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

Kevin Kauffman and Fred Weaver
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Interviews from the best and brightest minds in the real estate industry. We cover topics like Investing, listings, buyers, brokerage, technology, entrepreneurship and so much more. Brought to you by KevinandFred.com

  1. 15H AGO

    Do you have a business or a job?

    Most real estate agents are told the same lie: sell more, do more, hustle harder — and eventually, freedom will follow. But what if scaling your production is actually just scaling your stress? Kevin Kauffman gets real about the trap that catches even the top producers in the industry, and why the question you're asking about your business might be the very thing keeping you stuck. This episode is a mindset reset. Kevin breaks down the difference between transactions and ownership, hustle and duplication, and what it actually means to build something that pays you for decisions you made years ago — not the effort you're putting in today. In this episode: Why the top producers in real estate are often the least free — and what that tells us about how most agents are building their businesses The single question that changed everything for Kevin: "How does this work without me?" Transactions vs. ownership — and why restarting at zero every month is a choice, not a requirement Why your talent, charisma, and hustle don't scale — but simple, boring, repeatable systems do The compounding recruiting model: what it looks like to add one to two quality agents a month and build real leaders over time The identity shift that separates producers from builders — and why it's the hardest (and most important) move you'll make If you're done grinding for dollars that stop the moment you stop working, this episode is your next step. The game changes the moment you're no longer required for every dollar — and Kevin shows you exactly how to get there. Learn more about building with Next Level Agents at nextlevelagents.com/exp. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    14 min

  2. 4D AGO

    Your Calendar Dictates Your Income: Why Busy Agents Stay Broke

    You're working hard. Your calendar is packed, your phone doesn't stop, and by Friday you're completely wiped out — but your business doesn't feel like it moved an inch. That's not a hustle problem. That's a clarity problem. In this solo episode, Kevin Kauffman breaks down a framework — inspired by his friend and business partner Brian Gubernick — that separates agents who grind forever from agents who actually grow. It's called the energy audit combined with a leverage audit, and it's one of the most honest diagnostic tools you can run on your own business right now. What's covered: The difference between "true drains" and "growth discomfort" — and why mixing them up keeps your business stuck How to assign a dollar value to every task on your plate and what most agents discover when they do The "collision point" framework: how to identify what to eliminate, delegate, or automate immediately Why high performers design their week around $1,000/hour activities first — and fit everything else around that The Gary Keller principle Kevin learned early in his career: never let current business get in the way of new business A 30-minute challenge you can do this week to start reclaiming your time right now Ready to audit your week and build a business that actually grows? Learn more about what Kevin and the Next Level Agents crew are building at nextlevelagents.com/exp. Referenced in this episode: Brian Gubernick's No Days Off podcast: nodaysoff.com ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    20 min

  3. MAR 9

    Why Most Agents Fail in Tough Markets

    The market doesn't care about your excuses — and honestly, neither do the agents who are winning right now. In this episode, Kevin Kauffman and Erik Kelly get real about what's actually separating the agents who are thriving from the ones who are barely surviving, and it has nothing to do with interest rates or inventory. This one's a no-fluff, straight-talk conversation about consistency, mastery, mental health, and the kind of human connection that builds a business that lasts through every market cycle. If you've been waiting for the market to "get easier" before you go all in, this episode is going to challenge that thinking hard. What we get into: Why the market cycle is never the real problem — and what actually is The difference between agents who had their best year ever in 2024 and those who had their worst (hint: same market) Why waiting for rates to drop might be the trap you don't see coming The Tiger Woods and Paul Skenes approach to skill-building that most agents will never commit to Why 7 out of 10 agents didn't sell a single home last year — and the mindset shift that changes that How to consult instead of pitch, and why it's the communication skill that closes more deals The consistency principle that predicts your income better than any market report Mental health, human connection, and why going deeper in conversation might be the most underrated business strategy in real estate right now If this episode hit home, you're probably the kind of agent who's ready to stop waiting and start building — regardless of what the market is doing. That's exactly who we built Next Level Agents for. Learn more about what we're doing at eXp and how to plug in at nextlevelagents.com/exp. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    49 min

  4. MAR 5

    How eXp's Chief Learning Officer Is Rewriting Agent Training and Why Most Brokerages Are Getting It Wrong

