The Way with Dino Katsiametis

Dino Katsiametis
  • 4.8 (21)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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The Way with Dino Katsiametis is your ultimate resource for navigating entrepreneurship, balancing work and life, and leaving a lasting legacy in the mortgage business. Hosted by industry expert Dino Katsiametis, each episode features insightful interviews with top entrepreneurs, business leaders, and visionaries who share their journeys, secrets to success, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re looking to scale your business, lead with impact, or find harmony in your daily hustle, Dino and his guests provide the practical tools and inspiration you need to thrive. Tune in and discover The Way to elevate your life and career.

  1. 1D AGO

    How Matt Adler Closed $250M with a Small Team — Systems, Niches, and Mortgage Discipline Explained

    In this episode of The Way with Dino Katsiametis, Dino sits down with Matt Adler, a top-producing loan officer at Lake Michigan Credit Union, to break down the exact systems, niches, and mindset behind his extraordinary production. Matt walks through his full journey — from music major and tuba performance student to becoming one of the most efficient producers in the country — and explains why discipline, focus, and saying “no” are the real growth levers in mortgage. This is not hype or theory.  It’s a real-world operating system for loan officers who want to scale intelligently. 🔑 Key Takeaways & Bullet Points How Matt closed $249M+ across 570 units with a small, specialized teamWhy over 95% of his business is self-generated and referral-basedThe power of niche lending (non-warrantable condos, FHA, first-time buyers)Why the phrase “I’m available anytime” kills professionalism and productivityHow to structure a high-volume team (LOAs, processors, production partner)Why Mortgage Coach TCAs create instant advisor authorityThe consultation process that converts without sellingHow time-blocking, Calendly, and boundaries unlocked scaleWhy saying “no” attracts better clients and partnersLessons from Todd Duncan, Tony Robbins, and elite peer groupsThanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    58 min

  2. FEB 9

    Building Trust at Scale: Kristin Messerli on Financial Literacy, AI, and the Modern Mortgage Advisor

    Trust in financial institutions is declining — and the mortgage industry is feeling it more than most. In this in-depth episode of The Way with Dino Katsiametis, Dino sits down with Kristin Messerli, CEO and Founder of First Home IQ, to unpack why consumer trust is eroding — and exactly what mortgage professionals can do to rebuild it. Kristin shares her journey from social work and community outreach to becoming one of the leading voices on financial literacy, trust-building, and next-generation homebuyers. Drawing from data, psychology, and real-world experience, she explains how education, empathy, and transparency outperform rates, ads, and automation alone. This episode goes deep on: Why institutional trust is declining across all industriesHow trust has shifted from institutions to individualsThe role AI should play in making advisors more human, not lessWhy listening matters more than pitchingHow loan officers can stop being transactional and become trusted guidesIf you’re a mortgage advisor, loan officer, or industry leader navigating today’s skeptical consumer landscape, this episode delivers practical frameworks you can apply immediately. Thanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    1h 5m

  3. FEB 2

    Zero to 70M a Month — Dustin Owen’s Mortgage Success Playbook

    What if your biggest breakthrough comes after you’re broke, scared, and ready to quit? In this powerhouse episode of The Way with Dino Katsiametis, Dino sits down with Dustin Owen — founder of TLO (The Loan Officer Podcast), mortgage coach, industry influencer, and endurance athlete — to unpack the real journey from struggling loan officer to building one of the most recognized mortgage media and coaching platforms in the industry. Dustin opens up about: • Going $10K into credit card debt his first year in mortgages  • Deferring student loans just to keep the lights on  • Doing FEMA cleanup work after hurricanes to survive  • Rebuilding through the crash  • Scaling from 40M a year to 70M a month  • And ultimately transitioning from top producer to industry educator Along the way, he reveals why love, structure, and discipline are the foundation of elite teams, thriving families, and high-performance businesses — and why investing in yourself delivers a higher return than the stock market. If you’re a loan officer, team leader, or entrepreneur navigating today’s market, this episode delivers real tactics, real mindset shifts, and real strategy you can apply immediately. Thanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    58 min

  4. JAN 26

    Five-Mile Famous: Geoff Zimpfer's Blueprint for Becoming the Go-To Mortgage Lender in Your Market

    What if the fastest way to grow your mortgage business isn’t more cold calls…  but becoming so well-known in your local market that business comes to you? In this episode of The Way with Dino Katsiametis, Dino sits down with Geoff — veteran originator, host of a 400-episode mortgage podcast, and creator of one-to-many marketing systems — to break down exactly how loan officers can stop chasing realtors and start attracting referral partners through authority and visibility. Geoff shares how he: • Built his mortgage business in ultra-competitive Orange County  • Shifted from cold calling to teaching classes and hosting events  • Created a platform that made him “five-mile famous”  • Helped originators move from vendor to valued partner  • Turned personal branding into a scalable referral engine If you’re a loan officer tired of being treated like a commodity, this episode delivers real tactics to rise above the noise and become the obvious choice in your market. Thanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    1h 17m

