The Robinson Review: Life, Law, and the Pursuit of Wealth

Barry Hartman was a professional snowboarder until he broke his ankle at 22 and moved back into his parents' basement. Three months after starting a junk removal company, the Vancouver newspaper ran a front-page story: "Professional snowboarder dumps sponsors to become garbage man."Fifteen years later, 505 Junk is doing $7 million a year.In this episode:• How he built it — the $20,000 loan he got after the bank turned him down• His one big differentiator: charging customers by weight instead of volume• The $250,000 franchising mistake he had to borrow money to undo• Why cash flow — not profit — is the only number that mattersFind Barry: 505junk.com | Instagram @barryhartmanSubscribe for more episodes like this.Follow Todd on Instagram: @officialtoddrobinson

Norman Radow bought his first building at 25 with $10,000 borrowed from his dad — and turned it into $50,000 three months later. Since then, he's been named the "Workout King of America" by the New York Times, raised $1.2 billion in capital, and built RADCO into one of the largest apartment owners in Atlanta.In this episode:• How he saw the 2008 crash coming and sold 99 of his 100 properties in 2006• Getting the call that Lehman Brothers was filing for bankruptcy• How he raised $1.2 billion in $200,000 checks• What he thinks is coming next in the marketSubscribe for more episodes like this.Follow Todd on Instagram: @officialtoddrobinson

At its peak, Silly Bandz was doing $1.5-2 million a week in sales. On this episode of the Robinson Review, I sit down with Robert Croak - the man behind one of the biggest toy crazes of a generation - to get the real story behind the madness of Silly Bandz.We go deep on how Silly Bandz actually blew up (and the 18 months of chaos nobody saw), why you don't need a new idea — just a better iteration of one that already exists, what he learned starting out with nothing from a broken home in Toledo, house hacking his way into his first real estate deal at 19, and why he believes financial freedom starts with the right mindset before it ever starts with money.This is a masterclass in building, failing, and building again - from someone who's actually done it.🎧 Follow Robert Croak: Instagram @robertcroak | Rich Habits Podcast (everywhere you listen)📞 Want to build real wealth through real estate? Book a call with my team: https://form.typeform.com/to/piJoWgLEFollow me on Instagram:   @officialtoddrobinson

What happens when you realize you’ve been defrauded — and what can you actually do about it?

In this episode of The Robinson Review: Life, Law & the Pursuit of Wealth, I sit down with Jon David Huffman — “The Fraud Attorney” — for a wide-ranging conversation about fraud, law firm leadership, real estate partnerships, and the business of practicing law.

We break down real-world examples of fraud cases, how fraud happens, the warning signs people often overlook, and what victims should do when they discover they’ve been deceived.

But the conversation goes well beyond fraud.

Jon and I also dive into building and leading a law firm, creating a strong firm culture, managing attorneys and teams, and the lessons we’ve both learned as lawyers and business owners.

We also get into real estate partnerships — how they’re structured, where they can go wrong, and why choosing the right partners can be just as important as choosing the right deal.

This episode covers:

• What to do when you’ve been defrauded
• Real-world fraud cases and lessons from the courtroom
• Red flags that investors and business owners should recognize
• Real estate partnerships and partnership disputes

• Law firm leadership and management
• Building a strong culture inside a law firm
• The intersection of law, business, real estate, and wealth

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, attorney, business owner, or real estate professional, there are lessons in this conversation that could save you from an expensive mistake.

🎙️ You’ve Been Defrauded. Now What? | The Fraud Attorney Jon David Huffman

Listen to the full episode of The Robinson Review.

Todd Robinson interviews blockchain and cryptocurrency lawyer Ari Good about what cryptocurrency and blockchain are and how they may be used in wealth-building and real estate. Good explains a blockchain as a distributed database run on nodes worldwide, with Bitcoin enabling peer-to-peer value transfer without banks, and notes there is no central Bitcoin company or CEO. He argues crypto will not replace traditional finance; instead, Wall Street and banks are adopting select blockchain use cases, with stablecoins likely serving as “plumbing” behind familiar payment apps. Good distinguishes Bitcoin from stablecoins like USDC, which digitally represent and are pegged to the US dollar. They discuss real-world asset tokenization for real estate, currently more feasible via tokenizing entities (e.g., SPVs/LLCs) than tokenizing deeds directly due to recorder/ownership-chain issues. Good warns about irreversible crypto scams, shares red flags, and addresses tax-evasion claims as warning signs.

