What the M

Kent D. McPhail and Stephen M. Hladik

Do you ever wonder who is behind the scenes collecting and processing all those monthly mortgage payments throughout the entire country? In the world of residential mortgages, the mortgage servicing industry is a critical but not always visible player in the lending and home ownership process. Unveiling how mortgage servicers manage the residential homeownership industry is the concept behind “What the M,” a new podcast that discusses the complex issues facing default services and the path forward for the mortgage industry and homeowners alike. The industry is comprised of more than 160 mortgage servicers representing more than 80% of the outstanding principal balances on mortgages in the U.S. Without the involvement of these vital mortgage servicers, obtaining and maintaining a home mortgage as we know it would not exist.“‘What the M’ features industry movers and shakers discussing the challenges faced by mortgage servicers, law firms and the American homeowner,” said Stephen Hladik, one of the co-hosts for the podcast and chair of the Advisory Council of the Legal League 100. “We will discuss trends in the economy, regulatory oversight, changes in the law, changes in technology and a myriad of other factors affecting the industry.”Hladik and co-host Kent McPhail are experienced attorneys with multistate practices in the default servicing industry. Both have decades of experience representing secured creditors; however, each host brings his own unique perspective to the podcast. McPhail hails from the Deep South (think boiled peanuts and shrimp & grits), while Hladik hails from the Northeast (think cheesesteaks and scrapple). “With this Yin and Yang, we hope to bring an entertaining and informative approach to the industry and those who make it hum,” McPhail said.Episodes of “What the M” begin airing mid-September and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

  1. 12/01/2025

    Episode 60 - Gina Dascola

    The 60th episode of What the M features Sergeant Gina Dascola, retired from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and founder of Dascola Consulting, LLC.  In this episode, Sgt. Gina Dascola shares her 40 years of experience with the foreclosure sheriff sale process in Pennsylvania. While emphasizing the importance of due diligence and discussing the challenges faced during live sales, Gina also shares the impact of technology on the sales process, the effects of economic crises on foreclosure rates, and the common misconceptions surrounding the sheriff's role in the process. As she transitions into consulting, Gina offers valuable advice to her younger self, encouraging resilience and confidence in the face of challenges. We are very lucky to have Gina's expertise featured on the show, and we know that listeners will gain valuable insight from “the Dean of foreclosures in Pennsylvania”!  Welcome to What the M, Gina! ***************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com.

    33 min
  2. 11/17/2025

    Episode 59 - Glenn Brooks

    The 59th episode of What the M features Glenn Brooks, President of Genstone Asset Disposition.  In this episode, Glenn shares his journey into the industry, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that have shaped his career over the past three decades. Glenn also discusses the current state of the REO market with Kent and Steve and shares his predictions for the future, including the role of technology and AI in streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency.  Glenn Brooks leads the Asset Disposition business unit at The Fay Group, where he oversees the team responsible for helping clients maximize returns while mitigating losses on REO.  Earlier in his career, Glenn held several leadership roles at Eastern Savings Bank. He also spent 10 years as a licensed General Contractor, owned a mortgage brokerage, and managed a title company operating in 18 states. With more than 30 years of experience in property preservation, construction, REO, and foreclosure management, Glenn brings a deep understanding of asset performance, value recovery, and operational efficiency. Welcome to What the M, Glenn! *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com.

    42 min
  3. 11/03/2025

    Episode 58 - John Bell

    For the 58th episode of What the M, Kent McPhail and Steve Hladik honor John Bell, a titan of the mortgage industry and dedicated public servant. John Bell III attended Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee before spending more than 15 years in the private sector, including serving as the Vice President of VA Real Estate Management at Bank of America. John was a Navy Veteran who served in both the Gulf War and Operation Restore Hope. This background made John uniquely suited for his most recent position as Executive Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan Guaranty program. Since 1945, the VA program has backed more than 25 million loans and currently holds a 12% share of the total single-family market in the United States. John’s passion for the program and its benefit to our servicemembers shines through in his conversation with Kent and Steve. Press “play” to meet the man John Dunnery calls “the most innovative person who has been at the VA in the last 40 years, AND the best government hire of the past 40 years.”   *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com.

    29 min
  4. 09/29/2025

    Episode 56 - Michael Merritt

    The 56th episode of What the M features Michael Merritt, Senior Vice President of Customer Care and Default Mortgage Servicing at BOK Financial. A longtime friend of the show is back for his 3rd visit! Michael Merritt has returned to What the M. This time around, he is here to share his thoughts on the topic of the new HUD bidding guidelines and their impact on the industry. Michael is the Senior Vice President of Customer Care and Default Mortgage Servicing at BOK Financial. Michael attended Arizona State University, where he got his BA in Organizational Leadership (Go Sun Devils!)  He then received his MBA from Texas Tech and his Master’s Degree in Legal Studies from Texas A&M. Michael worked at Nationstar Mortgage and Goldman Sachs prior to moving to BOK.  Welcome BACK to What the M, Michael!  *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com.

