https://simplecast.com Stories of Success The success stories of real estate investors with Deandra McDonald. en Fri, 8 May 2026 13:05:00 +0000 Fri, 8 May 2026 13:05:12 +0000 https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com Stories of Success https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/78164de9-b399-413c-b32f-c64d7dcd1d91/2d08115e-343d-4cea-974d-794446a99a03/3000x3000/stories_of_success_highlightclosing_graphic.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com episodic The success stories of real estate investors with Deandra McDonald. Deandra McDonald false https://feeds.simplecast.com/jTIbwooh Deandra McDonald deandra@deandramcdonald.com ea7681f0-2192-49c7-be40-250eb1318cec Be Where Your People Are (with Nasif Ahmed) Fri, 8 May 2026 13:05:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/be-where-your-people-are-with-nasif-ahmed-owPlvJwL Be Where Your People Are (with Nasif Ahmed) Deandra McDonald 00:37:46 Now my husband and I almost moved to be closer to Nasif. Back in 2024, when my husband was looking for new jobs, Baltimore was a strong contender because of Nasif and his unwavering emphasis on building his community. It’s not necessarily a surprise with his strong Bangladeshi background that he was raised with a high value on loving his people. I expected to see it in his actions, but was surprised to see that same value in his financial investments. This is “Be Where Your People Are” with Nasif Ahmed, week 2 of AAPI Heritage Month. I hope you enjoy! Now my husband and I almost moved to be closer to Nasif. Back in 2024, when my husband was looking for new jobs, Baltimore was a strong contender because of Nasif and his unwavering emphasis on building his community. It’s not necessarily a surprise with his strong Bangladeshi background that he was raised with a high value on loving his people. I expected to see it in his actions, but was surprised to see that same value in his financial investments. This is “Be Where Your People Are” with Nasif Ahmed, week 2 of AAPI Heritage Month. I hope you enjoy! false full 24 1a61a3cf-817e-4dfc-b519-bc14c5648a01 I Just Wanted a Dog (with Sarah Sher) Fri, 1 May 2026 13:05:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/i-just-wanted-a-dog-with-sarah-sher-zDS_uElP I Just Wanted a Dog (with Sarah Sher) Deandra McDonald 00:29:12 Why should you buy a house? Why should you prioritize shifting from a renter to a homeowner? For financial security? Long term stability? Space? Amenities? Custom? Today’s interview is with Sarah Sher — a long time friend of mine and another native New Yorker who was raised to see homeownership and investing a little differently than we currently do. This is “I Just Wanted a Dog” with Sarah Sher on week 1 of AAPI Heritage Month. I hope you enjoy! Why should you buy a house? Why should you prioritize shifting from a renter to a homeowner? For financial security? Long term stability? Space? Amenities? Custom? Today’s interview is with Sarah Sher — a long time friend of mine and another native New Yorker who was raised to see homeownership and investing a little differently than we currently do. This is “I Just Wanted a Dog” with Sarah Sher on week 1 of AAPI Heritage Month. I hope you enjoy! false full 23 c7df6b92-6413-4744-acc9-93ee0f8b02ed Your Dreams Deserve Your Reflection Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:27:31 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/your-dreams-deserve-your-reflection-gjGOpqRL Your Dreams Deserve Your Reflection Deandra McDonald 00:20:14 This is a bit of a transition week. We are preparing to celebrate AAPI Heritage month and I didn't have an additional guest lined up for this episode. So instead I personally took some time for reflection. Can't wait to see you guys back next week! This is a bit of a transition week. We are preparing to celebrate AAPI Heritage month and I didn't have an additional guest lined up for this episode. So instead I personally took some time for reflection. Can't wait to see you guys back next week! false full 22 a28d180f-fe9d-4c4d-9586-4fa492b0109b Everyone Thinks They Have More Time (w/ Caitlin Walls) Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:05:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/everyone-thinks-they-have-more-time-w-caitlin-walls-Qf6VxNRX Everyone Thinks They Have More Time (w/ Caitlin Walls) Deandra McDonald 00:46:47 What happens when you die without a will? What happens to your assets if there isn’t any money to maintain them? Essentially, what happens if you die without a succession plan? That’s what my friend Caitlin is here to talk about today. The Stories of Success podcast was originally designed for investors to show you what they’re doing in 2026 and how they got started. But not all investors got started because they decided to. Some got started because of an inheritance. No prior knowledge, no funds, no plan. That’s what happened to Caitlin. She fought through that and continues to push her story forward. Today,. You’ll learn the importance of both building