

The Ground Game Podcast
Justin Piche and Clay Hepler
Welcome to The Ground Game Podcast, where land investing meets real talk! Join your hosts, Justin and Clay, both 7-figure land investors and seasoned entrepreneurs, as they dive deep into the world of land investing, team building, and personal growth.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 1, 2025 • 44min
Episode 53: How to Build Credibility in a Skeptical Market
In this lively discussion, hosts tackle the challenges posed by inexperienced investors on industry reputation. They emphasize the critical role of transparency and effective communication in building credibility. The conversation also covers the importance of personal branding, quality website design, and the power of testimonials to enhance trust. Listeners learn practical strategies like automated follow-ups and transparency in transactions to stand out in a skeptical market. They even touch on how common mistakes can frustrate buyers and sellers alike.

Sep 25, 2025 • 57min
Episode 52: Lessons from Year One – Land Deals, Business Growth & Market Moves
The hosts reflect on their experiences at the Land Scaling Summit, sharing personal updates and insights. They discuss the decline of investors in the land business and the necessity of adapting to market changes, including a shift towards SMS marketing. Improving team communication becomes a focal point, as does the journey of refining marketing strategies. There’s a candid conversation about leadership growth, hiring challenges, and balancing personal and professional life. They conclude with ambitious plans for the year ahead.

Sep 18, 2025 • 39min
Episode 51: Evolve or Die: Adapting to a Shifting Land Market
Hosts dive into the evolving land investing landscape, highlighting alarming trends of investor departures. They emphasize the need to adapt strategies, sharing insights on cutting PPC spending, embracing SMS marketing, and focusing on niche sub-markets for better leads. Personal anecdotes add a lighter touch, with stories of travel and life balance. The duo warns against complacency, advocating for a mindset that prioritizes rapid pivots and revenue-generating activities to thrive in a shifting market.

Sep 9, 2025 • 43min
Episode 50: Gurus, Gimmicks, and the Truth About Building a Real Land Flipping Business
Join a lively exploration of land investing as the hosts delve into the perils of flashy gurus and the importance of selecting genuine mentors. They share personal reading journeys, discussing the transformative power of fantasy literature. The conversation underscores the hidden costs of land flipping education, urging listeners to be discerning consumers of information. Emphasizing the need for sustainable business practices, they highlight the significance of community and continuous learning in achieving long-term success in real estate.

Sep 4, 2025 • 41min
Episode 49: Why Net Profit Is the Only Metric That Matters in Land Flipping
The hosts dive into their recent travels, combining personal anecdotes with business insights. They discuss the challenges of scaling in land investing and the crucial difference between net and gross profit. A focus on diversifying income streams is emphasized to combat reliance on land flipping alone. The importance of strategic planning in fluctuating markets is highlighted, along with the need for constant self-evaluation through feedback loops. Their lively banter makes complex topics engaging and relatable.

Aug 28, 2025 • 36min
Episode 48: How We’re Building Cashflow Outside our Land Businesses
Hosts discuss their recent travels and the joy of connecting with friends. They tackle the challenges of managing multiple land projects, emphasizing the need for diverse income streams beyond flipping. Insights on current market conditions reveal the importance of adapting strategies for growth. The conversation touches on the role of feedback loops in entrepreneurship, stressing constant evaluation and data tracking. Furthermore, they explore innovative wealth-building approaches, prioritizing cash flow and diversification for financial stability.

Aug 21, 2025 • 45min
Episode 47: No Rainbows, No Butterflies: The Realities of Scaling a Land Business
Hosts dive into the gritty realities of scaling a land investing business. They discuss personal updates, market slowdowns, and the importance of adapting strategies for profitability. Challenges with property negotiations and regulatory hurdles are highlighted, along with insights on the significance of networking and specialized knowledge. The hosts stress the need for strategic planning, data analysis, and feedback loops to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship. This is a candid look at the ups and downs in the world of real estate.

