Realty Life

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an actor, philosopher, and real estate agent walk into one life? Ken McLachlan welcomes long-time friend Jean Pearson — a professional actor turned realtor with a profound story of transformation, purpose, and self-discovery.  From spontaneous motorcycle dreams in LA to Cirque du Soleil in Tokyo, and eventually real estate in Toronto, Jean shares his remarkable j...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a West Coast realtor reinvents himself in the heart of Toronto?  Ken McLachlan sits down with longtime friend and top-producing agent Mark Arnstein for an inspiring journey through personal transformation, business perseverance, and community impact.  From restarting a thriving career in a new city to dropping 70+ pounds, coaching hockey, and running half-maratho...

Send us Fan Mail What if chaos was your greatest motivator?   In this high-octane episode of the Realty Life Podcast , host Ken McLachlan sits down with Steven Sarasin, a powerhouse realtor and team leader whose life story is as intense as his daily drive.  From leaving home at 16 to care for his girlfriend’s family, to building one of the fastest-growing real estate teams in Ontario, Steven opens...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to balance a thriving real estate business, family life, and personal growth without losing focus?  Ken McLachlan sits down with powerhouse realtor Ralph Ciancio, whose career is built on intention, service, and relentless adaptability.  Ralph shares how his purpose-driven approach—shaped by early life challenges, lessons from his teens, and a clear commitment to...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to pivot from Broadway to buying and selling homes?  Ken McLachlan sits down with Laura Catalano, a former professional dancer and Broadway performer turned successful Toronto real estate agent.  Laura shares her extraordinary journey—from disciplined years at a brutal ballet boot camp to performing at Lincoln Center and sharing jokes with Mel Brooks, all before...

Send us Fan Mail What if the worst experience of your life became the foundation for your greatest success? In this inspiring episode of Realty Life, Ken McLachlan sits down with top Durham region realtor Dorothy Harrison, who shares the real and raw journey behind her 16-year real estate career.  From humble beginnings as a young, underestimated homebuyer to becoming a sought-after agent known fo...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to go from Olympic athlete to top-tier real estate leader?  Ken McLachlan sits down with Chris Cook, a former Olympic sailor turned successful real estate professional, to explore the winding path of discipline, self-discovery, and personal growth.  From his humble beginnings in subsidized sailing lessons to the world stage at the Olympics, Chris shares how life’...

Send us Fan Mail What fuels a 10-year-old boy to become a real estate powerhouse by 29?  Ken McLachlan sits down with Yannick Dagenais, a young agent from Ottawa who turned childhood adversity into entrepreneurial fire.  From launching a community basketball league at 14, to building a window-washing empire through university, to owning 24 doors in real estate and ranking among the top solo agents...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Realty Life podcast , Ken sits down with real estate veteran Maury Dailey, whose nearly five-decade career has spanned everything from real estate development in Colorado to his current role as a managing broker in Florida.   Maury shares his journey from aspiring veterinarian to real estate leader, highlighting how discipline, consistency, and a service-fir...

Send us Fan Mail What drives someone to take bold risks and build a life of impact? Ken McLachlan sits down with the inspiring Tonya McIntyre to explore her incredible journey from a small-town girl with big dreams to a thriving real estate professional in Durham Region.  Tonya opens up about her early years, growing up in a challenging home, and the determination that led her to leave at just 16....

Send us Fan Mail What do real estate, coaching, and marathon running have in common? A lot more than you might think! Ken McLachlan sits down with Toronto-based realtor, real estate coach, and marathon runner Jenelle Cameron. Jenelle shares her unconventional journey from public relations to real estate, revealing the discipline and structure that helped her succeed in the business. She dives into...

Send us Fan Mail Is the secret to real estate success relentless hustle, or is it a calm, steady hand? Ken McLachlan sits down with his longtime friend and experienced real estate professional, Michael Mealia, with over 45 years in the business. Michael shares how he has navigated market highs and lows with a unique combination of leadership, patience, and creative problem-solving.  From handling...

