Maggie Nguyen a realtor with Compass in Philadelphia. She has lived in the city on and off for nine years, originally from Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University.

In this episode of the Progress Podcast, host Alex Pagano and Maggie explore Philadelphia through a series of entertaining lists and "would you rather" challenges, covering everything from coffee shops to neighborhoods and sports bars.

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Where to Find Maggie
- Instagram @maggiewinshomes

Where to find the host
- Instagram @mortgagewithpagano

Where to Find the Podcast
- Spotify
- YouTube
- Apple Podcasts
@progresswithpagano

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Key References
- Restaurants Mentioned: 
  - Babies (Filipino restaurant)
  - Middle Child
  - Loco Pez
  - Parc
- Neighborhoods: 
  - Fishtown
  - Northern Liberties
  - Rittenhouse Square
  - Queen Village
- Bars: 
  - Yakitori Boy
  - El Techo
  - Tavern on Camac

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Disclaimer
The opinions expressed are personal and not representative of any professional organization.

Dhan Thomas (aka "LendingJawn") is a licensed loan officer operating in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Florida. Originally from Kerala, India, he spent his formative years in Philadelphia, graduating from Northeast High School and Widener University.

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Episode Overview
In this entertaining podcast episode, host Alex Pagano takes LendingJawn through a series of Philly-centric games and trivia, exploring the city's food, culture, and hidden gems.

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Where to Find LendingJawn
Instagram: @LendingJawn
LinkedIn: Dhan Thomas
Website: lendingjawn.com
Where to Find the Host
Podcast: Progress Podcast @progresswithpagano
Host: Alex Pagano @mortgagewithpagano

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Key References
Loan types: DSCR loans, interest-only loans
Neighborhoods discussed: Fishtown, Old City, South Philly, East Passyunk
Notable Philly food spots: Bonchon, Federal Donuts, Lorenzo's Pizza
Landmarks: Liberty Bell, Philadelphia Zoo, Schuylkill River Trail

Fun Facts Learned
Philadelphia has a law against singing in the shower
Philadelphia Zoo is the first zoo in the United States (opened 1874)
The city's Italian Market is the oldest continuously operating outdoor market in the U.S.

In this episode of PROGRESS with Pagano, host Alex Pagano and recurring guest Darwin Laureano dive into an entertaining exploration of Philadelphia's best spots, events, and local knowledge through a series of fun lists and games.

Episode Highlights
Introduction and Personal Updates (00:00:00 - 00:01:11) - Alex and Darwin catch up on their New Year and personal goals for 2025. They discuss their fitness and business objectives for the year ahead.

Warm-Up Games (00:01:09 - 00:16:18) - The hosts play a series of lighthearted games about Philadelphia, including "Would You Rather" and "This or That" featuring questions about local restaurants, activities, and city experiences.

Guess the Price Game (00:16:18 - 00:22:15) - Darwin attempts to guess the prices of various food items at different Philadelphia restaurants, including cheesesteaks and pizzas at places like Pat's and Angelo's.

Philadelphia Day Under $50 Challenge (00:22:15 - 00:26:13) - Both hosts create an itinerary for spending a day in Philadelphia with a $50 budget, highlighting affordable activities and dining options.

Philadelphia Lists and Trivia (00:26:13 - 00:51:08) - The hosts go through multiple lists about Philadelphia, including:

Most affordable neighborhoods
Historic neighborhoods
Best neighborhoods for families
Free things to do in the city
Top tourist attractions
Seasonal events
Best bars for watching Phillies games
Business focus on:
Cold calling
Social media marketing
Developing referral network
Philly Trivia and Lists Covered
Top Late Night Eats in Philadelphia
Most Affordable Neighborhoods
Most Historic Neighborhoods
Best Family-Friendly Neighborhoods
Top Tourist Attractions
Seasonal Events
Free Things to Do in Philadelphia
Memorable Moments
Discussed favorite local restaurants like Picanha and Murph's
Explored Philadelphia's diverse neighborhoods
Shared insights on local events and attractions

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Key Takeaways
Philadelphia offers diverse experiences across different neighborhoods
The city has numerous free attractions and seasonal events
Local food scene is rich and varied

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Where to Find Darwin Laureano
Instagram: @darwinlaureano

Where to Find Alex Pagano (Host)
Instagram: @mortgagewithpagano

PROGRESS with Pagano
@progresswithpagano on all platforms

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Key References
Restaurants Mentioned:
Picanha
Murph's
Pat's Steaks
Angelo's Pizzeria
Neighborhoods Discussed:
Brewery Town
Roxboro
Mount Airy
Chestnut Hill
Top Attractions:
Liberty Bell
Independence Hall
Reading Terminal Market
Eastern State Penitentiary
Memorable Quotes
"You can't accomplish all your New Year's goals in a month or two months" - Alex
"Philly's number one, though" - Darwin
Disclaimer
This episode is a fun, lighthearted exploration of Philadelphia's local scene, packed with trivia, personal stories, and local insights.

