# Our Story Pt 1: From $120k in Debt to Running Four Businesses > Published: 2024-04-18 | Category: podcast-episode | Tags: podcast-episode, our-story, debt-payoff, real-estate-agents, financial-freedom **Guest:** Mattias Clymer Erica interviews Mattias about starting marriage $120k in debt and becoming real estate pros running four businesses. The origin story of The REI Agent. ## Content Every podcast has an origin story. For The REI Agent, which began life as The WELLthy Investor Podcast, that story is the very first episode. In "Our Story Pt 1," roles are flipped: Erica interviews Mattias to explain who they are and how they became real estate professionals. It is a personal, unpolished look at the couple behind the show, starting from $120k in debt as newlyweds and ending with four businesses. If you have listened to guests on the show talk about rock bottom, burnout, and rebuilding, this is the episode that shows the hosts have lived the same journey. ## Why start with the hosts' story Before asking dozens of agents and investors to open up about their lives, Mattias and Erica chose to go first. That decision sets the tone for the entire show. Trust is built when the person asking the questions is willing to answer them too, and the episode makes it clear that this is a conversation among peers, not a lecture from the experts. It also frames the show's core idea: wealth and holistic health belong together. Building a real estate business or a rental portfolio at the cost of your marriage, your body, or your peace of mind is not a win. The hosts share their story so listeners understand where that conviction comes from. ## From $120k in debt as newlyweds The headline detail in this episode is the starting line. As newlyweds, Mattias and Erica were $120k in debt. Many couples face a version of that: student loans, car payments, credit cards, and the pressure of starting a life together. Starting a marriage in a financial hole creates stress that touches every other part of life. What makes the story useful for listeners is that it is not framed as a highlight reel. It is a reminder that financial freedom rarely begins with a windfall. It begins with a decision to change direction and a willingness to do the unglamorous work that follows. ## Becoming real estate professionals The episode traces how the couple became real estate professionals, sharing personal details along the way. For agents and aspiring investors, this is a valuable window into how a real career gets built: not overnight, and not in a straight line. Each step, whether it was licensing, learning the market, or buying their first properties, built on the last. Mattias's perspective is especially relevant to agents who want to invest. The dual path of selling real estate for clients while building a personal portfolio is a core theme of the show, and this episode shows where that thinking started. ## Running four businesses By the time of the recording, the couple's path had grown from debt to running four businesses. That is a notable arc, but the episode isn't a victory lap. Running multiple businesses brings real tradeoffs in time, energy, and relationships, which is exactly why the show talks so much about systems, delegation, and holistic health. For listeners, the lesson is that scale is possible, and so are the lessons you learn on the way. The best way to avoid mistakes is to hear how others made theirs. ## A book recommendation: The Love Prescription The episode closes with a recommended book, *The Love Prescription*. The pick says something about the show's values. In a business podcast, a book about relationships is a statement that the people closest to you matter as much as your pipeline. A strong partnership can be your biggest asset when building wealth, and a strained one can undo years of progress. ## Takeaways for agents and investors - You can start from a negative net worth. Debt is a starting point, not a verdict. - Real estate careers are built step by step, and sharing your story makes you more relatable to clients and peers. - Wealth and wellbeing should be built together. - Relationships are infrastructure. Invest in them deliberately. - Learning from others' experiences shortens your own learning curve. ## Keep listening "Our Story Pt 1" is the foundation for everything that followed. When you finish it, continue with Part 2, where the story moves from realtor to investor. The rest of the catalog features agents and investors who share how they built businesses and lives they love. Subscribe to The REI Agent wherever you listen, and get the free weekly newsletter at [reiagent.com](https://reiagent.com). *This information is not intended to be medical or financial advice. Please consult licensed professionals and do your own research.* ## Related Episode This post is based on Episode 201 of The REI Agent podcast. - [Listen to Episode 201](https://reiagent.com/episodes/) ## Links - [Full HTML version](https://reiagent.com/blog/mattias-erica-clymer-our-story-part-1-debt-to-four-businesses/)