Breaking New Ground - Conversations with entrepreneurs who are innovating and redefining real estate

In this episode of  Breaking New Ground ,  Rachel Walters  and I sit down with  Jonathan Berk , a placemaker, urbanist, and founder of  Remain , a new platform designed to help municipalities and small developers actually deliver housing. Jonathan has spent the last decade working at the intersection of policy, development, and placemaking, including leading partnerships at Patronicity and serving...

In this episode of  Breaking New Ground  I sit down with  Lillian Chen , founder of  Proptimal  and one of the most thoughtful minds working across real estate, financial analysis, and technology. Lillian’s path from grinding through underwriting to learning how to build software offers a rare look at how modern analysts are developed and why capacity and clarity matter as much as technical skill....

In this episode of Breaking New Ground , I sit down with with Rachel Walters to explore the evolving role of personal branding in commercial real estate—and how authentic visibility is translating into real deal flow. From newsletters to podcasts to Substack, we unpack how consistency, storytelling, and clarity of message are reshaping how professionals connect with investors, partners, and peers....

This episode of Breaking New Ground, Dylan Goren dives into the future of real estate decision-making and how technology is changing the playbook. In this conversation, Dylan Goren, Co-Founder & CEO of Pillar, unpacks the site selection problem that continues to frustrate developers and how automation can transform outcomes. He explains why time lost in manual processes is money left on the ta...

Show Notes In this episode, John Pugh sits down with  Isabela (Bela) Carrasco , Assistant Vice President of Investor Relations at  Origin Investments , founder of  WealthOps , and host of the podcast  How Do You Know . Bela shares her perspective on the current state of multifamily real estate, how she helps investors navigate uncertainty, and her mission to empower professionals and athletes to a...

This episode of Breaking New Ground explores the YIMBY movement. Courtney Porcella ⁠ shares how YIMBY Action empowers the local community to engage with planning decisions, push for zoning reforms, and work alongside developers—not against them. We get into the real-world barriers to new housing, from financing challenges to NIMBY resistance, and highlight success stories that prove collaboration...

Title:  Placemaking Through Art: How Fine Art Elevates Real Estate with Killian Repasky In this episode of Breaking New Ground, John Pugh and Rachel Walters sit down with Killian Repasky, Founder of Fresh Kills Fine Art, to explore how fine art is shaping the future of real estate development. Killian shares her unique approach to curating and commissioning large-scale art installations, emphasizi...

This episode of  Breaking New Ground  dives deep into a platform—and a mindset—that’s reshaping commercial real estate. Rafael Weiss  is a real estate developer and entrepreneur who built  SYTES  to solve a problem we’ve all experienced: the inefficiency of site selection and leasing in a fragmented, opaque market. His AI-powered platform does what brokers and landlords have struggled to do for de...

In this conversation, Shree Kulkarni, a dynamic real estate executive and entrepreneur, discusses his journey in real estate development and technology. He shares insights on current projects, the role of technology in the industry, and the challenges faced in real estate development. Sri also introduces his PropTech innovations, including Roov.ai and Realty Dynamics, and explores the future of re...

In this episode of  Breaking New Ground , John Pugh and Rachel Walters sit down with  Nick Jones , Founder of  Alakai Capital , to unpack the evolution from hands-on real estate technician to company builder and venture investor. Nick shares how the rebrand to Alakai Capital reflects his shift to leadership, systemization, and team culture—and why that’s been essential to scaling his platform. We...

In this conversation, Mandy McGill shares her insights on the current state of recruitment in the commercial real estate #CRE and AEC industries, the challenges faced by professionals, and her entrepreneurial journey in creating Aedifico.ai, a platform aimed at empowering talent in commercial real estate. The discussion covers the gaps in the industry, the importance of cultural fit, and the futur...

Keywords : construction management, limited partners, real estate development, contract negotiation, cost overruns, project management, construction contracts, LP representation, construction industry, project delays, construction, project management, contractor reporting, technology in construction, entrepreneurial journey, market trends, real estate development, construction technology, owner de...

