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What happens when a 35-year real estate powerhouse decides to write a book?

You get a universal framework for transformation that applies to divorce, empty nest, career changes, marathons, and everything in between.

In Part 3 of our Debbi DiMaggio series, we're joined by entrepreneur, author, and all-around achiever Debbi DiMaggio as she shares the story behind her upcoming book, Mindset in Motion: A Proven Framework for Personal Transformation. From the spontaneous Beverly Hills breakfast that launched her book panel (yes, really) to the five-step method she reverse-engineered from her own success, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on goal-setting, relationships, and finding magic in everyday moments.

Debbi reveals why sleep is a performance hack, how mentorship saved her years of mistakes, and why collaboration is infinitely more powerful than competition. If you're navigating any transition or chasing a big dream, this episode is your roadmap.

WHAT WE COVER:

• The surprising origin story of "Mindset in Motion" (TED Talk → Book Pipeline)
• The five-step method for achieving ANY goal: applicable to career, relationships, health, and personal crises
• The critical role of supportive relationships in success
• How mentorship accelerates your growth timeline
• Real-world examples: running marathons, building teams, navigating life transitions
• The "look for opportunities" daily practice (and how it manifests serendipity)
• Why biohacking and sleep optimization matter, even for busy entrepreneurs

PRE-ORDER & CONNECT:

• Book Pre-Order: mindsetinmotionbook.com

Andy Bovender & The Bovender Team (Carolinas)

Huge thanks to Andy and his team for making this episode possible.

Check them out: https://bovenderteam.com/

Virtual with Risa

Complete social media, newsletter, and podcast support for agents and entrepreneurs ready to scale their impact.

Learn more: https://www.virtualwithrisa.com/

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...

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What does it actually take to build a real estate business from zero in a brand-new city, with a newborn at home, during a global pandemic?

Alley Buscemi did exactly that. She's now a principal at AlleyCo Homes at Compass in Raleigh, NC, and her path to getting there is unlike anything you've heard before. We're talking Grateful Dead stickers in Whole Foods parking lots, windshield notes that converted six months later, and a hot pink brand that was called "too loud and too feminine," until it became her biggest advantage.

In this episode, Alley and Shawn dig into the creative prospecting strategies that got her first deals when she had no sphere and no network, the emotional intelligence skills that now win her listings, how she built a personal brand so specific it repels the wrong clients and magnetizes the right ones, and why YouTube has become her single most powerful lead generation tool.

This is a masterclass in differentiation, authentic marketing, and building a business on genuine human connection.

In this conversation:

• Why asking questions beats pitching every single time
• How to use your personality as a prospecting tool
• The branding exercise that defined Allie Coe Homes
• How to inoculate objections before they come up
• Why being honest about pricing wins more listings than inflating numbers
• The mentor outreach strategy that gets responses in 30 minutes
• How YouTube generates warm leads who already like you before you speak

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...

Send a text

What does it actually take to build a real estate team that does $2.5 billion in lifetime sales across 6 markets with 44 people?

Andy Bovender has the answer, and it fits in a notebook.

In this episode, Andy pulls back the curtain on the GSD Book, the structured daily system his team uses to stay focused, track performance, and generate consistent business year after year. GSD stands for Getting Shit Done, and that's exactly what this conversation is. No fluff, no theory. Just the exact framework behind one of the most productive real estate teams in the country, and Andy is giving it away for free.

We also get into how Andy recruits team members who actually fit the culture, why he looks for athletes, the quality of life pitch that wins agents over more than money ever could, and a staffing strategy that could cut your overhead in half without sacrificing a full-time hire.

Whether you're a solo agent who needs a daily system, a team leader looking to scale, or somewhere in between, this episode has something that will change how you run your business tomorrow.

In this episode:

• The full GSD Book breakdown and how to get your own customized copy
• Why tracking your conversion rate is more important than your transaction count
• The one-touch to many vs one touch to some sphere strategy
• How corporate calling can land you 8-10 sales per year from a single company
• Why Andy doesn't care if you sell 10 homes or 50 homes when recruiting
• The shared staffing hack that gives you full-time talent at half the cost
• What a supportive team culture actually looks like in practice

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...

Send a text

Artificial intelligence is already changing how real estate agents communicate, market, and serve clients, whether they’re ready or not.

In this episode of Realtor180, Shawn Kunkler, Founder of the Homeward Associates Group out of San Francisco, sits down with Ryan Garson to break down how top-producing agents are actually using AI in their day-to-day business without losing authenticity or trust. Ryan shares real-world examples of how he leverages AI to write clearer emails, streamline operations, create content faster, and gain leverage in negotiations.

This conversation isn’t about replacing agents with technology. It’s about understanding how clients are already using AI, why clarity matters more than ever, and how agents who adapt thoughtfully will stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry.

If you’re a real estate professional wondering how AI fits into your business and what happens if you ignore it, this episode offers a grounded, practical perspective.

Subscribe for more insights, share your thoughts in the comments, and connect with us for future episodes about real estate, business growth, and more.

To join the Realtor180 Inner Circle waitlist, please visit https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Special thank you to Andy Bovender and his team in the Carolinas for sponsoring this episode! https://bovenderteam.com/

Get your social media, newsletter, and podcast assistance needs met at https://www.virtualwithrisa.com/

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...

Send a text

In this episode of the Realtor180 podcast, Shawn Kunkler, Founder of the Homeward Associates Group out of San Francisco, sits down with communication expert and author Antoinette Perez to explore how short, intentional communication can create outsized results in business, leadership, and sales.

Drawing from her book Tiny Talks Big Impact, Antoinette breaks down what makes communication effective and why saying less often leads to more trust, more clarity, and better outcomes. Together, they discuss the role of public speaking, persuasive communication, and presentation skills in real estate and beyond, including how silence, structure, and storytelling shape how people listen and take action.

