Category: Top 1% Interviews

Sam Burke, 2026 NAR 30 Under 30 honoree, shares how he built a top-producing real estate business before turning 30 through disciplined systems, relentless prospecting, and a relationship-first mindset. Sam reveals the daily habits, cold-calling strategies, and client experience that helped him stand out early in his career, while also explaining how he built his own real estate investment portfolio along the way. He also dives into his YouTube and social media strategy, showing why creating lifestyle-focused content and optimizing for AI search is becoming a major competitive advantage for today’s agents.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Sam Burke can be reached at samburke@johnlscott.com and (425) 210-4332.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Vija Williams explains why AI isn’t replacing great real estate agents but it’s redefining their role. Vija shares how today’s consumers research home values, cash offers, and market data long before speaking with an agent, making it more important than ever for agents to become trusted advisors and problem solvers. Vija also breaks down how cash offer leads and iBuyer partnerships can create a powerful new seller lead source while helping agents win more listings.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Vija Williams can be reached at vija@vija.com.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Kelsey Caputo 30 under 30 honoree – class of 2026 breaks down how AI is transforming real estate without replacing great agents. Next, Kelsey explains why niche, local expertise still beats generic AI valuations especially around boating access, seawalls, zoning, and short-term rental rules in a complex second-home market. Kelsey also shares how she uses AI to prep for appointments, anticipate objections, build ideal buyer profiles, and target ultra high net worth clients more precisely. Last, Kelsey dives into trust-based luxury relationships, lifestyle-matching for second homes, and the power of saying “I don’t know, I’ll find out” in a high-stakes market.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Kelsey Caputo can be reached at kelsey@keysrealestate.com and (305) 363-9998.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Welcome to our series Better Your Business With Ben.

In this episode Ben Lalez dives into why most real estate agents are losing deals not to the market, but to silence, those three-day gaps where clients hear nothing. DJ and Ben break down a simple, daily follow-up rhythm that keeps buyers and sellers feeling supported from first contact through years after closing, turning databases into real volume. They also explore how AI is changing real estate, where it genuinely helps (speed, efficiency, systems) versus where it falls short (emotional intelligence, trust, accountability).

Please follow Ben on Instagram and TikTok.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! 

Ben Lalez can be reached at 312.789.4054 and ben.lalez@compass.com.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Welcome to our series “Coffee Talks with D.J.”

In this episode of Coffee Talks, D.J. explores why repeat and referral business should become the foundation of a thriving real estate career, and why so many agents unintentionally leave those opportunities behind. D.J. discusses the simple “Dig” system for organizing your past clients, creating meaningful, value-driven follow-ups, and building relationships that generate referrals for years to come.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

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Valerie Fitzgerald shares her journey from arriving in Los Angeles as a single mom with a three-month-old baby and no connections to building one of the country’s top luxury real estate businesses. Valerie also reveals how she’s adapted to today’s AI-driven market through content, SEO, and relationship-focused marketing, while sharing a practical roadmap for new agents looking to succeed in 2026.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Valerie Fitzgerald can be reached at 310.285.7515.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Zach Geisendorfer returns to share the exact systems behind his “mega open house” strategy and how it consistently fills his pipeline with qualified clients. He and DJ break down how Fam Real Estate scaled too fast, hit a breaking point, then rebuilt with bulletproof onboarding, Fam Camp, and clear production standards. Zach also reveals his SOI playbook, pricing framework that turns listings into bidding wars, and a 10-day-close offer strategy that wins in multiple-offer situations.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Zach Geisendorfer can be reached at +1(760) 205-0719 and zach@famrealtygroup.com.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Julia Hurley shares her 90-day reset playbook for agents whose business has cratered. She walks through exactly how she rebuilt after being voted out of a national brokerage partnership, including her systems for re-engaging past clients, reviving a dry pipeline, and turning open houses plus door knocking into consistent deals. Julia also opens up about managing “baggage” from politics and online reputation, and why offering real value to top producers and high-achievers is the fastest way to accelerate your own growth.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Julia Hurley can be reached here.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Real Estate Success with high-performance hypnotherapist and mindset coach Paul Salter.

In this episode, Paul breaks down one of the most common yet invisible patterns driving ambitious real estate agents, entrepreneurs, executives, and high performers: the need to prove themselves.

He explores how a deep-seated desire to gain approval, earn acceptance, prove someone wrong, or finally feel “good enough” can quietly become the fuel source behind extraordinary achievement—and why that same fuel often leads to anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, emotional exhaustion, and an inability to enjoy success.

You’ll learn how to identify whether you’re operating from “prove it” energy, why no amount of external achievement can resolve an internal worthiness wound, and how to shift from building success as validation to pursuing it from a place of purpose, fulfillment, and genuine freedom.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Schedule a high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching session with Paul here.

Learn more about mindset and performance coaching for real estate agents here.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

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Julia built a $14 million real estate business without a marketing plan or consistent social media strategy. Her success has always come from relationships, but she knows she’s capable of much more.

In this episode of Breakthrough with Michael, Julia uncovers what’s really keeping her stuck: a lack of focus, resistance to structure, and the challenge of turning natural talent into a scalable business.

No marketing hacks. Just an honest coaching conversation about finding clarity, building better habits, and stepping into the next level of success.n natural talent into intentional, scalable success.

Ready to break through what’s holding you back? Apply now for your chance to be coached live on the show. Spots are limited to just one agent per month, so don’t wait – apply today.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Sign up for a personal breakthrough session with Michael Opyd here.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify