Author and Blue Gypsy Inc. founder Leah Fellows joins Anya to unpack the playbook behind elite Online Sales Counselor (OSC) programs, and her new book, Attract, Engage, Convert. We cover what great OSCs actually do, how to hire the “unicorn,” and why top-down leadership buy-in is non-negotiable. Leah shares practical tactics for warmer websites, video-first outreach, ungated content, and human-centered nurturing—plus how to blend chat/AI tools without losing the personal touch.

You’ll learn:

-The must-have traits of a high-performing OSC (and the biggest hiring mistakes to avoid)

-How to structure training, processes, and metrics that move appointments → sales

-Website essentials for OSC success: strong CTAs, visible human presence, and smart use of video

-Why gating hurts conversion—and where to earn contact info instead

-Turning cold leads warm: segmented follow-ups, personalized video, and practical nurture tracks

-Smooth handoffs: chat/AI → OSC → onsite, with clear communication and accountability

-When (and how) to audit your existing OSC program for quick wins

Guest: Leah Fellows, Founder/CEO, Blue Gypsy Inc.; author of Attract, Engage, Convert.
Topics: online sales counselors, new home sales, home builder marketing, AI assistants vs. chatbots, lead nurturing, conversion optimization, customer experience.

If you’re a builder or marketer ready to level up your OSC program—and your conversions—this episode is your roadmap.

Is your marketing ladder missing the first rung? Jason Rhoads (Rhoads Creative) joins Anya to break down why builders should fix websites and assets before throwing money at ads, and how AI search (AIO) is changing everything from discovery to conversion.

We cover:

-The Digital Marketing Ladder: the 8 steps 

-UX that sells: lead-gen flows, visual content, virtual tours, data-tagged assets
-AIO to SEO? Preparing your site to “talk to bots” and win AI answers
-Content that feeds LLMs without becoming AI slop (voice, structure, schema)
-Analytics that prove ROI: CRM tie-ins, attribution, appointments → sales
-Paid search today (rising CPCs) and what’s next for social/TikTok search
-Practical AI workflows: brand-tuned GPTs, faster content ops, better insights

If you’re a homebuilder or marketer wondering where to put budget in 2026, this episode gives you a ladder to climb: one smart rung at a time.

Chapters:
 00:00 Intro
 01:05 Jason’s path & why builders need better data
 03:00 The Digital Marketing Ladder
 06:10 Websites & assets: the #1 ROI lever
 09:10 AI search and “bot-to-bot” readiness
 12:20 From SEO to AIO: content that ranks in AI
 20:05 Validating the AI recommendation: trust pages that matter
 24:00 Visuals that feed AI (not just look pretty)
 26:00 Measuring ROI with CRM + attribution
 28:30 AI tools/workflows Jason recommends
 31:00 What’s next: TikTok search & beyond
 33:00 One thing overwhelmed teams should do now
 34:30 Where to find Jason

Tech CMO and author Kae Kronthaler-Williams joins Anya to discuss what it takes to build equitable, high-performing teams in industries like tech and homebuilding—where women have often had to carve their own paths. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, Kae shares how to challenge assumptions, design strategies that fit your market, and create environments where everyone can thrive.

She and Anya explore how bias shows up in everyday business decisions, why diverse teams outperform uniform ones, and how to balance data-driven insights with human understanding. Kae also talks about the role of AI in empowering marketers to focus on strategy and creativity, rather than repetitive tasks.

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating a career in a male-dominated field, or looking to build a more inclusive culture, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply right away.

📘 Kae’s book: Not Made for You: How Women in Tech Can Challenge Bias, Claim Their Space, and Thrive in a System Built for Men
🌐 Learn more & follow Kae: kaewilliams.com

Want more qualified appointments without racing to the bottom on price? Marketing leader Ken Tucker (Changescape Web) breaks down a practical AI speed-to-lead system for home builders, covering AI phone assistants, OSC roles, answer-engine optimization, and a content machine that actually moves the needle.

