AJ Osborne Podcast

  The next great depression is closer than you think. For years, Lauren Saidel-Baker, economist at ITR Economics, has predicted an almost unavoidable economic depression, specifically for the United States. We last spoke to her about this in January 2025, and now she’s back—but this time, she’s even more convinced of our path to the 2030s great depression.    Major signals are keeping us from swerving this colossal event. The Fed is trapped—lowering rates to save our government budget could trigger inflation, again. Social problems are growing—the wealth gap is widening, and those at the bottom can barely afford necessities. And the final linchpin—an aging baby boomer population that will take massive amounts of resources, without giving much in return.   We’ve seen problems like this occur in other countries—France and Japan, to name a couple—but nothing on the size of the American economy. So what’s coming next? Are we back to a 2008-style market selloff where asset prices tank? Can AI step in to save us from some of these dangers that a younger workforce can’t solve, and who wins and loses when the shoe drops?   Insights from today’s episode:  The road to the next great depression: Why 2030 looks like it’s unavoidable  The “linchpin” that could set off the domino effect and massively change the economy  How to win in the next great depression and what to do to start preparing now The Fed’s “trap” and how they’ll lose control of the economy  Why Lauren thinks many people are wrong about AI (and what effect it will really have) __________ ITR Economics:  https://hubs.la/Q04h6kdc0  Check out Lauren's previous podcast episode!-https://www.ajosborne.com/podcasts/aj-osborne-podcast/episodes/2148970950  Sign Up for My Newsletter Here: https://ajosborne.com/newsletter   

There’s one thing that separates a “good” commercial real estate deal from the rest—and you have complete control over it. Get it right, and your returns are much closer to being locked in. Get it wrong, and you could have a cash-draining property on your hands.  Kevin Bupp, 20+ year investing veteran and mobile home park and parking lot expert, is here to help. He built a massive real estate portfolio from nothing, starting at the young age of 20, lost it all in the 2008 crash, and rebuilt it bigger, better, and (much) safer than before. He’s learned the lessons the hard way, so you don’t have to. In this episode, we’re talking about commercial real estate underwriting, how to separate the “good” deals from the BS, and the most crucial factor that makes or breaks a real estate investment. Kevin is buying multimillion-dollar deals, meaning his margin for error can only be tiny. This is the way he decides whether to buy or move on to the next opportunity.   Insights from today’s episode:  The most crucial factor of a “good” real estate investment that so many got wrong in 2020 - 2022 The best loan to use for commercial real estate investing that can save your deal during bad times  What sets the successful real estate investors apart from the rest (99% of people can’t handle this) How Kevin built his portfolio, lost it all, and rebuilt it better and stronger than before  How to filter out the BS when getting started in real estate investing  — Sunrise Capital Investors: https://sunrisecapitalinvestors.com/fund-4/ Kevin’s Website: https://kevinbupp.com/ Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbupp/   Sign Up for My Newsletter Here: https://ajosborne.com/newsletter   

The long-awaited Fed announcement is here. After the recent Fed meeting, where we got more clarity on rate cuts, the economic “cycle” seems to have been just reset. This will have significant consequences for the economy and prime specific industries for a resurgence. If you own any of these assets or work in any of these sectors, you could be riding a new “wave” of wealth for years to come.    After years of economic tightening and high interest rates, stubborn inflation, and American purchasing power shrinking dramatically, the Fed has finally reversed course, heading towards an “easing” cycle. But something more interesting than rate cut news came out of recent Fed meetings—it’s what the Fed didn’t say.   Jerome Powell has switched from familiar verbiage to some new phrasing, priming us that we could be in a much different position than we’ve been in before. This has enormous implications for the next moves the Fed makes, and whether we’ll see interest rates fall even more as a result. Was the Fed too late with this move, with unemployment already rising and job revisions pushing us into an even deeper hole? I’m explaining who will win and who will get left behind in this next cycle.    Insights from today’s episode:  The Fed announcement on rate cuts and what it means for the economy Who will win in this next economic cycle (industries and investments) A big pivot? Why the Fed backed off its 2% inflation goal  Was the Fed too late? Can employment bounce back? What a tightening vs. easing “cycle” means for the average American   — Why U.S. Debt is Everyone’s Problem (Including Yours) - https://youtu.be/DFDZwj64EeQ?si=t6jH1zLvRBn0Wmas  Sign Up for My Newsletter Here: https://ajosborne.com/newsletter 

AI could trigger a new economic crisis—the next great depression—and most people are ignoring it. I’m not just talking about job loss or automation replacing salaries. There’s a much deeper problem—one that could erode the last remnants of stability in the US economy and government. Is AI taking jobs? Yes. But that’s just one of our worries. “Second-order consequences” are coming fast. Nobody is talking about them. The government, the economy, and everyday US citizens are not prepared. And this isn’t just a US problem. Many developed nations are dealing with a generational shift, massive national debt, and a shrinking workforce. Will AI solve this problem or make it even worse?  I’m sharing my theory on how AI will shift the US economy and you individually, the effects that most people are completely overlooking, and a growing concern that is going to hit the US government head-on. AI could be the solution to many of our problems—it could also be our downfall. Which road will we take? Insights from today’s episode:  The shrinking labor force problem that AI can only superficially solve  How the US government’s debt crisis will ramp up once AI replaces jobs The growing wealth gap that could further widen thanks to AI How to protect your personal wealth when AI is taking high-paying jobs  Could taxing the rich fix any of this—or just make it worse? Why U.S. Debt is Everyone’s Problem (Including Yours) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFDZwj64EeQ&pp=0gcJCcwJAYcqIYzv  Sign Up for My Newsletter Here: https://ajosborne.com/newsletter 

