The Session with Londa and David

Hosted by David Austin

Business Management Entrepreneurship

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Episodes

233

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

The married duo behind Austins On the Air are back and better than ever on this weekly podcast. Join David and Londa for a look at what's happening in the world and in your world. Grab a cup of something delicious and join them at the table for the session with Londa and David.

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60 recent

August 19, 202635 min

When Your Kids Cut You Off: Grief, Estrangement, and Finding Your Worth

What do you do when your own kids go no-contact, your self-worth is tied to how much you do for others, and you’re grieving people who are still alive? In this deeply personal episode of The Session with Londa and David, Londa opens up publicly for the first time about estrangement from two of her children, the pain of “missing the window” with grandkids, and the hard work of rebuilding a sense of value that isn’t based on performance. David adds perspective on boundaries, therapy, and why disagreement should not equal disconnection. If you’ve ever struggled with family cutoff, anxious attachment, or feeling only as “good” as your contributions, this conversation will hit home. 3 Business / Personal-Leadership Takeaways: 1. Your worth isn’t your productivity. Londa’s struggle with feeling valuable only when she’s “doing” (financially helping, serving, fixing) mirrors what many entrepreneurs and professionals feel. If your identity is only tied to output and usefulness, any season where you’re “not needed” can feel like a crisis. Real leadership starts with separating intrinsic worth from performance. 2. Emotional boundaries beat emotional blackmail. David draws a sharp line between feelings and actions: all feelings are valid to discuss, but using them to punish (no contact, silent treatment, rewriting history) is not healthy. In business and family, the same principle applies—tough conversations are necessary; cutting people off without dialogue often deepens damage and stalls growth. 3. Perspective requires zooming out. Londa describes being “in the weeds,” reliving every past loss when new grief hits. David’s “bird’s-eye view” role—offering context, statistics, and outside examples—shows the value of having people around you who can zoom out when you can’t. In business, mentors, peers, and partners who can pull back the lens are critical when your emotions are clouding your judgment. #FamilyEstrangement #MentalHealthAndBusiness #SelfWorthJourney #TheSessionWithLondaAndDavid #RelationshipsAndLeadership

August 12, 202632 min

The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Beating Drama, Fear Algorithms, and Limiting Beliefs

We all do it. A coworker walks past in the hallway and doesn’t say “hi,” a colleague posts a vague rant on Facebook, the headlines scream “housing crash”—and our brains instantly start filling in the blanks. In this episode of The Session with Londa and David, we explore how the stories we tell ourselves can fuel drama, fear, and bad decisions… or create peace, clarity, and better business. We start with a heartfelt tribute to our longtime friend and listener Bob, and how his deep faith shaped the way he faced the end of his life. From there, we dig into why our brains are wired to “complete the loop,” how social media algorithms amplify outrage, and why it’s so important to question our first assumptions. We talk real estate fears, market “doom” narratives, parenting, boundaries at work, therapy trends around “narcissism,” and why sticking to the facts is one of the most powerful emotional and professional skills you can build. Whether you’re a leader, realtor, entrepreneur, or just someone who wants less drama and more peace, this conversation will help you see your own stories more clearly—and choose better ones on purpose. #MindsetMatters #LeadershipAndLife #WorkplaceDrama #SocialMediaDetox #TheSessionWithLondaAndDavid

August 5, 202626 min

Girls’ Trips, Bad Flights & Hair in the Burrata: Curating Your Life, Not Just Your Feed

In this episode of The Session with Londa and David, Londa recaps her Knoxville girls’ trip, why she’d “rather be stabbed in the neck with a fork than fly,” and one truly terrible restaurant experience (yes, complete with a blonde hair in the burrata). David connects these real-life moments to wild news out of the Inland Northwest—massive fires, a horseback-hero at In-N-Out—and how all of it shapes our mindset, our money, and our mental health. More than a travel chat, this one’s about curating your life instead of just your algorithm, choosing joy on purpose, and making meaningful memories with the people you love. Three business / mindset takeaways: 1. Curate your inputs like an asset portfolio. Just as you manage financial risk, you can manage emotional and mental risk by curating what you watch, read, and scroll. What you “feed” your brain becomes the backdrop for your decisions as a leader, parent, or business owner. 2. Stillness is a productivity tool, not a luxury. Londa rediscovers that when she simply sits quietly and thinks—on a plane with her phone off or awake in the night—she has better ideas and more clarity. For business, that means scheduling screen-free thinking time can be more valuable than another hour of “hustle.” 3. Customer experience is built at the front door. From TSA lines to eye-rolling hostesses, the “front face” of any organization sets the tone. Small moments—respect, attention to allergies, how you handle mistakes (like hair in the food)—either build trust or destroy it. Train and empower your front-line people like they’re your best sales team, because they are. #MindsetMatters #CurateYourLife #CustomerExperience #TravelStories #TheSessionWithLondaAndDavid

