Let's Bee Real with Bee Powell

Bee Powell
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Let's Bee Real is a monthly podcast from Realtor and Broker, Bee Powell--a seasoned expert when it comes to buying, selling, and managing homes and properties. In each episode, she interviews local guides, influencers, and leaders in the Central Florida community that provides helpful insight for potential homebuyers, investors, and even residents of places like Volusia County, Seminole County, Flagler County, Orange County, and Brevard County.

Episodes

  1. Sep 8

    The Real Estate Service Families Didnโ€™t Know They Needed | Silver Keys by Bee Powell

    In this heartfelt episode of ๐˜“๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ, host ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น is interviewed by longtime teammate ๐—•๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐—ฒ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐˜€ to discuss ๐—ฆ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ž๐—ฒ๐˜†๐˜€ โ€” a unique real estate concierge program designed to help seniors and families navigate the emotional and logistical challenges of downsizing and selling a home. From decluttering decades of memories to coordinating repairs, donations, moving logistics, staging, utilities, and estate clean outs, Silver Keys was created to provide seniors with dignity, support, and peace of mind during major life transitions. Bee shares: ๐Ÿ—๏ธ How the Silver Keys program was created ๐Ÿ—๏ธ Why downsizing is often emotionally overwhelming ๐Ÿ—๏ธ How seniors can prepare for moving later in life ๐Ÿ—๏ธ The importance of protecting elderly homeowners ๐Ÿ—๏ธ How the program helps families from start to finish ๐Ÿ—๏ธ Real stories of compassion, caregiving, and helping clients transition smoothly If you or your family are facing: - Downsizing - Selling a longtime family home - Moving to assisted living - Decluttering years of belongings - Estate transitions or probate situations โ€ฆthis episode offers practical guidance and emotional reassurance. ๐Ÿ” ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ What the Silver Keys program is Helping seniors sell homes stress-free Decluttering and downsizing strategies Managing estate cleanouts and transitions Preparing a home for sale Concierge real estate services Helping elderly homeowners move with dignity The emotional side of leaving a longtime home How staging and curb appeal increase value Current real estate market trends in DeLand, Florida โฑ๏ธ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜€ 00:00 โ€“ What Silver Keys is & who it helps 00:43 โ€“ Introduction with Barbie Bates 01:20 โ€“ How Silver Keys was created 02:00 โ€“ Why downsizing becomes overwhelming 03:00 โ€“ Helping seniors organize decades of belongings 04:00 โ€“ Concierge support & customized moving plans 05:00 โ€“ Family involvement & sentimental belongings 06:00 โ€“ The meaning behind the name โ€œSilver Keysโ€ 07:00 โ€“ Home prep: repairs, staging & curb appeal 08:00 โ€“ Sending boxes & handling logistics 09:00 โ€“ Focusing on where youโ€™re going next 10:00 โ€“ Downsizing seminars & the โ€œdot systemโ€ 11:00 โ€“ Helping sellers maximize home value 12:00 โ€“ How Silver Keys pricing works 13:00 โ€“ Donating furniture & honoring memories 15:00 โ€“ Emotional attachment to belongings 16:00 โ€“ Estate sales: pros & cons 18:00 โ€“ Why having one trusted point of contact matters 19:00 โ€“ Protecting seniors from bad contractors & scams 21:00 โ€“ Going beyond transactions: helping clients emotionally 22:00 โ€“ Why the service also helps busy families 23:00 โ€“ โ€œGolden Keysโ€ & divorce transitions joke 24:00 โ€“ Why Silver Keys is different from traditional real estate 25:00 โ€“ What homes are selling best in todayโ€™s market 27:00 โ€“ Best upgrades before selling a home 29:00 โ€“ The Saint Joseph house-selling story 31:00 โ€“ Real estate, equity & full-circle wealth building 32:00 โ€“ Closing thoughts

    The Real Estate Service Families Didnโ€™t Know They Needed | Silver Keys by Bee Powell

  2. Aug 11

    Stetson Football Coach Mike Jasper on Leadership, Discipline & Building Winning Culture

