The primary focus of this episode is a personal reflection on the significant events that transpired in the year 2025, as narrated by me, the host, Bill Risser. With a career spanning nearly 25 years in the real estate sector, I take this opportunity to share not only the highlights of my podcast journey but also poignant personal experiences that shaped the year. Notably, I recount the momentous occasion of my son Kevin's wedding in Asheville, North Carolina, as well as the subsequent reception hosted in Miami for family and friends. Furthermore, I reflect on the conclusion of the Die Happy Tour, which marked the end of a profound chapter in my life, culminating in the passing of my dear friend John. This monologue aims to encapsulate the myriad of emotions and milestones encountered throughout the year, providing listeners with insight into both my professional and personal realms. In an evocative solo episode of the Real Estate Sessions podcast, host Bill Risser embarks on a profound exploration of the year 2025, characterized by both joyous celebrations and poignant reflections. As he marks a decade of podcasting, Risser opts for a personal monologue that eschews the customary guest interviews, allowing for an unfiltered and intimate narrative. His nearly 25 years of experience in real estate informs his storytelling, yet this episode is less about the industry and more about the personal experiences that have shaped his life. Risser recounts significant personal milestones, such as the wedding celebrations of family members Kevin and Sarah, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Asheville, North Carolina. The vivid imagery he employs brings to life the narrow, winding roads leading to an enchanting Airbnb, creating a sense of adventure and familial joy. The narrative extends to a subsequent reception in Miami, further emphasizing the importance of family gatherings and the connections that bind us. Each anecdote serves to highlight the significance of love and community in navigating life's myriad challenges. Conversely, the episode does not shy away from the weighty themes of loss and remembrance, particularly as Risser reflects on the conclusion of the Die Happy Tour, dedicated to his beloved friend John, who passed away in November. This segment of the narrative is rich with emotion, as Risser shares the final golfing experiences they had together, entwining their shared passions with the poignant reality of mortality. Through these heartfelt reflections, Risser captures the essence of friendship, the bittersweet nature of farewells, and the enduring impact of cherished memories. As he looks forward to the next year, Risser expresses a desire to revitalize the podcast and reconnect with his audience, reinforcing the importance of ongoing dialogue and community in both real estate and life.

Takeaways:

1. The host, Bill Risser, reflects on his tenth anniversary of the podcast and shares personal highlights from the year 2025, marking a significant milestone in his journey.
2. During the episode, Bill recounts the memorable wedding of Kevin and Sarah, noting the picturesque setting in Asheville, North Carolina, which provided a stunning backdrop for the celebration.
3. Bill emphasizes the importance of personal connections and experiences, detailing a special family trip to Key West that included engaging activities such as a bike tour and viewing manatees.
4. The episode also touches on the conclusion of the Die Happy Tour, a poignant chapter in Bill's life, reflecting on the impact of his late friend John and the fulfillment of promises made to him.
5. In sharing these personal anecdotes, Bill illustrates how life events, such as weddings and family gatherings, have shaped his perspective on both personal and professional fronts throughout the year.
6. Lastly, Bill expresses gratitude to his listeners for their support over the years, assuring them of a return to regular episodes in 2026, thereby strengthening his commitment to the podcasting community.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. ratethispodcast.com/resessions

You're listening to the Real Estate Sessions and I'm your host, Bill Risser. With nearly 25 years in the real estate business, I love to interview industry leaders, up and comers and really anyone with a story to tell.

It's the stories that led my guests to a career in the real estate world that drives me in my 10th year and over 400 episodes of the podcast. And now I hope you enjoy the next journey. Hi everybody. Welcome to episode 430 of the Real Estate Sessions podcast.

Like every Tuesday I always posted something for 10 years. I needed a break. I wanted to devote more time to John Biorly as he was in his kind of final chapter.

And also I wanted to continue the setup and the work that I'm doing on the die happy tour book. So what I'll share today or just really it's a monologue.

They secured an incredible Airbnb in the hills north of Asheville. It was about a two mile drive up this kind of narrow road that was part asphalt. Then it switched to dirt and switchbacks included.

There were about eight other homes on the way up that had their driveways connecting to this road.

And nothing was worse than when the same F150 like mine four times we ran into each other and had to really kind of Maneuver in order to pass each other. It was quite exciting, especially driving that trail at night.

I think I went up and down it about 10 times for the wedding and all the supplies and some other stuff. But the house at the top of the hill was fantastic. I mean, the scenery is something Cindy and I have never seen before like that for a wedding.