July 29, 202631 min

Thriving in a Down Market: How Relationships Beat Recessions

Everyone’s saying the real estate market is “down,” “slow,” and “impossible” for first-time buyers—but is that the whole truth? In this episode of The Session with Londa and David, we talk candidly about what a “down market” really is, how top agents are adapting, and why your relationships and habits will matter more than headlines in the months ahead. 3 Business Takeaways: 1. Skill and Effort Matter More in a Slow Market When transaction volume drops, average effort no longer works. You need stronger sales skills, deeper service to clients, and a willingness to “do what you’d never do before” (like rolling up your sleeves to solve problems on-site). 2. Down Markets Reward Long-Term Thinkers Professionals who’ve built referrals, multiple income “oars in the water,” and good money habits are less shaken by slowdowns. A rough month or year hurts less when you’ve planned for cycles instead of assuming endless growth. 3. Connections Create Opportunities (and Stability) In uncertain markets, isolation is a liability. Networking, genuine conversations, and community—dinners, broker opens, deeper talks—lead to both emotional support and new business. As David says, “You’ve got to circulate to percolate.” #DownMarket #RealEstateBusiness #RelationshipMarketing #SalesMindset #TheSessionWithLondaAndDavid

July 23, 202631 min

Stop Hiding the Hustle: Winning in a Weird Real Estate Market

Most clients think you just put up a sign and collect a check. In this episode, Londa and David pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes in real estate and lending—especially in today’s “not good, not bad, just weird” market. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, misunderstood, or stuck in a spike-and-valley sales cycle, this one’s for you. Three Business Takeaways: 1. Show your invisible work. Don’t assume clients understand the hours you spend negotiating, problem-solving, and protecting their interests. Proactively share what you’re doing so they can see your value. 2. Beat the spike-and-valley cycle with consistent “green time.” Protect daily prospecting and relationship-building—even when you’re slammed with current deals—so your pipeline doesn’t dry up. 3. Win by speaking your client’s language. Ask better questions (like “What’s most important to your seller?”) and adapt your communication style so clients and cooperating agents feel heard, understood, and guided. #RealEstatePodcast #SalesSkills #RealEstateAgentLife #MortgageAndMoney #TheSessionWithLondaAndDavid

July 15, 202630 min

Feast, Famine & Post-Meal Coffee: Real Talk for Commission Pros

Are you a realtor, salesperson, or any commission-based pro wondering why the money never seems to last—even when you land a big check? Over post-meal coffee, Londa and David get brutally honest about the feast-or-famine cycle, why so many experienced agents are struggling right now, and how mindset and money habits matter more than the market. 3 Business Takeaways: Commission ≠ Stability Big checks don’t guarantee financial health. Without a plan, commission income almost always turns into a feast-or-famine rollercoaster. Market Slowdowns Expose Money Habits When the real estate market slows (like it did this spring and early summer), even seasoned pros get squeezed if they’ve been living deal-to-deal instead of building reserves. You Need a System, Not Just Sales Skills Being great at selling isn’t enough. Commission-based professionals need intentional money management—budgeting, saving, and planning—to survive the slow seasons. #RealEstateLife #CommissionLife #EntrepreneurMindset #MoneyHabits #FeastOrFamine

July 8, 202632 min

Intentional Success: Second-Half Strategies for Realtors & Lenders | The Session with Londa & David