    In this powerful episode of ๐˜“๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ, Bee Powell sits down with ๐— ๐—ถ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐—๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, Head Football Coach at ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜€๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—จ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†, former NFL player, and one of the most passionate leadership voices in college athletics. Mike opens up about his journey from growing up in a single-parent household to becoming an NFL draft pick โ€” and how adversity shaped the coach, father, and leader he is today. This conversation goes far beyond football. Together, Bee and Mike discuss: - Building a winning culture through discipline and consistency - Why great coaches focus on developing people first - Leadership lessons from the NFL - The mindset elite athletes share - Why community support matters in college sports - Raising resilient young men - Fatherhood, faith, and purpose - Growth mindset, adaptability, and avoiding complacency Whether you're a football fan, entrepreneur, parent, coach, athlete, or leader โ€” this episode is packed with wisdom about life, resilience, and building something meaningful. ๐Ÿ” ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ - Mike Jasperโ€™s football journey from childhood to the NFL - Being drafted from an NAIA school - Lessons learned from adversity and failure - Coaching philosophy & leadership principles - Building culture inside a college football program - Developing discipline and resilience in athletes - Why consistency matters more than motivation - Stetson Footballโ€™s rebuilding process - The importance of community involvement in sports - Parenting, fatherhood & competitive mindset - Learning from legendary coaches like Tom Coughlin & Ron Rivera - Growth mindset and continuous improvement โฑ๏ธ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜€ 00:00 โ€“ Mike Jasperโ€™s core coaching philosophy 00:26 โ€“ Introduction to Stetson Head Coach Mike Jasper 01:15 โ€“ Faith, family & football in that order 02:00 โ€“ More than football: arts, movies & personality 03:05 โ€“ Growing up in a single-parent household 03:50 โ€“ Starting football at age 4 04:16 โ€“ College football journey & adversity 05:09 โ€“ โ€œHouse of Godโ€ turning point at Bethel University 06:00 โ€“ From NAIA football to the NFL Draft 07:00 โ€“ Mikeโ€™s coaching philosophy & leadership mindset 08:15 โ€“ Rebuilding Stetson Football culture 09:40 โ€“ Winning the locker room through consistency 10:25 โ€“ Creating adversity in practice to prepare athletes 12:11 โ€“ What the public misunderstands about football 13:00 โ€“ Why community support matters in college athletics 14:00 โ€“ Open practices & building fan culture 15:00 โ€“ Why Mike loves DeLand & Stetson 16:00 โ€“ Developing young men beyond football 17:13 โ€“ Family life, fatherhood & raising athletes 19:00 โ€“ Football safety & coaching evolution 20:00 โ€“ Competitive powerlifting & staying driven 22:00 โ€“ Why athletes make strong leaders 23:18 โ€“ Winning with integrity vs โ€œwinning at all costsโ€ 25:00 โ€“ The business side of coaching college football 27:00 โ€“ Traits every successful athlete shares 29:00 โ€“ Why athletes struggle to โ€œretireโ€ from competition 30:15 โ€“ Legendary coaches Mike learned from 35:00 โ€“ Favorite books & leadership mindset 37:00 โ€“ Mikeโ€™s unforgettable NFL Draft moment 39:00 โ€“ Closing thoughts

    Stetson Football Coach Mike Jasper on Leadership, Discipline & Building Winning Culture

