Episodes

In this episode of MikeDrop, we welcome Chris Vinson, CEO of Windsor Mortgage and head of the mortgage division at Plains Commerce Bank, for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build trust in lending—beyond rates, margins, and spreadsheets.

Chris is a visionary leader who has built a legacy in wholesale and community banking by focusing not just on volume, but on relationships, coaching, and solving real problems for originators. Under his leadership, Windsor Mortgage origi...

In this episode of MikedUp, we sit down with Lisa Lang, Executive Vice President and Head of Capital Bank Home Loans, to explore how creative technology and sustainable innovation are shaping the future of the mortgage industry. Lisa brings a wealth of experience, deep market insight, and a proven track record of leadership to this conversation — making it a must-listen for anyone passionate about the evolving housing and lending landscape.

With decades of experience across every facet of the m...

In this episode, we dive deep into how homebuying has changed — and where it’s headed — with Dan Richards, President of Flyhomes Mortgage. Dan’s story is one of bridging tech, finance, and real estate to create more accessible paths to homeownership, especially in a market that’s constantly shifting.

Dan joined Flyhomes in October 2022, bringing with him a rich background from SoFi (where he led the Home Loans unit and played a role in acquiring Wyndham Capital Mortgage), Homie, and many years ...

In this powerful episode of the podcast, we sit down with Mosi Gatling, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth and Expansion at New American Funding, to explore the future of homeownership in America and how the industry can take meaningful steps to close the homeownership gap.

Mosi brings over two decades of mortgage industry expertise and has built an impressive career as a dynamic speaker, coach, and leader. She’s been consistently recognized among the top 1% of mortgage originators by Sc...

This week’s episode takes us through a deep, eye-opening conversation with Kevin Peranio, Chief Lending Officer of Paramount Residential Mortgage Group (PRMG). Kevin reflects on a career rooted in adapting, learning, and leading through nearly two decades of seismic shifts in the mortgage industry—from regional markets to nationwide lending cycles.

Kevin’s journey begins in 2001, when he helped expand First Magnus Financial throughout Texas and Florida. As both a launchpad and learning ground, ...

What does it really take to make homeownership possible for millions of Americans—especially Gen Z, first-time buyers, and families often overlooked by the traditional system? This week, we’re joined by two of the industry’s most passionate voices: Dave Savage and Kristin Messerli, co-founders of FirstHome IQ, a nonprofit on a mission to deliver financial education and empower five million young adults with the tools to become homeowners.

About Dave Savage

Dave is a legend in mortgage educatio...

This episode welcomes an industry original—Khash Saghafi, founder and CEO of Liberty Home Mortgage—to unpack why, even after 25 years in lending, he still believes “It is always a great day.”
Khash isn’t just known for his longevity—he’s built a reputation as the problem solver for homebuyers, whether they have perfect credit or have been turned away elsewhere. His direct-lender model specializes in conventional, VA, FHA, and USDA purchase loans across 45 states, plus rehab, debt consolidation, ...

In this inspiring and refreshingly candid conversation, we step into the shoes of Mariana Martinez, a student-athlete turned mortgage industry insider, whose career journey began as an intern at Easy Mortgage App and evolved into a pivotal role managing operations for the Mike’d Up Show. Born in Mexico and thriving at Texas Christian University, Mariana didn’t follow the typical corporate ladder — she leapt into the deep end of a bootstrap tech startup and learned to swim fast.

From navigating ...

This week on the podcast, we welcome Kate Amor, Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Products at Guaranteed Rate, to talk about leadership, trust, and building connection in an industry where relationships are everything.

Kate’s career started right out of college as a mortgage loan officer—a role that gave her firsthand experience in understanding the challenges borrowers face and the deep importance of earning trust at every step. Over time, she advanced into operations, risk, credit,...

This week on the show, we’re diving into a conversation that connects leadership, capital markets, and representation in mortgage finance. Our guest, Deborah (Deb) Jones, Senior Vice President and Director of Mortgage Secondary and Capital Markets at Citizens, brings over 21 years of experience guiding clients and organizations through one of the most dynamic industries in financial services.

Deb’s career spans multiple housing and economic cycles, giving her unique insight into how mortgage ma...

This week, we sit down with Andrew Panagos, President of GO Mortgage, for a no-fluff, high-insight conversation on what it really takes to lead a modern mortgage company in today’s shifting landscape. With a career that spans powerhouse brands like Fairway, PHH, Deutsche Bank, and H&R Block Mortgage, Andrew brings over two decades of cross-channel experience—retail, wholesale, direct-to-consumer—and a deep operational mindset grounded in systems, scale, and strategic precision.

As the head of G...

On this episode, we sit down with Steve Thomas — a veteran mortgage executive, Navy officer, and now the visionary behind FutureWave Finance, a newly launched minority-owned national correspondent lender. With nearly 30 years in residential mortgage, capital markets, and inclusive financial leadership, Steve brings a perspective rooted in innovation, community empowerment, and bold transformation.

From his early days at Fannie Mae and Countrywide to leading roles at CastleOak Securities and the...

