What happens when loss, faith, mental health, and leadership collide?

In this powerful episode of The Red Chair, Genevra Collins sits down with Brad Papa of Papas in the House for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet.

Brad opens up about growing up in Kansas City, losing his mom at a young age, and how that early loss shaped his belief that success isn’t about transactions ; it’s about how you make people feel.

He shares the pivotal moment  when he realized he was meant for sales, not to sell houses, but to help people feel at home emotionally. Brad talks about his first year in real estate, the fear of putting himself out there, and how he differentiated himself in a crowded market by doing one simple thing exceptionally well: truly caring.

This conversation goes deeper as Brad courageously unpacks a dark season of mental health struggles, faith, and burnout  during a year when nothing was working, when God was breaking him down to rebuild something deeper, and when he hit a physical and emotional rock bottom that forced him to confront everything.

He shares how his wife supported him, how faith became real instead of performative, and how learning to ask “How can I pray for you?” changed the way he leads, connects, and serves.

If you’ve ever:

• Avoided conflict and paid the price later

• Wondered what success really means

• Struggled when nothing seemed to work

• Wanted to lead with care, trust, and authenticity

This episode is for you.

 The Red Chair is a space for real stories, real growth, and the human side of leadership.

Find Brad Papa at

 papasinthehouse.com,

What if the thing holding you back is not your skill but what you believe about yourself?

In this episode of The Red Chair, Genevra Collins sits down with Aaron Donner, founder of The Donner Group, for a raw and honest conversation about confidence, leadership, and redefining success.

Aaron shares the early days of his real estate career when he was losing listing appointments, questioning himself, and feeling like a beaten puppy who was not sure he belonged. Everything changed when he reframed his identity and realized his corporate negotiation background was not a weakness but his advantage. That mindset shift unlocked his belief, his results, and his trajectory as an agent.

As success followed, Aaron began building a team and like many leaders, he learned the hard way that growth measured by headcount can lead you in the wrong direction. He opens up about building a team the wrong way, rebuilding it the right way, and why profitability and opportunity matter more than size.

The conversation comes full circle as Aaron reflects on what matters most now. Being present. Protecting focus. Making sure success does not cost the moments that matter most. He also shares how he stays mentally sharp with a simple but powerful rule. If what you are watching or reading is not making you a better person, stop.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How early failure shaped Aaron’s confidence and growth

• The mindset shift that changed his business and belief

• Lessons from building a team wrong before building it right

• Why profitability creates real opportunity for others

• How to stay mentally sharp and protect what matters most

This episode is for leaders, agents, and entrepreneurs who want success that feels earned and growth that actually matters.

Link to the video Unbroken by Mateusz M

Unbroken https://youtu.be/26U_seo0a1g?si=OIxVCTh3aEHwoaY2https://www.thedonnergroup.com/

facebook/donnergroup

instagram/donnergroup

In this episode of The Red Chair, Genevra Collins sits down with Kansas City top agent Micquelyn “Micquie” Malina for a high-energy, honest conversation about roots, resilience, and building real wealth through real estate.

Micquie starts by sharing her early life and what growing up around horses taught her about discipline, competition, and grit these lessons that would later become the foundation of her success in real estate. She opens up about her early years in the business, the challenges she faced as a new agent, and the moments that tested her confidence before she found her footing.

The conversation then moves into how Micquie carved out a powerful niche in land and acreage, becoming known for “buying dirt” and helping clients see land not just as property, but as opportunity. She breaks down what most agents misunderstand about land deals, shares memorable transactions, and reflects on what it meant to help shape the KW Land division.

From there, Micquie dives into wealth building and investing — explaining the difference between selling real estate and owning assets. She shares her investing mindset, lessons learned along the way, and how she thinks agents can use land, leverage, and long-term thinking to create financial stability and legacy beyond commissions.

Finally, Micquie pulls back the curtain on the woman behind the business how she stays grounded, how she’s growing and leading her team, what success looks like now, and the advice she would give any agent who wants a business and a life that lasts.

Maria Koch is a Kansas City-based agent and investor who has built momentum through flips, BRRRRs, and long-term rentals. In this Investor Spotlight, Maria walks us through her journey into real estate, breaks down one of her deals step by step, and shares how she evaluates opportunities in today’s KC market.

We talk candidly about what worked, what didn’t, and the systems she uses to balance being both an agent and an investor. Maria also shares her perspective on Kansas City neighborhoods, common mistakes new investors make, and practical advice for anyone looking to buy their first investment property.

This episode is packed with real numbers, real lessons, and real insight for agents and investors who want to build wealth locally.

Find Maria at:

http://nocoastinvesting.com

Instagram- @nocoastinvesting