Tyler B is a multi-hyphenate creative and production engineer at Philly Podcast Space. A 27-year-old Philly native, Tyler graduated from Morgan State University with degrees in journalism and is preparing to launch their own music-based podcast, "Catalog Chronicles".

Episode Highlights
Introduction and Guest Background (00:00:00) - Tyler introduces herself as a 27-year-old multi-hyphenate creative from Philadelphia with a background in journalism. She discusses her education at Morgan State University and his upcoming podcast.

Philly Brunch Spots Top 10 (00:03:28) - The host and Tyler discuss the top 10 brunch spots in Philadelphia according to Yelp, with Tyler sharing her favorite spots and learning about new recommendations.

Philly Fun Bars Top 10 (00:06:28) - They explore the top 10 most fun bars in Philadelphia, with Tyler sharing her experiences and preferences for different types of bars.

Philly Pizza Spots Top 10 (00:13:12) - The conversation shifts to the best pizza spots in Philadelphia, with Tyler and the host discussing various pizzerias and their qualities.

Philly Live Music Venues Top 5 (00:19:17) - Tyler, who has a background in the music scene, discusses the top 5 live music venues in Philadelphia, sharing personal experiences and memories.

Philly Cheesesteak Spots Top 5 (00:25:26) - Tyler shares her personal top 5 cheesesteak spots, highlighting local favorites and hidden gems.

Philly Bars Top 5 (00:32:07) - The host asks Tyler to rank his top 5 bars in Philadelphia, with Tyler sharing her preferences and experiences.

Philly Feud and Other Games (00:38:36) - The podcast transitions to a series of games including Philly Feud, Overrated or Underrated, Philly Price is Right, and Guess the Year, testing Tyler's knowledge of Philadelphia.

Top Philadelphia Athletes (00:57:29) - Tyler shares her top 5 Philadelphia sports athletes of all time, discussing their significance to the city.

Podcast Wrap-up (01:00:24) - Tyler promotes her upcoming podcast "Catalog Chronicles" and shares her social media handles.
_

Where to Find Tyler
Social Media: @thetylerb on all platforms
Podcast: Catalog Chronicles (launching January 15th)

PROGRESS with Pagano
@progresswithpagano on all platforms

Host
Instagram: @mortgagewithpagano

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Key References
Philly Podcast Space
Morgan State University
Catalog Chronicles Podcast
Various Philly restaurants and venues
Fun Fact
Tyler's brother was a contestant on Hell's Kitchen and is known as "Millie from Philly"!

On this episode, Jess DeRose joins PROGRESS with Pagano. She is a 26-year-old podcast host of her own show called "Figuring It Out". Her podcast focuses on navigating life's uncertainties and challenging the notion that everyone else has everything figured out.

Episode Overview
In this entertaining episode of the Progress Podcast, host and guest play through various trivia games and ranking challenges, covering topics like:

Top American foods and drinks
Popular nightlife cities
Happiest states in the US
Travel destinations
Celebrity survival in a zombie apocalypse
Main Topics Discussed
Food and Drink Trivia (00:03:39)
Top 10 Most Popular American Dishes
Top 10 Most Popular Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Cocktail Rankings (00:12:34)
Top 5 Cocktails
Other Fun Segments
Snowiest Cities in the US
Happiest States
Most Hated Sports Teams
Zombie Apocalypse Celebrity Survival Rankings

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Where to Find Jess
Podcast: Figuring It Out with Jess
Instagram: @figuringitoutwithjess
Platforms: Spotify, YouTube, Various Podcast Platforms

Where to Find the Progress Podcast
Instagram: @progresswithpagano
Host: @mortgagewithpagano

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Key References
Podcast: "Figuring It Out"
Cities Discussed: Austin, Nashville, Las Vegas
Happiest States: Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, Utah, Delaware
Snowiest Cities: Syracuse (NY), Erie (PA), Rochester (NY)
Fun Takeaways
Jess believes life isn't about having everything perfectly figured out
The podcast aims to create a comfortable, non-judgmental space for sharing stories
Enjoys exploring life's uncertainties and embracing personal growth

Alan Asriants is a real estate agent and investor from Philadelphia, with a background in engineering and a passion for fitness. Born and raised in the Somerton area of Philadelphia, Alan transitioned from corporate America to real estate during the pandemic.

