By Jenelle Etzel, July 28, 2025
Introducing “Open House: Everyday Excellence” — A Real Estate Podcast That Puts People First
We’re excited to launch Open House: Everyday Excellence—a new podcast by Living Room Realty. This show is for real estate agents who want to grow their skills and build lasting client relationships. It’s for people who care about doing the work well, with both heart and expertise.
In each episode, we talk to agents and experts about the moments that shape their careers. We cover the wins, the near-misses, and the lessons that come from real-life experience. Whether you’re early in your career or years into it, these stories will offer insight, inspiration, and practical tools you can use right away.
🎧 Episode 1: Tactical Empathy with Yascha Noonberg
The first episode dives into one of the most essential parts of being an agent—negotiation.
Yascha Noonberg shares how expert negotiators don’t focus on “winning.” Instead, they listen. They build trust. They help clients feel clear and confident, even in stressful situations.
In this episode, Yascha walks through a complex deal and explains the exact steps he took to guide it to a successful close. He breaks down:
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How to build trust with clients from the very first call
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How to manage emotions during difficult conversations
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What it means to create alignment instead of conflict
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Why “getting it right” is better than “being right”
Who It’s For
This podcast is built for real estate agents who are ready to level up. If you’re doing $6–8 million a year and want to grow, this is for you. If you care about your clients and want to serve them better, this is for you too.
You’ll walk away from each episode with real, usable tips. You’ll also feel more connected to the values that make this work meaningful.
Why It Matters
We believe great real estate agents do more than close deals. They create safe spaces for people to make big decisions. They communicate clearly, act with empathy, and stay calm under pressure.
Open House: Everyday Excellence celebrates that kind of work. It shines a light on agents who lead with both skill and care.
Listen Now
Episode 1 is out now! You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. Just search for Open House: Everyday Excellence and start with the episode on negotiation.
Jenelle Etzel
President & Owner, Licensed Broker OR
She/Her
What does being lead singer and guitar player in a female punk band have in common with starting a real estate company in the middle of a recession? Not many people can answer that question. But when you ask Jenelle Isaacson Etzel founder and CEO of Living Room Realty, there’s no hesitation; where most would see a chasm, she sees a bridge.
For Jenelle, it’s all been about finding a voice—the singular and irrepressible expression of self. Once a quiet, studious, high-school girl growing up in Portland, Jenelle started a punk band after college. She played guitar, wrote cathartic songs, performed, and traveled across country while living out of a van. All that seems light years from the present moment--owning a successful, growing company; serving on boards of civic and philanthropic organizations; enjoying family life with her two young daughters and long-time partner. Still, she uses the same voice now that began to emerge on stage years ago.
Whether it’s business or music, “It’s important to know what your voice is. If it’s true, it will resonate.” Jenelle’s voice, her truth, is about being brave enough to take action without apology, being heard without being exploited, to be energized, constantly problem-solving and refining her skills in the pursuit of building a purpose-driven company. All this requires risk-taking. She’s learned the hard way that she can’t fix everything and that not everyone will share her vision. But even as she explains the difficult choices she’s faced, Jenelle radiates joy.
“It’s never okay to play small,” she says with conviction. And this, more than anything, is what she strives to impart to other women, empowering them to pursue their passion whole-heartedly and to be leaders who speak with their own unique, unapologetic voice.
Living Room Realty, founded in 2009, offers residential, commercial, and property management services. Living Room ranks in the top 15 real estate companies in Oregon, with more than 110 affiliated broker-agents. For more information, visit www.livingroomre.com.
Noted Achievements: First west coast real estate office to receive B Corp status • Top Workplaces, 2014-2016 • 100 Best Workplaces in Oregon 2017 • 100 Best Green Companies 2017 • Oregon Business in Ethics Awards in 2014 • Jenelle has been featured in The Portland Monthly, Oregon Business, and REALTOR® Magazine • Portland Business Journal 40 under 40 Business Leaders • Board of Directors, Rock n Roll Camp for Girls, receiving 2015 award for creative philanthropy • Board Member, Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Network, Portland chapter • Orchid Award recipient for Business and Civic Contributions • Guest speaker: OPB’s Think Out Loud, Investor Beat, Cascadia Green Building Council • Advocate speaking on behalf of Benefit Corporation legislation with Oregon Secretary of State, Kate Brown
Read More
- jenelle@livingroomre.com
