Podcast
In The Lab with Ruben Kanya
Hosted by Ruben Kanya · EN
In The Lab with Ruben Kanya compiles over $2 Billion worth of successful real estate experiments for new investors looking to get started in real estate. With real estate being a broad umbrella, in the lab we introduce you to a variety of real estate models (experiments) that real practitioners have implemented while sharing their wins, losses and lessons in the lab so that you can pick the experiments that suit your lifestyle the most and double down. In the lab we focus on repeatable processes, systems and ingredients so that you can implement your own experiments and build.
32episodes
Episodes
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The AI Gold Rush: Where the Real Opportunity Is with Ruben Kanya - Episode #368
1w ago00:23:32Tap to summarizeIn this solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben challenges one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding artificial intelligence: that it's already too late to capitalize on it. Instead, he explains we're still in the earliest innings—and the biggest opportunity isn't building the next AI company. It's becoming the business owner who leverages AI better than everyone else in your respective industry.Throughout the episode, Ruben breaks down the shift from using AI as a simple chatbot to building agentic workflows that actually perform work inside your business. He explains why the future belongs to founders who eliminate repetitive tasks, redesign operations around AI agents, and elevate their teams into higher-value roles instead of simply replacing them.Ruben also shares practical frameworks for evaluating your business infrastructure, choosing AI-ready software, documenting workflows, and avoiding the bottlenecks that slow growing companies down. He explains why smaller businesses have a massive advantage over large corporations in this transition—and why speed and adaptability may become your biggest competitive edge over the next several years.Tune in now to learn where the real AI opportunity exists, how to prepare your business for an agentic future, and why the entrepreneurs who implement first—not necessarily the ones who know the most—will create the biggest advantage over the next 2-3 years.#ArtificialIntelligence #AIForBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #AgenticAI #Automation #SmallBusiness #Leadership #Innovation #InTheLab
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The HELOC Strategy Investors Can Use to Leverage Their Rental’s Equity - Episode #367
2w ago01:04:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with investor-focused lender Ben Stef to unpack the lending side of real estate that most investors rarely take advantage of. From growing up working construction jobs to building a business helping investors access capital, Ben shares the lessons, mindset shifts, and sales skills that shaped his journey into the world of real estate finance.The conversation dives deep into one of the biggest opportunities entrepreneurs and investors can make to tap into the hidden equity in their rentals as hidden leverage regardless of the economy, interest rates, or market conditions. Ben breaks down why successful operators thrive in every market cycle and how focusing on marketing, relationships, and consistent action often matters far more than external conditions.Ruben and Ben also pull back the curtain on how lending actually works behind the scenes. From underwriting, servicing, and investor financing to creative lending solutions, they discuss the realities most borrowers never see. Ben shares one of his favorite products for investors sitting on significant equity but lacking access to traditional financing, along with the mindset required to use leverage responsibly.Tune in now to learn how lenders evaluate risk, why ownership beats excuses, how to think about return on equity, and the strategies experienced investors use to unlock capital and continue scaling their real estate portfolios.Keeping it Real:04:35 – Sales skills learned through telemarketing08:20 – Get close to people already doing what you want to do09:26 – Why business forces personal growth10:50 – The power of extreme ownership13:33 – Are interest rates actually high?15:23 – The real reason business feels slow20:00 – How underwriting really works behind the scenes22:31 – What happens when borrowers miss payments25:31 – What loan servicing actually means29:20 – Building customer loyalty through relationships31:58 – The immigrant hospitality advantage in business36:08 – Why Ben tells some clients NOT to take loans37:45 – Products vs people: what really differentiates you41:14 – The investor HELOC most owners don't know exists45:23 – Return on Equity vs Return on Investment50:59 – Why lenders are willing to take second position55:57 – Play defense before you play offense58:22 – Asset class vs business owner mindset01:00:28 – Why old real estate advice no longer applies01:01:18 – The three people every entrepreneur needs around them #RealEstateInvesting #InvestorFinancing #HELOC #DSCRLoans #EntrepreneurMindset #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateBusiness #BusinessGrowth #InTheLab CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://www.fundingfreedom.net/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-stef-b0b741275/
