Episodes

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, Lisa and Fred sit down with Tom Randall — Ames Realtor, former Iowa State football player, and someone who knows a thing or two about putting in the work. 🏈🏡 They talk football, business, real estate, and the twists and turns of building a career — but at the heart of this conversation is one thing: grit. What do you do when things don't go your way? How do you keep showing up when success doesn't happen overnight? And how do you believe in yourself enough to keep ...

Last but certainly not least, Lisa and Fred sit down with Garren Zanker, owner of Jewell Market and unofficial connector of people, places, stories… and apparently this entire Iowa State Fair adventure. Garren helped bring this whole series together, and if you know him, you know that bringing people together is kind of his thing. From his huge Barn Town selection to keeping Fred well-stocked with sake, Garren always seems to know where to go, who to talk to, and what’s happening next. We chat...

Before there was “securing the perimeter,” there was the Iowa State Fair Singers. 😂🎡 Lisa and Fred sit down with Matt Schutt , a familiar face from the Jewell community, Lisa’s former classmate, and even her son’s former music teacher. But when it comes to the Iowa State Fair , Matt has a history that goes all the way back to 1988. He got his start with the now-retired Iowa State Fair Singers, has won several food contests, worked in multiple buildings across the Fairgrounds, and now helps run...

For some people, the Iowa State Fair is a once-a-year tradition. For Eric Campbell … it’s pretty much a way of life. 🎡🌽 Lisa and Fred sit down with Eric of Campbell’s Concessions, a fifth-generation owner and full-time fairgoer, to talk about the history behind his family’s place at the Iowa State Fair and what it’s like growing up in the world of fairs. Of course, we talk about the good stuff too: corn dogs, tenderloins, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. But Eric also shares his love for Iowa agri...

What do cheese curds, Canada, and a bucket of poutine have in common? Matt and Erin Ribar. 😂🧀 In our next Iowa State Fair interview, Lisa and Fred sit down with Matt, owner of Brad & Harry’s Cheese Curds and Duke’s Poutine, to talk about the family history behind the food and how a love for cheese curds turned into two Fair favorites. Matt and Erin come from a family of cheese curd makers, so you could say cheesy goodness is basically in their DNA. And this year, Brad & Harry’s is bringing som...

You know those giant pigs in front of JR’s SouthPork Ranch that EVERYONE takes a picture with? 🐷📸 Well… turns out the artists behind them have some pretty incredible stories of their own. In this special Sake & Hot Tubs Fair interview, Lisa and Fred sit down with Margo and Jay, the artists behind these iconic Iowa State Fair photo-op pigs. And here's the REALLY cool part… Margo was the artist behind the 1984 Van Halen album cover, while Jay is the artist behind the iconic Prince logo. 🤯🎨🎸 Fr...

For our first Sake & Hot Tubs Fair interview, Lisa and Fred sit down with Brooks Reynolds — inventor of Bacon Fest and owner of JR’s SouthPork Ranch — to talk about what makes the fair such an unforgettable experience. We get the scoop on what to look forward to at JR’s, the stories behind the experience, and of course… we had to try their NEW drink. 👀 Lisa and Fred introduce Brooks to the concept of a “Purple Cow” — basically, how you make something so remarkable people can’t help but notice ...

Lisa and Fred sit down with local Realtor Abigail Brandt for a conversation about community, balance, and her favorite travel spots! Abigail shares why she loves calling Iowa home, her passion for the Iowa State Cyclones, and how travel helps her recharge from the fast-paced chaos of real estate. She opens up about the importance of stepping away so you can come back refreshed, re-energized, and ready to better serve your clients and community. And of course, no episode would be complete witho...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, Lisa and Fred take on a deeply personal — and incredibly important — topic: divorce. As two people who have both lived through it, they talk honestly about how difficult it can be to balance the emotional side of divorce while still making smart business and financial decisions for your future. Lisa also shares insight from her role as a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) — a specialized certification that helps divorcing individuals navigate the compl...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, Lisa and Fred are back in the hot tub for a solo episode — and this one starts with a simple idea: sit at the bar. Not for the drinks (well… maybe a little), but for the conversation, connection, and sense of community that comes from being open and available to the people around you. They talk about why those small moments of interaction matter, how relationships can start in the most unexpected places… and why being approachable might be more important than ever....

