In this episode, we sit down with Darius McClelland, a private money lender, investor, and content creator who has quietly built a six-figure passive income business by lending over $620,000 of his own money.He breaks down how he started, how he made $20,000 doing absolutely nothing, and why private money lending is one of the most underrated and powerful strategies in real estate.Darius also shares how social media helped him raise over $600,000 from just one Instagram post, how he vets borrowers, protects his investments, and the importance of transparency in building trust.If you’ve ever wanted to become the bank, earn high passive income, or understand the real behind-the-scenes of private lending, this episode is a must-watch.You’ll Learn* How Darius lent out $620K and built a six-figure lending business* The first deal that made him $20K completely passively* How private money lending works (in simple English)* The exact steps to vet and protect yourself as a lender* Red flags when someone asks you for money* Why private lending beats rentals for cash flow* How he raised $600K from one Instagram reel* How to get paid monthly, quarterly, or balloon payments* Starting a fund and scaling passive income* How social media built his entire business* Why transparency + storytelling converts* The mindset needed to press record and overcome fearKey Topics* Private Money Lending 101* Real Estate Flips & Exit Strategies* Social Media for Raising Capital* Building Trust Online* Self-Directed IRAs & Equity Leverage* Starting A Fund* Passive Income Systems* Travel + Lifestyle FreedomConnect With DariusInstagram: @dariusmcclelland(https://www.instagram.com/dariusmcclelland/)Connect with Lorenzo:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercadoWebsite: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983