What if you could invest in boutique hotels without running the hotel?

In this episode of The Hotel Investor Playbook, host Michael Russell sits down with Curt Marker—private jet captain, real estate investor, and CEO of Captain Capital—to break down how Curt became a co-GP on a $10M, 130-room boutique hotel in the Smoky Mountains without managing staff or daily operations.

They walk through the real mechanics of Curt’s role in the deal, including how he raised $1.5M in capital, evaluated operating partners, and helped guide investors through an unexpected 8-month USDA loan delay using consistent, transparent communication.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How to add value in hotel deals without being the operator
• Why most of Curt’s capital came from people he already knew
• What to look for when vetting an operating partner
• How a loan delay tested the partnership—and investor confidence
• Why honest monthly updates matter more than perfect timelines

This conversation is a grounded look at hotel investing for professionals who want exposure to hospitality real estate without taking on operational complexity—and a reminder that trust and communication are just as important as the numbers.

🎧 Original Podcast: The Hotel Investor Playbook
🌐 Learn more: https://www.hotelinvestorplaybook.com/

Timestamps
02:05 – Curt’s Background: From Pilot to Real Estate Investor
05:06 – Shifting Focus: Family, Charity, and Long-Term Purpose
08:37 – Staying Flexible Across Asset Classes
11:25 – Why Commercial Real Estate Changed the Game
15:20 – Comparing Short-Term Rentals vs Hotels
18:43 – Breaking Down the Boutique Hotel Deal Structure
22:21 – Adding Value Without Managing Daily Operations
26:16 – The USDA Loan Delay and What Went Wrong
29:14 – Communicating Bad News Without Losing Investor Trust
38:01 – Building a Personal Brand That Raises Capital
45:54 – Where Capital Actually Comes From
52:47 – Advice for First-Time Real Estate Investors

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL RUSSELL:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reachmichael
Website: https://www.malama-capital.com/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What if the hardest part of real estate wasn’t finding deals — but raising the money?

In this episode, Stella Han (@hellastellah) explains why traditional capital raising is fundamentally broken for small operators — and how a new model is quietly reshaping how founders, creators, and real estate investors raise capital.

After losing $55,000 on her first raise, Stella built a platform designed to remove legal friction, unlock unaccredited capital, and let operators market freely — without risking jail time.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why syndications and funds fail first-time operators
• The difference between 506B, 506C, and investment clubs
• How to legally market and raise capital at the same time
• Why “soft commitments” without money are useless
• The psychology behind requiring deposits from investors
• How creators outperform traditional finance at fundraising
• Why capital raising should be treated like sales
• How trust and storytelling now beat spreadsheets

This episode lays out the new rules of capital raising — and why operators who adapt early will have a massive edge.

Timestamps
2:43 - How Stella lost $55K trying to raise $1M on her first deal
6:02 - Why 506B and 506C are broken for small operators
10:08 - Investment clubs explained: why they're not securities under SEC rules
14:20 - The hardest part of building Fractional: compliance, tech, or education?
19:39 - What surprised Stella most: operators don't build investor lists proactively
24:20 - The 3% deposit strategy that eliminates flaky verbal commitments
28:45 - Why creators raise more capital than traditional finance people
38:57 - Following up 5-6 times before an investor commits: the sales process of capital raising
43:10 - Product-market fit: 2,000 signups for a fake website that didn't exist yet
54:21 - Being a woman founder in a male-dominated space: advantage or obstacle?
1:02:56 - Is traditional capital raising outdated? Where Fractional fits in the ecosystem
1:07:27 - The Power of Habit: how mental habits shape entrepreneurial resilience

CONNECT WITH STELLA HAN:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellastellah/  
Website: https://www.fractional.app/ 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What if you could build a $20 million real estate development business without quitting your W2 job? 

Gaurang Gala did exactly that—working full-time as a commercial banker while raising capital, rezoning land, and developing over $92 million in assets across seven projects. 

His story proves that strategic patience and understanding the math can turn dirt into generational wealth. He took a deal stuck in zoning hell for 18 months, went door-to-door in 90-degree heat wearing a suit to get neighbor signatures, turned a unanimous rejection into unanimous approval, and flipped the land for double what he paid—without ever putting a shovel in the ground.