wealth for future generations and protecting it. This episode is titled Everyone Thinks They Have More Time with Caitlin Walls. I hope you enjoy. What happens when you die without a will? What happens to your assets if there isn’t any money to maintain them? Essentially, what happens if you die without a succession plan? That’s what my friend Caitlin is here to talk about today. The Stories of Success podcast was originally designed for investors to show you what they’re doing in 2026 and how they got started. But not all investors got started because they decided to. Some got started because of an inheritance. No prior knowledge, no funds, no plan. That’s what happened to Caitlin. She fought through that and continues to push her story forward. Today,. You’ll learn the importance of both building wealth for future generations and protecting it. This episode is titled Everyone Thinks They Have More Time with Caitlin Walls. I hope you enjoy. false full 21 86943178-be51-4fec-9844-958af7b51985 Falling Into Househacking: From 3 Houses to $400k (w/ Caleb Taylor) Fri, 3 Apr 2026 13:05:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/interview-with-caleb-taylor-M8rhhJ1b Falling Into Househacking: From 3 Houses to $400k (w/ Caleb Taylor) Deandra McDonald 00:36:05 As you know, Caleb is not involved in this company at all. I mean, barely shows up to work, barely contributes at all. So it’s probably news to you, but he’s also a real estate investor! He’s had his own rental properties. Unfortunately none of those soft skills transferred to this job — but hey, we can dream. All jokes aside, I asked Caleb to do this interview because I wanted to show you a perspective of what actively investing while you’re still working could look like. And I would have to check, but I think this is also one of the first few investors that is talking about investing as a couple, and not just as an individual who may or may not be married. And I guess I also wanted you to see how skills you can pick up five, ten, twenty years in the past can come back to benefit you in the future. This is an interview with one of my dear friends and a huge part of the Simple Real Estate team, Caleb Taylor. I hope you enjoy! As you know, Caleb is not involved in this company at all. I mean, barely shows up to work, barely contributes at all. So it’s probably news to you, but he’s also a real estate investor! He’s had his own rental properties. Unfortunately none of those soft skills transferred to this job — but hey, we can dream. All jokes aside, I asked Caleb to do this interview because I wanted to show you a perspective of what actively investing while you’re still working could look like. And I would have to check, but I think this is also one of the first few investors that is talking about investing as a couple, and not just as an individual who may or may not be married. And I guess I also wanted you to see how skills you can pick up five, ten, twenty years in the past can come back to benefit you in the future. This is an interview with one of my dear friends and a huge part of the Simple Real Estate team, Caleb Taylor. I hope you enjoy! false full 20 1134088a-5ff1-4806-962d-5f7c8a4ddae9 Under the Umbrella of Your Own Control (w/ Rick Oleka) Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:00:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/under-the-umbrella-of-your-own-control-w-rick-oleka-A8jnewhS Under the Umbrella of Your Own Control (w/ Rick Oleka) Deandra McDonald 00:33:02 Now a lot of y'all know, I started investing because I didn't have any money. So I asked Rick for this interview to give you a completely different perspective. This is my friend, BIG MONEY RICK, a lawyer from D.C. who on the outside looking in has got everything (the money, the job, the security, etc.). But even Rick was able to look around and realize nothing is as secure as one might think. This is Rick's story of how he transitioned a well paying job into a long term journey to set up investments and additional income that can his support his family regardless of his employment. This episode is titled "Under the Umbrella of Your Own Control" with Rick Oleka. I hope you enjoy! Now a lot of y'all know, I started investing because I didn't have any money. So I asked Rick for this interview to give you a completely different perspective. This is my friend, BIG MONEY RICK, a lawyer from D.C. who on the outside looking in has got everything (the money, the job, the security, etc.). But even Rick was able to look around and realize nothing is as secure as one might think. This is Rick's story of how he transitioned a well paying job into a long term journey to set up investments and additional income that can his support his family regardless of his employment. This episode is titled "Under the Umbrella of Your Own Control" with Rick Oleka. I hope you enjoy! false full 19 6aa7fe7c-166a-423a-a0b4-a7572ab4019d The Duty of Family (w/ Mamoudou Keita) Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:00:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/the-duty-of-family-w-mamoudou-keita-u9Fj0O8y