He started by answering a random email about a rental in Washington Heights. Seven years later, he's leading a 10-agent team, running marathons in Paris, and building financial systems in Notion that most brokerages don't even know exist.In this episode of Agent Brew, host Eric Zollinger sits down with Thomas Hollingsworth — Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Compass, Certified Negotiation Expert, and founder of the Thrive Team — for a conversation that goes deep on what it actually takes to build a real business in real estate, not just close deals.What we cover:How a childhood spent bussing tables and bartending built the customer service instincts that now drive one of NYC's most systems-oriented teamsWhy Notion is the operational backbone of the Thrive Team — and how it connects everything from listings to Google Drive to Slack in one placeThe AI problem nobody's talking about: buyers and sellers running their own comps through ChatGPT's free tier — and getting dangerously wrong answersThe year everything broke: a business partner departure, significant debt, 107 transactions, and how Thomas rebuilt from the inside out to come back strongerRunning marathons and doing Ironman triathlons — and why the first three miles are usually spent negotiating deals in his headBuilding a full financial model for his business using AI — including hourly rate, S-corp salary structure, and team contribution breakdownsWhy he's finally investing in a brand guide for the Thrive Team — and what new agents pushed him to see that he was missingThe long game: out of production in 10 years, running the team remotely from eight acres in West Reading, ConnecticutThe line that landed: "It's not luck. It's silent preparation."Thomas Hollingsworth has been in this business less than 10 years and has already lived more entrepreneurial pivots than most agents see in a career. This one is for every agent who wants to stop feeding the business and start running one.Agent Brew is produced by RLTYco. RLTYco provides real estate agents the tools, resources, and support to run their business like a CEO — from tax services and healthcare to capital advancement and beyond.Learn more at RLTYco.comSubscribe so you never miss an episode. New conversations dropping weekly.#AgentBrew #RLTYco #ThomasHollingsworth #ThriveTeam #Compass #RealEstate #RealEstatePodcast #NewYorkRealEstate #RealEstateTeam #AgentLife #RealEstateBusiness #Notion #AIinRealEstate

In this episode of Agent Brew, host Eric Zollinger sits down with Chris Whitley, our first agent from REMAX. He is an associate from REMAX on the Coast based on Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast. Chris specializes in beachfront condos and beach houses across the 25-mile stretch of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.Now in his third year of real estate, Chris shares his unconventional journey from working in his family's fencing business at 14, to knocking on doors for a pressure washing side hustle, to building a thriving real estate practice. He credits much of his success to mentor Ricky Carruth, whose coaching program he joined in March 2024 after attending an in-person workshop. (Ricky is a partner of RLTYco!)Chris talks about why relationships always come before transactions, why he stays focused on buying and selling rather than property management, and how a simple system of phone calls, weekly emails, weekly texts, and direct mail keeps his pipeline strong. He also opens up about the power of defining your "why" — a turning point that brought clarity and fuel to his daily work, with a goal of building a business that allows his wife to join him full-time.Tune in for honest insights on scaling, staying disciplined, working in-office for accountability, and why showing up beats almost everything else.Favorite quote: "It's not about the goal — it's about growing to become the person who can accomplish that goal."#AgentBrew #RealEstate #Remax #GulfCoast #RickyCarruth

Luke spent 12 years traveling the world — snowboarding, working on boats, living season to season with no plan and no apologies. Then at 31, a friend handed him a listing and everything changed.In this episode of Agent Brew, host Eric Zollinger sits down with Luke Whittle, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Howard Hanna NYC. Luke is one of the most genuine and charming people you will meet. (He also brought his 13-year-old emotional support dog, Lil Girl, who stole the show.)What we cover:*Growing up in the smallest town in Wales, chasing snow seasons across the globe, and landing in New York City at 31 with one contact and zero fear*Starting his career with a $1.7M listing at Two Rector — and immediately discovering what a board package was the hard way*The townhouse deal his dog helped him land — a widow neighbor, an overpriced listing, a competing agent who did nothing, and a final number that brought her to tears: $4.275M against her ask of $3.2M*How he built a 100% referral-based business from scratch in a city where he knew almost no one — and what that took*Why StreetEasy is his biggest frustration — and why he misses the days of real open houses where you could actually educate a buyer*The new collaboration he's teasing — a partnership with a fellow agent that nobody's tried quite this way before*Patagonia, Japan, Colorado, and why last year's sacrifice of not traveling was worth it — but only barelyThe quote he lives by: "Work hard, be nice."Simple. Undefeated.Luke Whittle didn't take the traditional path into real estate. He took every other path first — and it made him exactly the kind of agent his clients trust completely.Agent Brew is produced by RLTYco — giving real estate agents the tools, resources, and support to run their business in a one stop shop. Learn more at RLTYco.comSubscribe so you never miss an episode. New conversations dropping every Tuesday. #AgentBrew #RLTYco #LukeWhittle #HowardHannaNYC #RealEstate #NYCRealEstate #LuxuryRealEstate #RealEstatePodcast #AgentLife #RealEstateBusiness #NewYorkRealEstate

