Kansas City RealTalk

Michele DuPont is the 2025 REALTOR® of the Year, 2026 chair of the YPN Committee, and current Director on the KCRAR and KR Boards. She shares how industry involvement has served her career and how other agents can get involved and grow their networks. Learn more about YPN at kcrar.com/YPN Learn more about committee service at kcrar.com/volunteer

Don Burns is a third-generation real estate broker who has worked with thousands of agents throughout his career. He talks with Alex about the qualities of successful agents and how brokers can support a healthier industry.

A writer for the New York Times recently published an article recording his experience selling his home without the help of an agent, but instead using a chatbot. Local broker and tech expert Michael Pierce joins us for a conversation about that writer's experience as well as the feasibility of this practice as the use of A.I. continues to rise. Read the article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/28/technology/sell-house-with-ai-no-realtor.html

Recorded live at KCRAR in May, local city officials, including three mayors, share the latest developments in their cities. - Chris Lievsay, Mayor of Blue Springs, Mo. - Julie Sayers, Mayor of Lenexa, Kan. - Jesse Smith, Mayor of North Kansas City, Mo. - David Johnston, County Administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan.

How do short-term rentals affect the housing market and economy in the Kansas City region? A new study commissioned by KCRAR tells us. KCRAR VP of Government Affairs James Toy joins us to share some of the findings of this study. View the study results: https://kcrar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Kansas-City-Short-Term-Rental-Study-Results.pdf

Marc-Antoine Juanéda is Director of Product Management at Cotality Real Estate Solutions, overseeing industry-leading products such as Matrix, MLS-Touch, and Prospects CRM, used by over 1.2 million real estate professionals across North America. After his stage presentation at Recharge 2026, he sat down with Alex to share what's to come for Cotality and the future of real estate tech now that A.I. is becoming ubiquitous.

Lundy Inc. founder and CEO Justin Lundy shares the history behind Finding Homes, Nora and Navigator as well as how Heartland MLS users can use the new A.I. assistant to streamline their workflow and save time.

The National Association of REALTORS® is taking a new approach to member value. Sherry Chris, NAR Special Advisor of Brokerages, and Bobbi Howe, NAR VP of Association Affairs, share what members may not know NAR is providing. In conversation with Alex, they dive even deeper than Recharge attendees saw on stage.

Rayse Co-CEO Christian Dwiggins sits down with Alex to talk about the importance of transparency and how agents can leverage the new Heartland MLS benefit, Rayse, to showcase their value with clients.

Taryn Kelly is a REALTOR®, real estate instructor and Chair of the 2026 KCRAR Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. To kick off Fair Housing Month, she talks with Alex about lessons she's learned through teaching Fair Housing and how agents can continue to uphold the critical law of Fair Housing. Book Bit: Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig Long Island Divided: https://projects.newsday.com/long-island/real-estate-agents-investigation/

Jessica Thomas is the 2026 President of Heartland MLS. The last time she was on the show, the industry was adapting to new rules and forms after the NAR settlement. On today's episode, we check in with Jessica on how the industry has adjusted since then, and where MLS technology may be headed in the future. More on Heartland MLS (including the map!): https://kcrar.com/kcrar-members/heartland-mls/about-heartland-mls/

You've likely encountered Kyle Talbot's videos on social media through his channels, Moving to KC and The KC Scene. Kyle talks with Alex about how he used content creation to build his real estate business from the ground up, operating a media brand with over 121k followers.

James Toy is the new Vice President of Government Affairs for KCRAR. He talks with Alex about affordable housing, short term rentals and other timely issues affecting housing in our area, as well as what's new for the structure of advocacy at the Association.

Heather Bortnick is the President of the Koehler Bortnick Team at ReeceNichols, one of the top producing real estate teams in the Kansas City region. She talks with Alex about growing her business with her mother, balancing her work and personal life, adjusting to a changing market and more.

You take a listing, you pull a preliminary title report, and you find that there are income tax liens filed on that property... where do you go from there? Tax expert and KCRAR Industry Partner Jennifer Moutray shares the basics agents should know about tax liens.

KCRAR 2026 President David Nichols discusses his vision for the year, his advice for agents to find success in a changing market, and his hopes for the future of the industry.

Producer Amber shares clips from some of the year's guests as they tell their wildest stories from their careers. Share your story or feedback at [email protected]

The median age of first-time buyers was at an all-time high in 2025. What does this, and other facts and trends about consumers, mean for agents? Alex walks us through some highlights from the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Report and what you can glean from it to support your business. Highlights From the Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/highlights-from-the-profile-of-home-buyers-and-sellers

Brent Sledd is a top producing agent in the Kansas City market. He talks with Alex about his career journey, from working at Hallmark to managing investment properties and more. He also shares a warning to social media users to avoid falling victim to a scam that affected him earlier this year.

Jim Gamble is not only a REALTOR® of nearly 40 years, but he is also a past president of Heartland MLS, KCRAR, and Missouri REALTORS®, as well as past Vice President for NAR Region 9. He talks with Alex about how he built his business and the lessons he's learned throughout his career.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will be implementing new anti-money laundering efforts beginning Dec. 1, 2025, and these preventative measures may affect your clients' real estate transactions. Elizabeth Daniel with Continental Title and Nichole Banks with Tallgrass Title explain what agents should know about this upcoming change. Registration opening soon for Elizabeth and Nichole's upcoming KCRAR class.