In this conversation, Noah Coughlin, CEO of BLDUP, discusses the evolution of real estate data analytics, the challenges and opportunities in the current market, and the role of AI in enhancing productivity and decision-making. He emphasizes the importance of data transparency and networking in real estate, while also exploring innovations in PropTech and the future of the industry as it adapts to...

In this conversation, Mandi Wedin, founder and CEO of Feroce Real Estate Advisors, discusses her extensive experience in the real estate investment sector, focusing on the intersection of real estate, sustainability, and technology. She emphasizes the importance of being a trusted advisor, navigating changes in interest rates and capital markets, and the critical role of technology in achieving su...

Marketing for Real Estate Entrepreneurs - When you are just starting a real estate business marketing might not be at the top of your list. If it isn't, you should reconsider. On this episode of Breaking New Ground John & Rachel discuss how marketing can make or break new real estate businesses. We discuss how to change your mindset to make your brand stand out. We also discuss the persona...

Summary: In this conversation, Professor Rafael Luna discusses his innovative approach to architecture, focusing on the concept of infra-architectural hybrids that integrate energy production and resource management into building design. Rafael has a Master of Architecture from MIT and his Ph. D. from L'Accademia di architettura dell'Universita della Svizzera Italiana. In our discussion Rafael sha...

Summary: In this conversation, Brad Hargraves, founder of Thesis Driven, discusses the evolution of his publication, which focuses on deep dives into real estate topics. He shares insights on the importance of opinion in real estate journalism, the necessity of reviewing industry events, and the launch of educational initiatives aimed at bridging knowledge gaps in the real estate sector. The discu...

Summary: In this episode of Breaking New Ground, Jason Adams, a data-driven real estate developer, shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey, current market opportunities, and the importance of automation and communication in real estate development. He discusses the challenges posed by supply constraints in the market, his focus on self-storage and light industrial projects, and the geogra...

Summary: Lauren Campbell, founder of the Archer Group, shares her journey in real estate development and placemaking. She grew up in a real estate family and initially studied architecture, but pivoted to real estate after realizing her passion for creating experiences and controlling the narrative of a neighborhood. She discusses her success in the Edge District of St. Petersburg, where she and h...

In this conversation, John Pugh interviews Zach Lamb, a professor at UC Berkeley, about his recent book on urban resilience and equity. Zach shares his background, including his experiences with hurricanes and his studies on how built environments can adapt to climate change. The discussion covers the challenges cities face in becoming resilient, the importance of community ownership, and the four...

Thank you to our sponsors, Pugh Investment Partners. Pugh Investment Partners is the premier family office real estate co-investment platform. Summary John and Rachel discuss the current challenges in the economy and commercial real estate. They highlight the negative headlines and the economic slowdown. They also discuss the shift from a seller's market to a buyer's market and the impact on price...

Keywords: Workplace strategy, commercial real estate, technology, Revise, space utilization, pandemic impact, office trends, real estate consulting, PropTech, workplace analytics Summary In this conversation, PJ Mugford, co-founder of Revise, shares his unique journey from brokerage to workplace strategy consulting, highlighting the significant shifts in commercial real estate post-pandemic. He di...

Breaking New Ground with Sean Kelly-Rand - Providing Capital and Efficiency in Real Estate Financing In this conversation, Rachel interviews Sean Kelly-Rand, the managing director of RD Advisors, about his background in commercial real estate and his involvement in PropTech. They discuss how Sean got into commercial real estate through his family's background in carpentry and real estate sales...

Title: Aleksey Chernobelskiy - Bridging the Gap: Transparency in Real Estate Investing Summary: In this conversation, Aleksey Chernobelskiy shares his entrepreneurial journey in commercial real estate. He discusses his transition from being a W2 employee to becoming an advisor to limited partners (LPs) investing in real estate. Aleksey talks about the underserved market of LPs in the syndication s...

In this episode Andrew Consigli shares his journey from architect to real estate developer. He has grown his company, Civico over the past 10 years into a leading mixed-income housing developer in New England. Andrew and his team utilize creative financing to get their projects built. Civico Development Website Andrew Consigli's LinkedIn Profile Thank you to our sponsors Pugh Management! Pugh prov...