The Real Shift: The Real Broker Podcast

Templeton Walker and Kristen Cantrell break down their real estate businesses, what’s working right now, where they’re focusing their energy, and what they’re building next.

From luxury real estate and personal branding to hiring, delegation, referrals, networking and growing with Real Brokerage, they share an honest behind the scenes look at the strategies shaping their businesses.

They also talk about Moms in Real Estate, the upcoming Referral Room, investing, wealth building, and the importance of staying focused while building multiple businesses.

In this episode:
• What’s working in their real estate businesses
• Luxury real estate and personal branding
• Hiring, delegation and leverage
• Client relationships and referrals
• Growing a network through Real Brokerage
• Moms in Real Estate and the Referral Room
• Investing and wealth building
• Staying focused while scaling a business
• What’s next for Templeton and Kristen

A candid conversation about building, growing and refining a real estate business in today’s market.

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Co-Host: @heykristencantrell
Co-Host: @Templeton_walker
Interested in joining Real? Let's chat!
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What happens when leaders stop trying to be the middleman between their agents and their brokerage? Templeton Walker and Kristen Cantrell sit down with Mindy Jones to talk about her move to Real, how it changed her approach to leadership, and why connection, community, and access matter more than ever.

In this episode:

• Why Mindy’s move to Real was driven by trust, relationships, and the strength of the people around her.
• The shift from being the “filter” between your agents and the brokerage to giving your people direct access to resources and opportunities.
• Why great leadership is about opening up what’s possible, not owning someone else’s success.
• How Real’s combination of education, community, and local connection helped close the implementation gap.
• The story behind Real Cafe and how a simple monthly gathering became a powerful space for collaboration and problem solving.
• Why a cloud based brokerage doesn’t have to mean less connection or community.
• How Mindy has changed the way she builds and leads her team by connecting agents directly to the resources available to them.
• Why she believes the best brokerage is one that allows agents to build the business and future they want, whether that means going solo, partnering, or building a team.

The big takeaway: Great leaders don’t make themselves indispensable. They make their people more connected, capable, and independent.

Connect with Mindy: 

Follow Mindy Jones on Instagram
@MindyEJones

Learn more about the Amy Jones Group and Community on Purpose, the nonprofit founded by Mindy.

Follow along on Instagram!
Co-Host: @heykristencantrell
Co-Host: @Templeton_walker
Guest: @MindyEJones
Interested in joining Real? Let's chat!
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Kristen's flying solo this week (sorry, Templeton) and sitting down with Jeff Yates and Mike Doyle, co-founders of the new podcast Dad's Doing Deals, out of Columbus, Ohio.

Jeff and Mike run a real estate team together, and this episode is everything: the secret phone call nobody knew about, the friendships that closed doors when they made the jump to Real, and why they believe real estate doesn't have to be as lonely as everyone says.

In this episode:

• Why Jeff and Mike started Dad's Doing Deals to give fathers in real estate a space to talk raw and unfiltered, something they couldn't find anywhere else
• The DM that started it all and the 45-minute phone call nobody knew was happening, not even their wives
• What it actually felt like when longtime friends closed the door on the relationship the day their jersey changed
• How Real said yes to a three-person team structure nobody had tried before, and how it's paying off a year later
• The Real Room they built in Columbus and the ripple effect it's already created (two agents closing new build deals within 14 days of one training)
• Why "quiet boom" is the phrase local vendors are using to describe what's happening in Central Ohio right now
• The moment Mike realized rev share was basically paying his mortgage every month
• What it means to build in a culture of abundance instead of scarcity, and why that shift changes how you show up for other agents
• A behind-the-scenes look at how Real's leadership responds when culture issues come up, and why that mattered more than they expected

Connect with Jeff and Mike:
Follow Dad's Doing Deals on Instagram
Jeff: @JWYates
Mike: @MrDoyle17

If you're a dad in this industry and you're struggling, Jeff and Mike mean it: you don't have to be in their circle to reach out. Send a message, ask for five minutes. They'll show up.

Follow along on Instagram!

Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @templeton_walker

Guest: Jeff: @JWYates; Mike: @MrDoyle17

Interested in joining Real? Let's chat!

Hosted by Kristen Cantrell & Templeton Walker | Guest: Candace Neff

What does it actually look like to build real community inside a cloud-based brokerage?

Templeton's out this week, so Kristen's flying solo, but she's got someone even better in the room: her real-life friend Candace Neff. What started as a random Instagram DM almost two years ago turned into a friendship built on shared travel, shared wins, and now a shared brokerage. This episode is proof that Real doesn't just build businesses. It builds people who show up for each other.

Candace Neff is a Columbus, Ohio based agent with 8 years in real estate and a background as a mortgage loan officer before making the leap. She spent four months at Keller Williams, six years at eXp, and made her move to Real in September 2024. She's not here to sell you a dream. She's here to tell you what actually changed.

Kristen and Candace get into:

1. Why Candace trusted the cloud-based model from day one — and why her small-town Ohio family thought she was nuts for going full commission
2. The real reason agents leave traditional brokerages — leverage, lane, and not having to carry the overhead of running one yourself
3. What she didn't expect to love: Real's tech stack and how much simpler it made managing her transactions after years in a clunkier system
4. Real Wallet, explained simply — how commission checks land straight into her wallet, how the debit card works, and how she's stacking points toward her cap
5. Real Capital — not live in Ohio yet, but on her radar the second it is
6. Building The Real Room — the local, in-person culture she started in Columbus almost from scratch, now running monthly and already spreading to Cleveland, Dayton, and Cincinnati
7. Why she leads from behind the scenes — how she's intentionally handed the mic to other agents instead of making it a one-woman show
8. Rise, the annual conference — why Candace calls it her yearly fire-under-the-ass, and a public callout for a golf partner this year
9. Her advice to anyone being recruited right now: take it as a compliment, not pressure, and be willing to unzip that old brokerage jacket

Favorite Moment:

Candace on what "cloud-based" actually means in practice: it's not isolation, it's leverage. She gets to build her brand and support her local agents without carrying the weight of running a brokerage herself. Real handles the system. She handles the people.

Connect with Candace:

Instagram: @yourrealtorcan

Loved this episode? Share it with an agent who's still on the fence about making the move, and don't forget to subscribe to The Real Shift Podcast for more real, unfiltered stories from agents building freedom their own way.

Follow along on Instagram!

Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @templeton_walker

Guest: @yourrealtorcan

Interested in joining Real? Let's chat!

What happens when you stop chasing every opportunity and start building intentionally?

In this behind-the-scenes episode of The Real Shift, Kristen Cantrell and Templeton Walker share an honest conversation about what’s working in their businesses right now, from luxury branding and relationship-based growth to AI employees and community building.

Templeton opens up about his shift toward luxury real estate and how narrowing his focus is attracting exactly the clients he wants to serve. Kristen shares how she's deepening engagement inside her communities, creating premium member experiences, and leveraging AI to create more capacity without losing authenticity.

Together, they explore why relationships still outperform algorithms, how VIP client strategies drive real business growth, and why being in the right rooms can completely change what's possible for your future.

If you're building a real estate business, a personal brand, or a referral-based network, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can implement immediately.

Follow along on Instagram!

Co-Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @Templeton_walker

Interested in joining Real?

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What does it take to build a thriving real estate business, a high-performing team, and a network of over 4,300 agents?

In this episode of The Real Shift, Katie Day shares her journey from team leader to one of Real Brokerage's most respected builders. We discuss agent attraction, the power of community, creating content that converts, and why helping others succeed has been the foundation of her growth. Katie also gives her take on Real's acquisition of RE/MAX, Real Wallet, and the opportunities she sees ahead for agents.

This conversation is packed with insights on leadership, collaboration, and building a business that compounds over time. 

Follow along on Instagram!

Co-Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @Templeton_walker

Guest: @movemetotx

Interested in joining Real?

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What would make a top-producing agent pause a thriving business, step out of production, and walk away from revenue share… to go corporate?

