Title: Her Signature Event Generated 369 Referrals

Host: Michael J. Maher

Guest: Jill McNamee, McNamee Real Estate Team

Description: What happens when a simple jewelry swap evolves into a signature community event that people talk about, sponsors want to be part of, and new people actively seek out?

For the past 14 years, Jill McNamee has hosted Baubles & Bubbles, an intimate jewelry swap and networking event designed to bring women together, support local businesses, give back to the community, and create genuine connection.

This year, 125 people attended — and roughly three-quarters of them were new to Jill's network. The event included food, drinks, jewelry swapping, a charm bar, prizes, swag bags, charitable donations, and 44 sponsors.

But the number that stopped Michael in his tracks?

369 outgoing referrals to Jill's sponsors.

In this episode, Jill takes Michael behind the scenes of how Baubles & Bubbles grew from a casual gathering with no sponsors into a polished event generating approximately $15,000 in sponsorship revenue, plus additional in-kind contributions.

They talk about how Jill structures her sponsorships, why she intentionally keeps the event at about 125 people, how she creates visibility and value for sponsors, and why she believes making an event bigger doesn't necessarily make it better.

Jill also shares one of the biggest lessons she has learned after 14 years of hosting events: You don't need to have every detail figured out before you invite people. Start small. Build confidence. Create the experience. Then improve it each year.

Michael and Jill also dig into what happens after the event — including how to responsibly manage hundreds of sponsor referrals without overwhelming attendees, and why Jill may add a dedicated Sponsor Concierge to her team next year.

This conversation is a powerful example of what happens when an event stops being simply a marketing tactic and becomes something your community genuinely looks forward to.

(7L) Referral Strategy: Events, Event Mastery

Baubles & Bubbles demonstrates how a signature event can become a long-term relationship-building strategy.

Rather than measuring success solely by immediate real estate transactions, Jill creates an environment where attendees meet local businesses, sponsors receive meaningful introductions, and Jill becomes increasingly connected to the community.

The result? Deeper relationships, expanded networks, increased trust — and referrals that can continue long after the event is over.

Special Offer: Ready to create an event people look forward to every year?

Event Mastery: The Great Pie Day Giveaway just started, but its not too late to join.

Michael will walk you through the system for creating an unforgettable event that strengthens relationships, generates referrals, and gives people another reason to talk about you and your business.

And with Thanksgiving approaching, it's the perfect time to create your own Pie Day tradition.

Register now at: ReferralMasteryAcademy.com

Title: E-Z as P-I-E! How to Get an ROI from Your SOI

Host: Michael J. Maher

Guest: Colleen Skeffington

Description: What if one simple event could strengthen relationships, create community, generate referrals, attract sponsors, and give you a measurable return on your investment?

In this episode of Referrals Podcast, Michael sits down with Ocala, Florida real estate professional Colleen Skeffington to talk about how she has turned Pie Day and other community events into a powerful strategy for serving her sphere while growing her business.

Colleen shares how Generosity Generation and Event Mastery changed the way she approaches giving, sponsorships, and events — including how her Pie Day has grown to include six sponsors, helped support local schools and families, and generated real business results.

They also talk about why events matter so much in a 55+ community, how bringing people together can help fight loneliness, and why generosity doesn't always have to be a grand gesture.

Plus, Colleen explains why one of the biggest keys to her success has been simple: follow the system, trust the system, trust yourself, and go all in.

(7L) Referral Strategy: Events

Special Offer: Want to create an event like Colleen's?

Event Mastery starts October 13th. Michael will walk you through the system for planning, promoting, sponsoring, executing, and following up on events that create deeper relationships, greater generosity, and more referrals.

Join us at: EventMastery.com

Title: He Gives Away 200 Pies Every Thanksgiving - Here's Why

Host: Michael J Maher

Guest: Dan Luigs

Description: What if one simple Thanksgiving tradition could strengthen client relationships, generate organic referrals, engage your employees, and remind the people in your world how much you appreciate them?

In this episode, Michael J. Maher welcomes insurance broker Dan Luigs back to Referrals Podcast to explore Dan's annual Thanksgiving Pie Day. Each year, Dan gives away more than 200 pies from local bakeries at his St. Louis office, creating an experience where guests can quickly pick up their pie or stay, reconnect, and enjoy meaningful conversations.

Dan shares how he transitioned away from buying online leads and began building his insurance business through relationships, events, and genuine appreciation. He walks listeners through the practical details of his Pie Day, including when to order the pies, how to establish a budget, why a local bakery matters, and how his team uses email, phone calls, and text messages to personally invite guests.

