long term. We unpack Clint’s path from a wildly successful sports betting business to real estate, how he scaled to 200+ deals a year in under five years, and the painful lessons that came...
info_outline
Casey Gregerson: Creating A Brand That Solves Everything in Business
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this CG Live episode from our Select and Elevate event in Dallas, I sit down with Casey Gregerson, who returned to the stage as a Premier-level CG member just three years after attending his very first event as a brand-new investor. From getting laid off days before his first CG meeting to building a powerful brand in a niche market, Casey’s story is a blueprint for how to go all in and win. Casey shares how he turned a remote investing model into a thriving business by dominating the Wyoming market from Houston, building a trusted local team, and investing relentlessly in...
info_outline
Why Most Investors Scale Too Fast & How to Grow With Discipline Instead featuring Andrew Newlon
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with longtime CG member Andrew Newlon out of Springfield, Missouri, for a deep conversation on what real scale actually looks like—especially in smaller Midwest markets. Andrew’s journey is a masterclass in patience, focus, and learning the hard lessons that most entrepreneurs only understand after going through them. We talk about Andrew’s evolution from military service to real estate, the rise and fall of partnerships, nearly breaking the business by scaling too fast, and how rebuilding with intention completely...
info_outline
Jason Reynolds: How to Save $15K–$20K On Every Flip Project
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this CG Live episode from our Select and Elevate event in Dallas, I sit down with Jason Reynolds, a former pro baseball player turned real estate investor, who joined CG in January and has already tripled his business in under a year. This is a masterclass in action-taking—from construction bottlenecks to team building, Jason walks us through how the right conversations at the right time completely reshaped his company. He shares how moving project management in-house saved him tens of thousands per deal, how mentoring from other members like Phil Jackson helped him fast-track...
info_outline
How Dustin Built a Business That Could Handle 200+ Deals Per Year featuring Dustin Singer
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Dustin Singer out of Pittsburgh for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the show. Dustin’s story is a real-time example of what happens when personal growth finally catches up to business ambition—and how everything changes when it does. We unpack how Dustin doubled his revenue, doubled his team, and expanded into commercial real estate in a single year—not by working more hours, but by rebuilding himself as a leader. From losing 50 pounds and reclaiming his discipline to implementing simple...
info_outline
Dustin Singer: Why Building Your People Is The Most Effective Way to Build Your Business
The Collective Genius Podcast
In this CG Live episode from our Select and Elevate event in Dallas, I sit down with Pittsburgh investor and longtime CG member Dustin Singer, who delivered one of the most vulnerable and impactful talks of the event. Dustin pulls back the curtain on how he turned a season of burnout, depression, and disconnection into a full-blown transformation—personally, physically, and professionally. From losing 50 pounds to completely overhauling his leadership style, Dustin shares how a single CG presentation inspired him to get out of survival mode and start leading with intention. He...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Alex Pardo—seasoned investor and founder of Ascend—to dive into how and why he walked away from a successful real estate operation to build a business that aligned with his purpose. After flipping hundreds of homes and building a high-revenue company, Alex hit a wall. He realized he was scaling stress, not freedom.
Alex shares how he redefined success, embraced his zone of genius, and now mentors other entrepreneurs to build businesses that support—not sabotage—their lives. We explore his exit from wholesaling, the mindset shifts that changed everything, and why fulfillment and profit aren’t mutually exclusive. If you’re tired of chasing volume and ready to chase vision, this episode is for you.
Timeline Summary
[0:00] - Introduction
[2:40] - Alex’s flipping background: over 400 deals and a 7-figure business
[5:50] - The burnout that led him to question his definition of success
[9:10] - Why he walked away from a profitable wholesaling machine
[12:30] - The pivotal moment that made him pivot toward purpose
[15:20] - How he discovered his “zone of genius” and realigned his business
[18:45] - Building Ascend: a mastermind for high-level entrepreneurs
[21:30] - The key differences between growth and fulfillment
[24:00] - How to escape the operator seat and step into visionary leadership
[27:10] - Alex’s tools for self-awareness, reflection, and decision-making
[30:20] - Advice for investors feeling stuck in success but empty inside
[33:50] - Why building a life-centered business starts with brutal honesty
[36:30] - What freedom actually looks like for Alex today—and what it cost
5 Key Takeaways
-
Success Without Fulfillment Is Failure – Profit alone doesn’t create peace.
-
Your Business Should Serve Your Life – Not the other way around.
-
Know Your Zone of Genius – Doing more of what you’re great at unlocks energy and purpose.
-
Reflection Is a Superpower – Honest, regular check-ins keep your vision aligned.
-
You Can Redefine Winning – It’s never too late to pivot into a life you actually want.
Links & Resources
-
AscendYourSuccess.com – Alex’s mastermind and coaching community
-
ExploreCG.com – Learn more about the Collective Genius community
-
Recommended book: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
If this episode sparked clarity or inspired you to shift toward more purposeful business building, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the Collective Genius Podcast. And share it with someone who’s ready to scale their life—not just their numbers.