Forged In Fire

Episode 51: Luxury Vacation Rentals: Building a Portfolio That Creates Memories

What if your biggest vacation frustration became your next business breakthrough? That's exactly what happened to Troy Evans, founder of LRVP (Luxury Residence Vacation Portfolio). After years in corporate America, Troy found himself increasingly annoyed by inconsistent vacation rentals that never matched their photos and failed to deliver the experience his family deserved. In this captivating conversation, Troy reveals how he transformed this personal pain point into a thriving business that's disrupting the luxury vacation rental market. Rather than accepting the status quo of unreliable vacation homes, he built a portfolio of carefully selected multi-million dollar properties and a service model focused on creating unforgettable family memories. "We're not really selling vacation space, we're selling memories," Troy explains, highlighting the emotional connection that drives his business philosophy. "When you're with your family, creating memories that literally last the rest of your life – you don't want to leave that to chance." The genius of Troy's model lies in its dual approach: LRVP raises capital from investors to purchase luxury properties worldwide, while Oasis Vacations handles the rental management and exceptional customer experiences. Investors enjoy attractive returns (projected 30% IRR) and even complimentary vacation stays, while travelers gain access to consistent, high-quality accommodations without the $150,000 membership fees charged by exclusive destination clubs. Beyond the business model, Troy shares profound insights about entrepreneurial success that apply across industries. He articulates the critical difference between necessary perseverance and continuing with a flawed business model, emphasizes the importance of thinking "who not how" when building a team, and reveals why wealthy customers will pay a premium for time savings and certainty. Whether you're a real estate investor seeking new opportunities, an entrepreneur looking for inspiration, or simply someone who values exceptional travel experiences, Troy's journey from corporate employee to innovative founder offers valuable lessons and a compelling vision for the future of luxury travel. Ready to learn how Troy is reinventing vacation rentals while generating exceptional returns? Listen now, and discover how solving your own problems might lead to your next big breakthrough. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460308/fan_mail/new]

Episode 50: Stories Sell Using Personal Narratives to Build Trust in Business

When Radhika Rastogi purchased her first condo in Long Beach a decade ago, she never imagined it would spark a journey toward a multimillion-dollar senior living portfolio. Today, as co-founder and managing partner of Relik Capital Group, she oversees 300 senior housing units with more than $17 million under management—all while balancing a Fortune 20 corporate career and motherhood. The turning point came during her maternity leave with her second child. While her wife bonded with their newborn, Radhika dove deep into real estate, moving from fix-and-flip projects into commercial properties. That exploration ultimately led her to the overlooked but rewarding niche of senior living. Central to her success is her “P-Execute” framework—a disciplined system for evaluating investments based on execution probability. She learned early that deals themselves aren’t the real challenge; operators are. After interviewing forty operators, she selected just one trusted partner for her Texas and Arizona markets. Radhika also reveals how she connects with investors through storytelling, documenting small daily moments that later build powerful trust. Her viral LinkedIn journey began with a simple three-word post: “testing 123.” Today, her authentic stories about family and purpose consistently outperform technical real estate content—proving that relationships drive results. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Radhika’s advice is clear: “Start by building a personal brand. Action beats sitting still any day of the week.” Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460308/fan_mail/new]

Episode 49: Real estate barriers create the biggest opportunities.

Could mobile home parks be the most overlooked wealth-building opportunity in real estate? On this episode of the Forge In Fire Podcast, we sit down with Chad Freeman, Founder of MHPinvestors and commercial airline pilot, to explore how he turned a side hustle into a portfolio of more than 200 mobile home pads. Chad’s story started with a crash pad for fellow pilots and a duplex house hack — but his real turning point came in 2015 when he recognized the unique economic advantages of mobile home parks. With virtually no new parks being built since the 1970s, shrinking supply from annual closures, and undervalued mom-and-pop operations, Chad saw a critical opportunity in affordable housing. In this episode, Chad shares: * How he applies aviation-style checklists and KPIs to run his business efficiently. * The market fundamentals that make mobile home parks such a compelling asset class. * His transition from side hustles to scaling with his wife as a business partner. * How he overcame imposter syndrome and built trust with investors to raise capital. * Why persistence and disciplined execution are the keys to growth. Chad’s journey is proof that even with a demanding career, you can carve out time to build long-term wealth. His blend of systems thinking, niche investing, and family partnership offers valuable lessons for both new and experienced operators. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460308/fan_mail/new]

Episode 48: What happens when you trade security for possibility?

What does it take to trade a dream tech career for a life of financial freedom and purpose? On this episode of the Forge In Fire Podcast, we sit down with Georgy Marrero, founder of Equis Capital, whose journey spans from coding as a kid in the Dominican Republic to managing a $28M multifamily real estate portfolio. After teaching himself to code at age 9, Georgy left his home country at 18 with just $1,000 and a dream. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a computer science degree and landed roles at Amazon and Meta, eventually earning $800k a year. But despite his success in tech, Georgy felt a deeper calling. A single “accidental investment” — buying a home for his grandmother that later returned 20% in just seven months — sparked his passion for real estate. What began as a side project grew into Equis Capital, where Georgy has since raised $9M from investors and scaled to $28M AUM through multifamily acquisitions and syndications. In this episode, Georgy shares: * The mindset shift it took to walk away from stability and pursue entrepreneurship. * How he built Equis Capital through partnerships, discipline, and systems. * Lessons learned in leadership, investor trust, and scaling without burnout. * Why financial freedom is about more than money — it’s about impact and purpose. Georgy Marrero’s story is a powerful reminder that forging your path often means stepping into discomfort, betting on yourself, and building something bigger than a paycheck. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460308/fan_mail/new]

Episode 47: Scaling From Zero to Almost 900 Units Starts With Taking the First Step

What happens when you trade a secure healthcare career for the uncertainty of real estate? On this episode of the Forge In Fire Podcast, we’re joined by Lee Yoder, Founder & CEO of Threefold Real Estate Investing, whose journey from physical therapist to real estate syndicator shows the power of perseverance, partnerships, and methodical scaling. Lee’s story began in 2017 with a single house flip while still working his W-2 job. That project revealed a crucial insight: flipping houses was just another job, not the passive income path he wanted. From there, he pivoted to rental properties — starting with a duplex and eventually building a 34-unit portfolio. The turning point came at the end of 2020, when Lee sold all 34 units, quit his job, and went all-in on syndications. Starting 2021 with zero units, he scaled rapidly through capital raising and partnerships. Today, Threefold Real Estate Investing owns nearly 900 units worth about $70M across Ohio and Indiana, with a focus on value-add multifamily housing. Lee also shares why he decided to vertically integrate property management, how his team tracks weekly metrics to stay on top of operations, and the mindset he calls the “compound effect” — momentum that builds slowly before accelerating into exponential growth. Key insights from Lee: * Why persistence is the most important trait of successful entrepreneurs. * The role of strategic networking in gaining an “unfair advantage.” * How to scale smartly without losing control of operations. Lee’s journey is a reminder that ordinary professionals can achieve extraordinary results by sticking with it, surrounding themselves with the right people, and staying disciplined in their approach. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460308/fan_mail/new]