Episode Highlights
Real Estate Journey (00:01:18)
- Father opened a brokerage in 2004
- Got real estate license in 2017 while in college
- Went full-time in real estate during COVID-19
- Leveraged work-from-home time to build real estate business

Fitness and Training (00:03:13)
- Focuses on bodyweight exercises and plyometrics
- Trains at Edge Fitness
- Enjoys unique workout routines that attract attention at the gym

Top Lists Discussed
- Top 5 Philadelphia Gyms
- Top 10 Philadelphia Neighborhoods for Real Estate Investment
- Top 5 Philadelphia Suburbs to Live In
- Real Estate Side Hustle Strategies

Memorable Real Estate Stories
- Dealt with challenging clients
- Purchased a property with significant maintenance issues
- Experienced tenant-related challenges

Key Topics with Timestamps
Real Estate Career Path (00:01:18)
Fitness Training Approach (00:03:13)
Philadelphia Gym Rankings (00:05:14)
Northeast Philadelphia Real Estate Investment (00:12:32)
Side Hustle Strategies (00:48:23)

Where to Find Alan
Instagram: @asriantsalan
BiggerPockets: Search "Alan Asriants"

Podcast Clips
Instagram & TikTok: @progreswithpagano

Host
Instagram @mortgagewithpagano

Key References
Edge Fitness
LA Fitness
Fusion Gyms
Philadelphia Real Estate Markets
Side Hustle Options
House Hacking
Real Estate Investing Strategies

In this Episode of PROGRESS with Pagano,  we sit down with Penny in Philly. Penny is a popular Philadelphia-based content creator known for her TikTok account "Penny in Philly", where she shares lifestyle content, restaurant reviews, and city insights. Originally starting her content creation during the pandemic by highlighting local businesses, Penny has grown into a prominent local influencer focusing on Philadelphia's food, nightlife, and culture.

Episode Highlights:
Content Creation Journey (00:01:26)
Started creating content during the pandemic
Initially focused on supporting local restaurants during COVID-19
Gained popularity by providing honest reviews of local establishments
Main Topics Discussed
Top Nightclubs in Philadelphia (00:05:28)
Best Bars to Watch Eagles Games (00:11:09)
Top Happy Hour Spots (00:14:52)
Best Date Night Restaurants (00:19:52)
Philadelphia Neighborhood Rankings (00:35:51)
Eagles Tailgate Tips (00:51:19)

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Memorable Moments
Revealed her top 5 restaurants in Philadelphia
Shared insider tips on Philadelphia nightlife
Discussed the best neighborhoods to live in Philly
Played fun trivia and "this or that" games about Philadelphia

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Key Philadelphia Insights:

Penny's Top Philly Neighborhoods:
Northern Liberties
South Philly
Old City
Fairmount
Fishtown

Penny's Top Philly Restaurants:
Soraya
Porcini
Georgios on Pine
Khyber Pass
Revolution House

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Where to Find Penny
TikTok: @PennyInPhilly
Instagram: @penny_gsell

Where to Find the Podcast
Instagram: @progresswithpagano
TikTok: @progresswithpagano

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Key References
Notable Philadelphia Locations Mentioned:

Fishtown
Old City
South Philly
Northern Liberties
Rittenhouse Square

Restaurants Discussed:

Soraya
Porcini
Murph's
Revolution House
Khyber Pass

Nightlife Spots:

Midnight and the Wicked
Noto
Vinyl
Voyeur
Vesper

Fun Trivia
Philadelphia was home to the first Thanksgiving Day Parade
The city has over 3,600 murals
Philadelphia has unique dancing laws for bars

In this episode of PROGRESS with Pagano, Bran Flakezz discusses their journey into content creation, the challenges and rewards of building an audience, and shares tips for aspiring creators. They also provide insights into the Philadelphia food and bar scene, and play a few fun games testing their Philly knowledge.

Main Topics Discussed:

• Bran Flakezz's start in content creation (00:00:44 - 00:01:17)
  
  
• The realities of content creation as a "job that never sleeps" (00:03:19 - 00:03:29)
  
  
• Tips for new creators: consistency is key (00:03:17 - 00:03:29)
  
  
• Experiences with recognition and perks of being an influencer (00:01:05 - 00:01:27)
  
  
• Ranking top sports bars in Center City Philadelphia (00:04:44 - 00:06:51)
  
  
• Discussing the most expensive hotels in Philadelphia (00:37:39 - 00:40:30)
  
  
• Philly trivia on the city's history and firsts (00:42:20 - 00:44:44)
  
  
• Favorite aspects and areas for improvement in Philadelphia (00:45:29 - 00:47:10)
  
  

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Where to Find Bran Flakezz:

• Instagram: @bran_flakezz
  
  
• TikTok: @bran__flakezz
  
  

Podcast Clips & Host:

• Instagram: @progresswithpagano 
  
  
• Host IG: @mortgagewithpagano
  
  

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Key Terms & References:

• Xfinity Live
  
  
• Kavanaugh's
  
  
• McGillan's
  
  
• Tradesman's
  
  
• City Tap House
  
  
• Fishtown
  
  
• Northern Liberties
  
  
• Rittenhouse Square
  
  
• Four Seasons Hotel
  
  
• Ritz Carlton
  
  
• Stephen Starr Restaurants (Barclay Prime, Buddakan, El Rey, etc.)
  
