Built on Belonging

Kodie Smiley
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Business
  • Weekly

Real estate is rarely just about real estate. Hosted by Kodie Smiley, Built on Belonging explores the transitions that shape our lives—from homeownership and investing to business growth, family changes, and fresh starts. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, community leaders, industry experts, and everyday people, each episode uncovers the stories, decisions, and opportunities that happen long before a transaction takes place. Drawing from her Threshold Sessions approach, Kodie helps listeners think beyond the property and focus on the people, goals, and life changes driving every move.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Barbecue Saved the Chocolate Business | Scott Moore Jr

    What happens when the side business meant to pay the bills becomes the thing that puts you on the map? Scott Moore Jr started Tejas with a fascination for bean-to-bar chocolate. But when chocolate sales alone couldn’t support a brick-and-mortar location, barbecue was added to help make the numbers work and Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue took an unexpected turn. On Built on Belonging, Greater Houston real estate agent Kodie Smiley talks with Scott about protecting craftsmanship while scaling, refusing to compromise quality, building deep roots in Old Town Tomball, and creating a business the neighborhood feels ownership in. It’s a story about what happens when craft, grit, and community come together. 🎙️Host & Guest Kodie Smiley is a Greater Houston real estate agent and host of Built on Belonging, a show about home, community, and putting down roots. Scott Moore Jr is the owner of Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue in Tomball, Texas. A fifth-generation Texan, Scott launched Tejas Chocolate in 2011 before expanding the business into craft Texas barbecue. 📌What You’ll Learn Turn a craft hobby into a business by building around quality and customer demand. Make a concept financially viable without abandoning the original vision. Scale by training the right people while protecting product standards. Build customer loyalty by becoming part of the community. Improve barbecue through quality ingredients, temperature control, seasoning, and patience. ❓Key Questions Answered Q: Why did Tejas start selling barbecue? A: Chocolate sales alone couldn’t support the retail location, so barbecue was added to supplement revenue. Q: How can a craft business scale without losing quality? A: Train and empower the right people while protecting the standards that define the product. Q: What makes great Texas barbecue? A: Great barbecue depends on quality ingredients, proper seasoning, temperature control, and patience. Q: How does a local business create belonging? A: A local business builds belonging by becoming a place where people gather, celebrate, and form lasting relationships. ⏱️Chapters (00:00) - Intro (02:00) - Meet Scott Moore Jr (03:31) - Discovering Craft Chocolate (04:50) - Growing Tejas Chocolate (07:02) - Why Tejas Added Barbecue (09:32) - Craft & Product Control (12:42) - Scaling Without Losing Quality (16:51) - Texas Grit (19:00) - Building Community (22:13) - Great Texas Barbecue (25:57) - What Scott Is Building (30:53) - Old Town Tomball Growth (31:45) - What Belonging Means 📇 Connect with Scott Moore Jr: 🌎 Website → https://tejaschocolate.com/ 📘 Facebook → https://facebook.com/TejasChocolate/ 📷 Instagram → https://instagram.com/scottmoorejr/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/scott-moore-jr-68484611/ 📇 Connect with Kodie Smiley: 📘 Facebook → https://facebook.com/kodie.miller.5 📷 Instagram → https://instagram.com/kodiesmiley 🔗 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/kodiemiller 🌎 Website → https://har.com/kodie-smiley/agent_kodielynn 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com #BuiltOnBelonging #KodieSmiley #HoustonRealEstate #LivingInHouston #MovingToHouston #HoustonTexas #GreaterHouston #TheWoodlands #KatyTexas #SugarLandTexas #HoustonHomes #RealEstatePodcast

