The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast cover art

The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

By: Markian Sich
Listen for free

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

The military taught us discipline, leadership, and resilience—but it never taught us how to build wealth or create true financial freedom. That’s where we come in.

I’m Markian Sich, a United States Marine turned real estate investor, and I know firsthand how tough it can be to figure out what’s next after service. That’s why I started The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast—to bring you real stories, real strategies, and real success from military investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who’ve been where you are.

We talk about leveraging your VA Loan, Military House Hacking, and proven investing strategies to help you build passive income, transition with confidence, and take control of your financial future.

You’ve fought hard to defend the American Dream—now let’s make sure you own a piece of it. Subscribe now and start your journey to financial freedom!

© 2026 Active Duty Passive Income LLC
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • From $1K to Financial Freedom: How I Went From Paycheck-to-Paycheck Overseas to Set for Life with Darren Thedieck | Ep 385
    Jan 22 2026

    Starting With $1K: Military Discipline, Investing Smarts & Defining a Rich Life with Darren Ick

    In this episode of the ADPI Podcast, host Markian Sich sits down with Air Force veteran and long-time investor Darren Thedieck, who shares how he built financial freedom starting with just $1,000 and a Roth IRA. Darren opens up about his humble beginnings, growing up in a split household, and the financial lessons he learned watching his mother struggle to make ends meet.

    Through discipline, delayed gratification, and a passion for personal finance, Darren carved his path—not with real estate—but with intentional investing, strategic budgeting, and the powerful philosophy of “paying yourself first.”

    From traveling to over 50 countries to building wealth while stationed overseas, Darren’s journey proves you don’t need a VA loan or fancy portfolio to win. His story is packed with mindset gems, savings strategies, and lessons on defining a “rich life” that’s about memories—not just money.

    Whether you’re just starting out or looking to dial in your focus, this episode is a must-listen for any service member ready to take control of their financial future.

    Episode Breakdown:

    00:00 – Introduction & Guest Announcement

    00:58 – Darren’s Background & Humble Beginnings

    02:45 – Early Lessons in Money, Bloomberg & Budgeting

    06:18 – Military Service, Family, and Financial Drive

    08:20 – Starting with $1K: Opening a Roth IRA

    10:54 – Mindset Shift: From Saving to Serious Investing

    13:15 – Traveling the World While Building Wealth

    16:47 – FIRE Movement & Financial Independence Goals

    19:08 – Pay Yourself First: Budgeting with Intention

    22:13 – Marriage, Compromise, and Shared Financial Vision

    25:36 – Investing Psychology: Let Your Winners Ride

    27:42 – Stocks vs. Real Estate: Finding Your Investment Identity

    31:09 – Discipline Over Motivation: Sticking to the Plan

    33:51 – How Darren Defines a “Rich Life”

    37:05 – Advice to Young Service Members: Believe in Yourself

    39:24 – Final Thoughts, Darren’s Community, and How to Connect

    Connect with Darren:

    Facebook Group: Financial Dream to Reality

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/financialdreamtoreality

    Facebook Page: AchieveFI

    https://www.facebook.com/AchieveFI/

    🔥 Join the #1 Military Real Estate Investor Community, today!

    Looking for expert education, live Q&As, and a network of action-takers who share your financial goals? Join ADPI Campus™ today!

    🔗 Sign up now → https://go.activedutypassiveincome.com/res-pro-podcast

    📲 Stay Connected with ADPI:

    • Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts!

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • I Lost $50K on My First Flip… Now ADUs Are My Freedom Plan With Mark Brookman | Ep 384
    Jan 8 2026

    From Marine Raider to ADU Builder: Finding Freedom, Purpose, and a New Mission with Mark Brookman

    In this powerful episode, Markian sits down with Marine Corps veteran and real estate investor Mark Brookman to unpack the part of the military story most people never see—the invisible battles after the uniform comes off. Mark shares how micro–traumas from Afghanistan and Iraq slowly piled up, what it felt like to “look fine” on paper but be mentally spiraling, and why so many veterans struggle with purpose once the mission ends.