  5. JAN 19

    How to Scale from Solo LO to Billion-Dollar Leader with Shayla Gifford

    What does it really take to go from a broke 23-year-old cold-calling strangers…  to building a billion-dollar mortgage organization — without losing your family, your health, or your joy? In this powerful episode of The Way with Dino Katsiametis, Dino sits down with Shayla Gifford — mortgage industry icon, Rainmaker strategist, and creator of the Rainmaker Archetype system. Shayla’s journey is raw, real, and deeply tactical: • Dropping out of college  • Starting in door-to-door sales  • Closing 20 loans in her third month  • Scaling from a one-woman operation to a 150-employee, billion-dollar team  • And ultimately rebuilding her business around systems, balance, and sustainable performance This isn’t just motivation.  This is a playbook for originators who want to scale intelligently in today’s market. Thanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    1h 15m

  6. JAN 12

    How Top Mortgage Advisors Stay Relevant When Markets Break with Ken Perry

    Markets rise. Markets crash.  The professionals who survive — and win — are the ones who build before the storm. In this episode of The Way, Dino sits down with Ken Perry, founder of Knowledge Coop, longtime mortgage educator, speaker, and industry truth-teller, for a deep conversation about identity, confidence, systems, and leadership in volatile markets. Ken shares hard-earned lessons from decades in lending — including why misplaced confidence destroys careers, how lack of knowledge erodes trust, and why most loan officers struggle not because of the market, but because of poor preparation and broken systems. This episode goes far beyond tactics. It’s about becoming the kind of professional clients trust, teams follow, and markets can’t shake. If you want to build a mortgage career that lasts through every cycle, this is a must-listen. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why confidence is earned through knowledge — not hypeHow misplaced attribution creates dangerous highs and devastating lowsThe difference between coaching and therapy (and why leaders need both)Why systems matter more than talent when scaling productionHow ADHD, strengths, and self-awareness can become unfair advantagesWhy “being busy” is not the same as being effectiveHow to prepare your business before the next market shiftWhy education builds trust faster than marketingHow loan officers lose deals to Google — and now AIWhat it really means to act like the CEO of your own mortgage businessThanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    1h 10m

  7. JAN 5

    The AI-Powered Consumer Is Coming: How Mortgage & Real Estate Pros Stay Relevant in the New Economy with Eric Post

    AI isn’t coming for your job — but your clients are changing faster than most professionals realize. In this episode of The Way, Dino sits down with Eric Post, founder of Zi AI and a 20+ year real estate and mortgage industry veteran, for a deep, honest conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping consumer behavior, trust, and relevance in knowledge-based service industries. Eric explains why the biggest threat isn’t AI-powered competitors — it’s the AI-powered consumer having private conversations before they ever call a loan officer or agent. This episode goes far beyond tools and tactics. It’s about mindset, positioning, personalization at scale, and why the future belongs to professionals who shift from being information providers to trusted guides. If you want to stay indispensable in a world where knowledge is cheap and automation is everywhere, this conversation will change how you think about your business. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why the AI-powered consumer is the real disruption in mortgage & real estateHow knowledge has become table stakes — and what actually differentiates you nowThe difference between automation and augmentation (and why it matters)Why optimizing relationships can actually destroy themHow to use AI behind the scenes without losing the human touchWhy “efficiency” alone is a zero-sum gameHow top producers will win by becoming wisdom workers, not techniciansThe role of EQ, communication, and taste in an AI-driven worldHow to reclaim time without sacrificing client experienceWhat loan officers should not automate if they want more referralsThanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    1h 2m

  8. 12/23/2025

    Why Relationships Create Fortunes—and Transactions Don’t with Todd Duncan

    In this powerful episode of The Way, Dino sits down with the legendary coach, author, and industry icon to unpack over four decades of hard-won lessons on building a business that doesn’t just produce income — but creates freedom, longevity, and real wealth. Todd shares why most loan officers stay stuck trading time for money, how systems unlock scale, and why relationships — not transactions — are the real asset in any lasting business. The conversation dives deep into coaching, mindset, AI-powered learning, referral economics, and why slowing down is often the fastest way to grow. This is not theory. This is proven execution from one of the most trusted voices in lending. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why transactions create income, but relationships create fortunesThe “slow down to speed up” principle that transforms careersHow Todd built referral-driven businesses without chasing leadsWhy most loan officers confuse being busy with being productiveThe real purpose of coaching — beyond learning how to do loansHow systems create freedom, scale, and a sellable businessThe power of referral-by-design vs. transactional marketingWhy confidence determines conversion more than scriptsHow AI coaching and role-play are changing learning foreverWhat it takes to build a business that lasts decades — not cyclesThanks for listening to "The Way With Dino Katsiametis" For full show notes, links, and extra episode resources, visit dinokatsiametis.com. Follow Dino for weekly clips and mortgage leadership insights on instagram.com/dinokatsiametis | linkedin.com/in/dinokatsiametis Learn more about Ethos Lending at ethoslending.com.

    1h 44m
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4.8
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

The Way with Dino Katsiametis is your ultimate resource for navigating entrepreneurship, balancing work and life, and leaving a lasting legacy in the mortgage business. Hosted by industry expert Dino Katsiametis, each episode features insightful interviews with top entrepreneurs, business leaders, and visionaries who share their journeys, secrets to success, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re looking to scale your business, lead with impact, or find harmony in your daily hustle, Dino and his guests provide the practical tools and inspiration you need to thrive. Tune in and discover The Way to elevate your life and career.

Information

  • Creator
    Dino Katsiametis
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Way with Dino Katsiametis
  • Show Website
    The Way with Dino Katsiametis