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, we’re introducing the real MVPs of real estate… the chaos coordinators. Lisa is joined by Rachel Blair (loan assistant, content queen, and our behind-the-scenes producer 👀) and Stephanie Adair, transaction coordinator extraordinaire, to talk about what it really takes to keep a deal alive. Spoiler: it’s a lot of emails, timelines, and quietly fixing problems no one else even knows exist. From being the fly on the wall in some wild situations to somehow keeping ev...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, Lisa and Fred sit down with Ned Payant, Chairman of the Board at American Pacific Mortgage — and a leader who keeps it real. From building relationships across every level of the business to pushing through discomfort for real growth, Ned shares what leadership actually looks like behind the scenes. The biggest takeaways? ✔️ Don’t be a Richard ✔️ Relationships drive everything ✔️ Growth happens when you get uncomfortable It’s honest, it’s practical, and it’s a re...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, Lisa and Fred sit down with Jason Jennings — local Realtor, master networker, and one of the biggest champions of the community you’ll meet. Jason shares his journey of moving from Texas for his wife, stepping into real estate knowing absolutely no one, and building a thriving business from the ground up. From leaning on his faith to showing up consistently for others, his story is a powerful reminder that success starts with connection. It’s a conversation about ...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, we’re wrapping up our International Women’s Month series with a conversation that brings it all home. Lisa sits down with Traci Jennings from RE/MAX Real Estate Center to talk about real estate, travel, and the one thing that matters most at the end of the day — family. From balancing a successful career to making time for the people who matter most, Traci shares her perspective on building a life that’s not just busy… but meaningful. It’s a reminder that while ca...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, we continue our International Women’s Month series celebrating incredible women in our community. Lisa sits down with Klynn Lynn, a seasoned with grit Realtor whose passions go far beyond real estate. From her love of Disney and travel to her connection to track and staying active, Klynn shares how following your passions can shape both your life and your career. It’s a conversation about showing up fully, chasing what lights you up, and building a life that blend...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, we’re kicking off our International Women’s Month series with someone who truly embodies what it means to love where you live. Lisa sits down with Renée Klaus, an Ames native and local Realtor, to talk about building a life and career rooted in community. From growing up here to helping others find their place in Ames, Renée shares how relationships, trust, and hometown pride shape the way she does business. It’s a conversation about community, connection, and why...

Strong mindset. Strong pours. Strong episode. Jake “The Saiyan” Bower joins Lisa and Fred to talk mindset, hustle, and balancing multiple businesses while staying fight-ready. 🥊💦 This episode is all about discipline, growth, and showing up — in the gym and in life. Myriad Mixed Martial Arts Academy Jake N' Jose Moving Services

Lisa and Fred are joined by Jason Ponsonby, Senior Vice President of Company Production at American Pacific Mortgage, for a conversation all about leadership, growth, and knowing when it’s time to pivot. They dive into what makes a strong leader, why adaptability matters more than ever, and how the ability to shift — in both business and life — can be the key to long-term success. From leading teams to navigating change, this episode is full of insight for anyone looking to grow without staying...

This week on Sake & Hot Tubs, Lisa heads to the sunshine state and sits down with longtime college friend Laura Foster for a heartfelt conversation straight from her beautiful home in Destin, Florida. 🌴 They talk about friendship through the years, life journeys that don’t always go as planned, Pilates, growth, and what it really means to stay connected as life evolves. It’s honest, reflective, and full of laughter — the kind of conversation that only happens when you’ve known someone through e...

This episode is a little different — and a lot meaningful. Fred is joined by his best friend Dore, actually sitting in a hot tub with cigars in hand, for a real, unfiltered conversation about friendship, loyalty, and being there no matter what. They talk about the kind of friendships that last through every season of life, why certain people matter so deeply, and how showing up — again and again — makes all the difference. It’s reflective, honest, and full of the kind of wisdom that only comes...

This week in the tub, we’re joined by Garren Zanker, owner of the Jewell Market, for a conversation that’s all about community, heart, and showing up where it matters. Garren shares how he became deeply involved in the Jewell, Iowa community — from launching the beloved $5 lunch to helping reopen the local grocery store and turn it into more than just a place to shop. It’s a story about small-town impact, big generosity, and why food has a way of bringing people together. Grab a drink, soak in...

Lisa and Fred dive into the idea that you don’t have to love 100% of a home to buy it. 👀 They talk through the reality that most buyers fall in love with about 80% of a house — and how a renovation loan can help you transform the other 20% into exactly what you want. From outdated kitchens to awkward layouts, they break down how these loans work, when they make sense, and why they can be a total game changer. It’s an honest, empowering conversation about buying smarter, seeing potential, and tu...

Lisa flies solo this week and is joined by two incredible Realtors, Sharon Johnson & Sarah Laaser-Webb from RE/MAX Real Estate Center for an honest & refreshing conversation! They dive into what truly makes a great agent, what the real estate market is doing right now, and how they balance busy careers with family life — without losing their sanity. It’s equal parts insight, encouragement, and real-world advice. Whether you’re in real estate, thinking about buying or selling, or just love a go...

In this episode, Fred and Lisa kick off the new year with some real talk straight from the inspiration tub. No resolutions. No waiting for Monday. Just the Five-Second Rule, a little discipline, and the reminder that motivation shows up after you start — not before. They dive into their own detox journey, what’s working (and what definitely isn’t), and how the G Series sake is helping them stay intentional without losing the fun. Expect laughs, honesty, and the kind of “make it happen” energy w...