Life Behind the Highlight Real: Recent Episodes
Sarah Huffman, William Huffman, & Jorie Schaaf
Welcome to “Life Behind the Highlight Real”. The podcast that takes things beyond the curated life we all see online.Join hosts Sarah & William Huffman as they dive in with their friends to talk about the good and the hard things that come with a real (not perfect) life behind the highlight reel. Tune each week for more in-depth conversations about life behind the highlight reel. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform to make sure you never miss an episode.
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We need consistency to reach our long-term goals. But does consistency have to be boring? Let's talk about it!
~Sarah & William Huffman
Thank you to our sponsor, WonOver Images!
We've been working with WonOver Images for years to promote our listings and we couldn't ask for better service. Their real estate photography and videography are unmatched, with affordable prices and quick turnaround times. Click here to get in touch.
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In this episode...
Set your time machine to 1980-something and rewind those VHS tapes. Today we're reminiscing about our childhoods and talking through some of the ways the world has changed over the years. If you need of a dose of nostalgia, take a listen.
Is there a topic you want us to cover or question you'd like us to answer? Let us know!
~Sarah & William Huffman
Thank you to our sponsor, WonOver Images!
We've been working with WonOver Images for years to promote our listings and we couldn't ask for better service. Their real estate photography and videography are unmatched, with affordable prices and quick turnaround times. Click here to get in touch.
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In this episode...
We've all made mistakes and then had to pay for it later, right? Just us?
Today we're talking about our recent stupid tax moments, and a grab bag of other things going on these days. Is there a topic you want us to cover or question you'd like us to answer? Let us know!
~Sarah & William Huffman
Thank you to our sponsor, WonOver Images!
We've been working with WonOver Images for years to promote our listings and we couldn't ask for better service. Their real estate photography and videography are unmatched, with affordable prices and quick turnaround times. Click here to get in touch.
Let us know your thoughts!
In this episode...
We're talking about kissing. Keep It Simple, Stupid. How can we take steps to simplify our lives and reduce friction? Where can we take back our time to make room for more joy? Let us know your thoughts!
~Sarah & William Huffman
Thank you to our sponsor, WonOver Images!
We've been working with WonOver Images for years to promote our listings and we couldn't ask for better service. Their real estate photography and videography are unmatched, with affordable prices and quick turnaround times. Click here to get in touch.
Let us know your thoughts!
This week, we're talking about something pretty big: 10 year goals. What do we want our lives to look like one decade from now? How are we taking steps towards those goals today? It's a shorter episode, but there's a lot to unpack. Enjoy!
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We're halfway through June and somehow also halfway through 2026. That means it's time for a Midway Mayday checkin:
- What progress have we made on our goals for the year?
- Do all of the goals we set six months ago still serve the lives we want to live?
- What needs to shift?
In this episode, we talk through some of our goals and how they've shifted over the last six months. Tune in if you need a little motivation!
P.S. A special invitation...
We're hosting a Mid-Year Goal Reset workshop on June 25th, 9am, in Edina. Everyone is welcome to join — totally free! Click here for details.
Follow us on the socials:
Sarah
IG: @sarahhuffmanrealtor
FB: @sarah.huffmanMN
William
FB: @WilliamHuffmanMNRealtor
IG: @williamhuffmanrealtor
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TW: needles, medical procedures, & lots of emotions
Our friend Caiti welcomed a little girl into the world five months ago... and is moments away from having a boy as well. If that math seems off to you, just wait until you hear the rest of this story.
To say Caiti and her husband took an unconventional route to parenthood would be an understatement. Endometriosis, IVF, gestational surrogacy, lactation induction — the works. Her story is one of heartbreak, perseverance, and in the end utter joy. Like Caiti says, "everything is figure-out-able."
You can follow Caiti on Instagram at @endotherainbow.
If you're looking for more information about or community around these topics, try searching some of Caiti's favorite hashtags:
endometriosis
endowarrior
IVFwarrior
intendedparents
thesurrogacyfront
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Welcome to the Huffman Travelcast—Banff Edition!
We took a six-day trip to Alberta, and we're going to tell you all about it: where we stayed, what we ate, what activities we tried, and things you should keep in mind if you visit Banff.
Places mentioned:
Banff
- Moxy Banff
- The Grizzly House
- The Fudgery
- Fairmont Banff Springs
- Banff Farmers Market
- Chuck's Steakhouse
- Sky Bistro
- Banff Gondola
- The Maple Leaf
Canmore
- Communitea Cafe
- Rocky Mountain Soap
- Wildflower Massage & Esthetics
- Eclipse Coffee
Emerald Lake
- Emerald Lake Lodge
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Have you ever had a phase of life that felt like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle? While blindfolded? And stuck inside a dark cave? Well, we have.
Today, we're talking about many things: shame, isolation, anxiety, judgement, and how we talk about the messier seasons in our lives. Give it a listen, and tell us if any of it resonates. We'd love to hear from you.
~ Sarah & William Huffman
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Today, we're sitting down with local legend, Hannah Smith. Hannah is one of the geeks behind The Property Geeks, a real estate team based in Lakeville, MN. She found her way into real estate by way of marketing, and has used that know-how to build a hefty following on social media.
This conversation ranges all over — tune in and enjoy!
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This week, we have not one, but TWO guests.
Jerry and Jake Reiter have a unique father-son relationship: they run a bank together. In this episode, we get to hear their stories. It starts with Jerry on dairy farm and ends up with both of them leading one of the fastest-growing mortgage companies in the Midwest. We had a great time getting to know these two better, and we know you will too. Enjoy!
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Sarah just got back from a Mel Robbins event and has a lot of thoughts.
And William... is busy playing with the soundboard on his iPad.
Will they talk self-development and emotions? Or will the whole episode be clips from songs and movies, followed by William laughing hysterically at his own comedic timing? You won't know until you listen. Hit the play button, you know you want to.
Also, please let us know your vote. Should William get to keep the soundboard, yea or nay?
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This week, our friend Taylor Doolittle joins us on the podcast! You may know Taylor as one of the lead agents of Team Steady (RE/MAX Results). As we discover throughout this episode, there's a lot to his story: rock climbing, cross-country biking, a stint in Australia, and more. Tune in to get to meet one of the nicest people we know!
Click here to connect with Taylor.
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We met Bardia during a stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston, and immediately knew he was someone special. He went above and beyond his role as a manager, creating an atmosphere that felt welcoming and memorable for the guests. So, naturally, we had to get him on the podcast! His story takes more turns than we could have predicted: from growing up in Tehran, to playing professional soccer, to studying in Switzerland, to pursuing his current career in hospitality. Bardia overflows with warmth and wisdom, and we're so grateful for our conversations with him. Enjoy!
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Get to know the Huffmans a little better! This week, they're asking each other all their burning questions. Hard-hitters like, "What's your #1 life lesson?" and "Have you ever wanted to punch someone?" Tune in to hear their answers.
Do you have any burning questions? Let us know!
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A milestone four years in the making: 100 episodes recorded and published. This week, Sarah and William take a stroll through memory lane. They talk about the origins of LBTHR, the history of the show, and why it's been meaningful to them.
If you're a new listener or you've been here a while, we would love to hear from you. Your thoughts and stories mean a lot to us. Click "Let us know your thoughts" above to send us a message, or email us directly:
- Sarah: sarah@agoodlifegroup.com
- William: william@agoodlifegroup.com
Thanks for being here. Cheers to 100 more episodes!
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Today we're getting to know a fellow MN real estate agent, Bryan Clapper. But the conversation ranges far beyond real estate. We get to hear about Bryan's childhood, split between MN and Europe; his background in journalism and how that field changed with the internet; what it was like living within smelling distance of the Spam headquarters in Austin, MN; and more. Take a listen!
Connect with Bryan here.
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Quarter 1 has been many things, but easy is not one of them. This week on the podcast, Sarah and William reflect on the last few months, personally and professionally. This episode is a real conversation about what it costs to keep showing up when things feel unclear, tight, and emotionally heavy. It can be hard to be honest and just say, "this is hard." But sometimes that's exactly what we all need. The Huffmans talk about financial pressure, doubt, vision, and the turning point that comes when you finally get honest about what is not working. If you have been trying to hold it all together without saying much out loud, this episode will meet you there.
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Everyone has an origin story: those experiences that motivated you to do what you do today. For Ricky Cheath (Senior VP at Granite Bank), that origin story probably isn't what you expect. It starts with a Cambodian family moving between refugee camps, and ends with Minnesota's fastest growing mortgage company.
Tune in to hear the full story.
Learn more about Ricky and Granite Bank below:
https://granitebank.com/executive/ricky-cheath/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcheath/
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Why do we avoid vulnerability? How do we respond when others share their struggles with us? That's what Sarah and William are processing this week. Throughout the conversation, the question they keep coming back to is, "Do you want me to be a statue or a sounding board?" Listen in to hear them unpack that and more.
Click here to watch Sarah's speech at the Results Awards.
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William joins Sarah for a conversation about pivoting. They've faced a lot of pivots in their lives. But what does it mean to pivot? How is that different from failure? How do you know when it's time to change direction? How do you deal with emotions that come up in the process? All this, plus you'll get to hear William sing a few lines from an Elvis song. Enjoy!
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This conversation started with Sarah wanting to talk about how it felt to tear down a podcast studio that was no longer being used, then wove through the history of Life Behind the Highlight Reel before venturing off into all kinds of interesting other directions until William declared it to be a train wreck into a glitter factory. Enjoy!
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It's halfway through the first quarter of 2026, and Sarah takes this opportunity to do a mindset check with William at the "Midway Mayday" point. What's a midway mayday? What even is a mindset? How do the Super Bowl and a fire pit and a pot of soup relate to all of this? Listen in and find out!
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Sarah and William have a wide-ranging conversation about artificial intelligence, touching on their feelings about it, various AI tools they have experience with and how they've used them, and some of the ethics and implications of using AI. There's a lot here, so buckle up!
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In this episode, William and Sarah talk about what it means to design the life they want to live as they approach their 11th wedding anniversary. You'll also get to hear them debate whether or not Sarah is actually an optimist and work through their different personalities and ways of processing in real time. This is one of those conversations that really proves these episodes are entirely unscripted and nobody knows at the beginning where they will end up!