The Duty of Family (w/ Mamoudou Keita) Deandra McDonald 00:24:04 Investing doesn’t always go to plan, especially when family is involved. So how do you balance the financial responsibility of being a property owner with the emotional and perhaps even traditional aspects of helping your family members? I admit, this is somewhere I struggle so I’m grateful for people like Mamoudou who are honest and forthright about their journey to do something I think so many of us want to do. This is a story about buying property for your family. How to balance the benefits of ownership with the desire to support your people. This is the Duty of Family with Mamoudou Keita. I hope you enjoy! Investing doesn’t always go to plan, especially when family is involved. So how do you balance the financial responsibility of being a property owner with the emotional and perhaps even traditional aspects of helping your family members? I admit, this is somewhere I struggle so I’m grateful for people like Mamoudou who are honest and forthright about their journey to do something I think so many of us want to do. This is a story about buying property for your family. How to balance the benefits of ownership with the desire to support your people. This is the Duty of Family with Mamoudou Keita. I hope you enjoy! false full 18 36d438b4-d16f-41b0-8220-f6a7656e9c45 Don't Be In A Rush (w/ Amanda Vfyhuis) Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:00:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/don-t-be-in-a-rush-w-amanda-vfyhuis-SpoFot8X Don't Be In A Rush (w/ Amanda Vfyhuis) Deandra McDonald 00:30:13 Another member, another deep dive into investing success! Amanda Vyfuis is a member of the Simple Real Estate Membership, like Rory and Minnae and Elesyia and I invited her one, because like them, she is OUT HERE DOING THE WORK. Amanda originally came to the membership because she wanted to transition more into multifamily properties in order to pay for her babies college tuition! Are you listening? She recognized at birth, she couldn’t save enough to pay for their tuition in 20 years and took matters into her own hands. Initially, I was fully onboard with the multifamily plan! Remember, that’s my whole schtick. BUT it’s based on the research I’ve found in MY MARKETS. This interview is how we used that same process and found a different answer with Amanda as we planned for the long term. This is “Don’t Be In A Rush” with Amanda Vyfhuis. Another member, another deep dive into investing success! Amanda Vyfuis is a member of the Simple Real Estate Membership, like Rory and Minnae and Elesyia and I invited her one, because like them, she is OUT HERE DOING THE WORK. Amanda originally came to the membership because she wanted to transition more into multifamily properties in order to pay for her babies college tuition! Are you listening? She recognized at birth, she couldn’t save enough to pay for their tuition in 20 years and took matters into her own hands. Initially, I was fully onboard with the multifamily plan! Remember, that’s my whole schtick. BUT it’s based on the research I’ve found in MY MARKETS. This interview is how we used that same process and found a different answer with Amanda as we planned for the long term. This is “Don’t Be In A Rush” with Amanda Vyfhuis. false full 17 9b7bbfa3-63bf-4d40-942c-7bd743ef2b82 Your Partner's Priorities (w/ Sean McDonald) Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:00:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/your-partners-priorities-w-sean-mcdonald-Hlo21SzX Your Partner's Priorities (w/ Sean McDonald) Deandra McDonald 00:31:24 My husband (hehehe). And y’all better be nice. He don’t come on here very much and yet I got him to sit down to talk a little about our joint journey as investors. And honestly “joint journey” might be a little misleading because it’s not about us doing it together as much as it’s about a husband supporting his wife. Cause Sean really isn’t that into real estate or investing, but I am. So this conversation is how he navigated that. What he needed to sacrifice and compromise on because his partner had goals different than his. This is Sean McDonald with Your Partner’s Priorities. My husband (hehehe). And y’all better be nice. He don’t come on here very much and yet I got him to sit down to talk a little about our joint journey as investors. And honestly “joint journey” might be a little misleading because it’s not about us doing it together as much as it’s about a husband supporting his wife. Cause Sean really isn’t that into real estate or investing, but I am. So this conversation is how he navigated that. What he needed to sacrifice and compromise on because his partner had goals different than his. This is Sean McDonald with Your Partner’s Priorities. false full 16 64b65c3a-eb9f-4259-808d-9aeae94a714f Just Take the First Step (w/ Rory Boone) Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:51:53 