In this dynamic episode of One Big Fire, John Kitchens brings together two of the most influential voices in real estate—Tina Caul and Al Stasek—for a powerful conversation that cuts through the noise and delivers actionable insights for agents, team leaders, and brokerage owners.

The trio explores the impact of recent tariff pauses on new construction, Zillow’s surprising path to profitability (and what it really means for agents on the ground), and why culture is the often-overlooked X-factor that separates struggling teams from thriving empires.

They also celebrate the return of the iconic Honey Badger of the Month Award, diving into its origin, legacy, and why resilience, grit, and relentless action still define success in today’s shifting market.

If you want to future-proof your business, lead a high-performing team, and dominate in this evolving landscape, this episode is essential listening.

The 90-day pause on tariffs is providing more than temporary relief to builders—it’s fueling broader market confidence. Al Stasek breaks down the ripple effect from builder operations to the job market, consumer sentiment, and the overall health of the housing economy. For agents, understanding these macroeconomic moves helps sharpen their conversations with buyers and sellers. Builders need agents more than ever to help maintain velocity in their projects, creating new partnership opportunities for savvy teams.

Zillow has turned a profit for the first time in years, but the reason may surprise many. Tina Caul outlines how Zillow’s aggressive push into mortgage services has become a key revenue driver, while also highlighting their strategic shift to a remote-first model (Cloud HQ), driving operational efficiencies. The real takeaway? Teams leveraging Zillow Flex understand that the cost of leads isn’t an expense—it’s an investment in lifetime client value. Leaders must understand the math, manage the accountability, and double down on the opportunities Zillow provides while using those profits to diversify into other lead sources like Realtor.com.

While many leaders obsess over splits, leads, and transactions, Tina and John emphasize that culture is the true profit lever in any team or brokerage. They share how clearly defined, lived, and enforced core values create alignment, drive retention, and boost per-agent productivity. The discussion highlights the danger of tolerating toxic producers and why organizations with strong cultural foundations outperform their peers—especially in volatile markets. Al reinforces that accountability must be built into the system and that Zillow’s backend reporting helps take some of that burden off team leaders while raising standards.

The episode celebrates the return of the Honey Badger of the Month Award, honoring those in the Honey Badger Nation who embody the spirit of resilience, grit, and relentless pursuit of excellence. The award isn’t given lightly—it recognizes those who push through challenges, innovate under pressure, and lead from the front. Tina, a past winner herself, reminds listeners that the award is about more than production—it’s about how you show up when things get hard.

• HoneyBadgerAward.com — Nominate your Honey Badger of the Month

• HoneyBadgerMerch.com — Get the latest Honey Badger Nation gear

• Hug Your Customer by Jack Mitchell

• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

“If you don’t have concrete core values that drive decisions every day, that’s the first crack in your business you must fix.” — John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this solo, high-impact episode, John Kitchens shares his presentation from the Seattle eXp Rally, diving deep into the journey from agent to CEO and the mindset, disciplines, and frameworks required to create lasting freedom—not just another job.

John outlines the critical trap most agents fall into—getting stuck on the transaction treadmill—and how to make the shift from survival and status to freeing yourself and building a legacy. Using his signature Agent to CEO Freedom Formula, John breaks down the 3 phases and 8 stages every agent must navigate to go from zero to multiple seven-figures, all while building a life by design, not default.

This is not theory—this is the exact process John and his clients have used to create sustainable businesses that thrive in any market conditions.

• The 3 Levels of Entrepreneurial Thinking: Survival, Status, Freedom (and the trap most never escape)

• Why staying reactive is the real killer of your business

• The 3 Phases and 8 Stages of business growth—and how to identify exactly where you are right now

• How to move from chasing deals to building real momentum and a brand that attracts

• Why hiring the right talent (and letting go of the wrong roles) is the key to unlocking the CEO phase

• How to use the 8 Stages Roadmap to help yourself and others escape the grind and build your business empire.

• Download the 8 Stages Roadmap: agenttoceo.com/8stages

• Recommended Book: The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday

• Perfect Day Exercise by Frank Kern (Search on YouTube: “Frank Kern Perfect Day”)

• Real estate agents ready to stop chasing deals and start building a business

• Team leaders and brokers who feel stuck in the transaction treadmill

• Entrepreneurs who want a clear, actionable path to freedom, wealth, and legacy

• Anyone wanting to upgrade their mindset from operator to CEO
  
  

“We don’t get to free ourselves by working harder—we earn it by becoming the person who leads differently.” - John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In a sea of sameness, your story is your superpower.