  3. Jul 14

    Becoming Whole: Lorna Owens on Love, Loss, Business & Philanthropy

    In this unforgettable episode of ๐˜“๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ, Bee Powell sits down with ๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฎ ๐—ข๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜€, owner of ๐——๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜ ๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐˜†๐—น๐—ฒ & ๐—ช๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐——๐—ฒ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ, former criminal prosecutor, author, philanthropist, and global tea entrepreneur. Lornaโ€™s journey is anything but ordinary. From growing up in Jamaica to becoming a prosecutor under Janet Renoโ€ฆ from leaving law to launch a record labelโ€ฆ from financial loss to spiritual clarityโ€ฆ and ultimately building a thriving tea and wellness brand โ€” Lorna shares how purpose, intuition, and resilience shaped her path. ๐™๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™š๐™ฅ๐™ž๐™จ๐™ค๐™™๐™š ๐™š๐™ญ๐™ฅ๐™ก๐™ค๐™ง๐™š๐™จ: Reinventing yourself after burnoutListening to intuition and trusting the processThe global history and energy of teaWhy tea is more than a beverage โ€” itโ€™s culture, meditation, and connectionHealing after heartbreak (and writing Becoming Whole)Philanthropy in Africa through midwifery scholarshipsWhat โ€œhomeโ€ really means across culturesIf youโ€™re interested in ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ, ๐˜„๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ปโ€™๐˜€ ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ท๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜†๐˜€, ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฎ ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ, ๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜„๐˜๐—ต, ๐—ด๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฏ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฝ๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐˜†, ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜„๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป, this conversation will stay with you. ๐Ÿ” ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ โœ… Growing up in Jamaica & becoming a lawyer โœ… Working as a prosecutor in Miami โœ… Leaving law to launch a music label โœ… Losing $1.5 million โ€” and finding clarity โœ… Moving to DeLand during COVID โœ… Building Desert Sage Lifestyle & Wellness โœ… The history of tea (Boston Tea Party, Opium Wars, global trade) โœ… Tea tasting & finding โ€œyour teaโ€ โœ… Writing Becoming Whole after heartbreak โœ… Healing, grace, and reclaiming personal power โœ… Supporting maternal health in Africa โœ… Creating homes filled with meaning โฑ๏ธ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜€ 00:00 โ€“ The elegance of American homes vs global lifestyle 00:23 โ€“ Introduction to Lorna Owens 00:51 โ€“ From Jamaica to nursing to law school 01:55 โ€“ Prosecutor under Janet Reno 02:15 โ€“ Leaving law to start a record label 03:00 โ€“ Losing $1.5 million & finding peace 03:50 โ€“ Trusting your intuition 05:40 โ€“ Returning to law with purpose 08:00 โ€“ Moving to DeLand during COVID 09:00 โ€“ Opening Desert Sage in Artisan Alley 10:00 โ€“ The meaning and energy of tea 12:00 โ€“ Tea history & global impact 15:00 โ€“ How to find โ€œyour teaโ€ 16:22 โ€“ Tea tastings & flavor profiles 18:00 โ€“ The Boston Tea Party & Opium Wars 19:03 โ€“ Her African foundation & midwife scholarships 19:48 โ€“ Writing Becoming Whole 22:00 โ€“ Healing from heartbreak 24:00 โ€“ Giving yourself grace 26:00 โ€“ Listening to your inner voice 29:12 โ€“ Homes in America vs lifestyle abroad 31:00 โ€“ What makes a house feel like home 32:46 โ€“ Favorite snack & closing

    Becoming Whole: Lorna Owens on Love, Loss, Business & Philanthropy

  4. Jun 9

    Homeownership & Generational Wealth: Kristen Vance on Mortgages, Reverse Loans & Building Equity

    In this episode of ๐˜“๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ, Bee Powell sits down with ๐—ž๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฉ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ, mortgage lender with Certified Mortgage Planners, mom of six, youth baseball coach, and founder of the nonprofit ๐—”๐—น๐—น ๐—ž๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜†. ๐™†๐™ง๐™ž๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ฃ ๐™จ๐™๐™–๐™ง๐™š๐™จ ๐™ฅ๐™ค๐™ฌ๐™š๐™ง๐™›๐™ช๐™ก ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™จ๐™ž๐™œ๐™๐™ฉ๐™จ ๐™ค๐™ฃ: Why ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ตHow building equity creates long-term financial securityWhat first-time buyers need to understandReverse mortgages explained (and why theyโ€™ve made a comeback)Smart strategies for downsizers and right-sizersThe real impact of buying vs. rentingHow real estate can change your familyโ€™s futureBeyond mortgages, Kristen opens up about balancing business and family, coaching youth baseball, and launching a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help talented kids afford competitive sports. If you're a ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐˜-๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜†๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ, ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜, ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต-๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ต ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ, this episode delivers real-world insight and inspiration. ๐Ÿ” ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ โœ… Mortgage industry insights from a 10-year lender โœ… Building generational wealth through real estate โœ… Why equity matters more than people realize โœ… Reverse mortgages: how they work today โœ… Downsizing and retirement mortgage strategies โœ… Working mom life & time-blocking strategies โœ… Youth sports leadership & community impact โœ… Launching a nonprofit (All Kids Can Play) โœ… Why real estate is a wealth-building tool โฑ๏ธ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜€ 00:00 โ€“ Why homeownership builds generational wealth 00:40 โ€“ Introduction to Kristen Vance 01:18 โ€“ 10 years in the mortgage industry 02:02 โ€“ From restaurant management to mortgage lending 03:38 โ€“ Leadership lessons from hospitality 05:05 โ€“ Why Kristen loves DeLand 06:32 โ€“ Mom of six & family life 07:15 โ€“ Coaching youth baseball & sports leadership 08:00 โ€“ Work-life balance & time blocking 09:50 โ€“ Helping first-time homebuyers 10:36 โ€“ Generational wealth explained 11:38 โ€“ Renting vs. owning long-term 13:35 โ€“ Downsizing & right-sizing strategies 14:52 โ€“ Reverse mortgages explained 18:55 โ€“ Launching โ€œAll Kids Can Playโ€ nonprofit 21:10 โ€“ The cost of competitive youth sports 23:05 โ€“ Vision for supporting young athletes 26:12 โ€“ Real estate as a wealth strategy 27:00 โ€“ Why local experts matter 29:38 โ€“ Final thoughts on investing & community

