Keeping It Real Podcast • Secrets Of Top 1% REALTORS ® • Interviews With Real Estate Brokers & Agents

David has built a successful real estate business almost entirely through relationships and referrals. But with years of professional commitments, volunteer work, and personal goals competing for his attention, he knows he needs to get more focused if he wants to reach the next level. In this episode of Breakthrough with Michael , David uncovers what’s really holding him back: avoidance, inconsistent follow-up, and the tendency to take on too much. The conversation explores why the right strategy isn’t always the one that works for everyone and how understanding yourself can be the key to building a more scalable business. No quick fixes. Just an honest coaching conversation about letting go of what no longer serves you, focusing on what matters, and finding the approach that allows you to do your best work. Ready to break through what’s holding you back? Apply now for your chance to be coached live on the show. Spots are limited to just one agent per month, so don’t wait – apply today. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sign up for a personal breakthrough session with Michael Opyd here. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Welcome to another episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski . In this episode, Sarah sits with Shawn Shackelton who shares how she built a steady stream of highly motivated real estate leads through YouTube by staying consistent long before she saw the payoff. After starting in 2021, it took two years for her first YouTube lead to close, but she kept creating and eventually went from two videos a week to a reliable source of inbound business. Shawn breaks down what kept her going, why YouTube clients have become some of her favorite clients, and the lessons she’s learned about hiring an editor, using AI without losing her voice, and avoiding the shiny objects that distract agents from what actually works. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sarah Maslowski can be reached at hello@keypointhomesgroup.com and +1(470) 577-6472 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Justin Black explains how he turned his website into an AI-ready authority that LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude actively recommend to high-end buyers and sellers. Justin breaks down his question-based content strategy, how he uses AI (especially Claude) to ideate, draft, and audit pages, and how he even built his entire site with AI instead of hiring a dev shop. Justin also shares his high-touch expired listing system – FedEx packets, AI-generated market snapshots, and positioning audits, and explains how these tactics have already produced multi‑million‑dollar listings directly from AI referrals. Check out Justin’s LinkedIn profile and follow him on Instagram . If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Justin Black can be reached at (719) 684 – 3329 and jblack@livsir.com . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

Megan Walters breaks down how she built a seven‑figure real estate business without buying leads or cold calling. She shares her people-first approach – working from coffee shops, leveraging FSBO/expireds with value-packed drop-offs, and running four open houses every weekend. Next, Megan explains her daily 4 a.m. routine, CRM systems, and strict financial discipline, plus how consistent short-form video and personal branding drive 90% of her business and fuel a 50+ door investment portfolio. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Megan Walters can be reached at megan@thewalters.team . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

Bobby Kerr , founder of LOC8 My Business, reveals why Google Business Profiles are becoming one of the most powerful, and overlooked, marketing tools for real estate agents. Bobby explains how hyper-local content, strategic reviews, and geographic keywords can help agents stand out in Google Search and Maps while increasing their chances of being recommended by AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. Bobby also shares five practical tips for getting better reviews and turning your Google Business Profile into a powerful source of visibility, credibility, and leads. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Bobby Kerr can be reached at 239.268.3852 and info@loc8mybiz.com . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

Chris Wands shares how he built a powerhouse Miami luxury real estate business by embracing the fundamentals: hard work, showing up, answering the phone, and treating every client and transaction as an opportunity. Chris explains why rentals have been a major driver of his team’s growth, how a $1,000 rental can eventually lead to a multimillion-dollar client, and why agents should never underestimate the value of smaller deals. Last, Chris also opens up about building a team, using AI and CRM systems to improve operations, becoming a trusted advisor rather than simply a salesperson, and maintaining client relationships long after the transaction is over. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Chris Wands can be reached at 561.420.9610 and christopher.wands@elliman.com . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

Greg Roeder breaks down how he turned a pickle-ball league and community events into a steady stream of high-end, referral-only business. He explains the “invisible agent” problem and shares his 3M framework: mobilize your people, make content for your dream clients, and multiply your impact through systems and support. Greg walks through how he uses niche-specific newsletters, short-form video, and authentic signature events to become the obvious choice for $1M+ buyers and sellers. Greg also reveals how redefining success beyond being “on” 24/7 helped him scale from $12M to $40M in volume without sacrificing his personal life. “Join the launch list and grab the digital version of Getting to a Million for $1″ when it’s released on September 29th! Get your copy here. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Greg Roeder can be reached at greg@sellingfortcollins.com and 970.213.2095 This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

Welcome to another episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski . In this episode, Sarah pulls back the curtain on how a single missed upload exposed the cracks in her YouTube content system. Sarah breaks down why consistency is non-negotiable for the algorithm and audience trust, and how to eliminate single points of failure by using backup editors and a video bank. Sarah also shares her two-week planning/filming rhythm, four-bucket content strategy, and realistic batch filming approach for busy real estate agents. Last, Sarah shares her editor hand-off system and why staying two weeks ahead on both filming and editing is the key to long-term channel momentum. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sarah Maslowski can be reached at hello@keypointhomesgroup.com and +1(470) 577-6472 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Gwen Snyder shares how she’s built more than $500 million in sales without relying on cold calls. Instead, she reveals why authentic relationships, exceptional client service, and becoming genuinely “referable” have been the foundation of her business. Gwen also explains her proven systems for earning repeat business, marketing luxury listings, and staying top of mind, while opening up about the personal challenges that shaped her resilience and mindset as an entrepreneur. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Gwen Snyder can be reached at 303.718.1085 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Welcome to our monthly feature Learn With A Lender with Austin Clarence . In this episode, Austin breaks down the lending strategies agents can use to help homeowners move without giving up the low mortgage rates they locked in years ago. Next, Austin explains how turning a current home into a rental, using bridge loans, HELOCs, and tapping into home equity can create new opportunities to purchase a next home or start building an investment portfolio. Austin also shares how AI is streamlining the lending process, particularly for HELOCs and other equity-based products, and why agents should stay in touch with past clients instead of assuming their options are limited. Subscribe to Austin’s newsletter by sending an email to aclarence@nexalending.com . If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Austin Clarence can be reached at +1 650-906-2376 and aclarence@nexalending.com . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Sam Burke , 2026 NAR 30 Under 30 honoree, shares how he built a top-producing real estate business before turning 30 through disciplined systems, relentless prospecting, and a relationship-first mindset. Sam reveals the daily habits, cold-calling strategies, and client experience that helped him stand out early in his career, while also explaining how he built his own real estate investment portfolio along the way. He also dives into his YouTube and social media strategy, showing why creating lifestyle-focused content and optimizing for AI search is becoming a major competitive advantage for today’s agents. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sam Burke can be reached at samburke@johnlscott.com and (425) 210-4332 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