What you'll learn:

• How Gaurang time-blocked his banking job into 2-3 hours a day to build his development company
• Why land development creates 70% of real estate profit before the building goes vertical
• The strategy behind holding land under contract for 2+ years without closing until rezoning approval
• Why you should never bank at Wells Fargo, Bank of America, or Truist—and how community banks give you leverage
• How to structure deals so investor money is last in, first out—and why developers take all the risk
• The council member strategy: showing up in person, building relationships, and proving you're local
• Why Raleigh-Durham is "the new Austin" and the Bay Area of the East Coast

Gaurang isn't here to sell you a course. He's here to show you how patience, relationships, and understanding the financials can help you transition from W2 income into real estate development without betting the farm. 

If you've ever wondered how to raise millions from your community, make seven figures on land deals, or build wealth through entitlements instead of construction, this episode is your roadmap.

Timestamps
4:02 - Time blocking strategy: how to work a W2 and build a $20M business simultaneously
7:37 - The first deal: from 1031 exchange to 4-year rezoning nightmare
10:00 - Door-to-door in the heat: flipping zero council votes to unanimous approval
18:19 - Why you should never bank at big banks—loan-to-deposit ratio explained
22:46 - $3.5M profit on dirt: buying land, holding it 2 years, flipping it without construction
27:55 - Developer risk: why you're always first money in, last money out
34:22 - Why 70% of profit happens before vertical construction
42:06 - Raleigh-Durham: the new Austin and the Bay Area of the East Coast
47:03 - Hiring consultants who ghosted: what going door-to-door taught about doing it yourself
51:20 - What makes land development the hardest thing Gaurang has ever done
59:40 - Ray Dalio's book on empires and the debt cycle: macroeconomic concerns keeping him up at night
1:01:38 - How Gaurang wants to be remembered: great dad, community builder, giving back to immigrant kids

CONNECT WITH GAURANG GALA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrandgala/
Website: https://www.galainvestments.io/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What if 70% of real estate investors are unknowingly leaving millions of dollars on the table?

In this episode, Jeff Hiatt, founder of MSC Cost Segregation Consultants, breaks down how cost segregation has helped over 26,000 clients save more than $5 billion — using strategies that have existed in the tax code since 1986.

This conversation goes far beyond theory and into how serious investors actually use tax strategy to scale faster.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why 70% of investors should be doing cost segregation — and aren’t
• How accelerated depreciation increases the velocity of capital
• The difference between straight-line depreciation and cost segregation
• How investors can retroactively claim deductions without amending returns
• Why cutting corners with cheap studies can trigger painful audits
• How cost segregation fits into 1031 exchanges and long-term planning
• Why taxes should be treated as a strategy, not an afterthought

If you’re serious about scaling real estate, this episode shows why tax strategy isn’t optional, it’s foundational.

Timestamps
3:07 - Would you rather take a deduction now or wait 27.5 years for the same one?
4:34 - Why 70% of investors who should do cost seg never do it
6:10 - How one $4M tax savings changed Jeff's business overnight
10:42 - Real example: $1M property, $800K basis—how much can you write off year one?
16:36 - Big Beautiful Bill brings back 100% bonus depreciation—what investors need to know
18:33 - Going back to 1986: grabbing retroactive deductions without amending returns
20:23 - The Iron Silo: tracking components for abandonment losses during renovations
30:10 - Short-term rental loophole: how W2 earners offset income with rental losses
32:49 - Recapture explained: what you owe when you sell and how 1031s defer it forever
35:57 - Why $500 online tools and remote studies fail IRS audits
41:07 - Which asset classes give the highest cost seg results (hotels vs industrial)
56:27 - When to engage cost seg services: before purchase, during construction, or retroactively

CONNECT WITH JEFF HIATT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/depreciationdoctor/  
Website: https://msc.tax/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What if one real estate deal paid you more than 20 years in your profession?

In this episode, Wayde Elliott, founder of Store It, shares how a career-ending injury forced him to walk away from dentistry — and how a series of failures eventually led him to build a self-storage portfolio worth over $50 million.

This conversation dives deep into beliefs, risk, and what it really takes to pivot into real estate later in life.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The moment Wayde lost his dental career overnight
• Why trading time for money became unacceptable
• The costly business failures that shaped his investing philosophy
• How his first self-storage deal rewired his beliefs around money
• Why self storage performs in both good and bad economies
• How values and partnerships can make or break long-term success
• The belief system that allowed him to go all-in on development

This is a powerful reminder that the right pivot — at the right moment — can completely change the trajectory of your life and wealth.