Noticing a recent increase in your or your clients' home insurance rates? Insurance experts Jennifer & Andrew Williamson join Alex to discuss current trends in the insurance market, causes, and predictions for the future. Plus, they share their tips for how agents and homeowners alike can navigate common insurance matters.

Tracey "the Safety Lady" Hawkins recently spoke to real estate agents who personally fell victim to a pig butcher scam for an article she wrote for REALTOR® Magazine. On this episode, she talks with Alex about what she learned from those agents and how REALTORS® can take steps to protect themselves and their clients from scams. Read Tracey's REALTOR® Magazine article on the Pig Butchering Scam: https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/scammed-shamed-and-deepfaked-real-estate-agents-speak-out-on-crypto-con Contact Tracey: https://linktr.ee/TraceytheSafetyLady

Mayors Carolyn Caiharr (Edwardsville), Eric Mikkelson (Prairie Village), Kathy Rose (Riverside), Rory Rowland (Independence) answer REALTOR® questions about affordable housing at the Board of Mayors event on Aug. 21, 2025. View the full session: https://youtu.be/0lJZL73Oe00?si=D9ie4Ohfib5PHuCp

On Bobbi Howe's final episode as co-host, she and Alex look back at nearly 7 years hosting Kansas City RealTalk, look forward to Bobbi's future role as NAR officer, and share takeaways and advice from Bobbi's long and growing real estate career.

Why did REALTOR®, broker and past KCRAR & Heartland MLS President Michael Pierce shift away from a "hustle" mindset in his career? He talks to Bobbi and Alex about what led to this change and how other agents can take steps to care for their work-life balance. Jump to interview at 10:15

Will Ruder is the Executive Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (KCHBA), and Keith Sauro is the Publisher of the Real Estate Book and New Home Guide of Greater Kansas City and Design KC. Together, they host the HBA After Hours podcast. They join Alex on this episode of Kansas City RealTalk to discuss the state of the new home market in the Kansas City region, and how it's been affected by tariffs, local ordinances and even A.I. Check out HBA After Hours: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hba-after-hours/id1789202328

Dan O'Dell has seen the market fluctuate through many ups and downs since he began his career as a REALTOR® in 1995. Beyond just the transaction of buying or selling real estate, he talks with Alex about the deeper purpose of a REALTOR® and how agents can continue to add value for their clients.

Steve LaRue went from young homeowner to REALTOR® to President of the Kansas Association of REALTORS®. He talks with Bobbi and Alex about what's changed since he bought his first home at 19 years old and what REALTORS® can do to help continue the American dream of homeownership for the next generation of young homeowners. Bobbi's Book Bit: Burn the Boats by Matt Higgins (Jump to interview at 15:10)

Nykia Wright brings a breadth of executive leadership and strategic advisory experience to her role as Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). She talks with Bobbi and Alex about the value of NAR and what's to come in the post-settlement landscape. Bobbi's Book Bit: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek (Jump to interview at 11:40)

Michael McReynolds is the 2025 chair of the KCRAR Young Professionals Network (YPN) Committee. He talks with Bobbi and Alex about YPN, the local real estate market, and how agent-to-agent networking can help to grow your career. Bobbi's Book Bit: Carrots and Sticks by Ian Ayres (Jump to interview at 14:45) Learn more about YPN, including upcoming events, at KCRAR.com/YPN.

Recharge speaker James Dwiggins talks with Alex and guest host John Ketchum about the industry changes that have occurred post settlement, and what agents and brokers need to be doing to not become a target of further litigation. John's podcast recommendation: https://simonsinek.com/podcast/episodes/the-myth-of-the-perfect-meditator-with-podcaster-jay-shetty/ (Jump to interview at 10:06)

Natalie Davis built her real estate business from the ground up in a new community by focusing on building a solid client database — a database she still maintains today. She talks with Alex and guest host Jeff Carson on-site at Recharge about how agents can grow and nurture their own client databases to support their business. (Jump to interview at 13:36) Register for Jeff's May 9 Latte & Learn: https://calendar.kcrar.com/events/9769451

Recorded on-site at Recharge Conference & Expo, Alex and guest-host Jeff Carson sit down with real estate social media expert Katie Lance. She shares her tips, tricks and zero-cost ideas for agents to up their social media game. Alex's Book Bit: Strong Towns by Charles L Marohn Jr (Jump to interview at 12:20)

On this Fair Housing Month episode, KCRAR Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair Irene Lindsey talks with Bobbi and Alex about inclusion, accessibility and Fair Housing education resources for real estate professionals. Bobbi's Book Bit: Are You Fully Charged? by Tom Rath (Jump to interview at 15:47) Fairhaven 2.0: https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing/fairhaven KCRAR Redlined class: https://calendar.kcrar.com/events/9788369

