The Titans of Real Estate

You're going to love our conversation with Bjorn Farrugia, an Australian native and former Tennis pro turned real estate rock star in Los Angeles California. Be sure to tune in as Bjorn Farrugia shares his incredible journey – from surviving New York City working in finance to driving cross country to find his place in real estate, it's an inspirational story of hard work, a competitive spirit, and persistence. Representing some of the biggest home sales ever on the Westside of Los Angeles, Bjorn Farrugia continues to make a household name for himself in the most luxurious and affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

You do not want to miss this episode of Titans of Real Estate as we sit down with luxury real estate’s true power couple, Branden & Rayni Williams of Williams and Williams Estates Group. Prepare to get an inspired look into their storied career as we discuss the ins and outs of selling A-list celebrity homes, working with Rock Legend Lenny Kravitz to design their personal residence, and hear lots of "can't believe it's true" stories from their Hollywood movie worthy real estate career. Branden & Rayni Williams are luxury real estate's true power couple – a perfect blend of style and sophistication. With career sales of over $9 billion and a never-ending A-List of celebrity clients, Branden & Rayni Williams are the closest thing to real estate royalty we have in the real estate business. With a keen vision and appreciation for fine architecture – Branden & Rayni Williams continue to redefine the luxury real estate landscape and represent some of the finest homes and estates sold anywhere in the world.

Billy Rose’s entrée to the real estate industry is as unique as it is inspiring. Charting an unusual path starting out practicing law to then becoming a motion picture agent which then led to property development and ultimately to his current gig as Founder/President of The Agency, Billy is a perfect blend of intellect and artist. He has represented some of the most famous names in Hollywood, both as a developer and agent, and continues to lead the steady and measured expansion at The Agency. We know you’ll enjoy Billy’s story and perspective.

Joyce Rey has been called a lot of things in her illustrious career – “First Lady of Luxury Real Estate,” the “Grand Dame of Real Estate”, and the “Billionaire’s Broker,” just to name a few. After hearing her story, I’m sure you’ll agree – she’s truly a class act. Joyce has written the playbook on luxury real estate in Los Angeles and has been setting price records for over four decades. It’s a remarkable journey and one I’m sure you will enjoy.

From hitting 92 miles per hour fastballs in his college baseball days, having an early gig representing aspiring artists in the music industry, to becoming a top producer real estate agent – Danny Brown has done it all. With 20 years of experience selling real estate on the Westside under his belt, Danny brings a unique perspective and voice to the industry, launching his own podcast “The Deal with Danny Brown,” in 2019. Danny made headlines selling the famed Brady Bunch house and continues to represent an extensive list of high-profile clients — we hope you enjoy his story.

Aaron Kirman may be the most connected man in the world—literally a phone call away from reaching any billionaire on the planet who has made a career selling some of the priciest homes around the globe. With a Rolodex that includes royalty and now the star of his own CNBC show Listing Impossible, we get a behind the scenes look into real estate mogul Aaron Kirman's entrepreneurial spirit. But beyond the fame & fortune, Aaron is a true working-class hero, coming from humble beginnings, taking nothing for granted and finding joy in living a simple, authentic life.

James Harris may be a well-known TV personality, but his path to stardom didn’t come easy. Struggling to find his place in the world as a youth growing up in London England, James got his start in real estate at just 16 years of age with a vision of creating a successful life and career. It was a great choice. After moving to Los Angeles, James adept marketing and business insight propelled him up the ranks in one of the most competitive and sophisticated real estate markets in the entire country, and today ranks as one of the very top producing agents in the U.S.

Ivan Estrada has taken the most unconventional paths to a career in real estate and had the wisdom to realize that every destination point in life is connected in some form or another. Leveraging his musical creativity, financial accounting & analytical talents and a keen sense of social media marketing, Ivan has quickly become a fast-rising star in LA real estate. Listen closely for some marketing pearls of wisdom.

Don’t miss this episode of DIGS INFLUENCERS where we sit down with real estate Rockstar Tim Smith. Hear Tim tell his story of how he nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit starting at the young age of 13 scalping NBA tickets, to selling pool service packages while learning the ropes in real estate, to eventually dominating the coastal Orange County market. Tim Smith is rewriting the book on what’s possible in real estate when you open your mind to greatness and remove the “thorn” that is holding you back.

Carl Gambino has taken the Los Angeles real estate market by storm, quickly moving up the ranks under the steady tutelage of Westside Estate Agency’s founder Kurt Rappaport. Immersed in the entertainment scene, Carl has networked his way to real estate stardom with fierce determination, work ethic, and a vision that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. It’s a case study on how to create opportunity for yourself in a very competitive market and we hope that you enjoy.

