On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Keegan O'Connor, co-founder and CEO of Chill Shark, a wellness-tech company building portable cold-plunge chiller systems. Keegan shares how cold water immersion helped regulate his nervous system after a PTSD treatment program, why he funded the first clinical research on cold water immersion for PTSD, and how the company uses luxury hospitality to fund a mission of helping veterans. He also opens up about walking away from his faith, being drawn back by his brother's peace, and learning to surrender his business to God. A candid conversation on pain, purpose, and building with integrity. (Note: discusses PTSD, trauma, and veteran suicide.)

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Anthony Rushing — former educator, 40-unit real estate investor, and mortgage professional — about a little-known strategy: the first lien HELOC. Anthony traces his unusual path from quitting college for a rock band to Teach for America to the mortgage industry, where he discovered a product that's common in Australia and Europe but rarely discussed in the U.S. He breaks down, in plain terms, how a first lien HELOC replaces your mortgage entirely, why it can pay a home off in years instead of decades, who it actually works for, and how it can free up liquidity to start investing. A genuinely educational conversation on using debt as a tool.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Andrew McNair, founder and CEO of Swan Capital (Sleep Well At Night) in Pensacola, Florida, a firm managing north of $300 million. A self-described "generosity evangelist" who has made and lost millions, Andrew makes the case that a fulfilled life isn't about accumulating — it's about giving it away. He unpacks his 10/20/70 framework, a controversial take on estate planning, how he weaves faith and giving into his company, and how to model generosity so it passes to the next generation. A challenging, practical conversation on money, stewardship, and legacy.

In this forum episode of the On The Rise Podcast, Jeremy Dyer, VP of Capital Formation at Rise 48, welcomes Tommy Hinson, CEO of Investors 1031 Exchange, for a plain-English walkthrough of the 1031 exchange. Tommy explains how investors defer capital gains by rolling real estate into more real estate — "swap till you drop" — until a stepped-up basis erases the tax at death. The session covers the types of exchanges, the same-taxpayer rule and why partnerships cause problems, the 45- and 180-day deadlines, reinvesting 100% of equity, TIC and DST structures, the 721 UPREIT endgame, and a case study showing how much you lose by skipping a 1031. A practical primer for real estate investors.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith Driven Leaders series, host Nick Stromwall talks with Scott Wilson — general partner of Beyond Capital Funds, SVP at Churchill Terry, and a self-described "ragamuffin" of growth, health, and recovery. Scott opens up about the years his faith and work lived in separate rooms, his struggle with alcohol, and the sobriety journey that led to his baptism in a cold Texas river in 2016. He shares how he came to faith-based venture capital, the founders and companies he backs, and why he now weighs "return on impact" alongside return on investment. A moving conversation on brokenness, redemption, and integrating faith into work. (Note: this episode discusses addiction and recovery.)

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Tony Figliola, founder of Passive Investment Pros, who helps engineers and technical professionals diversify beyond the stock market into private multifamily real estate. A mechanical engineer himself, Tony shares how he moved from trying to operate deals solo to building a rigorous vetting process for investing passively. The conversation digs into the non-negotiables when evaluating operators and deals, the assumptions that make pro formas unrealistic, why analysis paralysis holds smart investors back, and how retirement accounts can be repositioned into real estate. A practical listen for analytical investors weighing their first passive deal.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Nick Stromwall talks with Frank Herman, CEO of Premium Holdings and a multifamily and student-housing investor, for the Faith Driven Leaders series. Frank shares how he left a 16-year residential career in Silicon Valley, moved his family to the South, and lived in a hotel for six months while stepping out on faith. He tells two contrasting stories — a costly deal he pursued after ignoring God's warning, and a 216-unit deal he prayed God would shut the door on, which went full cycle at nearly 2.5x in 18 months. A candid conversation on obedience, integrating faith and work, and using business as a tool for the kingdom.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy Dyer talks with Bob Bernotas, a franchise veteran who's worked every side of the industry since 1986 — multi-unit owner-operator, franchise CEO, and growth advisor. Bob helps corporate professionals build wealth through smart, semi-passive franchise ownership. He unpacks the biggest misconceptions high earners have, why you should only invest behind strong franchise sales organizations and brand aggregators, and why timing is franchising's "dirty little secret." The conversation covers building an exit strategy from day one, why boring service businesses outperform flashy brands, and financing options like the ROBS program. A practical roadmap for anyone eyeing an eventual exit from corporate America.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Nick Stromwall talks with Robert Szewczyk, co-founder and designated broker of Rise 48 Equity, for the Faith Driven Leaders series. Robert shares his journey from growing up in communist Poland — where scarcity bred a lifelong hustle — to earning architecture degrees and building a billion-dollar multifamily portfolio. He explains how he met his partners, why the team vertically integrated, and how faith shapes the way he leads investors, employees, and residents. The conversation goes deep on housing as service, the lessons only hard markets teach, and staying honest when it's hardest. A candid, faith-centered look at building with integrity.

On this episode of the On The Rise Podcast, host Jeremy sits down with Tom Suvansri, founder of Perennial Pride, who helps high-income earners and business owners deploy capital into tax-efficient real estate and private investments. Tom shares how he became a "corporate refugee," why mainstream financial advice leaves most people boxed into deferral-only strategies, and how changing your facts can legally change your taxes. The conversation digs into what generational wealth actually requires beyond a will, how active earners should balance liquidity against illiquid real estate, vetting operators over pitch decks, and why last-minute year-end tax investing so often backfires. A practical listen for anyone rethinking how they build and protect wealth.