The Breakout Bunch

From getting fired just months into his first mortgage job to building a reputation as the guy clients trust for life, Aaron Kramer’s story is proof that resilience, identity, and intention matter more than any rate sheet.

In this episode, Aaron breaks down how he:

• Built his career around long-term relationships, not one-time transactions

• Learned that the real sale isn’t the rate — it’s you

• Differentiated himself instantly in a high-pressure panel interview

• Got hired on the spot… then fired three months later

• Faced financial rock bottom when COVID hit and retail commissions disappeared

• Bet on himself by bringing clients over to the broker side

• Funded his first broker deals and completely changed his trajectory

• Developed thick skin through repeated setbacks and market downturns

• Turned honesty and confidence into a powerful client retention advantage

• Expanded beyond mortgage into business financing, credit solutions, and new ventures

• Built a personal brand centered on health, wealth, and helping others win

• Believes the only way to truly find yourself is to go through hell

If you’ve ever struggled through a slow season, questioned your path, or wondered what separates transactional salespeople from trusted advisors — this episode is a masterclass in mindset, persistence, and becoming the person clients never want to leave.

Guest: Aaron Kramer — Mortgage Advisor and Entrepreneur

📍 California

IG (Personal): @akphysique

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Cold open – “You’re family now”

02:15 Selling trust, not the deal

06:40 The panel interview that changed everything

10:22 “I was fired three months later”

14:05 COVID, rock bottom, and almost losing it all

18:30 Switching to the broker side and funding first deals

23:10 Why clients stay even when rates aren’t the lowest

28:45 Building thick skin through downturns

34:12 Expanding into business credit and new ventures

40:05 “You don’t know who you are until you go through hell”

43:30 Aaron’s mission moving forward

💬 About The Breakout Bunch

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders chasing purpose, impact, and growth beyond the paycheck.

Austen knows the grind firsthand. He’s a seasoned mortgage broker leading a division at one of the nation’s largest mortgage companies — helping hundreds of families get into homes across the country. But beyond that, he’s deeply curious — about business, people, and the choices that shape our lives.

🎙️ New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

From growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere to building multiple seven-figure businesses, Seth Berge’s story is proof that sales, discipline, and timing can completely change your life.

In this episode, Seth breaks down how he:

• Grew up on a farm in rural North Dakota with no intention of staying small

• Discovered sales through door-to-door hustling while still in college

• Made his first sale in under 15 minutes — and never looked back

• Built a career around commission-only sales and uncapped earning potential

• Made over $500,000 a year in his mid-20s through dinner seminar sales models

• Learned when to exit industries before they collapsed

• Transitioned across multiple industries — home improvement, insurance, annuities, and regenerative medicine

• Failed fast, walked away from bad deals, and protected his reputation

• Built long-term freedom by mastering marketing systems, not just products

• Avoided lifestyle inflation while still enjoying the rewards of hard work

• Views business as a competitive sport — and refuses to play it at 60%

• Is building legacy-driven businesses with his kids and team in mind

If you’ve ever wondered how high earners think, how to pivot industries without starting from zero, or how to balance ambition with fulfillment — this episode is a masterclass in sales, mindset, and entrepreneurship.

Guest: Seth Berge — Serial Entrepreneur & Regenerative Medicine Distributor

📍 United States

IG (Personal): @sethdberge

IG (Business): @regenerativerevival

00:00 Cold open – Growing up in the middle of nowhere

03:11 The first door-to-door sale that changed everything

06:10 Why commission-only sales create freedom

15:25 How money stopped being stressful

22:45 Making $500K+ per year in his mid-20s

26:55 Knowing when to exit before industries collapse

28:26 A business failure that taught a critical lesson

30:36 “Don’t get distracted by the shiny new toy”

32:09 Why Seth believes business is a competitive sport

34:31 Building legacy for his sons

35:22 How to find the right mentor

38:17 Advice for young entrepreneurs starting out

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders chasing purpose, impact, and growth beyond the paycheck.

Austen knows the grind firsthand. He’s a seasoned mortgage broker leading a division at one of the nation’s largest mortgage companies — helping hundreds of families get into homes across the country. But beyond that, he’s deeply curious — about business, people, and the choices that shape our lives.

🎙️ New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

From a surprise layoff to building her own hospitality marketing business, Jessica Kruebbe proves that sometimes losing your dream job is the best thing that can happen to you.

In this episode, Jessica breaks down how she:

• Went from being Director of Marketing overseeing 15 restaurant locations — to getting laid off overnight

• Landed her first client two weeks before the layoff (and turned it into a full-time business)

• Built her “Mini CMO” brand helping small restaurant groups scale like pros

• Moved across the country — twice — to chase opportunity and growth

• Balanced faith, self-doubt, and new beginnings while launching her business

• Learned how to price her value, set client boundaries, and say “no” with confidence

• Discovered that success isn’t about money — it’s about impact and freedom

• Built an internship program and started mentoring young marketers

• Is redefining what productivity looks like by rejecting endless meetings

• Plans to grow her “nontraditional agency” through collaboration, not corporate chaos

If you’ve ever been laid off, scared to start something new, or waiting for the “perfect moment” — this episode will remind you that sometimes, your next chapter begins when the old one ends.