Michael and Dan also discuss why events overcome perceived indifference, how appreciation creates natural referral opportunities, and the emotional reunions and memorable moments that have happened during Dan's event.

If you have ever considered hosting a Thanksgiving Pie Day, this conversation will give you the inspiration and practical advice you need to get started.

(7L) Referral Strategy: Event Mastery, Pie Day

A successful Pie Day is much more than a pie giveaway. It creates an intentional opportunity to bring people together, show genuine appreciation, renew relationships, and generate referrals naturally. Dan's multi-channel invitation strategy also incorporates electronic communication and phone calls to ensure the people in his world feel personally remembered and valued.

Special Offer: Ready to create your own unforgettable Thanksgiving Pie Day?

The next Event Mastery Class "The Great Pie Day Giveaway" starts October 13th. You'll learn how to plan, promote, execute, and follow up on an event that creates stronger relationships, meaningful appreciation, and referrals.

The best way to join is through the Referral Mastery Academy for only $99 per month.

Visit ReferralMasteryAcademy.com to get started.

Title: Thinking About Doing a Pie Day? Listen to This First

Host: Michael J. Maher

Description: Is Pie Day overdone? Is it too expensive? What if nobody shows up? How many people should you invite? Where should you host it? And most importantly, can handing out pies really generate referrals?

In this special Just Ask Michael (JAM) episode, Michael J. Maher answers those questions and breaks down exactly why events—and Pie Day events in particular—can be one of the most powerful referral strategies you implement all year.

Michael shares the systems behind a successful event, including choosing the right venue, finding sponsors, creating an invitation strategy, confirming guests, generating referrals before and during the event, and following up afterward.

You'll also hear real-world examples from professionals who have used these strategies to generate dozens of referrals, thousands of dollars in sponsorships, new relationships, and business opportunities.

And if you're worried your event needs to be big, expensive, or perfect, Michael has a very different message: start where you are.

Whether this will be your first Pie Day or your tenth, this episode will help you think differently about what your event can accomplish—and why now is the time to start planning.

(7L) Referral Strategy: Events, Pie Day Event

A Pie Day isn't really about the pies. It's about creating an opportunity to bring people together, show appreciation, introduce great people to one another, support local businesses and strengthen relationships. Michael explains how one event can create multiple opportunities for referrals through sponsors, invitations, confirmations, conversations, door prizes and intentional follow-up.

The event may last only a few hours. The referral opportunities begin long before the first guest arrives and continue long after the last pie is handed out.

Special Offer: Ready to stop thinking about doing a Pie Day and actually create one?

Event Mastery: The Great Pie Day Giveaway Edition begins October 13th.

Michael will walk you through the Event Mastery system and help you plan and execute your Thanksgiving Pie Day—from the venue and sponsors to invitations, confirmations, the event experience and follow-up.

Event Mastery is included for current Referral Mastery Academy members.

Learn more and register at EventMastery.com

Title: 39 Referrals… But That Wasn't the Best Part

Host: Michael J. Maher

Guest: Brenda Conyn, REALTOR® | Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Description: What could happen if you stopped thinking about hosting an event…and finally just did one?

In this episode of Referrals Podcast, Michael J. Maher sits down with Brenda Conyn to talk about the very first event she ever hosted; a Thanksgiving Pie Day.

Brenda had recently moved to a new community, had a very small local database, and was determined to build her business differently. Instead of relying on paid leads from paid sites, she decided to put the Event Mastery system to work.

She mailed approximately 350 invitations, partnered with six sponsors, welcomed 22 attendees (more than half of whom she had never met before) and generated 39 total referrals.

Pretty incredible for a first event.

But that's not even the best part.

After the event, Brenda had a few leftover pies. She delivered the final one to her doctor's office, introduced herself to the woman behind the desk and casually mentioned that she was a Realtor.

Her response?

"You're a Realtor? I need a Realtor!"

Days later, Brenda was showing her a condo. An offer followed and that unexpected connection became Brenda's first closed client in her new community.

Michael and Brenda break down exactly how she planned the event, generated referrals for her sponsors before the event even began, incorporated generosity into the experience and overcame the fear that had kept her from hosting events for years.

And perhaps most importantly, Brenda shares what changed after she finally did it: her confidence.

If you've ever thought, "I want to host an event, but I don't know where to start," Brenda's story may be exactly the push you need.

(7L) Referral Strategy: Event Mastery, Pie Day Event

Special Offer: Event Mastery – The Great Pie Day Giveaway Edition

Ready to create your own Pie Day success story? Event Mastery: The Great Pie Day Giveaway Edition begins October 13th.

