Storage Unlocked

In this highly tactical episode of Storage Unlocked, I am sitting down with Kusiima Boswell, co-founder of Terrakotta, to uncover why the real alpha in July 2026 commercial real estate is about processing speed and data validation. We move beyond the basic chatbot surface layers to evaluate how independent operators use advanced Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations to bypass expensive third-p...

Is your facility a real estate business or a technology platform that happens to sell a storage product? I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by Jessica Johnson (The Storage Group) to pull back the curtain on the rapid, hyper-localized evolution of operational AI in July 2026. Fresh off winning the inaugural ISS Best in Business Award for their Ai...

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this blockbuster episode of Storage Unlocked, I sat down with Chris Taylor, the Chief AI Officer at 10 Federal, to deconstruct the massive technological consolidation rewriting the self-storage industry in 2026 . Chris brings an elite pedigree straight from the front lines of NVIDIA to reveal how true enterprise automation requires a foundational data laye...

In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I pull back the curtain on two decades of historical data to uncover why the microeconomics of storage are showing real signs of recovery despite intense macroeconomic turmoil . I evaluate the massive transition from the post-GFC development freeze to an era that added 1 billion square feet of self-storage to the US grid in just under eight years . In this epis...

In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I sit down with institutional brokerage legends John Lindsey (Lindsey Self-Storage Group) and Austin McLeod (Matthews Real Estate) to map out the massive structural shifts rewriting the transaction market in June 2026 . We look directly past the headlines of Public Storage's pending third-quarter buyout of NSA to evaluate where actual values stand on the ground...

Can you scale a self-storage portfolio past 25 locations with only one employee managing the entire operation? I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am sitting down with Ryan Chapman (Lumio), Tyler Harper (Homegrown Storage), and Albert Kim (StoragePilot) to break down the rapid evolution of conversational AI voice agents . Over the past 12 months, the basel...

I am breaking down the massive macroeconomic and tech shifts defining our asset class in May 2026 . From Public Storage's blockbuster $10.5 billion deal to swallow NSA to a jaw-dropping discrepancy in same-store NOI growth, we are looking directly at the data points that prove the three-year downcycle has finally found its bottom . In this episode, I cover: The Cap Rate Inversion: Why active stree...

Are you building a Small Bay Flex portfolio for institutional capital, or are you building it for yourself?   I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I sit down with three titans of the industrial flex market: Brett Turner (BKM Capital Partners) , Jeremiah Boucher (Patriot Holdings) , and Brian Whitmer (Doors and Spaces) . Together, we pull back the curtain on...

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I am recording live from the Northeast Storage Expo at Foxwoods . While the data says New England is outperforming the nation, the operators on the ground have a more nuanced story to tell. I sit down with industry legends and local power players to discuss how they are navigating legislative challenges and a transaction...

Are the days of "speculative underwriting" officially over? I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I am joined by Noah Starr (CEO of Tract IQ) to analyze the Q1 2026 REIT earnings reports . We move past the headlines of the $10.5 billion PSA/NSA merger to look at the raw numbers defining the "institutional era" of self-storage . In this episode, I cover: The...

Are you a "partner" with your management company, or just a line item on a shareholder report? . I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I am joined by Peter Smyth (White Label Storage), Melissa Stiles (Storage Asset Management), and Ronna Siegel ( StorQuest ) . We tackle the changing landscape of third-party management in an era where Public Storage is buying...

I am breaking down a monumental week where the self-storage industry took center stage in the Wall Street Journal . From the "tipping point" of municipal pushback to the surprising double-digit surge in storage REIT stocks, I dive into the data that shows why this asset class is defying broader economic trends . I also have a massive announcement for the S3 Partners community. After 10 months of d...

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by a "superhero lineup": Barry Sherman (S3 Partners), Wayne Woolsey (Kiwi II Steel), and Cody Payne (Flex Parks USA). We pull back the curtain on an asset class that is currently outperforming storage in development returns and attracting massive attention from both private equity and local entrepreneurs . In t...

