Welcome back to The BDO Show—where wild stories from the branches are a cautionary tale, and knowing your customer is the first and last line of defense!

This week, hosts Emily Detor and Ryan Kroge take a look back at the more bizarre moments in Ryan's 26.5-year career. It's "storytime with Grandpa Kroge" as he recounts tales from the branches, red-flag closings, and why a site visit is non-negotiable, all while exposing the dark side of lending.

If you're a BDO, underwriter, or just someone who can't believe what goes on in this industry, you won't want to miss this wild ride through:

• The Branches of Bedlam: From working in a high-crime area of Detroit to witnessing multiple bank robberies (and a nude man in the lobby!), Ryan shares what it was like to work in a retail bank setting.

• The "$300K in a Winter Coat" Closing: A ridiculous, true story about a borrower who showed up to a closing with a Triple F.A.T. Goose coat, a Beretta 9mm pistol on the table, and stacks of cash.

• The Illegal Gambling & Strip Club Deal: Ryan recounts a site visit to a liquor store where the owners’ sons were running an illegal gambling and strip club on the second floor, a deal he immediately walked away from—and called their dads.

• Never Close Sight Unseen: The cautionary tale of a first-time assisted living facility buyer who never visited the property, leading Ryan to stop a closing and save the deal from a seller's lies and code violations.

• The Competition-Crushing Loan: A fascinating story about a Mexican restaurant owner who used an SBA loan not to grow, but to buy his rival's location and immediately shut it down.

• The Instagram Guru's Bad Advice: A borrower, inspired by online business "flipping" gurus, buys two gyms with a $1.5 million loan, only to put them up for sale immediately without ever stepping foot inside, leading to a quick default.

• Let Them Talk! Ryan reveals his secret to due diligence: asking important questions and then letting the customer talk until they either give you a "red flag" or a "green flag" that confirms their character and the deal's viability.

Plus, hear a hilarious stat about Bills Mafia drinking habits and why it's not just the BDO's job to know the customer—it's everyone's!

👉 Got a wild story of your own? Tell us how you really feel in the comments or email us at TheBDOShow@ArtofSBA.com.

📺 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell—because a little "nonsense" is good for the soul!

The BDO Retreat is back for its fifth and final year, and this time, we’re taking you to Key Largo, Florida, on January 16th and 17th.

Join us for a weekend of BDO workshops, exclusive networking, and, as always, a few surprises: https://www.artofsba.com/bdo-retreat

🎙This episode is sponsored by:

SBA Protection

SBA Protection Quick Close Life Insurance is the fastest, easiest way to secure the insurance protection that your borrower needs for their SBA loan. Their process is simple, hassle-free, and only takes a few minutes of your borrower's time. For more information, visit their website https://sbaprotection.com/ or email Adam Bergen at Adam@SBAProtection.com.

Peak Business Valuation

Peak Business Valuation has put together a free resource just for BDO show listeners, listing out the rule-of-thumb formulas for common industries financed by SBA lenders. Get yours today at peakbusinessvaluation.com/get-your-free-valuation-resource/

Welcome back to The BDO Show—where the only competitive advantage you need is yourself!

This week, we're honored to sit down with the one and only Pattie Ehsaei, a force of nature in the SBA world. Pattie holds nothing back with hosts Emily Detor and Ray Drew as she delivers a masterclass in sales, success, and the surprising secrets of financial freedom.

If you're a new BDO, an entrepreneur, or anyone looking to level up, you won't want to miss this no-holds-barred conversation on:

• The BDO's Competitive Advantage: Pattie reveals her single biggest competitive advantage is not her institution, rates, or even her bank's credit box—it's herself.

• The "Work-Life Balance" Myth: A controversial (but truthful) take on why top performers, from BDOs to LeBron James, don't have work-life balance—and if they say they do, they're lying.

• Bet on Yourself: Pattie shares her story of leaving a secure job to go back into production, driven by the confidence that she can "still play ball" and "do it better than most people."