    Most real estate training tells agents what to do. Bryon Ellington, Chief Learning Officer of eXp Realty, is building something different — training that actually gets agents into action, backed by real data from real producers who are crushing it right now. In this episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with Bryon to go deep on eXp University's FastCap program, the Elite Solo Agent Mastermind, and a brand-new lead generation training series that interviewed dozens of top agents to find the repeatable systems behind their success. Whether you're brand new, relaunching, or ready to scale from $5M to $10M, there's a path being built specifically for where you are. What We Cover Why traditional new agent training fails — and what eXp did differently to build FastCap The data behind FastCap: how average completers rack up 3.6 appointments and 1.9 agreements in just six weeks How a partnership with Realty.com is putting live seller leads in the hands of brand new agents — and the results that followed Why 71% of agents did zero or one deal last year, and what the industry needs to do about it The open house strategy most agents are completely missing (hint: the open house isn't the event — it's the excuse) Four totally different door-knocking and open house approaches from top producers, and why all of them work The "10 ponds" lead generation framework that helps agents fish beyond the MLS What the Elite Solo Agent Mastermind offers experienced agents who feel overlooked at most brokerages Why the best training content doesn't come from the most successful agents — it comes from people just two or three steps ahead of you How to use Instagram Stories to document every transaction without ever turning the camera on yourself Ready to level up? Whether you're just getting started or scaling past your current ceiling, the tools are already built — and if you're with eXp, they're free. Plug in, do the work, and go get different. Explore the Lead Mastery Agent Playbooks mentioned in this episode: https://www.expuniversity.com/agentplaybooks Learn more about joining eXp and the Next Level Agents community: https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    45 min

  5. MAR 2

    Why Most Real Estate Agents Will Never Have True Freedom (And What to Do About It)

    You're busy. You're closing deals. You might even be making great money. But are you actually building toward freedom — or just building a faster treadmill? Kevin Kauffman sits down with returning guest and real estate veteran Chris Bowers for a raw, no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to get to the next level in both production and building residual income through recruiting at eXp Realty. Chris has been chasing a specific goal for six years — $50,000 a month in passive income — and he's getting close. But what makes this episode hit different is the moment he realizes mid-conversation that it was never about the money at all. It's about time. And that distinction changes everything about how you approach your business. Key themes from this episode: The difference between flexibility and actual freedom — and why most agents are lying to themselves about which one they have Why the number of no's you get in recruiting is directly tied to the income you make — and how to get emotionally ready to handle more of them How clarity on your "one thing" makes tactics irrelevant — and why the agents who win aren't necessarily the smartest, just the most focused The ego risk of building at eXp vs. the capital risk of traditional brokerage ownership — and which one is actually harder to swallow What happens when you hit 200 agents in your organization and realize what got you there won't get you to the next level Why vision without daily action is just daydreaming — and how to close the gap between the life you want and the one you're actually living If you've been telling yourself you don't have time to recruit, this episode is a direct challenge to that story. Chris and Kevin break down why recruiting isn't a separate business — it IS the business — and how 30 focused minutes a day can change your financial trajectory more than another year of grinding production. Ready to learn more about what building at eXp could look like for you? Head to nextlevelagents.com/exp to get the full picture. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    50 min

  6. FEB 26

    How Real Estate Agents Are Using Social Media to Generate Free Leads on Autopilot

    If you think social media is optional for real estate agents in 2025, this episode is going to challenge that assumption — hard. Guest host Carly Pederson sits down with Kaitlin Ward, a top-producing lender with Summit Funding on the West Coast, who has built the majority of her business through organic social media. No ad spend, no fancy production equipment — just a consistent strategy, a clear message, and the courage to show up. Kaitlin and Carly break down exactly how agents and lenders can stop overthinking social media and start treating it like the lead gen machine it actually is. From what to post, how often to post, how to turn your Instagram DMs into a full-blown CRM, and why starting a brand-new business page is one of the biggest mistakes agents make — this episode is packed with actionable, no-fluff strategy. Key Topics Covered: Why social media's reach is infinitely more powerful than mailers, door knocking, or open houses The 3 E's framework: Educational, Emotional, and Entertaining content that actually converts Why storytelling beats "Just Listed / Just Sold" posts every single time How often to post (and how to realistically build up to a consistent cadence without burning out) How to use Instagram DMs as a free CRM — including flagging, sorting, and lead labeling Why you should NEVER abandon your existing personal social media page to start a new business one How Carly made an extra $100K last year from social media with fewer than 1,000 followers The "silent audience" — why the people not liking or commenting are often your warmest leads Whether you're just getting started or you've been posting inconsistently and wondering why it's not converting, this episode gives you a clear, honest framework to make social media work for your business — starting today. Learn more about Next Level Agents / eXp Realty: https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    41 min

