Next Level Agents: The Kevin & Fred Show - Interviews with the best and brightest minds in the real estate industry

In this episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with Ari Jakobov, a Phoenix-based real estate powerhouse who has generated over $75 million in sales in just three and a half years. What makes Ari's journey particularly remarkable is his unconventional path—dropping out of college against his parents' wishes and building his business through relentless cold calling when everyone around him relied on easier lead sources.

Ari reveals his "sponge mentality," approaching every interaction as a growth opportunity and showing genuine interest in others rather than trying to appear important himself. This fundamental shift in perspective has not only fueled his business success but created a foundation for meaningful relationships that transcend transactions.

The conversation explores how Ari's background in chess taught him to think several moves ahead in business, preparing for market shifts while others focused only on immediate gains. When interest rates jumped in 2022 and the market cooled, Ari continued thriving while others panicked—a direct result of mastering skills that work in any market condition.

Perhaps most valuably, Ari breaks down his specific approach to cold calling, including pattern interrupts, tonality shifts, and questioning frameworks that transform this often-dreaded activity into a consistent source of business. For agents struggling with consistency or worried about market volatility, this episode provides both tactical guidance and the mindset shifts required for sustainable success.

Key Points & Themes:

The "sponge mentality" that transforms every interaction into a learning opportunity

Why "I hate small talk" reveals poor communication skills and how to fix this mindset

The Dale Carnegie principles Ari implemented to build deeper relationships

How to think like a chess player in business, anticipating market shifts before they happen

The exact pattern interrupts and frameworks that make cold calling effective

Why teaching your team to "hunt" creates more sustainable success than feeding them leads

How proper time blocking prevents the peaks and valleys that plague most agents

Ready to transform your approach to business relationships and develop skills that transcend market conditions? This conversation provides the blueprint.

Connect with Ari Jakobov on Instagram: @ari.jakobov

Ready to take your real estate business to the next level? Learn more at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this game-changing episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with 20+ year real estate veteran Erik Kelly to uncover the deceptively simple framework that has allowed him to build a thriving business through multiple market cycles.

Erik shares his journey from corporate burnout (flying 100,000 miles annually) to building a sustainable real estate business while raising a family. His "Five and Five" system reveals why consistent, authentic conversations trump flashy marketing tactics for long-term success.

They tackle the elephant in the room: in an industry where 7 out of 10 licensed agents had ZERO closings last year, what separates those who thrive from those who struggle? The answer challenges conventional wisdom and might be the mindset shift you've been searching for.

Key points:

Why finding YOUR strategy is more important than finding the "best" strategy

The surprising reason "old school" tactics like open houses are more effective now than they've been in decades

How to recalibrate your scoreboard to measure activities you can control, not results you can't

The three phases of business growth: traction, momentum, and acceleration

Why both success and failure are the result of compounded daily decisions

How consistency in small actions can transform your business (and life) in 30-90 days

This episode is essential listening for agents at all levels who want to build a business that's both profitable and sustainable through changing market conditions.

Ready to take your real estate career to the next level? Learn more at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

Connect with Erik Kelly:

Find his book "The 100K Business Blueprint" on Amazon

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikkellyhomes/

​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this episode of Next Level Agents, Kevin Kauffman sits down with industry thought leader Rob Hahn to discuss a provocative idea that challenges the very foundation of what it means to be a realtor. Starting with a controversial tweet suggesting realtors should help low-income renters pro bono, the conversation expands into a bold examination of the housing affordability crisis and how real estate professionals should respond.

Rob breaks down why he's been calling millennials and Gen Z "generation screwed" for over a decade and explains how the housing crisis affects everything from birth rates to social cohesion. He challenges the real estate industry to look beyond transactions and commissions to embrace their "grave social responsibility" and "patriotic duty" as outlined in the Realtor Code of Ethics.

The discussion dives into the distinction between being a realtor versus just a real estate agent, the structural problems with NAR's membership model, and concrete actions professionals can take to address the housing crisis while building a more sustainable business.