For over a decade, as I built my portfolio, I didn’t raise capital from outside investors. Why? I didn’t want to take the risk. Raising capital for real estate is something you cannot afford to get wrong. No one wants to end up in prison because they funded a deal the wrong way. Good news? I’ve got SEC attorney and good friend Mauricio Rauld here to tell you how to do it right. Even better news? AI is about to make it cheaper (and easier) for all of us.    Seriously, why pay a lawyer tens of thousands of dollars to come up with your documents when AI can compile everything for a fraction of the cost? Most lawyers don’t want to hear this, but Mauricio is fully on board. The change is coming, and it’s about to bring huge cost savings to all of us who run businesses or invest in real estate. Plus, accredited investor rules could change soon, making it even easier for average Americans to invest in bigger deals. Will the move actually go through?   If you’re even thinking about raising money, listen to this episode. You could be paying thousands of dollars for what Mauricio is about to tell you. We’re also sharing the best career advice you’ll ever receive, our thoughts on AI’s new lawyer-replacing features, and why the middle class is stuck, getting squeezed while the rich get richer.    Insights from today’s episode:  How to raise capital for real estate (the rules you MUST follow before you do) New AI lawyers that can draft your legal docs for a fraction of the cost  Why you have way more control than you think when raising capital for real estate  Crucial career advice if you feel like you don’t know what your “passion” is Changes to accredited investor rules? Why this could be good for average Americans   — Helpful Articles: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/blog/the-truth-about-real-estate-investing  https://www.selfstorageincome.com/blog/the-secret-investments-of-the-wealthy-1  🎧 Listen to Drunk Real Estate: https://www.drunkrealestateshow.com/ 🔗 Mauricio’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauriciorauld/ 📚 Mauricio’s Coaching: https://coachingwithmauricio.com  🎙️ Have a story worth sharing? Apply to be a guest on the Self Storage Income or AJ Osborne podcasts: https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 📚 Want the full blueprint? Get my latest book on how to build and scale a successful self storage business: https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 📉 Ready to invest alongside us? Take advantage of today’s market conditions and grow with our team at Cedar: https://cedar.cc/invest 

This investor makes tens of thousands a month from his “AI vending machine” business. A business so simple a teenager could run it—and make more than most Americans do at their day job. We’re not talking about those old vending machines in the back of bowling alleys selling Cokes for $1.50. We’re talking about an AI vending machine business plan that generates $1,200 to $2,000 per month per machine.    Michael Hoffmann—better known as ‘Mr. Passive’—has been running his vending machine side hustle for over five years. But he’s made a serious business out of it, leveraging his Silicon Valley tech background to perfect the purchasing experience.    A customer simply walks up to your machine, taps their card, grabs what they need, and leaves. You make a massive markup, and the customer gets what they want—fast. Want to know how to repeat it? Michael is sharing exactly how much he makes, how much a machine costs, the profit margins, and a step-by-step plan so you or even your kid can start a vending machine business.   Insights from today’s episode:  How much vending machines make AND how much a vending machine costs The new “AI vending machines” with bigger purchases and better margins A step-by-step business plan for starting your own vending machine business How to scale your vending machine side hustle into a full-time business The best way to teach your kids entrepreneurship? Why AJ is bullish on vending machines for HIS kids    Join the Waitlist for VendHub! - https://www.vendhub.ai/  Learn how to do this yourself and subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel! - https://www.youtube.com/@UCCr13sXOZgWCqpPv8WPKhwQ  🎙️ Do you have a great story or advice to share on the AJ Osborne podcast? Apply here! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 📖 Get AJ's book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 📉 Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with our company, Cedar Creek Capital: https://cedar.cc/invest 

Dan Martell learned how to program at age 17 while in rehab. He traded one addiction for another—starting scalable, successful, profitable software companies. You might know him from his book Buy Back Your Time, where Dan shares the secret to building a business empire that frees you from the chains most solopreneurs and small business owners struggle to break. Today, he’s giving a masterclass on how to do just that.   After scaling multiple top-tier teams, Dan has identified the “cancer” behind a business environment that can erode your company and everything you’ve worked hard for. He gets into his exact strategy for hiring, firing, and promoting people on his team for the best results, and how to compensate others so they deliver their best work and grow your company—while you focus on your highest-value actions.    Maybe you’ve already got a team. How do you keep them on the same page and rowing in the same direction? Dan’s got a simple framework for that—something so clear, your team can move forward even if you’re not around. Dan is an expert in business-building, team management, and hiring. This is crucial advice if you own a business or want to one day.    Insights from today’s episode:    How to build your team for your small (or large) business that can run the ship without you Who you should hire, fire, and promote IMMEDIATELY in your organization  How to hire executives that will multiply your business faster than you ever could  Why you MUST ensure your employees are there for the long haul (and how to reward them to stay) NEVER do profit sharing for an employee…here’s why  — Buy Back Your Time https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Back-Your-Time-Unstuck/dp/059342297X    Dan’s Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/danmartell/?hl=en    Dan’s YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@danmartell/