Send us Fan Mail Why do some people thrive while others get stuck?   In this episode, Ken chats with Randy Collins, a real estate agent and entrepreneur, about the pivotal role of mindset in achieving success.   Randy shares his journey from construction to multi-level marketing, and eventually to real estate, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, continuous learning, and adapting to chang...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to turn real estate into your personal pension plan?  In this episode, Ken sits down with Brad Closs, an Ottawa-based real estate investment expert who owns an impressive 56 doors. Brad shares his journey from his first property at age 24 to building a robust portfolio through strategic leveraging and meticulous planning.  From mastering property evaluation to na...

Send us Fan Mail Shawn Hewson was a Bay Street Lawyer but chose a career shift.  A big shift. He became a fashion designer and cofounded Bustle, a unique and creative fashion company.   In this episode Shawn shares his remarkable journey, the challenges he faced, and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. It was all about leveraging his existing skills, adapting to industry challenges, and...

Send us Fan Mail Meet the man behind one of Quebec's most successful real estate teams! In this episode, Ken interviews Georges Bardagi, a top real estate agent in Quebec. Georges shares his journey from starting in a tough market in 1991 to leading a highly successful team today. Georges emphasizes the importance of discipline, financial prudence, and continuous learning, while also highligh...

Send us Fan Mail Meet the man who turned a love for flying into a soaring real estate career. In this episode, Ken sits down with Jim Burton, a larger-than-life figure in the real estate industry. Jim shares his inspiring journey from a young pilot to a leading real estate icon in Newfoundland and Labrador. They discuss his relentless commitment to excellence, the influence of his father, and his...

Send us Fan Mail From Photography to Realty Royalty. Join Ken McLachlan as he interviews Debra Bain, his wife and president of RE/MAX Hallmark, in a heartfelt episode of Realty Life. Debra shares her inspiring journey from a 21-year-old photographer to a leading figure in the real estate industry, recounting personal challenges, career milestones, and her impactful role as a mentor to many, especi...

Send us Fan Mail Kim Tran calls her success an accident… but it was no accident. Escaping Vietnam as a four-year-old refugee she and her mother embarked on a frightening journey that eventually led them to Canada. These humble beginnings served as a firm foundation, grounding her as she pursued higher education in economics in university.    Despite initially embarking on a more traditional career...

Send us Fan Mail Peter Mueller built a successful business, doing what he loves and traveling the world doing it. His company, The Profit Centre, provides training and coaching designed to help Brokers, Team Leaders, and Realtors make profit predictable. But along the way came the greatest pain he’s ever known… the loss of his daughter.    When she became palliative, one day Peter just went for a...

Send us Fan Mail It was a career that began as an entrepreneur for Marcus Plowright. By the time his partner recruited him to real estate, he’d already been involved in seven start up businesses, including a renovation company, so the migration to real estate wasn’t too much of a reach.    One of the first things he and his partner initiated was sharing commissions from all team transactions with...

Send us Fan Mail Richard Robbins International (RRI) provides leading-edge sales and business training solutions to real estate agents and leaders at all levels. It delivers programs to countless customers worldwide.   But it all started in Peterborough, Ontario. And where it truly began to formulate as an idea and then a business was when a seminar he attended showed Rich that when you give to th...

Send us Fan Mail On the one hand, growing up in Kelowna was a little slice of heaven. On the other hand, was financial reality – there were some tough times. When a family member left her parents with a financial hole to dig out of, Tamara remembers that’s when her dad chose real estate.   If the phone rang during family time at the dinner table, that could be a client. It had to be answered. Ever...

Send us Fan Mail Daryl King grew up in a fairly humble home in North York. Started his working career working in real estate but his dad had instilled in him the need to work hard.   What he really wanted as a youngster was to be able to buy his own clothes. So, he ran a big paper route, he caddied, he shoveled driveways, mowed lawns. Later he sold cookware to make a buck. Whatever it took to be i...

Send us Fan Mail Suzan knew early in her life she had a calling; she just didn’t believe in herself. She loved Oprah and Tony Robbins, but she was just Suzan.  JUST Suzan.  That was the epiphany. By changing her mindset, she could become her full self and in so doing, help others come to the same realization about themselves.  Be all they could be.  Live lives by design, not default. Today Suzan w...