    Barbecue Saved the Chocolate Business | Scott Moore Jr

  2. Oct 16

    Tax Planning Before Tax Season | Sarah Jones, CPA

    💰 What if tax season is already too late to make your best financial moves? Kodie Smiley sits down with Sarah Jones, CPA to discuss year-round tax planning, choosing the right CPA, and using tax savings more intentionally for business growth and real estate investing. Sarah also shares her Build Protect Grow roadmap, a hypothetical $20,000 tax-savings example, and why financial clarity matters as much as the strategy itself. 🏠 Host: Kodie Smiley - Greater Houston real estate agent 💼 Guest: Sarah Jones - Founder of Sarah Jones CPA, an expert on  tax planning, advisory services, and outsourced CFO support and author of Fire My CPA and Tax Free MillionaireAre Fire my CPA and Tax Free Millionaire her books? If they are, you can add above 🎤 Host & Guest 📌 What You’ll Learn Turn tax season from a reactive deadline into a year-round planning strategy Choose a CPA who communicates clearly and understands your long-term goals Use tax savings more intentionally for business growth or real estate investing Move past financial shame by gaining clarity around your numbers Build a business around your strengths instead of trying to fit someone else’s mold ❓ Key Questions Answered Q: How can tax savings help fund real estate investments? A: Sarah Jones, CPA explains that tax savings can be redirected toward goals like future property down payments instead of simply being spent. Q: Why should business owners do tax planning throughout the year? A: Year-round tax planning gives business owners more time to adjust strategies as income, investments, and financial goals change.  Q: How do you choose the right CPA for tax planning? A: Look for a CPA who communicates clearly, understands your goals, and provides proactive planning not just tax return preparation. Q: Should you follow tax strategies you see on social media? A: Sarah recommends verifying tax strategies with a qualified CPA or tax attorney, because the right structure depends on your specific situation. Q: How can business owners overcome shame around messy finances? A: Start by getting clarity on your numbers. Sarah recommends working with someone who can simplify the financial picture and help you build a practical plan forward. 🔗 Resources Ready to get more intentional with your money? Start with better questions and the right team. 📘 Fire My CPA: [Book Link] 📗 Tax-Free Millionaire: [Book Link] ⏱️ Chapters (00:00) - Intro (02:36) - Meet Sarah Jones, CPA (03:42) - Why Sarah Built Her Own CPA Firm (06:29) - How to Choose the Right CPA (08:28) - Tax Planning vs. Tax Prep (11:28) - Why Year-Round Tax Planning Matters (14:27) - Build Protect Grow Roadmap (16:28) - Money Shame, Mindset & Clarity (20:43) - Using Tax Savings to Build Wealth (24:37) - How to Vet Tax Advice Online (27:59) - Scaling With Systems & Community (32:02) - Belonging, Authenticity & Being Different (35:37) - Law School & What Belonging Means  📇 Connect with Sarah Jones: 🌎 Website → https://sarahjonescpa.com 📘 Facebook → https://facebook.com/SarahJonesCPALLC 📷 Instagram → https://instagram.com/sjcpa.taxfreemillionaire 🔗 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/sarah-jones-cpa 📇 Connect with Kodie Smiley: 📘 Facebook → https://facebook.com/kodie.miller.5 📷 Instagram → https://instagram.com/kodiesmiley 🔗 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/kodiemiller 🌎 Website → https://har.com/kodie-smiley/agent_kodielynn 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below! ⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com #BuiltOnBelonging #KodieSmiley #HoustonRealEstate #LivingInHouston #MovingToHouston #HoustonTexas #GreaterHouston #TheWoodlands #KatyTexas #SugarLandTexas #HoustonHomes #RealEstatePodcast

