Smith Lane Podcast

Interior architect and neuroaesthetics expert Rebecca Fairman joins Callie Friedman and Mackenzie Dunn for a vibrant conversation about the neuroscience of placemaking, genuine belonging, and the impact of thoughtful design on community well-being. With leadership roles at Airbnb, Flip4Good, and a master’s thesis in neuroarchitecture, Rebecca Fairman shares how the spaces we create can nurture con...

Callie Friedman and Mackenzie Straley welcome Ryan Rosen, founder and creative director of Friendly Futures, for a high-energy episode exploring how play, placemaking, and intentional design can transform neighborhoods into true communities. Kicking off with a signature game that has everyone laughing (and getting competitive), the conversation sets the tone for a deep dive into how “social archit...

This week, Callie and Monaca welcome Jenelle Schmidli, known as the “Platting Queen”, for an episode that bridges land development know-how with heartfelt advocacy for mental health. Jenelle unpacks the complex, collaborative world of platting, revealing how her childhood curiosity on a rural Mississippi road grew into a lifelong passion for shaping communities. Together, the conversation moves fr...

Monaca and Callie welcome Jake Salzman, landscape architect and founder of Cultivate Land, for a timely conversation about revitalizing aging spaces, the “missing middle,” and why the true value of place is layered - starting long before the first shovel hits the ground. Drawing on personal stories from their farm childhoods and their careers in placemaking, the crew explores how our built environ...

Monaca and Callie sit down with Charles Vogl - advisor, speaker, and international bestselling author of The Art of Community - for an essential conversation about the true meaning of community, how we’ve lost touch with the basics of real connection, and why building genuine support systems is more urgent than ever. Drawing from his experiences in documentary filmmaking, religious studies, and wo...

In this episode, Monaca and Callie welcome Blake Lapinsky and Matt True, the dynamic duo behind PulteGroup’s explosive growth in Central Florida, for an energizing conversation about the evolution of homebuilding, community, and what it takes to deliver real meaning and connection in today’s neighborhoods. With a combined 32 years at Pulte, Blake Lapinsky and Matt True share their stories of break...

Monaca and Callie sit down with Claudine Leger-Wetzel, VP of Sales and Marketing at STOCK Development , for an uplifting and candid journey through the worlds of hospitality, placemaking, and luxury community building. With over 25 years at STOCK and nearly four decades in Naples, Florida, Claudine’s story is one of deep roots, family legacy, and unwavering dedication to her community. They trace...

Monaca and Callie return with their very first guest, Lesley Deutch of John Burns Research & Consulting, for an energetic, deeply relevant conversation about affordability, migration, and the shifting meaning of community in today’s housing market. Reflecting on how far Smith Lane - and their business, now OnPlace Collective - has come since its scrappy beginnings, the trio traces the fast-evo...

Monaca and Callie are joined by Paul Kalbfleisch, co-author of The Joy Experiments , for a vibrant conversation about the pivotal role of joy, play, and genuine connection in shaping cities and communities. Paul’s background, spanning global brand building at BlackBerry and urban consultancy in Waterloo, Canada, sets the stage for a timely discussion: How can we reimagine urban life to foster real...

Monaca and Callie welcome Ryan Glick - co-founder & CEO of Groov and host of The Land Development Podcast. Ryan shares his journey from a tech-focused upbringing in Iowa to building a software company modernizing the land development industry. What started as a simple effort to solve a builder’s problem - accessing lot inventory - evolved into a platform that streamlines both lot management an...

Monaca and Callie explore the concept of social architecture, the intentional design of systems, interactions, and environments that foster meaningful human connection. Moving beyond traditional “lifestyle” programming, they break down how thoughtful planning from amenities to programming and what creates vibrant, connected communities. Through real-world examples (from retail fitting rooms to fit...

Monaca and Callie sit down with Paige Byrd, Owner and Co-President of Thiel & Team , an award-winning architectural, interior design, and procurement firm specializing in hospitality and multifamily amenities. The conversation explores why interior design should be prioritized earlier in the development process, how thoughtful amenity design shapes community experience, and what it means to de...