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Why Real Estate Alone Won’t Set You Free with Ruben Kanya - Episode #366
May 2900:27:05Tap to summarizeSign Up For Relay through My Referral Link: https://join.relayfi.com/partner/?referralcode=temporaryhousingmeetup&utm_source=events&utm_medium=…In this eye-opening episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in entrepreneurship and real estate investing: confusing an asset class vs. building an actual business. Too many people say they want to “quit their W2 through real estate,” but never stop to ask the deeper question… are they trying to become an investor or build a business machine that produces cash flow at scale?Throughout the episode, Ruben unpacks the difference between long-term investing, operating a real estate business, and using business income to fund wealth-building assets. He explains why most successful entrepreneurs didn’t get wealthy from the asset class itself first, but from the business engine behind it. From wholesalers and flippers to coaches, syndicators, and short-term rental operators, Ruben challenges listeners to study how people actually made their money instead of blindly copying the final product.He also dives deep into the importance of context when making business decisions. Instead of asking generic questions like “What’s the best strategy?” Ruben explains why better outcomes come from reverse engineering your goals based on your skills, location, liquidity, lifestyle, time availability, and long-term vision. The episode also explores why B2B businesses create leverage faster than B2C models, and why AI may be the greatest business opportunity window modern entrepreneurs have ever seen.Tune in now to learn why “the math has to math,” how to stop chasing misleading business models, and why understanding the difference between owning assets and operating a business could completely change your financial future.#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #AssetVsBusiness #QuitYourW2 #B2BStrategy #AIForEntrepreneurs #FinancialFreedom #InTheLab
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Why Entrepreneurs Should Profit First with Relay, with Wendy Wei - Episode #365
May 2101:20:07Tap to summarizeSign Up For Relay through My Referral Link: https://join.relayfi.com/partner/?referralcode=temporaryhousingmeetup&utm_source=events&utm_medium=…In this insightful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Wendy Wei from Relay (a digital banking and money management platform) to unpack one of the most overlooked skills in entrepreneurship and real estate investing: understanding your cash flow. What starts as a conversation around money management quickly turns into a deeper discussion on psychology, conditioning, identity, habits, and the systems that shape how entrepreneurs operate their businesses and lives.Wendy shares her journey from growing up in a traditional immigrant household to building a career across psychology, marketing, SaaS, storytelling, and fintech. With a background in psychology from Harvard University and experience spanning photography, creator partnerships, and performance marketing, Wendy explains how curiosity, experimentation, and human behavior became the foundation for the work she does today helping business owners better understand and organize their finances.The episode dives deep into the Profit First framework and how entrepreneurs can stop operating with one giant “bucket” of money and instead build systems that create visibility, automation, accountability, and profitability. Ruben also breaks down exactly how Invested Escapes uses Relay internally across multiple properties, vendors, virtual cards, owner payouts, and operational systems to move faster and stay organized while scaling nationwide.Relay is a digital banking and money management platform that helps real estate investors get clear visibility into what they’re earning, spending and saving—so they can better understand the cash flow in their business.Throughout the conversation, Wendy also shares powerful insights around neuroplasticity, conditioning, growth mindset, rewiring limiting beliefs, and how small consistent habits can completely change the trajectory of your life and business over time. This episode blends entrepreneurship, psychology, systems, and financial organization into one conversation designed to help operators think differently about both money and growth.Tune in now to learn how to stop leaking money, organize your business like a true operator, and build systems that help you pay yourself first while scaling with clarity.HIGHLIGHTS:42:21 - Wendy talks about rewiring your brain through growth mindset. 