Thought Leaders – Real Estate Re-imagined (formerly The Elevate Podcast)

Peter Brewer and Jeff Turner were supposed to fight about whether the traditional real estate office will survive. Instead, they discovered they agree on what matters most – and that's where this episode gets interesting. The debate starts with a deliberately provocative AI-generated definition: high street storefront, listings in the window, desks for agents. Peter immediately challenges it. Jeff...

Tony Morrison has facilitated one in every four property transactions in Tasmania for years. The CEO of Harcourts Tasmania built a BRW Fast 100 company in his early 20s, then made the counterintuitive decision to join a franchise network – and hasn't looked back. In this conversation with Samantha McLean, Tony shares his "Home Ground Advantage" approach to listing presentations – a method that goe...

Candice Whinnett runs two businesses – Code Property Group and Greenhouse Property – and dedicates every Wednesday to AI experimentation. Her team jokes about avoiding the office on Thursdays when she arrives with "47 new ideas." But those ideas have eliminated manual workflows, doubled her remote professional team, and positioned her agencies years ahead of competitors still wondering where to st...

Richard Manthel saw Australia's AML deadline coming years before most agents even heard of it. Now, with July 2026 fast approaching, real estate agencies face a compliance requirement that's already been battle-tested across the Tasman. In this conversation with Samantha McLean, Richard shares what he learned helping thousands of New Zealand agents navigate their 2019 AML rollout – and why Austral...

While many agents take January off to recharge, top coach and commentator Tom Panos warns that the window between January 15 and February 1 is actually the most critical time for building momentum. In this episode, he explains why starting now, not later, gives you a distinct advantage in a market where listings are tight and buyers are back. He also weighs in on the industry's "underquoting" deba...

Ben White, CEO of Ailo, tackles the biggest question facing property managers today: Is AI a threat to your business or the key to future growth? While agencies split between going all-in and waiting on the sidelines, Ben reveals why AI success isn't about technology at all – it's about understanding how you create value for customers. Key takeaways from this conversation: • Why AI is fundamentall...

Is the bar to entry in real estate too low, or is "high regulation" just a gatekeeper that kills innovation? In this episode of EDGE CASE, we tackle the industry’s most controversial question: Will raising professional standards limit our access to talent? We forced two of the biggest brains in the business to flip a coin and argue the case. THE DEBATE CARD: The Affirmative (John Foong): Argues th...

My guest today has a resume unlike any other agent I’ve interviewed. He is a former Hollywood executive, he has dived 12,800 feet to the wreck of the Titanic, and he was the agent responsible for listing the world-famous "Breaking Bad" house. David Christensen (eXp Realty) joins us to discuss how he applies Hollywood storytelling to real estate marketing. We dive deep into the strategy behind list...

In 2020, amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, Tom Harrison’s business coach gave him a stern warning: "Do NOT sign that paperwork." Taking sole ownership of a real estate agency during lockdowns seemed like madness. Tom signed anyway. In this episode, we sit down with Tom Harrison to discuss how he ignored expert advice to navigate chaos, scaled his team from 13 to 50 people, and ultimately led...

In boardrooms around the world, executives invest millions in team-building retreats and quirky office perks, while shareholders ask just one thing: show us the results. Is a "great culture" just pizza parties and ping-pong tables, or is it the non-negotiable foundation for sustainable profit? What happens when you take that controversial question and force two of property management's most respec...

Property managers are drowning in admin. What if you could save two hours every day? That's an entire month per year. (As Nikki says, "I'd be in Italy.") In this episode of Thought Leaders, we sit down with Nikki D'Agostino, a director, consultant, and mum of two who just won two major REIWA awards: Strata Manager of the Year and Strata Management Agency of the Year. Nikki runs multiple businesses...

What if one action could increase your listing win rate by 400%? According to 15 years of proprietary data from Ray White, it can. On this episode of Thought Leaders, host Samantha McLean sits down with Ray White's Chief Strategy Officer, Mark McLeod , to reveal the data-backed secret to a 400% higher listing advantage. Mark explains exactly what this action is, why it works, and the uncomfortable...

