Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast , host Mike Litzner sits down with Jason Waugh , CEO of Coldwell Banker Affiliates Worldwide , to discuss what it takes to lead and grow at the highest levels of the real estate industry. Jason shares insight into managing a global network of agents, maintaining brand consistency across markets, and why mindset, discipl...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, host Mike Litzner sits down with Ron Alber, Real Estate Attorney and Founder of The Alber Law Group, to break down what really happens between contract and closing in New York real estate. Ron shares practical insights on: -The most common legal mistakes sellers and buyers make -Why due diligence matters before listing...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back , Mike Litzner sits down with Janet Pushee , a top agent in the Northport / Huntington market with over 35 years of experience. Janet shares what has mattered most throughout her career — waking up each day with a mission, staying productive, putting clients first, and answering the phone when it counts. The conversation also dives into what m...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast , Mike Litzner sits down with Melissa King , COO of OneKey® MLS , for a behind-the-scenes look at the data, technology, and decisions that power the real estate industry. Melissa breaks down what the MLS really is, how listing data flows to consumer portals, why transparency and standards matter, and how AI and smarter...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back, Mike Litzner sits down with Scott Rosenberg of CrossCountry Mortgage, a mortgage professional with 35 years of experience navigating every type of market cycle.  Scott breaks down today's mortgage landscape with clarity and candor from why Fed rate cuts don t always translate to lower mortgage rates, to the real differences between pre-a...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back , Mike Litzner sits down with Sandra Caruso , Regional Manager of the Mount Sinai and Wading River offices for Coldwell Banker American Homes. Sandra shares what it really takes to lead 100+ agents across two distinct markets, how her experience as an agent shapes her leadership style, and why understanding people, not just transactions, is th...

Thank you for listening Stay connected with us: Facebook: facebook.com/cbamhomes Instagram: instagram.com/cbamhomes Twitter: twitter.com/cbamhomes LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cbamhomes Visit our website: cbamhomes.com Interested in a career in real estate? Join our team: careers.cbamhomes.com Need to get licensed? New York Real Estate Salesperson Classes: resnys.com/77-hr-new-york-real-estate-s...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast , host Michael Litzner sits down with Lyndsey Gallagher , Chief Financial Officer of Coldwell Banker American Homes , to talk about what it’s really like leading in a family-run company that’s been growing strong for nearly four decades. Lyndsey shares how she went from answering phones in the office as a teenager to ma...

Meet Richie Krug Jr. & Taleen Krug , the husband-and-wife powerhouse behind the RTK Realty Group  at Coldwell Banker American Homes (East Meadow). In this episode, Mike digs into the exact habits and systems that fuel their growth: color-coded shared calendars, rigorous CRM discipline, clear “ops vs. outreach” roles, and a content-first social strategy that actually converts. We also get perso...

Top agent John Gandolfo joins host Mike Litzner to unpack the routines, product knowledge, and client care that power more than a thousand home sales. He shares the disciplined pipeline that turns leads into listings, contracts, closings—and lifelong referrals—plus the “bedside manner” that keeps transactions calm and informed. You’ll hear waterfront specifics (bulkheads, floating docks, ramps, ti...

Thinking about getting your real estate license or curious about what it really takes to succeed in the industry? In the Season 2 finale of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast , we sit down with Michael Aharoni, Branch Manager of the Coldwell Banker American Homes Farmingdale office and certified instructor for the Real Estate School of New York State (RESNYS). With a uniqu...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast , Mike Litzner sits down with Vinnie DiOrio , Branch Manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation , to shed light on the modern mortgage process. From his early career with the New York Islanders to building a client-first approach in lending, Vinnie shares his insights on: How the mortgage industry has evolved A...

In this inspiring episode, host Mike Litzner sits down with Christine Dato, a top agent at Coldwell Banker American Homes in Hicksville, to discuss her unique path in real estate—starting not once, but twice. Christine shares the challenges she faced as a young agent, why she stepped away from the industry, and what ultimately brought her back with renewed confidence and purpose. From navigating t...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast , host Mike Litzner sits down with Dan Jacuzzi, President and Broker/Owner of The Select Group — one of the top 50 brokerages in the U.S. With over 70 offices spanning six states and both Century 21 and Coldwell Banker brands, Dan brings a wealth of insight into leadership, growth, luxury real estate, and the future of...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast , host Mike Litzner sits down with Barbara Mullaney and team members Katy Myers and Peggy Elliott of The Barbara Mullaney Team — one of the top-producing teams on Long Island. From building a business on referrals to mastering the unique dynamics of the Long Beach and Barrier Islands market, the conversation dives deep...

In our next episode, host Mike Litzner sits down with Tony Briguglio , Broker of Record for Coldwell Banker Commercial AMH, aka “The King of Commercial,” for an unfiltered look at the world of commercial real estate. From navigating cap rates and SBA loans to spotting undervalued assets and closing deals with national tenants—Tony shares expert insights that every investor, agent, and entrepreneur...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast, we sit down with Jim McKenna Sr. and Jim McKenna Jr., the dynamic father-son duo behind The Jims Team in Northport, NY. With decades of combined experience, they share: ✅ How they built a thriving real estate business together ✅ The challenges and rewards of working as a family ✅ Their success in both residential re...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast , we sit down with David Marine , Chief Marketing Officer of Anywhere Brands , the parent company behind Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA Real Estate, and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. With over 22 years of experience in real estate marketing, David shares his incredible journey from creating the first digital l...

What does it take to turn a life-changing decision into a 20-year real estate career?  This week on Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, we sit down with Marie Asher, a dedicated Real Estate professional who went from being a nurse to one of Massapequa Park’s most trusted realtors.   Marie shares:  ✅ Her “aha” moment that helped her breakthrough in year two  ✅ Why mentors...

🎙 Season 2 is Here! We’re kicking off Season 2 of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast with none other than Sheila McKenna Olsen ! With over 30 years in real estate , Sheila has seen it all—from shifting markets to major industry changes. In this episode, we cover: 🏡 The biggest changes in real estate over the last 30 years ⚖️ How the NAR lawsuit & MLS changes impact re...

In the Season 1 finale of "Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back," host Mike Litzner sits down with his long-time business partner and co-owner of Coldwell Banker American Homes, Tom Gallagher. With over 36 years of working together, they delve into the secrets behind their enduring partnership and how they've built an incredible company from a small real estate office to a leading fi...

In Episode 9 of "Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back," host Mike Litzner sits down with top agent Luis Cardenas from our Hicksville office. Luis shares his inspiring journey from immigrating to the United States from Venezuela at age 13 to becoming a successful real estate agent and U.S. citizen. He discusses how his family motivateshim to excel and how he balances traditional and digita...

Valerie Rosenblatt, a top agent at Coldwell Banker American Homes, shares her inspiring journey from an art and design major to a powerhouse in real estate. Valerie opens up about the grit and dedication required to excel in the industry, debunking the myth of real estate as an easy career. Listen as she details her relentless pursuit of market trends from Queens to Montauk and her strategic insig...

What if the key to success in real estate is continuous learning and adaptation? Join us as we welcome Deb Asher, Director of Business Development for Coldwell Banker American Homes, to share her wealth of experience and insights on the importance of education in the real estate industry. Deb delves into the Academy at American Homes, an education platform offering a wide range of sessions featuri...

What does it take to steer a real estate company through turbulent market conditions? Learn from Kate Conquest, National Vice President at Coldwell Banker, as she shares her extraordinary journey from an 18-year-old secretary to a national vice president. Discover the strategies and insights that helped her navigate the market changes of 2006-2007 and the severe downturn of 2007-2009. Kate's...