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Join Sarah and William as they talk through their experiences at the recent 2026 GloverU Summit. You'll hear about how William got connected to Jeff Glover in the first place and how it changed his life. They also discuss their key takeaways from the conference, particularly from keynote speakers Sunshine Glover (Jeff's wife) and Jesse Cole (owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball team). There's a lot packed into this episode!
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In this timely episode, Sarah and William process current events in Minneapolis and Minnesota together and their feelings about all that's happening in their hometown. They also talk about why they love their city and their state. It's not easy--but it is so important--to have conversations like this. Won't you join them on the journey?
(Note: there's a little more language than usual in this one.)
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Sarah challenges William to look back at the past year, and though he resists at first, in the end they talk through their many experiences, lessons learned, people met, key moments, and more. You get to hear how their perspective on the year that just ended changes in real time as they process all the things together. It's a good one!
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This episode is quite a ride! Sarah and William start off talking about the winter solstice (the day the conversation was recorded) and the hope of light returning and growth, and then touch on everything from goals to the holidays to the classes they've been teaching to the characters from Winnie-the-Pooh as a personality typing system! There's a GPS analogy, a bit of Chinese zodiac, and talk about the launch of their Meeting of the Minds community. It's a lot, but William declared this episode to be a favorite, so you won't want to miss it!
Link to Meeting of the Minds
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In this episode, William and Sarah tackle a question they were recently asked about how they "do it all." They talk about scheduling, prioritizing, and leveraging, along with their routines and mindset medicine cabinet. There's even video game analogies and a discussion of cheat codes for life. Check it out!
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This conversation was recorded back in October and inspired by Sarah's decision to get back on her Peloton after a year away. She discusses with William why it's so easy to give up on yourself and your goals when life goes sideways, and what's needed to keep the flame burning (hint: inspiration isn't enough by itself!). You'll also get to hear some messages Sarah received unexpectedly from her past self. Don't miss it!
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William and Sarah revisit the idea of isolation as well as the shame spiral and talk about breaking out of both. They also talk about the intriguing idea of having a "board of directors" for your life. What does that even mean? Listen and find out!
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Join Sarah and William for a shorter but no less candid discussion of self-doubt, anxiety, imposter syndrome, mindset, and the importance of community. You'll also get multiple glimpses into how very different William and Sarah are from each other!
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In this joyful conversation, Sarah and William sit down with their friend and fellow realtor Mac shortly after he completed the Chicago Marathon in October 2025. The three of them discuss everything from physical and mental training to the community around the race to why in the world someone would choose to run even one marathon, let alone multiple of them! They dig deep into why Mac runs and lessons he's learned from running that he carries over into the rest of his life. This is a wonderful one - you won't want to miss it!
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In this episode, Sarah surprises William with a "grab bag" of questions about all kinds of things. What's his favorite movie and how many times has he watched it? How does he plan to survive a zombie apocalypse? What's his favorite season? What does he want to accomplish in the next year? And so much more! (Sarah answers the questions too!) Buckle up for a fun episode and a chance to get to know the Huffmans a little bit better!
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Sarah has been thinking about her 9 years (so far!) in real estate and all the different things they've faced. With William, she discusses adversity and how to face it, and the growth and success that can come out of it. They talk about the mindset medicine cabinet, the value of a coach, the rookie reset, and more.
AND they introduce the 2026 Planner & Goal Tracker produced by the team, an improved iteration of the 2025 version that has made such a difference in Sarah's life and business. They'll be making this workbook available for purchase and offering a class on how to use it effectively, and you won't want to miss out!
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Sarah and William process the feelings so many of us have but don't discuss, of disconnection and lack of community. They talk about the fallout of Covid-19 and how we need a sense of belonging in all different areas of our lives. How do we create (or re-create) community? What does community mean? How do we invite others into our worlds? And, most important: will we be brave enough not to suffer in silence but to raise our hands? Join the conversation, and let's all be part of making something great--and joyful--together!
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William and Sarah talk about not just setting and achieving annual goals, but thinking much much bigger: THOUSAND-YEAR GOALS. What does that even mean? Tune in and find out!
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William and Sarah reflect on recent charity galas they've attended and talk about why it's so important to them to give back and how they do that. They have ideas for everyone to get involved in some way, from picking up trash on a walk to running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents! Come join them in making the world a better place.
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Sarah and William dive deep into the world of personal development, tackling everything from "What would you do if you could go back and visit a younger version of yourself for 24 hours?" to the many different tools they've used through the years, to a list of some of their favorite books.
Some of the tools mentioned include Strengthsfinder, the Enneagram, the DISC profile, and the Kolbe-A assessment.
People mentioned include Brene Brown (brenebrown.com), Jeff Glover (gloveru.com), Keith Roy (keithroy.com), and Guy Raz (guyraz.com).
Book titles mentioned include:
- The Go-Giver (Bob Burg & John David Mann)
- 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (John Maxwell)
- Leadershift (John Maxwell)
- Start With Why (Simon Sinek)
- Leaders Eat Last (Simon Sinek)
- Everything is Figureoutable (Marie Forleo)
-
AskGaryVee (Gary Vaynerchuk)
- 7L: The Seven Levels of Communication (Michael Maher)
- The Four Tendencies (Gretchen Rubin)
- You Are a Badass at Making Money (Jen Sincero)
- Traction (Geno Wickman)
- Girl, Wash Your Face (Rachel Hollis)
- Girl, Stop Apologizing (Rachel Hollis)
- Worthy (Jamie Kern Lima)
- Let Them (Mel Robbins)
- The Power of One More (Ed Mylett)
- The Big Leap (Gay Hendricks)
- The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz & Janet Mills)
- Living with a SEAL (Jesse Itzler)
- Broken Horses (Brandi Carlile)
- Who Moved My Cheese? (Spencer Johnson & Kenneth Blanchard)
- The Greatest Salesman in the World (Og Mandino)
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Sarah and William discuss their health journey and recent changes they've made, including wearing a blood glucose monitor and how that has impacted their lives.
Products mentioned:
Oura Ring: https://ouraring.com/
Stelo blood glucose monitor: https://ouraring.com/store/dexcom/stelo-glucose-biosensor
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Where have William and Sarah been for the last almost-year? What have they been up to, and why did they stop podcasting for so long, and why are they returning now? Welcome aboard as they unpack all of this and more!
(Note: contains non G-rated language... but hey, it's William, so you expect that, right?)
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After a bit of a hiatus, they're back! William and Sarah recorded this episode following a team meeting where Will walked everyone through an exercise to help them identify their personal core values. In this podcast, the two of them discuss their own core values. Identifying personal core values is a tough, emotional, and exhausting process, but there are significant rewards, which they also talk about. Are you ready to dive in? There's a lot to unpack here!
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A Good Life Group turned SEVEN YEARS OLD in September this year! William (who was feeling a little feisty) and Sarah tell the story, recounting the history of AGLG so far and some of what they've learned along the way, and also diving into some of their vision for the future. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Special shoutouts in this episode to:
Monica Kenton https://www.monicakenton.com/
Vanessa Rose https://vanessafeils.com/
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In this traveling podcast (please excuse the road construction noises in the background!), William and Sarah discuss all things GloverU: their history with the company and what it has meant for them, their enthusiasm for it, and the reasons behind some recent decisions they've made about their roles within GloverU. Listen in and you'll also catch some of their vision for what's next and their goals and enthusiasm for the future!
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Sarah and William have a conversation about how they make decisions. They talk about course corrections and paying attention to the things that let you know whether you're on the right path, as well as managing decisions in a relationship, while also touching on things like mentors, forgiveness, and accepting other people's experiences. Do you listen to your body and your intuition, or do you listen to other people's opinions? Does it take a boulder or only a feather to get your attention? Lots to think about in this one! Listen in...
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In this helpful episode, Sarah and William talk about having uncomfortable conversations early, when only a 1% correction is needed, rather than avoiding them until you're waaaay off target and the issues are huge. They model conversations, doing a little role play, and touch on the trust pyramid, resentment, forgiveness, and more. Lots of good stuff here for making relationships work better, whether professional or personal.
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Sarah picked a just-for-fun topic this time, and she and William discuss all things MINNESOTA! What's great about the state? What's unique? What do they love about it? Where else could they imagine living if they couldn't live in MN?
This one's also a mobile edition, so there's background road noise... but hey, it's MINNESOTA road noise, so it's all part of the experience!
In this (mobile!) episode, William and Sarah give some answers to a question they are frequently asked: What is it like to work with your spouse? They talk about everything from being together nearly 24/7 to having fun date nights (if you can get Will out of the house!) to handling frustrations and conflicts. Oh, and of course seed art at the state fair!
What is time? How do we relate to it? Will and Sarah have a lively discussion about the different ways they perceive time and how it can affect their relationship.
William and Sarah are back and talking about self-sabotage. What is it? Why do we do it? How does it show up in our lives? The discussion includes tips for how to recognize it and questions to ask, as well as addressing neighboring topics of trust, worthiness, confidence, imposter syndrome, judgment, and triggers. Whew! Buckle in and join us for quite a ride!
Sarah and William discuss what's in their "mindset medicine cabinet"--the things they've learned to prioritize in order to stay in their "zone of genius." Their list includes things like movement, sleep, nutrition, routines, and knowing their stress triggers. (There's more than that--you'll have to listen to get them all!) You'll even get a live demonstration of 'box breathing' from Will. Enjoy!
Oura Ring referenced in the episode: https://ouraring.com
We've passed the halfway mark on 2024, and Sarah and William have a conversation about goals! Are we on track for this year's goals? How do we think about goals? How do we move toward them effectively? There are some great moments about perfectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, making the next right decision, and seeing failure as a mirror for improvement. It's a good one!
Sarah and William talk about their recent trip to Lake Tahoe for a luxury real estate conference, with a lot of focus on the amazing food experiences they had.
