Breakthrough with Chris Medellin

Hosted by Christopher Medellin

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Breakthrough Podcast with Chris Medellin is a platform meant to spotlight diverse and remarkable stories of breakthrough individuals in the mortgage, real estate spaces and beyond.As a Mexican-American, Chris has been no stranger to adversity in his career, feeling like just another cog in the machine. Everything he has built for himself, he has raised his hand, used his voice, and found ways to build a chair and drag it to the tables where career-changing conversations and decisions have transpired.Now, he’s giving the mic to YOU, committed to sharing your story leading up to that one, show-stopping breakthrough moment that changed everything for you, and all of the growth, insight, development, and learnings that have happened since.Because Chris knows it’s not about him, but about the people he can pour into – especially those that come from diverse backgrounds, who have unique stories to share that could easily be overlooked on the main stage – and that is what Breakthrough Podcast is all about.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 22, 2026Episode 1344 min

Rich Krupnik - The Mindset Shift That Sparked 700% Growth

In this episode, I sit down with Rich Krupnik, a 20-year mortgage veteran and team leader based in Phoenix who grew his business over 700% in two years. Not because the market was good. Not because he got lucky. Because he made a decision that most people in this industry never make. The moment he went all in on himself, everything opened. In this episode, Rich breaks down the exact system he built: a CRM that routes calls by client and rings on every device simultaneously, a drip text sequence that walks clients through the process without a single email blast, a listing agent strategy that turns one transaction into a referral pipeline, and a communication framework built around one principle: treat every client like family. This one is packed. Connect with Rich: @rich_krupnik | facebook.com/lender Follow Chris: @thechrismedellin This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

July 8, 2026Episode 1253 min

How She Overcame Fear and Finally Found Balance | with Alexa DePaolo

In this episode, I sit down with Alexa DePaolo, real estate expert, business strategist, and national keynote speaker, who built one of the most powerful brands in mortgage after surviving an abusive relationship, single motherhood, and years of financial survival mode. Alexa went from hiding in the bushes of a trailer park, clutching her infant daughter while her phone died, to becoming one of the top-producing loan officers in Colorado. That was not a lucky break. That was a decision. But the story does not stop there. After escaping physical danger, she faced a different kind of trap: a boss who paid her pennies on the dollar for a decade, weaponized her loyalty, and told her she was ungrateful to ask for more. Recognizing that pattern changed everything. Connect with Alexa: @thealexadepaolo | www.alexadepaolo.com Follow Chris: Instagram: @thechrismedellin This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

June 17, 2026Episode 1054 min

Why High Achievers Still Feel Empty (And How to Fix It) with Jerrid Sebesta

In this episode, I sit down with Jerrid Sebesta, a former meteorologist and TV personality who walked away from a successful career in Phoenix and Minnesota to figure out why success alone was not enough. We get into something I think a lot of high achievers deal with but rarely talk about. That feeling of having built something real on the outside, while something on the inside still feels off. Jerrid breaks down why that happens, what your nervous system has to do with it, and how shifting your internal state opens doors that were already there. He also shares some of the hardest moments of his life. An identity theft that shook his foundation, losing his mother and his brother, and how he chose to face all of it with honor instead of victimhood. If you have been checking every box and still feel like something is missing, this one is for you. ✅ Connect with Jerrid: @JerridSebesta ✅ Follow Chris: Instagram: @thechrismedellin This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

June 9, 2026Episode 1149 min

How to Work Less and Get More Done (The Perfect Week Formula) with Craig Ballantyne

In this episode, I sit down with Craig Ballantyne, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and the person behind the Perfect Week Formula, who has spent 25 years helping entrepreneurs stop building businesses that run their lives. Craig went to the emergency room twice in one year, thinking he was having a heart attack. Nothing was physically wrong. That experience became the foundation for everything he teaches about how you structure your day, your week, and eventually your life. Connect with Craig: @realCraigBallantyne Follow Chris: Instagram: @thechrismedellin This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

May 22, 2026Episode 952 min

Diagnosed With Cancer Twice Before 35, and Still Became a Top Mortgage Producer with Corey Luckow

In this episode of Breakthrough, Chris sits down with Corey Luckow for a raw and grounded conversation about surviving cancer twice before 35, and building a top-performing mortgage career through both battles. They break down what it actually takes to keep showing up when your health, your identity, and your future are all on the line, and how Corey turned two stage 3 melanoma diagnoses into the foundation for a more intentional life, business, and brand. They also talk about her first diagnosis at 20, navigating treatment as a newlywed in a new city, the 10-year mark when cancer came back, and how motherhood shifted everything about how she shows up. ✅ Connect with Corey: Instagram: @coreyanneluck ✅ Follow Chris: Instagram: @thechrismedellin This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

