In this raw, unfiltered episode, the Lords of Lending pull back the curtain on the personal experiences that shaped them into the SBA lending experts they are today. 

From childhood poverty and career failures to finding purpose through adversity, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian share the dark seasons that forged their professional wisdom.

This isn't your typical business advice - it's the real story behind the expertise. Sometimes the best business wisdom comes from the worst personal moments.

🎯 TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Opening: Why vulnerability builds trust in business
04:12 - "Invisible & Underestimated" - The wounds that shaped us
06:47 - Shane's 7th grade identity crisis: From "thug" to outcast
09:36 - Brian's parents' divorce: Finding identity through sports
12:02 - Steph on daily invisibility: "Everyone else is prioritized"
16:28 - "You're Not Enough" - When the world tells you to quit
18:25 - Shane's Financial Collapse: Near-bankruptcy and the bird in the garage
23:47 - Steph's Dark Decades: "Zero through 20 - it was all dark"
26:21 - "Just when you think you're buried, really you're planted"
28:25 - Brian's Law Firm Disaster: Fired two weeks before his son was born
35:04 - The phone call that changed everything: "Dude, I just got fired"
38:20 - "Life Was All About Me" - The lies we believe about ourselves
43:19 - Steph: "I allowed people to typecast me for too long"
45:48 - Things We Can't NOT Do: Shopping carts, serving others, turning off lights
48:03 - Late Night Questions: Parasites, cancer fears, and life's anxieties
52:18 - The Archetypes: Oracle, Magistrate, and Alchemist revealed
53:05 - Steph "The Oracle": Seeing patterns before they emerge
55:03 - Brian "The Magistrate": From attorney to wise judge
56:53 - Shane "The Alchemist": Turning pressure into systematic gold
58:00 - Golden Nugget: Why people must be happy in their roles to succeed

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

In this tactical deep dive, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian sit down with serial acquirer Collin Trimble to dissect what really happens when you scale through acquisition. From chaotic day-one takeovers to post-close surprises, this episode is all strategy, scars, and lessons earned the hard way.

📌 Timestamps:
00:09:49 - What Strategy Looked Bulletproof (But Wasn't)
00:12:38 - 28 Minutes In: The Day One Disaster Story
00:15:55 - You Can't Prepare for Everything: Assessment Strategy
00:17:35 - The 90-Day Employee Rule: Listen Before You Lead
00:20:17 - Finding Hidden Leaders in Broken Organizations
00:27:11 - Employee Due Diligence: What to Look For
00:30:21 - Cultural Integration: Bringing Teams Together
00:35:18 - Customer Experience: From Personal Touch to Scalable Systems
00:41:07 - Not All Revenue is Equal: The Tire Story
00:42:57 - Due Diligence Providers: RMR Audits & Quality of Earnings
00:49:53 - Legal Landmines: Why You Need Transaction Attorneys
00:56:58 - Technology Infrastructure: Building Customer 360 with Salesforce
01:04:43 - Quick Fire Strategy Round: Never Do Again
01:05:42 - Essential Legal Moves & Holdback Strategies
01:10:12 - The 30-Day Liquidity Priority
01:13:18 - Next 5 Acquisitions: Geographic Expansion Strategy
01:15:07 - Closing: Resources for First-Time Acquirers

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

On the road, the Lords break down key takeaways from a week of business broker conferences. From AI innovations to personal follow-up strategies, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian explore how lenders can stand out, deepen relationships, and add long-term value beyond the transaction.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: On the Road with the Lords
01:00 – Conference Recap: Transworld, IBBA, Murphy
02:15 – AI & Tech Takeaways from Top Brokers
04:30 – Standing Out in a Sea of Sameness
06:00 – Using AI to Create Business Plans for Buyers
09:00 – In-Person vs. Virtual: The Shift Back to Human
11:15 – Value Add That Lasts Beyond the Loan
13:00 – Relationship Management in the Digital Age
16:30 – The SBA Toolbox & Tools in Development
18:00 – Live AI Prompt Demo: HVAC Industry Use Case
23:30 – Creative Customer Retention Ideas from Other Industries
26:10 – Final Thoughts & Laughter from the Road
28:30 – Outro: Like & Subscribe

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode, Shane Pierson, Stephanie Dunn, and Brian Congelliere share their backstories, career pivots, and what drives them. From courtroom exits to cold calls and The Apprentice, get to know the Lords of Lending on a personal level.

📌 Timestamps:
01:00 – Intro & Episode Overview
02:06 – Why This Episode Matters: Get to Know the Hosts
04:56 – Stephanie’s Origin Story: From Hotels to SBA Lending
09:56 – Brian’s Journey: Law School, Real Estate, & Breaking Out
15:38 – Shane’s Story: Sales, Setbacks & Starting Over
20:32 – How the Trio Met & Formed the “Lords of Lending”
25:39 – Sports, Coaching & Building a Winning Team
31:25 – What We Geek Out On (Inside & Outside of Work)
41:42 – Defining Legacy, Regret & the Drive to Build Something Bigger
48:46 – Career Left Turns That Changed Everything
55:57 – Stephanie’s Wild Ride: From SBA to The Apprentice
57:55 – Final Reflections: Why This Podcast Exists
59:30 – What Makes Us Good at This? Each Host Weighs In

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

The SBA just dropped a new SOP—and it’s shaking up how small business loans work. Shane, Stephanie, and Brian break down what’s changing, what’s broken, and how buyers and lenders can adapt. From seller carries to guarantee requirements, this episode is packed with real talk and strategy.

