The Two Russells

What happens when you've built an incredible career, worked on some of the world's most iconic property developments and achieved everything you thought you wanted… but something still feels missing?This week, The Two Russells welcome Caroline Donaghue, who spent 23 years in international luxury property marketing, helping to launch landmark developments including The Shard, Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons projects.After 18 years with one agency, countless international projects and a relentless schedule of long working days and travel, Caroline began questioning what success really looked like. From living on a Chelsea houseboat to completely reinventing her life in Mexico, her journey eventually led her into coaching.Now working as The Chelsea Embodiment Coach, Caroline helps women reconnect with themselves, explore their ambitions and navigate the sometimes complicated relationship between career success, personal fulfillment and relationships.In a fascinating and refreshingly open conversation, Russell Quirk and Russell Jervis explore the role of coaching, the British attitude towards seeking help, the impact of ego and mindset, and why professional success can sometimes create unexpected challenges at home.They also discuss the warning signs of pushing yourself too hard, the importance of slowing down, and how coaching can help us uncover answers we may already have within ourselves.From multi-million-pound property launches to redefining what it means to thrive, this is a conversation about success, self-discovery and having the courage to change direction.

Peter Rollings - ‘The Legend’From gutting 200 trout at Chelsea Farmers Market and delivering them to restaurants on a moped, to becoming one of the first 21 employees at Foxtons - and ultimately its MD - Peter Rollings has quite a story to tell.Peter joins the Two Russells to look back at the extraordinary early days of Foxtons: 9am–9pm working, 0% commission, relentless hiring, Friday night meetings in Park Lane and an intensity and energy that created one of the most distinctive cultures in estate agency.He talks about growing with the business, eventually overseeing a powerhouse operation, why differentiation is key, and what happened when a brand that people either loved or hated began to lose some of its mojo.There’s life after Foxtons too including Marsh & Parsons, investing, mentoring, board roles and some fascinating new ventures involving AI.Peter may have officially “retired” at 54, but clearly hasn’t slowed down.A proper estate agency legend, some fantastic stories and plenty of lessons for the industry today. Episode 61 is one not to miss.

Pour a glass of wine. Make a coffee. Get comfortable. The Two Russells are back. Episode 60 sees Russell and Russell joined by Anthony Payne, Managing Director of LonRes, for a brilliant conversation about property, people and the rather unconventional route that took Anthony to the heart of the prime Central London market. He left school at 16. He wanted a job at Cecil Gee because he fancied the staff discount. His dad told him that if he was going to use his “big mouth” to sell something, he might as well sell something valuable.So he chose property. From earning £50 a week making calls in a Golders Green estate agency, and being fired from his first job in fairly extraordinary circumstances – to walking past Beauchamp Estates in Chelsea in 1985, falling in love with the place and talking his way into a job, Anthony has some fantastic stories to tell. We also get under the skin of LonRes: why membership is carefully controlled, the checks agents must pass, how its technology transformed a paper-based process, and why collaboration and access to the right information remain so important to its B2B network. Today LonRes has a team of around 45, but Anthony’s focus remains firmly on giving agents the tools and flexibility they need to deliver an exceptional service to their clients. And away from property? He talks beautifully about his 18-month-old daughter, who he describes simply as “pure joy”. Anthony is charming, articulate, incredibly well connected and knows his industry inside out. This is a lovely one to settle into.

Episode 59 with Hayley Andrews, Hard Hats to HeelsHayley Andrews has never done things the conventional way.From selling duty-free cigarettes as a child and collecting qualifications in everything from football coaching to beauty therapy, to becoming one of the UK’s most respected property entrepreneurs, her journey is anything but ordinary.In this episode, Hayley shares how years of battling a male-dominated industry—including not being taken seriously, verbal abuse, physical assault and even being locked inside a property—became the catalyst for creating Hard Hats to Heels.Today, the community hosts 26 events every month across the UK, is preparing to go global, and is connecting thousands of people across the property industry. And despite the name, the mission has never been about excluding men—it’s about creating better opportunities, stronger relationships and a more inclusive industry.We also talk entrepreneurship, listed buildings, construction, industry awards, family influences, and why Hayley believes backing yourself is the biggest investment you’ll ever make.This is a conversation about resilience, ambition and building something far bigger than a business.

What does it take to become one of the UK’s leading communication and motivational speakers for estate agency when you’ve never actually worked as an estate agent?In Episode 58 of The Two Russells Podcast, Russell Quirk and Russell Jervis are joined by Tony Morris, founder of Agency Titans and Tony Morris International, for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about mindset, communication, leadership and what really drives success.Tony’s journey is anything but conventional. From selling gas and electricity in a call centre, to software sales, to selling encyclopaedias door-to-door in Sydney while travelling the world, every chapter taught him something about persuasion, resilience and human behaviour. Those lessons eventually led him to launch his own training business in 2006, helping agency owners unlock performance they never believed possible.The conversation explores the psychology behind commanding fees rather than simply charging them, the power of language, why terminology matters, and how great leaders get the very best out of their people. Tony explains why he gets such a buzz from helping others achieve breakthroughs and why speaking live remains one of his greatest passions.Away from business, Tony also opens up about his personal journey. He reflects on his upbringing, being bullied at school, the devastating loss of his father just as his business was taking off and shortly before his wedding, and his recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It’s an honest and refreshingly open conversation that shows the person behind the coach.Whether you’re an estate agent, business owner or simply fascinated by what makes people perform at their best, this episode is packed with practical insights and powerful stories.🎙️ Watch the full episode now.📅 If you’d like to experience Tony’s coaching first-hand, his Optimised Agency Workshop takes place on 21st July and is designed specifically for ambitious estate agency owners looking to take their businesses to the next level.