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/just-take-the-first-step-w-rory-boone-GWh5YlzU Just Take the First Step (w/ Rory Boone) Deandra McDonald 00:40:43 How much do you believe in yourself to just figure it out? I mean you can see the opportunity, you can identify the benefits. But you are fully aware you don’t have the skillset on day one to achieve that goal. How much can you sit with that discomfort of both being responsible for the outcome and unsure of how to get the task done? I would argue that’s what makes Rory so successful. When he sees opportunities, he doesn’t think, “what’s everything I need to finish the plan?” His focus is, what do I need to get started. No reason to let step 10 keep me out of the game. That will come in due time. Step one is what gets me in the ring. I want you to hear from another black investor, in another big expensive city finding the same purpose and profit I’ve found in rural America. It can be done. This is Rory Boone, a member of the Simple Real Estate Membership based in Seattle Washington. I can’t wait to hear what you think. How much do you believe in yourself to just figure it out? I mean you can see the opportunity, you can identify the benefits. But you are fully aware you don’t have the skillset on day one to achieve that goal. How much can you sit with that discomfort of both being responsible for the outcome and unsure of how to get the task done? I would argue that’s what makes Rory so successful. When he sees opportunities, he doesn’t think, “what’s everything I need to finish the plan?” His focus is, what do I need to get started. No reason to let step 10 keep me out of the game. That will come in due time. Step one is what gets me in the ring. I want you to hear from another black investor, in another big expensive city finding the same purpose and profit I’ve found in rural America. It can be done. This is Rory Boone, a member of the Simple Real Estate Membership based in Seattle Washington. I can’t wait to hear what you think. false full 15 43fcad0e-93f7-4367-a143-9fdccf40893f Going From Dirt to Development (w/ Ashley Gallacher) Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:47:36 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/going-from-dirt-to-development-w-ashley-gallacher-xJdzkytL Going From Dirt to Development (w/ Ashley Gallacher) Deandra McDonald 00:39:13 The last two podcast interviews we posted were about New York City investors. Showcasing how black investors are thriving even in large cities. But I feel like on my page the east coast gets a lot of love and attention (which makes sense, it’s where I’m from), but are black investors doing big things on the west coast in big cities? Absolutely they are. The next two interviews are about west coast investors going above and beyond in Seattle, one of the biggest markets on that side of the country. Today’s interview is with one of my dear friends Ashley, a familiar face to a number of y’all. She’s been a speaker at my conferences, she’s a part of my traveling mastermind. And Ashley is here to talk to you all about DEVELOPMENT. How do you go from dirt, literal soil, to a multifamily complex? Not just having the dream but a full overview of concept to reality (along with some exit strategies and boutique business ideas). This Ashley Gallagher going from dirt to development. Enjoy our continued black history month series! The last two podcast interviews we posted were about New York City investors. Showcasing how black investors are thriving even in large cities. But I feel like on my page the east coast gets a lot of love and attention (which makes sense, it’s where I’m from), but are black investors doing big things on the west coast in big cities? Absolutely they are. The next two interviews are about west coast investors going above and beyond in Seattle, one of the biggest markets on that side of the country. Today’s interview is with one of my dear friends Ashley, a familiar face to a number of y’all. She’s been a speaker at my conferences, she’s a part of my traveling mastermind. And Ashley is here to talk to you all about DEVELOPMENT. How do you go from dirt, literal soil, to a multifamily complex? Not just having the dream but a full overview of concept to reality (along with some exit strategies and boutique business ideas). This Ashley Gallagher going from dirt to development. Enjoy our continued black history month series! false full 14 d1e5026c-7c33-400b-9cdd-768d6a8e736b A Dream Come True (w/ Wanda Richardson) Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:03:14 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/a-dream-come-true-w-wanda-richardson-hQsuMnvP A Dream Come True (w/ Wanda Richardson) Deandra McDonald 00:26:14 How many of you are willing to follow your dreams? And by dreams, I truly mean the dreams you have when you’re asleep and your mind wanders and you hatch a plan unlike any other you’ve had. That’s what happened with Ms Wanda. She dedicated more than a decade of her life to a dream she had. A dream where she owned a piece of Harlem, and then used that