    Homeownership & Generational Wealth: Kristen Vance on Mortgages, Reverse Loans & Building Equity

  5. May 12

    Investing in Youth & Revitalizing Downtown DeLand | Joe Hearn Interview

    In this episode of ๐˜“๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ, Bee Powell sits down with ๐—๐—ผ๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ป, founder of ๐—๐—ผ๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ป ๐—˜๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€, President of ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐——๐—ฒ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ, and one of the most influential community leaders in West Volusia. With more than 30 years in the event industry, Joe shares what it truly takes to execute unforgettable events โ€” from weddings and nonprofit fundraisers to large-scale destination productions. He explains why integrity, high standards, and word-of-mouth marketing built his business without traditional advertising. But this conversation goes far beyond event planning. ๐™…๐™ค๐™š ๐™™๐™ž๐™ซ๐™š๐™จ ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ค: The revitalization of Downtown DeLandWhy โ€œshop localโ€ is critical for small business successSmart growth for entrepreneursBalancing retail, office space, and community vibrancyInvesting in youth leadership and programs like ๐——๐—ฒ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑโ€™๐˜€ ๐—š๐—ผ๐˜ ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜How MainStreet DeLand became a model program in FloridaIf you're a ๐˜€๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น, ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ป๐˜๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ, ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, this episode is packed with real-world insight and inspiration. ๐Ÿ” ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ โœ… How Joe Hearn built a successful event planning business through word of mouth โœ… Why standards matter more than marketing โœ… The responsibility of planning once-in-a-lifetime events โœ… Leadership during COVID and stepping into volunteer roles โœ… Serving as President of MainStreet DeLand โœ… Downtown DeLandโ€™s award-winning Main Street program โœ… The importance of retail on the ground floor of downtown districts โœ… Smart growth advice for entrepreneurs โœ… Balancing rent increases with small business sustainability โœ… DeLandโ€™s Got Talent & investing in youth confidence โฑ๏ธ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜€ 00:00 โ€“ Why event planning is a huge responsibility 00:37 โ€“ Introduction to Joe Hearn 01:15 โ€“ Moving to DeLand 30 years ago 02:54 โ€“ Helping launch Gatorโ€™s Dockside 05:14 โ€“ Starting Joe Hearn Events 06:56 โ€“ Building a business with zero marketing 07:42 โ€“ Why word of mouth is the best advertising 08:54 โ€“ Serving on multiple boards & leadership roles 10:03 โ€“ Getting heavily involved during COVID 11:16 โ€“ Passion for investing in youth 12:15 โ€“ MainStreet DeLand & award-winning downtown model 14:31 โ€“ Balancing business & volunteer commitments 16:08 โ€“ What DeLand could improve for youth engagement 18:03 โ€“ Real estate challenges & rent increases downtown 20:15 โ€“ Why retail storefronts are essential to vibrancy 22:58 โ€“ Advice for aspiring event planners 24:13 โ€“ โ€œSmart growthโ€ for entrepreneurs 25:37 โ€“ DeLandโ€™s Got Talent overview 27:00 โ€“ Bringing generations together through arts & entertainment 29:44 โ€“ Final thoughts on community pride 30:14 โ€“ Lightning round + favorite snack