Episode Description Monaca and Callie sit down with the Ladies in Land founder, Erica Sinner, to discuss how she found her way into land development, why confidence is the single biggest career differentiator for women in the industry, and how a simple idea - putting women in a room together to learn - has grown into a multi-city national movement. The conversation covers her early career path fro...

Episode Description Monaca and Callie sit down with Harry Masterson of EMBER to explore what makes master-planned communities truly work. From how Harry unexpectedly found his way into land development to why Houston remains one of the most resilient growth markets in the U.S., the conversation centers on EMBER’s signature West Houston project, The Grand Prairie, and its prairie-first identity. Th...

Monaca and Callie kick off Season Three of Smith Lane with some major updates: a brand-new set, a growing team, and a bold evolution of the company behind the podcast, OnPlace Collective . Monaca and Callie reflect on how Smith Lane began, why placemaking and community remain at the heart of everything they do, and how growth has shaped both their business and their mission. This episode sets the...

On this episode of Smith Lane, hosts Monaca and Callie sit down with Graham Anderson, Co-Owner of Anchor Fitness and Performance, for a conversation about how fitness can serve as a cornerstone for community connection. Graham explains how fitness offerings can go far beyond workouts, becoming a catalyst for stronger communities. He shares how his team listens closely to resident feedback, invests...

On this episode of Smith Lane, hosts Monaca and Callie sit down with John Woodman, Division Manager at Homes by Towne, to uncover what it takes to craft homes within some of Florida’s most celebrated master-planned communities. With more than 25 years of experience across Florida, Arizona, California, and Hawaii, John brings a deep understanding of design, craftsmanship, and community building. Jo...

On this episode of Smith Lane, Monaca and Callie welcome Heather Crowell and Britni Ackrivo, Executive Vice Presidents at Gregory FCA and the team behind the PlotLines podcast. Together, they dive into the role of communications in real estate, exploring current trends and misconceptions shaping the industry. The conversation highlights how headlines often misrepresent what’s really happening in t...

This week on Smith Lane, Monaca and Callie sit down with Erin Duggan, President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County. With over two decades of experience in the tourism industry, Erin shares how her career has shaped her approach to promoting Sarasota as a must-experience destination. Throughout the conversation, Erin reflects on the impact of tourism on Sarasota’s economy and quality of life, explain...

This week on Smith Lane, Monaca and Callie sit down with Bill Conerly, Vice President and Senior Project Manager at Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., and member of the Florida House of Representatives representing District 72. He shares insights from the intersection of his careers in civil engineering and politics. Throughout the conversation, Bill explains why housing affordability remains one o...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we’re joined by Jeff Reiman, President of The Broadband Group , for a conversation about the vital role broadband plays in today’s master planned communities. Jeff explores how foundational infrastructure sets communities up for long-term success and ensures residents have the high-performance connectivity they increasingly expect. We discuss how land development has...

In this episode of Smith Lane , we’re joined by Kelly Mangum, Regional Vice President of the South Carolina and North Carolina division at Builders Design. Monaca, Callie, and Kelly discuss the impact of interior design, and how it can shape the spaces and communities we’re creating. We explore how Builders Design approaches each project with a focus on collaboration, placemaking, and a deep under...

I this episode of Smith Lane , we’re joined by Stu Henderson—Owner and Design Architect at Fawley Bryant Architecture —to explore how architecture can deepen a community’s sense of place. Stu shares how his firm works across the sports, education, and government sectors to design spaces that reflect and serve the people who use them. The conversation follows Stu’s path from art to architecture, th...

What if rental communities could offer the comfort of homeownership—without the long-term commitment? In this episode of Smith Lane , we’re joined by Charles McKeag, President of the California division of BrightSky Residential, to explore how his team is reshaping the single-family rental experience. Charles began his career in land-use law, but a pivotal realization — that he wanted to build com...

In this episode of Smith Lane , we’re joined by Dan Grosswald, Division President of Southeast Florida at Mattamy Homes . A lifelong South Florida resident, Dan shares his passion for homebuilding and his leadership mindset — including one of his commonly used phrases, “budgets are for losers” — and why vision should guide decisions, not just the numbers. We explore one of Mattamy’s standout proje...