In our August episode, Carrie McCormick shares how AI is transforming the way buyers search for homes, how agents build their brands, and why hyper-local expertise has never been more valuable. Carrie also explains why today’s buyers are shopping for a lifestyle rather than just square footage, and why the agents who embrace content creation, education, and trusted relationships will thrive in the AI era. Plus, Carrie shares five bold predictions for how AI will reshape real estate over the coming year. Please follow Carrie on Instagram . If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Carrie can be reached at carrie@atproperties.com or by phone at 312.961.4612 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Vija Williams explains why AI isn’t replacing great real estate agents but it’s redefining their role. Vija shares how today’s consumers research home values, cash offers, and market data long before speaking with an agent, making it more important than ever for agents to become trusted advisors and problem solvers. Vija also breaks down how cash offer leads and iBuyer partnerships can create a powerful new seller lead source while helping agents win more listings. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Vija Williams can be reached at vija@vija.com . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

In this episode Real Estate Video Coach Kim Rittberg breaks down how real estate agents can leverage both long-form and short-form video, plus her “2C’s” framework by sharing personal summer moments and powerful client wins. Kim also describes how to turn your downtime into content that builds trust, showcases your expertise, and keeps you top of mind with your sphere. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sign up for Kim’s “ 5 Videos Every Real Estate Agent Must Make to Sell More Homes “. Enroll for Kim’s 7-Day Challenge to Be On-Camera or Kim’s Real Estate Video Kickstart! Follow Kim on Instagram . Subscribe to Kim on YouTube. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Kelsey Caputo 30 under 30 honoree – class of 2026 breaks down how AI is transforming real estate without replacing great agents. Next, Kelsey explains why niche, local expertise still beats generic AI valuations especially around boating access, seawalls, zoning, and short-term rental rules in a complex second-home market. Kelsey also shares how she uses AI to prep for appointments, anticipate objections, build ideal buyer profiles, and target ultra high net worth clients more precisely. Last, Kelsey dives into trust-based luxury relationships, lifestyle-matching for second homes, and the power of saying “I don’t know, I’ll find out” in a high-stakes market. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Kelsey Caputo can be reached at kelsey@keysrealestate.com and (305) 363-9998 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Welcome to our series “Coffee Talks with D.J.” Nearly one in seven home sales falls apart after going under contract, but what if the difference between closing and canceling comes down to how you communicate? In this episode of Coffee Talks, D.J. breaks down why so many deals fail during escrow and share a simple three-step system to keep buyers confident, reduce fall-throughs, and turn signed contracts into successful closings. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Welcome to our series Better Your Business With Ben. In this episode Ben Lalez dives into why most real estate agents are losing deals not to the market, but to silence, those three-day gaps where clients hear nothing. DJ and Ben break down a simple, daily follow-up rhythm that keeps buyers and sellers feeling supported from first contact through years after closing, turning databases into real volume. They also explore how AI is changing real estate, where it genuinely helps (speed, efficiency, systems) versus where it falls short (emotional intelligence, trust, accountability). Please follow Ben on Instagram and TikTok . If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Ben Lalez can be reached at 312.789.4054 and ben.lalez@compass.com . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Welcome to another episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski . In this episode, Sarah breaks down proven strategies for creating click-worthy titles, designing high-performing thumbnails, and building a streamlined workflow that saves time while maximizing views. Sarah also shows you how to batch-create photo assets, leverage AI, and know when to outsource so every video has the best chance to reach the right audience. Sarah provides practical tips can help you stand out in a crowded feed whether you’re just starting on YouTube or looking to grow your real estate channel. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sarah Maslowski can be reached at hello@keypointhomesgroup.com and +1(470) 577-6472 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Welcome to our monthly feature Learn With A Lender with Austin Clarence . In this episode, Austin discusses how global events, inflation, and shifting oil prices are influencing mortgage rates and what that could mean for buyers and agents in the months ahead. Austin explains the latest Fed outlook – why home values continue to appreciate despite higher rates, and how to help clients focus on long-term wealth instead of short-term rate fluctuations. Last, Austin focuses on powerful loan programs for doctors, first responders, veterans, and self-employed buyers, showing how the right financing strategy can open doors that many people don’t realize are available. Subscribe to Austin’s newsletter by sending an email to aclarence@nexalending.com . If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Austin Clarence can be reached at +1 650-906-2376 and aclarence@nexalending.com . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

Welcome to our series “Coffee Talks with D.J.” In this episode of Coffee Talks, D.J. explores why repeat and referral business should become the foundation of a thriving real estate career, and why so many agents unintentionally leave those opportunities behind. D.J. discusses the simple “Dig” system for organizing your past clients, creating meaningful, value-driven follow-ups, and building relationships that generate referrals for years to come. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!