In this episode of The Real Shift, we sit down with Jason Cassity, Real’s new Chief Growth Officer, to unpack the bold move that has everyone talking. From building a $100M team to leading growth for 33,000+ agents, Jason shares what he saw inside the industry, and why he believes this role was the next evolution.

We dive into:

• The real reason he stepped out of production
• What’s actually happening behind the scenes at Real
• The gap he saw (and decided to fill)
• Agent attraction vs. retention and why both matter more than ever
• The future of AI at Real (hello, “Hey Leo”)
• How to build a network that actually lasts

If you’re an agent thinking bigger than just transactions… this one will shift your perspective.

Follow along on Instagram!

Co-Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @Templeton_walker

Guest: @Jason_cassity

Interested in joining Real?

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What if the secret to massive growth in real estate isn’t recruiting harder… but building better relationships?

In this episode of The Real Shift, Templeton Walker and Kristen Cantrell sit down with Marin May, Vice President of Growth at Real, to pull back the curtain on what’s actually driving the movement of top agents across the country.

From her unexpected start as a child actor to becoming one of the most trusted growth leaders in the industry, Marin shares a refreshingly honest take on what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to scaling a business in today’s market.

You’ll hear:

• Why most agents are grossly underutilizing their network
• The real difference between “recruiting” vs. relationship-based attraction
• How Real’s model creates a “playground of possibilities” for entrepreneurs
• The mindset shift that turns conversations into long-term opportunity
• And yes… the story of literally chasing someone down the street to build a relationship

This conversation is equal parts strategy, mindset, and behind-the-scenes insight into why so many top producers are making the shift, and what they’re unlocking on the other side.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible when you combine curiosity, consistency, and the right environment… this episode is for you.

Follow along on Instagram!

Co-Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @Templeton_walker

Guest: @marinmay1

Interested in joining Real?

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In this episode of the Real Shift Podcast, Kristen and Templeton sit down with investor and agent McKayla Hale to unpack her journey from buying properties as an investor to building a portfolio of over 200 doors. McKayla shares how learning the numbers behind real estate deals pushed her to get licensed and how that decision ultimately led her to help other agents think like investors. The conversation dives into mentorship, building community, and why investor-minded agents are gaining a major advantage in today’s market. McKayla also explains what made her transition to Real and how the collaborative culture changed the way she thinks about growth.

• McKayla’s journey from investor to real estate agent and building a 200+ door portfolio
• Why understanding cash flow and deal analysis gives agents a competitive edge
• The role of mentorship and community in accelerating growth
• McKayla’s experience transitioning to Real and what stood out about the culture
• Why investor-minded agents are uniquely positioned to build long-term wealth

Follow along on Instagram!

Co-Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @Templeton_walker

Guest: @heymckaylahale

Interested in joining Real?

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In this episode of The Real Shift, Templeton and Kristen sit down with Eleazar Medrano to unpack his journey from market crash survival to building a vertically integrated real estate business. From overdrafting his account for groceries in 2009 to leading a thriving team and launching a nationwide support company, Eleazar shares the mindset shifts that changed everything. He opens up about faith, leadership, and the “Lighthouse Method” he uses to turn agents into CEOs. If you're a team leader—or want to become one—this episode is a masterclass in scaling with purpose.

• Eleazar’s origin story: from finance major to full-time real estate in 2003
• Riding the 2005–2007 boom—and surviving the 2008 crash
• The overdraft story that reshaped his perspective on business and life
• Building a 15-agent team headquartered in Chandler, AZ
• Why he considered opening a boutique brokerage—and chose Real instead
• The Lighthouse Method: developing agents into business owners
• Launching a real estate & mortgage support company that sets 120+ appointments/month
• Scaling a part-time-to-full-time agent platform nationwide
• Faith, personal growth, and the Warrior framework behind his leadership style
• Advice for team leaders considering making the move

Follow along on Instagram!

Co-Host: @heykristencantrell

Co-Host: @Templeton_walker

Guest: @ez_medrano

Interested in joining Real?

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