The Better Podcast

Jen Baird
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  • Business
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The Better Podcast is where we share the stories, advice, insights, and humour. Created unashamedly for real estate professionals, this show is designed to help you elevate your business and enrich your life. Join us for real conversations, practical wisdom, and the moments that make our industry unique — all with one goal in mind: to help you get better.

  1. Aug 27

    Adam Whitelock: What Rugby Teaches You About Building a Real Estate Business

    What does professional rugby teach you about building a sustainable, high-performance real estate business? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird is joined by Bayleys agent and former professional rugby player Adam Whitelock to explore how the habits, disciplines and mindset required in elite sport have shaped the way he builds his business today. Adam shares his journey from growing up on a dairy farm and playing rugby from a young age to joining the Canterbury Academy, representing Canterbury and the Crusaders, and finishing his professional career in France. He reflects on the work, sacrifice, resilience and supportive environments behind that journey, as well as the importance of preparing for life beyond professional sport. The conversation follows Adam's transition through rural banking and into real estate, where disciplined prospecting helped him build momentum quickly and win the REINZ Rising Star Award in his first year. He explains why doing the work consistently matters more than looking for shortcuts, and how preparation, product knowledge and professionalism remain essential, regardless of the profile or network you begin with. Adam also shares the systems that support his business today, from Sunday planning and setting his most valuable priorities to recording client contact, practising with colleagues, seeking feedback and reviewing performance. He discusses the role of exercise, journalling and reflection in sustaining energy, learning from setbacks and balancing the demands of work with health and family. For real estate agents, this episode offers a practical look at what high performance requires over the long term: clear priorities, purposeful habits, genuine community engagement, trusted relationships and the curiosity to keep learning. This is a grounded conversation about turning preparation into performance, building a reputation through consistent action and creating a business that supports a better life.

    Adam Whitelock: What Rugby Teaches You About Building a Real Estate Business

  2. Aug 13

    Wealth in New Zealand: How High-Net-Worth Clients Think About Property, Investment and Long-Term Wealth Creation

    How do New Zealand's wealthiest individuals think about building, protecting and transferring wealth? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird sits down with a leading wealth management expert to explore how high-net-worth clients approach property, investment and long-term wealth creation. Together, they unpack the role property plays within a broader wealth strategy, examining how affluent New Zealanders balance residential and commercial property with equities, private investments and offshore opportunities. The conversation also explores the changing wealth landscape, current investor sentiment, and how global economic conditions are influencing decision-making among sophisticated investors. Drawing on extensive experience working with wealthy clients, our guest shares insights into how high-net-worth individuals evaluate opportunities, select trusted advisors and build long-term professional relationships. They discuss the common mistakes investors make, the risks of over-concentration, and why understanding a client's broader financial goals is critical when helping them make important decisions. For real estate agents, this episode offers practical guidance on how to better understand affluent clients, create value beyond the transaction and position themselves as a trusted part of a client's wider advisory network. This is a thought-provoking conversation about wealth, trust, relationships and strategic thinking, packed with insights for agents who want to better understand the people they serve and build deeper client relationships. Important Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the personal views of the speaker and not necessarily those of Pāua Wealth Management. The information is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Before acting on any information discussed, listeners should consider whether it is appropriate for their particular circumstances and seek professional advice where necessary. Before making any financial decisions, you should consult a financial advice provider. Disclosure information relating to Pāua Wealth Management Limited can be viewed at Paua-Wealth-Disclosure-Statement-1.pdf.

    Wealth in New Zealand: How High-Net-Worth Clients Think About Property, Investment and Long-Term Wealth Creation

  3. Jul 31

    Adam Heazlewood: Building a High-Performance Business with Auctions

    What does it take to build one of New Zealand's highest-performing real estate businesses and maintain that success over time? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird sits down with Adam Heazlewood, one of Christchurch's leading residential agents, to discuss the habits, systems and strategies behind a high-volume real estate business. Adam reflects on his journey into real estate at a young age, the key decisions that helped him gain momentum early, and how his business evolved from a solo operation into a scalable team. He shares how Christchurch's property market has transformed throughout his career and how adapting to change has been critical to maintaining results. A strong advocate for auctions, Adam explains why they remain central to his approach, how he positions the method with clients, and the role that collaboration and process play in delivering successful outcomes. He also offers practical advice for agents who want to incorporate more auctions into their business and overcome common misconceptions about the process. This is a practical conversation about consistency, discipline, growth and performance, packed with lessons for agents looking to build a more effective and sustainable real estate business.

