Our Featured Guest for Sunday, March 1, 2026 is Todd Drowlette
Todd Drollette — Commercial Real Estate, Negotiation Mastery & Entrepreneurial Reinvention
Todd Drollette is a self-made millionaire, commercial real estate broker, and star of The Real Estate Commission on A&E Network. With more than 1,700 closed deals totaling over $2 billion in transactions, Todd has built a multimillion-dollar empire through calculated risk-taking and relentless execution.
In this episode, Todd shares:
- The #1 negotiation mistake entrepreneurs make (and how it costs them millions)
- Why silence is one of the most powerful tools in any deal
- How every good commercial real estate deal “dies three times” before it closes
- Why you should never threaten something you’re not prepared to follow through on
- How he transitioned from broker to television personality
- Why he believes entrepreneurs must declare “I’m doing this” instead of asking permission
Todd also opens up about overcoming severe panic attacks at the height of his success and how meditation, exercise, and mental reframing helped him regain control. His candid discussion about mental health and high performance offers rare insight into the pressures founders face behind closed doors.
He also discusses his free youth entrepreneurship initiative, Titans of Tomorrow, designed to help high school students develop business skills early. Read more at: https://therealestatecommission.com and https://titancommercialrealtygroup.com/
Our Entrepreneur Presenters:
Chris Kline — Bitcoin, Retirement & Building Generational Wealth
Chris Kline is the COO and Co-Founder of Bitcoin IRA, one of the first companies to allow investors to hold cryptocurrency inside tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Chris explains:
- What Bitcoin actually is (in simple terms)
- How Bitcoin IRAs work
- The difference between traditional and Roth IRAs when holding crypto
- Why only 21 million Bitcoin will ever exist
- How scarcity may drive long-term value
- Why diversification beyond stocks and bonds matters
- How entrepreneurs can use SEP IRAs and Solo 401(k)s to maximize contributions
- Why financial literacy is just as critical as business literacy
He breaks down volatility concerns, retirement planning in your 20s vs. 40s, and how alternative assets like crypto, real estate, and precious metals can help future-proof retirement strategies. Chris also addresses misconceptions about needing to buy a full Bitcoin — explaining how investors can purchase fractional amounts and dollar-cost average over time. Read more at: https://bitcoinira.com/
Jessica Reid Sliwerski— Literacy, AI & Scalable Education Impact
Jessica Reid Sliwerski is the co-founder and CEO of Ignite Reading, a company tackling America’s literacy crisis through one-to-one, virtual tutoring grounded in the Science of Reading.
Jessica shares:
- Why she spun Ignite Reading out of a nonprofit into a for-profit company to scale faster
- The terrifying leap she took as a single parent to pursue her mission
- How impact investors helped fuel growth
- How AI is being used to analyze tutoring data and personalize instruction
- Why reading proficiency is foundational for every future job — including AI-driven ones
- The literacy crisis affecting children nationwide
Her message is clear: if children cannot read fluently, they cannot fully participate in tomorrow’s workforce — no matter how advanced technology becomes. Jessica emphasizes using AI to empower educators, not replace them, and discusses how her team is extending learning beyond live tutoring sessions through targeted AI-supported instruction. Read more at: https://ignite-reading.com/
Additional Topics Covered
- How entrepreneurs know when to pivot
- The emotional cost of scaling a company
- AI use cases in real estate, crypto, and education
- Lessons from trademark enforcement involving Taylor Swift
- Why bold decisions often require abandoning “Plan B”
- Balancing risk, growth, and long-term sustainability
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Todd Drollette?
Todd Drollette is a commercial real estate broker and entrepreneur who has closed over 1,700 deals and stars in the A&E docuseries The Real Estate Commission.
What is The Real Estate Commission?
It is the first docuseries focused on commercial real estate, following real negotiations and real deals rather than staged reality drama.
What is a Bitcoin IRA?
A Bitcoin IRA is a self-directed retirement account that allows individuals to hold cryptocurrency within tax-advantaged retirement structures such as Traditional, Roth, SEP, or Solo 401(k) accounts.
Do I need to buy a whole Bitcoin to invest?
No. Bitcoin can be purchased fractionally down to very small units, allowing investors to start with modest contributions.
How is AI being used in education?
Ignite Reading uses AI to analyze tutoring sessions, identify student struggles quickly, and equip tutors with precise instructional strategies to accelerate literacy development.
What is the biggest negotiation mistake entrepreneurs make?
According to Todd Drollett, negotiating against yourself — such as increasing your own offer before the other side responds — is one of the most costly errors.
How can entrepreneurs protect their brand?
Conduct trademark searches and legal due diligence before launching. As discussed in the episode, even logo similarities to celebrity signatures can trigger enforcement actions.