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We made it to double digits! To celebrate Episode 10, we’re ditching the formal studio setup and hiding out in Amanda’s brand-new car for a classic "gab sesh." No scripts, no agendas. Just two girlfriends decompressing, yapping, and getting real about the "dumpster fire" world outside.

From geriatric pregnancies to psychological thrillers, we’re covering the wide, weird spectrum of our current obsessions. If you’ve ever felt like you’re oscillating between being a high-achieving professional and a brain-rotted reality TV fan, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we chat about:

• The "Third Space" Concept: Why we all need a place outside of home (1st space) and work (2nd space) to find community, and how jujitsu became that for Leni.
• Competitive Spirits: A cautionary tale about why you never want to be on Amanda’s mom’s team during holiday charades.
• Healthy Losing: How competing in a jujitsu bracket you’re "guaranteed to lose" is actually a powerful lesson for our kids.
• The Book Club & Bravo Rot: Amanda’s deep dive into Ruth Ware’s thrillers vs. Lenicia’s love for dark, sad, South American cult novels and whimsical K-dramas.
• The Gay Awakening: Lenicia reveals the 1997 rom-com scene that changed everything.
• The "Unreliable Narrator": Why we love books that make us question our own sanity (shoutout to The Sympathizer).

Whether you’re a "Master's Division" athlete or a "Below Deck" flyer, join us in the driveway for a much-needed breath of air.

"To-Read" List Mentioned:

• In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
• The Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage and Emily Amick

Connect with Us:

• Instagram: @exploresacliving | @leniyourloanofficer

Help us celebrate 10 episodes! Leave us a review or DM us on Instagram with your own "Crying or Thriving" moment from this week. We’d love to feature it in a future episode!

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

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Last week, we talked about the "golden window". That magical 9-4 slot where productivity is high and calendars are clean. This week? Reality hit. Between spring break, random teacher in-service days, and the never-ending cycle of school germs, that window doesn't just close, it disappears under a pile of laundry and snack requests.

Join Amanda and Lenicia for an honest conversation about what happens to your business when you’re forced to pivot from professional to full-time activities director overnight. We’re getting real about the juggle, the "tag-along" lifestyle, and how to keep your sanity when your office hours move to the splash pad.

In this episode, we explore:

• The IKEA Productivity Hack: How to leverage 60 minutes of childcare and a meal deal to reclaim an hour of your workday.
• Strategic Screen Time: Navigating the "iPad kid" debate and using technology as a tool for survival. Plus, how we deal with the inevitable mom guilt from opposite ends of the spectrum.
• Professional Transparency: The exact scripts we use to tell clients a kid is in the backseat without losing your professional edge.
• The Power of Trade-Offs: Why leaning on your "mom-munity" for childcare swaps is the ultimate summer business strategy.
• Financial Prep: Why saving for "fee season" and setting a survival minimum is crucial for navigating the ebbs and flows of the school year.

Grab your coffee, your tea, or your kid’s leftover juice box. It’s time for a reality check on balancing a thriving career with the unpredictable life of a parent.

Connect with Us:

• Instagram: @exploresacliving | @leniyourloanofficer

Shoutout to our listeners! Whether you’re in Ashburn, Virginia, Singapore, or right here in Sacramento, we want to hear from you. Reach out on Instagram and let us know what topics you want to hear us tackle next.

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

Send us Fan Mail

Is it possible to run a high-volume real estate business without losing your mind (or your sleep)? This week on Realty Check, Amanda and Leni take you behind the curtain for a literal "day in the life" of an agent and a loan officer who are also primary parents.

In this episode, we’re getting honest about:

• The "Crying vs. Thriving" Scale: From infected fingers and ER pre-approvals to the manic stress of buying a used car in a competitive market.
• Energy Blocking: Why Amanda stops answering the phone at 4 PM and how Leni survives on five hours of sleep.
• Productive vs. Busy Work: Why a "curated" Instagram post might be wasting your time while a "raw rant" or a 5-minute coffee shop chat is actually making you money.
• The Power of the Flex Day: How we structure our weeks to allow for mid-week lunches and school "screwballs."
• Nurturing Your Pillars: Why being the T-ball sponsor or sitting on a nonprofit board is more than just "giving back"—it's the heartbeat of a relationship-based business.

Whether you're an agent looking for a better way to manage your schedule or just someone who enjoys a good "yapping" session about the chaos of life, this episode is for you.

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573