Places referenced:
The Ritz https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/rnorz-the-ritz-carlton-lake-tahoe/overview/
Edgewood https://edgewoodtahoe.com/the-villa-suites/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aArViT0xAGjdA_hmuW5WIKzwMZAmVkm4gUyn6nXbUAaOsty2b155IhoCAyoQAvD_BwE
Bistro at Edgewood https://edgewoodtahoe.com/menu/bistro/
Naked Fish https://www.thenakedfish.com
Tangerine Bistro https://www.tangerinetahoe.com
Moody's https://www.moodysbistro.com
Donner Lake Kitchen https://www.facebook.com/44DLK/
Heavenly Gondola https://www.skiheavenly.com/explore-the-resort/activities/epic-discovery/scenic-gondola.aspx
William and Sarah tackle the subject of generosity, including how it's a cornerstone of their lives, where the giving impulse comes from, how small acts of generosity have a cumulative impact over time, and what they want for their legacy, including their upcoming foundation, A Good Life Gives. All that, and a Mr. Rogers quote, too!
Books referenced in this podcast:
The Go-Giver, by Bob Burg & John David Mann (Amazon link)
You Are a Badass at Making Money, by Jen Sincero (Amazon link)
William and Sarah discuss the idea of success--what it means to them, how that meaning has changed over time, and the impact that personal development has had on all of this over the last several years.
William and Sarah discuss PRIDE from many angles, contrasting it with ego and with humility, and talking about its connection to regret, shame, and a willingness to admit when you're wrong. They discuss negative emotions as guardrails and more.
NOTE: this episode was recorded outdoors at a cafe in Washington, D.C., during their recent trip there, so there's more background noise than sometimes. Also, Will's mic was accidentally turned off, but we think you'll still be able to hear him fine, and we'll fix some of these technical issues for next time!
Will and Sarah go deep about their health journey over the last three years, sharing their motivations, progress, goals, and top 5 tips for people just getting started.
Here's the link to their podcast that they mentioned, featuring Kristin Rowell: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-behind-the-highlight-real/id1593027634?i=1000548801957
Here's Kristin's website: https://energeticallyefficient.com/
In this quick little episode recorded from their gate at the Dulles International Airport, William and Sarah give an overview of their recent trip to Washington, D.C.
Places referenced:
Supra https://supradc.com/
The Quill https://www.jeffersondc.com/dining/quill/
Waldorf Peacock Alley https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dcawawa-waldorf-astoria-washington-dc/dining/peacock-alley/
Georgetown https://www.georgetowndc.com/
The Fountain Inn https://www.fountaininndc.com/
Rumi's Kitchen https://www.rumiskitchen.com/
William and Sarah discuss hesitation (vs caution) and the things that hold us back. It's a bit shorter than some, once we cut out the doggy interruptions, but it's a good one!
Will and Sarah go deep on trust, confidence, trusting yourself, verbal processing, healing, decision-making, and more!
After a hiatus of more than a year, William and Sarah are back with a conversation about their goals, personal growth, and healing. Join them as they celebrate how good it feels to be back podcasting again!
Jake Luehrs is in the spotlight this week. Jake is a real estate coach and trainer, and in this episode, he opens up about the challenges he faced in his early life and career.
Jake takes us through his struggles with depression and anxiety. He shares how he worked through those challenges and offers some advice for listeners going through similar experiences.
"The more I pushed it away, the more intense it got."
Jake believes that everyone goes through periods of depression and anxiety at some point in their lives and that letting those feelings work themselves through rather than resisting them is essential.
"I think the biggest challenge that people have is they feel like they need to do it on their own. And I think that that's where we get ourselves into trouble."
Apart from his journey, Jake also talked about his love for sports and how it helped him become more social and make friends. And, of course, his unique story of meeting his wife in college.
"I try to be just as much a listener as a talker. And I think that's been a big part of my success, both personally and professionally."
This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration to overcome personal challenges.
Chapters:
1:18 Jake's background as a successful real estate professional
12:05 What Jake learned about depression
21:54 Jake's first job -- delicious.
36:30 The first date with the women who would be his wife
47:15 What people saw in him that he didn't see in himself
49:54 It's time to just be honest. A lot of people you think are happy, aren't.
Connect with Jake: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeluehrs/
This week William and Sarah Huffman sit down with John Hodnett, a member of their real estate team, A Good Life Group.
In this episode, John chats about his journey before getting into real estate and how much he loves old-school retail. But the big wake-up call was when his marriage fell apart. He never thought he'd be there at that point in his life. That's when he realized that he had the chance to create anything he wanted. Nobody was going to tell him what to do. So, like his dad, who retired from the clothing biz and started a consulting company until he was 93, John knew he couldn't quit. He needed to find something he could do for as long as he wanted in any way he wanted. And that's why he's back in real estate.
Reach out to John: https://agoodlifegroup.com/
Join us on Life Behind the Highlight Real as we sit down with Carrie Chang, a St. Paul native and CEO of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. Carrie's journey as an adoptee and her drive to succeed is a fascinating story of determination and resilience. She shares her childhood experiences, including her love for sports, music, and the saxophone, and her passion for reading The Wall Street Journal at age 13. Carrie also opens up about her proudest achievements as the CEO of the Minneapolis Area Realtors, including the team she's built and the impact they've made on the community. This episode is an inspiring and uplifting conversation about leadership, teamwork, and the power of perseverance.
Chapters:
:45 What does Carrie Chang do?
1:15 Carrie from South Korea to St. Paul. How did that happen?
8:45 Shortcut to knowing your 9's times table
9:30 Middle school hits and things change for Carrie.
10:45 Kickin' back with the Wall Street Journal at... 13?
21:00 College time... why she didn't apply to the Ivy League and where she ended up going
29:30 How sports intertwined in her life
34:45 Her first job as a baby sitter. She loved kids...until
40:30 Out of college and her first "real" job
43:00 It's time to meet her husband
53:45 How long she's been at the Minneapolis Area Realtors and what she's most proud of
Learn more about Carrie Chang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriejchang/
Aaron Bourdage is the owner of Northern Fire Grilling and BBQ Supply, a local barbecue shop in Minnetonka. Northern Fire Grilling and BBQ Supply offers everything you need for grilling and barbecue, including meats, seafood, rubs, over 100 sauces, grills, smokers, and heavy equipment for those serious about their grilling.
Aaron was born in Duluth, Minnesota, but his family moved around a lot, including Colorado and New Mexico. His father was a Marlboro Man and a pilot and owned a classic car dealership in Farmington, New Mexico. Aaron's house was next to a dirt runway, surrounded by classic cars and airplanes. He spent his childhood riding anything with an engine.
Today, Aaron will share the story of his youth, including moving out of the house at 16, moving to Minnesota at 20, touring with his band, and finally meeting the love of his life and opening the BBQ shop.
This is definitely part 1 of Aaron's fun story.
Chapters:
2:58: Aaron was born in Duluth but ended up in Farmington, New Mexico, surrounded by cars and airplanes... cool.
6:08 A shithead in elementary school.
9:05 Why is his life like "Smokey and the Bandit."
11:40 Time for some pickin' on the banjo
12:38 He switched to bass for the band
14:11 Mom used to take us to the gun store
21:09 Why college was never in the picture
22:00 Why and when did he quit high school
32:50 The move back to Minnesota, and the band grows
45:42 Time to figure things out after Tracy gets pregnant
46:32 Evan was born, and Aaron's world changed.
47:44 How his love for BBQ started and how the shop opened
49:47 How he met Missy4
53:11 How he takes care of his long beard
1:03:28 Sarah's favorite device from Aaron's store
1:05:19 Aaron's advice for anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur
Aaron runs Northern Fire Grilling & BBQ Supply. Reach out to them at https://northernfirebbq.com/.
This episode William and Sarah look at at 2022. A couple of minutes were dedicated to the business, but the majority of this episode was spent diving deep into a health journey they both started 2 years ago.
Even though they both dislike the thought of working out, they accepted it as a part of their life, with reasons that go way beyond what you may assume.
This is a William and Sarah you may not have known before this episode.
Chapters
3:10 How was William and Sarah's fitness journey for 2022?
5:50 Did will reach his fitness goals? And was the goal helpful?
8:24 Let's talk about meal prep
10:49 Sarah's weightloss journey
12:48 Why Sarah still finds it tough to shop for clothes, but it's getting easier
14:50 Why William's farting and burping has significantly faded
16:39 William opens up about an issue that put him into the Mayo Clinic at age nine.
19:00 William and Sarah head back to Mayo, a visit that pissed Sarah off
20:30 Oops, they were right.
22:45 They shop with an app. How's that going?
23:30 Poop talk.
24:35 Advice for anyone that has a Pelaton in their home that they haven't used
Mark Neal spent close to two decades building an Ohio sports radio station from the ground up, and today he's going to share the story of how having nothing can be your biggest asset.
It turns you into a creative, hungry, and hard-working scrapper.
Which is how he built a young format into a powerful force in his market.
Did we mention that Mark is also William and Sarah's neighbor? Oh yeah -- there are some stories to share about that, too!
Coming up:
1:41 His early life growing up with teachers
22:23 College newspaper in the late 90s, and how he got into his first radio station
25:22 His first radio show
31:35 Becoming a program director and clearing house
32:56 His biggest and only asset is him
34:16 How he got to know Jim Tressel
46:24 Not a lot of success meeting women, so it's time to try something out-of-the-box
56:16 Getting married
57:57 Leaving radio for his wife's job
101:52 Advice for anyone wanting to get into radio
Keep up with the podcast here: www.lbthr.com
We are nerding out BIG TIME with our buddy David Arbit this week. David is the Director of Research for MAR, Minneapolis Area Realtors.
He's the guy that makes sense of all of the real estate numbers agents use to get you into homes.
And this guy's passion for numbers goes way beyond Excel. It goes straight to getting people into their dream homes and making our cities strong.
But before we get into all of that, we dive into David's life, including:
6:33 The early life of David Arbit
9:32 His go-to Sega game
15:10 His role in the Minneapolis area Realtors Association
17:21 His college days
20:11 His dad owns 100 of them!
23:49 How his passion for city planning began
28:47 How David met his wife
38:16 When he worked with a future State Representative who had a Mickey Mouse lunch box
40:19 Where he learned to be so comfortable in front of a crowd
42:52 David passes some love to William and Sarah's understanding of the stats
43:42 David's WHY behind his passion
50:11 What makes every day different for David
Find David Arbit here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidarbit/
Dave Lawson returns to Life Behind the Highlight Real to finish up his journey to this point in his crazy life.