In this episode of Agent Brew, Eric Zollinger sits down with Linette Semino, founder of the Semino Team at Compass and a licensed associate real estate broker with 21 years in the industry. Linette's journey is one for the books.

After graduating from hotel management school, she began her career at the new Ritz-Carlton condominium in Battery Park, where she fell in love with real estate. She started as a weekend administrator for a Corcoran Sunshine new development, then worked her way onto a resale team where she trained under great mentors. Under their guidance, she mastered the art of the co-op board package and has since become an expert at selling them.

From her roots in Santiago, Dominican Republic, to navigating the most prestigious co-op boards on Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue, Linette shares how she built a thriving, referral-driven business through relationships, discipline, and an unwillingness to compare herself to anyone else.In this episode:How Linette made the leap from hotel management to real estate — and who inspired herWhy co-ops are her specialty (and why most agents run from them)The Manhattan inventory challenge in 2026 and how she's using Compass Private Exclusives to find off-market inventory

What it means to build a quality-over-quantity businessHer morning routine and the mindset that keeps her going after two decadesAdvice for new agents: "No one's coming to save you" Agent Brew is produced by RLTYco — providing real estate agents the resources, tools, and support to run their business as a business.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode. New conversations dropping Tuesdays!

Learn more at RLTYco.com #AgentBrew #RLTYco #NewYorkRealEstate #ManhattanRealEstate #CompassRealty #RealEstatePodcast #RealtorLife #CoOpExpert #NYCRealEstate #RealEstateAgent #LuxuryRealEstate #NewDevelopment #ParkAvenue #RealEstateTips #WomenInRealEstate #NewYorkBuild #RealEstateInvesting #MultifamilyInvesting #RealtorMotivation #RealEstateLife

From Miami Beach to New York City — Heather Domi has never played it safe, and it's paid off.In this episode of Agent Brew, host Eric Zollinger sits down with Heather Domi, one of the most respected names in luxury real estate across New York and South Florida.

Now back at Douglas Elliman after an 11-year hiatus, Heather opens up about what brought her back, what keeps her building, and why happiness might be the most underrated metric in this business.

What we cover:

How Heather went from nonprofit fundraising and springboard diving to becoming a powerhouse NYC real estate agent — by way of Miami Beach, Pompano, and William Beaver HouseSurviving the subprime collapse, Lehman Brothers, and every market disruption in between — and what mindset got her throughThe origin story of NYRAC — and why New York's residential agents needed their own voiceWhy she made the bold move to run her own tech stack on HubSpot — and what she's building nowThe real truth about switching firms: does business go down 25–30%? Not if you do it right.

Why surrounding yourself with positive people isn't soft advice — it's a 30% productivity strategyGetting her pilot's license in college, scaring herself on purpose, and why "having guts always works out" became her north star

The quote that landed: "FEAR has two meanings: Forget Everything and Run, or Face Everything and Rise. The choice is yours." — Zig ZiglarHeather Domi is the kind of agent who doesn't just survive change — she engineers her next move through it. This one's for every agent who's ever been pulled off a project, doubted themselves in a new market, or wondered if building a real business is actually worth it.

Spoiler: it is.

Agent Brew is produced by RLTYco. RLTYco gives real estate agents the tools, resources, and support to run their business like a business — from tax services and healthcare to capital advancement and beyond.Learn more at RLTYco.comSubscribe so you never miss an episode.

New conversations dropping regularly.

In this episode of Agent Brew Executive Sessions, we sit down with Jason Haber—President of NYRAC, co-founder of the American Real Estate Association (ARA), a member of REBNY’s Board of Governors, and a licensed NYC broker at Compass—for a candid conversation about the state of the industry and where it’s headed.