    Tax Planning Before Tax Season | Sarah Jones, CPA

  3. Oct 2

    Houston Native Yards: Less Water, Smarter Planting | Jessie Haskins

    What if the parts of your Houston yard that look like problems are actually the best places to start? On Built on Belonging, Greater Houston real estate agent Kodie Smiley talks with landscape designer Jessie Haskins about native plants, Houston soil and drainage, and creating outdoor spaces that work with the conditions already present on the property. From turning wet areas into garden opportunities to improving soil and choosing plants that need less intervention, Jessie shares practical ways to create a yard that feels more connected to the place you call home. Host: Kodie Smiley Kodie Smiley is a Greater Houston real estate agent and host of Built on Belonging, a podcast about home, community, place, and putting down roots. Guest: Jessie Haskins Jessie Haskins is a landscape designer and founder of Haskins Design and Build. In this conversation, Jessie shares her approach to native plants, sustainable landscaping, soil health, drainage, and designing with local conditions rather than against them. Start a native garden with one manageable area instead of replacing the entire lawn. Turn naturally wet areas into useful garden space by working with existing water flow. Make native landscaping feel intentional and more HOA-friendly with clear borders, paths, and structure. Support healthier Houston soil with mulch, deeper-rooted plants, and better ground coverage. Use fallen leaves, pine straw, and other existing materials as part of a more self-sustaining yard. Q: Does a native Houston yard need less maintenance?A: Yes, but it is not maintenance-free. Jessie Haskins explains that native landscapes generally need less routine care when plants match the site. Q: Can ChatGPT design a Houston landscape?A: ChatGPT and Yardzen can help with ideas, but Jessie recommends local review for Houston soil, drainage, climate, and plant conditions. Q: Where can I find native plants for Houston?A: Jessie recommends the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, NPSOT, Houston Audubon, and knowledgeable local nurseries. Want a yard that feels more at home in Houston? Start by understanding the land you already have. (00:00) - Intro (04:17) - From Gardening to Landscape Design (12:12) - Sustainable vs. Conventional Landscaping (17:47) - Native Plants, Place & Belonging (21:09) - Native Landscaping in Houston (24:39) - Rethinking Yard Drainage (29:35) - Native Landscaping & HOA Rules (35:45) - Restoring Houston Soil (40:59) - Pine Straw & Local Plant Resources (44:53) - AI Landscape Design & Local Expertise (47:50) - Native Landscaping Myths & Bugs (56:28) - Growth, Cultivation & Belonging (58:02) - What Belonging Means 📇 Connect with Jessie Haskins: 📧 Email → jessie@haskinsdesignbuild.com 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/inmyjessieera/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahaskins 🌎 Website → https://haskinsdesignbuild.com/ 📇 Connect with Kodie Smiley: 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/kodie.miller.5 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kodiesmiley/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kodiemiller/ 🌎 Website → https://www.har.com/kodie-smiley/agent_kodielynn 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/ #BuiltOnBelonging #KodieSmiley #HoustonRealEstate #LivingInHouston #HoustonTexas #GreaterHouston #HoustonHomes #NativeLandscaping #NativePlants

    Houston Native Yards: Less Water, Smarter Planting | Jessie Haskins

  4. Sep 18

    What Belonging Changes About Where You Live | Kodie Smiley

    What if choosing where to live is really a question about who you have become? Kodie Smiley is a Greater Houston real estate agent who brings a belonging-first perspective to home, community and major life transitions. In this solo episode of Built on Belonging, Kodie explores why motherhood, divorce, career changes, relocation and empty nesting can reshape both our identity and what we need from a home. This episode will help you recognize when your life no longer reflects who you are and ask better questions before deciding what comes next. 🎙️ Host and Episode Host: Kodie Smiley Kodie Smiley is a Greater Houston real estate agent who helps buyers and sellers approach home through the lens of belonging, place and community. She hosts Built on Belonging, a real estate podcast exploring how the places we choose connect with the lives we are building. 💡 What You’ll Learn Recognize when your external life no longer reflects who you have become. Navigate major transitions without automatically treating change as personal failure. Identify the deeper identity question beneath “Where should I live?” Use psychology, philosophy, spirituality and astrology as lenses rather than rules. Connect your internal sense of belonging with your home and community. Ask reflective questions before unexpected change creates an emotional earthquake. Make more intentional decisions about the version of yourself you are building for. ❓ Key Questions Answered Q: What does belonging mean beyond fitting in? A: Kodie Smiley defines belonging as creating a life in which you recognize yourself—one that reflects your authentic identity through your relationships, environment and home. Q: Why can choosing where to live feel emotional? A: Housing decisions often occur during motherhood, divorce, career changes, relocation or empty nesting. The question “Where should I live?” may also mean “Who am I now?” Q: Can psychology or astrology define who you are? A: No single framework can fully define a person. Kodie Smiley suggests using these systems as mirrors for noticing patterns and asking better questions. 🔗 Connect and Listen Ready to build a life and find a home that reflects who you are now? Follow Built on Belonging and continue the conversation. ⏳ Chapters (00:00) - What Belonging Means (00:33) - Welcome to the Episode (01:11) - Beyond People and Places (02:02) - Does Your Life Reflect You? (03:04) - Outgrowing Old Success (04:17) - Real Estate and Transition (05:38) - Tools for Self-Discovery (06:41) - Lenses, Not Rules (07:52) - Belonging and Home (09:15) - Where Do You Feel Like You? (10:15) - Why Kodie Created the Show (11:16) - Closing Reflection 📇 Connect with Kodie Smiley: 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/kodie.miller.5 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kodiesmiley/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kodiemiller/ 🌎 Website → https://www.har.com/kodie-smiley/agent_kodielynn 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/ #BuiltOnBelonging #KodieSmiley #HoustonRealEstate #LivingInHouston #MovingToHouston #HoustonTexas #GreaterHouston #TheWoodlands #KatyTexas #SugarLandTexas #HoustonHomes #RealEstatePodcast

    What Belonging Changes About Where You Live | Kodie Smiley

  5. Sep 18

    🏡 Houston Real Estate: The Vulnerability of Building True Wealth

    🎙️ Why do buyers sweat at the closing table? Discover why entering the Houston real estate market is a massive threshold, not just a financial transaction. About Kodie Smiley: Kodie Smiley is a Greater Houston real estate agent who leads with belonging, bringing an organized, detail-oriented, and deeply human approach to helping people find home. She hosts Built on Belonging, a show about community, place, and putting down roots. On this solo episode, Kodie explores the physical and emotional mechanics of the "Build" pillar — the thoughtful, belonging-first insight that helps people buying, selling, or relocating in the Houston area make a move that feels like home. 🔑 Tune in for a raw, practical framework to navigate the vulnerabilities of property ownership and actively participate in creating your ideal community. Host Background: 👩‍💼 With over six years of prior real estate experience navigating the high-demand Denver market before returning to Texas, Kodie Smiley strips away the sterile, robotic nature of traditional property transactions. She focuses on the human beings doing the heavy lifting, examining how regional development and housing policies directly affect local ecosystems. What You'll Learn: 😰 The Emotional Closing Table: Why Kodie Smiley views a major real estate move as a massive threshold representing both an ending and a beginning. 🏗️ Internal vs. External: The critical difference between the physical mechanics of a property and the internal transition of the buyer. ⚖️ Navigating Risk: How to manage the vulnerability, capital, and risk required to actively build your life and portfolio. 🏢 Commercial Ecosystems: Strategies for entrepreneurs to choose physical locations that genuinely feed and sustain their business expansion. 🤝 Community Impact: How understanding regional development can help you become a better neighbor when living in Houston Texas. 🔍 Future Deconstructions: A preview of upcoming Built on Belonging expert interviews designed to demystify daunting property transactions. Key Questions Answered: ❓ Why do buyers experience anxiety at the real estate closing table? 💡 According to Kodie Smiley, buyers sweat at the closing table because a major real estate move is a massive threshold that represents a profound ending and a beginning, requiring significant vulnerability, capital, and financial risk. ❓ What does it actually mean to "build" in real estate? 💡 In the Built on Belonging framework, building is not just about physical materials; it is the act of organizing the physical parameters of your life to match who you are becoming, whether that means securing a 30-year mortgage or expanding a commercial workspace. Chapters:  (00:00) - Cold Open: The Closing Table (00:20) - Intro: Built on Belonging (00:26) - Welcome to the Build Pillar  (00:54) - What It Means to Build (05:00) - Deconstructing the Transaction (05:44) - Blueprint of Business Expansion (06:19) - Logistics of Community Impact (09:01) - Part 3 Teaser: Belonging Pillar (10:39) - Outro & Final Thoughts 📇 Connect with Kodie Smiley: 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/kodie.miller.5 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kodiesmiley/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kodiemiller/ 🌎 Website → https://www.har.com/kodie-smiley/agent_kodielynn 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below! ⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/ What are you hoping to build in your next chapter? Share your thoughts in the comments, subscribe to Built on Belonging, and send this episode to someone preparing for a meaningful move. 📌 #BuiltOnBelonging #KodieSmiley #HoustonRealEstate #LivingInHouston #MovingToHouston #HoustonTexas #GreaterHouston #TheWoodlands #KatyTexas #SugarLandTexas #HoustonHomes #RealEstatePodcast