In this episode of The Session with Londa and David, we kick things off with a fresh studio, a nostalgic Fourth of July recap, and then dive straight into how to intentionally win the second half of the year in real estate and lending. From focusing on the parts of the process you can control, to elevating client communication, to protecting your own energy so you can be a true “step-down transformer” for emotional clients—this conversation is packed with practical mindset and business shifts you can use right now. 3 Business Takeaways: 1) Control the controllables, forget the rest You can’t control interest rates or the broader market—but you can control your processes, your speed to close, your communication, and the experience you create for clients and partners. 2) Sell your process, not the market Instead of “selling rates,” sell your predictable, dialed-in system (like a 12.5-day average from submission to clear-to-close) and position yourself as the safest, smoothest choice in any market. 3) Protect your energy to serve at a higher level Putting on your own “oxygen mask” first—sleep, movement, nutrition, downtime, and doing one thing at a time—turns you into that “step-down transformer” who can absorb clients’ high-voltage emotions and respond with calm, clarity, and leadership. #RealEstateBusiness #MortgagePros #EntrepreneurMindset #ClientExperience #SecondHalfStrategy

July 1, 202630 min

When a Vacant House Isn’t Empty and a Life Isn’t Either: Talking Listings and Legacy

Ever walked into a “vacant” house and wondered if someone was still living there? In this episode of The Session with Londa and David, we share a wild showing that ended with three police cars, plus practical tips for protecting vacant listings. We also get real about menopause, changing bodies, color theory, and why legacy starts with the people right in front of you. 3 Business Takeaways: Vacant doesn’t mean safe: Why 98% of vacant homes experience some form of vandalism and how to reduce that risk with proactive, boots-on-the-ground agent practices. Service standards set you apart: Simple, repeatable systems—like checking vacant listings multiple times a week, flushing toilets, and securing doors—build trust and long-term referrals. Storytelling builds your brand: Sharing real behind-the-scenes stories (like police at a showing or clients crawling through tiny crawl spaces) makes your business memorable and relatable. #RealEstateStories #RealtorLife #VacantListing #HomeSellingTips #TheSessionWithLondaAndDavid

June 24, 202630 min

Own the Second Half: Routines, Revenue & Your Success Team

We’re halfway through the year—are you coasting, or recalibrating? In this episode of The Session with Londa and David, we talk about how to make the second half of the year even better than the first, in both life and business. You’ll learn: ✅ Why your morning routine and self-care are non-negotiable if you want to show up as your best self ✅ How intentionally “noticing the good” shifts your mindset, workflow, and resilience ✅ The importance of building a success team—partners and other pros who are truly invested in your growth ✅ How market and economic trends (like oil prices and inflation) actually impact your day-to-day business decisions If you’re ready to reset, refocus, and finish the year strong, this episode is for you. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcoming the second half of the year 01:00 – Londa’s focus on self-care and morning routines 05:00 – David on being intentional about noticing the good 09:00 – Market updates & what they mean for your business 14:00 – Building and leveraging your success team 20:00 – Economic outlook, oil prices & inflation 27:00 – Final challenges and goals for the second half If you enjoyed this episode: 💬 Comment: What’s one habit or business move you’re committing to in the second half of the year? 🔔 Subscribe for more sessions with Londa and David Recommended books mentioned: • The 4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferriss • The Noticer Returns – Andy Andrews • Eat That Frog! – Brian Tracy #SecondHalfStrategy #BusinessMindset #SuccessTeam #MorningRoutine #EntrepreneurLife

June 10, 202630 min

Designing a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From (Birthday Reflections at 54)

Turning 54 and still feeling 30—David and Londa unpack how to design a life you don’t need to escape from, blending meaningful work, creativity, and memories that actually matter. In this birthday edition of The Session with Londa and David, the duo reflect on midlife, relationships, and the kind of work that fuels rather than drains you. Over breakfast stories and real estate hustle, they explore how to design a life you don’t need a vacation from. They emphasize presence, gratitude, and creating foundational memories. 3 Business Takeaways: 1. Design your life first, then your work around it – Build a career structure you don’t feel the need to escape from. 2. Relationships are a real business asset – The memories and experiences you create with clients and loved ones deepen trust and long-term loyalty. 3. Side projects fuel your brand – Creative pursuits (like David’s children’s books) reinforce your story, differentiate your personal brand, and connect with people beyond the transaction. #DesignYourLife #MidlifeMomentum #RelationshipDrivenBusiness #RealEstateMindset #PurposeOverVacation