Prepare to get inspired in this special episode of DIGS Influencers as we hear the story of a living legend in the real estate industry – Sally Forster Jones. Sally’s journey began in Germany where her parents were Polish Holocaust survivors before immigrating to the United States at a young age. Her humble beginnings and work ethic are foundational to her purpose-driven life and her success in real estate is truly remarkable as she consistently sells over $300M per year as a top-ranked agent in the U.S. We hope you enjoy this episode and please leave us a review and tell us what you think.

Before becoming a real estate superstar, Cindy Ambuehl was a successful actress, appearing on several well-known television series including JAG and Seinfeld, who then transitioned into fashion and later real estate. In this episode, you’ll learn that luxury comes in all shapes and sizes, listings generate more listings, neighbors sell neighborhoods, and much more. Join us in this very special episode of DIGS Influencers as we interview one of the most well-known and respected real estate agents in the U.S., Cindy Ambuehl. This is an episode you won’t want to miss. Leave a review and let us know what you think about this episode.

With a passion for golf, martial arts and the business of real estate, Stephen Haw has received every accolade and award in the industry. But what drives Stephen and makes him unique is his “human touch” approach to the business – it’s the thing that will never be displaced by the continued disruptive technology and automation happening in the industry. Join Stephen as he takes us on a journey that began in Taiwan, to earning a marketing degree at Oregon State University, and becoming a “real estate King” on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Born and raised in Malibu California, Sandro Dazzan has earned his place as one of the very top performing real estate agents in the Country while representing A-List Malibu clientele and help make their real estate dreams come true. Cat lover, surfer, husband, father and Malibu lifer, Sandro epitomizes how hard work, focus, dedication, and market knowledge continue to drive his success. Sandro is a case study in how you build a remarkable and authentic real estate brand in a local community. Enjoy and leave us a review!

El Segundo native, Bill Ruane, has done what few real estate agents have done before him – build a mega empire within one small community while balancing a unique mix of residential and commercial. Bill defines what happens when you blend hard work and passion as he has risen to the top of RE/MAX nationally, won every award there is to win, and continually ranking as one of the top agents in the nation. Learn Bill’s unique perspective on the market, tips on how to scale your business, and how staying true to the fundamentals is the secret to his success. Please share your thoughts and enjoy!

Listen to the story of John Altamura and his sons, Gio Altamura & Vince Altamura. With Manhattan Beach as their home base, we learn how they built a local real estate dynasty in the South Bay. From humble beginnings starting out in Hoboken New Jersey to becoming a local titan of real estate, the Altamura family epitomizes the American Dream. The trio continues to run a wildly successful real estate boutique brokerage based in Manhattan Beach and has worked hard to earn their status as one of the most respected and trusted names in the community. You’re going to love this episode – please share and give us a review!

Prepare to get inspired and enlightened by our intimate conversation with Michael Edlen, who has built a stellar real estate career dedicated to serving others. Learn how Michael and the Edlen Team reach new heights year-after-year while averaging 4 real estate transactions per month since 1990 and have lifetime sales volume over $2 Billion. Michael is one of the real estate industry’s true independent thinkers and strategists – learn how he’s created success in every real estate market and how his team continues to deliver results for their clients and the local community. This episode is not to be missed – leave us your reviews!

DIGS Influencers welcomes a perennial Top 10 agent in the Country and Founder & CEO of The Agency Mauricio Umansky to the show. Discover how from an early age running a textile business with his father helped solidify his hunger and drive to become a true industry titan. You’ll learn how he represents celebrities like Prince, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and others, how he founded and runs one of the disruptive and preeminent brokerages in the world—The Agency, to selling the first estate to break the $100M mark in Los Angeles—The Playboy Mansion and tons more. This is an episode you won’t want to miss. Leave a review and share your thoughts on this episode!

DIGS hop on a call with real estate Rockstar Neal Norman in Kauai as we learn how he became the #1 real estate agent in the state of Hawaii with over $2 Billion in lifetime sales volume. In this episode, Neal tells us about his journey and how it’s important to create and turn your real estate business into a lifestyle and truly live the life you want. You’ll gain invaluable tips and advice on buying/selling real estate in Hawaii and learn why celebrities from the mainland continue to flock to Hawaii and live the ultimate island lifestyle. Leave a review and let us know what you thought of this episode!

DIGS Influencers sits down with the top agent trio —Ruth, Raine & Wright to discuss what it’s like to live and work in Palos Verdes California. You’ll get an inside look into the private and gated city of Rolling Hills, where 10-car garages, panoramic ocean views, and multi-million-dollar estates are par for the course and may still be a bargain buy. Listen as they share insider-only stories that you have to hear to believe, how they all got started in the business, discuss the largest parcel of land on the hill and why working for three top brokerages as one team is the secret to their success. This is definitely an episode that you’ll want to tune into. Let us know what you think with a review!