The BetterLife Podcast

Diego Corzo is a real estate investor and agent, entrepreneur, and advocate for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.

In this episode, Diego shares his story of immigrating from Peru at age 9; overcoming a speech disorder; and seeking out successful mentors who helped him become a millionaire through real estate and business before the age of 30.

He also talk about:
- What life was like Peru and in the weeks and months after he arrived in Florida on a tourist visa
- Creating his own scholarship and selling study guides to pay his way through college
- Practical tips for finding and keeping mentors, including the "book report video" trick
- Riding a bike to and from jobs because he couldn't get a driver's license
- Speaking in front of Congress and visiting the White House to discuss DACA legislation
- His thoughts on a path to citizenship for DREAMers who arrived in this country as children
- How he became a successful realtor by apprenticing under a mentor
- How he became the first non-millionaire in Gobundance, the mastermind for "healthy, wealthy, generous men"
- Buying a "2% rule" rental house without immigration papers at age 23
- How he used money partners and "unfair advantages" to buy investment property
- His experience with rent-by-the-room and Airbnb
- Prioritizing experiences over material belongings and the value of organizing unforgettable 1:1 trips with your parents
- His own mastermind, The FI Investors, which talks about not only how to achieve financial independence but what comes next

Books mentioned:
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad
- Think and Grow Rich
- Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

Diego's Charitable Cause:
- Immigrants Rising, an organization that provides financial, mental health, and career pathing resources to undocumented students

Sponsor: BetterLife Real Estate Funding (REF), which provides Hard Money, DSCR, Conventional, and Portfolio loans specifically tailored to real estate investors' unique needs

Connect with Diego:
- FI Investors' 2024 resources: E-Book, goal-setting worksheet, and more
- @realdiegocorzo on Instagram

Join the Tribe:
- https://abetterlife.com/

Aaron Hale is a former Army bomb disposal tech who, after being severely injured in Afghanistan and losing his sight and hearing, has gone on to run ultramarathons, start a successful confections company, and build a cash-flowing real estate portfolio.

In this episode, you'll hear why Aaron left a cushy gig as a Navy chef to tackle one of the riskiest jobs in the world. He also shares a detailed account of his injury; exactly what it feels like to go blind and deaf; how he travels, cooks, climbs mountains, and leads teams; and the silver linings he's found along the way.

Aaron also talks about:
- What it felt like to be blinded by an improvised explosive device and the immediate aftermath of the blast
- His recovery at Walter Reed, and going from "why did this happen to me" to "why is this happening for me"
- How not consuming TV or social media content has affected his productivity
- The role cooking played in his recovery and founding a successful fudge company
- Running a 135-mile race in Death Valley and kayaking through whitewater rapids while blind
- His first real estate deal, where nothing went according to plan 
- How he BRRRR'd a Short Term Rental
- His advice to his younger self  
- An epic quote that Brandon might steal

Books mentioned:
- The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
- Man's Search for Meaning
- The Book on Managing Rental Properties by Brandon Turner

Aaron's charitable cause:

Building Homes for Heroes, a 501(c)(3) that builds and modifies homes for gold star families and injured first responders. Aaron was a recipient of their work; see his story here.

Sponsor: BetterLife Tribe, our accountability mastermind dedicated to helping you build wealth without losing your soul

Connect with Aaron:
- Point of Impact Podcast
- Aaron's company, EODFudge
- EOD Fudge TikTok ("Cookin without Lookin")

Scott Donnell is a financial literacy expert and serial entrepreneur who has helped more than 6 million families learn how to earn, spend, save and invest. 

In this episode, Scott shares the exact steps you can take to instill healthy, wealthy money habits in your kids and family. 

He also talks about:
- Why Gen Z is pessimistic about their economic future and skeptical about investing 
- The dangers of “first-generation wealth”
- How he gets his kids to clean up after themselves and help out around the house
- The “quarter system” he uses to reward and discipline his kids without anyone losing their cool
- Leaving your kids “heritage, not inheritance”
- His thoughts on Dave Ramsey and Grant Cardone
- How he founded, bootstrapped and sold a fast-growing school fundraising company
- What kids learn by participating in business fares
- How the GravyStack system replaces chores with paid “gigs” and puts them in charge of expenses
- His religious faith and how it’s intertwined with family
- A hack for keeping rebellious teenagers out of trouble 

Books mentioned:
- Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell
- Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley
- Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
- The Road Less Stupid
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Connect with Scott:
- Instagram
- TikTok
- GravyStack (Use code DINNER30 when you download the app for 30 days free)

Scott’s Charitable Cause:

Gravystack's giving fund providing scholarships for inner-city kids who can't afford the membership.

David Pere is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who's helped tens of thousands of fellow military veterans accelerate their journey to financial freedom through his From Military to Millionaire podcast, books, Facebook group, Youtube channel, events, and War Room mastermind.

