CEO Pulse Podcast

Welcome to the CEO Pulse Podcast where you'll find the real, the raw and the mind of entrepreneurship. This is your backstage access to first-hand business experience, strategies & exclusive performance tools from successful entrepreneurs, CEO's and Game Changers.Subscribe, like & share today to join a new breed of hungry entrepreneurs just like us at www.ceopulse.com.

CEO Pulse Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Rafael Cortez, with 117 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Rafael Cortez hosts CEO Pulse Podcast, a business show with 117 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  CEO Pulse Podcast

  Creative Finance Playbook: Building a Lifestyle Real Estate Portfolio with Jenn & Joe

  Jul 31, 202649 min

  In this episode, Rafael sits down with real estate power couple Jenn and Joe Delle Fave, founders of the Creative Finance Playbook. Transitioning from a teacher and a car dealership employee in upstate New York to running and empowering a thriving community of Real Estate Investors. They share their journey of building multi-million dollar real estate wealth through lifestyle entrepreneurship. : Direct-to-Seller Strategy: Why off-market deals yield the best returns compared to saturated MLS listings. Creative Financing Mastery: How they utilize subject-to, seller financing, and lease options to purchase properties with as little as $100 down. Remote Business & Scaling: Tips on moving away from a W2, maintaining focused daily habits, and tracking high-impact KPIs (like the number of offers made weekly). Partnering with Your Spouse: How to navigate running a business together by identifying individual strengths and aligning on vision. Time Stamps: 00:00 – Intro & The Advantage of Direct-to-Seller Strategy 00:32 – Welcoming Jenn and Joe Delle Fave 02:14 – Transitioning from Local to Remote Real Estate 03:45 – Explaining Creative Financing & Their $100-Down Method 05:57 – Moving to Full-Time Real Estate & Homeschooling 07:45 – The Challenges and Focus of Sourcing Off-Market Deals 11:50 – Scaling a Business Through Community and Messy Massive Action 16:20 – How Students Are Leaving W2s Using Free Marketing Strategies 17:54 – Habits and Time Management for High-Impact Scaling 21:37 – Habit Replacement: Cutting Out Television and Netflix 22:25 – Lessons from the Car Dealership: Building Long-Term Rental Wealth 26:54 – Tracking KPIs: The Importance of Focus and Offer Velocity 28:01 – Lead Generation: Sourcing Motivated Sellers via Meta Ads 32:37 – Partnering with Your Spouse: Visionaries, Integrators, and Spousal Support 40:40 – Joining the Creative Finance Playbook Community 43:49 – Information vs. Connection: Running Virtual Teams 45:00 – What Advice Would You Give to Your 17-Year-Old Self? 47:11 – Outro & Final Takeaways Connect with Jenn & Joe: Website: creativefinanceplaybook.com YouTube: Creative Finance Playbook Socials: Search Jennifer Delle Fave and Joe Delle Fave on Facebook & Instagram Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more insightful, real conversations with top entrepreneurs. Hit the bell so you never miss an episode of the CEO Pulse Podcast.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  CEO Pulse Podcast

  Lets Talk About Hot Leads with James Heartquist

  Jul 15, 20261h 7m

  In this episode of the CEO Pulse Podcast, the host sits down with James Heartquist, the operations brain behind Property Leads, to demystify the lead generation space for real estate investors. James shares his journey from construction worker to co-founding a top-tier pay-per-lead (PPL) company and dives deep into how the platform delivers highly motivated inbound leads through organic SEO and paid advertising. The conversation covers major industry pain points, including why less than 20% of investors pick up live-transferred leads, how to keep business lines safe from carrier "spam likely" filters, and why focusing on personal sales skills—rather than just the paycheck—is the ultimate cheat code to scaling your business. Plus, hear James's advice for transitioning safely from a W-2 to real estate and why "grind season" requires building your dream after-hours. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼:The PPL (Pay-Per-Lead) Model.The Live Transfer OpportunityThe Reality of Lead Conversion RatesProperty Leads' Business Scaling & OperationMindset, Sales Skills, and TransitioningTime Stamps:00:00 – 02:10 | Episode Intro & The Hard Reality of Lead Generation02:11 – 08:32 | James Heartquist’s Journey: From Construction to Organic Real Estate SEO08:33 – 11:34 | Demystifying the Pay-Per-Lead (PPL) Model and Pre-Qualification11:35 – 15:13 | The Live Transfer Opportunity and Answering the Phone15:14 – 20:06 | Navigating Carrier "Spam Likely" Filters & Phone Number Remediation20:07 – 25:39 | Conversion Rates vs. Title Transfer Percentages25:40 – 29:12 | Enhancing the Home Seller Experience & Overcoming "Stranger Danger"29:13 – 34:52 | Scaling Property Leads: Operations, Hiring Pains, and Bottlenecks34:53 – 39:20 | Expanding Inbound Marketing Channels Beyond Organic SEO39:21 – 43:07 | Strategic Focus: Why Property Leads Prefers "All Steak, No Sizzle"43:08 – 46:50 | Defining the Ideal PPL Client and Minimum Marketing Budgets46:51 – 54:26 | Chasing Sales Skills and Reprogramming Mindsets for Rejection54:27 – 58:42 | The Transition Phase: W-2 Jobs, "Grind Season," and Building Your Dream58:43 – 01:01:08 | Skill Sets vs. Paychecks: Why the Money Follows Personal Growth01:01:09 – 01:06:40 | Final Thoughts: Career Advice for a 17-Year-Old & Exclusive $250 Credit OfferConnect with James Heartquist:📧 Email: James@propertyleads.com🌐 Website: propertyleads.com🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more insightful, real conversations with top entrepreneurs.Hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode of the CEO Pulse Podcast.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  CEO Pulse Podcast

