In this episode of the Epic Agents Podcast, Jeff sits down with Orange County Realtor and local podcaster Holly McDonald to unpack her winding journey from TV production and home-remodel reality shows to running a thriving real estate business in one of the most competitive markets in the country.

Holly shares what she thought real estate would be like from “the other side of the lens” — and what actually surprised her once she was fully in it: the reality of being self-employed, wearing every hat in the business, and finding ways to stand out in a sea of tens of thousands of agents. She talks about mentorship, learning the business from a powerhouse agent, the importance of truly serving clients, and why helping people plug into a community (not just a house) is still her favorite part of the job.

Holly and Jeff also dive deep into local podcasting as a marketing and community-building engine. Holly explains how her show, originally The Costa Mesa Pod and now rebranding as The OC Pod, has evolved into a hyper-local platform that spotlights small businesses, studios, gyms, hidden speakeasies, and the people shaping life in Orange County.

She shares the unexpected benefits of the podcast — authentic relationships, deeper trust, referrals, and guests who leave feeling truly seen and heard — plus practical encouragement for new and aspiring agents: don’t be a secret agent, stay close to your sphere, pick up the phone, and lead with service.

If you’ve ever wondered how to combine real estate, content, and community into one powerful strategy, this conversation will give you a fresh playbook and plenty of inspiration.

@realtorhollymcdonald

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Epic Agents Podcast

Produced by:
AIDAwerks - Marketing That Moves Real Estate