Only 21% of third graders in Kansas City public and charter schools are reading on grade level. How does this impact our Kansas City community and our local real estate industry? REALTOR® John Arnold and Lead to Read KC Executive Director Rhea M. LeGrande dive into the details with Bobbi and Alex. Bobbi's Book Bit: Vagabonding by Rolf Potts (jump to interview at 12:43) Learn more about Lead to Read at https://leadtoreadkc.org/

Local broker Fran Sutton is working with the Wyandotte County Land Bank Program to help create attainable housing the KCK. She talks with Bobbi and Alex about how it works, how it benefits the community and how others can work with the program. Bobbi's Book Bit: The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal (Jump to interview at 13:27) More about the WyCo Land Bank Program: https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Economic-Development/Land-Bank

*Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide.* Co-host Bobbi Howe is now the 2025 President of Missouri REALTORS®. She sits down with Alex for a conversation on her career, the state of the real estate industry, and the purpose of the state association. Bobbi's Book Bit: Loserthink by Scott Adams (jump to interview at 11:00)

KCRAR 2024 Forms Committee Chair Jessica Thomas talks agents through the changes to the 2025 KCRAR forms and contracts, NAR settlement forms FAQs, and common pitfalls and mistakes agents should avoid.

Andrew Mall is a past Kansas Association of REALTORS® President, and in 2025 he has stepped into a new role as KCRAR President. He talks with Bobbi and Alex about the strength and community the local, state and national REALTOR® associations bring to members. Bobbi's Book Bit: Just Listen by Mark Goulston Alex's Book recommendation: The Book of Charlie by David Von Drehle (Jump to interview at 13:38)

2025 Heartland MLS President John Ketchum talks with Bobbi and Alex about the changing real estate landscape and the value the MLS offers to agents and their businesses. (Jump to interview at 10:35)

Don't open the deep freeze in a vacant property... Or do, if you're as bold as one of this year's podcast guests. Producer Amber is on the mic going through each of 2024's REALTOR® guests' craziest stories in from their careers in real estate. We want to hear your story too! Email us your crazy real estate story to [email protected].

Shannon McGahn is the Chief Advocacy Officer for the National Association of REALTORS®. She updates Bobbi and Alex on how RPAC supported candidates did earlier this month in the general election and national issues of importance for the real estate industry. Bobbi's Book Bit: What's Our Problem? by Tim Urban Learn more about the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook: https://realtorparty.realtor/news/blog/unveiling-the-housing-supply-accelerator-playbook (Jump to interview at 17:20)

Mike McGrew is a local REALTOR® and the current president of the REALTORS® Relief Foundation, an organization providing housing-related assistance to disaster impacted communities through the generosity of REALTORS®. He talks with Bobbi and Alex about the Foundation, how it came to be, and what REALTORS® should know about its impact. Bobbi's Book Bit: Raise Your Game by Alan Stein Jr. (Jump to interview at 14:10) Learn more about RRF: https://rrf.realtor/

Dan Hartman is a REALTOR®, city alderman and business owner. He joins Bobbi and Alex in the studio to talk about his techniques and strategies for juggling multiple roles and maintaining a healthy balance. Bobbi's Book Bit: From Here to Happiness by Jonathan Clements

Derek Ramsay is the Vice President of REALTOR® Advocacy for KCRAR. He talks to Bobbi and Alex about the upcoming election on Nov. 5, which local candidates support REALTOR® issues, and about the Kansas City REALTOR® Party Voter Guide. Bobbi's Book Bit: iWoz by Steve Wozniak (Jump to interview at 15:25) View the Kansas City REALTOR® Party Voter Guide: https://kcrar.com/kcrar-members/advocacy/voter-guide/

Ron Phipps, a REALTOR® from Rhode Island, was the 2011 President of the National Association of REALTORS®. Through his more than 40 years in the real estate industry, he has seen many industry shifts and crises. On this 150th episode of Kansas City RealTalk, Ron joins Bobbi and Alex in the studio to share his thoughts on how REALTORS® can use the industry's current challenges and opportunities to grow in their businesses.

REALTOR® Andrew Mall is running for a seat on the Kansas Senate. He talks with Bobbi and Alex about his history with political advocacy, how it affects real estate, and how he would use a seat on the Kansas Senate to advocate for housing issues. Bobbi's Book Bit: Quiet Power by Susan Cain (Jump to interview at 16:35)

Maranda DeSanto is the new CEO of the Kansas Association of REALTORS®. She talks with Bobbi and Alex about her career and her goals for the future of the state association. Bobbi's Book Bit: Extraordinary Influence by Tim Irwin (Jump to interview at 13:20) Learn more about the 2024 KAR Annual Conference in Overland Park: https://kansasrealtor.com/events/2024-kar-annual-conference/

Dan Stoner is a St. Louis REALTOR® and the President of the Missouri Chapter of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. He talks with Bobbi and Alex about the Alliance and what fellow real estate professionals can do to support the LGBTQ+ community. Bobbi's Book Bit: My Morning Routine by Benjamin Spall (Jump to interview at 12:12) Use code "1stYearOff" to get 25% off membership with the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. Follow the Alliance Missouri Chapter on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllianceMissouri