Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities

A former attorney and once a professional tennis player Andy brings a rare mix of discipline, strategy, and precision to the world of real estate development. He takes us behind the scenes of River Landing, one of the largest mixed-use projects on the Miami River. The River Landing story is just the tip of the iceberg. Before founding Urban-X, Andy helped restructure a $750 million portfolio at Le...

In this episode, we dive into Noah’s epic journey, from selling Encyclopedia Britannica door-to-door to capitalizing on the 2008 financial crisis (what the hell is a community development bond?) and building one of the largest land portfolios in Florida. As the founder and Managing Partner of BTI Partners, Noah has helped shape the development of tens of thousands of homes across the state. We tal...

Abe dropped by the pod with a couple of bottles of saki in hand. He grew up in a restaurant family, studied at Cornell’s prestigious hospitality school, and came out of the gates swinging—with a fast-casual wrap concept that flopped. But instead of giving up, he zoomed out. He realized the real estate under that failed concept was too good to waste—so he pivoted. Enter Sushi Maki . In this episode...

Today we sit down with Gary Ressler to talk all things Downtown Miami real estate. We get into what it was like growing up in a real estate family, Gary’s stint in Hollywood working at Disney, and what it was like stepping in to run the family business. We talk about how they’ve kept the DuPont Building looking spotless, why downtown still kind of sucks, and what it’ll take to turn it around. Gary...

On this episode we share a drink with Jay Newman — one of the driving forces behind some of the most iconic luxury hotels and branded residences in the country. Before he was leading projects like Amangiri, Montage, and the Four Seasons, Jay was a freshly minted college grad with a law degree, a curious mind, and a few good friends in a VW bus headed across the country. That trip landed them at th...

Live from the ULI Florida Summit: A Conversation with Futurist Nikki Greenberg In this special episode recorded on-site at the ULI Florida Summit in Bonita Springs, we sit down with world-renowned futurist Nikki Greenberg to explore the future of real estate. From her roots in South Africa to Australia and beyond, Nikki shares how her background in architecture and development shaped her vision fo...

We poured some scotch and got into it — growing up in Miami, how the city’s changing block by block, and what it really takes to get deals done in this town. Anthony De Yurre isn’t your typical land use attorney. He’s a zoning whisperer, a deal enabler, and one of the guys shaping Miami’s skyline from the inside. As a partner at Bilzin Sumberg, he’s in the weeds with developers trying to untangle...

From a small town in the Amazon to co-founding Integra Investments, Nelson Stabile’s journey is anything but typical. In this episode, he shares how a childhood spent off the grid shaped his problem-solving mindset — and how that grit now drives Integra’s adaptive approach to development in Miami’s shifting real estate market. We talk strategy, pivots, and how personal passions can shape professio...

Before he was Chairman of the Board at FORTEC, Pablo Barreiro was out in the field, brokering deals and learning the game from the ground up. Born in Argentina, Pablo came to the U.S. to play fútbol and pursue his education — eventually earning a JD, an MBA, and a double major in Economics and Political Science. That academic foundation, paired with hands-on brokerage experience, laid the groundwo...

Charlie has been shaping the fabric of Fort Lauderdale for over three decades — not just as a developer, but as a local who never left. On this episode, we sit down with Charlie to trace his journey from the late 1980s to today — from his early work with Amera Companies to founding Barron Real Estate in 1991. He’s worn every hat: developer, leasing agent, and even contractor on multiple projects a...

From Club Space to Regatta Grove, Emi Guerra has seen it all. We trace his journey from hustling in high school as a club promoter to launching iconic venues like Club Space, The Wharf, and Regatta Grove. Emi opens up about the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship — the early struggles, near-collapse, and the eventual rise of Breakwater Hospitality. It’s a raw, insightful look at what it takes t...

Lissette Calderon showed up to the studio with a bottle of Casa Dragones tequila and got right to business—just like she has her entire career. From her childhood growing up near the Miami River to becoming one of the most visionary developers in South Florida, Lissette’s story is nothing short of inspiring. In an industry historically dominated by men, this proud Cuban-American carved her own pat...

In this episode, we sat down over a couple of Old Fashioneds with David Lombardi — a true Miami original, Wynwood pioneer, and lifelong lover of architecture. David opens up about his journey from humble beginnings — growing up as an only child in a one-bedroom apartment with a single mom — to launching a restaurant, grinding through real estate deals on South Beach, and eventually acquiring small...

Two of South Florida’s sharpest data minds dropped by Büro for a couple of cocktails and a deep dive into the numbers shaping our region’s real estate market. Anthony and Juan joined us to unpack the real impact of tariffs on real estate and construction costs.  We also got into the weeds on demographic shifts, new construction trends, and the Florida Legislature’s half-baked idea to eliminate pro...

Michael Simkins stopped by the pod with a bottle of E11EVEN Vodka in hand, and let’s just say—cocktails were poured, stories were shared, and the energy was very Miami. We talked about growing up in Miami Beach, his detour to Brooklyn Law, and his early days at Akerman before jumping into real estate with small deals around town. It wasn’t long before Michael set his sights on Overtown and Park We...

Scott joined us for a couple of glasses of afternoon Tequila Ocho Reposado and a great conversation about his journey through the world of real estate. Born and raised in South Florida (with a solid NYC accent courtesy of his parents), Scott discovered his passion for real estate while earning his accounting degree at the University of Florida. That passion led him to New York City, where he start...

In this episode, Isaac shares his inspiring journey from dropping out of high school to following his entrepreneurial instincts, successfully starting and selling a landscaping business in Tel Aviv—all before the age of 16. He later ventured into private lending, amassing $1.5 million by his mid-20s. However, Isaac's fortunes dramatically reversed when he lost everything in the dot-com crash...

Felix joined us on the pod—and yes, he brought along his signature Bendersky Scotch blend—to talk all things Miami F&B. Born and raised in the hospitality scene, Felix's journey started in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, where his Ukrainian immigrant parents owned and operated a nightclub. After making waves as a nightclub promoter at Northeastern University in Boston, Felix founded NightOwl De...

From his roots in Montreal to building one of South Florida’s leading industrial construction firms, Malcolm Butters shares his journey with us over a Monkey 47 Gin & Ginger Ale. Real estate runs in the Butters family—his father started investing in multifamily apartments back in Montreal, planting the seed for what would become a powerhouse business. After earning a Master’s in Real Estate fr...

From soaking up the sun on Israeli beaches to flipping one of the most iconic hotels in NYC, Miki Naftali’s real estate journey is the definition of a wild ride. Miki’s story starts in Israel, but things really took off when he landed at USC and pulled off his first off-market deal in Los Angeles—before he even had a business card. After cutting his teeth in Tel Aviv, he set his sights on the U.S....

Jorge Garcia’s journey is the kind of immigrant success story that deserves a toast over a glass of red wine. Arriving in Miami during the 1960s Cuban exodus, his family settled in Liberty City, where he quickly learned the art of resilience. That grit took him to the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, and eventually, to the bold decision to launch his own firm with partner Peter Stromb...

What does it take to shape a city’s skyline and close nearly $17 billion in transactions? In this episode, we sit down with Michael over an Old Fashioned to talk about his four-decade journey in commercial real estate. Michael’s path wasn’t always smooth—he went from riding the short bus in middle school to becoming a powerhouse dealmaker, playing a key role in Miami’s transformation. His expertis...

Charles Foschini didn’t just bring his A-game to the podcast—he also brought a bottle of Fortaleza tequila (because that’s how deals really get done). Born in New Jersey, Charles went from being a lifeguard and Eagle Scout to escaping the cold and heading straight for the 305. He didn’t just dip his toes in—he dove all in, earning an undergraduate degree, an MBA, and a law degree from the Universi...

Carlos joined us on the podcast over a classic Negroni to share his remarkable journey as a real estate developer. Hailing from a family of architects in Buenos Aires, Carlos earned his architecture degree at the University of Buenos Aires before spending a decade in the Middle East with Besix, mastering the art of construction. His journey then took him to Boston, where he earned a Master’s in Re...

Juan joined us for a glass of Johnnie Walker Double Black and brought along his crystal ball to share insights into the future of South Florida’s commercial real estate market. We dove into everything from retail and land to office, multifamily, and—our favorite—industrial real estate. Spoiler alert: South Florida is booming, thanks to its dynamic real estate landscape and growing demographics. Tu...