The backdrop was amazing. So that was great. I mean, we had a wonderful time and then it wasn't over. In December, Horace and Seda, Sarah's parents, hosted a reception in Miami.

This was for all the people that couldn't make it to the Asheville event because Sarah was born and raised in Miami. They live in Miami. There are about 75 people, some of them coming from as far away as San Diego, others from New York.

I mean, we had a really good time. We had a. At the Bayshore Club, that's in Coconut Grove. If you don't know that area, it's just south of the city. Just fantastic.

Kind of an old school money place that has developed into this really kind of chic area. So we had a great time there. And then in December, this also happened.

One other thing that happened in December was that my aunts Suzanne and Sandy came out from San Diego for the reception in Miami. And so Cindy and I decided to take them to Key west because they'd never been there before, you know, and the drive across the Keys is really cool.

It's always the start of a great. So we had a great time at Irish Kevin's bar and with multiple Key lime pie shops, that's required if you go to Key West. And Kermit's was our winner.

We really like what they're doing. We watched the sunset from Mallory Square. Another thing you gotta do.

And then from there you kind of wander through the marina looking for a place to eat dinner. And of course we found a really cool spot there as well. But the next day I had scheduled a bike tour with Lloyd's Bike Tours.

I did this tour about six years ago and I knew they'd like it. And like it is an understatement.

And then to wrap it all up at the end of this two and a half hour tour, we finished with a five person drum circle at a preserve right on the water. They let Lloyd keep his gear there so he can show up. And we were just the four of us on this tour, sometimes as many as 10 or 12.

But it was just a wonderful way to really see Key west instead of just jumping on the train that drives through all the streets. And the trip really wasn't over yet, right? We had to drive back to Miami. So we're going back across the Keys.

So I asked Suzanne to choose a restaurant on the Keys. You know, we'd be crossing over on the way back. And she chose a place called Porky's Barbecue on Marathon Key.

We get there, we have the last table that's right on the marina, a table for four. So, you know, we're about six feet above the water, but you can look down at the water and you see all the boats and everything's cool.

And Suzanne all of a sudden says, I just think I an alligator. And we're like, well, it's possible in salt water.

But Cindy and I took a look and we could see that telltale fluke mark, that half circle that manatees leave when their fluke is moving them through the water. And so we said, no, that's a manatee, Suzanne. Which made her even more excited. She'd never seen a manatee before.

And to make it better, it comes swimming right up to our table. Now it's about six feet below us. And then it rolls over on its back. Little tiny flippers are there. And it starts drinking water out of a spigot.

And the server comes over and goes, yep, this is where get their fresh water. It's something we help them with or whatever. And so Suzanne's just going crazy. And then she says, what's back over there?

I see one big one, but there's a real little one. And the server said right away, well, that little one wasn't there yesterday. So I'm going to assume that was born in the last 24 hours.

So now, not only is she seeing manatees for the first time, but she gets to see a baby manatee that's only about three feet long. And it was just unbelievable.

John passed away in the late morning on November 13th with his sister Lisa by his side. This was a little over two years from the beginning of the Die Happy Tour.

I ended up scheduling four trips from St. Pete to Phoenix to fulfill the promise I made to him to get him on the golf course even if he could not play. The four rounds were spread out from February of 25 to June of 25.

Western Skies Agila twice, and the grand finale was TPC Scottsdale, home of the Waste Management Open. The foursome was me, John, his son Paul, and a longtime friend, Vernon.

In the early rounds, John would walk much of course, and roll a putt for the player farthest from the hole. But by the time we got to TPC in June, John was struggling with walking and needed most of the time in the cart.

One memory for me occurred on the par 3 number 12 at TPC. Bunkers on the left, water on the right. The pin was on the right side of the green. With the water in play, I hit my shot to about a foot.

Now, over the last 15 years, I had witnessed John's first, second and third holes in one as my ball slowly rolled in the direction of the pin. I thought he may be there to witness a hole in one for me, but it was not to be. It was so close. But that day would be my last visit to see John.

We talked on the phone, we messaged on Facebook, and as he became weaker, his friend Teresa would help me chat with him when he was in his bed. My next journey with John will be finishing the book, and many of the people that knew John will all be getting copies.

Finally, I'm not a believer of influence and wishes granted from friends or loved ones that have passed, but some of you may John knew my wish to shoot 75 one more time and to get my handicap back into single digits. We talked about rounds of golf all the time.

Get more Real Estate Sessions episodes out to you. Thank you so much for tuning in again and see you next year. Cheers. Thank you for listening to the Real Estate Sessions.

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