In episode 45 Dave, Will, and Sarah took a deep dive into radio of the past and present. Dave spent over two decades as an on-air personality and talked about how what drove him into the business no longer exists.
That left no time for thing Sarah was looking for -- how he met his wife...oh, and that bout with cancer over the last year.
So let's revisit Dave and get the rest of his Life Behind the Highlight Real.
To learn more about Dave and Digital Legend, head here: www.DigitalLegendMedia.com, or call (919) 757 2592
We are hitting on some heavy life topics today with our friend, Payton Barthel. Payton tells her story of abuse, drug addiction, treatment, relapse, and meeting the love of her life.
You've already been introduced to Payton's family. In episode 28, we interviewed her mom, Jamie, about teen pregnancy, and her love for Sonic Chili Cheese Dogs. And in episode 2 we interviewed her sister, Jorie.
Both interviews can be found here: https://www.lbthr.com/
But today, buckle up because Payton is going to take you on quite a ride.
11:48 Smoking and drinking by age 11?
12:47 Tried to kill herself with Benadryl
24:05 The story starts to plummet - Abusive relationship and rape.
30:59 Emergency appendix surgery in England introduces opioid addiction.
35:40 Cocaine comes into the picture.
37:56 How she justified her drug use, and her college years.
42:22 The professor noticed.
51:08 The breaking point in college
1:02:33 Heading off to treatment
1:04:56 Post-treatment - Payton has a treatment boyfriend. The relapse begins.
1:09:37 Paton overdoses again
1:15:09 She's either going to die or get clean
1:18:22 Back out to Colorado
1:29:07 Caleb enters the picture. Perfect timing.
1:37:27 Clean and sober. Has she ever felt the desire to go back?
1:43:28 It's been a journey. But she's proud of herself.
1:44:35 What to do if you think you're heading down Payton's path?
Catch up on past episodes of Life Behind the Highlight Real: https://www.lbthr.com/
Chad Jeske has dedicated his life to helping top-performing real estate agents grow their businesses through Twin Cities Real Producers.
Chad grew up in Savage, MN. A farm-kid upbringing, and the only boy of five siblings.
Plus the only guest we've had on the podcast that has been shot, burned, and run over by a car -- all before the age of 12
Chad will fill us in on the details, plus we'll get into:
3:30 Growing up in Savage
12:45 Chad got shot
24:42 Getting into music management
33:58 Finding a career with Cutco
45:21 How he met his wife
49:29 Getting engaged
59:00 Getting his real estate license
1:14 His top five restaurants
To learn more about Twin Cities Real Producers, head here: https://www.realproducersmag.com/locations/twin-cities-real-producers-c1b1/
Nick Bellmore, a Detroit area native, is a highly successful real estate team leader, but the road to get there was a bit bumpy.
Rick shares his story of divorce when he was 11, bullied at 12, and kicked out of high school a couple of years later.
He moves on to working in housing before the age of 18, building homes after graduating, and transitioning to selling real estate after doing the math of how much money the investor made on the home Nick was building.
Of course, we get deep into how he met his wife... hint: He found love and made a commission check from her at the same time.
This is part 1 of a future two-parter with Nick Bellmore.
Learn more about Nick here: https://athomerealtyfamily.com/our-offices/hudsonville-mi-realty/nick-bellmore
This is a part two interview with Kayla Dutton and in this episode, we dive deep into Kayla's struggle to start a family after her husband's near-death accident that left him without sensation from the waist down.
This was a massive life change at such a young age. Kayla's advice for handling sudden change boils down to 3 things:
1) Family and support system.
2) Focus on what's important. He's here with no brain damage.
3) The more you share your story, the more you realize everyone has their problems.
This accident left them to lean on science to start a family. They started their IVF journey.
Today we explore the medical process, the emotional pain, the insurance, and her best advice for anyone interested in this path.
Not all of life's plans will transpire precisely the way you planned, but being ultimately thankful for the health and safety of those you love is the only thing that matters.
Enjoy the episode!
Reach out to Kayla on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kayla__dutton/
Coming up today we have the "man behind the scenes" of Life Behind the Highlight Reel. Whenever you hear us say "Dave, edit that out," we are talking about Dave Lawson of Digital Legend Media.
But far before Dave started consulting businesses on digital content, he had a long history in radio.
So we are going to dive deep into Dave's history, including:
- What life was like growing up in the Detroit area
- A very young age he started dreaming of being on the radio
- The weird radio thing he used to collect that we had no idea existed
- What he thought was magical about radio
- Why radio in the last few years has broken his heart
- And why he made the jump to the digital side, especially podcasting.
Plus, his top five restaurants (one of which almost made Will vomit).
That's all coming up on Life Behind the Highlight Reel!
To learn more about Dave and Digital Legend Media, head here: www.PodcastLegend.com
To catch up on past Life Behind the Highlight Reel episodes, head here: https://www.lbthr.com/
To learn more about A Good Life Group, head here: https://www.agoodlifegroup.com/
This episode explores the past five years of A Good Life Group. The good, the bad, and the hilarious.
The story begins at the Minnesota State Fair of all places, 5-years ago. The day Will and Sarah were forced to find a new direction.
And they don't hold back as they share the details of the call and the stress that followed over the next few days.
Today you will find out how they landed on their business name A Good Life Group, how they found their team, and how leadership is a learned discipline.
"Leadership is hard"
-Will Huffman
They'll also cover critical business lessons learned the hard way, like:
The differences between surviving as a business and growing as a business. And it takes looking in the mirror.
Learning the impossible like not taking things personally.
A deep dive into living the concept of an unreal life. What that means, and how it has come true for Will, Sarah, and their team.
And how an unreal life can lead to some pretty funny stories, including a few shared from their team getaways to Florida.
A Good Life Group's Fifth Anniversary Party is September 10th at the Brew Park in Plymouth. https://www.brewparkplymouth.com/
Victoria and Sarah met while working at JC Penny in Coon Rapids and have been friends ever since.
Born in California and stayed there for a whole six weeks before moving to Minnesota.
After her dad got arrested (details in the podcast) at the University of Minnesota, the family was forced to regroup which included sneaking out of Minnesota in the middle of the night.
Later in life, Victoria's dream was to become a doctor, which leads to a lovely story about the college she chose. Not to be missed.
Shortly after starting college, she decided med school would not be in her future, so she began a search for a purpose. A search that landed on helping families going through childbirth.
She became a doula which provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support during the birthing process.
As fulfilling as that was, she missed family and made a move back to Minnesota.
And that's where her real story begins. A car ride message from God changed her path.
Sarah met Artemisa met after both were nominated for Female Realtors of the Year.
During that ceremony, Sarah realized that she knew nothing about the other nominees, so she set up a lunch, and the two have been friends ever since.
"You can see and experience people online, but until you meet them in person, it's different."
Artemisa is a heavy hitter in the real estate industry selling 300 homes last year.
That's huge.
Getting to this point was hard work, though. After juggling 3 jobs at the same time, she was in search of a career that would give her a life.
That's when she discovered real estate.
For Artemisa, getting to that goal wasn't easy. She had to do two things: Get her real estate license and learn English. At the same time!
In this episode, she'll talk about the challenge of passing the real estate license test and how an emergency trip to the hospital was the biggest gift she could ask for.
She'll also talk about why her birthday is unknown, her upbringing in Mexico City, and how she met Mark.
Ya know, Mark from Wisconsin.
The man that, after three wedding ceremonies, would go on to become her husband. She'll explain.
Then comes the real estate team, starting a family, and surviving fluctuations in the real estate market.
Her secret?
Leverage.
It is recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and doubling down on your talents. It's a lesson we can all learn.
This great episode is about being fearless, finding success, and living a purposeful life.
Learn more about Artemisa
Website: https://realtygroupmn.com/coon-rapids-team/artemisa-boston-licensed-real-estate-agent
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artemisaboston54
Email address: arte54@yahoo.com
Born in Wisconsin but raised in Minnesota, Alex Maeckelbergh wanted to carry on the family tradition of education by becoming a teacher. But that changed shortly after going to college when she realized it wasn't for her.
"I love kids, love them to death. But doing it for a career was a very different story. And now having kids of my own, I cannot imagine. God bless teachers who are parents as well."
So the search was on for a new career. That's when she met an owner of a title company who offered her an internship if she changed her major to marketing. Game on!
That eventually turned into a job at a mortgage company, then a real estate firm, and finally taking the leap by opening her own marketing company. A successful company that's only a year old.
Of course, there's plenty of life to sprinkle in between, including credit card debt, a deepening relationship with an old high school friend, and a blossoming family in the face of a pandemic.
How does a 26-year-old live this much life? Alex is a fascinating woman and entrepreneur with plenty of life lessons to share in this episode of Life Behind the Highlight Reel.
Reach out to Alex: alex@allgoodthingscreative.com
Learn more about her marketing business: http://allgoodthingscreative.com/
Ed Kaiser is General Counsel for RE/MAX Results, the guy that deals with all of the legal stuff that affects our industry.
Beyond that, Ed is just an interesting dude.
He's a Duluth native, a former athlete with big dreams, and a man that met his wife at a restaurant that haunts Sarah (guess which one?)
Today we get Ed's story and uncover some nuggets that we never knew about the man. Nuggets that make a guy with such a serious job, well, human.
Reach out to Ed: (952) 829-1575
Joe Mottlow has beaten back cancer 5 times, and in part 2 of Will and Sarah's interview, Joe stops in to give them a heartbreaking update about his condition.
Even in the worst of life, Joe finds a reason to celebrate, and that happens on July 30th.
Details to his coming home party is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/454530746184210
At 32, after experiencing a number of health failures that almost took her life, Randi Brandt was told she would be permantly wheel chair bound.
She won the fight for her life, but now her second fight began. The fight to take back control of her body.
Randi shares the details to this incredible journey that goes back four years. A journey that eventually paved the way for children who needed a safe, temporary home.
She shares the challenges and rewards of becoming a caretaker, and what it's like for children being transitioned to foster care.
And, like anybody who's life has almost been cut short, Randi has big plans to give back to help make future generations confident and independent.
Enjoy the incredible story of our friend, Randi Brandt.
