• $400M Agent Reveals the Truth: You’re Not “Good” You’re Lucky (Until the Market Changes)
    Jan 7 2026

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    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-performing real estate team… and what happened when the post-COVID market exposed the difference between being good and being lucky.

    If you’re building a team, recruiting agents, or trying to create consistent lead flow in a tougher market — this one will hit home.

    In this episode, we cover:

    • Why “I want an agent just like me” is a trap
    • The core values line you must draw (accept vs. reject)
    • The hidden danger of making your agents’ lives “too easy”
    • Why COVID created a generation of order takers (and what to do now)
    • The truth about production numbers — and what they don’t prove
    • How Alex thinks about community, service, and long-term brand equity
    • The “Hands / Mind / Heart” framework for leading agents
    • Where Alex would start if you dropped him into a new market at zero

    Connect with Alex:
    Instagram: @realalexyu

    Want more episodes like this?
    ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real leaders, producers, and operators.
    ✅ Leave a 5-star review — it helps more agents find the show.
    ✅ Share this episode with an agent who needs a system (not motivation).

    #RealEstate #RealEstateAgents #TeamBuilding #RealEstateCoaching #Recruiting #Leadership #RealEstatePodcast

    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

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    49 mins
  • Ready. Fire. Aim. ..The “Small Town → #1 Team” Blueprint with Matt Smith
    Dec 18 2025

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    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 raw backstory: working a sawmill at 12 years old, quitting the family business with no “perfect plan,” learning sales the hard way, then jumping into real estate and closing 70+ homes in his first year.

    But the real value is what comes after the success how he hit leadership ceilings, lost great people, learned humility the hard way, and rebuilt his leadership identity around impact.


    If you’re an agent, team leader, or future leader trying to grow without losing yourself (or your people), this one will light you up.


    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • Why “sales = solving problems” (and how to go deeper than surface pain)
    • The dangerous transition from top producer → leader (and why many fail it)
    • The next jump: leader → leader of leaders
    • How ego and “press clippings” can quietly wreck culture
    • The mindset shift from proving people wrong to impacting lives
    • The leadership concept that hit everyone: don’t pour from your cup—overflow it
    • Why Matt says: stop living for your resume… start living for your eulogy



    🔥 Smash subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with one agent who needs a push right now.


    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

    🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.kilby

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    44 mins
  • Gratitude, Grit & the Bison Mentality: Our Thanksgiving Reset for Real Estate Agents
    Nov 26 2025

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    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 truth about re-recruiting your own people (yes, it matters)
    • Why AI is your half-million-dollar assistant, not your replacement
    • Our bold prediction for the 2026 market
    • And of course… drunken Green Egg turkey vs. deer-camp ribeyes 😅



    If you’re leading people… or trying to lead yourself… this is the Thanksgiving reset you didn’t know you needed.


    This episode reminds you:


    You’re not alone.

    You’ve survived 100% of your hardest days.

    And 2026 belongs to the agents who run into the storm like bison not the ones who huddle like cattle.

    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

    🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.kilby

    🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanekilby/

    🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanekilby/


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    35 mins
  • From $60M Debt to 400 Agents: Tony Hanson on Leadership, Systems & Relentless Grit
    Nov 20 2025

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    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 journey is packed with life lessons, business fundamentals, and mindset breakthroughs.

    Inside this episode:

    🔥 The Catapult Program:
    How Tony trains brand-new agents into professionals who understand the A–Z of real estate, belief systems, process, and discipline.

    🔥 Three Days in One:
    Tony's legendary routine for maximizing productivity, family, fitness, and business without sacrificing one for the other.

    🔥 Words Matter:
    The psychology of language in sales and why most agents stall deals without even realizing it.

    🔥 Building Financial Walls:
    The $60M mistake that turned into Tony’s greatest teacher and how it reshaped his entire outlook on business security and diversification.

    🔥 Leadership Under Pressure:
    What it means to charge into the storm like a rhino when fear, chaos, and uncertainty hit.

    🔥 Legacy:
    What Tony wants to be remembered for and why it has nothing to do with money or status.

    This episode is packed with laughs, conviction, tactical strategies, and gut-check moments. Whether you're a brand-new agent or a seasoned leader, you will walk away with pages of notes and a fire in your chest.

    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

    🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.kilby

    🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanekilby/

    🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanekilby/


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    54 mins
  • From Homeless at 15 to Leading Montana’s Most Trusted Real Estate Brand...The Mark Kuhl Story
    Nov 14 2025

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    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 estate and rebuilding a brokerage almost from scratch… Mark’s journey is a masterclass in grit, service, and conviction.