    🏡 Houston Real Estate: The Vulnerability of Building True Wealth

  6. Sep 18

    Your Next Move Starts With You | Kodie Smiley

    Your next move may begin with a life change, long before you start looking at houses. Kodie Smiley, a Greater Houston real estate agent, introduces Built on Belonging, a podcast connecting property decisions with identity, community, and personal growth. This solo introduction explores the show’s two pillars, Build and Belonging, and introduces Threshold Sessions. For first-time buyers and people moving to Houston, this episode offers a more personal perspective on what it means to find home. 🎙️ Host: Kodie Smiley Kodie Smiley guides buyers and sellers with an organized, detail-oriented approach centered on belonging. Kodie’s work focuses on community, place, and helping people feel at home. 💡 What You’ll Learn • Recognize the larger life change behind a real estate decision.• Consider practical property needs and personal priorities together through Build and Belonging.• Look beyond a beautiful house to the connection that makes a place feel like home.• Connect personal motivations with real estate strategy through the idea behind Threshold Sessions.• Reframe unavoidable life transitions as changes you can approach with greater intention. ❓ Key Questions Answered Is Built on Belonging only for homebuyers?No. Kodie Smiley also welcomes people exploring real estate investments, growing a business, relocating, or navigating changes in their careers and family lives. What comes next in the introduction series?The next two episodes will explore Build and Belonging individually, including what each pillar means to Kodie and how they shape the podcast. 🔗 Connect & Follow Planning your next move? Follow Built on Belonging for conversations about finding your place. Connect with Kodie: [Website URL]Threshold Sessions: [Information or Booking URL] ⏱️ Chapters (00:00) - Intro(00:24) - Welcome to Built on Belonging(01:53) - The Human Story Behind Every Move(03:43) - Build: Practical Real Estate(04:28) - Belonging: Identity and Home(06:24) - Introducing Threshold Sessions(07:39) - Future Guests and Podcast Topics(09:34) - Kodie’s Own Life Transition(10:29) - The Next Two Episodes 📇 Connect with Kodie Smiley:📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/kodie.miller.5 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kodiesmiley/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kodiemiller/ 🌎 Website → https://www.har.com/kodie-smiley/agent_kodielynn 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/ #BuiltOnBelonging #KodieSmiley #HoustonRealEstate #LivingInHouston #MovingToHouston #HoustonTexas #GreaterHouston #TheWoodlands #KatyTexas #SugarLandTexas #HoustonHomes #RealEstatePodcast

    Your Next Move Starts With You | Kodie Smiley

  7. Sep 13

    Intro

    Real estate is rarely just about real estate. Hosted by Kodie Smiley, Built on Belonging explores the transitions that shape our lives—from homeownership and investing to business growth, family changes, and fresh starts. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, community leaders, industry experts, and everyday people, each episode uncovers the stories, decisions, and opportunities that happen long before a transaction takes place. Drawing from her Threshold Sessions approach, Kodie helps listeners think beyond the property and focus on the people, goals, and life changes driving every move. Because real estate isn't the story—it's often just the symptom. New episodes weekly.

  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Real estate is rarely just about real estate. Hosted by Kodie Smiley, Built on Belonging explores the transitions that shape our lives—from homeownership and investing to business growth, family changes, and fresh starts. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, community leaders, industry experts, and everyday people, each episode uncovers the stories, decisions, and opportunities that happen long before a transaction takes place. Drawing from her Threshold Sessions approach, Kodie helps listeners think beyond the property and focus on the people, goals, and life changes driving every move.

Information

  • Creator
    Kodie Smiley
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kodie Smiley
  • Show Website
    Built on Belonging