Reach out to Randi:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randi-brandt-5a891252/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Randi-Brandt/2316504/
Quotes:
"Crap happens. Been there done that. You can get through it. I was told I'd never walk again. Well, hold my beer, watch this."
"We don't know why we don't know how, by me being able to look at my legs in that mirror, all of a sudden, my left foot moved, my right foot moved."
"Yes it costs money, but it's the cost of being a parent. It's what you do."
The founder of RE/MAX Results, the largest RE/MAX franchise in the country, is our guest today, and John Collopy never fails to entertain and inspire.
In his book, The Reward of Knowing, John details a life of abuse, trouble, and addiction. And he dives deep into a few of those stories on today's episode.
Stories that include leaving home as a teenager, and going to school while working a full time job.
Stories that include beating up a police officer, hitch hiking to California, and living within the counter culture of the 70's.
He then transitions into the moment his life started turning around and how he discovered a passion for real estate. A path leading him to where he is today, owner of the most successful RE/MAX franchise in the country. A franchise Will and Sarah love, and they explain why.
And we can't forget about the roots of the Results Foundation, and the impact it is making on the Twin Cities.
Get ready for an episode you won't be able to pause as we sit down with John Collopy.
Links:
The Results Foundation: https://www.resultsfoundation.net/
The Reward of Knowing: https://www.amazon.com/Reward-Knowing-John-Collopy/dp/1599328453/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10R5DUYUBI64H&keywords=john+collopy&qid=1657215318&sprefix=john+collop%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1
Ryan Fischer's journey from high school valedictorian to leader of his own very successful real estate team was anything but smooth.
There were many bumps along the way.
Carrying heavy student loan debt out of school, this new chiropractor found out the hard way that establishing himself was going to demand patience.
As he describes in today's podcast, the load of student debt along with a mortgage payment was too much for a starting chiropractor.
But with hard work he slowing built a practice, and business that extended outside of the Cities.
Through this journey, though, he discovered real estate. He explains the pressures of carrying two careers at once, and why he made the transition to full time real estate agent.
He has since married the woman of his dreams, started a family, and built one of the most successful real estate teams in Minnesota.
Today, the story of Ryan Fishsticks -- um, sorry -- we mean, Fischer.
Follow Ryan:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealtorRyanFischer
Email: Ryan@ProTeamMN.com
Joe Mottlow and Will Huffman have shared a lot of life together since their first meeting at TruGreen.
But on June 15th, 5 years ago, Joe got his first indication that something was wrong.
He kept waking up in puddles of sweat.
After days of toughing this out, he made a trip to Fairview to discover things were not right. His bloodwork was off, and his spleen was the size of two fists.
Then the diagnosis. Leukemia ALL, a blood cancer.
The battle begins and Joe Joe Tough was born.
The chemo shed 30 pounds over a two week period.
But even during the intense chemotherapy treatments, he still found a way to have fun during his stay. That's Joe's nature, to make the most out of any situation.
Over the last 5 years, he's battled and beat cancer not once, not twice, but five times.
This episode is about resiliency, optimism, and how a community continues to help Joe Mottlow win his battle against cancer.
Learn more and connect with Joe Joe Tough here: https://www.facebook.com/joe.joe.mottlow/
Today we really get into the WOO WOO, and we know, after listening to this episode, you'll reconsider what you thought was WOO WOO, and actually give today's topic a try.
And we're talking about dialing in, and really listening to, your intuition.
Kelsey Erickson blends spirituality with strategy to find your purpose.
How do you combine your passion and your day-to-day career?
How do you get your brain to take action?
Prepare to connect with your highest self.
Prepare to see things differently
Connect with Everme + Co
https://evermeandco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everme.and.co/
Magical Quotes:
The logical mind wants to know exactly the logic behind everything and why this is happening and why I would take action on this. But you really don't. It really doesn't matter.
Sometimes about WOO WOO stuff it's just like when in the hell am I going to do that? Like what am I doing to do with my crystals? Am I supposed to take those out in the middle of a conference room and put them on the table? Yes, the answer is yes!
Just following intuition is the path of ease vs. me just trying to be controlling and figure out everything, problem-solve everything, and force everything.
If you think this is WOO WOO, you're at the exact moment where you need to stop and open your mind up to what it is that you're learning because you're experiencing resistance. This is the key to unlocking whatever is next for you.
Scott Roiger is a St. Cloud State grad but, to Will's dismay, a HUGE Gophers fan.
Beyond that, though, is a world of trust between Will, Sarah, and the relationship they have formed with Scott.
After college, Scott got a real lesson in what it takes to be successful in the car-sales industry, a taste of success he didn't enjoy.
That's when a friend helped him turn a new direction, towards the mortgage industry where he's happily been for the last decade.
What has made him the success he is today? It's about relationships. Relationships that form when you're there for their "big moments."
Nick is not a man afraid to jump in feet first and figure things out along the way.
It began at a young age when he started his own collection agency with a few friends. He also met, and eventually married his high school sweetheart.
Afterwards he went the safe route, landing a steady corporate job, which was fine until his job was eliminated.
Now with a small family and a need to survive, he pivoted and went to work in the mortgage industry.
Things took off quickly.
Quickly to the point he was making $50 grand a month. Huge turn in his life.
Then the market shifted. And that's when he realized his first mistake. He wasn't a student of his own business.
He filed for bankruptcy, and once again, had to figure things out.
Nick's story is a story of failure. But failure as fuel he used to rebuild a life.
Not just rebuilding a business, but rebuilding a person and a life.
Nick Dreher has a book for real estate agents that teaches common sense methods to success.
Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Methods-Metrics-Winning-Modern/dp/0983588775
Magical Quotes:
"The best way to find success is to create and define your happiness, and determine what it is you can do to achieve that, that they'll pay you to do. "
"The core service provided by a real estate agent is clarity, empathy, and help."
"The wonderful thing about being older is not having the expectation that you think you know everything."
May 24th is Will Huffman's workout anniversary! It's also the day he started hating his trainer, Jordan.
And by hate, he means...well, hate, but in the most loving of ways.
Today Will and Sarah go back a year to why Will started down the fitness road, and what he's experienced since.
Sore buns, new shirts, and a new appreciation for healthy eating. Not because it's good for you, but rather because it just tastes better.
Then a deep conversation into how Will and Sarah's childhood experiences influenced their self-perception, and how they carried those experiences into adulthood.
This is a funny, inspiring, and deeply personal episode of Life Behind the Highlight Real!
Magical Quotes:
"I remember being called fat and it crushed me. I remember not feeling accepted. I remember feeling left out."
"I have butt muscles. That's a real thing, no joke. My bum bum has muscles."
"I've always known that I can do hard stuff. I've never really made myself do something like this...that I despise."
"Once you get clear on why you're doing it, the excuses will go away."
"Nobody has that power to waste my time accept me. Only I can waste my time. If you're allowing somebody to take up your time, you're wasting it, they're not."
The woman behind the world famous Pursey joins Will, Sarah, and Jorie on this episode of Life Behind the Highlight Reel.
Since 1997 the Pursey Code has taken on a life of its own.
Randi Larson and her sister Jeni Kurtyka have designed a business around their lives, with the goal of helping other women discover their energy and design a completely original life experience.
Randi is adamant that you are being called to something you cannot see but can feel in your bones.
They want you to activate the extraordinary woman within by activating your Originations.
All will be explained in this podcast. You will love it!
Reach out to the Originators, sisters Randi and Jeni:
https://www.thepurseycode.com/about
https://www.theoriginators.us/
Search @theoriginators on social media
Randi's Top Five Favorite Restaurants:
- Piccala Cucina - NYC
- The BLVD - Minnetonka
- Cecconis - NYC
- The Lone Spur - Minnetonka
- The Shakeshack
Sarah Huffman and Sara Schaber Fitterer go back...way back to Mr Randle's biology class in the 10th grade. They've been friends ever since.
With that kind of history, expect great stories, including getting dumped at a Sarah Mclachlan concert, being roomies after college, their "anything for money" parties, relationships, marriage....then a baby.
A baby that was born at 25 weeks. Sara shares the story of the day she gave birth to a preemie. The ambulance ride, the comedy troop, the bedpan, and Al Roker.
At under two pounds, Jackson was the size of a ruler wearing diapers the size of a credit card.
Sara shares the story of a world being thrown upside down. Hours in the newborn intensive care unit, the amazing nurses, and the emptiness of leaving every night without your baby.
The bumps were frightening until the day Jackson was allowed to go home.
Sara details Jackson's bravery and fight for life, and the stress as she and her husband experienced all of this for the first time.
Keep up with past episodes of Life Behind the Highlight Reel: https://www.lbthr.com/
Magical Quotes
"This is my son. Screw all of you. He is going to make it"
"We're not going to shy away from doing things. We will do it and make it work. And if people stare at him, I will stare right back."
"Nobody will ever know what you've gone through expect you and the other NICU moms"
We are so proud to welcome Jorie's mom, Jamie Walker, to Life Behind the Highlight Reel. And this is one of those podcasts that there was no way to outline. No way to know exactly where the discussion would go, and that was the perfect way to approach this interview.
Jamie's story begins with multiple moves, a passion for education, and a teen pregnancy.
She describes her teenage life as a time of struggle. A time of wondering where her next rent payment would come from, and how they would put food on the table.
Meanwhile, her drive for education and tenacity for action took her to places even she has trouble believing today.
And there is no settling for Jamie. Her current passion hopes to take her to the halls that determine the future of healthcare, and a desire to make sure we all have access to our fundamental needs.
But packaged around all of that serious stuff is a woman with a great sense of humor and the strangest top 5 restaurants we've heard since starting the podcast.
Enjoy this amazing interview.
Catch up on past episodes! https://www.lbthr.com/
Our very own NAR 30 under 30 recipient, Jona Flores, is a leader, a professional and overall an amazing human! She has connected to her "Why" and that is the rocket fuel she needs for a long and successful career.
In this recording of our previous Meeting of the Minds session, Jona will share how she got to where she is, the steps she took to discover her "Why", and how it influences her business and personal life to allow a life lived with purpose, passion, and professionalism.
You'll walk away from this episode with tangible action items you can use to find your "Why" and propel you into your purpose with passion.