This conversation covers practical strategies for:

• Improving communication skills in business and leadership
• Using short presentations to build trust with clients
• Strengthening sales communication and listing presentations
• Finding your voice as a speaker and facilitator
• Developing confidence in speaking without over-explaining

Whether you’re a real estate professional, business owner, or someone focused on personal growth and professional development, this episode offers actionable insights into how better communication leads to stronger relationships and better results.

📌 Get the book: Tiny Talks, Big Impact (link below)
https://www.rockontinyrebel.com/book

Subscribe for more insights, share your thoughts in the comments, and connect with us for future episodes about real estate, business growth, and more.

To join the Realtor180 Inner Circle waitlist, please visit https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Special thank you to Andy Bovender and his team in the Carolinas for sponsoring this episode! https://bovenderteam.com/

Get your social media, newsletter, and podcast assistance needs met at https://www.virtualwithrisa.com/

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...

Send a text

People can tell. And in this conversation, Julie Grace Burke explains exactly why.

In this episode of Realtor180, Shawn Kunkler, Founder of the Homeward Associates Group out of San Francisco, sits down with Julie Grace Burke, a top-producing agent in Greenwich, Connecticut, for a candid, no-fluff conversation about trust, reputation, and what actually works in real estate long term.

Julie shares why authenticity can’t be faked, why chasing price points often backfires, and how experienced agents think differently about branding, teams, coaching, and client relationships. This isn’t about hacks or scripts — it’s about judgment, consistency, and playing the long game in a relationship-driven business.

If you’re an agent who’s tired of surface-level advice and wants to understand how top professionals build trust, protect their reputation, and create durable success, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why clients and other agents can “tell” when something isn’t real
  
  
  
• The difference between strategy and authenticity
  
  
  
• Why reputation matters more than tactics in luxury markets
  
  
  
• How great agents think about teams, coaching, and succession
  
  
  
• What most agents misunderstand about branding and trust
  
  
  
• Why there are no shortcuts in long-term success
  
  
  

This conversation is especially relevant for agents who want to grow sustainably, work with higher-level clients, and build a business that lasts.

👇 If this resonated with you, subscribe for more long-form conversations with experienced agents who tell the truth about real estate.

To join the Realtor180 Inner Circle waitlist please visit https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Special thank you to Andy Bovender and his team in the Carolinas for sponsoring this episode! https://bovenderteam.com/

Get your social media, newsletter, and podcast assistance needs met at https://www.virtualwithrisa.

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...

Send a text

New agents are told to start with their sphere.

Call your friends. Reach out to family. Let everyone know you're in real estate.

But here's the problem: What if you don't feel ready? What if the thought of calling people you know makes your stomach turn because you're still figuring it all out?

Linda Bale, a North Texas agent, remembers that feeling well. And she's got a different approach, one that builds your confidence before you ever pick up the phone to call your sphere.

It's not what most brokers tell new agents to do. But it works.

In this episode Linda shares how she navigated the early days of real estate when imposter syndrome was loud, credibility felt impossible, and the pressure to "just start calling people" felt overwhelming.

Here's what gets unpacked:

• How to build your credibility from scratch
• The harsh truth about buyer expectations (hint: "you can't overcome a down payment")
• How experienced agents can help newer agents grow

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...

Send a text

What if the secret to scaling your real estate business isn't about working harder, but about building deeper connections?

Jennifer Vick has spent nearly 18 years turning relationships into a thriving business. She's figured out how to make business come to her instead of constantly chasing it. In this conversation, Shawn Kunkler, Founder of the Homeward Associates Group out of San Francisco, sits down with Jennifer, as she shares how she's acquired entire books of business through trust and systems, revealing the moment a client told her, "You were the first agent who didn't spam us."

We dive into the art of the "care call," building a client-first team without burning out, and why "family first" has become her competitive advantage. Whether you're scaling solo or building a team, this conversation will shift how you think about success in real estate.

This is the real talk about building a business that lasts!

In this episode you will learn:

• How to acquire and transition client books of business using trust and documented systems
• The difference between "care calls" and sales calls, and why it matters for client loyalty
• Strategies for building a client-centric team that doesn't lead to burnout
• How to move from chasing leads to attracting business naturally through relationships
• Why prioritizing family first can actually become your competitive advantage in real estate

Subscribe for more insights, share your thoughts in the comments, and connect with us for future episodes about real estate, business growth, and more.

To join the Realtor180 Inner Circle waitlist please visit https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Special thank you to Andy Bovender and his team in the Carolinas for sponsoring this episode! https://bovenderteam.com/

Get your social media, newsletter, and podcast assistance needs met at https://www.virtualwithrisa.com/

Support the show

Join the Waitlist for the Realtor180 Inner Circle Group https://www.realtor180.com/connect-with-us

Are you a Real Estate Agent without an assistant, then bad news... You are the assistant. To learn more about getting the help you need click the link: https://virtualwithrisa.com/

About the Podcast:
Realtor180 is a weekly show dedicated to connecting you to top-performing agents nationwide to learn their insider secrets for succeeding on a massive scale. Each week we discover fresh marketing ideas, business strategies, and doses of inspiration to grow your business to the next level. More importantly, we will hear firsthand from industry experts about the pitfalls to avoid making along the way.

Hit that subscribe button now, grab a notebook, and learn that one thing that will help you turn your business around 180 degrees.

Watch the full episode on: https://www.youtube.com/@realtor180/videos

Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram @shawn__kunkler

For inquiries and collaborations, contact us at hello@homewardassoociates.com

Your host Shawn Kunkler is a licensed Realtor® in California DRE 01991440 and the founder of the Homeward Associates at COMPASS. ...