Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, host Mike Litzner sits down with Ron Alber, Real Estate Attorney and Founder of The Alber Law Group, to break down what really happens between contract and closing in New York real estate.

Ron shares practical insights on:
-The most common legal mistakes sellers and buyers make
-Why due diligence matters before listing or purchasing a h...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back, Mike Litzner sits down with Janet Pushee, a top agent in the Northport / Huntington market with over 35 years of experience.

Janet shares what has mattered most throughout her career — waking up each day with a mission, staying productive, putting clients first, and answering the phone when it counts. The conversation also dives into what makes Northport such a special communit...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, Mike Litzner sits down with Melissa King, COO of OneKey® MLS, for a behind-the-scenes look at the data, technology, and decisions that power the real estate industry. Melissa breaks down what the MLS really is, how listing data flows to consumer portals, why transparency and standards matter, and how AI and smarter integrations are shaping what’s next f...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back, Mike Litzner sits down with Scott Rosenberg of CrossCountry Mortgage, a mortgage professional with 35 years of experience navigating every type of market cycle. 

Scott breaks down today's mortgage landscape with clarity and candor from why Fed rate cuts don t always translate to lower mortgage rates, to the real differences between pre-approvals and commitment letters, rat...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back, Mike Litzner sits down with Sandra Caruso, Regional Manager of the Mount Sinai and Wading River offices for Coldwell Banker American Homes.

Sandra shares what it really takes to lead 100+ agents across two distinct markets, how her experience as an agent shapes her leadership style, and why understanding people, not just transactions, is the foundation of long-term success.

The ...

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In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, host Michael Litzner sits down with Lyndsey Gallagher, Chief Financial Officer of Coldwell Banker American Homes, to talk about what it’s really like leading in a family-run company that’s been growing strong for nearly four decades.

Lyndsey shares how she went from answering phones in the office as a teenager to managing the financial operations that po...

Meet Richie Krug Jr. & Taleen Krug, the husband-and-wife powerhouse behind the RTK Realty Group at Coldwell Banker American Homes (East Meadow). In this episode, Mike digs into the exact habits and systems that fuel their growth: color-coded shared calendars, rigorous CRM discipline, clear “ops vs. outreach” roles, and a content-first social strategy that actually converts.

We also get personal—raising kids, phone-free dinners, ...

Top agent John Gandolfo joins host Mike Litzner to unpack the routines, product knowledge, and client care that power more than a thousand home sales. He shares the disciplined pipeline that turns leads into listings, contracts, closings—and lifelong referrals—plus the “bedside manner” that keeps transactions calm and informed. You’ll hear waterfront specifics (bulkheads, floating docks, ramps, tides), flood insurance realities, an...

Thinking about getting your real estate license or curious about what it really takes to succeed in the industry?

In the Season 2 finale of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, we sit down with Michael Aharoni, Branch Manager of the Coldwell Banker American Homes Farmingdale office and certified instructor for the Real Estate School of New York State (RESNYS). With a unique blend of in-the-field expertise and...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, Mike Litzner sits down with Vinnie DiOrio, Branch Manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, to shed light on the modern mortgage process. From his early career with the New York Islanders to building a client-first approach in lending, Vinnie shares his insights on:

• How the mortgage industry has evolved
• Appraisal waivers and competitive off...

In this inspiring episode, host Mike Litzner sits down with Christine Dato, a top agent at Coldwell Banker American Homes in Hicksville, to discuss her unique path in real estate—starting not once, but twice. Christine shares the challenges she faced as a young agent, why she stepped away from the industry, and what ultimately brought her back with renewed confidence and purpose.

From navigating today’s fast-paced market to building...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, host Mike Litzner sits down with Dan Jacuzzi, President and Broker/Owner of The Select Group — one of the top 50 brokerages in the U.S. With over 70 offices spanning six states and both Century 21 and Coldwell Banker brands, Dan brings a wealth of insight into leadership, growth, luxury real estate, and the future of the industry.

From his start in a 9-a...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, host Mike Litzner sits down with Barbara Mullaney and team members Katy Myers and Peggy Elliott of The Barbara Mullaney Team — one of the top-producing teams on Long Island.

From building a business on referrals to mastering the unique dynamics of the Long Beach and Barrier Islands market, the conversation dives deep into:

• The evolution from solo agen...

In our next episode, host Mike Litzner sits down with Tony Briguglio, Broker of Record for Coldwell Banker Commercial AMH, aka “The King of Commercial,” for an unfiltered look at the world of commercial real estate.

From navigating cap rates and SBA loans to spotting undervalued assets and closing deals with national tenants—Tony shares expert insights that every investor, agent, and entrepreneur should hear.

Thank you for listening

S...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast, we sit down with Jim McKenna Sr. and Jim McKenna Jr., the dynamic father-son duo behind The Jims Team in Northport, NY.

With decades of combined experience, they share:

✅ How they built a thriving real estate business together

✅ The challenges and rewards of working as a family

✅ Their success in both residential resale and new construction

✅ The importance ...

In this episode of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast, we sit down with David Marine, Chief Marketing Officer of Anywhere Brands, the parent company behind Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA Real Estate, and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

With over 22 years of experience in real estate marketing, David shares his incredible journey from creating the first digital listing presentation to pioneering socia...

What does it take to turn a life-changing decision into a 20-year real estate career?  This week on Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back – A Real Estate Podcast, we sit down with Marie Asher, a dedicated Real Estate professional who went from being a nurse to one of Massapequa Park’s most trusted realtors.  

Marie shares: 
✅ Her “aha” moment that helped her breakthrough in year two 
✅ Why mentorship & continuous...

🎙 Season 2 is Here!

We’re kicking off Season 2 of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Give Back - A Real Estate Podcast with none other than Sheila McKenna Olsen! With over 30 years in real estate, Sheila has seen it all—from shifting markets to major industry changes.

In this episode, we cover:
🏡 The biggest changes in real estate over the last 30 years
⚖️ How the NAR lawsuit & MLS changes impact real estate agents
💡 The im...