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What the M

What the M

Hosted by Kent D. McPhail and Stephen M. Hladik

BusinessInterviews guests

Episodes

68

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Do you ever wonder who is behind the scenes collecting and processing all those monthly mortgage payments throughout the entire country? In the world of residential mortgages, the mortgage servicing industry is a critical but not always visible player in the lending and home ownership process. Unveiling how mortgage servicers manage the residential homeownership industry is the concept behind “What the M,” a new podcast that discusses the complex issues facing default services and the path forward for the mortgage industry and homeowners alike. The industry is comprised of more than 160 mortgage servicers representing more than 80% of the outstanding principal balances on mortgages in the U.S. Without the involvement of these vital mortgage servicers, obtaining and maintaining a home mortgage as we know it would not exist.“‘What the M’ features industry movers and shakers discussing the challenges faced by mortgage servicers, law firms and the American homeowner,” said Stephen Hladik, one of the co-hosts for the podcast and chair of the Advisory Council of the Legal League 100. “We will discuss trends in the economy, regulatory oversight, changes in the law, changes in technology and a myriad of other factors affecting the industry.”Hladik and co-host Kent McPhail are experienced attorneys with multistate practices in the default servicing industry. Both have decades of experience representing secured creditors; however, each host brings his own unique perspective to the podcast. McPhail hails from the Deep South (think boiled peanuts and shrimp & grits), while Hladik hails from the Northeast (think cheesesteaks and scrapple). “With this Yin and Yang, we hope to bring an entertaining and informative approach to the industry and those who make it hum,” McPhail said.Episodes of “What the M” begin airing mid-September and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
September 11, 2026Episode 701 hr 8 min

Episode 70 - Brian D. Montgomery

In this special episode of “What the M,” Steve and Kent are honored to welcome Brian D. Montgomery as a guest. While Brian is well-known throughout the mortgage default servicing industry for his distinguished career in housing finance and public service, he also has a unique firsthand perspective on one of the most consequential days in American history: as the Director of Presidential Advance, he was traveling aboard Air Force One with President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. For the 25th anniversary of that fateful day, Brian was kind enough to visit with us and answer questions about the events, the aftermath, and the moments he most vividly remembers. Brian D. Montgomery is a former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and two-time Federal Housing Commissioner. He served in senior leadership roles under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, becoming the only person to lead the Federal Housing Administration twice. As Director of Presidential Advance, Montgomery traveled extensively with President George W. Bush and, in addition to being aboard Air Force One with the President on September 11, 2001, he helped coordinate presidential events and logistics in the days that followed, including visits to the Pentagon and Ground Zero. He later received the September 11 Presidential Distinguished Service Award for his service. With more than 30 years of experience in government and housing finance, Montgomery has played a significant role in housing policy, mortgage finance, disaster recovery, and regulatory reform. We are honored to welcome Brian to the podcast.

August 31, 2026Episode 6942 min

Episode 69 - Rick Sharga & Daren Blomquist

The 69th episode of What the M features Rick Sharga, CEO and President of the CJ Patrick Company, and Daren Blomquist, Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com. It’s that time again… for a new SEASON of What the M! In the first four seasons of What the M, Kent and Steve were fortunate enough to interview an incredible roster of talented professionals about their insights and predictions for the default servicing industry. To kick off Season 5, in what has become an annual tradition, they have brought in Rick Sharga and Darin Blomquist to discuss the current state of the economy and their predictions for the upcoming year. Rick Sharga is one of the country’s most frequently-quoted sources on real estate, mortgage, and foreclosure trends. Rick is the CEO and President of the CJ Patrick Company, a company that specializes in market intelligence for companies in the real estate and mortgage industries. Rick has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage industries, previously serving in executive roles for Realty Trac, Carrington Mortgage Holdings, Ten-X, and Auction.com. He is also a founding member of the Five Star Institute’s National Mortgage Servicing Association. Daren Blomquist is the Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com. Daren is a former Senior Vice President of Communications at ATTOM Data Solutions, where he reported on housing trends, cash and investor purchases, housing risks, default trends, and more. These reports have been cited by thousands of media outlets nationwide, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA TODAY. Daren also served as Executive Editor of the Housing News Report, which was named best newsletter by the National Association of Real Estate Editors in 2015 and 2016. In 2019, Daren transitioned to Auction.com, where he focuses on analyzing and forecasting complex macro and micro-economic data trends within the real estate market and industry. Welcome BACK to What the M, Rick and Daren!

