Jay Miralles gets real about the stretch of life after leaving the military—losing direction, getting hit hard by divorce, and ending up in a dark season that included homelessness and serious mental health struggles. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s an honest look at what rock bottom can feel like, and what it actually takes to climb out.

A big takeaway: you don’t “think” your way into a better life… you build it through structure, accountability, and the right people around you. Jay shares why community matters so much, how connection can be the difference between staying stuck and moving forward, and what changed when he decided to take ownership of his future.

We also dive into Jay’s move into real estate, lessons learned the hard way in business, and why being visible and available is one of the most underrated skills if you want to grow your network and opportunities.

The episode wraps with the mission behind the 50 Mile March—an endurance event designed to empower veterans and raise awareness around veteran mental health and homelessness. If you’re looking for a story that hits hard but leaves you better, this one’s it.

Share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a quick rating/review so more people can find the show.

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...

Ted and Owen recap a goal-planning lunch session featuring Brandon Turner, Collin Schwartz, and Vince Gettings (Titan Group), and get real about what actually works when setting goals: process goals vs. outcome goals. Because “lose 20 pounds” isn’t a plan—it’s a wish. Ted breaks down his approach: start with the big vision, then work it down into 90-day goals, monthly targets, weekly priorities, and daily “rocks” that keep momentum moving even when life gets chaotic.

They also hit the constant entrepreneur tug-of-war: building what you love (community, podcast, events) vs. building what pays the bills—plus why some “loss leader” work can still be worth it if it fuels the bigger mission. They wrap with what’s coming next, including the REIA Mastery Series event on January 16 with five keynote speakers, a full-day format, and 6 Nebraska real estate CE credit hours for licensed agents. The episode closes with a preview of an upcoming interview with local investor and business owner Jay Miralles—the kind of convo that would’ve gone two hours if they didn’t have a hard stop.

If you keep saying, “I can’t delegate because training takes too long,” start screen-recording what you do (and why you do it). Build your playbook while you work, and you’ll stop being the bottleneck in your own business.

If you got value from this episode, follow/subscribe and leave a 5-star review—bonus points for a written review.

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

Jasmine Greenwald jumps on REIA Radio to share how she went from art professor to real estate investor—and why that shift made sense once she got serious about freedom, ownership, and building something that lasts. We talk about getting started, taking calculated risks, and what it’s like running rentals when you’re not down the street to “just stop by real quick” (because that’s how people end up with a new full-time job called Stress).

Then we get into the real stuff: long-distance management, short-term vs. long-term rentals, insurance headaches, and contractor relationships—aka the part of real estate nobody brags about, but everyone eventually learns the hard way. Jasmine shares what she’s focused on next and the mindset that keeps her moving forward even when a project gets messy.

If you got value from this episode, follow/subscribe to REIA Radio, leave a quick review, and send this episode to a friend who still believes every contractor will “be there tomorrow.”

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

They kick things off with some end-of-year chaos and friendly trash talk, then shift into a serious update on a newly purchased Omaha property that’s being repositioned into long- and mid-term rentals. From there, the conversation turns into a mix of strategy, war stories, and lessons learned the hard way.

Owen and Ted break down hard money and private lending—what it is, why it matters, and how understanding the rules (and structuring deals correctly) can open up opportunities without you doing every project yourself. They also get into marketing that actually moves the needle, including why consistency beats “perfect,” and why authentic content tends to win over polished, robotic posts.

On the operations side, they unpack the parts nobody puts on Instagram: tenants trying to bypass the property manager, tech issues that turn into lockouts, neighbor drama that escalates fast, and why having boundaries (and the right team) keeps you from being on-call 24/7.

They wrap with a quick debate on Airbnbs vs hotels, plus a teaser for an upcoming episode featuring an out-of-state short-term rental story packed with insurance and contractor headaches.

If you got value from this episode, follow the show and leave a 5-star written review—it helps more investors find the podcast.