This week on the show, we sit down with three of the most compelling voices in the mortgage industry—Rick Roque, Brock Cassidy, and Jeremy Potter—who together host the influential weekly show REALFridays. In this dynamic conversation, we unpack the intersection of leadership, media, and strategy, diving into the insights that only come from three decades of combined mortgage, fintech, and proptech experience.

Jeremy Potter, founder of Next Belt Strategies, brings a legal and regulatory edge to ...

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Todd Feager, Co-Founder of Haven Home Equity, to explore how lenders and borrowers alike can harness the untapped power of home equity. With over 23 years in the mortgage industry, Todd brings a deep, hands-on understanding of what today’s consumers actually need—especially in the evolving consumer-direct lending landscape.

At Haven, Todd has helped pioneer a structured and strategic approach to using home equity, designed not just to pull out ca...

What does it take to lead one of America’s largest independent mortgage banks in today’s market—and still put the customer at the center of it all?

In this episode of MikeDrop, we sit down with Justin Messer, the President and CEO of Prosperity Home Mortgage, to unpack the leadership mindset, technology strategy, and service-first culture that’s redefining the mortgage experience from the inside out.

With more than 15 years of mortgage leadership experience, Justin has seen the evolution of th...

In this powerful episode of MikeDrop, we sit down with Jeremy Davis, President of Mortgage at Southern Bancorp, to explore what it really means to build legacy through lending. Jeremy doesn’t just talk housing; he lives and breathes it—from grassroots advocacy to C-suite leadership. His journey is a masterclass in mission-driven business, and this episode captures his voice, vision, and unwavering belief in economic empowerment through homeownership.

With more than two decades in mortgage and f...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Tannenbaum, the new CEO of Figure Technology Solutions, for a conversation about career growth, smart leadership, and how new ideas are changing the way lending and finance work today.

Michael’s path is nothing short of impressive. He helped grow SoFi’s lending operations, including building their mortgage business from the ground up. He later joined Brex as its first employee and played a major role in taking the company from a small startup to one of ...

In this powerful episode titled Thrive & Lead, we sit down with one of the mortgage industry’s most influential voices—Patty Arvielo, CEO and Co-Founder of New American Funding, and a beacon of leadership, resilience, and equity in financial services.

Patty’s story isn’t just about building a mortgage company—it’s about building a movement.

From humble beginnings cleaning real estate offices with her mother to becoming the first Hispanic woman to have a School of Business named after her, Patt...

In this episode of The MikedUp Show, we dive deep into what it truly means to build lasting relationships in the mortgage world—one call at a time. Featuring Alec Hanson, CMO at loanDepot and one of the most outspoken voices in modern mortgage, this conversation is all about real connection in a digital-first industry.

Alec isn’t just a top-tier executive—he’s a street-built loan officer who has walked the walk, made the calls, built the branches, and led his teams to billions in volume. From o...

In this powerhouse episode of The MikedUp Show, we dive deep into the evolving world of capital markets with none other than Jennifer McGuinness-Lubbert — a 25+ year mortgage banking veteran and the CEO of Pivot Financial. Jennifer doesn’t just adapt to change — she builds for it.

This episode is a must-listen for any independent mortgage banker, originator, or lender looking to play offense in today’s market. Jennifer lays out what it really takes to win — not just survive — in an environment ...

Warehouse lines aren't just financing—they’re a foundation.
In this compelling episode of The MikedUp Show, hosts Michael Kelleher and Michael Zau sit down with Chris Avery, Vice President and Relationship Manager at First Horizon Bank, to unpack the crucial intersection of warehouse lines of credit and strategic industry relationships in today’s mortgage banking environment.

Chris brings over 30 years of sales and leadership expertise to the conversation—along with a deep understanding of what...

In today's fast-changing mortgage world, opportunity is shifting—and smart lenders are paying attention. On this episode of The MikedUp Show, hosts Michael Kelleher and Michael Zau are joined by Ben Fertig, President of Constructive Loans, to explore the rise of residential real estate investment products and what they mean for the future of lending.

Ben brings nearly three decades of experience across capital markets, credit, and lending leadership. Having helped scale multiple successful plat...

What does it really take to launch a mortgage company in today’s market? In this episode of The MikedUp Show, hosts Michael Kelleher and Michael Zau sit down with Jim Carroll, a seasoned mortgage professional and builder of operations from the ground up. With over two decades of experience across every major role in mortgage—from top-producing loan officer to DE underwriter, recruiter, and executive—Jim brings clarity, candor, and perspective to the high-stakes world of mortgage startups.

Jim’s...

In this powerful episode of The MikedUp Show, hosts Michael Kelleher and Michael Zau are joined by Nikki Bialka, an unstoppable advocate for financial inclusion and the force behind Fifth Third Bank’s community lending initiatives. With a career rooted in mortgage, pipeline management, and operations, Nikki’s true passion lies in creating access and empowering underserved communities.

She’s not just talking about equitable lending—she’s actively building it. From leading homeownership symposium...