    Mark shares:

    • The accidental chain of events that pushed him into the Marine Corps, firefighting, and real estate
    • How he and his wife Marcy went from 21 agents… to 3… and rebuilt a culture that thrives today
    • Why the most successful brokerages hire slow, fire fast, and protect culture with everything
    • How loyalty, faith, and family built one of Montana’s most respected real estate brands
    • What it actually takes to lead people without burning yourself out
    • How to coach, mentor, and elevate people using life skills—not scripts
    • Why ambitious agents desperately need to “ask without fear”
    • What compounding interest, father wounds, and Tony Robbins have to do with real estate success
    • And the one leadership lesson he wishes he learned 30 years earlier

    Whether you’re a seasoned broker, a new agent, or someone who’s clawing your way toward a better life…
    Mark’s story will remind you that nothing is wasted. Every chapter prepares you for the next.

    This is one of the most raw, real, and impactful conversations we’ve had on the show.

    ➡️ Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this with someone who needs a spark today.

    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

    🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.kilby

    🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanekilby/

    🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanekilby/


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    49 mins
  • Master the Mundane: How 25 Years in Real Estate Built a Legacy of Loyalty, Leadership, and Love with Pat Garrity
    Oct 31 2025

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    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 has been selling homes and shaping lives since 2000. But this conversation goes far deeper than sales numbers. It’s about what really builds empires that last: discipline, community, and the courage to “master the mundane.”


    💡 Pat reveals:


    • How one piece of advice from his stepfather (Real Estate License #1 on the board!) changed his life.
    • The single rule that keeps his marriage, team, and culture thriving: “Meet me at the 50-yard line.”
    • Why focusing on people before technology saved his company’s soul.
    • How he turned “boring discipline” into millions in production — and over $100,000 in local charity impact.
    • The three timeless pillars that define every elite agent he mentors: Honesty. Competency. Care.


    You’ll walk away inspired, recalibrated, and reminded that real success isn’t about the next shiny tool… it’s about the relationships you build, the people you serve, and the lives you change along the way.


    Whether you’re a new agent, a seasoned leader, or somewhere in between, this episode will light the fire, sharpen your focus, and remind you why you started.

    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

    🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.kilby

    🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanekilby/

    🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanekilby/


    💡 Want to be a guest on the show?...

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • The Art of Getting Back Up: Wayne Salmans on Pain, Purpose, and Becoming Your Own Hero
    Oct 18 2025

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    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-death experience at 17, the years of struggle, success, self-sabotage, and redemption that followed — and how he learned to become the hero of his own story.


    You’ll hear about:


    • 💥 The real story behind Wayne’s viral exchange with David Goggins
    • 💡 Why every level of success comes with a new devil
    • 🧠 The identity shifts that changed everything for him
    • 🔥 How to rebuild when life throat-punches you — and come out stronger
    • ❤️ The unseen pain behind top performers (and how to break through it)


    If you’ve ever questioned your worth, fought through burnout, or wondered how to rise when everything falls apart — this episode is for you.


    🎧 Available now on:

    👉 Apple Podcasts

    👉 Spotify

    👉 YouTube

    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

    🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.kilby

    🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanekilby/

    🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanekilby/


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    46 mins
  • From Dental Chair to Deal Maker: How Brenda Young Rebuilt a Career at 51 and Became a Top Producer
    Oct 11 2025

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    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 relentless service helped her go from two closings in ten months to multi-million-dollar annual production (no team, no buyers’ agents, no personal assistant).


    You’ll hear the unglamorous early days, the “estimated taxes” lesson, why community events matter, and how humility + consistency can outpace flash.

    If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start or how to scale without losing your soul this one’s for you.


    What we cover:


    • Leaving a stable 9–5 for a commission-only career—with a plan
    • The role of spouse/family buy-in during the first 2–3 grind years
    • Training vs. “figure it out”: how structure at Expert Real Estate Partners changed everything
    • Letting go of paperwork (hello, admin team) to win back life and pipeline
    • Confidence as a learned skill: from “meek and shy” to assertive professional
    • Why humble, grateful marketing still attracts clients and referrals



    Connect with Brenda:

    📱 920-422-1234

    🔎 Facebook: Brenda Young (Appleton, WI)


    Call to Action: If this episode helped you, smash subscribe, drop a 5-star review, and share it with someone who needs that “it’s not too late” nudge.

    Want to be a guest or refer one? Reach out we’d love to hear your story.

    🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!


    We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!


    👉 Never Miss an Episode!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

    📍 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r-e-a-l-real-estate-agent-life-podcast/id1790088933

    📍 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LAAYbtPUqYJdTVl83hZXS?si=bf6691d7eccf4688

    📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@R.E.A.L.RealEstateAgentLif-l6z


    📲 Stay Connected & Join the Conversation!

    🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.kilby

    🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanekilby/

    🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanekilby/


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    Show More Show Less
    43 mins