The Bulldogs Podcast

JP Clausen: The Man Elon Musk Called to Fix It

What does it take to build billion-dollar infrastructure and lead across the world’s most iconic companies? In this episode, James Danley sits down with JP Clausen, global manufacturing executive and former VP at Tesla, Google, GM, and LEGO. From his humble beginnings on a Danish fish farm to transforming some of the world’s most complex operations, JP shares stories of resilience, innovation, and integrity that will inspire anyone chasing excellence.

Sargam Patel: Pitching Steve Jobs in an Elevator

In this episode of The Bulldogs Podcast, host James Danley sits down with entrepreneur Sargam Patel — the founder behind Agent18, one of the earliest and most successful mobile accessory companies in the Apple ecosystem. From a chance elevator ride with Steve Jobs to securing a game-changing PO from Apple, Sargam's journey is packed with hustle, guts, and game-time decisions. He opens up about immigrant grit, his biggest wins, and how he overcame a crushing public failure — and now, how he’s building AI solutions for the next wave of business innovation. This is a must-listen for builders, creators, and future-focused entrepreneurs.

From Zillow Leads to $10M Lakefront Estates - Realtor Austen Lobenherz

In this episode, I sit down with Northern Michigan's real estate phenom, Austen Lobenherz — a top-producing luxury agent, developer, and adventurer who’s helped shape one of the fastest-growing luxury markets in the country. We talk about how he turned summer Zillow leads into $10M lakefront listings, his journey through COVID and stem cell recovery, and what it means to design a life around freedom. We also dig into market trends, development ethics, and his global travels from Aspen to Japan.

Mortgage Expert - Matt Adler: How to Qualify For A Home, Mortgage!

Matt Adler is one of the top-performing mortgage loan officers in the nation — with over $2 billion in closed loans. But his path wasn't a straight line. In this episode, Matt opens up about the defining moments that shaped his career — from childhood adversity to building a thriving practice by serving first-time homebuyers, even through the 2008 financial collapse. We also explore how music, mentorship, and mindset played a pivotal role in his journey — and what young professionals can take away from his story. 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more interviews with top performers across real estate, lending, and entrepreneurship. ⏱️ Timecodes 00:00 – Why Matt is excited about the mortgage industry today 01:00 – Introduction: Matt Adler’s career highlights and passions 03:30 – How Matt balances high performance with a full life 05:00 – Matt’s early life and the traumatic event that changed everything 08:30 – Growing up in a family business — lessons from his father 10:40 – The influence of early exposure to entrepreneurship 13:00 – How a music degree shaped his work ethic and discipline 15:30 – The decision to pivot into the mortgage world 18:20 – Surviving and thriving through the 2008 crash 20:10 – Why first-time homebuyers became Matt’s focus 23:15 – Transitioning from broker to bank: what changed 25:30 – Construction lending and developing new niches 27:45 – The power of mentorship and ongoing collaboration 29:30 – Advice for young loan officers entering the field 31:00 – Why annual reviews are a must after closing 33:00 – Building long-term relationships, not just closing loans --- 🎧 Available on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere you get your podcasts. 📲 Connect with Matt Adler: 🎙️ Hosted by James Danley | The Bulldogs Podcast #MortgageAdvice #MattAdler #BulldogsPodcast #RealEstate #LendingTips #MortgageBroker #CareerGrowth

SBA Lender Andrew Simon: How SBA Loans Actually Work

If you’re building, buying, or scaling a small business, this episode is a must-watch. In this conversation, I sit down with Andrew Simon—one of the most respected SBA lenders in the game. Andrew breaks down how SBA loans really work, the strategies smart entrepreneurs use to leverage funding, and how he evaluates businesses beyond just the numbers. We also dive into Andrew’s wild journey from selling garbage trucks and Michelin tires to owning businesses and becoming a national leader in small business lending. 🔔 Subscribe for more real business conversations: [Your Channel Link] 🎧 Full podcast on Spotify & Apple: [Podcast Link] Timestamps 00:00 - Intro: Meet Andrew Simon 01:30 - Why most entrepreneurs fear debt 03:48 - What SBA loans are really for 06:10 - Types of businesses Andrew funds 08:22 - Case study: The countertop fabricator 12:40 - What makes a good loan candidate? 15:01 - How Andrew evaluates risk creatively 18:55 - Andrew’s backstory: Selling garbage trucks 22:40 - Lessons from early sales roles 26:00 - How he got into SBA lending 30:10 - FedEx contractors & SBA funding 34:28 - Understanding projections vs history 38:10 - Andrew’s advice for first-time borrowers 41:22 - Common mistakes small businesses make 44:05 - The power of knowing your metrics 47:00 - Final thoughts & where to reach Andrew