55:50 - Wendy talks about automating cash flow for entrepreneurs. Keeping it Real:01:00 – Building micro communities03:20 – Understanding cash flow06:10 – Graduation season pressure11:30 – Travel shapes perspective15:20 – Psychology meets marketing16:30 – Curiosity drives growth20:10 – Small actions compound31:00 – Understanding conditioning34:30 – Coaching changed everything36:00 – Rewiring self-talk42:20 – Neuroplasticity explained46:10 – Identity shapes habits51:20 – Profit First explained54:40 – Automating cash flow58:20 – Relay inside operations1:03:00 – Virtual card controls1:07:00 – Banking misconceptions1:10:00 – Most-used Relay features1:15:00 – Building real community1:17:00 – People over logos CONNECT WITH THE GUESTLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankwithrelay/https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyhwei/#RealEstateInvesting #ProfitFirst #CashFlowManagement #EntrepreneurMindset #RelayFinancial #BusinessSystems #FinancialFreedom #MoneyManagement #RealEstateBusiness #Entrepreneurship
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Addition by Subtraction: How Less can turn into 10x More with Ruben Kanya - Episode #364
May 1300:15:20Tap to summarizeIn this perspective-shifting episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down one of the hardest lessons entrepreneurs and investors eventually face: sometimes the thing holding you back isn’t what’s failing, it’s what’s still working. From business ventures to habits, routines, and even ways of thinking, growth often requires subtraction before addition can happen.Throughout the episode, Ruben unpacks the idea of “making room” for bigger opportunities by intentionally removing what no longer aligns with where you’re trying to go. He shares personal examples of shutting down profitable businesses, evolving into new seasons, and why some of the biggest breakthroughs in life come after difficult decisions that initially make no logical sense from the outside.He also dives into how entrepreneurs can use AI, mentors, and reverse engineering to make smarter decisions with less emotional bias. Instead of asking which tactic or business model is best, Ruben explains why the better question is: “What outcome am I trying to achieve?” From there, the vehicle becomes clearer. The episode reframes how to think about opportunity cost, blind spots, and the hidden weight of trying to carry too many things at once.Tune in now to learn how to trim the fat, stop overloading your plate, and create space for the version of your life and business that actually aligns with where you’re trying to go.#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #MidTermRentals #WealthBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #ScaleSmart #AIForBusiness #MindsetShift #ExperimentNation
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The Hybrid Rental Strategy: How to Trade Volatility for Predictable Cash Flow in Real Estate with Anja Schaer - Episode #363
May 701:30:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Anja Schaer, broker, investor, and author of The Hybrid Rental Strategy, to break down how she went from a government job in Germany to building, scaling, and selling multiple businesses in the U.S.—all while creating a real estate portfolio designed for both cash flow and long-term exit.Anja dives into the real reason more investors are shifting away from short-term rentals and into midterm strategies. It’s not just about higher nightly rates—it’s about stability. Instead of chasing unpredictable bookings, she explains how locking in 3–6 month contracts creates consistent income, reduces workload, and removes the stress of staring at an empty calendar.This episode also goes beyond tactics and into mindset. From the “immigrant advantage” to breaking social norms and embracing discomfort, Anja shares how stepping outside the expected path creates exponential opportunities. The conversation ties it all together with a bigger play—building systems, leveraging AI, and creating a business that isn’t just profitable, but actually sellable.Tune in now to learn how to shift from chasing bookings to building predictable income and a real estate business designed for long-term freedom.HIGHLIGHTS:36:10 - Anja talks about why Why midterm rentals are exploding41:36 - Anja talks about the hybrid model Keeping it Real:06:00 – The immigrant advantage explained10:30 – Breaking social norms & taking risks18:30 – From e-commerce to real estate pivot24:30 – Finding real estate through Facebook30:00 – Evolution: flips → wholesale → rentals36:10 – 41:20 – How the hybrid model actually works46:30 – Calendar strategy to unlock MTR deals50:30 – Building a sellable property business54:00 – AI, systems, and future-proofing1:06:00 – What buyers will value in your business1:16:00 – Community, collaboration, and growth1:21:00 – From communism to entrepreneurship CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://www.peachhausfurnishedrentals.com/contactLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjaschaer/#RealEstateInvesting #MidTermRentals #PassiveIncome #EntrepreneurMindset #FinancialFreedom #RentalStrategy #WealthBuilding #AirbnbBusiness #PropertyManagement #RealEstateScaling
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The Invisible Force Killing Your Goals (And Why Setting Them Isn’t Enough) with Noah St. John - Episode #362
Apr 3001:00:36Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Dr. Noah St. John, a neuro-performance architect who has helped clients generate billions in revenue, to unpack the real reason so many entrepreneurs stay stuck despite having the right strategies, tools, and knowledge.Dr. Noah breaks down the concept of the “invisible brake”—the hidden force that silently limits your income, growth, and results. While most entrepreneurs focus heavily on the outer game like marketing, sales, and systems, this conversation reveals why that’s only half the equation. The real bottleneck lies in what happens after you set a goal—when doubt, limiting beliefs, and what he calls “head trash” begin to take over.Through real examples, including scaling a company from $4M to $20M in under 18 months, Dr. Noah explains how mastering your inner game is what unlocks exponential growth. He dives into why copying successful people doesn’t work, how unconscious beliefs shape your outcomes, and why most people are unknowingly operating with one foot on the brake.This episode also explores the idea of “permission to succeed,” the difference between conscious and unconscious competence, and how high performers think, decide, and act differently. From breaking through income ceilings to gaining clarity on what you actually want, this conversation gives you the missing piece most people never address.Tune in now to learn how to identify your invisible brake, eliminate the beliefs holding you back, and finally align your inner and outer game to unlock the results you’ve been chasing.HIGHLIGHTS:09:22 - Noah talks about why results matter more than personal success17:53 - Noah talks about outer and inner game.Keeping it Real:05:06 - Why most entrepreneurs fail despite good intentions07:43 - The truth about “fake gurus” and social media09:21 - Why results matter more than personal success12:10 - Why proximity alone doesn’t create results13:19 - Architect analogy: why watching isn’t enough15:27 - $4M plateau to $20M breakthrough story17:47 - Outer game vs inner game explained20:13 - How beliefs control every area of your life22:24 - Why “The Secret” missed the real work25:28 - Gary Vee and unconscious competence27:51 - The concept of “permission to succeed”31:17 - The framework behind the invisible brake32:17 - Why most people sabotage their own goals33:11 - Driving with one foot on the brake analogy35:03 - Neuroplasticity and rewiring your beliefs36:19 - From poverty mindset to building wealth40:33 - Decision vs doubt: what actually drives action42:05 - Pain vs pleasure as motivators46:04 - Technology’s impact on your inner game47:19 - Identifying your invisible brake50:42 - Power habits of successful people51:08 - Why clarity beats “wanting more money”52:34 - The myth about personality and success54:01 - Building a clear vision that actually works55:27 - How to identify your “head trash”56:30 - Turning limiting beliefs into opportunity57:03 - Where to connect with Dr. Noah CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://noahstjohn.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahstjohn/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahstjohn/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drnoahstjohn#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #HighPerformance #MindsetShift #FinancialFreedom #SuccessHabits #ScaleYourBusiness
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Why Iteration Beats Perfection in Business with Joe Downs - Episode #361
Apr 2201:05:29Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Joe Downs, CEO of Belrose Group, to break down how real wealth is built through iteration, problem-solving, and identifying opportunities most people overlook. This conversation goes beyond surface-level strategies and dives into the mindset required to build across multiple industries and market cycles.Joe shares his journey from early failures—including losing $100,000 in a restaurant—to raising nearly $100 million in real estate and building a mortgage resolution company that purchased over 20,000 distressed loans. His story highlights a key truth: success doesn’t come from getting it right the first time, but from learning, adapting, and continuing to move forward through every setback.The episode also explores one of the biggest opportunities ahead—acquiring cash-flowing, mom-and-pop businesses. With millions of owners aging out, Joe explains how inefficiencies in operations, pricing, and systems create massive upside for those willing to step in, optimize, and scale. From distressed debt to self-storage, the same principles apply across industries.Tune in now to learn how to identify hidden opportunities, leverage acquisitions instead of starting from scratch, and build long-term wealth by thinking differently, acting faster, and eliminating excuses in today’s market.HIGHLIGHTS:12:12 - Joe talks about