    Investing in Youth & Revitalizing Downtown DeLand | Joe Hearn Interview

  6. Apr 7

    How Downtown DeLand Became a Model Main Street | Tracey Word Interview

    In this episode of ๐˜“๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜‰๐˜ฆ ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ, Bee Powell sits down with ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜† ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ, owner of ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜๐˜† ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜€ in Downtown DeLand and former President of ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐——๐—ฒ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ, to talk about what it really takes to run a small retail businessโ€”and why shopping local matters more than ever.Tracey shares how she transitioned from criminal justice to boutique ownership, how Downtown DeLand became one of Floridaโ€™s oldest and most respected Main Street programs, and what small business owners learned during the challenges of 2020. From creative Facebook Live sales and candle deliveries during shutdowns to building a people-first retail experience, this episode is packed with insights for entrepreneurs, community leaders, and anyone who believes in supporting local business. ๐—œ๐—ณ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜: - Small business ownership - Women entrepreneurs - Historic downtown revitalization - Shop local movements - Community-driven growth โ€ฆ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚. ๐Ÿ” ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ โœ…What makes Downtown DeLand a โ€œModel Main Streetโ€ โœ…The impact of MainStreet DeLandโ€™s 40-year legacy โœ…The realities of owning a boutique retail store โœ…Why social media is essential for small business owners โœ…Creative pivots during the 2020 shutdown โœ…Supporting other local businesses (and keeping money in the community) โœ…Renting vs. owning commercial property downtown โœ…Growing a retail brand without losing personal connection โœ…Advice for aspiring shop owners โฑ๏ธ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜€ 00:00 โ€“ Why shopping local truly matters 00:35 โ€“ Introduction to Tracey Word 01:27 โ€“ Owner of Pretty Little Things (14 years in business) 02:07 โ€“ Serving as President of MainStreet DeLand 03:10 โ€“ DeLand as Floridaโ€™s oldest continuous Main Street 04:21 โ€“ What makes Downtown DeLand special 05:27 โ€“ Hiring a new Executive Director after loss 06:20 โ€“ 40th Anniversary Block Party 07:13 โ€“ How to get involved with MainStreet DeLand 08:38 โ€“ Traceyโ€™s unexpected journey into retail 10:42 โ€“ Creating a boutique shopping experience 11:57 โ€“ The real meaning of โ€œShop Localโ€ 13:52 โ€“ The 2020 shutdown & getting creative 15:00 โ€“ Facebook Lives, deliveries & selling through crisis 17:00 โ€“ How 2020 changed business forever 19:45 โ€“ Renting vs. owning in downtown DeLand 22:23 โ€“ Considering a second location 23:54 โ€“ Advice for opening a retail shop 25:19 โ€“ Why social media isnโ€™t optional 26:14 โ€“ The romantic idea vs. reality of small business 29:16 โ€“ Rating Downtown DeLand 30:12 โ€“ Lightning round: favorite candy 30:50 โ€“ Final thoughts

    How Downtown DeLand Became a Model Main Street | Tracey Word Interview

  7. Mar 10

    Inside Luxury Real Estate: Donnie Pingaro on Fisher Island, Customer Experience & Market Shifts | Bee Powell