Guest: Jessica Kruebbe — Hospitality Marketing Strategist / CEO of Jessica Kruebbe Marketing Strategy

📍 Nashville, TN

IG: @jkmarketingstrategy

Timestamps:

00:00 Cold open – “I didn’t choose to do this… they laid me off.”

01:14 Why “Mini CMO” brands are changing hospitality marketing

06:10 The layoff that sparked her business

07:33 Finding faith and freedom through entrepreneurship

10:06 What a “Mini CMO” actually does

12:24 Pricing yourself and learning your worth

18:05 Setting client boundaries and learning to say no

20:15 Why social media marketing is her least favorite job

23:53 One year in business — what success really looks like

25:28 Killing meetings and reclaiming productivity

28:04 Why money isn’t the goal — impact is

31:30 Lessons from failure, faith, and new beginnings

33:35 Advice for anyone ready to take the leap

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money—they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

At 16, doctors told Chené Micah Williams he’d never live a normal life again.

Three knee surgeries. A lifelong pacemaker. Every reason to stop.

Instead, he turned pain into purpose — becoming Pacemaker Shane, a fitness trainer and heart-health advocate who inspires thousands.

In this episode, Chené breaks down how he:

• Survived open-heart surgery and learned to live with a pacemaker

• Faced three major knee operations before he was 25

• Battled depression, doubt, and identity loss after his diagnosis

• Rebuilt his body and mindset through training and faith

• Founded the Pacemaker brand — a movement for resilience and awareness

• Found purpose in helping others rebuild confidence through health and discipline

• Redefined what “strength” truly means when your heart is literally wired to survive

If you’ve ever faced setbacks, health battles, or the feeling that life’s odds are stacked against you — this episode will hit home.

Guest: Chené Micah Williams — “Pacemaker Shane”

📍 Los Angeles, CA

IG: @pacemakerchene

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money—they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

From professional athlete to investment banker — to founding one of America’s fastest-growing premium café brands.

Nicholas Stone’s story is about betting on yourself, building community, and finding purpose through human connection.

In this episode, Nicholas breaks down how he:

• Went from professional Australian Rules Football to investment banking in New York

• Built Bluestone Lane as a side project — starting with a 200-sq-ft basement café and no signage

• Opened 12 stores while still working full-time before taking the leap

• Turned a $1,500/month Midtown lease into a multi-million-dollar lifestyle brand

• Attracted celebrities like Taylor Swift and David Beckham through authenticity, not hype

• Used Instagram to fuel early organic growth before “viral cafés” were a thing

• Survived COVID by pivoting from office cafés to suburban community hubs

• Negotiated over 300 lease restructures and rebuilt stronger than ever

• Built a company that prioritizes human connection over convenience in a lonely, digital world

• Shares how AI now helps Bluestone Lane analyze reviews and elevate guest experience

• Plans to expand across the U.S. — aiming for hundreds of stores while staying true to the brand’s soul

If you’ve ever wanted to build something lasting — or wondered what it takes to lead through chaos — this episode is a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and vision.

Guest: Nicholas Stone — Founder & CEO, Bluestone Lane ☕️

📍 Based in New York City

IG: @bluestonelane

Timestamps:

COMING SOON

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money—they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

Carlos Gutierrez makes $400,000 a year knocking on doors selling solar panels. Five years ago, he was working restaurant shifts for $30K annually.

Here's what actually happened between then and now.

Carlos moved to the U.S. from Mexico at nine years old. Worked the usual immigrant hustle - Burger King, tire shops, whatever paid. When COVID killed his restaurant job, he tried sales.

The twist: he went straight into 100% commission door-to-door solar. No base salary, no guarantees. His family thought he was insane.

First year: $78K. Not bad for someone who'd never done sales before.

By year five: $400K exactly. (He swears his goal-setting process works, but that's probably luck mixed with skill.)

Now he's branching into real estate and coaching other salespeople. Says money isn't everything anymore, which is easy to say when you're making $400K.

The interesting parts:

• How he handles rejection (lots of it in door-to-door)
• What changed between year one and year five
• Why commission-only forces you to get good fast
• His actual daily routine and mindset practices
• Plans for building wealth beyond just high W-2 income

If you've ever wondered what it takes to completely change your income bracket, Carlos broke it down step by step.

This isn't another "follow your dreams" story. It's about specific decisions, skills, and a willingness to bet on yourself when everyone thinks you're making a mistake.Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money—they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

From having his car repossessed at 22 to writing a $250,000 check for a mentor in his early 30s (the equivalent of ~$800K today), Doran Andry proves that the boldest bets are the ones you place on yourself.

In this episode, Doran breaks down how he:

• Grew up with little money but massive vision—thanks to a dad who “expanded the mind” early

• Failed his first business in 6 months (and reframed it as tuition)

• Found a millionaire mentor and executed 30-day KPI plans until it clicked

• Paid $250,000 for a peak-performance coach—and why it was “money well spent”

• Hit $1M+ in passive income by 30 and built an 18,000-sq-ft dream home in Pelican Crest

• Shifted from money goals to impact—philanthropy, family, and leading thousands

• Uses a simple “ultimate success formula” (vision → why → massive action → measure → adjust)

• Treats health as wealth so he can enjoy the life he built

If you’ve ever wondered whether mentorship, mindset, and relentless execution really move the needle—this conversation is your blueprint.

