The Easemakers Podcast

John Christensen is a 25-year private service veteran, who grew up with service mindset. John's parents owned hotels and restaurants in Denmark, and he worked his way up, starting as a dishwasher at his dad’s restaurant when he was 14. He planned to eventually take over the family business, but when he left Denmark to get experience in hotel management, he fell into private service instead.  He became an Estate Manager in Jupiter, FL, and then a Director of Residences, overseeing 10+ properties at a time.In this conversation, John shares stories of going above and beyond, and his tips for other private service professionals looking to stand out (and maintain a sense of balance at the same time). Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis.   And, check out our  workshop, Modern Household Management: How to Streamline Operations for Homes and Estates — designed to help you feel ready take on the operations of any home, prepared for the year ahead, and confident in your ability to manage a growing estate. Save your spot at ninesliving.com/workshop.The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

Jean Weiss spent 15 years in entertainment, doing costumes on shows like ER, the West Wing, and Parks and Recreation. Today, as an estate manager, she says her TV career prepared her for private service. Her keen attention to detail and ability to move at lightning speed help her feel ready for anything. In this conversation, Jean shares the story of a recent crisis — and how she was able to navigate it with a cool head and a service heart.Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis.   And, check out our upcoming workshop, Modern Household Management: How to Streamline Operations for Homes and Estates — designed to help you feel ready take on the operations of any home, prepared for the year ahead, and confident in your ability to manage a growing estate. Save your spot at ninesliving.com/workshop.The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

In a special bonus episode of the Easemakers Podcast, expert estate manager shares steps for getting started with household operations, and her tips for turning chaos into predictable work. In a new household operations workshop starting October 19th, Shelby will dig into the themes she covers in this bonus podcast. Modern Household Management: How to Streamline Operations for Homes and Estates is designed to help you feel ready take on the operations of any home, prepared for the year ahead, and confident in your ability to manage a growing estate. Save your spot at ninesliving.com/workshop.Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis.  The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

Brianna has spent her entire career in private service — but over the years, she's grown and evolved, right alongside her principals' families. She started out as a nanny and a family assistant, but knew someone needed to take on the role of managing the household. She started taking on more and more, and over time, she became an estate manager. For the last 10 years, she's worked with the same family, but her role has changed completely. In the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Brianna shares the story of how she went from nanny to estate manager, and how she's navigated that growth path while staying with the same principals. Tune in to hear how she and her team brought more structure to the home, and her advice for aspiring estate managers.And, check out our new workshop, Modern Household Management: How to Streamline Operations for Homes and Estates, designed to help you tackle household operations in 3 weeks. Enroll today — class starts October 19!Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis.  The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

In February, 1981, on his 18th birthday, Chris Ely started his first job out of school: serving as a footman to Queen Elizabeth II.Over the next three years, Chris catered state dinners at Buckingham Palace, learned the intricacies of each of the Queen’s homes, traveled on the royal yacht, and had a front-row seat to history (sometimes, with a view from the Queen’s carriages).Today, as the world mourns the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, Chris shares what it was like to serve at Buckingham Palace, what he learned from watching the Queen, and how his time there affected the rest of his 40 year career in private service.Thank you to Chris for sharing his stories with us!Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis. The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

One week, three holiday dinners, no notice. When Holy Week turned into 'hell week,' Latricia Friend made the impossible possible for her principals — and now, she's sharing how she did  it in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.In this conversation, Latricia shares the story of how she was able to juggle three holiday dinners for three different families, all in the same week — with just a few days to plan. We break down how she made it happen, and share takeaways for private service professionals who want to be prepared for anything. Tune in to hear how Latricia navigated her 'mayday' situation, her tips for motivating everyone around you, and why networking can save you when you're under pressure.To hear more from Latricia, be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn, and tune into the 5-Star Service Club on Thursdays at 7:30pm ET. Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis. The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

Estate managers and interior designers both want to make their principals happy — so why is it such a challenge to work together? We asked two friends to debate some common scenarios, and to share how they've built a positive working relationship.Peter Van Ryder is the owner of Estate Management Solutions, a placement, recruitment, training, and consulting firm based in Dallas, TX. English Minter is a Dallas-based interior designer, who started working with Peter through a shared client.They've been through it all — a lofty vision from their principal, tight deadlines, and lots of push and pull between their competing priorities. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, they share stories and lessons learned from their time working together, in hopes of helping you build stronger relationships.Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis. The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

Household employment can be riddled with risk. How do you create a healthy work environment, get ahead of challenges, and keep tough situations from escalating?As the CEO of TEAM, an all-in-one payroll and HR provider that’s custom-built for household staff, Rachel Green has seen it all — and in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, she's sharing real-life stories and tips to help you minimize risk.Tune in as we break down hiring, exits, and everything in between. You'll hear why households get into trouble, how to prevent the "snowball" effect, and advice for handling difficult conversations the right way. Plus, in the lightning round, don't miss the tips Rachel learned in client services and as a CEO that every PSP should hear.Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis. The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

Brian Daniel has worked with billionaires, royalty and Hollywood A-listers — first as a personal assistant, and then as a recruiter. He's seen it all in his 25 years in the industry, but he says today is a unique moment in history: a gilded age in private service. Why? Demand for private service roles is higher than ever, salaries are climbing, and the opportunities are endless. But how do principals and private service professionals navigate this "gilded age," and find a long-lasting fit? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Brian shares insights on the trends he's seeing right now, his take on hybrid roles, and his tips for anyone looking for the right match in private service. To hear more from Brian, check out his website and connect with him on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to learn from more expert private service professionals, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis. The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.

How do you care for a luxury wardrobe and manage the closet of a couture collector? After 20+ years in business, the team at Garde Robe knows the ins and outs of caring for precious clothing. The luxury wardrobe storage and valet service has seen it all — and in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Doug Greenberg is sharing practical tips and lessons learned for private service professionals.Tune in to hear the most common mistakes people make managing wardrobes, what estate managers should know about couture, and how he'd build a dream closet. Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more expert private service professionals, and join the Easemakers community to talk to other estate managers and PSPs on a regular basis. The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.