Stay Paid Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: AUTOMATE over 70% of Your Work! What AI Means for AGENTS Today
Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Luke Acree, Josh Stike, and Cody Smith (ReminderMedia)
Guest: Drew Thompson – Head of Real Academy at Real

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the real estate industry—specifically, how agents can automate over 70% of their daily work using AI tools like ChatGPT. Guest Drew Thompson brings tactical advice drawn from his experience as a top agent and educator, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. The conversation is candid, energetic, and solutions-focused, with frequent asides about industry leadership, authenticity, and the irreducible value of human connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Leadership Culture at Real (00:52–04:05)

• Transition after Shiron’s Departure: Drew describes the positive leadership culture left by industry leader Shiron, emphasizing empathy and leading by example.
• Quote (Drew, 01:42): “He imparted this idea of, number one, lead with grace always, both internally and externally. You never know what battle someone else is fighting.”
• Anecdote: Shiron would research every event attendee before meeting them, underlining the importance of personal connection.

2. How Agents Are Using AI Right Now (05:11–08:45)

• Two Major Usages:
  • Content Generation & Persona Research:
    • Agents use AI to generate content ideas, social posts, and deeply research client personas.
    • Example: Creating a “deep research persona” through AI scraping platforms like Reddit for target audience language and interests.
  • Strategic Partner/Advisor:
    • AI as a trusted advisor, answering tactical business questions or simulating expert input (e.g., “Explain this like I’m a beginner”).
• Quote (Drew, 05:11): “We market to everyone, we effectively market to no one... How can AI build a deep research Persona, go to Reddit, then use that identity language to build their content?”

3. “Board of Advisors” & Expert Coaching (06:22–09:28)

• Concept: Create a “board of advisors” in ChatGPT modeled after industry leaders by feeding AI their books, videos, and known frameworks.
• Quote (Cody, 06:22): “I want to get this person to give me—or this ChatGPT to give me advice—but I want it...based upon the, the ideal persona I want...these are the people, this is how they make decisions.”
• Is Coaching Dead?
  • Drew argues no—people trust and seek out coaches/teachers they like. AI makes course-selling harder, but not obsolete for trusted leaders.

4. AI for Self-Reflection & Critical Thinking (09:28–12:48)

• AI as a Brutally Honest Mirror:
  • Prompting AI to surface personal blind spots.
  • Journaling into ChatGPT and using it for self-assessment and leadership growth.
  • Memorable Quote (Drew, 10:14): “You know everything about me. Tell me, where am I missing the ball? Give me one brutally honest sentence that no one in my life would ever have the courage to tell me.”
  • Moment (11:11): Josh shares his daily journaling practice into ChatGPT, noting deep insights into communication and self-awareness.

5. AI Platforms & “Hallucination” Risks (12:49–16:26)

• Assessment of Tools:

  • ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude discussed; each has strengths—Claude preferred by developers, GPT by business analysts.
  • Quote (Luke, 15:26): “It made up numbers...now I can't trust this fully.”
  • Limitation: Hallucination and fabricated data/testimonials are still risks, especially in high-stakes roles (e.g., finance).

• Need for Human Verification:

  • Importance of adding authentic, personal input to AI-generated work; recognizing AI giveaway traits (like overused emojis and double dashes).

6. The Return to Human Authenticity (16:26–18:30)

• Trends:

  • AI-generated content is easy to detect and risks “sameness.”
  • Human-verified, authentic content may soon become a mark of value.

• Quote (Drew, 17:11): “I wonder if we're going to find the people who create content without AI...I'm wondering if that's going to have a bigger impact in the next couple years.”

7. Practical AI Use Cases for Agents (18:30–21:48)

• Rapport-Building:
  • Pre-meeting research using social media details dropped into AI to surface common ground talking points.
  • Actionable Tip (18:30): “Go into the person’s LinkedIn, go into their Instagram...drop it into AI and say...give me four things about him that will create instant rapport.”
• Role-Playing Sales Calls:
  • Using AI for empathy-rich sales scenarios, overcoming objections, or analyzing recorded calls for improvement (20:21–21:59).