In this episode, David talks about transitioning from the military (or any W-2 career for that matter) to business ownership and real estate investing; the importance of connecting with a tribe when taking on a big challenge; and how he's built wealth and freedom on the strength of a middle-class salary.

He also talks about:

- Getting inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad as a broke Marine who'd blown his savings on motorcycles, tattoos, and dates

- The camaraderie he felt with his platoon while deployed, and his experience hitting a roadside bomb

- Getting into real estate via house hacking and why he still does it

- His take on the VA loan, "the best primary residence loan on the market"

- His #1 piece of advice for military members who want to set themselves up to build wealth during and after their service

- Why he left the military and how owning a business and real estate helped him make that leap earlier

- What he learned from a long-distance house flip gone bad

- The best and worst real estate deals he's done and what he's learned ("call your attorney before things go off the rails!")

- Getting involved in a 4-year lawsuit over a real estate transaction

- Balancing the Cardone/10X mentality with caution to avoid financial disaster

- His tips for building a personal brand

- Getting past the "BMW" (Below Minimum Wage) phase of starting a business or side hustle

- Carving out quality time with his 7-year-old son and navigating a divorce as a dad and stepdad

- Who you should – and should not – take advice from

David's Charitable Cause:

Heal the Heroes, which hosts healing retreats and experiences for military veterans and first responders working through trauma and the transition to civilian roles

Books Mentioned:

- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

- The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down by Brandon Turner

- Invest in Debt by Jimmy Napier

- Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt

- 10X is Easier than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Connect with David: 

- TheBestPodcastGuest.com (really!)

- Instagram

- Military to Millionaire Facebook Group

- Military to Millionaire website

Valentina Brega is the founder of Hire Train VA, which helps busy entrepreneurs reclaim their time by hiring world-class support staff.

In this episode, Valentina shares her story of immigrating to the U.S. from the poorest country in Europe, and – with just $400, a 1-year-old daughter and no car – building a skill set while working remotely and eventually launching her own company.

She also delivers a mini-masterclass on how to hire a rockstar virtual assistant and begin to delegate your lower dollar-per-hour tasks.

Plus:

- Valentina's journey to the U.S. and how she made ends meet 

- Getting started as a remote assistant to real estate investor Bill Allen

- Negotiating with homeowners on cold calls

- How she built a team of virtual assistants

- Examples of tasks you should hand over to an assistant

- Which countries she's found to be the best sources of talent

- Why hiring a remote assistant will turn you into a better leader

- Writing a job posting that attracts A-players

- Using personality tests, mini-projects and role playing when hiring

- Why "visibility beats ability every time"

Valentina's Charitable Cause: 

Operation Underground Railroad, which fights child sexual exploitation and human trafficking worldwide.

Books Mentioned:

- 80/20 Sales and Marketing by Perry Marshall

- Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson

- Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes

- Traction by Gino Wickman

- $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi

Connect with Valentina:
- 100 Tasks to Delegate to a Virtual Assistant: https://hiretrainva.com/delegate/?src=af

- HireTrainVA.com

Brian Murray is an investor, best-selling author of three books about multifamily real estate, Co-founder and Key Principal of Open Door Capital, and ultramarathoner.

In this episode, Brian talks about his investing journey from $30,000 teacher salary to $1 Billion assets under management, his partnership with Brandon, embracing long-distance running and spirituality in recent years, and putting his hard-won wisdom into a new book.

-What he learned from working in a toxic startup culture that destroyed his physical and mental health
-"F You Money" and walking away from a job that compromises your morals
- How he went from schoolteacher to owning offices and apartment buildings 
- How he turned a poorly-performing asset into a cash cow
- Using creative financing early in his career
- Writing the world's best-selling self-published real estate book
- How to vet potential business partners and the story behind Open Door Capital
- Buying a ranch, working with his hands, and living a minimalist lifestyle
- Running 50+ miles at a time
- How owning more stuff complicates your life
- His advice to people who can't figure out what to focus on
- His spiritual life and a transformative trip to Nepal
- Why he's writing a highly personal book dedicated to his grown children

Brian's Charitable Cause:

Friendly Fields Farm Sanctuary, a rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary for farm animals facing abandonment, neglect, and abuse.

Connect with Brian:
- Instagram 

Books Mentioned in this Episode:
- Welcome to my Garden: A Father’s Gift of Reflections, Life Lessons, and Advice by Brian Murray
- Crushing It in Apartments and Commercial Real Estate by Brian Murray
- The Multifamily Millionaire, Volume I and Volume II
- Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
- Loving What Is by Byron Katie

Link to Buy Audiobook
Link to Buy Physical Book

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Dr. Tom Walters is an orthopedic physical therapist, author, and the face of the wildly popular Rehab Science Instagram and Youtube channels.

In this episode, he reflects on some of the most common questions surrounding regarding pain, injury, exercise, and treatment.

