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

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

“A neighborhood won’t make you — you have to make the neighborhood.” – Taylor Durland

In this episode of Somewhere in New York, Taylor Durland and Joseph Pullen talk about the neighborhoods that shaped them — and the very real, very imperfect parts of living in NYC that outsiders often don’t understand.

They open with a blunt reality check (yes, the street-level stuff) and quickly move into why New Yorkers still choose to stay: the energy, the culture, the “melting pot” feeling, and the way hardship can create belonging.

From Greenwich Village to the Upper East Side, they compare neighborhood “vibes,” unpack misconceptions (like thinking downtown will make you cool), and explain why curiosity is a competitive advantage — especially in real estate, where knowing buildings and financials can help a client avoid a bad deal.

They close with how the city has evolved over the last 10–20 years, with more fluid movement between neighborhoods and boroughs, and why New York’s imperfections are baked into its DNA.

1. NYC can be loud, dirty, and expensive — and people stay anyway.
2. Hardship can be part of what bonds New Yorkers together.
3. New York’s “energy” is a big reason it feels like home.
4. The city’s diversity is a defining feature (languages, cultures, people).
5. Greenwich Village is Taylor’s home base after a decade there.
6. Joseph points to the Upper East Side as a shaping neighborhood, while noting how much he’s moved around the city.
7. “Living downtown won’t make you cool.” The neighborhood doesn’t change you — you bring who you are.
8. Every neighborhood has a distinct “vibe” you can feel immediately.
9. Curiosity matters in any profession — and in real estate it becomes a real edge.
10. Taylor joined his co-op board to protect his asset and learn how buildings, contractors, and the DOB ecosystem works.
11. In a crowded broker market (“27,000 other brokers”), differentiation comes from knowledge and perspective.
12. A broker’s win can be helping a client avoid a financially unstable building.
13. West Chelsea comes up as Taylor’s “next choice” neighborhood (water, park access, downtown feel).
14. The Upper East Side’s big misconception: it’s “stodgy,” but Joseph argues it’s become more vibrant over the last 10–20 years.
15. The Q train expansion is framed as a major game-changer for Upper East Side access.

1. Cold open: the unfiltered NYC street reality
2. Why New York still feels “worth it”
3. The city’s energy and the “DNA” argument

“Real estate will humble you — no matter how expensive the listing is.” – Taylor Durland

In this episode of Somewhere in New York, Taylor Durland and Joseph Pullen pull back the curtain on what actually happens behind the scenes of New York City real estate — the moments clients never see and brokers rarely talk about.

They open with life in and around Times Square, contrasting the city’s glitz with the far less polished reality of residential buildings. From pigeons inside apartments to uncomfortable encounters during showings, the conversation quickly makes one thing clear: this job is rarely glamorous, and often deeply humbling.

From there, the discussion moves into what real estate actually demands. The inability to outsource the human side of the job. The responsibility that comes with being trusted inside someone’s home. And the quiet, unspoken work brokers do to protect both property and people — whether that means cleaning up messes, managing awkward situations, or maintaining discretion at all costs.

They explore the tension between high-end branding and everyday reality, pushing back on the idea that luxury transactions are somehow “above” the fundamentals. Whether it’s a $25 million co-op or a modest walk-up, the core responsibility stays the same: show up, adapt, and create a positive experience.

The episode closes with reflections on integrity, flexibility, and why professionalism is most visible when things go wrong — not when everything goes according to plan.

1. Real estate is far more humbling than it appears from the outside.
2. High-end listings don’t eliminate basic, unglamorous work.
3. The human element of the job can’t be automated or outsourced.
4. Discretion and trust are central to working inside private homes.
5. Brokers are stewards of a space, not just salespeople.
6. Adaptability often matters more than polish.
7. Awkward and uncomfortable moments are part of the job.
8. Integrity shows up when it would be easier not to care.

Cold open: Times Square vs real residential life

Behind-the-scenes incidents brokers don’t advertise

Why real estate is inherently humbling

The limits of automation and AI in property sales

High-end branding vs real-world responsibility

Discretion, trust, and protecting private spaces

Awkward showings and professional restraint

What integrity looks like when things go sideways

Wrap: doing the job no matter the circumstances

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