In this insightful episode, John Kitchens sits down with Colorado-based agent and branding expert Sam Basel to break down his biggest takeaways from the Thousand Watt Conference—a premier real estate branding and marketing summit now rebranding as Signal.

Together, they explore how real estate professionals can stand out in a noisy, AI-fueled market by mastering emotional storytelling, clarifying brand identity, and delivering consistent, human-centered marketing.

From building deeper buyer personas to using AI without sounding like a robot, this episode is packed with takeaways to help you resonate with today’s AI-empowered clients—and tomorrow’s.

1. Lead with Emotion, Not Just Data

Facts tell, stories sell.

• Buyers make decisions emotionally and back them up with logic.

• Don't just market homes—tell the story of the life lived inside them.

2. Your Brand Must Be Crystal Clear

Your identity is your magnetic field.

• Sam’s “Alpine Legacy” brand speaks to second-home buyers drawn to the Colorado mountains.

• Align your messaging with who you are and who you're best equipped to serve.

3. Drill Down into Buyer Personas

Know their lifestyle, not just their budget.

• Break down buyer types into motivations, life stage, and emotional triggers.

• The more personal your messaging, the more powerful your results.

4. Use AI to Enhance, Not Replace

AI is your assistant—not your voice.

• Personalize outputs with detailed prompts that reflect your brand tone.

• Use AI for story refinement, persona mapping, and message clarity—not copy/paste posts.

5. Trust Comes from Authenticity Over Time

Your story needs to be yours.

• Perfection is boring—show up human and real.

• People resonate more with your worst video than your most polished one.

6. Content That Connects > Content That Sells

• Market to the customer’s journey, not your résumé.

• Tell stories of past client transformations—not just property specs.

• Beware of AI Sameness: Without intention, AI outputs will make your brand blend in—not stand out.

• Social Media Is the Skill That Elevates Everything: Improving your content helps you sell, lead, negotiate, and relate better.

• Branding is Gardening: Prune distractions, nurture key assets, and design for growth.

• If You Experiment Enough, Success Becomes Inevitable: Action over perfection.

• Be Kind. Help People. These are your most powerful brand values—always.

• Signal (formerly Thousand Watt) — thousandwatt.net

• CoachKitchens.AI — John’s custom AI-powered real estate coaching tools

• The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan

• Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan

• The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

“Marketing isn’t just a tool—it’s how you connect deeply in a distracted world.” — Sam Basel

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this powerful episode of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens and Jay Kinder is joined by real estate leader Levi McDonald for an unfiltered, energizing, and insight-packed conversation straight from the heart of EXP’s regional rally season. Alongside surprise guest Jay Kinder, this episode unpacks the real strategies and mindsets driving high-performing agents through today’s rapidly evolving real estate landscape.

As the team gathers during a mentor retreat in Atlanta, Levi brings raw perspective on what it takes to build resilience, develop skill, and create lasting impact in the business. Whether you're a new real estate agent, a team leader navigating shifting markets, or a veteran working to scale with AI and agent attraction, this conversation delivers both inspiration and tactical gold.

• How EXP Realty is leading the industry with AI, including department-specific custom GPTs and real-time decision-making innovation led by Glenn Sanford.

• Why Kendall Bonner’s role in EXP Solutions is creating unprecedented tools, marketing resources, and support systems for real estate agents of all levels.

• The three performance phases of agent growth—Interested, Committed, and Obsessed—and how to identify where you are and where you need to go next.

• What it takes to move from the 20% to the top 1%—and then to the elite 0.1% of agents nationally—with practical advice on structure, mentorship, and systems.

• Why your environment and proximity to growth-minded people is the most important asset you can leverage in today’s real estate game.

• The difference between just selling homes and building a business that fuels your life through purpose, discipline, leadership, and legacy.

• The importance of faith, fitness, finances, and freedom—and how these four pillars create sustainable energy and long-term success as an agent and entrepreneur.

• How the Honey Badger Nation community is reigniting recognition with the Honey Badger of the Month program to celebrate resilience and real estate grit.

Special Guest: Levi McDonald

As a committed mentor, EXP leader, and powerhouse team builder in the Atlanta region, Levi McDonald shares deep insights into agent development, personal growth, and how to build culture inside your business that attracts the right people and keeps them engaged for the long haul.

• Real estate agents in production, looking for traction

• Solo agents wanting to scale into a team model

• Broker/owners needing new energy or leadership alignment

• Team leaders focused on agent attraction or passive income

• Top producers interested in AI, tech, or EXP strategy

• Professionals exploring EXP Realty's competitive advantage

• Anyone needing a reminder of the power of proximity, vision, and grit
  
  

• EXP AI Strategy and Custom GPT Tools

• EXP Solutions by Kendall Bonner

• The Honey Badger Nation community and Facebook group

• EXP Mentor Program and Mentor Retreats

• “The Gap and the Gain” by Dan Sullivan

• Honey Badger of the Month nomination: https://www.honeybadgernation.com
  
  

Check out all-new Legacy Honey Badger swag now available at honeybadgernation.com. Represent the brand of elite resilience with fresh gear and exclusive drops.

“If it's bad, it's not the end. You’re just in the dip. Keep going.” — Levi McDonald

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this special reunion-style conversation, John sits down with long-time coaching client, elite agent, and real estate investor Caleb Pearson to unpack his journey from being broke to building a multi-pronged real estate enterprise — including a top-producing real estate team, a house-flipping machine, and a growing portfolio of cash-flowing rental properties and multifamily assets.

• Learn how to build multiple streams of income in real estate

• Transition from transactional income to long-term wealth

• Leverage listings, fix-and-flips, and buy-and-hold strategies

• Structure your business for profitability and lifestyle

• Use systems, accountability, and mindset to outperform the market

Caleb reflects on how he and his brother and cousin shared a two-bedroom apartment, furnished it with items from Goodwill, and used pure grit to build their real estate careers from scratch — cold-calling expireds and FSBOs with military-level discipline and zero excuses.

Hear how Caleb applied The Miracle Morning routine, daily sales training, and 7 AM prospecting blocks to build a scalable, productive real estate business rooted in structure and consistency.

A pivotal story where Caleb brought an off-market deal to a local flipper, made $3K in commission — and watched the investor net six figures. That moment flipped the switch: “I’m sitting on the wrong side of the table.”

Learn why Caleb believes the best wealth is built by owning assets, not just flipping them. He breaks down how to transition from active income (commissions and flips) to passive income through rental properties, cost segregation studies, and leveraging tax strategy.

Find out how Caleb structures his flipping business to buy 5–10 homes per month, what roles you need to hire (construction manager, acquisitions, closing coordinator), and how to gradually increase your marketing budget while tracking every dollar and metric.

After a decade at RE/MAX, Caleb reveals why he made the switch to eXp — not for the splits, but for the community, collaboration, stock incentives, and proximity to elite minds like John Kitchens, Jay Kinder, and Al Stasek. Learn how he's using rev share as a retention tool for his team and aligning with top producers for ongoing growth.

• The ONE rental property strategy any six-figure agent can follow

• How to partner with seasoned investors (even on your first deal)

• Direct mail tips, cost-per-lead expectations, and conversion math

• Why control, not commissions, equals true financial freedom

• The psychology of sellers choosing a “cash as-is” offer over a traditional listing — and how to ethically and profitably serve both
  
  

• How Caleb keeps top team members for 10+ years

• Transitioning to a team brand (CP Team) instead of a personal one

• Empowering agents to build wealth, not just sell homes

• What he’s most excited about in 2025 — new construction, brand refresh, and legacy-building

• Realtors earning $100K+ who want to build wealth

• Team leaders looking to add investing as a profit center

• New or experienced real estate investors

• Entrepreneurs who value time, systems, and leverage

• Anyone tired of the transactional treadmill

“Track every dollar. Know your cost per deal. Marketing without metrics is just a guess.” - Caleb Pearson

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this electrifying episode, hosts John Kitchens, Jay Kinder and Al Stasek sit down with real estate firebrand Amy Gregory, a solo agent, top recruiter, and mom of four who’s redefining what modern real estate success looks like—on her own terms. Amy unpacks how she has built a wildly profitable, high-leverage real estate business by focusing on efficiency, clarity, and niche marketing through social media. With a production model that consistently generates $8–10 million in volume per year—on just 10 hours a week—Amy is the poster child for what’s possible when agents stop chasing someone else’s playbook and instead own their unique lane.

