Real Returns

Birgo Capital
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Welcome to the Real Returns podcast, where we learn how real investments can make a real impact. Join your hosts, Andrew and Dan, as they share stories and interview business leaders on how real estate and other forms of investment can create meaningful change for individuals and communities around the world. Don't forget to visit: https://www.birgo.com

  1. 12/31/2025

    S7E9 | Insights and Impact from Season 7 of Real Returns

    In this final episode of the year, Andrew and Dan reflect on an impactful seventh season of Real Returns. Recorded on New Year's Eve, the hosts look back at the shift in the podcast's focus: moving beyond technical investment advice to share the deeply personal stories of world-class entrepreneurs and real estate leaders. Episode 1 w/Grant Cardone: A discussion on "going big," the democratization of real estate, and the future of Bitcoin-infused properties. Episode 2 w/Travis Chappell: Insights on the "bigger shovel" mentality—focusing on increasing income through skill-building and high-value networking. Episode 3 w/Michael Johnson: A unique academic perspective on innovation and the often-overlooked value of intellectual property as an asset class. Episode 4 w/Omar Khan: Why "time in the market" beats "timing the market" and the importance of staying disciplined through market cycles. Episode 5 w/Liran Gabbay: How AI is eliminating "spreadsheet burnout" to allow asset managers to focus on high-leverage, strategic work. Episode 6 w/Vishal Gupta: A powerful lesson on the human element of business—how every major mistake ultimately comes down to people and hiring. Episode 7 w/Mike Morawski: The importance of mindset and rebuilding after a crisis. A masterclass in creative financing and intentionality. Episode 8 w/Sasha Bernier: A deep dive into "industrial outdoor storage" and the philosophy of "betting on the jockey" (the independent sponsor) over the horse. -- Visit our website https://www.birgo.com/ to learn more about High-Quality Recession Resistant Assets for the Everyday Investor -- LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and Stay Tuned for the next episode COMING SOON!

    26 min

  2. 12/23/2025

    S7 E8 - Sasha Bernier | Diversification & The Rise of Industrial Outdoor Storage

    Is your investment strategy diversified enough to withstand the next market cycle? 🔄 In this episode of Real Returns, host Andrew Reichert sits down with Sasha Bernier, Managing Partner at Hestia Holdings and Partner at Cheltenham Enterprises. With a career spanning private equity, credit hedge funds, and law, Sasha shares his "tactical" approach to real estate and why he believes the most resilient returns are found in the niches most investors overlook. Sasha reveals the specific "home run" deal in Florida that moved from an 8% cap rate to a 5.75% cap rate simply by securing a credit tenant, and why he's doubling down on Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) as the next institutional frontier. From navigating the Great Financial Crisis to identifying the "impaired assets" that will hit the market in 2026, Sasha provides a masterclass in disciplined investing. Learn how a holistic approach, incorporating meditation and mentorship, drives professional success, why the most impactful investment you can make is "betting on the jockey" through independent sponsors, and how Sasha is building a legacy for the next generation. Timestamps: 00:00 - Opening Segment 00:55 - Meet Sasha Bernier: From Law School to Real Estate Titan 02:00 - Lessons from the Great Financial Crisis: The Power of Patient Capital 04:55 - The 2021 Peak: Why Discipline Beats Speculation 07:05 - Why Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) is the New Frontier 08:15 - Case Study: The 10,000 Sq Ft Florida IOS "Home Run" Deal 10:30 - Market Predictions for 2026: Distressed Assets and Opportunity 11:45 - Investing for Impact: Mentoring Independent Sponsors 13:50 - Building Legacy: Lessons from Mentors and the Next Generation 15:05 - The Most Significant Win: The Decision to Spin Out 16:10 - Lightning Round: The Shawshank Redemption and Meditation 17:35 - Closing Segment Key Quote: "When we find…independent sponsors that don't have capital, and we can help them with that capital to grow and become stronger and then build their own wealth. For us, that's impactful." - Sasha Bernier Connect with Sasha: LinkedIn: Sasha Bernier Website: Hestia Holdings Subscribe to Real Returns wherever you listen to podcasts for more insights on impactful investing and alternative asset strategies. LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and Stay Tuned for the next episode COMING SOON!

    26 min

  3. 12/12/2025

    S7 E7 - Mike Morawski | Creating Wealth & Impact Through Multifamily Investing

    S7 E7 - Creating Wealth & Impact Through Multifamily Investing Is your mindset holding you back from making your first (or next) big real estate deal? In this episode of Real Returns, hosts Andrew Reichert and Dan Croce sit down with Mike Morawski, a 30-year real estate veteran and author of the Amazon bestseller "Multifamily Investment Secrets," to explore his journey from general contractor to operating over 8,000 multifamily units using creative financing strategies that most investors think are impossible. Mike is also the founder of My Core Intentions, where he helps investors build wealth and create financial freedom by implementing strategic investment and asset management practices. Mike reveals how he's bought everything from 4-unit buildings to 400-unit apartment complexes with little to no money down, the distressed 65-unit deal where the seller held a position at zero interest for 10 years, and why every multifamily investment impacts three distinct groups that most investors completely overlook. From coaching a corporate refugee who scaled to 800+ units in five years to helping a widowed chiropractor build a "$100K club" of investors, Mike shares his philosophy on intentionality, the limiting beliefs that keep investors stuck at their current level, and why changing your story is the first step to changing your results. Learn how win-win deal structures create community-wide impact, why consistent daily action beats occasional heroic effort, and what Mike discovered about himself after losing everything in 2008 and rebuilding into someone who now helps others avoid the same mistakes. Timestamps: 00:00 - Opening Segment 01:35 - Meet Mike Morawski: 30-Year Real Estate Veteran 02:05 - The Three Ways Real Estate Creates Impact 04:25 - Case Study: The 65-Unit Distressed Property Creative Deal 06:40 - The Three Groups Every Multifamily Deal Impacts 08:10 - My Core Intentions: Why Intentionality Beats Goals 11:05 - The Biggest Misconception: Creative Financing "Can't Be Done" 12:10 - Changing Your Story to Change Your Results 13:40 - Success Story: Small Builder to 171-Unit Developer 14:00 - From 46 Units to 800+ Units in 5 Years 16:15 - The $100K Club Strategy for Raising Capital 17:40 - Losing a $100M Company and the Comeback That Followed 18:25 - Lightning Round: Christmas Vacation, Pasta, and Joe Dispenza 21:20 - How to Connect with Mike 21:50 - Closing Segment Key Quotes: "I've bought 4-unit to 400-unit apartment complexes and everything in between using creative financing structures... people have a mindset that it can't be done." - Mike Morawski Connect with Mike Morawski: https://mikemorawski.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-morawski/ - Subscribe to Real Returns wherever you listen to podcasts! For more insights on impactful investing and alternative asset strategies, visit our website to learn more about creating real returns through real estate. LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and stay tuned for the next episode.

    23 min

  4. 11/26/2025

    S7 E6 - Vishal Gupta | Why Every Hiring Mistake Made Me Better

    What happens when a number-crunching engineer discovers his biggest mistakes all have one thing in common? In this episode of Real Returns, hosts Andrew Reichert and Dan Croce sit down with Vishal Gupta, tech entrepreneur and former CEO of Seclore, to explore his 25-year journey from IIT Bombay to building global cybersecurity companies serving clients like American Express, GM, and Aramco across 35 countries. Vishal reveals why angel investing became his most expensive hobby, the critical transition from engineering logic to leadership empathy, and how holding onto the wrong people too long taught him more than any success ever could. From raising capital to landing contracts bigger than funding rounds, Vishal shares his investment philosophy centered on three filters: people you enjoy working with, technology with transformative potential, and impact that matters. Learn why AI will make people more important (not less), how saving 5-7% of global manufacturing waste could reshape entire industries, and what gets Vishal energized every morning about making the digital world a safer place for everyone, especially the elderly vulnerable to cybercrime. Timestamps:  00:00 - Opening Segment  01:00 - Vishal's Background: From IIT Bombay to Global Tech Entrepreneur  02:55 - The Expensive Hobby of Angel Investing  04:00 - The Biggest Lessons: Every Mistake Was About People  05:15 - Why Hiring Mistakes Are Getting More Expensive in the AI Era  07:10 - From Engineer to Leader: Logic to Empathy  09:00 - Why People Problems Don't Follow Engineering Formulas 10:10 - Investment Criteria: People, Technology, Impact  13:00 - Real Impact Examples: Manufacturing Waste and Cybersecurity  15:50 - Making the Digital World Safer  17:00 - Lightning Round: Customer Contracts as Funding, Ethiopian Food, and Sleep  20:10 - Content Recommendations and Young Entrepreneur Energy  22:10 - Closing Segment Key Quote: "I went from a number crunching engineer to, I would say, a pretty people oriented leader..." - Vishal Gupta     Connect with Vishal Gupta: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiguptaji/ Subscribe to Real Returns wherever you listen to podcasts! For more insights on impactful investing and alternative asset strategies, visit our website to learn more about creating real returns through real estate. LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and stay tuned for the next episode.

