Trading Secrets Episode 255: Tyler Cameron & Tate Madden—From DIY to Realtor to Building Brands

Release Date: September 29, 2025 | Host: Jason Tartick

Episode Overview

This “update episode” brings reality TV star and entrepreneur Tyler Cameron and his partner, social media personality Tate Madden, back to the podcast for a high-energy look at their recent life and business pivots. Jason Tartick dives deep with the couple on the inside track of Tyler’s leap into luxury real estate with powerhouse brokerage Sirhant, their approach to hands-on home renovations, Tate’s breakout as an interior designer and creator, financial transparency, long-term planning and lessons from the trenches of personal branding and business-building.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. Tyler’s Real Estate Pivot: Joining Sirhant

• [01:18] Tyler shocks some followers by signing with the Sirhant Group as a realtor, despite his established brand as a contractor, model, and entrepreneur.
• He emphasizes his lifelong love of working with people and a passion for real estate:

  “Sometimes I’m up at 11:30 at night on Zillow because I can’t sleep—I just love finding deals.” – Tyler, [01:45]

• For Tyler, real estate brokerage offers flexibility missing in contractor work. He’s still building and flipping homes, but not taking on outside clients day-to-day:

  “General contracting, you’ve got to be on the job every day... being a realtor is so much more fluid.” – Tyler, [02:50]

• He confirms he won’t be joining Sirhant’s “Owning Manhattan” Netflix show, joking,

  “I’m not a part of any of that… I’m just trying to own Jupiter!” – Tyler, [03:35]

• The draw to Sirhant was exposure, deal flow, and mentorship over going solo:

  “I’ve been in a week and already have buyers looking for over $10 million... The doors Sirhant opens are incredible.” – Tyler, [04:14]
  “Team culture is the best culture. I’ve played sports my whole life—I love being part of a team.” – Tyler, [06:20]

2. How Realtors Get Paid—Peeling Back Commission Structure

• [07:15] Jason and Tyler break down standard commission splits, earning structure, and thresholds for luxury property sales.

  “You eat what you kill… usually it’s 6% split between buyer and listing agent, but it’s ultimately up to the seller.” – Tyler, [07:15]

3. Renovations, Real Numbers, and Real Estate Strategy

• [13:29] The couple offers actual figures on their home reno:

  “We gutted the whole house—spent around $250–$300k. Bought it for $660k.” – Tyler, [13:37]
  “Houses not updated our size are selling for $800k… we could probably get $1.1–1.2 million.” – Tyler, [14:11]

• They’re holding not flipping, betting on upcoming neighborhood development:

  “If I can hold this house five, ten years, that’s where the money’s made.” – Tyler, [14:27]

• Renovating together was a relationship test:

  “In the moment, I’m like, wow, we’re starting our relationship diving into work… If we can get through this, we can get through anything.” – Tate, [12:19]

4. Tate's Brand Ascent: From DIY Struggles to Social Media Success

• [09:04] Initially hesitant, Tate found confidence through virality and community support for her home design projects:

  “I was trying to find a bad comment [after the first reveal], and there wasn’t one… it was such a good feeling because I did enjoy it so much.” – Tate, [10:31]

• She draws inspiration from her resourceful mother, tackles self-doubt, and openly talks imposter syndrome and public facing anxiety:

  “I’m still working on that—I get my feelings hurt. He always says, ‘Don’t read the comments.’” – Tate, [09:40] “Part of me wants to rise up to the challenge and prove to myself I can be that person.” – Tate, [22:56]

• Tate’s approach to monetization: quadrupling her old salary post-firing.

  “Before Tyler fired me, I was making $60K. I’ve now outpaced that by, like, quadruple.” – Tate, [24:47]

5. Building Empires vs. Facing Fears—Division of Talent

• [19:45, 20:00] Jason and Tyler encourage Tate to expand into her own design firm. Tate is candid about her anxieties with difficult clients and business pressure.

