R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast

Send us Fan Mail 52 closings in your first year sounds like a highlight reel, but the real story is what happens after the adrenaline fades.  We sit down with Andrea Kugler, a Cincinnati and Hamilton, Ohio real estate agent who’s now a brokerage co-owner and newly building a team, to talk about what it really takes to grow a sustainable real estate career from the ground up.  Her journey starts no...

Send us Fan Mail A single home search can change the way you see the world. When Martha Melendez tried to buy a house as a young woman, she wasn’t met with guidance or respect, she was pushed toward where someone else thought she “fit.” That moment didn’t just sting, it became the reason she got her real estate license and built a service-first career in Orlando, Florida focused on protecting clie...

Send us Fan Mail Some people enter real estate with a five-year plan.  Kathleen Borella entered because her brother was fed up with agents who would not answer the phone, and that one standard kicked off a career built on trust, speed, and doing what you say you’ll do. We talk with Kathleen in Savannah Georgia about the early years of production, how she reverse engineers goals into daily behavior...

Send us Fan Mail Some people talk about “making calls.”  Andrea Daniels has lived them, more than 35,000 hours worth and she’s turned that obsession into a repeatable system for real estate lead conversion, prospecting, and sales confidence.  We bring her on to unpack what actually creates results when scripts, hype, and perfect market conditions disappear, and why the best agents aren’t born fear...

Send us Fan Mail One minute you’re joking about Wisconsin weather, the next you’re staring at a blueprint for a real estate career that quietly stacked 2,200 transactions and more than $622M in sales.  We’re joined by Amber Hummer, a high producing agent and team leader who’s built a strong digital presence, a tight selling crew, and a business that runs on clear standards rather than flashy props...

Send us Fan Mail She grew up in a town called North Pole, Alaska and yes, it’s real.  From there, Kim Renshaw builds a life that looks nothing like her starting point: horses, motorcycles, and a thriving real estate business on California’s Central Coast near Pismo Beach, where acreage and beach living sit ten minutes apart.  Our conversation isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the real story behind mome...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to trade a surfer’s dream for a generational legacy? We sit down with Dano, a 40-year Maui veteran who bought his first home at 18 percent interest and still calls real estate the best place to invest. From carrying grout as a tile setter’s apprentice to representing entire new-home neighborhoods, Dano shows how humility, construction know-how, and patience compo...

Send us Fan Mail Thinking about a real estate career but spooked by headlines? We pull back the curtain on why a so-called “down market” is actually the best launchpad for new and returning agents. We get real about mindset, work ethic, and the uncomfortable truth that the reward always matches the effort when you show up with consistency and purpose. We dig into the difference between the order-t...

Send us Fan Mail What if the scariest first step became the moment that built your career?  That’s where Jennifer’s story starts: a last-minute sign call, zero experience opening a lockbox, and a choice to lead with courage and connection.  That humble beginning grew into a real estate business defined by a servant’s heart, clear roles, and systems that serve people instead of replacing them. We e...

Send us Fan Mail Real estate feels simple when the market hands you wins. But what happens when speed stops working and skill is the only edge that matters? We sit down with Phoenix leader Adam Prather—someone who turned personal urgency into a durable playbook—to unpack how to thrive across micro-markets, build a team that executes, and invest in coaching that actually changes results. Adam takes...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life , we sit down with Alex Yu , Orange County team leader and coach who’s helped guide over $400M in sales and built a reputation for systems, service, and five-star client experiences . Alex shares the real story behind his growth — including how he went from running bank-owned assets at Chase during the REO wave to building a high-...

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to go from a graduating class of 30… to building a powerhouse real estate team that dominates market share? In this episode of R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life , Shane Kilby and Duane Murphy sit down with Matt Smith (Missouri team leader + John Cheplak coach) for a masterclass on work ethic, sales simplicity, leadership growth, and legacy . Matt shares the ra...