    Adam Heazlewood: Building a High-Performance Business with Auctions

  4. Jul 16

    Suzie Wigglesworth: Demystifying Residential Projects

    How do residential projects actually work — and what can every agent learn from one of the most specialised parts of real estate? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird sits down with Suzie Wigglesworth, National Director of Projects at Bayleys, to demystify the world of residential projects and development sales. Suzie works across the full lifecycle of residential developments, from acquisition, planning and feasibility through to product positioning, brand development, project marketing and sales. While most agents focus on individual property transactions, Suzie's work often begins years before a project reaches the market. In this conversation, Suzie shares her journey into projects, explains how development sales differ from traditional residential real estate, and breaks down the process from site acquisition through to launch and sell-down. She discusses the importance of long-term relationships, the role of trust and credibility when working with developers, and why getting the fundamentals right early can determine a project's success. This is a practical conversation that demystifies residential projects, helping agents better understand the development cycle, where they can add value, and when specialist expertise matters.

    Suzie Wigglesworth: Demystifying Residential Projects

  5. Jul 2

    Will Alexander: Property Management Meets AI

    What happens when deep real estate experience meets engineering thinking and a drive to constantly improve? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird sits down with Will Alexander, Head of Innovation and National Director of Property Management at Bayleys, to talk about the journey behind one of the most forward-thinking minds in the business — and the role technology is playing in shaping the future of real estate. Will started his career as a professional cyclist before transitioning into real estate, where he built extensive experience across property management, leadership and proptech — including time with Renti — before returning to Bayleys to lead innovation across the business. In this conversation, Will shares how his engineering mindset drives him to identify inefficiencies and build smarter solutions, the thinking behind products like the Bayleys rental appraisal app, and why the real opportunity in technology is freeing agents up to focus on what truly matters — people and relationships. This is a conversation about curiosity, consistency and what it takes to build the systems that support the future of real estate.

    Will Alexander: Property Management Meets AI

  6. Jun 18

    Hayden Ringrose: New Island, New Brand, New Level

    What does it take to reinvent yourself in real estate — moving to a new market, joining a new brand, and building something from the ground up? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird sits down with Hayden Ringrose, a Bayleys agent based on Waiheke Island, to talk about the career pivots, personal disciplines and mindset shifts that have defined his journey in real estate. Hayden's path to real estate is anything but conventional — starting out as a tour bus driver before finding his feet in the industry in Dunedin, relocating to Waiheke Island, and eventually making the move to Bayleys. Each transition required him to rebuild his network, re-establish his reputation and back himself in an unfamiliar environment. In this conversation, Hayden reflects on what it really means to enter a new market and build trust from scratch, why aligning with the right brand changed the calibre of his business, and the personal disciplines that keep him sharp, consistent and showing up at his best. This is a conversation about reinvention, resilience and what it looks like to grow into the agent you always wanted to be.

    Hayden Ringrose: New Island, New Brand, New Level

  7. Jun 4

    James Phelan: Behind the Campaign that Sold Andersons Cove

    What does it take to build a world-class marketing campaign for one of New Zealand's most extraordinary private coastal estates? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird sits down with James Phelan, National Residential Marketing Manager at Bayleys, to unpack the strategy, discipline, and thinking behind the Andersons Cove campaign. Set across 48 hectares of palm-fringed coastline between Mangawhai and Langs Beach, Andersons Cove is a once-in-a-generation coastal estate — long shielded from public view and known only to a discreet circle of family and close friends. Marketing a property like this to the right buyer, in the right way, required a different level of thinking entirely. James shares what it really takes to pitch and win a listing of this calibre, build a campaign mix worthy of the property, and leverage media relationships to bring Andersons Cove to the attention of the world. He also reflects on the role of database intelligence, campaign sequencing, and why great marketing should not be underestimated as a discipline in real estate. This is a conversation about what exceptional property marketing actually looks like — and what every agent can learn from it.

    James Phelan: Behind the Campaign that Sold Andersons Cove

  8. May 21

    Ethan Mitchell: Relentless Pursuit, Olympic Mindset & Achievement at the Highest Level

    What does it take to perform at the highest level in the world—and then apply that mindset beyond sport? In this episode of The Better Podcast, Jen Baird sits down with Olympic silver medallist Ethan Mitchell to explore a career defined by relentless pursuit, discipline, and high performance. From winning silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics as part of New Zealand’s track cycling Team Sprint squad, to now leading performance and growth within a high-performing real estate business, Ethan shares what it really takes to operate at an elite level. He reflects on the mindset required in high-performance sport—where success is built on sacrifice, structure, and total focus—and how those same principles translate into the ambiguity and pressure of real estate. Ethan also unpacks the realities of competing on the world stage, the cost of chasing marginal gains, and why process, discipline, and internal motivation are the foundations of sustained success. This is a conversation about Olympic-level performance—and what it teaches us about achievement in any field.

    Ethan Mitchell: Relentless Pursuit, Olympic Mindset & Achievement at the Highest Level
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About

The Better Podcast is where we share the stories, advice, insights, and humour. Created unashamedly for real estate professionals, this show is designed to help you elevate your business and enrich your life. Join us for real conversations, practical wisdom, and the moments that make our industry unique — all with one goal in mind: to help you get better.

Information

  • Creator
    Jen Baird
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jen Baird
  • Show Website
    The Better Podcast

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