How does a former Westpac mortgage broker become the #1 auction agent in the Belle Property network? Norman So, Principal and Agent at Belle Property Strathfield, has recently been named Belle Property’s #1 auction agent and ranks #7 among all NSW agents. His journey from bank employee to one of Belle Property’s top performers — now targeting $4M+ in annual GCI — demonstrates the power of market s...

In this must-watch episode, Samantha McLean challenges herself to create an episode of thought leaders with her digital twin, two AI Co-hosts Sarah Chen and Marcus Rodriguez and AI generated B-Roll. The entire episode was built with tools like HeyGen Runway, Claude, NotebookLM, and Mind Studio… all in under eight hours (but, of course, with a human in the loop!). Join the next AI First Agent Accel...

What happens when a real estate agent makes the radical decision to turn down million-dollar listings to focus exclusively on apartments? Luke Saville's journey proves that strategic niching isn't just smart business – it's revolutionary. Meet Luke Saville A multi-award-winning agent and auctioneer with over 500 auctions to his name, Luke is The Agency's apartment specialist who's transformed his...

Are real estate agents trusted advisors helping families achieve dreams — or commission-hungry operators who've earned their notorious reputation? When industry ethics rankings put agents below politicians, it’s time for an uncomfortable conversation. So what happens when you take that controversial question and force two respected industry veterans to argue opposite sides? Welcome to EDGE CASE —...

What if 90% of real estate agents are using AI completely wrong – while the top 10% quietly dominate their markets? Most agents think AI means throwing everything into ChatGPT and hoping for the best. But Ryan J. Coyne, Chief Experience Officer at SERHANT and the tech mastermind behind one of the world's most followed real estate brands, reveals why that approach is killing your conversion rates....

The AI revolution is hitting property management hard – will traditional inspections be the first casualty? Technology is transforming every corner of property management faster than ever before. From smart sensors that detect water leaks to AI-powered maintenance requests, the industry is racing toward a digital future. But nowhere is this transformation more contentious than property inspections...

When BresicWhitney and The Woollahra Group merged in June last year, it created one of Sydney's most powerful property firms. But merging 100+ agents, two decades of data, and distinct company cultures wasn't as straight-forward as it sounds on paper. In this raw conversation, Thomas McGlynn (CEO, BresicWhitney) and Randall Kemp (Founder, The Woollahra Group) reveal what really happened behind the...

Shawn Hayes transformed LJ Hooker Southwest WA from a single office to a 4-location, 73-person operation – and AI tools played a massive role in their growth. Here's exactly how they did it. Key Takeaways: SMS campaigns sharing neighbourhood sales data get 10x more responses than "want an appraisal?" messages AI doesn't replace the personal touch – it creates more time for meaningful connections O...

We convinced two brilliant minds to argue opposite sides of one of the most controversial topics in real estate! What happens when you take a commonly held belief in the industry and get two brilliant minds to defend positions they might not even believe? Welcome to EDGE CASE – where we test assumptions and expose what people REALLY think. TODAY'S BIG QUESTION: "Do star agents deserve special trea...

Ever wondered why some agents consistently win listings while others struggle month after month? The answer isn't better presentation skills or flashy marketing – it's mastering what Adam Joske calls "the biggest hole in our business." Adam Joske isn't your typical real estate coach. This REIV Residential Salesperson of the Year (2015) built a database of 4,000 contacts with 90% accuracy, consiste...

“Be a trailblazer - not a follower!” That's Antonia Mercorella's advice for standing out by 2032. As the CEO who modernised a 100-year-old institution, she knows something about thinking differently. Antonia Mercorella didn't follow the traditional path to becoming Australia's most influential real estate institute CEO. As Queensland's first female and youngest REIQ leader, she's spent 10 years pr...

Can AI Replace Real Estate Relationships? What if the secret to thriving with AI isn't learning to be more like a machine – but discovering how to be more authentically human? That's the counterintuitive insight from Tara Christianson, who's spent over a decade helping agents navigate the intersection of technology and genuine connection. After delivering over 45 presentations across five Australi...

How do you bring AI into your agency — without losing the personal touch that made you successful in the first place? Kirstin Dunn started Semple Property Group from her dining room table back in 2013. Since then, she’s grown the business to over $54 million, all through strong relationships and exceptional service. Now, she’s taking things to the next level — integrating AI tools across every par...