Michael and the Event Mastery team will walk you through the system for creating a memorable Thanksgiving Pie Day event designed to deepen relationships, appreciate your database, generate referrals and create opportunities for your sponsors.

Whether this will be your first event or your fiftieth, you'll have a step-by-step system to help you plan it, promote it, execute it and follow up afterward.

Learn more and register at ReferralMasteryAcademy.com

Title: How One Pie Day Generated 45 Referrals

Host: Michael J. Maher

Guest: Brenda Miertschin, Associate Broker with eXp Realty in Arizona

Description: What happens when you stop overthinking, stop trying to reinvent the wheel, and simply follow a proven system?

In this episode of Referrals Podcast, Michael J. Maher sits down with Brenda Miertschin to break down how she used the Event Mastery system to turn a Thanksgiving Pie Day into an incredible referral-generating event.

Brenda had taken Event Mastery before, but like many agents, she felt overwhelmed and never fully implemented what she learned. This time, she committed to the process, hired a coach, followed the system, and kept things simple.

The results were remarkable.

Brenda welcomed 65 attendees, generated 32 outgoing referrals for her six sponsor partners, and received 13 real estate referrals for herself. That's a total of 45 referrals connected to one event.

You'll hear how Brenda selected the right sponsors, why she believes coaching made such a difference, how she tracked her results, and why she says events are now one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to stay connected with her sphere.

If you've ever wanted to host a client event but felt overwhelmed, Brenda's story is proof that you don't have to create something complicated. Sometimes the best strategy is simply to follow the system that already works.

(7L) Referral Strategy and Podcast Topics: Event Mastery, Pie Day

Special Offer: Ready to create your own referral-generating event?

Visit EventMastery.com to learn more about Event Mastery and discover the step-by-step system for planning, promoting, executing, and following up on events that build relationships and generate referrals at your own Pie Day event the week of Thanksgiving. Michael will walk you through week by week how to execute this referral generating event.

Title: The Right Room: How to Network for More Referrals

Host: Michael J. Maher

Description: Are you spending time networking… but still not getting the referrals you expected?

The problem may not be how much you're networking. It may be the room you're in.

In this special episode pulled from Michael J. Maher's recent Just Ask Michael (JAM) session, Michael breaks down his "Right Room" strategy for building a referral-based business through intentional networking.

Michael takes us back to the beginning of his real estate career, from getting his first client through softball to struggling with cold calling and door knocking before discovering the power of relationships at a local Chamber of Commerce networking group.

But simply showing up at networking events isn't enough.

You need to find the right room, connect with the right people, and become the kind of person others want to know, trust, and refer.

Michael explains how to recognize when you're in a room with real referral potential, why you should stop networking for individual referrals and start networking for referral sources, and the five parts of networking that are completely within your control.

He also shares practical questions you can use to quickly determine whether someone you meet deserves a place on your calendar for a future one-on-one.

If networking sometimes feels random, awkward, or unproductive, this episode will help you approach every room with greater intention.

(7L) Referral Strategies and Podcast Topics: Networking Mastery

Special Offer: Want to become more confident, intentional, and effective every time you walk into a networking event?

Join Michael for Networking Mastery Class, where you'll learn how to find the right rooms, meet the right people, have better conversations, create stronger referral relationships, and turn networking into a predictable source of business.

For a limited time, you can get access to Networking Mastery plus two live mastermind sessions with Michael and access to Referral Mastery Academy for just $99.

Visit NetworkingMasteryClass.com to get started.

Title: The 12 Words That Trigger Real Estate Referrals

Host: Michael J. Maher

Description: What if the people in your database wanted to refer you but simply didn't know what to listen for?

In this solo episode of Referrals Podcast, Michael J. Maher reveals a simple way to make yourself more referable: teach the people in your sphere the trigger words and life events that often signal a real estate opportunity.

Michael shares his Core 9 "D" Words plus three bonus triggers that can help real estate professionals recognize conversations already happening around them every day.

The goal isn't to memorize all 12 or bombard your database with a giant list. Instead, Michael challenges you to choose just two or three trigger words that fit your business and begin weaving them into your texts, emails, social media posts, and everyday conversations.

When your sphere knows exactly what to listen for, referring you becomes easier.

(7L) Referral Strategies and Podcast Topics: 12 Words That Trigger Referrals

Special Offer: Want to surround yourself with real estate professionals and business owners who believe in growing through generosity, relationships, and referrals?

Join Michael and thousands of other members inside the Generosity Generation. Join FREE at: JoinGenGen.com

And if this episode gave you an idea you can immediately use in your business, please subscribe, rate, review, and share Referrals Podcast with another real estate professional. Your referrals help us spread the referral message, too.