What you’ll learn

• Why “first response wins” (and how AI makes it instant—24/7)
• AI voice/chat setup: FAQs, escalation rules, booked-appointment targets
• Where OSCs fit next to AI (and how to keep the “talk to a human” option)
• Tech stack sanity: CRM + ops tools, APIs/Zapier, and subscription audits
• Content flywheel: short videos → blogs → social → press → email
• Answer-Engine Optimization (AEO): schema, local SEO, reviews, Reddit/LinkedIn signals

Guest: Ken Tucker — author of Content Marketing for Local Search (updated with AI strategies) 

Chapters
 00:00 Intro
 01:40 Ken’s IT→Marketing journey & podcast lessons
 03:30 Speed-to-lead: why first wins (even vs. price)
 10:30 OSCs, AI chat/voice, and instant response
 12:45 Training AI with FAQs + escalation to humans
 20:10 Jobs & AI: repurposing roles, “rejection-proof” follow-up
 21:30 Local content with AI: FAQs, repurposing, signals
 26:00 AEO, schema, Bing/LLMs, reviews & reputation
 34:00 How to reach Ken + final takeaways

Links
 🎧 Watch/listen to more episodes: https://anewgo.com/podcast
🔗 Ken’s site: changescapeweb.com

Online Sales Counselors are no longer optional, they’re essential. In this episode, Anya Chrisanthon sits down with Ingrid Ricks (formerly Prince), founder of Convertly Sales Solutions, to talk about creating and scaling effective OSC programs for builders of any size.

Ingrid shares:

• Why small and mid-sized builders absolutely can (and should) have OSCs
• How to structure 10–14 touchpoint follow-ups that actually convert
• The surprising data behind today’s 300-day+ buying cycle
• How AI and chat assistants are reshaping the OSC role
• Why “no lead left behind” should be your 2026 motto

Whether you’re running 50 leads or 5,000, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to improve response times, nurture old leads, and personalize the buyer journey with data and automation.

👉 Plus, we reveal a sneak peek at Anewgo’s upcoming AI Assistant: an intelligent, next-gen alternative to traditional chatbots designed specifically for homebuilders.
Join the Anewgo AI Assistant Interest List to get early updates. 

Tired of “Home for the Holidays” on repeat? In this episode we share 20+ proven, low-lift holiday ideas you can roll out fast—from tasteful model-home décor and seasonal website swaps to HOA-friendly gatherings, realtor tailgates, and UGC contests that fuel word-of-mouth and Q4 sales.

Download the Holiday Marketing Guide to follow along! 

You’ll learn how to:

• Refresh branding (seasonal logos, signatures) without a full rebrand
• Make models feel magical on a budget (wrapped boxes, greenery, scent & sound)
• Add simple virtual décor to renderings/videos for social, email, and plan pages
• Host community + HOA events (Story Time with Santa, cookie swaps, decorating classes)
• Win with realtors (tailgate broker opens, Santa photo ops, “12 Days” prize runs)
• Give calorie-free gifts that stick around (mini pumpkins, plants with branded picks)
• Spark UGC with “Pictures for Pie,” porch-decor contests, & Elf-on-the-Shelf photo ops
• Publish local holiday guides (pumpkin patches, Santa pics, tree farms, best light displays)

Who it’s for: New-home marketers, OSCs, sales leaders, and on-site teams who want festive campaigns that convert—without burning the December candle at both ends.

Chapters:

 00:00 Welcome & why holiday differentiation matters

 03:00 Model-home décor (indoor/outdoor) on a budget

 06:00 Virtual décor for renderings & short videos

 08:00 Community/HOA experiences that drive referrals

 10:00 Realtor plays: tailgates, Santa photos, 12-day giveaways

 13:00 Sticky gifts (not sweets!)

 15:00 UGC contests that explode reach

 18:00 Local guides for SEO + goodwill

 20:00 Wrap-up & next steps

🔗 More episodes: https://anewgo.com/podcast

 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app (search “Anewgo of New Home Sales”)

New Home Star’s Marketing Director, Chris Laskowski, joins Anya to unpack how HubSpot, AI agents, and AI search (AIO) are reshaping new-home marketing. 

Fresh off HubSpot’s INBOUND, Chris breaks down the shift from one-to-many to true 1:1 personalization, why your website must act like a data warehouse, and how builders can win visibility in AI-driven search with structured content (think 3,000+ FAQs, schema, and data-tagged plans).