• The Power of Delegation: Learn how to avoid getting stuck at a certain production level by embracing the art of letting go and delegating tasks to a trusted team.

• From "Red Power Suit" to "Forbes Contributor": Pattie recounts her character-building start in sales, going door-to-door in heels in the California heat, and how that experience shaped her career.

• The "Broke Dude" Playbook: Get the scoop on Pattie's book, which teaches financial independence and redefines a "broke dude" as anyone who doesn't match your ambition and drive.

• Investing for Wealth: Hear a masterclass on why you should only invest in appreciating assets, not depreciating ones like expensive cars and designer fashion (a lesson Pattie learned firsthand).

Plus, hear Emily get grilled about her accent, a great plant analogy, and a reminder that "the customer can smell desperation."

👉 Got thoughts on work-life balance? Tell us how you really feel in the comments or email us at TheBDOShow@ArtofSBA.com.

The BDO Retreat is back for its fifth and final year, and this time, we’re taking you to Key Largo, Florida, on January 16th and 17th.

Join us for a weekend of BDO workshops, exclusive networking, and, as always, a few surprises: https://www.artofsba.com/bdo-retreat

🎙This episode is sponsored by:

SBA Protection

SBA Protection Quick Close Life Insurance – the fastest, easiest way to secure the insurance protection your borrower needs for their SBA loan. For more information, visit their website

https://sbaprotection.com/ or email Adam Bergen at Adam@SBAProtection.com

Rapid Business Plans

Rapid Business Plans is the go-to provider of business plans and feasibility studies for government guaranteed small business lenders. For more information, or to set up a Get Acquainted call go to https://rapidbusinessplans.com/art-of-sba

Welcome back to The BDO Show—where conference wisdom meets cold, hard truths, and nobody needs free mints anymore!

This week, we're doing a special "takeover episode" as Emily Detor and Ray Drew go behind the scenes to expose the secrets of mastering conferences and trade shows. Get ready for some "Patreon-level" honesty as they reveal what really works (and what's a total scam) in the world of BDO networking.

If you're a BDO, lender, or just someone trying to stand out in a crowded room, you won't want to miss this no-holds-barred discussion on:

• Conference Mastermind Secrets Unveiled: Ray Drew is spilling his "secrets to success" for maximizing ROI at industry events, from strategic planning to making sure you're at the right show.

• The "Small Business Expo" Trap: Why most BDOs should avoid these broad expos like the plague (unless you love tiny startup deals).

• Ditch the Fliers & Giveaways! A controversial take on why those branded pens and paper handouts are a waste of time and money, and how to actually make a memorable impression.

• The Power of the Personalized Campaign: Learn how to craft email subject lines that get opened and leverage video to "stand out" from the competition before you even arrive.

• Booth Brilliance: Less is More! Discover why minimal design, strategic lighting, and ditching the table can turn your booth into an energy hub that invites conversation (not just card drops).

• Quality over Quantity: Why strengthening existing connections and being authentically yourself is key to lasting growth.

• Cutting the Big Checks: How reallocating sponsorship money to intimate dinners creates more meaningful and memorable connections.

Plus, hear about Emily's "Navy Seals" training for podcast intros and a surprise visit from a familiar face!

👉 Got a crazy conference story or a secret marketing weapon? Tell us how you really feel in the comments or email us at TheBDOShow@ArtofSBA.com.

The BDO Retreat is back for its fifth and final year, and this time, we’re taking you to Key Largo, Florida, on January 16th and 17th.

Join us for a weekend of BDO workshops, exclusive networking, and, as always, a few surprises.

🎙This episode is sponsored by:

Rapid Business Plans

Rapid Business Plans is the go-to provider of business plans and feasibility studies for government guaranteed small business lenders. For more information, or to set up a Get Acquainted call go to https://rapidbusinessplans.com/art-of-sba

Peak Business Valuation

Peak Business Valuation has put together a free resource just for BDO show listeners, listing out the rule-of-thumb formulas for common industries financed by SBA lenders. Get yours today at peakbusinessvaluation.com/get-your-free-valuation-resource/