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Woodward and unpack a real-life investing journey that starts with flipping boats (yes, boats) and turns into building a real estate portfolio while still working a full-time W-2. Jason shares how learning the basics through coaching and community gave him the confidence to finally take action—and why the “right room” can speed up your timeline by years.

Jason walks through the early deals—including a first flip that turned into a brutal (but useful) education: old houses, plaster and lath surprises, scope creep, hard money pressure, and the reality of paying for mistakes. He breaks down how he funded projects (including hard money and a 401k loan), what he’d do differently now, and how his strategy evolved from heavy DIY to “do less, hire more.”

We also get into what it looks like investing in today’s market—when properties don’t fly off the shelf in a weekend anymore. Jason explains why multiple exit strategies matter (flip, rental, midterm rental, etc.), how he handled a property that sat longer than expected, and what features can quietly kill demand even after a good rehab. And then there’s the townhome curveball: a deal that should’ve closed… until an HOA insurance problem nuked the finish line.

Along the way, there are some classic REIA Radio moments—like randomly getting a call from the very coach being credited for the entire journey… while recording live. Because apparently the universe has a sense of humor.

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

In this Real Estate Rundown episode, Owen and Ted get into the practical side of AI—how tools like ChatGPT can help you spot your “zone of genius” (and your blind spots) so you can stop doing the work you secretly hate and start delegating like an adult. They share a solid prompt passed along from their buddy Colin Schwartz, compare “nice” AI vs “tell me the truth” AI, and talk about why unfiltered feedback can be a cheat code for business growth.

They also drop a super practical landlord/flipper nugget: a cellular-based temp/humidity/power monitoring device you can use in vacant properties during winter so you don’t find out you lost heat after your pipes explode.

Finally, they preview an upcoming episode with local Omaha investor Jason Woodward (and his son) and tease a conversation around “alternative flipping”—ways to flip assets that aren’t houses (boats, cars, furniture, etc.).

If you got value from this one:
Follow/subscribe to REIA Radio, share this episode with a friend, and comment what your zone of genius is (or the thing you’re finally going to stop doing).

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

Jay and Ashley are back nearly 200 episodes after their first appearance, and they don’t sugarcoat what the last few years have looked like: raising a big family, trying to run a business together, and realizing how fast “life stuff” can spill into “work stuff.”

They get real about what’s working right now in the market—Zillow Preferred leads, staying in front of past clients, and being consistent even when motivation is nowhere to be found.

Then the conversation pivots into mentorship and networking: how asking for a simple coffee (or cigar) can change your entire trajectory, plus a “failing forward” segment that turns a painful multifamily experience into a legit lesson. They wrap with what it all comes back to: family support, unconditional love, and building something that lasts.

Check out the show and more episodes at @REIARadio

This episode is sponsored by Entrepreneur Addict — get started at entrepreneuraddict.com/REIA.

Where to find Jay & Ashley

Instagram: Ashley Jackson Wells
Facebook: jcapel

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

In this episode, we break down what’s really going on with New York City’s housing crisis — from strict rent control and proposed rent freezes to a billion-dollar bailout for “distressed” landlords. We talk about how rising insurance, taxes, and maintenance costs crush owners when income is capped, and what happens when the city steps in with taxpayer-funded rescue plans. Is this sustainable, or are we just kicking the can down the road?

Then we bring it back home and look at how big city projects — like Omaha’s new railcar line — can quietly bleed local restaurants and small businesses while everyone cheers “progress.” We share a Golden Nugget on staying ahead of city planning so you don’t buy into a “great deal” that gets wrecked by construction, street closures, and shifting tax burdens.

If you own rentals, run a small business, or just want to understand how politics and policy actually hit your bottom line, this one’s for you. Listen in, share this episode with another investor, and if it hits home, leave us a 5-star review so we can keep calling this stuff out in real time.

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...