  Building an Ecosystem: Beyond Wholesaling to Full-Service Investing

  Jul 7, 202650 min

  In this episode of the Pulse Podcast, co-founders Miguel and Rudy of Acquired share their rapid growth in the California real estate market, tracking toward $300 million in sales volume and over 6 million in assignments for 2024. They discuss the transition from solo entrepreneurs to building a systematic real estate ecosystem that includes wholesaling, flipping, escrow, and staging. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼: The evolution of young entrepreneurs: Moving from door-to-door sales at 15 to building a high performing real estate business. Hyper-local market mastery: How deep familiarity with specific zip codes and sub-markets prevents fatal comping errors in competitive areas like Los Angeles. Relationship-driven deal flow: Why 80% of deals come from agent relationships and the specific incentives used to keep inventory flowing. The "Team Flip" model. Accountability as the root of culture. Continuous education and the ego trap. Building an investor ecosystem: The transition from simple wholesaling to owning the entire vertical through in-house escrow, brokerage, and staging services. Time Stamps: 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to the "entrepreneur path" and the reality of the hustle. 00:31 - 01:21: Introduction of guests Miguel and Rudy from Acquired, including their 2024 sales performance and background in the California market. 00:53 - 01:12: Overview of Acquired's growth from $129 million in 2023 to tracking $300 million in 2024. 02:20 - 03:11: Discussion on the importance of systematic frameworks, teamwork, and avoiding the trap of trying to do everything yourself. 03:12 - 04:22: Explanation of why they focused on their own "backyard" in Los Angeles due to market familiarity. 05:30 - 06:30: Miguel and Rudy share how they met at a previous wholesale company and began collaborating. 07:48 - 08:16: The strategy of identifying who controls inventory in specific LA neighborhoods. 08:58 - 09:55: Discussion on average deal sizes and the expansion into fix-and-flip strategies. 10:11 - 10:49: Description of "team flips" as a method for employee retention and wealth building. 11:40 - 13:11: The realization of potential profits from flipping versus strictly wholesaling. 14:14 - 15:09: Future goals for the next three years, including gross revenue targets and expanding services like escrow and staging. 16:13 - 17:34: Personal backgrounds in sales, including door-to-door sales and detailing cars as teenagers. 17:55 - 19:21: Rudy’s introduction to real estate through the book Rich Dad Poor Dad and his early career at Keller Williams. 21:14 - 22:48: Deep dive into their specific wholesaling model, which often involves taking title to properties before reselling. 23:00 - 27:51 : Discussion on working with real estate agents and the legality of dual representation in California. 28:02 - 28:54: The speaker's three core business principles: radical transparency, extreme ownership, and people over profits. 29:55 - 31:12: The importance of culture and accountability in scaling to a billion-dollar brokerage. 32:49 - 33:26: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the acquisition team, such as writing 20 offers per week. 35:10 - 36:20: The value of investing in personal education and mentorship. 38:50 - 40:18: Advice for those starting in business: find someone crushing it and work for them to gain a "shortcut" education. 42:48 - 44:15: Humorous and challenging experiences dealing with the unique personalities of the LA real estate market. 45:26 - 47:30: Advice to their 17-year-old selves regarding confidence and surrounding themselves with the right people. 47:53 - 48:38: Contact information for Miguel, Rudy, and Acquired Connect with Acquire'd: Website: acquired-homes.com Instagram: @acquiredtm @rudy.cgomez @miggysmalls01 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more insightful, real conversations with top entrepreneurs.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  CEO Pulse Podcast

  David Olds | EZ REI Closings & The Real Estate Markets You NEED to Focus on THIS YEAR!

