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

In this announcement episode  D.J. Paris  talks about his live event called “You Don’t Need More Leads – You Need AI” on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 PM CST. You know at least 200 people. Most of them already know you. Most of them have completely forgotten you sell real estate. Your next client is probably in that list. They just need a reason to think of you aga...

Danny Brown shares how playing the long game, giving honest advice, and protecting your reputation can build a top‑tier business. He explains why relationships with other agents are as critical as client relationships, especially in ultra‑competitive, high‑net‑worth markets. Danny also breaks down his lean, “anti‑team” model, the costly mistakes he’s learned from, and how documentation and buyer a...

We are thrilled to announce our newest monthly segment “Breakthrough with Michael” with Michael Opyd. Mike Opyd brings hard-earned experience to the table, having started in 2009 during the Great Recession with just $2,000 and no safety net, eventually building a $200M brokerage and becoming a top producer in Chicago. Now a full-time coach, he specializes in helping agents at every level break thr...

In our April episode,  Carrie McCormick  shares how a celebrity client found her through ChatGPT and how simply answering her phone turned into a $9.5M listing opportunity. She then walks listeners through a high-stakes $6M deal where a buyer got cold feet, revealing the strategy, empathy, and communication she used to save the transaction. This episode gives practical lessons on managin...

Welcome to our series Better Your Business With Ben. In this episode  Ben Lalez  break down what’s really driving his team’s impressive Q1 production and growth. Ben dives into the power of consistency and the idea of getting just 1% better every day in core real estate skills. Ben also shares hard-won lessons from creating thousands of social media videos, including how to hook viewers...

Welcome to another episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski . In this episode, Sarah pulls back the curtain on what the first 12 months of YouTube really look like for real estate agents. Sarah shares her own early numbers, the emotional roller coaster of low views, and the pivotal moment when a single relocation buyer call changed everything. Next, Sarah shares why views and subscribers are “v...

Welcome to our monthly feature Learn With A Lender with Austin Clarence . In this episode, Austin and D.J. discuss the new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules that will push condo HOAs to increase reserve funds from 10% to 15% and what that means. Next, they discuss how real estate agents can turn these changes into opportunities by educating condo owners and HOA boards, positioning themselves as tru...

Welcome to our newest series “Coffee Talks with Tim and D.J.” In the first episode of Coffee Talks, explores the striking disconnect between what real estate clients say and what they actually do, while 88% say they would reuse their agent, only around 12–15% end up doing so. Tim and D.J. unpack why this happens, focusing on the brutal reality that 91% of agents go dark after closing a...

Debbie De Grote shares how she went from closing her first deal at 18 to coaching top agents across North America. Debbie and DJ dig into why custom coaching beats cookie‑cutter programs, how to view coaching as a business investment (even if you can’t afford it yet). They also break down how the NAR settlement changed buyer conversations around commissions and why prepared agents are actually win...

In this episode  Real Estate Video Coach Kim Rittberg talks about how not to be “cringey” on camera. Kim explains that the better we are on camera the more people will build that connection/trust with us through social media. Next Kim discusses how to own who you are in a more comfortable way? Last, Kim walks you though her PATCH method and explains it. If you’d prefer to watch this interview,   c...

In this announcement episode  D.J. Paris talks about his live event called “You’re Doing A.I. 100% Wrong” on Tuesday, April 7th at 12:00PM CST. In this webinar D.J. will show you how to compete with veterans using new tools available now. These methods will be handing back to you 19 hours per week all the while helping you maintain relationships. D.J. will also share 5 strategies on leveraging A.I...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Real Estate Success with high-performance hypnotherapist and mindset coach  Paul Salter. In this episode, Paul breaks down the hidden cost of a lack of structure – and how letting emotions drive your day quietly drains energy, fragments focus, and holds real estate professionals back from consistent execution, confident decisions, and peak performance. You’ll lea...

Welcome to another episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski . In this episode, Sarah breaks down a real YouTube lead that turned into a closed deal. You’ll hear exactly which video the client watched, how they reached out, and what the first conversation looked like. Sarah also walks you through how the lead was handled step-by-step, from initial contact to closing, and highlight the key moment...