Jason breaks down why professionalism in real estate has come under fire, how low standards and part-time participation shape public perception, and what ARA is building to push the industry forward—including higher licensing standards, better education, and a fresh approach to advocacy.

We also get personal: Jason shares the deal he’s proudest of (the one he didn’t do), how he protects his time with real boundaries, and what he’s working on next—outside of real estate.

What happens when you sit down with the attorney who handled your very first real estate deal — over 25 years ago?You get one of the most honest, warm, and wisdom-packed conversations host we've ever had on the show.Host Eric Zollinger had the privilege of welcoming Bruce Cohen of Cohen & Frankel to our Times Square studio — a true legend in NYC residential real estate law, and someone who has genuinely shaped how I think about this business.A few moments that stopped me in my tracks: "It's not brain surgery." Bruce's neurosurgeon friend once told him — "Bruce, brain surgery isn't brain surgery." The point? Whatever you do, if you care and you do it right, it's harder than it looks. And Bruce has cared deeply for nearly 30 years. His secret sauce? He doesn't hand things off. Ever. Vacations included. In a world where you often get passed to an associate, Bruce is still the one picking up the phone. Biggest advice for agents? Do your homework. Unforced errors — like not specifying what's included or excluded in a deal — are avoidable. And always do a walkthrough three weeks before closing. Always. On working as a team: Brokers, attorneys, and lenders succeeding together isn't a nice-to-have — it's how deals actually get done. Bruce has always modeled that.And his quote of the episode — courtesy of Yankees outfielder Mickey Rivers:"Makes no sense worrying about things you got no control over, because you got no control over them. And makes no sense worrying about things you do have control over, because you have control over them."Simple. True. Unforgettable.Beyond the business, Bruce spoke beautifully about family, loss, legacy, and why time is the one thing that isn't unlimited. It's a conversation I'll carry with me. Watch or listen to the full episode —Brought to you by RLTYco

From the heart of Times Square, Agent Brew sits down with Hilah Hadaway Williams (Douglas Elliman, Brooklyn) — a lifelong real estate pro who grew up in a real estate family, moved to NYC in the 90s, and built a career around integrity, hustle, and fighting for the underdog.

Hilah shares how she leverages social media (shoutout to her “Broker Hustle” videos), how AI is changing the day-to-day, and the story of a referral deal that looked impossible: a Brooklyn co-op in rough shape, a building still recovering from a fire, and sellers dealing with massive life changes — and how she still drove a bidding war and got them $100,000 more than they expected, changing their next chapter.

In this episode:

• Growing up in a real estate family + coming to NYC in 1994

• Why integrity and caring about every deal still wins

• Using Instagram as a real business engine (“Broker Hustle”)

• AI as a tool (and why listing copy is different now)

• The “disaster” co-op referral that became a bidding war

• Defining success day-by-day + getting momentum in tough seasons

Subscribe for more real, tactical conversations with agents who’ve been in the trenches.

In this Agent Brew: Executive Sessions, Eric Zollinger sits down with Michael Scarafile, President & CEO of Carolina One Real Estate (South Carolina’s largest brokerage), to break down what broker-owners and agents are really facing in today’s market.

Michael shares how Carolina One drives agent engagement through in-person culture, the 90-day Launch Program that helped new agents perform 4.5x better than the average first-year agent, and the hard lessons from expansion, partnerships, and building a real “rainy day fund.” They also dig into why so many agents don’t run their business like a business—and what to do about it.

Key topics:

• Agent engagement + why “agents run faster together”

• Training new agents like “basic training” (90-day Launch)

• Why low barrier to entry helps… and hurts

• Running teams like real businesses (LLCs, tax structure, cash flow)

• The mindset + relationship piece tech can’t replace

New episodes every Tuesday.

In this episode of Agent Brew, Eric Zeilinger sits down with longtime friend and NYC real estate powerhouse Steven Cohen, head of the Steven Cohen Team at The Corcoran Group.

Steven breaks down what it really takes to grow a team, why consistent content actually sells homes, and the mindset shifts that helped him level up; especially one simple change: stop asking “why” and start asking “how.” Plus, the behind-the-scenes story of a record-setting townhouse deal that required negotiating with nine separate owners to make it happen.

In this episode:

• Building a modern team + tracking growth “down to the penny”

• How Instagram content turns into real sales

• The “WHY vs HOW” mindset shift

• Defining success beyond business

• Advice to young agents: don’t shrink back—ask for the business

  
  

Subscribe for more conversations with industry leaders. New episodes every Tuesday.