Magical Quotes:“I am a firm believer of giving when you can’t. Because if you can put forth the action to volunteer, even if you don’t have the money, it’s something that is instilled in you.”
“I was really passionate in business, I just understood it. I knew my passion was problem solving and it always has been. And that’s what real estate is. Figuring it out… A lot of it is solutions. Identifying the problem and finding the solutions.”
“It was one of those pivotal parts in my journey for finding my "Why". Because back then, home was a place I did not feel safe in. Home was a place I never experienced Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving… My definition of home was shelter. Shelter so I could get dressed and leave to go do fun things with friends… Now it is different, obviously. It really taught me how to define what home is. Being able to build my own [home] now, and understanding that it really is the staple, the foundation of a good life.”
"[Self-care books] keep you mindful, it keeps you aware. In situations where we’re managing emotions for people, it’s really easy to forget the place they are coming from."
"You want to meet your client where they're at. A lot of times people want to have them come to you. That's not customer service. Customer service is meeting your client where you need to be at."
Coming up we are recapping the last four months on the podcast. The guests, the amazing stories, and the lessons learned.
This is a great episode if you've been with us throughout our podcast journey, but it's also a great episode if you're brand new to Life Behind the Highlight Reel because it'll bring you completely up to date to where we have been, and where we are going.
We cover A LOT today including:
- A rundown of the last four months, and our reactions to each of our guests.
- Will's advice to men when dealing with adversity
- Our approach to this podcast and how it has improved the way we deal with our clients, family, and friends.
- Why we miss old-school interviewers like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters
- Our favorite things to do while driving alone
- Our obsessions as kids
- Emotions - Men vs. Women
- Burping
- Farting while doing yoga
- 'Merica
And more
Keep up with Life Behind the Highlight Reel!
LBTHR.com
Magical Quotes
"It's a random melting pot of emotions, and we are hear for it"
"Don't ask me a question you don't want to hear an answer to"
"I enjoy green beans but Sarah has traumatic issues related to green beans."
"If anybody's done yoga right, you have farted in class."
"As guys, we don't want to hear what you have to say, we just want you to know what we're going through."
Our friend, Cinde Vadnais, is one of the reasons we stay with RE/MAX Results. From branch manager and operations manager, to recruiter and real estate agent, she has covered almost every role in this industry.
Her real strength is her ability to form long-term working relationships. She has helped countless agents accelerate their career through her experience and positive, upbeat nature.
What we didn't know about Cinde is the health hurdle she had to face early in life, and continues to stand up to today.
We also didn't know about her past as an athlete at the University of Minnesota!
Her motivating nature now makes perfect sense.
Today you will learn:
- How she continues to help people face the same health issues she faced 30 years ago
- What makes a candidate instantly attractive when recruiting
- Her "why," and what truly drives her on a professional level
- And, of course, her top 5 favorite restaurants!
Reach out to Cinde:
Website
Keep up with Life Behind the Hightlight Reel!
LBTHR.com
Facebook
Magical Quotes:
"In life sometimes the Old Maid to you and I've ditched it. I've dealt with it and I just move on."
"Having a routine life is a gift."
"It's as fun getting someone to a $100-grand as it is to a million. And all along the way, man, it's different."
"There is a different mindset when it comes to athletes. And that mindset starts young."
This week we wrap up our incredible interview with Dustin Underwood, who served multiple jail terms before finding his path -- only to lose his way again.
If episode one left you looking for a happy ending, then settle in for an heart-warming conclusion to his story.
Wrapping up episode 1, Dustin was getting ready to leave Team Challenge with nothing but a garbage bag of clothes and a girlfriend 8 months pregnant.
Now he had two goals: Find a place to live and find a job.
In Part 2 life begins to open up opportunities and a brighter future, but not before more curveballs.
Curveballs that includes a simple mix up in paperwork that almost landed him in jail and a bad drug test that almost eliminated his job.
Meanwhile, Dustin was still searching for purpose.
A purpose that was finally discovered through a fundraiser after the loss of a friend that raised thousands of dollars for his family.
That moment opened his eyes and his heart.
He wanted nothing more but to give back. A journey he's still on today through a fishing group that helps kids and families in need.
Part 1 told the story of struggle. Part 2 is the conclusion that you hope would happen.
Magical Quotes
"Who would ever thought I went from crackhead to killing it? Like I'm just killing it."
"You can always get more money, but you can never get more time."
"You don't have to be rich to do something for someone. Your voice can move mountains."
Dustin Underwood is a past client and now friend who has a story of overcoming seemingly impossible odds.
Dustin grew up surrounded by alcohol and drugs in Bloomington. After being expelled from school, legal problems started to build with an eventual jail sentence before the age of 18.
After 18 his drug and theft problems continued, eventually leading to more jail time between the ages of 19 and 21.
Finally, a third felony sent him to prison. A year later, after scoring in the top 20% of the nation on the GED, he started getting his life together. The stress of life and a bad economy in 2007 sent him spiraling back into addiction, which sent him back to prison.
Out of prison his problems continued.
Until December 5th, 2011. A day that may have sent him to prison for 10 years. Until what he read in the Bible was a forecast to what happened next.
This is part 1 of an amazing story.
Magical Quotes
"Okay, I was in and out. I do 30 days, and then I'd get out. And then I do 60 days, then I get out. Then they'd violate me because I was still using and I'd go to another 30 days, you know, so it was in and out, in and out, in and out. All at the same jail."
"So I was in this alone. 100% alone, and really had to put my big boy pants on. Because now I'm in a situation where, obviously you're with convicted murderers."
"So I hadn't been in any type of schooling or anything like that. And so I'm like, Oh, I'm gonna try for my GED while I'm here, too. Well, I didn't even study. And I passed in the top 20% of the nation."
Golden Retriever vs. Lab? At Helping Paws, They're Both Winners!
In this episode, we are joined by Amanda, Brenda, and Lynn; 3 amazing individuals who work together at Helping Paws to uniquely create new opportunities to achieve their goal of furthering their impact and getting more people involved by growing their community on social media!
Helping Paws is a non-profit organization located in Hopkins, Minnesota. They are dedicated to the breeding, training and placement of assistance dogs for people who have physical disabilities and for Veterans and first responders who have PTSD. They also provide facility dogs that are partnered with a facilitator working in a care giving, educational or courtroom setting.
Fun fact: Early experiences showed that for successful service dog training, we needed to start with PUPPIES to begin shaping behaviors early in each dog’s life! The first dog to complete such training and be placed was Alpha, a Golden Retriever who went on to serve his partner for many years.
The human and animal bond is the foundation of Helping Paws, and they celebrate the mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between them each day! At any given time, they have 50-70 dogs in training. Talk about AMAZING!
Connect with Helping PawsFacebook: @helpingpawsmn
Instagram: @helpingpawsmn
LinkedIn: Helping Paws, Inc.
Twitter: @helpingpawsmn
YouTube: HelpingPawsMN
Connect with BrendaFacebook: Brenda Hawley
Instagram: @bkhawley
LinkedIn: Brenda Hawley
Email: bhawley@helpingpaws.org
Connect with Amanda KubousekFacebook: Amanda Kubousek
Instagram: @akubousek
LinkedIn: Amanda Kubousek
Connect with LynnFacebook: Lynn Walker
Instagram: @slwalker67Twitter: @sportsmominMN
LinkedIn: Lynn Walker
Donate to Helping Pawshttps://helpingpaws.org/donate/
Volunteer at Helping Pawshttps://helpingpaws.org/volunteer/
Launching, Bus Schedules, and Lobotomies with Jill Morrison
Financial advisors advise us to always save up to 6 months’ worth of expenses. Jill decided to defy that advice and quit her job with just $1,300 to her name. She launched her business that has been operating for over a year.
In this episode, we’ll be seeking to learn more about Jill. It is amazing how when
you think you know someone so well. There is always something about them that
you always do not know.
Jill shocked us by telling us she a special affiliation for Math. Jill will tell us about the Math contests she took part in and the sports she participates in, not to mention all the trophies that she got.
Also, if you have wanted to quit the corporate world and have no idea where to
start, you might borrow a leaf or two from Jill.
Listen in to this episode.
Redefining Friendly Competition with Kara Werth and Bethany Nelson
We often interpret competition as a rivalry that breeds enmity amongst competing groups. Well, that’s not always the case.
Today, we are honored to have our friends, Kara Werth and Bethany Nelson, who also double as our competitors in the real estate world.
Bethany has a degree in Public Relations from Belmont University, became a licensed realtor in 2010, and now owns investment property.
Kara graduated from high school, immediately dove into real estate, and became a realtor at 18.
We met Kara and Bethany at a Rachel Hollis Conference and built a friendship laid on a great foundation. Ever since, our friendships have evolved and successfully seen us through hard times together despite us being competitors.
We're all growth-minded, we support one another, learn from each other, and have helped each other pivot our businesses into abundance.
We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Bethany’s backstory
- Kara’s Backstory
- Where Kara sees herself in 5 years
- Where Bethany sees herself in 5 years
- Dream vacations
- Our friendship journey
- The Health shift journey
- The Oura Ring
- Why it works being friends with people at other companies
- Kara and Bethany’s favorite restaurants
Magical Quotes
‘’Real estate can be very lonely at times, and you have to find people you can trust to share that with.''
"Making better choices makes you feel in control."
"The outer journey of working on yourself in terms of what you put in your body determines your inner journey."
"We often seek validation to feel decent about our decision."
“No one is unrecruitable. It’s all about where you feel most at home.”
“If you want to learn and grow, surround yourself with people who are better than you.”
Connect with Kara Werth:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karakraus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karawerth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-werth-9ba13424
Connect with Bethany Nelson:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethany.nelson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethanylnelson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanylnelson
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
The Oura Ring: https://ouraring.com/
Chasing Your Dreams in a Pandemic with Ava Beilke
Have you ever thought about quitting your job during the pandemic to chase your dreams? It might sound scary but that’s exactly what today’s guest, Ava Beilke did!
Ava is a Social Media Coach, self-love advocate, speaker, and writer dedicated to helping people live a better life through a guided realization that unconditional self-love is the foundation of all pursuits, including marketing themselves.
Ava quit her corporate job of 10 years to become an entrepreneur in 2020 - amidst the Covid pandemic.