How To Connect with Todd:

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https://www.tiktok.com/@syndicationexpert

What if you could acquire a multimillion-dollar apartment building without investing any of your own money? In this episode, I break down exactly how I purchased a $5.6 million multifamily property with zero dollars out-of-pocket—from finding the deal and structuring the financing to raising capital and navigating negotiations.You’ll learn the creative strategies, key relationships, and calculated risks that made the acquisition possible, along with the challenges and lessons that came with it. Whether you’re an experienced investor or just getting started in real estate, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how large deals can be done without a massive personal bank account.This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.

👉🏻 Ready to close your first multifamily deal in the next 90 days? Book a free call with my team here: https://calendly.com/d/cxjf-kt8-s4m/multifamily-dealmakers-strategy-call?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv0&month=2026-06I went from zero to 974 units and $100 million in multifamily real estate using a simple six-step system I call the Dealmaker Scaling System. In this video I break down every step — exactly how I did it, and exactly what my students inside Multifamily Dealmakers are using right now to close their first deals.

This isn't theory. It's the real framework: how to build your reputation, lock in your legal foundation, learn to underwrite deals, partner with the right people, raise capital from your existing network, and get into the rooms where deals actually happen.If you're a high earner, a single family investor, or someone ready to break into multifamily — this is your roadmap.📞 Ready to close your first multifamily deal in the next 90 days? Book a free call with my team here: https://calendly.com/d/cxjf-kt8-s4m/multifamily-dealmakers-strategy-call?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv0&month=2026-06📲 Follow me on Instagram: @officialtoddrobinson

Todd Robinson interviews Houston investor William Bertolasio about launching his real estate career through the Multifamily Dealmakers program and joining the GP on an 80-unit apartment acquisition without investing his own money, largely due to 90% seller financing. William shares his background running a roofing/storm restoration contracting business, his long-standing interest in real estate, initial skepticism about coaching, and how learning underwriting and using provided Excel tools helped him add value. After being encouraged to network, he pitched a 22-unit deal on a local Zoom call, met community member MD, and was brought into the 80-unit where he handled underwriting, communications, site visits, and ongoing re-underwriting as the deal evolved. They discuss networking, mindset, imposter syndrome, honesty and credibility, common beginner misunderstandings about capital, routines like living by a calendar, and William’s ambitions toward larger deals. 

How To Connect with Todd:

https://www.instagram.com/officialtoddrobinson

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https://www.tiktok.com/@syndicationexpert

What happens when a growing business starts feeling chaotic, reactive, and dependent on the founder for everything?In this episode, Todd sits down with EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Implementer Tricia Drake to discuss how entrepreneurs can create structure, accountability, and scalable systems inside their companies — without losing momentum or culture.Tricia breaks down the EOS framework and explains how businesses can gain:Clear vision and alignmentBetter accountability across teamsStronger leadership communicationData-driven decision makingDocumented processes and SOPsMore operational traction and less daily chaosThey also discuss:The 6 key EOS components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and TractionWhy most businesses struggle with accountabilityHow weekly scorecards reveal operational problems earlyThe power of the Level 10 leadership meeting“Right people, right seats” and building the right teamWhy letting the wrong people go is difficult — but necessaryCreating systems that allow founders to step out of the weedsWhether you run a law firm, real estate company, startup, or scaling business, this episode offers practical insights for building a healthier and more scalable organization. Drake’s website is tractionwithtricia.com.

How To Connect with Todd: https://www.instagram.com/officialtoddrobinson

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Most real estate investors know they should be using other people’s money—but very few understand how to do it legally, strategically, and at scale.

In this episode of The Robinson Review, Todd Robinson sits down with Brad Lea to break down the real mechanics behind raising capital, structuring deals, and avoiding the legal landmines that can destroy a portfolio overnight. From the critical difference between syndications and joint ventures to the truth about SEC compliance (even when working with friends and family), this conversation pulls back the curtain on what actually separates sophisticated investors from amateurs.

Todd also dives into how deals really go sideways—from bad underwriting assumptions to blown construction budgets—and why vetting sponsors is the most important decision an investor can make. Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale into larger multifamily deals, this episode delivers a clear, no-BS roadmap to building credibility, raising capital, and protecting yourself in the process.

How To Connect with Todd: https://www.instagram.com/officialtoddrobinson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddnrobinson

https://www.tiktok.com/@syndicationexpert

Key Topics Covered

Why other people’s money (OPM) is the ultimate scaling tool

The real difference between debt vs equity (and why it matters legally)Syndication vs Joint Venture—how the SEC actually defines it

The biggest mistake investors make with friends & family capital

How deals go bad: underwriting errors, bad assumptions, cost overruns

What LPs should look for before investing in a deal

How new investors can break in with zero capital

Why marketing yourself is step one to raising money

The legal principle: “Ignorance is no defense”