    Join host Bee Powell as she interviews Donnie Pingaro, a respected luxury real estate leader with a fascinating journey from restaurant management to becoming one of the most well-connected real estate professionals on Fisher Islandโ€”one of the most exclusive communities in the world. Donnie shares how he unintentionally stepped into real estate, built a boutique brokerage known for its white-glove experience, and mastered serving high-net-worth clients through trust, hustle, and extraordinary customer care. From blank-check offers to hurricane response, Donnie reveals what true concierge-level real estate looks like. They also dive deep into the shifting Florida real estate market, the rise of technology and AI, industry-wide legal changes, and why personal connection still matters more than ever. If you're in real estate, luxury sales, customer experience, or curious about Fisher Islandโ€™s exclusive market, this is a must-watch episode. ๐Ÿ” Topics Covered โœ… Donnie Pingaroโ€™s journey into real estate โœ… What makes Fisher Island unlike any other community โœ… How to deliver true boutique, white-glove service โœ… Building long-term relationships with luxury clients โœ… โ€œBlank check dealsโ€ & ultra-high-end negotiations โœ… Hurricane response + going above & beyond for clients โœ… Real estate cycles and Florida market predictions โœ… AI, technology overload & how agents can adapt โœ… Boutique brokerage culture and leadership โœ… Why personal connection beats automation โฑ๏ธ Timestamps 00:00 โ€“ โ€œEmpty the tankโ€ philosophy & intro banter 00:20 โ€“ Welcome to Letโ€™s Bee Real with Donnie Pingaro 00:47 โ€“ Donnieโ€™s background & moving to Florida 01:17 โ€“ How he fell into real estate by accident 02:15 โ€“ Working on Fisher Island & discovering opportunity 03:11 โ€“ From MBA to hospitality to real estate 03:51 โ€“ First impressions of Fisher Island 04:13 โ€“ Transitioning into luxury real estate 04:47 โ€“ What makes Fisher Island so unique 06:02 โ€“ Lifestyle, exclusivity & international residents 07:04 โ€“ How Donnie earned trust as a young agent 07:50 โ€“ Serving 3rdโ€“5th home luxury clients 08:24 โ€“ The boutique service mindset 09:13 โ€“ Delivering high-end customer experiences 10:06 โ€“ Hurricane response: being โ€œfirst on the ferryโ€ 10:51 โ€“ Blank check deals explained 12:26 โ€“ Why trust is everything in luxury real estate 13:32 โ€“ Going above & beyond for clients 14:25 โ€“ Relational vs. transactional business 15:06 โ€“ Why customer experience matters more than ever 15:53 โ€“ Responsiveness & communication standards 16:36 โ€“ Technology overwhelm in real estate 17:53 โ€“ The role of AI + recent industry litigation 19:45 โ€“ Florida market cycles & future predictions 21:12 โ€“ Micro-markets across Florida 22:23 โ€“ Insurance challenges & overbuilding concerns 23:52 โ€“ Why honesty and integrity guide the best agents 25:08 โ€“ Stability, growth & post-COVID shifts 26:20 โ€“ What buyers should watch for in new developments 27:40 โ€“ The importance of trusted advisors 29:21 โ€“ Handling market chaos & staying inspired 30:33 โ€“ โ€œNever waste a good crisisโ€ 31:40 โ€“ Lightning Round (candy bars, dream home must-haves, books & more) 34:02 โ€“ Final thoughts & episode wrap-up

    Inside Luxury Real Estate: Donnie Pingaro on Fisher Island, Customer Experience & Market Shifts | Bee Powell

  8. Feb 10

    How DeLand Is Shaping Its Youth: Interview with Community Advocate Megan Cloudman