June 8, 2026Episode 6824 min

Episode 68 - The Last Question (Season 4 Finale)

Welcome to the season 4 finale of What the M! This season, Kent and Steve have interviewed amazing, thoughtful, and brilliant guests. Each guest has been uniquely qualified to speak about different aspects of the default servicing industry, and has provided valuable information to What the M’s listeners. Each guest is unique, but they all have one thing in common: they all got to answer “The Last Question.” At the end of each episode, Kent and Steve ask their guest: “If you could go back in time and talk with the 20-year-old version of yourself, what advice would you give that young man/woman?” The answers were so fascinating, funny, and unpredictable, that we decided there was no better way to close out the season than with a compilation of the collective wisdom of these responses! We hope you enjoy this season finale of our fourth season of What the M as much as we did. Season 5 of What the M will air in September, so stay tuned! If you are interested in appearing on What the M, or have an idea for an episode, you can contact us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can listen to What the M at the link below, or wherever you listen to podcasts! If you enjoy listening to What the M, please rate, review and subscribe. A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

April 20, 2026Episode 6738 min

Episode 67 - Joe Lara

The 67th episode of What the M features Joe Lara, founder of Find the X, plus a tribute to Ingrid Jaschok, a giant of the industry who we lost last week, by Michael Merritt. In this episode, Kent and Steve sit down with Joe to discuss his company, Find The X LLC. Find the X is a veteran-owned business that provides leadership development, talent development, and career transition support for organizations operating in complex, high-responsibility environments. Find the X helps leaders strengthen decision-making, build trust across teams, and navigate key career moments with clarity and purpose. Welcome to What the M, Joe! A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

March 16, 2026Episode 6632 min

Episode 66 - Talia Ramirez

The 66th episode of What the M features Talia Ramirez, President of Spectrum Solutions Acquisitions LLC. In this episode, Kent and Steve talk to Talia about her journey in the mortgage default servicing industry. Talia is well known within the industry for her incredible skills, including problem-solving, developing smarter ways to increase efficiency and productivity across teams, and helping teams and companies overcome obstacles. Talia’s mantra, “Be bold! Stop asking if you belong. Start operating like you built the table,” is great advice for all women in the industry. Welcome to What the M, Talia! A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

February 23, 2026Episode 6535 min

Episode 65 - Sam Hantosh

The 65th episode of What the M features Sam Hantosh, Real Estate Broker at RE/MAX Team 2000. In this episode, Kent and Steve sit down with Sam to talk about what Real Estate Owned (“REO”) Sales are and what it is like to be the boots on the ground— from securing possession, to getting a property ready to market, to securing a sale. The REO process is a vital part of the finalization of the foreclosure process, and it takes not only a lot of work but a lot of skill to assist servicers in getting these properties sold. Sam has been a longtime participant in the REO market in Michigan, who brings with him a great deal of experience, know-how and advice. Most listeners of What the M see REO from the servicing or asset management side; on today’s episode, Sam talks to Kent and Steve about what actually happens once the property hits the market. Welcome to What the M, Sam! A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

February 9, 2026Episode 6432 min

Episode 64 - John Dunnery Returns

The 64th episode of What the M features John Dunnery, Loan Servicing Manager at Compu-Link Corporation. Another longtime friend of the show is back for his 2nd visit! John Dunnery returns to What the M and, as always, brings a wealth of valuable information with him. This time around, John is here to discuss reverse mortgages: the differences between reverse and more traditional “forward” mortgages, the regulatory and compliance hurdles that reverse mortgage servicers face, and other unique aspects of this growing industry. John Dunnery has a BA from Boston University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a JD from the University of Tulsa. He has held senior loan servicing roles with Pacific Union Financial, JP Morgan Chase, Wachovia, and Mr. Cooper, as well as serving as a Senior Director of NSO within Fannie Mae. Welcome BACK to What the M, John! *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

January 26, 2026Episode 6327 min

Episode 63 - Marcel Bryar Returns

The 63rd episode of What the M features Marcel Bryar, Founder and Managing Director of Mortgage Policy Advisors, LLC. A longtime friend of the show is back for his 2nd visit! Marcel Bryar’s 25+ years of experience in mortgage operations, regulation, and policy oversight make him an invaluable industry resource. We feel incredibly fortunate to have him back on the show to share his thoughts on the rise of contested litigation in default servicing, the challenges servicers face with compensation, and the importance of effectively communicating these complexities to jurors (along with, of course, his latest thoughts on the World Cup!) Welcome BACK to What the M, Marcel! *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

January 12, 2026Episode 6242 min

Episode 62 - Kevin Shivers

The 62nd episode of What the M features Kevin Shivers, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. In this episode, Kent, Steve, and Kevin take a closer look at the community banking industry. Community banks throughout the United States are a backbone of small community banking, lending and financial services to many. In these ever-changing times of the financial world, one area of growth and strength continues to be community banks – the local branch right on Main Street in your hometown. Welcome to What the M, Kevin! *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

December 23, 2025Episode 6124 min

Episode 61 - The Year in Review

The 61st episode of What the M features Kent McPhail and Steve Hladik wrapping up 2025 with a year-end review. Check it out to find out what happened- and didn’t happen- in the default servicing industry this year, along with what Kent and Steve predict is next to come in 2026! *************************************************** A huge thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Black Dome Services. Black Dome Services is a next-generation property services provider, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of their clients. From property inspections, preservation, maintenance, renovations and various other interior and exterior property related services, you have a trusted leader dedicated to delivering exceptional results and maximizing the value of your properties. For more information, please visit their website at www.blackdomeservices.com or email Vic Draper at Victor.Draper@blackdomeservices.com .

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