May 5, 2026Episode 89 min

10 min Breathing Exercise with Gretchen Seeck

Take 10 minutes to reset your mind, reconnect with your body, and come back to yourself. In this guided breathwork session, Gretchen Seek leads you through a powerful breathing exercise designed to help release stress, quiet the noise, and create space for healing. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, overwhelm, recovery, or simply need a moment to ground yourself, this practice is a reminder that peace is already within you—you just have to breathe into it. Following our powerful conversation on sobriety, self-worth, healing, and transformation, this session gives you a practical tool to begin applying that work in real time. This is your moment to pause. To surrender. To breathe. In this session, you’ll experience: • Breathwork for nervous system regulation • Stress and anxiety release • Mind-body connection • Emotional grounding • A powerful reset in just 10 minutes This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

May 5, 2026Episode 756 min

From Addiction to Purpose: Gretchen Seeck’s Powerful Journey to Sobriety

Have you ever felt trapped in a toxic cycle and didn’t know how to break free? In this raw and deeply inspiring episode, Chris sits down with Gretchen Seeck, a Wyoming native, ASU grad, former mortgage professional, and founder of Haus of GS, to unpack her powerful transformation from addiction and alcoholism to building a purpose-driven life rooted in healing, leadership, and self-love. After moving to Arizona for school and stepping into the mortgage world, Gretchen found herself battling something far bigger than career uncertainty and alcoholism. What she didn’t realize at the time was that her recovery journey, surrender, and the people around her would completely change the trajectory of her life. Now, Gretchen is the visionary behind Haus of GS (Haus of G’s), the home for her three biggest passions and businesses: The Nut Farm Podcast, G Soul Co, clothing line, and G Mind Coaching. Whether you’re navigating your own struggles, rebuilding your identity, or simply searching for more purpose, this episode is proof that your darkest moments can become your greatest breakthrough. Follow Gretchen Seeck / Haus of GS: Website: www.hausofgs.com Instagram: @haus.of.gs Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that healing is possible. #sobriety #recovery #personalgrowth #mentalhealth #healing #entrepreneurship #podcast This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

April 21, 2026Episode 644 min

He made $500K in ONE WEEK Using This Exact Content System with Omar El-Takrori

Are you tired of saying the same thing over and over again to potential clients, only to feel emotionally drained? In this episode, personal brand expert Omar El-Takrori reveals the exact playbook he used to scale to multiple seven figures by shifting from one-on-one conversations to a powerful one-to-many model. 🚀 Omar shares his journey from being a creative director at a church to building a massive agency and eventually teaching thousands of entrepreneurs how to leverage video. We dive deep into the importance of investing in yourself, even when the bank account looks slim, and how that one decision can lead to millions in returns. Omar explains why the transformation really happens in the transaction and how to overcome the spouse's objection when making big moves for your business. ✅ Follow Omar: IG: @omareltakrori ✅ Follow Chris: IG: @thechrismedellin This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

April 2, 2026Episode 557 min

You’re abusing your brain, and it’s costing you everything with Shivani Peterson

Dive into a powerful conversation with Shivani Peterson. She is a high-producing loan officer, Chief Performance Officer, and a bold community leader redefining what modern leadership looks like in the mortgage industry. 📱 Follow Shivani on IG: @shivani.peterson 📱 Follow Chris on IG: @thechrismedellin This episode is FULL of real-talk, leadership truth, and tactical mindset shifts you can apply immediately. Shivani shares how she completed a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy while navigating one of the most chaotic markets in mortgage history and still closed record volume. We talk openly about mental health, burnout, social anxiety, public criticism, and why hiding your struggles is no longer an option for authentic leaders. If you’re a loan officer, executive, entrepreneur, or anyone building authority in high-pressure spaces, this conversation will challenge you to stop waiting for permission and start building your own table. This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC

March 24, 2026Episode 436 min

He Got Robbed at Gunpoint 3 Times. Then Built a Billion-Dollar Company with CEO Anthony Hsieh

Dive into a powerhouse conversation with Anthony Hsieh, founder of loanDepot and one of the most influential leaders in the mortgage industry. From building a mortgage giant with just 17 people to leading a publicly traded company, Anthony shares the raw, unfiltered lessons behind his rise. We unpack the defining moments that shaped him, including a life-altering robbery at gunpoint during his childhood that cemented a mindset of resilience and responsibility. 📱 Follow Chris on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thechrismedellin/ 📱 Follow Anthony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/badcompanyfishingadventures/ This episode is FULL of straight talk, leadership principles, and hard-earned wisdom from decades at the highest level. Anthony breaks down: * The mindset required to disrupt an industry * How to hire, lead, and build elite teams * Why clear communication separates great leaders from average ones * The future of AI in mortgage * The current state of the market * What it really takes to keep the “fire in the belly” We also talk about legacy, immigrant work ethic, and why he returned to lead the company he built from the ground up. If you’re a loan officer, branch manager, entrepreneur, or CEO, this conversation is your masterclass. Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments 👇 #leadershipadvice #entrepreneurship #mortgagemarket #businessgrowth #fintech This podcast has been edited and produced by Content by Fabio LLC