Key Points

The housing affordability crisis is reaching a breaking point, with Fannie Mae research showing prices would need to drop 40% or incomes double to restore affordability

Being a true "realtor" means embracing social responsibility and patriotic duty beyond just facilitating transactions

The real estate industry primarily serves buyers and sellers while missing the struggles of renters who make up half the housing market

NAR's structure of tying MLS access to membership creates "hostages, not members" and prevents authentic engagement

Deregulation of housing development is necessary but politically challenging

Real estate professionals should consider helping renters pro bono to understand their challenges and demonstrate their commitment to all housing consumers

For younger generations of consumers, authenticity matters more than polished sales scripts or techniques

Whether you're a seasoned real estate veteran or new to the industry, this conversation will challenge you to rethink your role in society and consider how you can be part of the solution to one of America's most pressing crises.

Connect with Rob

Twitter/X: @robhahn

Newsletter: https://notoriousrob.com/

Podcast: Industry Relations (with Greg Robertson)

Learn more about Next Level Agents and explore ways to take your real estate business to the next level at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this eye-opening episode of Next Level Agents, top-producing agents Katie DeWitt and Chelsea Wright reveal the unexpected strategies that are flooding their businesses with opportunities—even in today's challenging market.

Katie shares her embarrassing wake-up call when a friend bluntly told her that "no one calls you to buy or sell a house from a newsletter," forcing her to abandon her perfect systems and start making real connections. Meanwhile, Chelsea discovers that announcing she's stepping back from real estate to focus on a new business venture somehow triggered an avalanche of 20+ listings in just three weeks.

Their candid conversation challenges everything you think you know about growing a sustainable real estate business and offers a refreshing perspective on what it really takes to break through to your next level.

Key points:

Why your "perfect systems" might actually be preventing deals

How stepping away from real estate paradoxically attracts more business

The simple daily practice that's rebuilding Katie's pipeline after her hardest year

Why authenticity in the community outperforms traditional marketing every time

How to protect your energy while still making meaningful connections

Breaking free from self-limiting beliefs about who you are and what you're capable of

If you're tired of the same old advice that isn't moving the needle for your business, this episode delivers the perspective shift that could transform your approach and results.

Ready to take your real estate career to the next level? Learn more about joining a community of bold, innovative agents at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

Connect with today's guests:

​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this eye-opening episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with Nolan Rucker to explore how he transformed from a reluctant second-generation real estate agent into a business owner who challenges the traditional "always hustling" model. Nolan shares his unconventional approach to mentorship, client selection, and business design that allows him to work less, earn more, and enjoy a quality of life most agents only dream about.

Key Points:

Nolan demonstrates that the conventional wisdom about real estate success—that it requires sacrifice of your personal life, boundaries, and free time—is fundamentally flawed. By designing his business with freedom and quality of life as the foundation, he's created a more profitable, sustainable, and fulfilling enterprise.

Whether you're just starting in real estate or looking to transform your existing business, this conversation will challenge your assumptions about what's possible and provide a blueprint for creating a business that truly serves your life.

Connect with Nolan Rucker:

Instagram: @NolanRucker

Ready to take your business to the next level?

Learn more about joining the Next Level Agents community at nextlevelagents.com/exp/

​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this eye-opening conversation, Chelsea Wright and Katie DeWitt challenge the conventional wisdom about work-life balance in real estate. Instead of pursuing the myth of perfect equilibrium, they reveal how embracing distinct "seasons" in your business can lead to greater productivity, fulfillment, and sustainable success without the burnout.

Katie shares her transparent struggles with pipeline management in today's uncertain market and how she's leveraged her strengths in open houses and follow-up to maintain momentum. Meanwhile, Chelsea introduces the powerful concept of "seasons" as an alternative to balance, explaining why trying to maintain balance while building an empire creates an internal "civil war."

Together, they explore how making small, consistent promises to yourself builds the self-discipline needed for bigger achievements, why nationwide referral networks are replacing traditional local networking, and how setting clear deadlines and boundaries during intensive work periods can actually strengthen your relationships rather than damage them.

Key Points:

This conversation isn't just about real estate tactics—it's about designing a business that works with your natural rhythms and priorities instead of against them.

Ready to break free from the balance myth and embrace a more sustainable approach to success? This episode is your blueprint.

