What do you do when the beach is your backyard—but you still need to pay the bills? Jenn Crossman carved out a life on the Outer Banks through grit, hospitality, and an entrepreneurial spark that led her from bartending to launching a bespoke concierge service. In this episode, Jen shares how she built a life around making visitors' vacations unforgettable—from private beach dinners to dolphin tours and surprise engagements.

Takeaways:

• How living in a tourist town fuels creative side hustles

• Why great bartenders make natural connectors and entrepreneurs

• Insider tips on unique OBX experiences: Ocracoke, Manio, Duck, skydiving & more

Whether you're planning your first trip or dreaming about making a coastal leap of your own, Jen's story is a warm reminder that doing what you love and building community is possible—even on a sandbar. Host: Randy Jones → @jonesgroupobx Guest: Jen Crossman → OBX Travel Concierge

What makes someone leave a big city life behind and return to their small-town roots? For Nick Graham, the answer is simple: the Outer Banks isn't just home—it's who he is.

In this episode, Randy catches up with Nick, a local insurance agent whose deep ties to the Outer Banks go back generations. From growing up surfing and fishing with family to building a thriving career in a tight-knit coastal community, Nick shares what brought him back after college—and why he's never looked back.

Key themes:

• Choosing purpose and place over prestige

• How to build a career in a referral-based town

• The power of community, networking, and doing the work

If you've ever wondered what it's like to grow up where others vacation—or how to turn local roots into long-term success—this one's for you.

Host: Randy Jones → @jonesgroupobx Guest: Nick Graham → Outer Banks Forever

It's easy to blame the market, the algorithm, or even the guests—but what if the problem is you? In this episode, Randy shares a humbling lesson from his own vacation rental property on the Outer Banks, where slipping standards and unchecked expectations led to a wake-up call.

Randy reflects on how we all sometimes stop doing the little things that lead to big results—whether it's maintaining a rental, building a real estate business, or staying in shape long after the glory days of college sports.

Key themes:

• Why five-star reviews can set you up for failure
• The danger of resting on past success
• How high expectations demand high effort

Whether you're a homeowner, entrepreneur, or parent, this episode will challenge you to take the "mirror test" and get back to doing the work that really matters.

Connect with Randy: Randy Jones → @jonesgroupobx

Today, Randy is joined by John Power - a restaurateur and the original owner of The Blue Point in the Outer Banks. John shares how he came to start this restaurant that is now a staple of the town. He shares what attracted him to the Outer Banks and what he loved about running a business there. He gives insight in working with the community and creating a space that is beloved by the people there. If you're considering opening a business in the Outer Banks, this is the episode for you.

This week has officially kicked off the start of beach season on the Outer Banks! Schools are out and tourists are ready to come visit. But what does that mean for people who live in the Outer Banks year-round? Today, Randy talks about what it's like to be a local on the Outer Banks during the busy season. He talks about how the summer affects everything from the economy to wait times at restaurants. He addresses the rumors that less people will be traveling this year because of the economy and gives his takes on how to make the most out of your time in the Outer Banks.

Today Randy is joined by Gunther Heyder - a local dentist, surfer, kiteboarder, and family man. He shares his experience of expanding dentistry on the Outer Banks. He talks about the personal journey that lead him to live on the Outer Banks and how once he got here, he knew he couldn't leave. He offers stories about surfing and exploring the Outer Banks and why he thinks this place is so special. Gunther and Randy talk about the community and the support the show towards one another.

Today Randy takes a deep dive into what the market looks like for buyers and sellers right now. He looks back on his predictions from January and compares those to where we are now. He also takes about his biggest pet peeves when working with buyers and sellers and the things he wishes they would do differently. He gives straightforward advice on how to get your home off the market quickly and all the things you need to consider when you sell. He compares the market of today to the market of a few years ago and gives his advice on whether you should sell your home or wait.

Today Randy takes a break from talking about real estate to share his thoughts on Little League sports. He goes over what he thinks needs to change about Little League to keep the game fun for kids. He talks about the lessons he learned from sports as a kid and how sports have affected his children. He shares his opinion on why sports are so important and the impact they have on children.

Randy sits down with Quentin Turko, a professional surfer and fisherman and Outer Banks local. They talk about some of their favorite places to surf in the Outer Banks and personal experiences they've had in the water. Randy shares a story about his wife taking Quentin to surf at the Pipeline and an almost run-in with a shark. They chat about the beauty of the Outer Banks and why it means so much to them. They also chat about Quentin riding what Surfer.com called "the biggest wave ever".

This week, Randy goes over the different towns in the Outer Banks and why some might be a better fit for you based on your lifestyle in the Outer Banks. He chats about which towns are great to live in year-round and what you can expect life to be like in the off-season. He gets into the specific pros and cons of different areas based on his experience living and selling homes there. He talks about what neighborhoods you may want to avoid or look into if you're thinking about living in the Outer Banks all year.