What seemed like a perfect plan ended up triggering a 1/3 life crisis. Thankfully, 2022 seems to be a better year for Ava and she’s going to share with us what happened along the way.
Also in this episode, Ava will take us through her childhood, experience as a beauty pageant contestant, her job in the corporate world, how she became an entrepreneur full-time, and her traveling adventures.
We hope you enjoy this amazing episode!
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Ava
- Ava’s experience as a beauty pageant contestant
- Ava’s first job as a social media manager
- How 2020 changed Ava’s career as a social media director
- The launch of Ava’s social media coaching
- Ava’s coping mechanism in 2021 when she was trying to figure out her purpose
- How Ava is fairing in 2022
- Ava’s goals for the year 2022
- How Ava picks where she to travel to
- How did Ava keep going during her hard days?
- Ava’s top 5 restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
“Sometimes you explore what you don’t want, in addition to what you do want which is interesting.”
“I wasn’t anticipating the loss or the shedding of an identity that I associated with for a decade. That’s something that no one could have prepared me for.”
“February for me kind of feels like more of the new year because it’s my birthday. But then also spring because we look at the cycles of nature. That is when there is newness, that is when there’s rebirth. That is when people are reemerging.”
“You’re willing to give your own business everything you have. But at the same time, it’s not your entire life.”
“Success is not monetary. It’s not the awards. Success is the feeling that I hold in my heart.”
Connect with Ava Beilke:
Website: https://www.avabeilke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ava-Beilke-102085994654067
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avabeilke/
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Everything is figureoutable – Maria Forleo
DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS WHILE DRIVING!
Have you heard about the power of meditation, but you have no idea what it involves?
This episode is for you. We have the amazing Vanessa Rose joining us on the show. She will help us understand the power of manifestation, our programming and how it works, how her ACTV8 program works, and get to learn more about her childhood.
Vanessa Rose is a healer from another planet who has been put on this Earth to help us step into our power and purpose. She is the creator of Meditate, V’s Online Membership Program, a first-of-its-kind monthly subscription.
Vanessa helps people stay committed to their spiritual practices through live, weekly guided meditations.
Her flagship eight-week course, ACTV8, aligns people to their soul purpose, allowing them to hone their gifts and get their talents launched into the world.
Vanessa was an early adopter of the MindTravel “silent” headphone system, incorporating Murray Hilary’s piano compositions and healing binaural beats in her meditations to fast track participants into a space where they can design their life from a pure state of bliss.
Want to hear more? Listen to this episode.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Vanessa and her childhood
- Vanessa’s first job and how she transitioned to entrepreneurship
- Understanding our programming and how it works
- Vanessa’s ACTV8 program
- Vanessa’s top 5 restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
“I’m of the mindset that just because I don’t understand something doesn’t mean I don’t agree with it.”
“Running a business and holding the space for others to thrive in that container, you have to be able to hold the frequency of success.”
“Nothing’s right or wrong. That’s just the belief that gets planted on us so that we then can be controlled.”
“People who are drawn to ACTV8 are ready to launch.”
“The beauty of the human spirit is that there is preconditioning. “
“When we think about noticing where we lose track of time, that’s where we get into that true space of time, which is abundant, it’s expansive, and it’s infinite.”
“We really have to let go if we want oneness and we want to really show up and be in this beauty. We have to let go of those identities that we want to put on everything.”
Connect with Vanessa Rose:
Website: https://vanessafeils.com/
Vanessa’s ACTV8 program: https://vanessafeils.com/actv8/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessafeils/
Join Vanessa’s Meditation Membership
Membership: https://vanessafeils.com/meditation-membership/
Brenda Tushaus is the CEO at RE/MAX Results. She’s logged nearly twenty-three years in the real estate industry.
Eighteen years ago, she joined RE/MAX Results as their Technology Manager. Since then, she has held a variety of roles, including VP - Business Development, Director of Recruiting, and Chief Operating Officer.
As part of the RE/MAX Results executive team, Brenda proactively supports the Sales Executives’ growth by delivering a world-class infrastructure of the finest offerings in technology, marketing, training, and facilities.
In this episode, we’ll get to know Brenda better as she shares how her family life has shaped the journey her career has taken as well as how she became the CEO for RE/MAX Results.
We hope you enjoy the episode!
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Damon Remy and his journey
- The loan business that Damon helped build
- Brenda’s school life
- What does Brenda do when she is not working?
- One thing that people do not know about Brenda
- How Brenda’s sons describe her
- What keeps Brenda up at night?
- Work-life focus
- Brenda’s greatest accomplishment
- Brenda’s advice for future leaders
- Brenda’s favorite thing working with John Collopy
- Brenda’s top 5 favorite restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
“If you don’t believe it yourself, but others keep telling you just listen to them.”
“We are well-run machine. It really shouldn’t keep me up. The things that keep me up are really silly. I am a people pleaser.”
Today, we have Evie joining us on the show. She has been interning for A Good Life Group and will be sharing her experience.
Evie is majoring in Business Management and minoring in Sales. Evie got an internship as part of her Sales minor at Concordia St. Paul.
Evie will share how she got ahold of us, her experience, and educate us on Volleyball.
Listen in and learn.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Evie and how she got here
- What inspired Evie to join us for an internship?
- Evie's experience at REMAX
- Understanding volleyball
- Evie's advice to a freshman
- Evie's training regime
- Evie's top 5 restaurants
If you had a famous parent, would you use them as a stepping stone to get to where you want to go?
In this episode, we have the privilege of talking to Natalie Pillsbury.
Natalie’s dad is a famous musician who has connections all over, but Natalie decided to work hard and create success on her own merits.
Natalie went to school for dental assisting and worked in a cosmetic office where she went through a customer service training course at Ritz Carlton. As a result, her customer service skills are top-notch!
When Covid hit, Natalie decided to take her sales and exceptional customer service skills to the real estate world and it’s been no surprise to see the great feedback from her clients after every transaction.
Get to know Natalie better and hear how she’s finding success and what her real estate journey has been like so far.
Are you ready for a motivating episode? Listen in.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Natalie’s background
- What brought Natalie to real estate?
- What does Natalie see in her future?
- Something that we might not know about Natalie
- Natalie’s top 5 restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
“Being independent in this business you have to be built differently. You have to want to have the I don’t want to say solitude, but that’s kind of what it is. Real estate can be a very lonely business.”
“If the person is whole; the profit will just happen.”
“By taking care of the whole person. There’s so much more to gain.”
“Be true to yourself and live the best version of yourself, should be said all the time, because maybe you’re not ready to hear today. But maybe tomorrow or the next day you are.”
Would you like to take your confidence a notch higher? This episode is for you. Melissa DeLay will be sharing amazing nuggets of wisdom that we can all benefit from.
Melissa DeLay is the founder and principal owner of TruPerception.
She has more than two decades of experience helping executives, managers, salespeople, and customer-facing professionals gain the skills they need to communicate with confidence, regardless of the situation.
With years of strategic and corporate communication experience, Melissa knows how to deliver the right words in the right way to drive change, manage crises, boost engagement, and build a stronger brand.
Melissa believes that there will always be a crisis in the communication world, and the best thing to do is to be prepared.
In this episode, Melissa will share her backstory, her goals for the next five years, and tips on how to communicate better.
Grab a notebook and pen. You'll want to take notes.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Melissa
- How Melissa almost got fired
- Melissa's life as a mom
- Where does Melissa see herself in the next five years?
- Melissa's top 5 restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
"A lot of CEOs don't know what they're doing. They don't know what they're doing, especially when it comes to communication. They don't connect their missteps to the consequences of business failure."
"When you talk about self-esteem, you have to have the plan before something hits you. Otherwise, you're just going to default."
"Sometimes people will do something. If they're not self-aware, they'll just keep doing it."
"Something bad is always happening. You don't know it because you're not paying attention, and you want to believe that everything is good."
"The average leader relies on their Get Out of Jail Free card 80 to 90% of the time."
"The biggest reason I think that we are in the trouble that we're in as a society is because there is you can't see the pain in the other person's eyes when you're commenting online."
Connect with Melissa DeLay:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissadelay
Website: truperception.com
Today, our guest is Kristin Rowell and she's going to share some value bombs that will leave us in a better place when it comes to our bodies and our health.
Kristin Rowell is the Founder and CEO of Energetically Efficient™. As a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, she helps people lose weight while gaining muscle and energy so they can live happier, more fulfilled lives.
There is a lot of information around nutrition and sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the information out there. Kristin will help us understand what's essential and why it's important to educate ourselves for better health and a better life.
Are you ready to take better care of your body? You'll want to hear this episode. Be sure to grab a notebook and a pen. Kristen has a lot of value to give.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Kristen
- Kristin’s career path
- How Kristin met Sarah
- What does Kristin do as a functional nutrition therapist?
- How to block blue light on your iPhone
- Intermittent fasting
- Fats and proteins, which one fills you up and which one sustains you?
- How can you get proteins from non-meat sources?
- How to consume Kristin’s content without having to pay her
- Kristin’s top five favorite restaurants
- Kristen’s talk at our February 1st event for Meeting of the Minds
- Click here to register for the event!
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
“I think it is your responsibility as a person on this earth to figure out how to make your life easier. If you can’t figure it out, you got to hire someone who can help you do it. So that you can really show up for your spouse, your kids, your partners, your colleagues, all of it.”
“The way they label things nowadays, to get you to believe what you’re putting in your body is good for you and your family. You have to be very discerning about this stuff.”
“Stay ahead of your blood sugar, eat the protein in the fats before you really are starving, because most people wait until their blood sugar crashes then they eat the first thing around.”
“People don’t realize that body fat that we have on us is a source of fuel, your body can go on its own fat. The reason that most people don’t ever let themselves get there is because they’re running on this carbohydrate fueled system all day.”
Connect with Kristin Rowell:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mngoldengirl/
Website: https://energeticallyefficient.com/
Leah is a wife, a mother, a businesswoman with Results Title, and has been serving in the industry for years.
Leah shares that bringing up children and being a career woman is a tricky balance to achieve. She recalls when her children were younger and she had to work for 16 hours a day - which was difficult for both her and her children.