the “mind your kitchen lesson”35:25 - Joe discovers self storageKeeping it Real:04:30 – Growth through acquisitions10:15 – Leaving finance after 9/1112:24 – Mind your kitchen lesson15:23 – Raising millions before crash16:50 – Discovering distressed debt20:33 – Mortgage resolution explained simply23:01 – Loan modification strategy26:23 – Becoming the bank model27:30 – Regulation forces reinvention31:24 – Starting hard money lending35:25 – Discovering self-storage opportunity36:56 – Mom-and-pop inefficiency insight41:25 – SBA financing unlock explained43:11 – Why opportunity still exists45:21 – Using AI for learning49:00 – AI improves communication skills51:31 – Seller financing deal strategies53:39 – Future storage vertical opportunities58:13 – Biggest demand opportunities ahead1:00:23 – No excuses mindset1:02:31 – Where to connectCONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://belrosegrp.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-downs-7990851/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephmdowns/#RealEstateInvesting #BusinessAcquisitions #EntrepreneurMindset #WealthBuilding #CashFlowStrategies #SelfStorageInvesting #FinancialFreedom #PassiveIncome #InvestingStrategies #BuildInPublic
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The Art of Scaling: Small Piece of a Big Pie with Ruben Kanya - Episode #360
Apr 1500:24:05Tap to summarizeIn this sharp and perspective-shifting episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down a realization that most entrepreneurs miss: you don’t need to build everything to win—you just need to understand where you fit in the ecosystem.Early in the episode, he references Episode 351: “The Five Pillars of Success in 2026,” where he introduced the framework of relationships, resourcefulness, resilience, speed, and standards—principles he continues to double down on as he navigates higher-level rooms and bigger opportunities.Fresh off a major industry conference, he pulls back the curtain on how trillion-dollar insurance systems actually operate, revealing the layered structure between carriers, third-party administrators, adjusters, and housing providers. Instead of trying to control every piece, the biggest players focus on one thing and outsource the rest—and that’s where the real opportunities live.Ruben shares how this applies directly to real estate investors and operators, especially those transitioning from short-term rentals into mid-term insurance housing. From understanding who the real decision-makers are, to identifying where value is created (and paid for), this episode reframes how to think about scale, leverage, and positioning.He also dives into the importance of standards, knowing what your time is worth, and why trying to do everything yourself is one of the fastest ways to stay stuck. The operators who win are the ones who stay in their lane, build relationships in the right rooms, and plug into systems that are already moving at scale.Tune in now to learn how to stop overcomplicating your growth, find your position in the ecosystem, and start playing a bigger game.#PlayYourRole #EntrepreneurMindset #RealEstateInvesting #MidTermRentals #InsuranceHousing #WealthStrategy #ScaleSmart #BusinessGrowth #Leverage #HighPerformance
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Trim the Good Fat: Why Letting Go of What Works May be the Real Growth Hack with Ruben Kanya - Episode #359
Apr 800:18:55Tap to summarizeIn this solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down a counterintuitive principle that most entrepreneurs avoid: cutting things that are actually working. As Q1 comes to a close, he challenges the common habit of stacking new goals on top of old ones without removing anything, and explains why this approach silently kills growth.Using examples from Tesla’s strategic decisions and his own experience stepping away from profitable consulting work, Ruben introduces the concept of “trimming the good fat.” He explains that real leverage doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from removing distractions, even the ones generating income, to make room for higher ROI opportunities.The episode also dives into how AI and mentorship should be used together, not separately. Ruben emphasizes that the advantage today is no longer access to information—it’s clarity of direction. Those who win are the ones who can define what they want, ask better questions, and use the right tools to reverse engineer the path forward.This conversation reframes productivity, decision-making, and growth through a simple but difficult lens: less, but better. It’s a reminder that success isn’t about adding more—it’s about having the discipline to remove what no longer aligns with where you’re going.Tune in now to learn how to trim the good fat, compress your timeline, and focus only on what actually moves the needle.#TrimTheFat #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateEntrepreneur #Leverage #DecisionMaking #HighPerformance #AIForBusiness #WealthBuilding #ScaleSmart
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