Nic Espanet sits down with entrepreneur John Schissler, who dives into his journey of building a thriving franchise business. From taking a leap into an industry he’d never worked in, to scaling operations and building community-driven locations, John shares the mindset, values, and strategies that have helped him succeed.

They explore how John prioritized human connection and community involvement in an industry often driven by speed and transactions. You’ll hear about the power of building strong relationships—both with customers and employees—and how embracing discomfort can fuel personal and professional growth.

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In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet reconnects with Shane Thomas, co-founder of Catalyst Equity Partners. Shane shares his journey from early investments in Class C properties to navigating complex financing and strategy shifts in today’s multifamily real estate market.

Shane gives listeners a candid look at the lessons he's learned since launching Catalyst in 2017, managing over 2,000 units as lead GP, and weathering recent industry-wide challenges. He emphasizes the importance of transparency with investors, long-term thinking, and building a resilient team. Shane also shares his outlook on why now may be the best time in years for investors to enter the multifamily space—and how Catalyst is preparing to capitalize on the opportunity.

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Nick Lee, founder of Iceberg Cabinets, joins Nic Espanet on this episode of the Flex Forward Podcast to share the story behind his unique role as a cabinet and shelter specialist in the telecom world. From the roadside cabinets that power our internet connections to the massive nationwide push for rural broadband, Nick gives an eye-opening look into a side of tech infrastructure most of us never think about.

He talks about designing smarter cabinets that field techs actually want to use, how resilience and adaptability helped grow his company, and his creative take on passive income (spoiler: it involves a Suburban and Uber). Nick also opens up about hard-earned business lessons and how setbacks often paved the way for his company’s biggest wins—including a game-changing deal that’s set to take Iceberg Cabinets to the next level.

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In this episode, host Nic Espanet chats with Duke Vashisht—an aerospace expert, strategic advisor, and global connector. Duke brings a fascinating blend of experience across continents, having worked in aerospace, nuclear, and now space investment. He discusses how growing up in Haryana, India, shaped his engineering curiosity, which led to a career that has spanned Europe, Asia, and now the U.S.

Duke shares insights into aerospace innovation, the evolving space ecosystem in Texas, and why Houston is ripe for real estate and tech crossover. He dives into the importance of intentional living, the power of silence, and how self-awareness has shaped his approach to business and life.

Listeners will get a firsthand look at the unique opportunities in space investment, the growing entrepreneurial network in Texas, and how Duke navigates change with wisdom and openness.

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In this inspiring episode, Gabriel Griess joins Nic Espanet to share his powerful story of transformation—from a Nebraska farm boy with dreams of flying, to an Air Force veteran, to co-founder of Excel Medical Staffing. Gabriel opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the influence of military values in business, and a deeply personal story of faith and family resilience as his daughter battled life-threatening health challenges.

Gabriel also shares insights into creating multiple income streams, what sets his veteran-owned staffing company apart, and the heart behind his upcoming book, The Results Tree. It's a conversation full of wisdom, perspective, and encouragement for anyone looking to grow professionally and personally.

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On this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet chats with Carson Jones, a commercial real estate broker who has shifted from multifamily investments to oil and gas—and is now eyeing opportunities to re-enter the real estate market.

Carson brings sharp economic insights to the table, unpacking complex market shifts and explaining how global factors like job cuts, tariffs, and deportation trends impact housing demand and cap rates. From data center development in Tennessee to industrial investments in North Texas, Carson shares where he sees the most promising opportunities right now.

Nic and Carson also dive into the importance of investor education, Carson’s writing ventures—including his books The Red Flag Playbook and one on buying businesses—and his views on the future of real estate investing.

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Nicholas Miller joins Nic Espanet to share his unique path from growing up on a ranch to becoming a specialized attorney for land and mineral owners in Texas. As a partner at Graves Dougherty, Nicholas brings years of experience and a personal passion to helping legacy landowners make smart decisions about their property—from oil and gas to solar and wind.

In this episode, Nicholas opens up about the deep roots of his ranching family, the shift into renewable energy deals, and how mentorship and flexibility have shaped his successful legal career. He also shares important insights on how mineral rights can impact property ownership, and why having the right legal guidance is critical—especially for investors.

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In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Charles Gills, Executive Director at Platt Richmond, to explore his inspiring journey through the legal industry. Charles began his career with just $100 in his pocket and a job delivering documents to courthouses. Today, he leads operations at a fast-growing law firm.

Charles shares how saying “yes” to every opportunity, recognizing mentorship moments, and thinking creatively helped him grow in his career. He also talks about streamlining operations to save firms tens of thousands of dollars, writing for legal trade publications, and how he broke into billion-dollar law firms despite industry gatekeeping. His path reveals the importance of resilience, professional curiosity, and strategic positioning.

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In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Jonathan Nichols, co-founder of Apogee Capital, to explore his inspiring journey from engineering to real estate. Jonathan reveals how a shared interest in finding a "paying hobby" with his wife Paula led to building a multifamily real estate investment company.

He dives into how their careful approach to financing—favoring fixed-rate debt—set them apart early on, and how staying active in today’s market gives them a competitive edge. Jonathan also opens up about the challenges of transitioning from engineering to business, the real weight of managing investor money, and why the idea of “passive income” as a GP is often misunderstood.

Listeners will appreciate Jonathan’s three-tiered learning strategy for anyone looking to get started in investing or any new venture: learn on your own, learn from others, and then take action. He closes by sharing what’s next for Apogee Capital—and life as a new dad to baby Chloe.

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From the snowy slopes to scaling multifamily portfolios, Dan Brisse’s journey is one of relentless determination and reinvention. In this episode, Dan sits down with Nic Espanet to share how his dreams of becoming a professional snowboarder evolved into a career as a successful multifamily real estate investor and co-founder of Granite Towers Equity Group.

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