In this episode, I sit down with Alex Pardo—real estate investor, coach, and host of the Flip Empire Show—who shares his powerful transition from wholesaling to self-storage. Alex opens up about the turning point that made him rethink his business model and reveals why self-storage became his vehicle to true financial and time freedom. If you've ever felt trapped in the hustle or wondered how to escape the grind while still building wealth, this episode is packed with real, raw insight.

We dive into the mindset shifts, the myths about storage investing, and the exact systems and strategies Alex uses to run multiple facilities remotely—with zero employees. Whether you're a wholesaler, W-2 earner, or someone just curious about passive income through real estate, this episode will change the way you view opportunity in commercial real estate.

[0:00] - Introduction

[2:15] - How a backpacking trip across Europe sparked Alex's entrepreneurial journey

[4:55] - Closing his first deal in 2006—and the $44K lesson that followed

[6:40] - Why wholesaling didn't create the freedom Alex was chasing

[8:00] - What makes self-storage a simple, scalable, recession-resistant business

[10:15] - The psychology of why people don't leave their storage units

[12:00] - Running an unmanned facility: no tours, no on-site staff, fully automated

[14:45] - How to break into storage using OPM (other people's money)

[16:00] - Lessons from his first failed 3-month attempt at storage

[18:15] - Why location matters more than ROI on paper

[19:45] - The three-part system Alex uses to manage his facilities remotely

[26:30] - The four questions every investor should ask to systemize and scale

[28:00] - Overcoming KPI overload: the cocktail napkin test

[31:10] - The one goal of his Storage Wins coaching program

1. Storage is Simpler Than You Think: It's a retail business with the perks of real estate—cash flow, depreciation, and scalability.

2. You Don't Need Your Own Capital: Alex has done every deal using creative financing, from seller finance to SBA loans.

3. Automation is Everything: Unmanned, tech-enabled storage allows him to operate from anywhere without employees.

4. Mindset Is the First Hurdle: Limiting beliefs about needing money or experience often hold people back from making the leap.

5. Pick KPIs That Matter: Track the few numbers that define business health—you should be able to write them on a cocktail napkin.

• Alex's coaching program: StorageWins.com

• Books mentioned: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber, The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, Traction by Gino Wickman

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to rate, follow, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform—and share it with someone ready to break free from the grind.

In this power-packed episode of The Pete Podcast, I sit down with Jeremy Knauff, founder of Spartan Media, to talk about what it really takes to build authority, credibility, and influence through public relations—especially in today's AI-driven world. Jeremy's raw story of building and rebuilding his business after a health crisis sets the stage for a deep conversation about personal branding, modern PR strategies, and why showing up in AI tools like ChatGPT is the new SEO.

We explore why most people miss the mark when it comes to PR, how to avoid becoming irrelevant in the age of large language models (LLMs), and practical steps entrepreneurs can take to build third-party credibility through trusted media. If you're serious about being seen, trusted, and remembered in your industry, this is a must-listen.

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:03] – Jeremy's journey from Marine Corps to digital marketing agency owner

[3:14] – Why learning sales was a leadership decision—and a survival skill

[7:58] – The business collapse during his health crisis and how he bounced back with PR

[9:37] – How blogging and podcast guesting led to features in Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur

[13:25] – Who Spartan Media serves today—and why real estate investors are flocking to PR

[17:13] – Case study: turning a failing company into an $8M success story through media credibility

[18:01] – The state of media today: paywalls, pulled contributor programs, and changing access

[20:01] – Why AI tools are changing PR—and how to make sure they cite you correctly

[22:14] – The problem with using AI to pitch journalists (and how it can blacklist you)

[24:37] – What LLMs look for: how third-party citations can make or break your digital credibility

[26:26] – The role of schema, press mentions, and tier-one outlets in building authority

[29:17] – Inside Spartan Community: affordable PR coaching, software, and strategy for entrepreneurs

1. If AI tools don't recognize you, your authority is invisible – Jeremy explains why visibility in large language models is the new frontier.

2. Third-party validation is the secret sauce – Social media and websites alone don't cut it. You need trusted media citations to build real credibility.

3. Pitching journalists with AI can backfire – Lazy prompts and robotic writing often get flagged—and blacklisted.

4. PR is more than exposure—it's leverage – Jeremy's work has helped clients 10x revenue, land board seats, and even lobby Congress.

5. You don't need a massive budget to get started – With his Spartan Community, Jeremy offers the same tools and tactics used by his agency at a price anyone can access.

• Spartan Media – Jeremy's PR and branding agenc

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on how to grow your authority and credibility, please rate, follow, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. And be sure to share it with someone who's ready to level up their visibility and brand power!

In this episode of The Pete Podcast, I sit down with Ari Page, CEO of Fund & Grow, to talk about how real estate investors and business owners can tap into unsecured business credit—without the usual headaches of traditional funding. Ari pulls back the curtain on his personal journey from working shipyards to helping over 30,000 entrepreneurs secure nearly $2 billion in business credit lines.

We break down how Fund & Grow's credit card stacking model works, how they help clients optimize their credit profiles, and why business credit cards can be one of the most flexible and underutilized tools for funding deals, payroll, marketing, and more. If you're an investor or small business owner looking for fast, reusable, and unsecured capital, this episode is packed with gems.

[0:00] - Introduction

[1:26] - Ari's transformation from Navy shipyard work to credit entrepreneur

[4:59] - The shift from mortgage brokering to leveraging credit cards post-2008 crash

[7:28] - Why Fund & Grow transitioned from hourly services to a scalable membership model

[8:50] - The difference between credit repair and credit optimization (a.k.a. "credit massaging")

[11:03] - What credit card stacking actually is and how it works

[14:43] - Using payment processors like Plastiq to convert credit cards into real-world transactions

[17:39] - Why business credit cards complement—not replace—mortgages and hard money

[21:05] - The overlooked asset protection feature of using credit cards for contractor payments

[25:34] - Fund & Grow's recent surge in funding approvals and why 2025 is looking optimistic

[27:42] - The power of negotiation in securing larger credit lines (vs. just applying)

[29:35] - How building internal systems and software transformed Fund & Grow's scalability

[32:50] - Final thoughts on using tech and data to grow smart, not just fast

1. Credit card stacking is powerful – You can build $250K+ in business credit through strategic applications and merging of cards, all at 0% interest.

2. Most funding comes from negotiation – Two-thirds of credit obtained for clients is due to Fund & Grow's negotiation process, not the initial application.

3. You don't need perfect credit – Many clients just need optimization, not repair, and Fund & Grow helps fine-tune profiles before applying.

4. Credit cards offer protection – Unlike cash, they offer recourse in the form of chargebacks if vendors or contractors fail to deliver.

5. Data-driven systems scale businesses – Building scalable infrastructure and leveraging client data has been key to Fund & Grow's growth and success.

• Fund & Grow – Learn more about Ari's company and how to get started with business credit

• Plastiq – A payment platform for converting credit card payments into checks, ACH, or wire transfers

• Zelle, Bill.com, and Melio – Other tools for routing payments via business credit cards

If this episode gave you new insights on how to fund your business more creatively and flexibly, be sure to rate, follow, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to share this with a fellow entrepreneur or investor who could use smarter funding options!