8. Custom Coaching Enhanced by AI (21:48–23:57)

• Personalized Coaching:
  • Feeding personality assessments into AI for tailored coaching strategies.
  • Quote (D, 21:35): “We know each of our agents’ personality tests...put that in for the agent and say, hey, what's the best way to coach this person?”

9. AI Critiques on Presentations & Content (22:31–25:11)

• AI's Current Limits and Use:
  • AI can analyze scripts and provide feedback but is not yet reliable at critiquing video presentation skills.
  • Useful for “fluff” filtering and streamlining public speaking.

10. The Next Wave: Wearable AI and Real-Time Coaching (27:14–28:14)

• AI Glasses and HUDs:
  • Heads-up display glasses with built-in AI—soon able to prompt, analyze audience reaction, and guide presenters in real-time.
  • Quote (Drew, 27:42): “It also has AI that can hear you...as it evolves, it’s going to start giving you suggestions.”

11. Will AI Replace Agents? (28:14–34:26)

• Industry Impact:
  • Research shows AI can potentially automate 90 out of 127 typical agent tasks.
  • Conclusion: AI will separate strong, relationship-driven agents from those who rely only on transactional skills.
  • Quote (Drew, 30:49): “First off, you're going to see the wheat separating from the chaff. The good agents will stay, the bad agents will go. Because the key to all of it will be how do I create rapport that is genuine, that is authentic?”
  • Human Touch Remains Critical: AI cannot yet replicate genuine empathy, reading body language, or personalized in-person support.

12. The Future: Augment, Not Replace (34:26–37:43)

• Human Nuance vs. Data:

  • AI excels at anything replicatable and data-driven, but the subtleties of human connection, emotion, and physiology are far beyond current capabilities.
  • Use AI to clear away busywork, but focus on strengthening relationships, empathy, and presence.

• Creative Edge:

  • AI as an idea generator using a mix of “personas” (child psychologist, FBI agent, ad exec) to create innovative marketing approaches.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Drew (05:11): “If we market to everyone, we effectively market to no one…how can AI then build a deep research Persona for [your client]?”
• Cody (06:22): “I’m trying to create what I’m calling my board of advisors... You have Alex Hormozi in your pocket!”
• Drew (10:14): “Tell me where am I missing the ball? Give me one brutally honest sentence that no one in my life would ever have the courage to tell me.”
• Josh (11:15): “Every morning on my ride in, I talk about my evening…and it is crazy…It’s giving you things that you’re saying, but you don’t necessarily think.”
• Luke (15:26): “It made up numbers…Now I can’t trust this fully.”
• Drew (17:11): “I wonder if we’re going to find the people who create content without AI...I’m wondering if that’s going to have a bigger impact in the next couple years.”
• Drew (30:49): “The good agents will stay, the bad agents will go. Because the key to all of it will be how do I create rapport that is genuine, that is authentic?”

Recommended Actions for Agents (per Drew & Hosts)

• Use AI to create pre-meeting “rapport sheets” for clients/prospects. (18:30)
• Journal into your AI daily for deeper self-insight and leadership development. (11:11)
• Incorporate AI into role-playing and sales coaching calls. (19:11, 20:35)
• Always verify AI’s output with human review—especially for numbers, testimonials, and sensitive content. (15:26, 16:26)
• Focus on building authentic human connections—AI’s current limits are in emotional nuance and in-person empathy. (34:05)

Episode’s Takeaway

AI is rapidly automating the repetitive, data-driven side of real estate, freeing up agents to focus on what machines can’t replicate: real, human connection. Agents who learn to leverage AI as a “force multiplier”—for content, research, self-reflection, or creative marketing—will outperform, but only if they double down on authenticity, empathy, and relationship-building.

Action Item from Luke (38:36):
“Go find [prospects] on LinkedIn, find their social media, put it into ChatGPT…have it develop some things about them that you could use to build rapport.”

Connect with Drew Thompson:
Instagram: @thedrewthompson

For detailed show notes and episode links, visit staypaidpodcast.com or catch the episode on YouTube.