Mark Gordon shares how he entered the business at the worst possible time, in 2008, after serving on the Vail Town Council and even negotiating a $300M development while working a $15/hour ski job. Mark explains why he left Sotheby’s to run a focused boutique brokerage, and how deep community involvement fuels his business in a small resort market. The conversation also dives into how Mark uses AI...

Darwin Stephens shares how he transitioned from a secure Fortune 10 leadership role in corporate America into full-time luxury real estate after the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped his original business plans. He discusses building the federally trademarked Selling Dallas brand and establishing authority in the Dallas luxury market through extensive media exposure and a consultative approach tailored t...

Welcome to our monthly feature Learn With A Lender with Austin Clarence . In this episode, Austin discusses what the recent drop in 30‑year fixed rates below 6% really means for buyers. Austin describes how to use the new FHA loan limit as a pricing strategy, and why non-QM and DSCR loans are game-changers for self‑employed buyers and investors. Last, Austin also shares his concept of “ghost buyer...

Eirik Gislason dives into why negotiation is the most underdeveloped, yet crucial, skill for real estate agents, and how to move from listing “features” to clearly communicating real value to clients. Eric shares how to tailor your value proposition to different decision-maker types, navigate tough conversations like price reductions, and guide sellers through multiple-offer situations without los...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Real Estate Success with high-performance hypnotherapist and mindset coach  Paul Salter. In this episode of The Inner Game of Real Estate Success, Paul breaks down the hidden cost of indecision – and how hesitation quietly drains confidence, overwhelms the mind, and holds real estate professionals back from making bold moves, closing deals, and operating at their...

Jason Caspert , Director of Sales at Courted, explains the “Moneyball” approach to recruiting and retaining real estate agents. D.J. and Jason break down how Courted’s AI-powered platform mines MLS data to show brokers and team leaders exactly who to call, when to call, and what to say – including predicting which agents are most likely to move. They also share practical, real-world tactics...

In this episode D.J. talks to our in-house mindset coach, the high-performance hypnotherapist Paul Salter to unpack why most agents don’t have a systems problem but they have a mindset problem. Paul describes how fear, anxiety, and old stories stop us from doing simple, high-impact actions like going to the gym, making prospecting calls, or reconnecting with past clients, even...

Welcome to the first episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski . In this episode, Sarah discusses why YouTube works when nothing else seems to. Sarah also talks about what type of YouTube videos agents should make to bring leads and to make sure these videos appear in AI engines. Sarah also talks about the importance of consistency with YouTube videos and the equipment agents would need to start...

In this episode  Real Estate Video Coach Kim Rittberg talks about how to make your videos more appealing for the public. Kim discusses the importance of clarity in your videos and also stresses the importance of the hook. Last, Kim talks about her Video Bootcamp and what she teaches there this February. Please enroll to Kim’s  Video Bootcamp here. If you’d prefer to watch this interview,   click h...

Welcome to our series Better Your Business With Ben. In this episode  Ben Lalez  breaks down the real difference between average agents and top producers. Ben shares concrete examples of what an 8am–8pm, opportunity-focused schedule actually looks like, plus how to turn everyday conversations into business instead of missed chances. Ben and DJ also reveal a major marketing gap – most sellers...

Andrea Gordon talks about her unconventional career transition from theater director and playwright to real estate. Andrea discusses how creative skills and deep listening translate into powerful client relationships and early success. Andrea breaks down how to identify your “best fit” client and how to build trust. Andrea also reveals her evolved marketing machine, from cohesive branding and medi...

Amanda Pendleton , the Zillow house trends expert, unpacks fresh data on today’s buyers and sellers. Amanda discusses  the growing importance, and fragility, of buyer loyalty, why repeat clients often don’t return to their original agent, and the re‑engagement strategies top producers use to stay top of mind for 10–15 years between moves. Next, Amanda talks about how online research and AI are cha...