Connect with Today's Hosts:

Learn more about Next Level Agents at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

​​Please leave us a review at ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

Are you playing real estate on hard mode when you could be playing on easy mode? In this game-changing conversation, Shane Parrish, author of "Clear Thinking," reveals how the success of top-performing agents isn't determined by how they handle obvious decisions, but by the seemingly insignificant "ordinary moments" they navigate daily.

Shane shares the counterintuitive insights that separate elite performers from average ones, including why Warren Buffett's greatest advantage isn't his intelligence but his positioning, how relativity and Newton's laws apply to business growth, and why your willingness to "look like an idiot" might be the missing ingredient in your success formula.

Key Points & Themes:

How "ordinary moments" position you for either strength or weakness when facing critical decisions

The physics-inspired mental models that eliminate blind spots in your business

Why "going positive and going first" creates a magnetic pull of opportunity

The difference between "easy mode" and "hard mode" in real estate success

How fear of looking foolish prevents even top performers from reaching their potential

Practical techniques for improving decision-making in teams and eliminating groupthink

The counterintuitive connection between Warren Buffett's success and his positioning strategy

This episode will challenge you to examine the seemingly minor daily choices that ultimately determine whether you'll face tomorrow's challenges from a position of strength or weakness.

Ready to transform your approach to decision-making? Connect with us at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ to learn how our community is helping agents break barriers and build empires.

Connect with Shane Parrish: Website: https://fs.blog/ Podcast: The Knowledge Project Book: "Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results"

​​Please leave us a review at ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

What does the next level truly look like for successful real estate agents? In this candid roundtable episode, the Next Level Agents crew—Kevin Kauffman, Brittini Bowers, Chelsea Wright, Katie DeWitt, and Erik Kelly—get real about the bold strategies they're implementing to break through plateaus and reach new heights in their businesses and lives.

Far from theoretical concepts, this episode delivers actionable insights you can implement immediately:

The biggest takeaway? Your next level doesn't require perfect clarity on all details—but it absolutely requires decisive action today.

Whether you're feeling stagnant in your current business, searching for fresh inspiration, or ready to implement bold new strategies, this episode provides the kick-start you need to define and achieve your own next level.

Ready to join agents who are breaking barriers and building empires? Learn more about Next Level Agents at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

Connect with our hosts:

​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this eye-opening episode of Next Level Agents, Kevin Kaufman sits down with Christin Kingsbury to uncover the wealth-building strategies most real estate agents overlook. Growing up watching her grandmother build financial freedom through real estate investing while her mother struggled, Christin learned early on that passive income—not commissions—was the key to true financial independence.

Christin shares her journey from selling 60 mobile homes her first year as an agent (earning just $34,000 despite outworking everyone in her office) to developing a "Family Banking System" that now funds her lifestyle, investments, and family experiences. This episode challenges the conventional real estate career path and offers a blueprint for agents who want to stop building wealth exclusively for others.

Start building your own wealth instead of just facilitating it for others. Learn how to create a "Family Banking Blueprint" that transforms commission income into lasting financial freedom.

Support Christin's "Buy One, Give One" book launch initiative for "The Family Banking Blueprint" (April 29) by texting "GIVE" to 59559.

Learn more about how Next Level Agents can help you elevate your real estate business at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this game-changing episode of Next Level Agents, Kevin Kauffman and the crew (Chelsea Wright, Brittini Bowers, Katie DeWitt, and Erik Kelly) dive deep into what might be the most underrated success factor in real estate: consistency.

The team challenges conventional wisdom about what consistency really means and reveals why it's so much more than just discipline or willpower. From Erik's story of watching 365 consecutive sunrises (that people still talk about a decade later) to Brittini's data-driven approach that exposed a shocking profitability gap in her business, this conversation is packed with actionable insights that will transform how you approach your daily activities.

This episode will challenge you to identify your own consistency play and give you practical strategies for implementing it in your business immediately. Whether you're struggling with consistency or looking to leverage it more effectively, this conversation provides the blueprint for using this powerful principle to take your business to the next level.

Ready to harness the transformative power of consistency in your real estate business? Visit NextLevelAgents.com/exp/ to learn more about joining our community of growth-minded agents.

Connect with our hosts:

Ready to take your real estate business to the next level? Visit Next Level Agents to learn more about our community of growth-minded professionals.

​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla