Lab Coat Agents Podcast

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Tristan Ahumada and Nick Baldwin are joined by sales expert Phil M. Jones to break down what real estate looks like as AI rapidly changes lending, operations, and consumer expectations. They discuss how AI is already being used to underwrite mortgage loans in seconds and automate administrative work—while stressing that complex files still require human oversight and judgment. Phil argues that as technology takes over data retrieval and repetitive tasks, agents must evolve from problem solvers to problem seekers: professionals who uncover the real obstacles, priorities, and trade-offs clients may not even know to articulate. The core message is that an agent’s value won’t be in listing facts or market stats—it will be in relationship depth, insight into a client’s unique life situation, and the ability to guide decisions with clarity and confidence. The episode closes with a call for agents to master conversational architecture and develop specialized competence as the industry continues to consolidate and the overall number of agents declines. Connect with Phil M. Jones: https://philmjones.com/event-organizers/ https://www.instagram.com/philmjonesuk https://www.instagram.com/exactlywhattosay https://www.linkedin.com/in/philmjones/

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Tristan Ahumada and Nick Baldwin sit down with Tina Beliveau to unpack how she shifted from the traditional real estate grind into a modern, relationship-driven model powered by community and smart automation. The conversation opens with a viral story about a homeowner using ChatGPT to sell his house, leading into a practical discussion on where AI fits in real estate today—and where it doesn’t. Tina then breaks down the system that changed her business: building a hyper-local Facebook community of 10,000+ members that now drives the majority of her leads. Tina shares how she uses engagement-based marketing to turn conversations into clients, including automations with tools like JotForm and Flodesk to move social interactions into a structured email funnel. She also explains what’s working for her on Instagram Reels, including a “trial” content strategy that helped her double her following and expand her influence without losing authenticity. Connect with Tina Beliveau: On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highperformanceagent   Free 3 Day Bootcamp on Facebook Groups: https://tinabeliveau.myflodesk.com/fbbootcamp   High Performance Agent Academy: https://www.tinabeliveau.com/academy

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Tristan Ahumada and Nick Baldwin interview Alex Rivlin, a real estate pro with a strong background in tech and entrepreneurship, on what today’s market signals are really telling agents—and how to use AI without losing the human edge. The conversation opens with recent trends, including a surge in Google searches from homeowners who feel “stuck” and the way rising mortgage rates are influencing inventory and seller behavior. Alex shares how he’s using AI to build smarter SEO strategies, create personalized coaching tools for his team, and develop automated listing engines designed to drive consistent inbound opportunities. Throughout the episode, Rivlin makes the case that technology should enhance productivity and client engagement—but it can’t replace the fundamentals. The agents who win long-term still prioritize relationships, follow-up, and consistent communication, using AI as leverage rather than a substitute. The result is a practical roadmap for blending modern tech with timeless business discipline in a shifting real estate landscape. Connect with Alex Rivlin: https://www.therivlingroup.com/agents/alex-rivlin/ https://www.rivlingroup.com/team/alex-rivlin https://www.instagram.com/alex_rivlin/ https://www.facebook.com/alex.rivlin.1/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rivlin-a938b0/ https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRivlinGroup

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Tristan Ahumada and Nick Baldwin unpack the controversy around a Redfin + Compass partnership that enables sellers to hide key listing details like days on market and price history. The hosts discuss why limiting that data reduces transparency for consumers and raises bigger questions about the long-term efficiency and value of the MLS. Then, guests Matt Witte and Deborah Lucci share how they successfully merged two separate real estate teams into one unified operation—without losing momentum. They break down their three-tier agent system, designed to match clients with the right level of expertise and ensure high-end buyers and sellers receive experienced representation. Matt and Deborah also get tactical on what makes a team scalable: strong administrative infrastructure, clear accountability, and protecting culture—even if it means removing “troublemakers” regardless of production. The episode closes with insights on modern marketing, team structure, and how veteran agents can build a business that supports scale now and a smoother path toward retirement later.   Connect with Matt Witte: https://www.zillow.com/profile/mwitte95 https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-witte-96493b4a/ https://www.instagram.com/mattwittesells https://www.facebook.com/matthew.witte.3   Connect with Deborah Lucci: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deblucciteam/ https://wherehomesgetsold.com/   Connect with Matt Witte & Deborah Lucci: https://www.facebook.com/LucciWitteTeam/# https://www.instagram.com/lucciwitteteam/

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Tristan Ahumada and Nick Baldwin discuss the evolving role of AI in real estate—specifically why agents should avoid generic “AI slop” and instead use AI to amplify their real voice, expertise, and local credibility. They also break down economic signals from the latest Federal Reserve minutes, discussing what they suggest about potential future rate cuts and how that could impact mortgage affordability and buyer behavior. In the second half, Nebraska-based agent April Tucker shares how she built a high-volume business through a major commitment to open houses and deep service to the military community. April explains her three-tier leadership model, a structured path that helps agents grow from dependency into leadership roles inside her team. The episode closes with practical insights on mentorship, culture, and operational leverage—how to scale production without sacrificing sustainability or burning out. ----------- Connect with April Tucker: https://www.facebook.com/AprilTuckerRealtor/ https://www.instagram.com/aprilmtucker/ https://www.zillow.com/profile/aprilmtucker https://www.bhgre.com/agent/detail/ne/omaha/agents/april-tucker/aid-P00200000FDdtc8KyXk7tjyIYxNJKqT77vymz8fn