Has the self-storage market finally found its bottom? I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I break down Public Storage's latest $500 million capital raise and what it signals for their aggressive 2026 expansion plans . I also explore a pivotal moment in industry history: 10 Federal hiring a Chief AI Officer out of Nvidia to build a foundation for the next e...

In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by guest host Tim Kane (co-founder of StorPro). We break down a year that has already seen a $10.5 billion merger and multiple nine-figure acquisitions, leaving independent operators wondering how to survive the institutional era . In this episode, I cover: The "Professional Storage" Pivot: Tim explains why he shifted from traditional storage to Sto...

I n this episode of Storage Unlocked , I bring together Shannon Charbonneau (XPS Solutions), Adam Wagner (Anytime Property Storage Management), and Gabriel Luna (Durell's Mini Storage) to look at the "boots on the ground" reality of running facilities in 2026 . We discuss the massive wave of REIT consolidation and how small-to-medium operators can actually use technology to beat the giants at thei...

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I dive into the shocking $10.5 billion merger between Public Storage and National Storage Affiliates . I break down the financing that keeps the PSA balance sheet clean and what this means for the "PS 4.0" digital-first era . In this episode, I also cover: Small Bay Mania: I share my takeaways from the Small Bay Summit i...

Are we all going to be replaced by robots by 2030? I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I am joined by Maggie Bode (Unity AI), Jacob Pandl ( NodaFi ), and Tyler Sellars (Cactus AI) to discuss the "leapfrog moment" in self-storage technology . We are moving away from the era of spreadsheets and paper walkthroughs into a world where AI agents answer the phone...

In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I break down the 2025 year-end earnings for the major storage REITs. I discuss why storage stocks are trading at a premium (15x to 18x FFO) compared to other real estate sectors and the massive leadership shift at the top of Public Storage . In this episode, I also cover: The Murphy Family Mission: I share the story of Decker's Blueprint , a fundraising effort...

In this very special edition of Storage Unlocked , I am joined by Zachary Dickens (Extra Space), Paul Spittel (Public Storage), and Alex Burnam (StorageMart) . These three firms have transacted on over $25 billion in storage assets in just the last half-decade . In this episode, we cover: Strategic Evolution: We  discuss Public Storage's transition to PS 4.0 and their move to the Dallas-Frisco are...

in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I offer a tribute to Deanie Burns , a beloved leader we lost far too soon . I also dive into the Public Storage Q4 earnings call , breaking down their $1.8 billion in available capital and the strategic shift toward PS 4.0 under incoming leader Tom Boyle . In this episode, I also cover: Legal Strategy: I sit down with 40-year veteran Scott Zucker to analyze th...

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I dive deep into the multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed by New York City against Extra Space Storage . I analyze the allegations of deceptive pricing and the potential "ripple effect" this could have on how every major operator manages their same-store NOI growth . In this episode, I also cover: Operational Consolidation:...

Is New York City still the "Stronghold Market" for big equity? I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell , and in this episode of Storage Unlocked , I break down the news that StorageMart has acquired a 15-asset NYC portfolio for a reported $1.05 billion . I discuss what this means for the Manhattan Mini Storage brand and why institutional capital is becoming increasingly "picky" about the deals it pursue...

Is the storage market finally meeting in the middle? In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I bring together three of the most prolific brokers in the industry: Nathan Coe, Kevin Bledsoe, and Frank DiSalvo. We pull back the curtain on the "P&Ls most people never see" to tell you exactly where the transaction market is headed in 2026. In this episode, we cover: - Why the disconnect between buyers and...

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and I am kicking off 2026 with an episode that changes the rules of self-storage forever. I am joined by Noah Starr (CEO of Tract IQ) to unveil a massive data drop: verified, borrower-reported occupancy and financial performance for $40 billion in assets. No more "guessing" achieved rates or NOI margins. In this episode, I also cover: Major Acquisitions: The deta...