The Spotlight
Spotlight is Dark Matter Technologies’ podcast series featuring candid conversations with innovators and leaders shaping the mortgage industry. Hosted by Wes Horbatuck, SVP of Marketing, and Craig Rebmann, Product Evangelist and AI Expert, the series shines a light on where the industry is headed.
Through Spotlight and its companion series Spotlight Backstage, listeners get an inside look at the ideas, technology, and partnerships driving the future of mortgage. Each episode puts a spotlight on the people and trends that make up an essential part of the housing market.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 15
- Years Active
- 2025
Unlocking the Mortgage Ecosystem - Feat. Mike Russell @ Total Expert
In this inaugural episode of Dark Matters Spotlight Backstage, host Craig Rebman discusses the intricacies of the mortgage ecosystem with Mike Russell from Total Expert. They explore the importance o…
Unlocking Marketing Success in the Mortgage Industry – feat. Jake Vermillion
In this episode of The Spotlight, host Wes Horbatuck and Jake Vermillion discuss the evolving landscape of marketing within the mortgage industry, focusing on the role of More Champions in helping lo…
The Power of the Cooperative – feat. Justin Demola
In this episode of The Spotlight, Wes Horbatuck interviews Justin Demola, the president of Lenders One, discussing the cooperative’s 25-year journey, its evolution, and the value it provides to its m…
Future Proofing Mortgage Tech & Lender Success – feat. Sue Woodard
In this episode of The Spotlight, host Wes Horbatuck interviews Sue Woodard, discussing the evolving landscape of lender technology relationships, the challenges of technology adoption, and the impor…
Empowering Mortgage Professionals with AI & Operational Efficiencies – feat. Ruth Lee
In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, host Wes Horbatuck speaks with Ruth Lee, president, and founder of Big Think, about the evolving landscape of mortgage banking and the impact of technology, …
Building a Media Empire and the Future of the Housing Market – feat. Clayton Collins
In this episode of The Spotlight, host Wes Horbatuck sits down with Clayton Collins, founder and CEO of HousingWire Media. They delve into Clayton’s fascinating journey from banking to acquiring Hous…
Exploring the Economic Landscape and Future Outlook – feat. Mike Fratantoni
In this episode of The Spotlight, host Wes Horbatuck speaks with Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), about the current economic landscape affecting the mortgag…
How Credit Unions are Embracing Technology and Staying True to Core Values – feat. Peter Benjamin
In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, Wes Horbatuck interviews Peter Benjamin, the president of ACUMA, about the future of credit unions and the upcoming ACUMA conference. They discuss the histor…
A Recipe to Reduce Origination Costs – feat. Vikas Rao
In this must-watch episode of “The Spotlight,” Vikas Rao, the new Deputy Chief Product Officer at Dark Matter Technologies, dives deep into the future of mortgage tech. Discover how automation, task-…
The Impact of Data and Consumer Sentiment on Housing – feat. Kyla Scanlon
In this episode of the Spotlight, Wes Horbatuck interviews Kyla Scanlon who is best known for conducting human-centric economic analysis and conversations about various topics including the housing m…
Unpacking AI’s Impact – feat. Brian Swanson
Do you have AI F.O.M.O and not know where to start? The future of AI is bright, but it can be difficult to know where and how to begin. In our latest Spotlight podcast episode, Wes Horbatuck talks wi…
Transforming the mortgage landscape – feat. Melissa Langdale
In this episode of The Spotlight, we delve into the heart of innovation within the mortgage industry with Melissa Langdale, the President and COO of The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC). Fresh off of the…
The Role of APIs in modern financial technology – feat. Erin Wester
Integrations in mortgage tech are rarely simple—but the right partners make them easier. In this episode of The Spotlight, we sit down with Erin Wester, VP of Product Management at Optimal Blue, to e…
How to build purpose-driven technology vs hopping on tech trends – feat. Stephanie Durflinger
Building tech just for the sake of it doesn’t cut it. In this episode of The Spotlight, Dark Matter’s Chief Product Officer Stephanie Durflinger shares how our team evaluates when to build, when to i…
The right way to adopt AI with mortgage technology – feat. Blake Gibson
In our debut episode, we unpack the maxim: “AI won’t replace your job, but someone with AI will.” Dark Matter Technologies has been working with AI and machine learning for over a decade, with a clea…