    In this inspiring episode of Letโ€™s Bee Real, Bee Powell sits down with Megan Cloudman, a passionate community advocate, youth mentor, and longtime DeLand resident. Together, they explore what it truly means to empower the next generation, how youth leadership builds stronger communities, and why adults must intentionally create space for teens to step into meaningful roles. Megan shares powerful storiesโ€”from high school float-building that brought 65+ students together, to service projects that sparked confidence and belonging in unexpected kids. She also opens up about her familyโ€™s deep roots in DeLand, her husbandโ€™s journey to becoming mayor, and how their householdโ€™s commitment to service has shaped countless young lives. If you care about youth empowerment, community building, leadership development, DeLand involvement, or fostering opportunities for teens, this is an episode you wonโ€™t forget. ๐Ÿ” Topics Covered โœ… Why youth empowerment is essential in every community โœ… How DeLand families can involve kids in leadership โœ… The impact of service projects on confidence & belonging โœ… The role of parents and community leaders in youth development โœ… How extracurricular activities shape identity โœ… The importance of modeling servant leadership โœ… Real stories of teens stepping up in powerful ways โœ… How the Cloudman familyโ€™s involvement influences the community โฑ๏ธ Timestamps 00:00 โ€“ Community talent & playful intro 00:16 โ€“ Welcome to Letโ€™s Bee Real 00:41 โ€“ Introducing guest Megan Cloudman 00:59 โ€“ How Bee & Megan first met 01:22 โ€“ Their long-term connection through school, business & horses 01:43 โ€“ Who Megan is: family, passion, roots in DeLand 02:14 โ€“ Raising teens in a community-focused environment 02:49 โ€“ Life at the Cloudman house: horses, dogs, routines 03:51 โ€“ How the family first got involved in DeLand 04:19 โ€“ Service dogs & community engagement 05:10 โ€“ How Chris Cloudman running for mayor affected their family 05:40 โ€“ Youth involvement during the mayoral campaign 06:20 โ€“ Megan stepping into philanthropic work 06:46 โ€“ Homecoming float-building: a story of unity 07:50 โ€“ How over 65 kids got involved 08:13 โ€“ Why teens want to be part of something 08:54 โ€“ Neighborhood Center toy drive & student involvement 09:50 โ€“ The impact of kids handing gifts directly 10:55 โ€“ Why leadership opportunities matter 11:16 โ€“ How DeLand Highโ€™s leadership class works 12:53 โ€“ Expanding youth involvement beyond SGA 13:35 โ€“ Inviting youth into community organizations 14:34 โ€“ Role of family-oriented clubs like Rotary Sunset 15:24 โ€“ Teaching kids real community service through hands-on work 16:01 โ€“ Why adults must model the behavior we want to see 17:02 โ€“ A powerful example: student who engineered the float 18:23 โ€“ Watching a teenโ€™s confidence explode 19:20 โ€“ Transportation challenges & how adults can help 20:01 โ€“ Lightning Round: defining community 20:20 โ€“ If DeLand had a mascotโ€ฆ 21:11 โ€“ Local spots where Megan feels most connected 22:26 โ€“ Dream home in three words 23:23 โ€“ Favorite candy bar 23:39 โ€“ Closing thoughts on shaping youth + community legacy

    How DeLand Is Shaping Its Youth: Interview with Community Advocate Megan Cloudman

  9. Jan 13

    What Business Owners Get Wrong About Branding & Marketing | Interview with Joshua Hays

    Description: In this episode of Letโ€™s Bee Real, Bee Powell sits down with Joshua Hays, founder of New York Ave, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in business: the REAL difference between branding, marketing, and advertisingโ€”and why most business owners get it wrong. Joshua shares his journey from childhood entrepreneur to leading one of Central Floridaโ€™s most respected marketing agencies. Together, Bee and Joshua dive into branding values, community impact, AIโ€™s disruption of the marketing industry, and how small businesses can stay connected to their audience in a noisy digital world. If you're a business owner, marketer, entrepreneur, or local community leader, this conversation is full of practical insights on brand identity, strategy, consistency, and the future of digital marketing. ๐Ÿ” Topics Covered โœ… Branding vs. marketing vs. advertising โœ… Why core values matter more than logos โœ… The biggest marketing mistakes business owners make โœ… How AI is transforming the marketing world โœ… Staying creative and inspired in a changing industry โœ… Why local businesses fuel local communities โœ… How consistency builds customer connection โœ… Real-world brand success examples โฑ๏ธ Timestamps 00:00 โ€“ Favorite colors banter 00:15 โ€“ Welcome to Letโ€™s Bee Real 00:22 โ€“ Introduction of guest Joshua Hays 00:48 โ€“ Joshโ€™s background in entrepreneurship & marketing 01:50 โ€“ Why Josh loves building teams 02:51 โ€“ Childhood inspirations + core values 03:45 โ€“ Integrity in marketing 04:29 โ€“ Branding vs. marketing vs. advertising explained 06:17 โ€“ Real estate branding and the meaning behind colors 07:07 โ€“ Beeโ€™s yellow brand identity 07:48 โ€“ Color psychology + brand meaning 08:56 โ€“ Biggest marketing mistakes business owners make 10:12 โ€“ Why business owners spread themselves too thin 11:03 โ€“ What brand success really looks like 12:27 โ€“ Building authentic connection with your audience 13:35 โ€“ Staying consistent in a noisy digital world 14:17 โ€“ The rapid evolution of tech + AI 15:22 โ€“ How Josh uses AI for strategy & creativity 16:10 โ€“ What keeps Josh creative 17:59 โ€“ Supporting the local community through local business 19:16 โ€“ Why โ€œshop localโ€ matters 20:11 โ€“ Local branding vs national brands 21:11 โ€“ Lightning round: fun questions 22:13 โ€“ Favorite candy bar (and a surprise!) 22:29 โ€“ Marketing pet peeves 22:56 โ€“ Dream home vibes 23:25 โ€“ The billboard question 23:54 โ€“ What business owners misunderstand about branding 24:19 โ€“ Finish the sentence: โ€œThe best marketing isโ€ฆโ€ 24:36 โ€“ Closing thoughts with Bee Powell