Send us Fan Mail This Thanksgiving episode hits different. No guest. No script. Just two operators Shane from Alabama and Duane from Wisconsin getting brutally honest about the year we’ve all walked through: Why 2024/2025 felt like a storm for so many agents The power of small, uncomfortable rooms that sharpen leaders How consistency on social quietly compounds into DMs, belief, and business The t...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode features one of the most dynamic leaders in real estate , Tony Hanson of Better Homes & Gardens Paracle. Tony doesn’t just talk success he lives discipline, systems, and execution at a level most agents never experience. From surviving the 2008 crash while carrying $60M in development loans to helping scale Paracle from 26 agents to over 400 strong , Tony’s jou...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast, Shane and Duane sit down with Marine Corps veteran, former firefighter, and Montana brokerage owner Mark Kuhl — a man whose story redefines resilience, leadership, and culture. From being homeless at 15 , to being shaped by the Marine Corps , to becoming a firefighter for 20 years , to stepping into real esta...

Send us Fan Mail There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s journey where they realize the goal isn’t just to make a living it’s to make an impact. In this episode of R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life , hosts Shane Kilby (Sweet Home Alabama) and Duane Murphy (Great State of Wisconsin) sit down with Pat Garrity , the Canadian powerhouse behind Trilliant Real Estate Group of Sylvan Lake, Alberta. Pat ha...

Send us Fan Mail From near-death to next-level purpose. In this raw, unfiltered episode of The R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast, Shane Kilby and Duane Murphy sit down with Coach Wayne Salmans — founder and CEO of Hero Nation Coaching , former Realtor Magazine 30 Under 30 recipient, top 1% agent turned empowerment coach, and author of The Art of Getting Back Up. Wayne opens up about his near...

Send us Fan Mail Shane Kilby (Sweet Home Alabama) and co-host Duane Murphy (Appleton, WI) sit down with Brenda Young , a lifelong Appleton resident who traded 33 years in dentistry for a brand-new real estate career at age 51 and never looked back.  Brenda opens up about burning the boats, building confidence, and the power of spousal buy-in.  She shares how training, admin leverage, and relentles...

Send us Fan Mail When burnout hits and the bank account is shrinking, most people tap out. Greg Langham did the opposite. From Marriott paying for his real estate school (true story) to failing at timeshares, cutting his teeth on FSBOs/expireds with a Mike Ferry playbook, launching an indie brokerage in Bend, then walking away burned out—Greg moved his family to Boise, stared down a crossroads, an...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast , Shane and Duane sit down with Gary Sparks , Qualifying Broker with Marmac Real Estate Coastal. Gary’s journey started in a night class 10 years ago after long shifts and side hustles, grinding through pre-license with nothing but calloused hands, a servant’s heart, and a belief that there was more for his life. From buying...

Send us Fan Mail Tyler Blair didn’t grow up with much.  In fact, it took him a full year and four test attempts just to get his real estate license. Fast forward to today he’s leading a 100+ agent team , closing over $274 million in production , and pacing 850 homes this year . In this episode of the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast , Tyler shares: His unlikely start as a leasing agent and...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever said “the leads suck,” this one’s for you.  Shane & Duane sit down with longtime tech insider Randy Carroll alumni of Commissions Inc. (CINC) and Chime/Lofty now the growth engine behind Ruuster , a lead-nurture platform built to mine the gold already sitting in your database. Randy breaks down the 19-month buy cycle (and why most systems stop nurturing at 6–12...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of coaching and mentorship in shaping successful careers.  Discover how guidance from experienced mentors can unlock potential, provide valuable insights, and accelerate professional growth.  Join us as we explore real-life stories and expert advice on building meaningful mentor-mentee relationships that drive career success....

Send us Fan Mail From apple orchards to award-winning broker, Mike Blake’s journey is anything but ordinary.  In this powerhouse episode of Real Estate Agent Life , Shane and Duane sit down with their longtime friend and fraternity brother to uncover how Mike went from patenting products and selling his first $50k home… to running a 200+ transaction team pacing over 350 deals a year. Mike drops ga...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a former logistics expert burns out on corporate America and sets his sights on real estate? You get Eric Meldrum —a team leader, content creator, and visionary who turned YouTube videos into a multi-state lead magnet. In this episode, Eric joins Shane and Duane to share: How he went from startup life and SaaS dreams to real estate success in Michigan and Florida...