    41 min
  5. 09/15/2025

    Episode 55 - LeAllen Frost

    The 55th episode of What the M features LeAllen Frost, Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel - Head of Litigation at Pennymac. It’s that time again… for a new episode of What the M! Kent and Steve are excited to be joined by LeAllen Frost, Deputy General Counsel at Pennymac—a top lender and servicer that has helped more than five million homeowners achieve their aspirations of homeownership. In this episode, Kent, Steve, and LeAllen take a closer look at the legal side of mortgage default servicing: how regulation is evolving, how borrowers are impacted, and what the future holds for compliance, risk management, and innovation within the industry. LeAllen shares insights from his extensive career, offering a unique perspective on the future of mortgage servicing. Tune in for an engaging discussion on the legal intricacies and innovations shaping the industry today! With 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry, LeAllen Frost is a seasoned and versatile litigation, regulatory, and compliance counsel who handles class action litigation, regulatory investigations, and employee management. He is passionate about providing effective and efficient legal services to Pennymac, public speaking and legal education. LeAllen founded and organizes the Mortgage Servicing In-House Counsel Forum, a network of mortgage attorneys who host conferences and CLE events focused on legal issues related to mortgage and consumer finance. He is also a regular speaker at industry conferences, and teaches legal writing training to corporate departments and law firms. Welcome to What the M, LeAllen!  *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com.

    35 min
  6. 09/02/2025

    Episode 54 - Rick Sharga & Daren Blomquist

    The 54th episode of What the M features Rick Sharga, CEO and President of the CJ Patrick Company, and Daren Blomquist, Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com. It’s that time again… for a new SEASON of What the M!  Over the first three seasons of What the M, Kent and Steve have been fortunate enough to interview an incredible roster of talented professionals about their insights and predictions for the default servicing industry. To kick off Season 4, they have brought in two experts to talk about economic trends from the past year, analyze the labor market and unemployment rates, and explore the impact of federal policies on the housing market. The conversation also delves into consumer behavior, investor sentiment, and the challenges posed by rising homeownership costs. As they look ahead, the guests share their predictions for the mortgage market and offer advice for navigating the complexities of the economy. Rick Sharga is one of the country’s most frequently-quoted sources on real estate, mortgage, and foreclosure trends. Rick is the CEO and President of the CJ Patrick Company, a company that specializes in market intelligence for companies in the real estate and mortgage industries. Rick has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage industries, previously serving in executive roles for Realty Trac, Carrington Mortgage Holdings, Ten-X, and Auction.com. He is also a founding member of the Five Star Institute’s National Mortgage Servicing Association.  Daren Blomquist is the Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com. Daren is a former Senior Vice President of Communications at ATTOM Data Solutions, where he reported on housing trends, cash and investor purchases, housing risks, default trends, and more. These reports have been cited by thousands of media outlets nationwide, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA TODAY. Daren also served as Executive Editor of the Housing News Report, which was named best newsletter by the National Association of Real Estate Editors in 2015 and 2016. In 2019, Daren transitioned to Auction.com, where he focuses on analyzing and forecasting complex macro and micro-economic data trends within the real estate market and industry.  Welcome BACK to What the M, Rick and Daren!  *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com.

    58 min

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Do you ever wonder who is behind the scenes collecting and processing all those monthly mortgage payments throughout the entire country? In the world of residential mortgages, the mortgage servicing industry is a critical but not always visible player in the lending and home ownership process. Unveiling how mortgage servicers manage the residential homeownership industry is the concept behind “What the M,” a new podcast that discusses the complex issues facing default services and the path forward for the mortgage industry and homeowners alike. The industry is comprised of more than 160 mortgage servicers representing more than 80% of the outstanding principal balances on mortgages in the U.S. Without the involvement of these vital mortgage servicers, obtaining and maintaining a home mortgage as we know it would not exist.“‘What the M’ features industry movers and shakers discussing the challenges faced by mortgage servicers, law firms and the American homeowner,” said Stephen Hladik, one of the co-hosts for the podcast and chair of the Advisory Council of the Legal League 100. “We will discuss trends in the economy, regulatory oversight, changes in the law, changes in technology and a myriad of other factors affecting the industry.”Hladik and co-host Kent McPhail are experienced attorneys with multistate practices in the default servicing industry. Both have decades of experience representing secured creditors; however, each host brings his own unique perspective to the podcast. McPhail hails from the Deep South (think boiled peanuts and shrimp & grits), while Hladik hails from the Northeast (think cheesesteaks and scrapple). “With this Yin and Yang, we hope to bring an entertaining and informative approach to the industry and those who make it hum,” McPhail said.Episodes of “What the M” begin airing mid-September and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.