home to invest across the country. This episode is titled “A Dream Come True” with Wanda Richardson. I can’t wait to hear what you think! How many of you are willing to follow your dreams? And by dreams, I truly mean the dreams you have when you’re asleep and your mind wanders and you hatch a plan unlike any other you’ve had. That’s what happened with Ms Wanda. She dedicated more than a decade of her life to a dream she had. A dream where she owned a piece of Harlem, and then used that home to invest across the country. This episode is titled “A Dream Come True” with Wanda Richardson. I can’t wait to hear what you think! false full 13 08ae430f-8250-4771-be77-1a49b54607e7 The Benefits of Another's Vision (w/ Regina Watson) Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:10:02 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/the-benefits-of-anothers-vision-w-regina-watson-nHo02D25 The Benefits of Another's Vision (w/ Regina Watson) Deandra McDonald 00:39:18 Long time listeners of the podcast have heard Ms Regina before and she was such a hit I asked her back to share once again. Now I’ve heard these stories over and over but I leave with something new every time. Truly. And this time it was how we’re each affected by someone else’s vision. Someone other than you has put a lot of thought into what you should be doing and how you should be investing and where you should be living and how you should be spending. Maybe it’s your parents. Maybe it’s your government. And Ms Regina’s take, is that you get to decide who you want to align with. You get to choose which options work best for you and what you decide, the vision you choose to follow is what your future success will be based off of. This episode is titled “The Benefits of Another’s Vision” with Regina Watson. I hope you enjoy. Long time listeners of the podcast have heard Ms Regina before and she was such a hit I asked her back to share once again. Now I’ve heard these stories over and over but I leave with something new every time. Truly. And this time it was how we’re each affected by someone else’s vision. Someone other than you has put a lot of thought into what you should be doing and how you should be investing and where you should be living and how you should be spending. Maybe it’s your parents. Maybe it’s your government. And Ms Regina’s take, is that you get to decide who you want to align with. You get to choose which options work best for you and what you decide, the vision you choose to follow is what your future success will be based off of. This episode is titled “The Benefits of Another’s Vision” with Regina Watson. I hope you enjoy. false full 12 b08cbdf3-6b0f-45e4-b45f-dbfa00fdf47e From Habitat to Homeownership (w/ Elesyia Outlaw-Evans) Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:35:25 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/from-habitat-to-homeownership-w-elesyia-outlaw-evans-4i3gqw2q-9INYkuSM From Habitat to Homeownership (w/ Elesyia Outlaw-Evans) Deandra McDonald 00:30:10 Children of homeowners are more than twice as likely to own a home themselves. That’s less than a 10% chance for you to be an investor if your parents rented all of their lives. So when Elesyia saw her mother FIGHTING to be a homeowner, she knew had to pay attention. Now things are a little different. Mom’s a homeowner. Elesyia is an investor and now her daughter talks about rentals. Three generations - each stepping a little further than the last. Changing experiences, building expectations. This episode is titled from Habitat to Homeownership with Elesyia Outlaw Evans. I hope you enjoy it! Children of homeowners are more than twice as likely to own a home themselves. That’s less than a 10% chance for you to be an investor if your parents rented all of their lives. So when Elesyia saw her mother FIGHTING to be a homeowner, she knew had to pay attention. Now things are a little different. Mom’s a homeowner. Elesyia is an investor and now her daughter talks about rentals. Three generations - each stepping a little further than the last. Changing experiences, building expectations. This episode is titled from Habitat to Homeownership with Elesyia Outlaw Evans. I hope you enjoy it! false full 11 e41ea762-8836-425c-a0fa-18ed2a9b8fa6 I'm Not An Investor (w/ Jameel Dennis) Mon, 9 Feb 2026 23:05:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/im-not-an-investor-w-jameel-dennis-15890x7c-SX6JX0LY I'm Not An Investor (w/ Jameel Dennis) Deandra McDonald 00:34:38 I’ve known Jameel since before I was a teacher. He was a chemist who transitioned into teaching, so he was the perfect match to mentor me - a chemist transitioning into teaching. That’s why I was so proud to help HIM transition into an investor. I mean he’s been listening to me ramble about the benefits of investing before I had even purchased my first house. Now with this interview you get to see what it could look like to invest well into your career without having to give up the profession you’ve worked so hard to build. This is “I’m Not an Investor” w/ Jameel Dennis. Enjoy! I’ve known Jameel since before I was a teacher. He was a chemist who transitioned into teaching, so he was the perfect match to mentor me - a chemist transitioning into teaching. That’s why I was so proud to help HIM transition into an investor. I mean he’s been listening to me ramble about the benefits of investing before I had even purchased my first house. Now with this interview you get to see what it could look like to invest well into your career without having to give up the profession you’ve worked so hard to build. This is “I’m Not an Investor” w/ Jameel Dennis. Enjoy! false full 10 9185cb60-d496-4bdf-95a4-932059184378 Surrounded By Depreciating Assets (w/ Tamara Dias) Mon, 9 Feb 2026 11:55:18 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/surrounded-by-depreciating-assets-w-tamara-dias-kcklpnpf-5ZTcIOI4 Surrounded By Depreciating Assets (w/ Tamara Dias) Deandra McDonald 00:36:48 If you don’t want to hear about yourself, don’t call Tamara. If you’re not ready to run the race with greats, let me tell you don’t call Tamara. Because Tamara knows what she wants, and puts in the work. For her it’s that simple. Investment isn’t about generating SOMETHING, it’s about generating the ONE thing she’s looking for. Today’s interview is a different spin on the whole concept of investing and I knew it would be. I knew it. That’s why I wanted you to hear her story. Not only are there multiple ways to succeed, there are multiple perspectives driving each of our goals. This is my dear friend Tamara. Hopefully you’ll leave as inspired as I always am. If you don’t want to hear about yourself, don’t call Tamara. If you’re not ready to run the race with greats, let me tell you don’t call Tamara. Because Tamara knows what she wants, and puts in the work. For her it’s that simple. Investment isn’t about generating SOMETHING, it’s about generating the ONE thing she’s looking for. Today’s interview is a different spin on the whole concept of investing and I knew it would be. I knew it. That’s why I wanted you to hear her story. Not only are there multiple ways to succeed, there are multiple perspectives driving each of our goals. This is my dear friend Tamara. Hopefully you’ll leave as inspired as I always am. false full 9 13dd51c7-8b6e-401c-ba82-7f1a3f4f0c54 The Luxury of Fear (w/ Jazmyne Butler-Boothe) Thu, 5 Feb 2026 23:05:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/the-luxury-of-fear-w-jazmyne-butler-boothe-zz-wxd26-vcxFoo7B The Luxury of Fear (w/ Jazmyne Butler-Boothe) Deandra McDonald 00:23:35 When I think class, when I think consumer experience, when I think intention hosting, I think Jazmyne. This story is a unique one for the series as we’re shifting out of long term rentals into a more short term, customer facing real estate investment. Long term multifamily is fantastic (y’all know that’s my bread and butter), but it is far from the ONLY way to generate income in this field. This interview is about using both what’s available to you and tapping into your innate talents to generate income separate from your direct labor, no matter how your family grows. This is Jazmyne Butler Boothe. When I think class, when I think consumer experience, when I think intention hosting, I think Jazmyne. This story is a unique one for the series as we’re shifting out of long term rentals into a more short term, customer facing real estate investment. Long term multifamily is fantastic (y’all know that’s my bread and butter), but it is far from the ONLY way to generate income in this field. This interview is about using both what’s available to you and tapping into your innate talents to generate income separate from your direct labor, no matter how your family grows. This is Jazmyne Butler Boothe. false full 8 2e0d91c6-affc-401b-8d11-8543e04a9211 Receiving Generational Wealth (w/ Minnae Chabwera) Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:30:37 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/receiving-generational-wealth-w-minnae-chabwera-kp42soeq Receiving Generational Wealth (w/ Minnae Chabwera) Deandra McDonald 00:25:46 When househacking is all the rage, how do you invest if you love your home, love your neighborhood, and have no desire to move year after year? That’s how Minnae came to the Simple Real Estate Membership. She owned her home and enjoyed her lifestyle, but was unsure of how to align her day to day with the long term investing goals she had. Today you’ll hear one of the strategies we came up with and how Minnae (ideally) will be living rent free in the next few months. Enjoy! When househacking is all the rage, how do you invest if you love your home, love your neighborhood, and have no desire to move year after year? That’s how Minnae came to the Simple Real Estate Membership. She owned her home and enjoyed her lifestyle, but was unsure of how to align her day to day with the long term investing goals she had. Today you’ll hear one of the strategies we came up with and how Minnae (ideally) will be living rent free in the next few