In this episode, she’ll be sharing her story of raising kids while growing a career how she got to where she is today.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Leah
- Where did Leah come from before she was with Results Title?
- Leah's most prolonged closing
- Leah's life outside work
- Something we may not know about Leah
- How Leah met her husband, Scott
- How Leah managed being a mom and a career woman
- Leah's top 5 restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
"Education is great, but it's work history that is very much an important piece of the puzzle."
"I love the fact that people can do so many things now without a college education."
Have you ever thought about running a business with your partner? If so, you could learn a lot from Jake and Kayla Bjorneberg.
Jake and Kayla run a successful business in real estate. Kayla led their transition into real estate with Jake’s support but it wasn’t long before he joined her.
In this episode, Kayla and Jake share their passion for traveling and the amazing places they’ve been to, what it’s like being in business with your spouse, and what to watch for when building a home!
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Jake and Kayla
- How William and Jake met
- Jake and Kayla’s travel experiences
- How Kayla and Jake got into real estate
- How Kayla and Jake run their business together as a married couple
- Jake’s role as a Director of Sales
- Getting to know their fur baby, Howard
- How Jake and Kayla built a new construction home
- Jake and Kayla’s top five restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
“Treat your servers in the service industry well. They deserve more. Treat those people well because they are the gate holders to whatever you want.”
"If you build a house, you’re going to miss something. If you have built five houses, you will miss something. Because sometimes you don’t realize what you need until you’re living in this space.”
"When I want something, there is no ‘if’.”
What were you doing at the age of 21? Having fun & going out with friends? Partying? That’s a road that most of us took but Kara chose a different route.
Even at a young age, Kara was excited to be an adult and start having babies. As soon as she hit 18, she moved out and got married. By the time she was 19, she had her first child. During her early 20s, Kara and her husband Nick had a total of 4 children.
Kara believes her “why” - what drives her to succeed - is being a great mother to her children and supporting her family in whatever way she can.
When Kara became a licensed realtor, she started out strong with a couple of closed deals within the first few months of her career.
In this episode, Kara will share her journey through motherhood, the businesses she has had, and her journey to finding early success in real estate.
Listen to this inspiring episode.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Who is Kara?
- What keeps Kara going?
- How Sarah and Kara met
- Kara’s real estate curiosity
- Kara’s goals for the next five years
- The epic way Kara left Kate Spade
- Kara’s top five restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
“Life is all the little moments. It’s every second, every minute. Every hour. It’s not just big things.”
“I’ve always been given a challenge. Like I was always given the department that was falling apart, or I was always given this role nobody wanted or could do. I was used to that. But it was time for that to be over. I wanted to start a challenge that was for myself.”
As 2021 comes to a close, Sarah and William Huffman take the opportunity to sit down and talk about the highlights and lessons 2021 gave them.
Want to join a supportive community of people who understand what real life looks like behind the highlight reel? Come and be part of our Facebook Group!
How calm would you remain in an accident? Would you use all your energy panicking, or would you choose to remain positive until you get help?
In this episode, we are humbled to talk a guy who has perfected how to live in the moment: Tyler Walen.
Tyler is one of the most logical people we have ever met. He has been through a lot, but that hasn’t affected his mindset.
Tyler was involved in an accident that left him trapped in his car for 16 hours and submerged in water before he could get help.
During these 16 hours, Tyler spent his energy trying to free himself and he knew panicking wouldn’t help. He focused on what he could do and remained calm until help arrived. After being found by his basketball coach, Tyler spent months in hospital and underwent twenty surgeries.
In this episode, Tyler will share how the accident happened, the recovery process, his journey into real estate, and how all of it has changed his life for the better.
Listen to this episode to learn how Tyler learned to live in the moment.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Tyler Walen.
- How Tyler met us.
- Why did Tyler choose real estate?
- What does 16 hours mean to Tyler?
- Tyler’s mindset during the 16 hours trapped in a flipped car and what made him not give up?
- How Tyler sets his goals.
- Tyler’s goals.
- Top five favorite restaurants for Tyler.
Memorable Quotes from the Episode:
“You never really know what people have gone through and how they show up every day.”
“Be present, live in the moment.”
“I don’t want to feel like I’m missing something today when I could be enjoying today.”
Success never comes on a silver platter; you have to work for it. According to our guest Jona Flores, you just need to outwork everybody around you.
Jona is the perfect definition of a self-made businesswoman.
At 18, she moved out of her mother's house to face life independently and took herself through college, working multiple jobs.
In this episode, Jona will share her journey to becoming the person she is today.
She also shares how she earned Realtor Magazine's 30 Under 30.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Jona
- How Jona met us
- Can Jona attribute her success to being routine-oriented?
- Jona's national award
- How is Jona giving back to the community?
- Jona's favorite restaurants
Magical Quotes from the Episode
"If there's anything that teaches you work ethic, it's hardship."
"It's impossible to be the smartest person in the room. And if you're the smartest person in any room, you're not hanging out in the right room."
"You don't have to be the smartest. You just have to work harder. You need to outwork everybody that's around you."
"If I don't have a solution for you right now, I'm the right person to go get you on."
"If you don't start giving when you can't, you're not going to do it when you are successful."
Connect with Jona Flores
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonaflores.realtor/
In this episode, Ali Massa is joining us.
Ali is many things. She is a mother, a wife, a runner, and a loan officer at Results Mortgage.
Today, we’ll have an in-depth conversation with Ali, seeking to understand what her personal growth journey has been like, what triggered it, and how it has affected her loved ones.
Ali will also tell us how she ran a virtual half-marathon during the pandemic and the marathon she's preparing for next.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
- Getting to know Ali
- The secret to success when it comes to having a long and happy marriage
- Ali’s personal growth journey
- In life, personal growth is vital and inevitable and working on bettering yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself and those around you.
- It's sad when we make other people take a self-development journey for us instead of allowing them to do it for themselves.
- How is Ali’s journey affecting the people in her life?
- Ali’s goals for the next five years
- Ali’s virtual half-marathon
- Ali’s favorite restaurants
Standout Quotes from the Episode:
“It’s crazy how the same goal can get you to the same place a different starting point.”
“It’s personal, I’ve got to take care of myself so I can take care of others.”
“If I want to have a sustainable personal life, sustainable mindset, I have to start with me.”
“If you completely work on your mindset and your positivity continually. It just becomes second nature.”
“Once you start your personal development and growth, you want to share it with everybody. You want to shove it down people’s throats, but it won’t work because they’re not ready to go on that journey.”
“Adjusting does not mean failing.”
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
Connect with Ali Massa:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-massa-15b19119/
Phone Number: (605) 201-9438
Website: https://resultsmortgage.com/amassa
Realtor Dena Frank sits down to talk about how life leads you down unexpected paths and how to pivot into a new direction.
Dena has some fantastic insights into what to do when life leads you down different paths as well as how to find the path that's right for you!
You can also check out Dena's podcast, On a Mission, here!
We run a team of licensed real estate professionals in Minnesota called A Good Life Group which is brokered through RE/MAX Results. To find out more and connect with us, head over to agoodlifegroup.com.
If you like the episode, be sure to leave us a review, and don't forget to join our Facebook Group!
This week, we're joined by Matt and Kayla Dutton to talk about life after a life-changing accident and the strength they've found in each other and in their support system.
Matt and Kayla's favorite restaurants are:
- Old Log Cabin, Forest Lake, MN
- Buona Sera, Champlin, MN
- Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse, Nationwide
- Main Street Farmer, St. Michael, MN
- Willy McCoys, Ramsey, MN
- Redstone, Maple Grove, MN
- Aurelio's Pizza, Ramsey, MN
- La Casita, Coon Rapids, MN
- Twin Pines Restaurant, Garrison, MN
- Cafe Zupas, Maple Grove, MN
We run a team of licensed real estate professionals in Minnesota called A Good Life Group which is brokered through RE/MAX Results. To find out more and connect with us, head over to agoodlifegroup.com.
Be sure to join our Facebook Group!
This week, we're joined by Matt Cunningham to talk about the top restaurants in the Twin Cities area.
Here are the top Twin Cities restaurants (according to us):
- Murrays Classic Steakhouse, Minneapolis
- Manny's Steakhouse, Minneapolis
- Gianna's Steakhouse, Wayzata
- Animales Barbecue, Minneapolis
- Travail Kitchen & Amusements, Robbinsdale
- Pour Wine Bar & Bistro, Otsego
- Keys Cafe & Bakery, Minneapolis
- Billy's Sushi, Minneapolis
- Feller Restaurant, Stillwater
- Lotus - Loring Park Location, Minneapolis
- JC's Bar & Grill, Maple Grove
- Main Street Farmer, St. Michael
- Lemongrass Thai Cuisine, Brooklyn Park
- Andy's Hometown Pizza, Albertville
- Olive Garden, Nationwide
- Restoration Hardware (RH) Rooftop Restaurant, Minneapolis
- The St. Paul Grill, St. Paul
- Yu Fong, Maple Grove
- Young Joni, Minneapolis
- Broadway Pizza, Robbinsdale
- Sotarol, Minneapolis
Each of these restaurants have made the list for a number of reasons, but the most important reason is simple: they're our favorites.
We run a team of licensed real estate professionals in Minnesota called A Good Life Group which is brokered through RE/MAX Results. To find out more and connect with us, head over to agoodlifegroup.com.
Be sure to join our Facebook Group!
We run a team of licensed real estate professionals in Minnesota called A Good Life Group, which is brokered through RE/MAX Results.
Every great team needs a fantastic support system and you can't find a better Executive Ninja than ours.
In this episode, you'll get to meet the hilarious and kind backbone of A Good Life Group, Jorie Schaaf!
Make to join our Facebook Group for even more fun!
Welcome to the first episode of William and Sarah Huffman's new podcast: Life Behind the Highlight Real.
In this episode, we're taking the opportunity to re-introduce ourselves and dive into what Life Behind the Highlight Real is all about: taking you beyond the curated life we all see online.
Each week, we talk with friends, colleagues, and inspiring people to dive into the good and difficult times we all go through. Our hope is that the story behind the person you see online will inspire you to look beyond the curated and know that you are not alone; we're in this together.
Be sure to follow us and leave us a review so others can hear what life is really like behind the highlight reel and make sure you join our Facebook Group!