    25 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    S7 E5 - Liran Gabbay | How AI Is Transforming Multifamily Asset Management

    How does an AI expert from an intelligence background solve multifamily's data burnout problem? In this episode of Real Returns, hosts Andrew Reichert and Dan Croce sit down with Liran Gabbay, CEO and co-founder of Muvan AI, to explore how he's revolutionizing multifamily asset management through artificial intelligence. Liran reveals the Monday morning report that changed everything, why asset managers deserve better than buried Excel spreadsheets, and how his platform is giving finance professionals back the jobs they were actually meant to do. From an elite intelligence unit to building an AI co-pilot for real estate operators, Liran shares his journey of turning burnout into breakthrough, why the real threat isn't AI replacing jobs but not having AI to help you succeed, and how maintaining culture while scaling from 6 to 20+ employees remains his biggest challenge. Learn how Muvan AI is transforming reactive data analysis into proactive insights, building a customer community that shares best practices, and why making work fun isn't just a nice-to-have; it's the foundation of lasting impact. Timestamps: 00:00 - Opening Segment 01:00 - Liran's Background and Introduction to Muvan AI 03:00 - From Intelligence to Real Estate Technology 04:45 - The Problem: Paper-Based Systems in a Digital Age 05:50 - The Genesis Story: One Ugly Excel Sheet 08:10 - AI as Empowerment, Not Replacement 09:50 - Getting Asset Managers the Jobs They Deserve 12:10 - The Joy of Building: People and Product 15:05 - Scaling While Having Fun 17:00 - Lightning Round 20:00 - Closing Segment Key Quote: "My biggest challenge as a CEO is to keep the same culture that got us from zero to six, from six to 12, from 12 to 20 without missing anyone on the road." - Liran Gabbay   -- Connect with Liran Gabbay: LinkedIn: https://il.linkedin.com/in/liran-gabbay-proptech-muvan Website: Muvan.ai   Subscribe to Real Returns wherever you listen to podcasts! For more insights on impactful investing and alternative asset strategies, visit our website to learn more about creating real returns through real estate. LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and stay tuned for the next episode.

    26 min

  6. 10/29/2025

    S7 E4 - Omar Khan | Dollar Cost Averaging with Multifamily Real Estate

    How does a CFA from Canada build an $800 million multifamily empire in Texas? In this episode of Real Returns, hosts Andrew Reichert and Dan Croce sit down with Omar Khan, founder and managing partner of Boardwalk Wealth, to explore his fundamentals-first approach to multifamily investing. Omar reveals why he compares real estate acquisition strategy to dollar cost averaging in the stock market, his philosophy on bringing "a gun to a knife fight" through supply-starved market selection, and how his firm has taken over 1,800 distressed units in the last 16 months. From escaping Canada's high tax burden to building a 5,000-unit portfolio across the Sunbelt and Midwest, Omar shares the importance of timing, diversification, and why treating residents (not tenants) with respect isn't just good ethics—it's good business. Learn how tax efficiency through distressed acquisitions can deliver $2-3 of depreciation for every dollar invested, and why the attributes that get you to success aren't the same ones that keep you there. Timestamps: 00:00 - Opening Segment 01:35 - Omar's Background and Introduction to Boardwalk Wealth 03:30 - The Genesis: From CFA to Real Estate Entrepreneur 06:40 - The First Deal: 138 Units in Jacksonville 08:40 - Building a Company vs. Just Doing Deals 10:35 - Tax Efficiency and the Canadian Tax Burden 12:05 - Advanced Tax Strategies in Distressed Acquisitions 12:20 - Stakeholders and Impact: A Three-Legged Stool Approach 15:10 - Fundamentals-First Philosophy: Supply-Starved Markets 18:05 - The Importance of Timing and Dollar Cost Averaging 20:10 - Lightning Round Key Quotes: "A lot of real estate, like a lot of life is timing. " - Omar Khan "What gets you from poverty to success is not the same set of attributes that keeps you successful." - Omar Khan -- Connect with Omar Khan: Website: boardwalkwealth.com Recommended Book: Towers of Debt - The story of the Reichman family Subscribe to Real Returns wherever you listen to podcasts for more insights on impactful investing and alternative asset strategies. Visit our website to learn more about creating real returns through real estate and alternative investments.   --   LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and Stay Tuned for the next episode COMING SOON