    From losing $50K on his first flip to building high-margin ADU projects in Seattle, Mark walks through how real estate became the bridge from warfighter to present father, husband, and entrepreneur. Together, he and Markian dig into mindset, anxiety, balance, and why financial freedom is less about Ferraris and more about having time to enjoy what’s free—family, community, and impact. If you’re a service member, veteran, or military spouse searching for your next mission, this conversation will hit home.

    In this episode, you’ll hear about:

    • Why Mark joined the Marine Corps—and how his mindset shifted after deployment
    • The unseen psychological toll of “micro events” and constant hypervigilance
    • How Mark realized he wasn’t okay even without the stereotypical combat story
    • The brutal truth of losing $50K on his first flip—and why he refused to quit
    • How ADUs in expensive markets like Seattle became his path to freedom
    • The difference between chasing rank/certifications vs. chasing purpose
    • Why veterans are uniquely primed to succeed in real estate (with a few mindset tweaks)
    • The real reason “financial freedom” matters—and what to do with it once you have it

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction and Episode Kickoff

    00:35 Meeting Mark Brookman

    01:59 Mark's Military Background

    05:04 Deployment Stories and Challenges

    09:31 Transitioning Out of the Military

    22:19 Real Estate as a New Mission

    45:53 Bite the Elephant: Embracing Challenges

    46:41 Military Mindset in Real Estate

    51:16 The Power of Focus and Discipline

    52:46 Overcoming Anxiety and Adapting

    56:35 Finding Purpose Beyond the Military

    01:11:50 Real Estate Success Stories

    01:21:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    Connect with Mark here:

    Instagram: @SummitPointAcademy

    IG: @marktbrookman

    💥 Ready to Level Up with a Like-Minded Community?

    Join ADPI Campus™—the premier platform and online community built specifically for military real estate investors. Inside, you’ll find real-world education, camaraderie, competition, and the accountability you need to accelerate your journey.

    🎓 JOIN ADPI CAMPUS and be part of a movement that’s changing lives: LEARN MORE

    🔧 Helpful Resources:

    Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    🎙️ Enjoyed the Episode?

    If this conversation inspired you, helped you gain clarity, or sparked new ideas,

    Support the show

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 23 mins
  • The Army’s ‘Perfect Soldier’ Walked Away — and Built His Own Empire with Cheyenne Wachtendorf | Ep 383
    Dec 24 2025

    Markian sits down with Cheyenne Wachtendorf, a new ADPI member whose path runs from military service to creative deals—live-in flips, seller finance—and a 106-acre VA loan purchase. Cheyenne shares the mindset behind taking calculated risks, learning from setbacks, and his vision for Walk Squad Haven: real estate development, experiential recreation, and community mentorship.

    Time Stamps

    00:00 Introduction and Conference Recap

    01:30 Guest Introduction: Cheyenne Wetten

    02:23 Cheyenne's Unique Real Estate Journey

    06:36 Military Background and Personal Struggles

    10:47 Transition from Military to Real Estate

    19:12 The Importance of Mentorship and Community

    49:55 Cheyenne's Vision and Future Plans

    52:36 The Puzzle of Real Estate Vision

    53:14 Mapping Out the Dream

    53:41 Leveraging W2 Income

    55:49 First Real Estate Investments

    01:01:02 Facing Setbacks and Learning

    01:05:05 Rebounding with New Strategies

    01:11:16 The Big Vision: W Squad Haven

    01:17:17 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

    Key Takeaways

    • Start small, build momentum: early creative wins compound into bigger plays.
    • Use VA loan creatively: structure matters more than “standard.”
    • Failures become playbooks: debrief, systemize, and iterate.
    • Mission first: purpose makes persistence possible.

    Connect with Cheyenne

    WachSquad Haven on Facebook:

    • https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575568000549
    • Phone: 903-698-3040

    💥 Want to Connect with a Community of Military Real Estate Investors?

    Join ADPI Campus™—the world’s premier platform for military members and their families building wealth through real estate.

    🎉 Join today: https://go.activedutypassiveincome.com/adpi-campus-join

    Inside you’ll find real estate education that works, a supportive community that gets it, and the kind of camaraderie only service members can bring.

    Interested in joining a MMA cohort? Book a free strategy all here: http://activedutypassiveincome.com/strategy

    📲 Stay Connected with ADPI:

    Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    If this resonated, share the episode and follow the show to help more military families build wealth through real estate.

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 32 mins
No reviews yet