Guest: Doran Andry — Serial Entrepreneur & Investor

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money—they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

From failing grades and scooping ice cream to running one of the top mortgage teams in Massachusetts — Kyle Regan’s comeback story is proof that the right mentor, mindset, and grind can change everything.

In this episode, Kyle shares how he:

• Grew up watching his dad in sales at WB Mason and caught the “professional friend-maker” bug early

• Struggled with school, grades, and depression, feeling counted out and underestimated

• Worked in warehouses, scooped ice cream, and waited tables — until one regular at Bertucci’s changed his life forever

• Got pulled into mortgages by a mentor who taught him mindset, real estate, and discipline

• Went sober at 24, putting down alcohol and drugs to give himself the best shot at success

• Built a half-a-billion-dollar branch, recruited 60+ people, and cleared $400K+ annually before age 30

• Rode the refi boom, sold the company, and faced his toughest years when rates spiked and his mom passed away

• Dug back into the fundamentals — cold calls, networking, goal sheets — and came back with his best purchase year ever

• Built a portfolio of multifamily properties and learned the power of real estate for long-term freedom

• Shares raw advice for anyone stuck in the “safe” route but hungry for more: find a mentor, ask better questions, and don’t let fear run your life

Guest: Kyle Regan — Mortgage Loan Officer

📍 Groton, MA

IG: @mortgageswithkyle

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money — they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

From $10/hour snack bars to $558,000 a year in solar sales — Daniel Snow proves discomfort is the real path to growth.

In this episode, Daniel breaks down how he:

• Worked under the table at 13 and learned the grind early

• Butchered his first sales job selling golf clubs (to his dad’s friend)

• Chased a jewelry passion all the way to New York — only to realize passion without profit doesn’t work

• Moved across the country with nothing but a suitcase (and got lost on day one)

• Pivoted into college, landed at Boston University, and wrote his admissions essay on poker

• Dropped out to chase solar sales — and turned door-to-door rejection into a $300K first year

• Battled burnout, haters, and self-doubt while building resilience

• Learned the “Ready, Fire, Aim” method that helped him flip a property for $70K profit in nine months

• Set his sights on boring-but-bulletproof wealth: storage facilities and real estate plays

• Found passion in building people, running a 60-person sales team, and proving doubters wrong

If you’re sitting on the couch overthinking your next move, this episode will push you to just do it.

Guest: Daniel Snow — Solar Sales Leader

📍 Boston, MA

IG: @daniel__snow

Timestamps:

00:00 Cold open – “What’s your name, age, and what do you do?”

00:45 Early hustle — snack bar and first sales job

05:10 Jewelry dreams & moving to New York with nothing

11:30 From BU admissions essay on poker to finance major

17:20 Quitting college, proving friends wrong, and starting solar

23:50 First $300K year and mindset shifts

32:15 Burnout, haters & gamifying rejection

41:40 Real estate flips, “Ready, Fire, Aim,” and storage facility dreams

50:25 Building people vs. chasing money

57:10 Advice for anyone stuck on their parents’ couch

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money — they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

Austen knows the grind firsthand. He’s a seasoned mortgage broker leading a division at one of the nation’s largest mortgage companies, helping hundreds of families get into homes across the country. But beyond that, he’s deeply curious — about business, people, and the choices that shape our lives.

New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

From the NFL to foreclosure to building a life-changing coaching empire — Setema Gali’s story is proof that you can rebuild from rock bottom.

In this episode, Setema (ex-Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots) breaks down how he:

• Grew up in a Polynesian family in Utah and learned hustle from his first paper route at age 10

• Found his knack for sales doing commission-only phone jobs before the NFL

• Made it to the Patriots, won a Super Bowl, then lost it all within two years

• Transitioned into mortgages and real estate — then lost everything in the 2008 crash

• Went from living in an 8,000 sq ft house to a 900 sq ft apartment

• Rebuilt his life through the most humbling job imaginable: door-to-door sales

• Learned to listen when God told him it was time to pivot

• Launched a coaching and speaking business from scratch, investing six figures in mentors

• Built his company into a global movement, helping entrepreneurs solve “expensive problems”

• Redefined wealth and purpose as impact: changing lives, not chasing dollars

If you’ve ever faced a setback, felt stuck, or questioned your next step — this episode will hit you hard.

Guest: Setema Gali — Super Bowl Champion, Entrepreneur, Coach

📍 Las Vegas, NV

IG: @setemagali

Host: Austen Tucker

🎙️ The Breakout Bunch — real, unpolished conversations with founders who made it anyway.

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money — they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

Austen knows the grind firsthand. He’s a seasoned mortgage broker leading a division at one of the nation’s largest mortgage companies, helping hundreds of families get into homes across the country. But beyond that, he’s deeply curious — about business, people, and the choices that shape our lives.

New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.