Aug 12, 2025 • 44min
Episode 46: The Death Zone; Scaling from $1M to $3M Without Losing Your Mind (or Margin)
🎙️ Welcome Back to The Ground Game Podcast! 🎙️In this episode, hosts Clay Hepler and Justin Piché explore the nuances of time management and the entrepreneurial journey in real estate investing. They share personal insights on balancing responsibilities, the challenges of running a business, and the importance of prioritization.Key HighlightsPersonal Updates: Clay and Justin kick off the episode with some light-hearted banter about how August is flying by. They reflect on their current responsibilities, with Justin sharing his experiences of juggling family life and business demands.Scaling Challenges: The hosts delve into the challenges land investors face, particularly the complexities of managing multiple responsibilities. They discuss how expanding obligations can make time feel scarce and the importance of focusing on what truly drives business growth.The Importance of Feedback Loops: Clay and Justin emphasize the critical role of feedback loops in entrepreneurship. They share their thoughts on how to assess whether their actions are leading to the desired outcomes and the need for constant self-evaluation.Navigating County Regulations: Justin reveals a significant development project in Spokane County, discussing the unexpected hurdles he faced with county regulations and financing. He highlights the importance of partnerships and adaptability in overcoming these challenges.Data Management and Decision-Making: The episode wraps up with a discussion on the significance of data in land investing. Clay and Justin encourage listeners to leverage technology and data for informed decision-making, sharing their experiences with various systems and the importance of a cohesive tech stack.If you're navigating the complexities of time management and decision-making in your land business, this one's for you! 📌Learn about Justin’s 1:1 Coaching Apply for private coaching with clay Submit Your Deal for funding The Ground Game Podcast Website Youtube Facebook TikTok Justin's Socials: X/Twitter YouTube Instagram Facebook Clay's Socials: ...

Aug 5, 2025 • 30min
Episode 45: Funding Stacks, Missed Deadlines & Transaction Coordination.
This episode dives into the intricacies of transaction coordination in real estate. The hosts share personal anecdotes about summer's impact on their business and stress the importance of efficient funding strategies. They explore how missed deadlines can lead to costly mistakes and highlight the need for robust systems to manage increased deal volume. The conversation covers the essential traits of effective transaction coordinators, including organization and attention to detail, alongside insights into leveraging tools for improved workflow and accountability.

Jul 31, 2025 • 40min
Episode 44: The Death Zone, Scaling from $1M to $3M Without Losing Your Mind
🎙️ Welcome Back to The Ground Game Podcast! 🎙️In this episode, hosts Clay Hepler and Justin Piché dive into what they jokingly (but seriously) call “The Death Zone”—the chaotic and critical phase of scaling a land business from $1M to $3M in annual revenue. They share hard-earned lessons on hiring, systemization, and why scaling headcount too fast can kill your profit.Key HighlightsPersonal Updates: Clay and Justin kick off the episode with some light-hearted banter, reflecting on their recent experiences, including Justin's move into his new home and the challenges of unpacking, as well as Clay's excitement over his son taking his first steps during a family reunion.Scaling Challenges: The hosts delve into the challenges land investors face during this crucial scaling phase. They discuss the complexities of owner financing in today’s market and how to avoid building your business on shaky foundations by hiring before you're ready.The Egg Analogy: Clay introduces an insightful egg analogy that explains the difference between microwave operations and Michelin-level execution, emphasizing the need for quality over speed.KPIs and Accountability: Listeners will learn why KPIs, feedback loops, and clear ownership matter more than ever in driving business success. Clay and Justin share the processes they are currently rebuilding and the reasons behind these changes.Founder Burnout: The episode also touches on recognizing and overcoming founder burnout. Clay and Justin share their strategies for maintaining balance while driving business growth, emphasizing the importance of prioritization and self-reflection.Tech and Data Management: The episode wraps up with a discussion on the significance of tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and leveraging technology to streamline operations. Clay and Justin encourage listeners to utilize data for informed decision-making, sharing their experiences with various CRM systems and the importance of a cohesive tech stack.If you're stuck between momentum and mayhem in your land business, this one's for you! 📌 Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe if you’re scaling the right way—not just the fast way!Learn about Justin’s 1:1 Coaching Apply for private coaching with clay Submit Your Deal for funding The Ground Game Podcast Website Youtube Facebook TikTok Justin's Socials: X/Twitter YouTube Instagram Facebook Clay's Socials: ...