  Jul 2, 20261h 12m

  In this episode of the CEO Pulse Podcast, real estate investing veteran David Olds shares his journey from reading "Rich Dad Poor Dad" in an airport to building the nation's largest transaction coordination company. With over 24 years of experience and 9,000+ transactions managed, David provides a raw look at the grit required to scale a service-based business and the critical importance of mastering the "paperwork side" of real estate to ensure deals actually cross the finish line. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼: The evolution of an entrepreneur from corporate retail manager to a real estate legend. Why transaction coordination (TC) is a vital soft skill that can save thousands in potentially dead deals. Data-driven market insights: why rural deals have a 58% fail rate and how to pick secondary markets for maximum activity. The "broken" brain of a true entrepreneur and the reality of work-life counterbalance. Building a core team of "rock stars" through scalable, simple processes and leadership evolution. David's perspective on the 2026 real estate market and why it's time to "buckle up" for the next cycle. Time Stamps: 00:18 - Meet David Olds: 24 years of real estate experience and 9,000+ closings. 01:57 - The "Rich Dad Poor Dad" airport moment that started it all. 05:13 - The "broken" entrepreneur's brain and work-life counterbalance. 12:12 - Launching a transaction coordination company when everyone said it was "dumb". 16:34 - Why 50% of real estate contracts fail nationwide. 19:27 - The "Dr. No" story: Challenging title attorneys to get deals closed. 23:55 - Saving a $68,000 assignment fee from a 72-hour foreclosure deadline. 26:05 - Shocking stats: Why rural deals have a 58% death rate. 34:50 - David’s corporate to solopreneur to CEO evolution. 37:16 - The McDonald's principle: Why "simple" is the only thing that scales. 40:34 - The reality of team turnover and finding your core leadership. 49:05 - Market Selection 101: Targeting 250k-750k population secondary markets. 55:18 - Top 3 things to look for in a Transaction Coordinator. 01:00:45 - Advice to a 17-year-old self: Hold more properties. 01:07:32 - How EZREI Closings helps investors from their first deal to 60+ a month. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲: Follow David Olds on social: Facebook: facebook.com/DavidOldsREI Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/davidoldsrei TikTok: @davidoldsrei Instagram: Business Website: ezreiclosings.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more insightful, real conversations with top entrepreneurs. Hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode of the CEO Pulse Podcast.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  CEO Pulse Podcast

  How to adapt through the cycles of entrepreneurship with Derek Jarr

  Jun 8, 202645 min

  Join us for a deep dive into the entrepreneurial journey of real estate veteran Derek Jarr, who shares his experiences from starting out in 1996 to building a successful career across multiple real estate sectors. In this episode, Jarr discusses his early days of "hustle" following college, including his entry into fix-and-flips and pre-foreclosures in Phoenix. He offers unique insights into how he successfully navigated the 2008 financial crisis and describes his current work as CEO of Stay Frank, a company specializing in innovative home equity investments and sale-leasebacks. Beyond real estate tactics, Jarr provides profound advice on business philosophy, the importance of building relationships as a "superpower," and his optimistic outlook on using AI to exponentially increase productivity. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼: Entrepreneurial Journey and Real Estate Entry. Navigating Market Cycles. Alternative Real Estate Models. Business Philosophy. AI and Future Trends. Self-Awareness and Internal Growth. Advice and Responsibility. Time Stamps: 00:00 – 01:40: Introduction to Derek Jarr, his background in real estate since 2002, and his current role as CEO of Stay Frank. 01:40 – 03:25: Early career details, including dropping out of college at Appalachian State University to pursue business and sales. 03:25 – 04:40: Entry into real estate with a Phoenix fix-and-flip in 2002 during the "stated asset" era. 04:40 – 08:08: Experience with door-knocking for pre-foreclosures starting in 2003 and a story about a property under SWAT surveillance. 08:08 – 09:24: Discussion on the human element of real estate and Jarr's experience across multiple verticals, including lending and development. 09:24 – 11:06: Business philosophy that a business should be "boring" and programmatic while life remains exciting. 11:06 – 12:46: Explanation of Stay Frank’s products: residential sale-leasebacks and home equity investments. 12:46 – 15:39: Insights on entrepreneurship, the necessity of sales or relationship-building, and Jarr's personal "superpower". 15:39 – 18:25: Lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis, transitioning from short sales to remodeling and residential development.9 18:25 – 21:30: The importance of taking a "leap of faith" and believing in one's ability to figure out challenges. 21:30 – 24:40: Deep dive into self-awareness, internal motivation, and finding joy in the process of creating. 24:40 – 28:07: Exploring clarity in actions and identifying how ego can drive unnecessary dissatisfaction. 28:07 – 31:55: Discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for "thinkers" to exponentially increase productivity. 31:55 – 36:03: Experiences with AI tribal knowledge and its rapid compounding intelligence every seven months 36:03 – 40:10: The impact of AI on the workforce and the potential for greater human connection through efficiency. 40:10 – 43:14: Advice to Jarr's 17-year-old self, emphasizing "responsibility without shame" and detaching from others' opinions. 43:14 – 44:29: Closing remarks and contact information for Derek Jarr via LinkedIn or stayfrank.com. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲: Follow Derek Jarr on social: Website: https://www.stayfrank.com/ LinkedIn (Gina): Derek Jarr 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more insightful, real conversations with top entrepreneurs. Hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode of the CEO Pulse Podcast.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on CEO Pulse Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.