Coffee & Closings

In this special episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with his wife, Allyson Lines, for a fun and heartfelt conversation about marriage, parenting, and their journey together. The two share stories from their teenage years, what it’s really like raising their daughter Amelia, and how they’ve built a home and a life side by side. They talk nursing, real estate, and late-night renovatio...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Liza Seymour, a Raleigh-based REALTOR® with Compass, to talk about her journey from fashion merchandising to building a thriving real-estate career. Liza opens up about taking a leap of faith into real estate during the pandemic, learning the business from the ground up, and finding balance between motherhood and entrepreneurship. The...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Autumn Dubois, team leader and REALTOR® with Compass in Raleigh, to talk about building a business rooted in connection, culture, and purpose. Autumn shares her journey from starting in real estate to leading a thriving team while staying grounded as a wife and mom. The two dive deep into leadership, building strong team culture, prop...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Jon Tennant, a Raleigh-area REALTOR® with The Jim Allen Group, to talk about building a real estate career through creativity, consistency, and community. Jon shares how he built his YouTube channel “Living in Raleigh Durham,” the lessons learned from joining the #1 Coldwell Banker team in the country, and his entrepreneurial mindset...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Doug Yopp, owner of The Oceanaire Realty. Doug shares the story of his family’s real estate legacy which was founded by his grandfather in 1979 and brought back to life when Doug reopened the company in 2017. They discuss the highs and lows of owning a brokerage, the challenges of leadership, and what truly makes a great agent stand o...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Alex Pollard, VP of Mortgage Lending at OriginPoint. They talk about the real side of the lending business and how relationships matter more than rates, and what it takes to build trust in today’s market. Alex opens up about fatherhood, discipline, and finding balance through fitness and family, while they dig into what’s really happe...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Benjamin Passwaters to talk about fatherhood, college sports, and the lessons that translate from life to business. We dive into how he’s built a successful real estate career through neighborhood farming and becoming the go-to agent in his community. Benjamin shares how consistency, connection, and mindset have shaped his success, bo...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Jenny Hensley to talk about what it really takes to become a luxury agent and stay ahead of today’s market trends. Jenny shares her insights on being the best REALTOR® you can be, building and leading a team, and creating a business that lasts. We dive into the mindset and habits that separate top agents from the rest, and how to adap...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Kevin Starkey, candidate for Secretary/Treasurer of RRAR and co-founder of Sold By Starkey. We talk about his passion for serving the REALTOR® community and why having a strong voice at RRAR matters. Kevin also shares his journey of building a thriving business with his wife, the importance of family, and what drives his success. Alon...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Ryan Darge, SVP of Mortgage Lending and Producing Sales Manager with OriginPoint. We dig into what today’s interest rates really mean for buyers and investors, how the housing market could shape up by 2026, and what it takes to thrive as a lender. Ryan also shares his philosophy on “earning your Fridays” through hard work, plus some t...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Jason Kogok, founder of Investor’s Wealth Education and author of Plug the Holes, Fill the Barrel . We talk about how Jason got his start in real estate, his teaching journey at NC State and Wake Tech, and his deep dive into investing strategies that build lasting wealth. Jason also opens up about the process of writing his book, bala...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Angie Thomas of Grow Local Realty. Angie shares her journey into real estate, how she quickly became a top-producing agent, and why she thrives as a solo agent rather than building a team. We talk about the realities of flipping houses, balancing business with fitness, and the unique mindset that drives her success. We also dive into...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Davante Falls, Senior Marketing Advisor for Compass in the Triangle. Davante shares how he got his start in marketing, the strategies agents can use to elevate their business, and how discipline in exercise and diet has played a role in his personal and professional journey. We also dive into his inspiring fight with Multiple Sclerosi...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Megan Beekman dives into the story behind Red Bench Realty and its many branches. We cover the entrepreneurial grind — from Airbnbs and flips to what it really means to be a great REALTOR®. Megan shares insights on personal branding, picking the right business name, and the power of social media. We also chat about workouts, caffeine, and building a lifes...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Ethan sits down with Brandon Yopp to explore his journey into real estate and what it really takes to stand out as a listing agent. They dive into the power of relationships, intentional client care, and building a business that supports, not controls, your lifestyle. Along the way, they chat hobbies, bourbons, and the importance of staying authentic in t...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , I sit down with Steve Gunter of The Gunter Group at Compass. We dive into his journey from serving as a police officer to becoming a full-time real estate professional, his experience playing cornerback at Indiana University, and how those lessons shaped his mindset in life and business. Steve shares his insights on building meaningful relationships, navi...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , I sit down with Brandy Nemergut to talk about her journey from starting in real estate in California to building a thriving business from scratch here in North Carolina. Brandy shares how she leveraged conversations and genuine relationship-building to grow her network, how to confidently use social media as a REALTOR®, and why dialing in your CRM (and us...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, I sit down with Kailey Norman, Sales Manager of the Southeast Regional Leadership Team at Compass. We dive into market insights, why knowledge is power for every agent, and what new agents should be doing right now to set themselves up for success. Kailey also shares what it’s really like to take on a leadership role in a real estate office, offering persp...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with powerhouse broker Liz Brown to unpack her wild journey from real estate rookie to team leader, independent brokerage owner, and now Compass Principal with a big brand. They talk entrepreneurship, client relationship, building something from scratch, and balancing it all with parenthood. Liz shares the highs, the hustle, and what it rea...

In this episode of Coffee & Closings , Davis Holt shares how early failures fueled his rise as a successful real estate entrepreneur. We dive into the power of persistence, the mindset behind building a business, and how he balances being a present father with the hustle of real estate. Plus, we kick things off with a pour-over from Cultivate Coffee , featuring their Better Together roast — a...