    26 min

  7. 10/15/2025

    S7 E3 - Dr. Michael Johnson | Intellectual Property as an Asset Class

    How does a PhD student turn university research into a $20M exit? In this episode of Real Returns, host Andrew Reichert sits down with Dr. Michael Johnson, President of the New Jersey Innovation Institute and former biotech CEO, to explore intellectual property as an often-overlooked asset class. Michael reveals his journey from graduate student to successfully commercializing a Rutgers spin-out that worked with all top 20 pharma companies on critical drug discovery programs including COVID-19 and Zika virus treatments. Discover why universities have become America's primary source of breakthrough innovations, how the venture studio model is solving the "founder problem" in New Jersey, and practical strategies for investors looking to gain exposure to IP-based ventures. From PFAS testing technology to defense manufacturing, Michael shares the realities of bridging the gap between academic research and commercial products—and why patience is the secret ingredient to innovation.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Opening Segment 01:20 - Michael's Non-Linear Journey from PhD to CEO 06:05 - Intellectual Property: The Constitutional Asset Class 08:00 - How the Venture Studio Model Works 10:50 - The Rutgers Spin-Out Story: From Students to $20M Exit 13:15 - The Current State of University Funding and Innovation 16:00 - Where Innovation Actually Happens 18:35 - Academia vs. Private Sector: Who's Really Innovating? 20:20 - How Investors Can Access IP Opportunities 22:15 - Lightning Round   Key Quotes: "Intellectual property is what keeps the country moving forward" - Dr. Michael Johnson   "To make one investment, you have to look at a thousand companies." - Dr. Michael Johnson   "We've done a bad job of actually doing innovation for Americans. When you think of pharma, you think of six and seven figure drugs that nobody can afford." - Dr. Michael Johnson   --   Connect with Dr. Michael Johnson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnson-ph-d-6839b724/ New Jersey Innovation Institute: njii.com Michael's Book: 1percentdad.com    --   Subscribe to Real Returns wherever you listen to podcasts for more insights on impactful investing and alternative asset strategies. Visit our website to learn more about creating real returns through real estate and alternative investments.   --   LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and Stay Tuned for the next episode COMING SOON

    27 min

  8. 10/01/2025

    S7 E2 - Travis Chappell | The ROI of Investing in Yourself

    How does someone with an unaccredited Bible degree generate six figures by age 23 and build a podcasting empire? In this episode of Real Returns, hosts Andrew Reichert and Dan Croce sit down with Travis Chappell, podcaster, entrepreneur, and investor, to explore his unconventional journey from door-to-door sales to podcast empire. Travis reveals why he believes Gen Z and millennials must "earn their way to retirement" rather than save their way there, his philosophy on creating value before asking for compensation, and how investing in yourself can deliver 10x returns compared to traditional investments. From growing up in a religious cult to living in Las Vegas, Travis shares the mindset shifts and strategies that helped him build wealth through relationships, skills, and scalable side hustles. Timestamps: 00:00 - Opening: The Value-First Philosophy 02:45 - Travis's Background: From Cult to College 06:15 - The Podcasting Journey Begins 07:20 - Why Earning Beats Saving for Wealth Building 11:00 - The Problem with Traditional Financial Advice 14:00 - Adding Value to Your Current Job 16:20 - Side Hustle Strategy and Scalability 20:45 - Investing in Yourself: The Ultimate ROI 22:15 - AI and Future-Proof Skills 26:50 - Principles vs. Platforms 28:25 - Lightning Round Key Quotes: "People think they get paid for their time, but they don't. We all get paid for the value we bring to the marketplace. Bar none. That's it." - Travis Chappell "You are the number one investment you should be making and you're the only investment that you can make that will always have a return." - Travis Chappell "We have to earn our way to retirement. We're not gonna be able to save our way to retirement." - Travis Chappell -- Connect with Travis Chappell: Podcasts: "Travis Makes Money" (daily) and "Travis Makes Friends" (weekly) Instagram: @TravisChappell – Subscribe to Real Returns wherever you listen to podcasts for more insights on impactful investing and wealth building strategies. Visit our website to learn more about creating real returns through real estate and alternative investments. -- LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and Stay Tuned for the next episode COMING SOON

    38 min
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About

Welcome to the Real Returns podcast, where we learn how real investments can make a real impact. Join your hosts, Andrew and Dan, as they share stories and interview business leaders on how real estate and other forms of investment can create meaningful change for individuals and communities around the world. Don't forget to visit: https://www.birgo.com

Information

  • Creator
    Birgo Capital
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 All Right Reserved
  • Show Website
    Real Returns