months. Enjoy! false full 7 2df9df18-7cf7-45e2-b25f-3166b34b9af7 The Luxury of Information (w/ Kendra Barnes) Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:25:32 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/the-luxury-of-information-w-kendra-barnes-QOot5Gaj The Luxury of Information (w/ Kendra Barnes) Deandra McDonald 00:27:10 Today we speak with Kendra Barnes, a dear friend of mine who was the first to show me that early retirement was an option. I didn’t realize there were women like me who had truly opted out of the traditional workforce. No kids. No disability. No second career option. Just desire. And I latched on to that HARD. In this episode Kendra will share her experiences, including the challenges and mistakes she faced along the way, the importance of house hacking, and how she navigated family expectations. I hope you learn as much from my friend as I have, as so much of her path has truly shaped who I’ve become. Today we speak with Kendra Barnes, a dear friend of mine who was the first to show me that early retirement was an option. I didn’t realize there were women like me who had truly opted out of the traditional workforce. No kids. No disability. No second career option. Just desire. And I latched on to that HARD. In this episode Kendra will share her experiences, including the challenges and mistakes she faced along the way, the importance of house hacking, and how she navigated family expectations. I hope you learn as much from my friend as I have, as so much of her path has truly shaped who I’ve become. false full 6 9f1316b2-674e-425e-98fd-6606e1bebcdc Love of Labor, 5: I Don’t Know What To Do About Trump I remember being so angry right after the election, and it would be easy to say it was because of the overall result. It would be easy to say it was only because of the policies and rhetoric. That was a part of it for sure, but a larger part, a more gut wrenching part, was learning that the community around me, people I thought I knew personally and intimately, happily and eagerly voted for Trump.

This episode is about how I’m working through my resistance towards reconciliation. It’s about how I’m turning towards the Lord’s word to help me through a process I’m not sure I would pursue on my own. And don’t get wrong, I’m not there yet. But I think I’m finally finding a more concrete first step than I have in almost a year.

]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2025 16:00:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/love-of-labor-5-i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-trump-ouAY0GNW I remember being so angry right after the election, and it would be easy to say it was because of the overall result. It would be easy to say it was only because of the policies and rhetoric. That was a part of it for sure, but a larger part, a more gut wrenching part, was learning that the community around me, people I thought I knew personally and intimately, happily and eagerly voted for Trump.

This episode is about how I’m working through my resistance towards reconciliation. It’s about how I’m turning towards the Lord’s word to help me through a process I’m not sure I would pursue on my own. And don’t get wrong, I’m not there yet. But I think I’m finally finding a more concrete first step than I have in almost a year.

]]> Love of Labor, 5: I Don’t Know What To Do About Trump Deandra McDonald 00:22:09 false full 5 f4e16b0d-2e62-4af6-aed5-b503d52f40a7 Love of Labor, 1: When Identities Collide "I am not trying to curate something for you to see. I am trying to make something I feel called to create." I am trying to develop a better process to help me work through moments where I feel like my values are being challenged. And challenged might be too tame a word. Maybe colliding? Does that make sense? Sometimes I feel like my identities are colliding and I don't know how best to sort through?

]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 16:50:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/love-of-labor-1-when-identities-collide-p0JoTAF_ "I am not trying to curate something for you to see. I am trying to make something I feel called to create." I am trying to develop a better process to help me work through moments where I feel like my values are being challenged. And challenged might be too tame a word. Maybe colliding? Does that make sense? Sometimes I feel like my identities are colliding and I don't know how best to sort through?

]]> Love of Labor, 1: When Identities Collide Deandra McDonald 00:20:34 false full 1 d00c2290-2f81-4c7b-887c-bcabab836b45 Love of Labor, 4: I Don't Know What I Sound Like This episode is about identity. How much of who I am is an active choice? Am I making intentional decisions or just regurgitating what I've been taught over the last 30 years? I don't want to look up and regret the way I've lived my life (or even worse be apathetic). I want to fully live through every experience, but that means confronting some of the long held beliefs I have about the best way to live your life.

