Coffee & Closings

In this special episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with his wife, Allyson Lines, for a fun and heartfelt conversation about marriage, parenting, and their journey together. The two share stories from their teenage years, what it’s really like raising their daughter Amelia, and how they’ve built a home and a life side by side. They talk nursing, real estate, and late-night renovations, all while reflecting on faith, family, and the chaos that makes it all worth it. And of course, they highlight Caribou Coffee’s Caribou Blend, a nostalgic nod to their early dating days.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Liza Seymour, a Raleigh-based REALTOR® with Compass, to talk about her journey from fashion merchandising to building a thriving real-estate career. Liza opens up about taking a leap of faith into real estate during the pandemic, learning the business from the ground up, and finding balance between motherhood and entrepreneurship. They dive into leadership, mentorship, and her mission to educate first-time buyers through her How to Buy a House program—all while enjoying Because Coffee Roasters’ Big Reward Blend from Dawsonville, Georgia.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Autumn Dubois, team leader and REALTOR® with Compass in Raleigh, to talk about building a business rooted in connection, culture, and purpose. Autumn shares her journey from starting in real estate to leading a thriving team while staying grounded as a wife and mom. The two dive deep into leadership, building strong team culture, property management, social media growth, and what it takes to stand out in today’s competitive market, all while enjoying Charleston Coffee Roasters’ Organic Sumatra Bold Roast.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Jon Tennant, a Raleigh-area REALTOR® with The Jim Allen Group, to talk about building a real estate career through creativity, consistency, and community. Jon shares how he built his YouTube channel “Living in Raleigh Durham,” the lessons learned from joining the #1 Coldwell Banker team in the country, and his entrepreneurial mindset for creating multiple streams of income. The two dive deep into fatherhood, personal growth, and doing hard things—from real estate to half marathons—all while enjoying Porch Culture Coffee Roasters’ Happy Medium Blend.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Doug Yopp, owner of The Oceanaire Realty. Doug shares the story of his family’s real estate legacy which was founded by his grandfather in 1979 and brought back to life when Doug reopened the company in 2017. They discuss the highs and lows of owning a brokerage, the challenges of leadership, and what truly makes a great agent stand out. Doug also talks about mentoring his team, balancing business and family, and the lessons learned along the way. All while enjoying Smooth Joe Coffee’s Smooth Joe Blend.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Alex Pollard, VP of Mortgage Lending at OriginPoint. They talk about the real side of the lending business and how relationships matter more than rates, and what it takes to build trust in today’s market. Alex opens up about fatherhood, discipline, and finding balance through fitness and family, while they dig into what’s really happening with lending, leadership, and life. All while enjoying Raleigh Coffee Company’s Tidal Blend.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Benjamin Passwaters to talk about fatherhood, college sports, and the lessons that translate from life to business. We dive into how he’s built a successful real estate career through neighborhood farming and becoming the go-to agent in his community. Benjamin shares how consistency, connection, and mindset have shaped his success, both as a dad and as an agent. All while enjoying Crema Coffee Roasters’ Crema Blend.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Jenny Hensley to talk about what it really takes to become a luxury agent and stay ahead of today’s market trends. Jenny shares her insights on being the best REALTOR® you can be, building and leading a team, and creating a business that lasts. We dive into the mindset and habits that separate top agents from the rest, and how to adapt when the market shifts. All while enjoying Oak City Coffee Roasters’ Kilimanjaro Blend.

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Kevin Starkey, candidate for Secretary/Treasurer of RRAR and co-founder of Sold By Starkey. We talk about his passion for serving the REALTOR® community and why having a strong voice at RRAR matters. Kevin also shares his journey of building a thriving business with his wife, the importance of family, and what drives his success. Along the way, we dive into leadership, real estate, and the balance of life and career, all while we enjoy Bean Traders’ Brazil Blend out of Durham, NC, 

In this episode of Coffee & Closings, Ethan sits down with Ryan Darge, SVP of Mortgage Lending and Producing Sales Manager with OriginPoint. We dig into what today’s interest rates really mean for buyers and investors, how the housing market could shape up by 2026, and what it takes to thrive as a lender. Ryan also shares his philosophy on “earning your Fridays” through hard work, plus some talk on cigars, bourbon, and life outside the office. All while enjoying Buddy Brew Coffee’s Black Lab blend.