📌 Timestamps:
01:00 – Intro & Overview of SBA SOP 50 10 8
02:25 – What Changed and Why It Matters
04:04 – New Down Payment & Injection Rules
08:30 – Seller Carryback Standby Terms Explained
13:16 – Full Guarantees for Minority Owners
18:00 – End of GP Submissions for PLP Lenders
23:17 – How Banks Will Respond to Increased Risk
28:25 – Why SBA Is Eliminating MCA Refinance Options
34:05 – The Bigger Impact on Borrowers & Business Owners
41:01 – Feedback Loops, Policy Blind Spots & Final Thoughts
49:00 – Wrap-Up & Call for Audience Feedback

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode of Broke or Billionaire by 2030, hosts Shane Pierson, Stephanie Dunn, and Brian Congelliere dive into the mindset, strategies, and financial habits that separate those who struggle from those who thrive. Whether you're aiming for financial freedom or just want to make smarter money moves, this conversation is packed with insights to shift your trajectory.

📌 Timestamps:
01:00 - Intro & Welcome
01:28 - The Current Loan Market Surge
03:30 - Buying a Business
05:53 - The Future Ready Seller
06:28 - Identify Successful Business
08:44 - AI Tools
14:00 - The Silver Tsunami
18:02 - Leveraging the Data
20:16 - The Falling Behind Business Owner
24:10 - Getting Your Head in the Right Space
27:02 - How to Adapt Your Sales Approach 
29:18 - Shane is Relatively Wide
31:03 - Women’s Influence on Sales
33:10 - Banks on the Way Out
34:40 - Closing Thoughts

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode of Lords of Lending, hosts Shane Pierson, Stephanie Dunn, and Brian Congelliere dive into the realities of buying and scaling a business. They discuss how to assess inherited employees, identify underperformers, and maximize human capital for growth. Whether you're acquiring a company or expanding your current one, this episode offers actionable strategies to optimize payroll, improve leadership, and build a high-performing team.

📌 Timestamps:
00:34 - Intro & Episode Overview
01:00 - Assessing Inherited Employees & Talent Evaluation
02:36 - People, Products, and Profits: Prioritizing for Growth
04:16 - Measuring What Really Matters in Business
06:02 - Leadership Strategies for Managing Existing Teams
09:08 - How to Motivate Employees & Improve Performance
12:02 - Identifying Strengths & Weaknesses as a Business Owner
13:42 - Managing Family Members in a Business
17:01 - The Importance of Clear Communication & Leadership
23:07 - Understanding Payroll as an Investment, Not Just an Expense
27:12 - Scaling Smart: When to Hire & When to Optimize
34:19 - AI & Automation’s Impact on Business Growth
40:31 - Final Takeaways & Actionable Strategies

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

 Are you truly urgent about success, or are you just busy? In this episode of Lords of Lending, hosts Shane Pierson, Stephanie Dunn, and Brian Congelliere take a hard look at why urgency—not just activity—is the key to winning in business and lending. They break down the dangers of complacency, how to eliminate wasted effort, and the power of acting now instead of later. From setting clear deadlines to removing bottlenecks in decision-making, this conversation is packed with insights on how to move deals faster, execute at a higher level, and ultimately stay ahead in a competitive world. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of endless tasks without real results, this episode is your wake-up call. Don't wait—listen now. 

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

 Traditional relationship banking is being replaced by algorithms, automation, and AI-driven decision-making—but is this a good thing? In this episode of Lords of Lending, hosts Shane Pierson, Stephanie Dunn, and Brian Congelliere dive into the rapid rise of automated lending. They explore how AI is changing loan approvals, eliminating human bias, and increasing efficiency, but also discuss the dangers of losing the personal touch and context-driven decision-making. Are fintechs the modern-day loan sharks, or are they filling a critical gap? And what does the future hold for bankers and borrowers navigating this digital transformation? Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of finance, technology, and the future of lending. 

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Shane Pierson explores the impact of Trump tariffs on small businesses, from rising costs to supply chain issues, and shares key strategies to adapt, cut expenses, and stay competitive in uncertain times.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & Episode Overview
02:36 - What Are the Trump Tariffs and Why Do They Matter?
04:00 - How Tariffs Impact Small Businesses
05:50 - Supply Chain Disruptions & Rising Costs
09:20 - Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Tariffs
14:08 - Loan Approval Risks & Financial Challenges
17:26 - Alternative Financing & SBA Loan Options
20:55 - Final Takeaways & Next Steps for Business Owners

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.