“A deal is literally never done until the commission check has been deposited.” – Joseph Poland

In this first episode of Somewhere in New York, Taylor Durland and Joseph Pullen kick things off live from Times Square, leaning into the nerves, the new format, and what this show will actually be: “all things life,” with real estate sprinkled in.

They unpack how each of them ended up in NYC real estate: Joseph’s pivot from advertising (sparked by reality shows flashing big commissions) and Taylor’s path from banking/consulting → entrepreneurship → real estate, driven by a long-time obsession with homes and “home base.”

From there, the conversation turns into the “behind-the-scenes” reality: commission-only risk, intense competition (they cite ~27,000 licensed agents), why friends don’t automatically “hand you deals,” and why you can’t “editorialize” your taste onto buyers. It closes with the mental side: thick skin, hearing “no,” staying flexible when deals wobble, and why the agent often becomes the conductor blamed for everything.

1. The show starts live from Times Square, with Joseph admitting he’s nervous.
2. The mission: life-first conversations with real estate as the backdrop.
3. Joseph’s interest started during the early Million Dollar Listing / Selling New York era.
4. Reality TV sells drama—not the actual broker life (like writing emails for hours).
5. Joseph got his license quietly, told almost nobody, and targeted Corcoran.
6. Taylor came from banking/consulting, then founded a beverage company, sold it, and felt “lost” before real estate.
7. Taylor’s early love for real estate started with Sunday Times real estate listings as a kid.
8. They discuss the “used car salesman” stigma brokers still fight.
9. Commission-only work means uncertainty and sometimes years of effort before payday.
10. NYC is brutally competitive—Taylor cites ~27,000 licensed agents.
11. A key lesson: don’t editorialize—buyers’ taste can surprise you.
12. Real estate humbles you fast (including the “dog shit on the terrace” story).
13. Social media feedback can be savage; resilience matters (TikTok comments story).
14. The closer mindset: deals can fall apart late, so stay calm and keep moving.
15. Agents become the “quarterback/conductor” coordinating everyone—and often taking the blame.

1. Live from Times Square: episode one setup + nerves