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Tricia Peterson (@triciapeterson_islandhouse) is a 2025 $59+ million producer, and owner/broker-in-charge of Island House Real Estate (@islandhouserealestate)—a woman-owned boutique firm of eight agents in Charleston. Before real estate, Tricia spent 15 years as a physical therapist with a doctorate degree. She balances top production with raising three kids alongside her husband Brett, who helps manage their portfolio of short-term rental investment properties they've held since the early days.

In this conversation, Tricia reveals:

• The parallel between physical therapy and real estate that built her entire career: listening first, solving second
• Why she's not afraid to tell clients they shouldn't buy something—and how brutal honesty drives referrals
• The biggest mistake agents make today: prioritizing commission checks over client outcomes
• How she protects family time while answering calls on Christmas Eve—and why her kids' hard work ethic proves it was worth it

This is real talk from an agent who started small, stayed consistent, and built a business by treating people right and working hard—nothing flashy, just results.

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

Timestamps:

00:00
From Physical Therapy to Real Estate

05:04
Building a Real Estate Empire

08:54
The Power of Social Media in Real Estate

12:50
Balancing Family and a Thriving Career

16:49
Navigating the Luxury Real Estate Market

20:46
The Importance of Client Relationships

24:45
The Future of Real Estate Agents

27:32
Advice for New Agents: Patience is Key

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

Send us a text

Daniel and Laura Peal (@missionfirst_media) are the founders of Mission First Media, a Charleston-based content creation company specializing in real estate listing photos, drone video, 3D tours, social reels, and agent-branded content. Before launching their business, they spent six years serving internationally as missionaries in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Puerto Rico—where Daniel's passion for photography and media began as a way to capture stories and beauty across cultures.

In this conversation, Daniel and Laura reveal:

• Why 39% of agent leads came from social media in 2025 (NAR study) and what that means for 2026
• The "Keep It REAL" content framework: Roots, Experience, Advice, Lifestyle
• Why agents who only post when they have a listing are invisible the rest of the time
• The exact iPhone settings you need to stop uploading blurry content (1080p, upload at highest quality, cross-posting)
• How to look confident on camera
• Why batch content creation (one full day per month) beats trying to post daily on the fly

This is a conversation on creating authentic, professional content that doesn't drain your time—and actually converts to clients.

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

Send us a text

Charlotte Berger (@charlottebergerpr) is the founder of CBPR, a Charleston-based PR and marketing firm she launched in May 2020 after being let go during COVID. She's grown her team to 12, been named a 40 Under 40, Woman of Influence, and SC 500 winner. Charlotte has spent over a decade in PR, social media, and influencer marketing, representing hotels, restaurants, CPGs, and nonprofits across the Southeast.

In this conversation, Charlotte reveals:

• How a follower count can be a vanity metric – and what actually matters for ROI
• How she uses AI (ChatGPT and Claude) to streamline client work without losing the human touch
• The hard truth about marketing: no amount of PR can fix a bad product or experience
• Why Facebook still drives more business than Instagram or TikTok for most industries

This is a conversation about authentic marketing, building agency culture, and why real connections beat vanity metrics every single time.

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

Timestamps: 00:00 What CBPR Actually Does (It's More Than Social Media)
03:57 The First Step to Getting People to Engage With Your Content
07:45 Why You Don't Need to Be a Publicist to Pitch Journalists
09:30 How Charlotte Uses AI in 2026 (ChatGPT, Claude, and Otter)
13:20 The Hard Truth About Marketing No One Wants to Hear
16:45 Why Follower Count Is a Vanity Metric
19:10 Where to Start Your Branding Journey (Target Audience and Competitor Analysis)
22:30 Why Facebook Still Outperforms Instagram for Most Businesses
24:15 Building the Marketing Mavens: 30+ Women Agency Owners Supporting Each Other
27:50 The One Thing Charlotte Would Tell Her May 2020 Self

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.