Timestamps
3:08 - Going from $30K monthly dental income to zero: the fear and the blessing
4:21 - The patient who planted the seed: six storage facilities and total freedom
6:06 - Growth mindset vs scarcity mindset: always seeking the uncomfortable
10:11 - Faith vs fear: both demand you believe in something you cannot see
16:37 - The three T's of investing: trust, transparency, and track record
20:42 - The belief cycle: how money stories from childhood shape your wealth
30:15 - Losing $800K in cannabis but refusing to quit
31:48 - The development PhD: wetlands, flooding, railroad negotiations, and moving highways
34:25 - When to cut ties with partners not aligned on values
37:01 - Why self storage is recession-resilient in both good and bad economies
41:39 - Finding deals: looking for baked-in value from day one
46:36 - 600+ five-star reviews: why exceptional customer service wins in storage
51:34 - The ayahuasca journey that changed Wade and his son's life

CONNECT WITH WAYDE ELLIOTT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waydeelliottdmd  
Website: https://www.storeit.com/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What do you do when your business is bleeding $800,000 a month and your life is unraveling with it?

In this episode, Brady McDonald (@brady.mcdonald84) reveals how a devastating financial collapse, identity crisis, and dependence on alcohol pushed him into the darkest chapter of his life — and how he fought his way out through faith, discipline, and extreme physical challenge.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The moment Brady realized he was losing his businesses and himself
• How rising interest rates, hurricanes, and a 100+ property portfolio nearly destroyed him
• The identity collapse that left him drunk on a boat while everything burned down
• Why quitting alcohol cold turkey became the turning point
• How ultra-endurance challenges replaced addiction with purpose
• The “run toward the pain” mentality that rebuilt his confidence
• Why he’s running 50 races in 50 states to raise $1M for Make-A-Wish
• What faith, family, and hardship taught him about real success

This episode is about more than rebuilding wealth — it’s about rebuilding a life.

Timestamps
3:01 - Bleeding $300K-$800K monthly: the moment everything collapsed
5:05 - Why his mentor said "sell the red, get $1M in the bank" changed everything
8:06 - Deal junkie vs operator: why most investors fail in downturns
12:35 - The boat, the whiskey, the sunset: deciding to quit drinking forever
15:07 - What your kids will remember (hint: it's not the toys)
18:20 - How doing hard things builds unshakable self-belief
21:10 - Running 50 miles in 109-degree heat: hospitalized with rhabdo but still won
26:08 - Wish Maker 50: running 1,553 miles across 50 states for Make-A-Wish
43:01 - Why you can't eat your equity: the brutal truth about being cash-poor
54:22 - Finding inner peace through faith after years of relying only on himself

CONNECT WITH BRADY MCDONALD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brady.mcdonald84
Website: https://wishmaker50.com/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What if the dream of flight could fund an entire industry?

Brandon Martini, co-founder and CEO of Stratus Financial, turned a small flight school into a $100 million private credit machine that helps pilots take off — literally. He shares how he pitched Wall Street on an industry they’d never heard of, raised capital without VC money, and built a culture rooted in trust and transparency.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How a failed startup taught Brandon the right way to treat investors
• The $2 billion gap in pilot financing no one was solving
• How he and his partner bootstrapped Stratus with $1 million and a whiteboard
• Why transparency and trust beat venture capital every time
• How to raise Wall Street money for a niche industry
• The habits that keep a 92-person team ( 80% remote ) aligned and driven

This is the blueprint for founders who want to build something real — by betting on integrity, execution, and people.

Timestamps
02:17 – How Brandon turned a $2 billion problem into a business idea
04:52 – Why banks ignored flight school loans — and how he solved it
09:54 – The Stratus score and why co-borrowers changed everything
12:24 – Bootstrapping Stratus with a million-dollar check from his co-founder
17:15 – Paying investors 16–19% in a volatile rate market
21:32 – How to pitch Wall Street when you don’t speak their language
26:33 – Why financing pilots is about changing generational wealth
29:18 – The “Stratus Family” philosophy of investors and employees
33:15 – Scaling to 90+ employees ( 80% Philippines team )
41:48 – The future of work and why he believes offices are coming back
57:56 – Why he’s betting on himself over venture capital
1:06:35 – How sleep, fitness, and family became non-negotiable
1:17:57 – What keeps him up at night: raising capital and raising a good son

CONNECT WITH BRANDON MARTINI:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrmartiniguy
Website: https://stratus.finance/ 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What if your money could work harder, and last longer, outside the banking system?

In this episode, Colin Yurcisin (@colinyurcisin) explains how he went from credit entrepreneur to Bitcoin miner, building a multimillion-dollar ecosystem around financial sovereignty. He reveals how to leverage Bitcoin for tax advantages, build long-term wealth, and escape inflation’s slow drain on your savings.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why Bitcoin is the next generation’s wealth engine
• How to use business credit and loans to buy appreciating assets
• The truth about inflation, money printing, and purchasing power
• How institutional adoption is changing everything
• Why mining offers massive tax benefits most investors overlook
• The 10-year mindset that separates winners from speculators

This episode isn’t financial advice, it’s a blueprint for financial freedom in the new digital age.

Timestamps
02:00 – How Colin’s credit business led him to discover Bitcoin
03:55 – Buying five Bitcoin at $4,500 during the 2020 crash
06:35 – Why Bitcoin is “digital gold” and truly scarce
09:02 – The simplest strategy: stop timing the market and DCA
11:32 – How banks will soon accept Bitcoin as collateral
13:35 – Using Bitcoin-backed loans to buy real assets
20:30 – Why Michael Saylor’s strategy could rewrite global finance
25:26 – Why even conservative investors should hold Bitcoin
28:08 – The $500K tax bill that pushed him into mining
30:54 – How Leveraged Mining helps investors get 100% write-offs
35:58 – The $80K mistake that taught him how to build better systems
42:04 – Why the future belongs to those who think in decades

CONNECT WITH COLIN YURCISIN:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/colinyurcisin
Website: https://www.colinyurcisin.com/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What happens when success nearly destroys you?

In this episode, Blake Anthony Carter and Jeremy Courtney open up about the darkest season of their business — how a $30,000-per-month loan nearly bankrupted them and what it took to fight their way back. From couch-surfing to managing 100+ short-term rentals, their story is a masterclass in grit, integrity, and redemption.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The $30K-a-month mistake that almost killed their business
• The one relationship that saved their company at the last minute
• How to rebuild when you’ve hit financial and emotional rock bottom
• Why integrity and reputation are more valuable than profit
• How to lead, grow, and recover without losing your purpose
• The comeback mindset every entrepreneur needs to survive tough seasons

This is more than a business story — it’s proof that the hardest moments can build the strongest foundations.

Timestamps
02:23 – The 2008 crash that shaped Blake’s view of risk
04:55 – How his mom’s resilience became his playbook for success
07:21 – The moment they realized STRs could replace their day jobs
13:10 – How EOS changed their business (and their relationship)
15:31 – Why reputation and relationships matter more than profit
19:21 – The new rules for STR success: quality, design, and service
25:24 – Austin’s market reset and how to spot real opportunities
35:03 – The $30K-a-month loan that almost bankrupted them
39:41 – How a hard money lender’s trust saved their business
41:19 – The mindset that kept them from walking away
43:05 – The unpopular truths about real estate investing
54:03 – The regrets, lessons, and books that shaped their comeback

CONNECT WITH BLAKE ANTHONY CARTER:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blake.anthony.carter
Website: https://www.cribsconsulting.com/

CONNECT WITH JEREMY COURTNEY:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejeremycourtney
Website: https://www.cribsconsulting.com/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.

What if your version of “success” isn’t even yours?

Brian Luebben (@brianluebben), author and founder of Action Academy, reveals how he walked away from a $250K job to build a life defined by purpose and freedom. He now teaches thousands how to buy businesses, replace their income, and design their ideal life — not someone else’s.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The mindset shift that separates the 1% from the 99%
• Why wealth without freedom is failure
• How to build systems that buy back your time
• The power of community and mentorship in scaling faster
• What “enough” really means in business and life
• Why clarity, not hustle, is the new success metric

This episode is a masterclass in mindset, freedom, and fulfillment — from someone who actually walked away from “making it.”

Timestamps
02:34 – The moment Brian decided to walk away from a $250K job
04:50 – The solo trip to Italy that changed everything
06:36 – Why travel reshapes your definition of success
09:38 – Why getting rich fast isn’t the answer to happiness
13:43 – The “No Empty Seats” rule for spending money with purpose
15:22 – Why his viral anti–9-to-5 video triggered millions
17:22 – Why you can’t take advice from the 99%
22:24 – How “more” becomes a trap for entrepreneurs
24:10 – The difference between rich, wealthy, and free
30:15 – The “Game of Millions” framework for building true wealth
40:09 – How Action Academy helps people escape the system
1:09:17 – The perfect day exercise that rewires your goals

CONNECT WITH  BRIAN LUEBBEN:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianluebben
Website: https://actionacademy.com/

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest

P.S. If you're enjoying the show, do us a favor—leave a review and give us a 5-star rating. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and helps us reach more listeners who need this kind of no-fluff insight.