]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 12:45:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/love-of-labor-4-i-dont-know-what-i-sound-like-3xOE3bv7 This episode is about identity. How much of who I am is an active choice? Am I making intentional decisions or just regurgitating what I've been taught over the last 30 years? I don't want to look up and regret the way I've lived my life (or even worse be apathetic). I want to fully live through every experience, but that means confronting some of the long held beliefs I have about the best way to live your life.

]]> Love of Labor, 4: I Don't Know What I Sound Like Deandra McDonald 00:17:10 false full 4 528800f7-0594-47d6-83c7-8a1ec6111eb9 Love of Labor, 3: How Did I Keep The Faith To Accomplish My Goals Is there a difference between keeping your faith and just outright refusing to accept any other reality? This was a question submitted by one of our neighbors in the community. I know it's not perfectly in line with what I said we'd talk about last week. But the question was so good I felt I had to pivot!

]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 12:30:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/love-of-labor-3-how-did-i-keep-the-faith-to-accomplish-my-goals-amqI_ysY Is there a difference between keeping your faith and just outright refusing to accept any other reality? This was a question submitted by one of our neighbors in the community. I know it's not perfectly in line with what I said we'd talk about last week. But the question was so good I felt I had to pivot!

]]> Love of Labor, 3: How Did I Keep The Faith To Accomplish My Goals Deandra McDonald 00:24:49 false full 3 afbdf0c8-c829-4617-b57f-fa58e152b590 Love of Labor, 2: Why I Created the CLIP Method I am trying to develop a better process to help me work through moments where I feel like my values are being challenged. And honestly, challenged might be too tame a word. Maybe colliding? I can feel my identities colliding and I want to develop a more consistent process to work through that. Hypocrisy is a big trigger for me. I don't want inconsistencies with how I live my life and how I interact with the people around me. The CLIP method should help me with that (at least for now), as I try to figure out how to move forward in philosophical situations I don't understand.

]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 12:15:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/love-of-labor-1-why-i-created-the-clip-method-jQsl_uCI I am trying to develop a better process to help me work through moments where I feel like my values are being challenged. And honestly, challenged might be too tame a word. Maybe colliding? I can feel my identities colliding and I want to develop a more consistent process to work through that. Hypocrisy is a big trigger for me. I don't want inconsistencies with how I live my life and how I interact with the people around me. The CLIP method should help me with that (at least for now), as I try to figure out how to move forward in philosophical situations I don't understand.

]]> Love of Labor, 2: Why I Created the CLIP Method Deandra McDonald 00:21:46 false full 2 420f0ea0-f398-48b7-83ca-12fbfda4472a Love of Labor, Intro: To Dream About Labor "I don't have a dream job because I don't dream of labor." I am at this junction of my life where I am clearly seeing how my values and training are clashing in real time. I was trained to invest my way out of the proverbial rat race. I was taught to invest and run businesses and generate profit. Then rinse and repeat and rinse and repeat and rinse and repeat. What I wasn't taught is how I could (and should) use those skills to fit into the hopeful reality that I was investing for. I didn't learn how those skills should fit into healthy relationships or a thriving workplace or my neighborhood. But that's the community I'm yearning for. So I have to figure out how to best meld these (seeming) opposites and I just wanted to share this process with you all.

]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000 deandra@deandramcdonald.com (Deandra McDonald) https://the-love-of-labor-to-dream-about-labor.simplecast.com/episodes/the-love-of-labor-intro-to-dream-about-labor-1mA0f5WP "I don't have a dream job because I don't dream of labor." I am at this junction of my life where I am clearly seeing how my values and training are clashing in real time. I was trained to invest my way out of the proverbial rat race. I was taught to invest and run businesses and generate profit. Then rinse and repeat and rinse and repeat and rinse and repeat. What I wasn't taught is how I could (and should) use those skills to fit into the hopeful reality that I was investing for. I didn't learn how those skills should fit into healthy relationships or a thriving workplace or my neighborhood. But that's the community I'm yearning for. So I have to figure out how to best meld these (seeming) opposites and I just wanted to share this process with you all.

]]> Love of Labor, Intro: To Dream About Labor Deandra McDonald 00:04:55 job, dream, work, labor false full 0