  
• Pennsylvania Hospital
  
  
• William Penn
  
  
• Philadelphia founding in 1682

Brett Rosenthal is a top-producing real estate agent in Philadelphia, known for his strong social media presence. In this episode of PROGRESS with Pagano, Brett discusses balancing his real estate career with his active social media activities, shares insights on the most affordable and desirable neighborhoods in Philly, and provides his expertise on the city's food, sports, and cultural scenes with host Alex Pagano.

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Main Topics Discussed:

Balancing a real estate career with an active social media presence (00:00:03 - 00:01:51)
Most affordable neighborhoods in Philadelphia based on average rents (00:01:52 - 00:07:19)
Best neighborhoods for young professionals in Philadelphia (00:07:20 - 00:11:16)
Most expensive restaurants in Philadelphia (00:11:17 - 00:14:14)
Top 5 best cheesesteak spots in Philadelphia (00:14:15 - 00:16:16)
Most popular dog breeds among Philly pet owners (00:16:17 - 00:19:10)
Top Philly celebrities and sports figures (00:19:11 - 00:23:50)
Ranking Philly neighborhoods by nightlife, restaurants, and affordability (00:23:51 - 00:27:27)
Top dive bars in Philadelphia (00:27:28 - 00:28:44)
Brett's top 5 Philly neighborhood recommendations (00:28:45 - 00:29:30)
Best day trip destinations from Philadelphia (00:29:31 - 00:30:40)
Brett's background in law and transition to real estate (00:59:05 - 01:00:19)
Brett's real estate client base and recent investor story (01:00:20 - 01:01:55)

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Where to find us: 

Brett Rosenthal -
Instagram: @topphillyrealtor
TikTok: @brettrosenthalrealtor

Alex Pagano -
Instagram: @mortgagewithpagano
TikTok: @mortgagewithpagano

PROGRESS with Pagano - 
Instagram: @progresswithpagano
TikTok: @progresspodwithpagano

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Key References:

Apartment Guide
Niche.com
The Infatuation
Yelp
Assembly Rooftop Lounge
Del Frisco's
La Colombe
McGillin's
Rittenhouse Square
Fishtown
Queen Village
Old City
Northern Liberties
Fairmount

Join us for this episode of PROGRESS with Pagano that features an engaging conversation with Maddie Bennett, a real estate agent and social media guru from South Jersey. The discussion covers a wide range of topics, including Maddie's background, her real estate expertise, her knowledge of South Jersey trivia, the ongoing debate around the existence of "Central Jersey", and a blind ranking classic New Jersey foods. Throughout the episode, Maddie's personality and passion for her home state shine through, making for an informative and entertaining listen.

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Chapters:

Introduction and Icebreaker (00:00:00) - Alex introduces Maddie Bennett, a real estate agent and social media guru, and asks her about what motivates her in her business.

Maddie's Background (00:01:27) - Maddie discusses her educational and professional background, including graduating with a master's degree in strategic communication and getting her real estate license.

Fun and Games (00:02:44) - Alex and Maddie play a series of games to get to know each other better, including naming cities and counties in New Jersey, colleges, and ranking real estate influencers and TV shows.

Maddie's Real Estate Expertise (00:09:19) - The discussion shifts to Maddie's real estate business, including the counties and areas she serves, her approach to working with clients, and her thoughts on working in North Jersey.

South Jersey Trivia (00:30:21) - Alex quizzes Maddie on her knowledge of South Jersey towns, their history, and notable facts.

New Jersey Debate (00:44:44) - Alex and Maddie discuss the ongoing debate around the existence of "Central Jersey" and Maddie's opinions on it.

New Jersey Foods (00:47:00) - Maddie ranks various New Jersey-originated foods in a blind taste test.

Wrap-up (00:57:00) - Alex and Maddie conclude the interview, with Maddie sharing how to connect with her on social media.

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Where to Find Us

Maddie Bennett:

Instagram: @_maddiebennett
TikTok: @maddiebennett.realtor

Alex Pagano
Instagram: @mortgagewithpagano
TikTok: @mortgagewithpagano


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#RealEstate #SouthJersey #NewJersey #Realtor #FirstTimeHomebuyer #SocialMedia #Motivation #Podcast #ShoreLife #FoodofNJ