  “If you have such a skillset at designing, but the business stuff you’re not strong at—just hire a business operator. You just be the artist.” – Jason, [22:02] “I don’t like people being upset with me. So designing for clients gives me a lot of anxiety… but maybe it’s just growing pains. The competitive side of me says to rise up to the challenge.” – Tate, [21:25; 22:56]

6. Long-Term Relationship Talk

• [15:24] The couple navigates the pressure of next steps:

  “You need a ring guy. I got a ring guy.” – Jason, [15:25] “I’d marry him in a second, but I want it to be that he wants to marry me.” – Tate, [15:52] “We’re making all those strides. I definitely see us there.” – Tyler, [15:45]

7. Best Flip and Buy-and-Hold Philosophy

• [17:29] Tyler describes his most profitable flip—his mom’s house:

  “Bought for 450, put 250 in, appraised at $1M. But my whole goal is buy and hold, not sell.” – Tyler, [17:53, 18:35] “I remember as a kid, my dad said, ‘I bought your mom’s house for 90 grand in ‘93. Now it’s worth a million.’ … If you just buy and hold, 30 years later, the house is worth a million dollars.” – Tyler, [18:48, 19:13]

8. Brand, TV & Virality—Dealing With Public Scrutiny

• [27:03] The couple hints at returning to TV (“we have some fun ideas up our sleeves”), and Tate opens up about dealing with harsh social media feedback for her viral content:

  “People are telling stories about you that aren’t true. It’s hard to not defend yourself… It was a learning curve.” – Tate, [29:36] “My dad’s currently banned on TikTok for defending her!” – Tyler, [30:14] “There’s one side where I love the passion of the parents… At the same time, we’ve had some talks. ‘Let’s all just say it in the family group chat and not air it out.’” – Tate, [31:09]

9. Future Income Goals & Trading Secrets

• [37:52] Jason pushes for concrete goals:
  • Tyler: “$50 million in sales by end of 2026—hopefully $1.5 million in commissions.” – [37:55]
  • Tate: “I’d like to make close to half a million in a year and a half.” – [38:08]
• Trading Secrets:
  • Tate: “Fake it till you make it.” – [38:31]
  • Tyler: “Use your network and voice what you want to do. Opportunities will connect.” – [38:36]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I love pleasing people, making sure they get what they need… So, boom. I’d be a great realtor.” – Tyler, [01:45]
• “He fired you, and now you’re killing it. Now you’re glowing and thriving.” – Jason, [01:12]
• “If I said no [to a $700k listing], that probably turns down any opportunities with that person.” – Tyler, [08:15]
• “Fake it till you make it.” – Tate, [38:31]
• “Just voice what you want to do. Suddenly the opportunities connect and stuff starts happening.” – Tyler, [38:49]

Recap Segment Highlights

(w/Jason & David)

• Good-natured banter about New York City, Ryder Cup experiences, and choice business advice for listeners.
• Additional praise for Tyler’s work ethic and the couple’s business compatibility.
• Open discussion on the value of “buy and hold” real estate versus flipping.
• Warm endorsement of Tate’s relatability, creative vision, and growing online influence.
• Honest look at imposter syndrome, family dynamics under the social media microscope, and the importance of having a supportive (and protective!) inner circle.

Timestamps: Key Segments

• 01:18 — Tyler on the decision to join Sirhant
• 04:00 — Power of the Sirhant Group & deal flow
• 07:15 — Realtor compensation, commission breakdown
• 09:04 — Tate’s rise in interior design & viral moments
• 13:29 — Actual home reno numbers & equity gained
• 15:24 — Relationship longevity and marriage talk
• 17:29 — The story of Tyler’s best real estate flip
• 19:45 — Buy & hold investing vs. flipping
• 21:25 — Tate’s honest take on business anxiety
• 22:02 — The “hire your weakness” advice
• 24:47 — Earnings transparency: Tate’s 4x jump
• 27:03 — TV plans, relationship dynamic, social media hate
• 37:52 — Tyler & Tate’s bold financial goals
• 38:31 — Closing “trading secrets”

Takeaways and Tone

This episode is quintessential Trading Secrets: practical, personal, transparent, and punchy. With humorous banter and real numbers, Tyler and Tate offer an honest look at entrepreneurship, love, and building brands. Their approach is both refreshing and instructive—an inspiring listen for dreamers, creators, and business-builders alike.

Find Tyler & Tate

• Socials: @TylerJCameron, @Ta_Da
• Substack: Sable Living by Tate and Ty

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