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Tristan Ahumada and Nick Baldwin break down current market signals—including a notable drop in home sales paired with a rise in housing affordability—and what those trends actually mean for agents on the ground. They also address a viral (and false) statistic about agent failure rates, clarifying that the majority of active professionals are still closing deals—and that the real opportunity is staying focused on the work that creates consistent pipeline. Featured guest Sheena Burton Saydam shares how she built a billion-dollar business primarily through referrals and community engagement, not paid advertising. She explains how purpose and relationships drive long-term growth, including her team’s philanthropy efforts—funding initiatives like schools and clean water wells—to keep the business mission-centered. Sheena also gives practical, repeatable ideas agents can implement locally, including hosting community meetups and even “free yard sales” as a simple way to create real human connection, expand networks, and generate referrals organically. Connect with Sheena Burton Saydam: https://www.saydamproperties.com/agent/sheena-saydam https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheena-saydam-7b525810/ https://www.zillow.com/profile/saydamproperties https://www.facebook.com/saydamproperties/ https://www.instagram.com/selling_dc/?hl=en

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, marketing expert Austin Armstrong joins the hosts to break down how real estate pros can use AI to automate the tedious work—without losing the personal voice that builds trust. Austin shares practical, high-level tools agents should be watching, including Syllabi, which can generate video content directly from property listings, and emerging “vibe coding” platforms that let non-technical users create custom software simply by describing what they want in conversation. The discussion focuses on using AI to reduce friction in content creation, follow-up, and workflow building—so agents can spend more time in real conversations. They also dig into social strategy, where Austin argues for quantity over quality in the current attention economy. He explains how he’s used AI to maintain high posting frequency on Facebook and drive massive organic reach—while still sounding like a real person. The takeaway: AI works best as a digital second brain that mirrors your ideas and voice, freeing you up for the human work that actually moves the business forward. Connect with Austin Armstrong: https://contactout.com/Austin-Armstrong-6933380 - you may want to use this instead - https://austinarmstrong.ai/ https://www.facebook.com/theaustinarmstrong/ - i think this is an old page, please use this instead https://www.facebook.com/Owwstin  https://www.youtube.com/@SocialtyPro https://www.instagram.com/socialtypro/?hl=en https://syllaby.io/ - you may want to add  

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Nick Baldwin and Tristan Ahumada break down major industry shifts and legal pressure points shaping how agents operate today—starting with a RESPA lawsuit involving Rocket Mortgage and allegations of steering clients toward in-house lending, raising concerns about referral practices and compliance. Guest Shaun Rawls introduces the Energy Quadrant, a practical framework for evaluating where your time and relationships are really going. He explains four categories—Add, Subtract, Multiply, and Divide—to help agents identify which daily commitments fuel momentum versus quietly drain performance. The conversation focuses on applying the model to real estate workflows: spotting toxic “Divide” relationships, limiting “Subtract” obligations that are tolerable but costly, and intentionally prioritizing “Multiply” activities tied to growth—like high-value listings, leadership, and systems that scale. The takeaway is simple: protect your energy, set firmer boundaries, and run your business with more intention. Connect with Shaun Rawls: https://www.facebook.com/theshaunrawls https://shaunrawls.com/bookings/ https://shaunrawls.com/coaching/

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Nick Baldwin and Tristan Ahumada interview real estate agent and coach Taley Hunt on how she built a high-performance business through organic social media and community-driven networking—without relying on paid leads. Taley breaks down the habits and systems behind her rapid growth, sharing how she entered a new market and scaled to hundreds of closings annually by building trust at scale. She explains why authenticity wins online, how “behind-the-scenes” content creates credibility, and what it takes to stay consistent without burning out. The conversation also covers leadership and balance, including how Taley sets firm boundaries as a parent while still running a high-performing team. She shares more about her coaching platform, Mom Word, designed to support women in real estate through education and peer referrals. The episode wraps with a look at current industry headlines, including commission structures and proposals around institutional investor activity in housing. Connect with Taley Hunt: https://taleyhunt.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/taleysoldit/ https://www.instagram.com/realestatemomcoach/  

In this episode of the Lab Coat Agents podcast, Nick Baldwin and Tristan Ahumada sit down with Southern California agent and broker Selene Hanna to unpack what’s working right now to build a real estate brand on Instagram—and convert attention into real conversations and clients. Selene shares her content framework for growth, including why she focuses on 10 scripted short-form videos per month (shot in two sessions of five), how she chooses topics that deliver clear value (payments, mortgage education, skits, and hyperlocal storytelling), and why consistency and structure matter more than posting nonstop. The conversation also dives into lead conversion systems. Selene explains how she uses Manychat and keyword calls-to-action to route prospects into a Google Form, then has an assistant follow up by call, text, and email to book appointments. She also shares what content drives the most questions, why hashtags and music don’t make or break results, and where she’s expanding next—YouTube and LinkedIn—for longer-term discovery and authority.   Connect with Celine Hanna: https://selenehanna.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/selene-hanna/ https://selenehanna.com/contact https://www.facebook.com/sellwithselene/about/ https://www.instagram.com/selene_hanna/