This episode is a goldmine for real estate agents, moms in business, agent attractors, and EXP Realty team leaders looking to simplify, scale, and sharpen their business without burning out. Amy dives deep into agent attraction strategies that work without a traditional team, the power of building multiple revenue streams (including digital products and referral systems), and why social media is your most underused weapon. Plus, she shares what every solo agent needs to know about growing inside a cloud-based brokerage model like EXP Realty.

How to Run a Real Estate Business in Just 10 Hours a Week

• Why Amy focuses on listings, price points, and a tight geographic farm

• How she keeps a 90%+ profit margin while raising four kids

• The importance of margin: time, money, and emotional bandwidth
  
  

Secrets to Agent Attraction Without Building a Traditional Team

• How Amy used Instagram and authentic storytelling to attract agents nationwide

• Why she only recruits agents who mirror who she used to be

• The power of narrowing your audience to scale your revenue
  
  

The Real Role of Emotional Intelligence in Real Estate

• Why mom skills make you an elite negotiator and client manager

• How to handle misbehaving clients, objections, and stress in any market

• Training agents like kids: give them systems, then let them fly
  
  

Diversifying Your Income with Digital Products & Social Media

• How Amy turned her real estate tools into profitable, scalable assets

• Why social media is a job, not a luxury, and how to treat it as one

• Building community and consistency to drive both transactions and recruiting
  
  

EXP Realty and Revenue Share Explained

• What made Amy leave a comfortable local brokerage to join EXP

• Why cloud-based brokerages are the future—and why EXP is winning

• Creating freedom and legacy through leveraged business models
  
  

Keys to High Performance and Work-Life Rhythm

• Using constraint as a superpower to increase focus and productivity

• Amy’s vacation mindset: get more done in less time with focused sprints

• The non-negotiable priorities that keep business and family aligned

• Follow Amy on Instagram: @amygregory

• Amy’s Listing Presentations & Agent Resources (via Instagram bio link)

• Details for Amy’s April 2025 Agent Event in Scottsdale (announced on IG)

• Recommended Books: The One Thing, $100M Offers, Atomic Habits

• EXP Realty Agent Onboarding, Training, and Fast Track Program

• EXP Revenue Share Model (Watch Brent Gove’s EXP Explained Video)

“Stop perfecting it. Just launch the damn thing. Make the decision. Done is better than perfect.”
​- Amy Gregory

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this episode John sits down with top recruiter, team builder, and Honey Badger OG James Massey to explore what it really takes to succeed in agent attraction today. With over 1,000 agents in his organization and 67 personally sponsored, James breaks down the simple, repeatable process that continues to drive exponential growth. They dive into why now is the best time for agent attraction, how to build a scalable system, and why making the right offer matters more than ever. If you're looking to grow your real estate business beyond just sales and want to build true leverage, this episode is your roadmap.

• Why starting with an agent’s goals opens more doors than leading with EXP.

• How James uses the term “the model” to generate curiosity.

• Turning co-op agents from transactions into top recruits.
  
  

• Watch the video → 3-way call → Invite to an event.

• Why James never just sends the video—he books time to watch it with them.

• The power of walking agents through micro-steps instead of asking them to leap.
  
  

• The difference between vitamins and painkillers—and why your offer needs to hit a nerve.

• Stacking value until it’s “stupid to say no.”

• Making it about partnering with you, not just joining a brokerage.
  
  

• How to position a 3-way call as a benefit, not a sales tactic.

• Matching the right expert to the prospect’s pain.

• James’s exact script and tone to make the invite feel natural and non-salesy.
  
  

• How James uses his “Agent Builders” Facebook group to house everything: tools, training, wins, recognition, and more.

• Why organizing your value stack and resources is a leadership skill.

• Teaching agents to be resourceful instead of dependent.
  
  

• Why follow-up should feel like offering value, not chasing.

• Leveraging events and content to deepen connection.

• The importance of knowing the next step before the conversation ends.
  
  

• How EXP’s Directors of Growth are changing the agent onboarding game.

• White-glove concierge support for onboarding teams.

• Why EXP 2024 is built for scalable, low-friction recruiting.

• Agent Builders Facebook Group – James’s private group for training & resources

• Brent Gove’s EXP Explainer Video – Used to create emotional connection

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Community tools and EXP resources

• Fast Track Program – EXP’s new onboarding experience

• Built to Last & Go Pro – Foundational network marketing books

• 100M Offers by Alex Hormozi – A blueprint for building irresistible offers

“The best offers aren’t benefits—they’re painkillers. They solve something people are struggling with right now.” – John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