In Trading Suits for Stories, Alex and Jamie share their personal journeys of leaving behind traditional careers in Wall Street and advertising to embrace the unpredictable world of creativity. They dive into the mindset shifts, hilarious missteps, and unexpected inspirations that fueled their transitions into writing, acting, DJing, and authorship. From pandemic pivots to finding the courage to create, they explore why passion, perseverance, and the right environment matter more than ever. Whether you're thinking about making your own leap into a creative life or just need a little inspiration to trust the journey, this episode will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even plot your own reinvention.

In this episode of The Real State, we uncover the truth about short-term rentals with Christina Robinson, real estate entrepreneur, educator, and self-made superhost. From house-hacking her first property while working a 9-to-5, to managing a portfolio of vacation rentals in South Florida, Christina walks us through the highs, lows, and total myths of the short-term rental game.

We dig into:

• Why short-term rentals are not as passive as they seem

• The difference between long-term and vacation rental income

• Self-managing vs. using property managers (and why it’s not just about the money)

• How technology, systems, and building the right team helped her escape the 9-to-5

• Why mindset, location, and hustle matter more than hype

Whether you're dreaming of Airbnb riches or just curious about getting into real estate, this conversation breaks down what it really takes to win in the short-term rental world.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro + Why this episode matters
03:05 – Christina’s origin story: From finance to first-time buyer
11:20 – House-hacking before it had a name
15:45 – Short sales, student tenants, and the path to passive income
21:15 – The Airbnb algorithm: what every host should know
25:35 – Vacation rentals vs. long-term rentals: what's the real payoff?
33:00 – The truth about self-managing (and burnout)
40:20 – Tech, tools, and what makes a 5-star stay
48:10 – The 3 C’s: Checklist, CRM, and Capacity
52:40 – Final thoughts + Key takeaways

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @therealstatepodcast
🌐 More episodes + show info: www.therealstate.co
💬 Guest Info: Christina Robinson @christinarinvests

Leave us a review, share the episode, and let us know what “Real State” topic we should uncover next!

In this episode of The Real State, Alex and Jamie ask the question that feels more relevant than ever: Does anyone actually read anymore? From the joys of childhood encyclopedias and comic books to the digital reading habits of today, the duo takes a thoughtful (and hilarious) trip down literary memory lane. They discuss fiction vs. nonfiction, the decline of attention spans, the rise of audiobooks, and what the future of reading might look like in an era of TikTok, AI, and shrinking libraries.

Topics Covered:

• Childhood memories of reading and early obsessions (World Book, comic books)
• Fiction vs. nonfiction: What we read now and why
• The decline of print and rise of digital reading habits (iPads, audiobooks)
• The status symbol of bookshelves (and Zoom backgrounds!)
• Whether kids today are missing out on the benefits of reading
• How algorithms shape what we read (or don’t)
• The impact of reading on language, learning, and imagination
• Audio vs. visual learners in the age of content overload
• The long-term implications of a society that reads less

• 00:00 – Welcome + why we used to love reading
• 03:30 – Growing up with books in Brazil and beyond
• 07:10 – Jamie’s Michael Crichton phase & fiction’s golden age
• 10:50 – Paperbacks vs. iPads: the evolution of how we read
• 14:45 – Do books on shelves make us look smarter?
• 18:30 – Why Alex shifted to nonfiction and stopped reading fiction
• 22:40 – Audio books, Whoopi Goldberg, Obama, and the voice in your head
• 26:15 – Kids today: attention spans, algorithms, and learning challenges
• 33:00 – What happens if we stop reading?
• 38:30 – Has content just evolved or been dumbed down?
• 40:00 – Final thoughts: the real state of reading today