  7. FEB 23

    How to Use Retargeting Ads to Dominate Your Local Real Estate Market and Win More Listings

    Your social media isn't underperforming because you're not posting enough — it's underperforming because most agents are missing the single strategy that makes social media actually convert into listings. Retargeting, hyperlocal brand-building, and ads that don't look like ads are what separates the agents who are recognized everywhere in their community from the ones who are still grinding for every lead. In this episode, co-host Carly Pederson sits down with Tim Chermak, founder of Platform Marketing, to break down the system behind social media marketing that generates real business. Tim has spent over a decade working exclusively with real estate agents, and this conversation gets specific — from why 80–90% of your ads should be retargeting ads, to how listing video views can change your price reduction conversations, to why some Platform clients are charging 4% commissions in today's market and still winning listings. Key topics covered in this episode: What retargeting actually is — and why it's the most powerful tool most agents aren't using Why the content that builds the deepest trust has nothing to do with real estate How 50,000–100,000+ listing video views changes the way you talk to sellers about price Why lead generation creates a time liability — and what strategy actually scales at high production levels The case for charging more than 3% commission when your marketing can back it up Why Platform Marketing only works with one agent per market — and what that means for the quality of the strategy A free, actionable tip you can use today even if a managed marketing program isn't an option If you've been showing up on social media without seeing real business results, this episode gives you a clear picture of what's missing and what to do about it. If you're ready to take your business to the next level, learn more about the NLA community at nextlevelagents.com/exp. Connect with Tim Chermak and Platform Marketing: Website: https://platform.marketing Podcast: The Platform Marketing Show (available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube) Interested in learning more about Platform Marketing? Reach out to Carly Pederson directly: Carly@CarlyPedersonTeam.com ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    55 min

  8. FEB 19

    The Agent Who Does Nothing Fancy and Closes More Than Everyone: Nick Kibby's Unsexy Formula for Unstoppable Consistency

    Nick Kibby didn't build a billion-dollar team in Phoenix by doing something flashy. He built it by doing the right things — the same things — every single day for years. In this episode, Erik Kelly sits down with Nick to unpack the mindset, daily rhythms, and leadership philosophy that took him from corporate CFO to one of the most consistently productive agents and team owners in Arizona. If you're tired of chasing shiny objects that never close deals, this one is going to hit differently. Nick breaks down why sustainability beats intensity every time, how to use the word "fair" to disarm even the most difficult negotiation, and what's actually wrong with the way most team leaders approach splits, recruiting, and retention. What we get into: Why Nick ignored what everyone else was doing in his first year — and how that focus led him to outperform without realizing it The self-audit every agent needs to do before doing anything else in their business His daily structure: gym at 5am, prospect with intention, and deep work at midnight (yes, really) The "trading positions" framework that helps buyers and sellers get out of their own way in a tough market Why "fair" is the most powerful word in a negotiation — and how to use it without triggering anyone The difference between a great agent and a great leader (and why assuming they're the same thing is wrecking teams) Why obsessing over splits is a sign you've never actually made money in real estate What "thrive" means for 2026 — and the data Nick is tracking to back it up Nick and his partner at Relevate have closed over a billion dollars in sales across multiple states. They run expansion teams producing 2M+ GCI consistently. He is not guessing. He is sharing the actual playbook. If this episode lit a fire under you and you're ready to level up inside a brokerage that matches your ambition, check out what eXp has to offer at nextlevelagents.com/exp. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    40 min
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4.9
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180 Ratings

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Interviews from the best and brightest minds in the real estate industry. We cover topics like Investing, listings, buyers, brokerage, technology, entrepreneurship and so much more. Brought to you by KevinandFred.com

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