What you’ll learn

• Why a unified tech stack (HubSpot, call/text/email, ads, service) unlocks real AI value
• INBOUND takeaways: AI Agents, Data Hub, and 1:1 personalization at scale
• How to pivot from SEO traffic losses to AIO discoverability
• The builder playbook: schema markup, data-tagged floor plans, transparent pricing, and massive FAQ libraries
• 12-week HubSpot rollout: strategy → automation → dashboards & training
• Top 3 priorities for the next 1–3 years: consolidate data, rebalance channel mix by ROI, upskill on AI (projects + agents)

Chapters
00:00 Intro & who is New Home Star
01:00 Chris’s path + team scope (40-person marketing org)
04:00 Why HubSpot: one data warehouse for sales/marketing/service
06:00 INBOUND highlights: AI Agents, Data Hub, 1:1 personalization
11:00 Homebuilding implications: matching buyers to the right homes
14:00 SEO drop-offs & the rise of AI search (AIO)
18:30 Treat your site like a data warehouse; 3,000+ FAQs
21:30 Schema + data tagging for plans, pricing, and tours
25:30 Human-friendly front end vs machine-readable back end
26:30 New Home Star’s 12-week HubSpot implementation
27:45 The builder’s top 3 priorities for 2025–2027
34:00 Should you attend INBOUND next year?
35:30 Where to connect with Chris & New Home Star

National Director of New Construction at Homes.com, Rick Baldonado, shares how the portal is approaching new-home search, and what’s in it for builders:

“Your listing, your lead.” Inquiries from your listings go straight back to you (not resold to multiple agents).

Free community visibility. Builders can send a feed and list communities at no charge, use paid Community Boost only where you need extra lift.

Community Boost assets. Homes.com/CoStar deploys pro photographers + the world’s largest drone fleet to capture models, community, and 60–90s videos; then layers on retargeting.

Cleaner UX. No third-party ads and a data-rich map experience aimed at buyer confidence.

Scale + signal. Backed by CoStar’s research engine and massive consumer reach, plus an open call for builder input to shape what’s next.

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:00 Why Rick joined Homes.com (CoStar resources + vision)
04:00 “Your listing, your lead” explained
05:00 Free listings via builder feed; when to boost
06:00 Photo, drone, and 60–90s community videos
11:00 Retargeting off-site (ESPN, CNN, Weather, etc.)
15:00 Making new construction easier to find; affordability talk
21:00 No third-party ads; cleaner consumer experience
28:00 Builder feedback: help shape Homes.com’s roadmap

🎙️ Guest: Rick Baldonado, National Director of New Construction, Homes.com
📩 Connect: [email protected]
 (builders will be routed to the right regional rep)

—
Watch more episodes: https://anewgo.com/podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast app.

How do you move people from the middle of the bell curve to the top? Coach and 36-year homebuilding veteran Farrell Middleton breaks down his “A Performer / A Environment” framework: practical ways leaders can create cultures where average performers become exceptional and top performers want to stay.

What you’ll learn:

-The 20-60-20 bell curve (and why the middle matters most)
-The 7-part A-Environment Blueprint: Vision, Leadership, Structure, Commitment, Discipline, Communication, Relationships
-Soft-skills that drive hard results: defining reality, delegating well, and communicating clearly
-How to spot a “C” environment, and actionable steps to turn it into an “A”
-Managing up, navigating toxic pockets, and protecting your own attitude and routines

About our guest:

Farrell is the founder of The Bell Curve of Life, author of A Performer / A Environment, and a longtime Atlanta-area homebuilding leader. Learn more at TheBellCurveOfLife.com and find his book on Amazon/Audible.

—
🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations at the intersection of new-home sales, leadership, and tech.
📺 Watch more episodes: https://anewgo.com/podcast

🔗 Connect with Farrell on LinkedIn and YouTube: The Bell Curve of Life.

What actually moves the needle in today’s tougher market? Impact 88’s Strategic Performance Coach Cassy Williamson joins Anya to break down a people-first approach to new home sales, plus the habits, tools, and tech that turn inconsistent results into steady wins. From prospecting and follow-up rhythms to smart tech adoption (hello, video messages and AI-assist!), Cassy shares practical plays you can implement this week.

What you’ll learn:

• Why “people over process” sells, and how empathy + curiosity change buyer conversations
• The New Hire Blueprint: foundations even seasoned pros may be missing
• Prospecting + follow-up cadences you’ll actually stick to
• How to qualify the right buyer (and confidently say no when it’s not a fit)
• Tech that saves time and boosts conversions (CRM practice tips, video follow-ups, AI helpers)
• Building consistent, intentional habits that survive dry spells and busy weeks

Highlights:

• Entrepreneurial mindset for onsite sales success
• Secret shopping and presentation tweaks (tone, body language, flow)
• Practical tech-adoption steps: “don’t practice on customers”
• Cassy’s new book Unapologetic and upcoming Impact 88 events

Guest:
Cassy Williamson, Strategic Performance Coach, Impact 88
Connect: LinkedIn/IG | Email: cassy@sassy@impacteightyeight.com