Tom also talks about: 

-What exactly physical therapy is and how it compares to other types of treatment

-His thoughts on chiropractors, CBD/THC gel, and stretching 

-His advice for Brandon as he manages chronic back pain

-The role of the placebo effect when treating pain

-Whether running 15-20 miles per week is bad for you

-Adjusting your step cadence to run pain-free

-Rucking for cardio and core exercise

-His new book outlining 30 rehab programs that treat the 50 most common types of pain
-Getting your blood work done to detect nutrient deficiencies 

-Limiting beliefs he's had to overcome as on his journey as an influencer and entrepreneur

-The habits, books, and people that have changed his life

Tom's charitable cause:

The Makai Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity focused on rebuilding Maui after the deadly wildfires of 2023. 

Books mentioned in this episode:

Rehab Science by Tom Walters 

Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett & Glen Cordoza

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Connect with Tom:

Instagram: @rehabscience

Youtube: Rehab Science

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Brandon Novak is a keynote speaker, author, former professional skateboarder/TV star, and intervention specialist who reclaimed his life from addiction in 2015.

In this episode, Brandon walks us through his remarkable journey from sleeping in abandoned houses as a homeless heroin addict to owning and operating several sober living facilities and earning widespread respect as a champion for people in recovery. 

He also speaks about:

-How he first got into drugs and alcohol, and his thoughts on "gateway drugs"

-The moment when Bam Margera offered help at a critical time

-Becoming a famous MTV star on 'Viva La Bam' in the mid-2000s

-The story behind his mother buying him a cemetery plot

-The epiphany he experienced standing on his mother's doorstep after she kicked him out of her house and put a restraining order on him

-Why he recommends a firm approach to dealing with loved ones who are battling addiction

-The spiritual element of his recovery

-Why he doesn't consider his 12 unsuccessful attempts to get sober, "failures"

-Why he's not tempted to consume drugs or alcohol today

-How to include friends in recovery in social activities

-The business of owning sober living homes and an addiction treatment center 

-How he scaled his sober living facilities to 65 beds

Brandon’s charitable cause:

King's Crusade, which helps fund inpatient addiction recovery treatment for people who can't otherwise afford it.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Streets of Baltimore by Brandon Novak

Dreamseller by Brandon Novak

Support Brandon's Scholarship Foundation:

Donate to provide free beds for individuals transitioning out of treatment (Venmo: @novakshouse).

Struggling or need guidance?

Contact Brandon directly at 610-314-6747.

Connect with Brandon:

Instagram

Website

Redemption Addiction Treatment Center

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Andrea Fausett is the founder and CEO of Mamele, an app that helps women around the world improve their health, nutrition, and fitness.

In this episode, Andrea speaks about building her business to 7 figures in just 6 months while being a present wife and mother to her 2 daughters; intentional parenting; entrepreneurship; business marketing, and the power of identity, purpose, and small pivots in determining your success in life.

She also speaks about:

-How to reverse-engineer success by breaking things down into small changes

-Why extreme dieting and other major behavior change doesn't work

-A different, more productive way to look at negative programming from your childhood

-How her entrepreneurial journey started with a single moment of self-reflection while looking in the mirror

-Exactly how she'd coach Brandon to achieve a fitness goal like losing 20 lbs

-Earning 6 figures and beyond by cultivating just 1,000 true fans

-Her wild experience during the Maui fires and how she stepped up to show up for her community

-Her feelings on body image and how she embraced gratitude during and after pregnancy, following several miscarriages

Andrea’s charitable cause:

The Emily Effect, a foundation providing resources to families and support for women suffering from perinatal mood disorders.

Reading List:

$100 Million Dollar Offers by Alex Hormozi

Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden

Connect with Andrea:

Mamele Fit App

Mamele Fit Instagram

Andrea's Instagram

Mamele Website

Andrea's LinkedIn

Mike Lee is a leadership coach, mindfulness expert, and trainer who's spent time working with NBA legend Steph Curry among other highly successful athletes and executives.

In this episode, Mike talks about optimizing your mindset in competitive environments and the new rules for leading teams in our current post-COVID reality. His new book, 'New Rules for the Future of Leadership,' comes out Nov. 21.

Mike also talks about:

-The proven benefits of mindfulness meditation on brain function, executive skills, and overall well-being

-Why mindfulness is becoming even more valuable the more technological innovation accelerates

-His lifelong struggle with depression and the best ways he's found to work through it

-Tapping into your subconscious intuition when making big life decisions

-The transformative moment when he experienced a deep sense of peace, and how it shifted the direction of his life

-The one thing you should always do before reacting to a trigger

-Why leaders have to be "purpose-driven" and offer more than a paycheck in order to develop winning teams

Mike’s charitable cause:

MENTOR Greater Milwaukee, which works with mentoring programs to safely match caring adult mentors with children in need.

Reading List:
- The Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard
- The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
- Leading An Inspired Life by Jim Rohn

Connect with Mike:

Mindshift Labs

Instagram

LinkedIn

Mike's book, New Rules for the Future of Leadership