Advertise on podcast: Rethink Real Estate. For Good.

As we embark on a new year, we’re all thinking about fixing things.  I bumped this podcast up on my list, because Tracy Hadden Loh has a much bigger and more inspiring fix list than most of us do. Tracy is bi-racial and has experienced inequity first hand.  Even as a young child she knew something was wrong.  Her career has been a purposeful exploration of how to fix things. As a Fellow with the Center for Transformative Placemaking at Brookings Metro, a branch within the Brookings institution, Tracy focuses on cities, downtown metropolitan areas, placemaking, diversity in cities and reinventing cities post-pandemic.  And of course, fixing things.   If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

After a successful career in architecture and design in New York City, Mark Winkelman purchased a 300,000  s.f. historic Pajama factory. Once the largest pajama factory in the country, the buildings sat vacant in a small town in central Pennsylvania with a population of just 114,000   They set about filling it, one corner at a time, with a vision for an affordable and thriving creative hub. 16 years later, and  60% complete, the stunning buildings are coming back to life but there is still more to do.   What was Mark’s motivation?  And his thesis?  And how has it played out? If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

It’s been 4 years since I first interviewed Lorenzo Perez and I love his work every bit as much as I did then. Lorenzo advocates for LOCAL community, culture and commerce in his real estate projects, and for crafting, artistic, one-of-a-kind environments and experiences.  He and his company, Venue, put that passion to work throughout the Metro Phoenix market. This approach helped them to weather the last four years, pandemic and all.  Lorenzo was about to open his first hotel project right after everyone was sent home … and yet.  Well, I’m not going to say more because that would make me a spoiler. You’ll have to listen in! If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

Atif Qadir is a serial entrepreneur, but that’s not where he started. Trained as an architect and urban planner, Atif decided pretty early on that he wanted to work his way up the ladder, from servicing developers as an architect or builder, to being one!   So he started developing his own small properties, and as his frustrations with finding project financing grew, so did his entrepreneurial ideas.  He launched Commonplace, a fintech platform,  with a mind to create a marketplace for emerging developers and investors.  Dating for development projects. In amongst all of this and in partnership with the Office of Michael Graves, Atif hosts a podcast show called American Building. If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

This is my second podcast interview with Brian Murray.  But time has passed, and his business (and expertise) have grown.  Brian came to real estate as a non-real estate guy. Always interested in impact, he wanted to find a way to address poverty and real estate presented a tangible path.  And so he launched SHIFT Capital, an impact urban real estate group focused on mission-oriented real estate  strategies in underserved communities. Simply put, at  Shift, Brian works on uncovering  better solutions to  society’s most difficult urban challenges - intergenerational poverty, urban revitalization, access to opportunity, and community displacement.  If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

From Wall Street to mortgage banking to real estate developer. Joel Miller has focused his career with clarity and purpose. And now he’s taking it one step further by raising money for his next real estate project, through crowdfunding.    Joel wants to bring others up behind him.  He wants to give others the opportunities he’s been given. And one small way to do that is to provide an opportunity for everyone to invest in his latest project. Early on in his career, Joel realized that his goal to lead an organization might not happen if he waited for an opportunity.  So he made his own.  He started his own company, Wall Street Capital Partners, specializing in sourcing and arranging debt and equity for acquisitions and development of real estate.  And of course, over time he started to build his own real estate portfolio. If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

Joyous disruption. This is Jonathan Dodson's goal with each and every real estate project he develops. Jonathan pivoted from an early career as a banker to real estate developer, aptly calling the firm he co-founded, Pivot Projects. He had developed an interest in urban neighborhoods and redevelopment initiatives, and when given an opportunity to co-partner on a project, he grabbed it. Now he leads the Pivot Team, navigating tough conversations and decisions to create the best outcomes for his teammates, partners and tenants. And for Jonathan, the best outcomes are not traditional ones.  If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

Lindsey Scannapieco is an urbanist and an artist in every sense of the word. While living and studying in the UK, Lindsey worked on projects such as activating an underutilized subterranean crossing alongside Westminster Council, supporting Tech Shop in their global expansion, and developing a community led design project that reconsiders traditional construction hoardings in South Kilburn. All of this led her to found Scout, an urban design and development practice that focuses on the activation of underutilized space. Not one to think little, Lindsey submitted a proposal to purchase a 340,000 square foot vocational school building from the city of Philadelphia. Much to her surprise, she won the bid. Eight years later, BOK, as it is called, is a thriving and creative mix of makers, small businesses, and nonprofits, and 100% full. The building is a testament to Lindsey's staying power. If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co, where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

Liz Dunn is a real estate artist. After spending the early years of her career as a software developer at Microsoft, Liz made a hard pivot and launched her own Seattle company in a completely different field: real estate.    The last 20+ years have been filled with people and buildings for Liz. Of her 35 or so retail tenants, all are local and over half are minorities or women.  Fascinating names like Chophouse Row, the Agnes Lofts and Melrose Market label even more fascinating spaces. And then there is the Cloud Room.  It’s a Culture club, lounge and bar packaged as a coworking space and located inside one of her buildings. Liz runs two affiliated businesses as well:  Cloud Studios, a practice facility for musicians; and the Overcast Room, a podcast-recording studio. These businesses add a vibrant dimension to already fascinating buildings.  With an organic but masterful style, there’s lots to learn from Liz, so listen in! If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co, where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

Franchell Abdalla is a minority in every sense of the word. She is black, a woman and a real estate developer. But that’s not stopping her. Not for one little moment. Franchell only recently launched her development company, Be Good Development, and yet she has her sights set on incredibly complex and rich real estate projects.  She assembled an astounding team to win a significant Request for Proposals issued by the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She won and has been grappling with a 100,000 s.f. Foundry building, planning its repurposed life and working on the legal and financial structure.  There are plenty of setbacks, as there always are, but to Franchell it is all a joyful challenge. There is lots to love in my conversation with Franchell. Please listen in! If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co, where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

Charles Marohn is a recovering engineer. He used to build roads. Charles followed all the rules he learned while studying to become an engineer. But in 2008, well into his engineering career, he became disenchanted with the notion that more roads lead to prosperity. So, Charles started blogging his thoughts. He advocated for a new approach to land use and warned about the dangers of suburban sprawl. With each blog, Charles gained readers until the blog converted into a non profit organization called Strong Towns. Today, Strong Towns has millions of followers. If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co, where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.

Samuel Alemayehu was born in Ethiopia and educated in the US. He is a serial entrepreneur and investor focused on deploying technology as an equalizing force. "Let's change the world to technology and products that empower the individual and sustain the village" says Sam. Through his work with Cambridge Industries, Sam is revolutionizing the way we think about sustainable energy and infrastructure. He built the first waste to energy plant customized for sub-Saharan Africa in Ethiopia, the Reppie Waste to Energy project. The project takes 80% of the city's garbage and turns it into 25% of its electricity. Sam has boundless energy and a lot to tell. If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast and go to RethinkRealEstateForGood.co, where you can subscribe to be the first to hear about my podcasts, blog posts and other goodies.