    What Business Owners Get Wrong About Branding & Marketing | Interview with Joshua Hays

  10. 12/16/2025

    Building Better Communities in Volusia County: Bee Powell Interviews Jim Old of the DeBary Foundation

    Discover how the DeBary Foundation is impacting DeBary, Florida through community projects, local partnerships, and a mission to make the city stronger, more vibrant, and more connected. In this episode, Bee Powell interviews Jim Old, Chairman of the Board, who shares his journey from Navy fighter pilot to dedicated community leader. Jim breaks down why the foundation was created, how it operates independently from the city, and what upcoming initiativesโ€”like the Veterans Brick Project and Alexander Island enhancementsโ€”mean for residents. If youโ€™re interested in community development, nonprofit leadership, volunteer opportunities, or DeBaryโ€™s growth, this conversation gives you insight and inspiration. Topics Covered What the DeBary Foundation doesHow community foundations support local growthThe vision for DeBaryโ€™s futureWhy volunteering mattersUpcoming projects in DeBary, FLInsights from former Navy fighter pilot turned community leaderHow residents can get involvedTimestamps 00:00 โ€“ Fun intro + event banter 00:21 โ€“ Welcome to the show 00:54 โ€“ Jimโ€™s role at the DeBary Foundation 01:07 โ€“ Who Jim is beyond the foundation 01:40 โ€“ Getting involved through the Citizens Academy 02:44 โ€“ Why giving back matters to Jim 03:37 โ€“ Jimโ€™s leadership style 04:25 โ€“ Independent nonprofit vs. city government 05:36 โ€“ What independence means for donors 06:16 โ€“ Community-driven decision-making 06:55 โ€“ The Veterans Brick Project 07:54 โ€“ Veteran partnerships and support 08:52 โ€“ Funding, grants, and donations 10:06 โ€“ The workload behind the foundation 12:23 โ€“ Why communities need volunteers 14:25 โ€“ Rotary Clubs & being hands-on 16:08 โ€“ What makes vibrant communities valuable 17:08 โ€“ Building real connections in a digital age 18:06 โ€“ Jimโ€™s vision for the foundationโ€™s legacy 18:54 โ€“ Alexander Island plans 19:44 โ€“ The cardboard regatta idea 20:23 โ€“ Fun questions (roller coasters + wave pools) 22:31 โ€“ Authenticity & โ€œbeing realโ€ 23:57 โ€“ Favorite candy bar 24:09 โ€“ Closing thoughts

    Building Better Communities in Volusia County: Bee Powell Interviews Jim Old of the DeBary Foundation

  11. Season 1 Trailer

    Let's Bee Real Episode One Trailer

    Let's Bee Real is a monthly podcast from Realtor and Broker, Bee Powell--a seasoned expert when it comes to buying, selling, and managing homes and properties. In each episode, she interviews local guides, influencers, and leaders in the Central Florida community that provides helpful insight for potential homebuyers, investors, and even residents of places like Volusia County, Seminole County, Flagler County, Orange County, and Brevard County.

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About

Let's Bee Real is a monthly podcast from Realtor and Broker, Bee Powell--a seasoned expert when it comes to buying, selling, and managing homes and properties. In each episode, she interviews local guides, influencers, and leaders in the Central Florida community that provides helpful insight for potential homebuyers, investors, and even residents of places like Volusia County, Seminole County, Flagler County, Orange County, and Brevard County.

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