Shows
COMMUNITY CENTERAustin Tunnell - Building a LegacyAustin Tunnell is the founder of Building Culture, a vertically integrated real estate development, construction, and design firm working to create beautiful buildings that will last for centuries. They are working to resurrect the lost art of structural masonry construction right here in Oklahoma City. In this conversation, Austin shares a bit about how he got started on this path, what is so exciting about New Urbanism, and what Building Culture aims to do in the future. The Community Center is a show about building community. We interview various experts, advocates, and community leaders to...
2025-12-1243 min
Building Optimal#108: Innovators Series Featuring Austin TunnellIn our inaugural Innovators Series episode, we visit with Oklahoma builder and developer, Austin Tunnel. Austin is Founder and CEO of Building Culture, a company building homes and urban communities designed to last generations. From his means of designing and building to the way he structures his deals for investors, Austin's approach is a case study in elevated real estate development.A Special Thanks To Our Brand Partners:Subzero WolfQuaker WindowsHome Depot Pro Xtra ProgramAnd Be Sure To Check Out:
2025-10-301h 07
The Building Culture Podcast#45 Aleksandr Gampel: Reinventing Homebuilding with Mobile Micro-Factories and Cuby TechnologiesWhat if the future of affordable housing doesn’t come from prefab or 3D printing, but from building vertically integrated factories that travel to where homes are needed most?In this episode, I sit down with Aleksandr Gampel, co-founder and COO of Cuby Technologies, to talk about their radical approach: Mobile Micro-Factories. Instead of shipping oversized boxes across the country, they bring a full factory on-site – producing windows, panels, framing, and even helical piers locally, then assembling homes with unskilled labor.We get into why housing costs have exploded (up 40–50% since pre-COVID), how Cuby’s system c...
2025-09-1155 minThink and Act LocallyThe Building Culture Podcast - #45 Aleksandr Gampel: Reinventing Homebuilding with Mobile Micro-Factories and Cuby TechnologiesWhat if the future of affordable housing doesn’t come from prefab or 3D printing, but from building vertically integrated factories that travel to where homes are needed most?In this episode, I sit down with Aleksandr Gampel, co-founder and COO of Cuby Technologies, to talk about their radical approach: Mobile Micro-Factories. Instead of shipping oversized boxes across the country, they bring a full factory on-site – producing windows, panels, framing, and even helical piers locally, then assembling homes with unskilled labor.We get into why housing costs have exploded (up 40–50% since pre-COVID), how Cuby’s system c...
2025-09-1155 min
The Building Culture Podcast#44 Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley: Cognitive Architecture – Stone Age Brains In A Modern World: What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Making Places People LoveWhat if the key to designing better cities wasn’t just in concrete, code, or cost, but in understanding how our brains actually work?In this episode, I talk with Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley of the Human Architecture and Planning Institute (HAPI) about a subject that’s as profound as it is underdiscussed: how our unconscious biology reacts to the built environment – and how that should change everything about how we design.Ann, architect and author of Cognitive Architecture and Kelsey, founder of Design Cause Inc., now Executive Director at HAPI, walk us through the neu...
2025-06-261h 04Think and Act LocallyThe Building Culture Podcast - #44 Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley: Cognitive Architecture – Stone Age Brains In A Modern World: What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Making Places People LoveWhat if the key to designing better cities wasn’t just in concrete, code, or cost, but in understanding how our brains actually work?In this episode, I talk with Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley of the Human Architecture and Planning Institute (HAPI) about a subject that’s as profound as it is underdiscussed: how our unconscious biology reacts to the built environment – and how that should change everything about how we design.Ann, architect and author of Cognitive Architecture and Kelsey, founder of Design Cause Inc., now Executive Director at HAPI, walk us through the neu...
2025-06-261h 04
The Building Culture Podcast#43 Isaac French: You Can Just Do Things – How a First-Time Developer Built One Of The Most Beloved Retreat Brands In The CountryIn this episode, I talk with Isaac French, founder of Live Oak Lake and one of the most thoughtful voices I’ve come across in the world of experiential real estate. Isaac’s story reads like an adventure novel: raised with eight siblings on a Texas farm, homeschooled, steeped in grit. Well before turning 30, he walked five acres of tangled brush – no money, just a vision – and figured out how to design and build a seven-cabin, Nordic-inspired retreat that went viral, grossed over $1M in bookings, and sold for $7M. All in under two years. And plenty went wrong along th...
2025-06-121h 10Think and Act LocallyThe Building Culture Podcast - #43 Isaac French: You Can Just Do Things – How a First-Time Developer Built One Of The Most Beloved Retreat Brands In The CountryIn this episode, I talk with Isaac French, founder of Live Oak Lake and one of the most thoughtful voices I’ve come across in the world of experiential real estate. Isaac’s story reads like an adventure novel: raised with eight siblings on a Texas farm, homeschooled, steeped in grit. Well before turning 30, he walked five acres of tangled brush – no money, just a vision – and figured out how to design and build a seven-cabin, Nordic-inspired retreat that went viral, grossed over $1M in bookings, and sold for $7M. All in under two years. And plenty went wrong along th...
2025-06-121h 10
The Building Culture Podcast#42 Charles Duff: North Atlantic Cities - The Forgotten Blueprint for the FutureNew episode out now with Charles Duff, author of The North Atlantic Cities. This is one I’ve wanted to record for years, ever since I read his book. Charles lays out a vision of city building that’s neither skyscraper-packed Manhattan nor endless suburban sprawl, but something in between. Something tested, timeless, and deeply human.We talk about what makes cities like Amsterdam, London, and Boston so livable-and why they offer a roadmap for places like Oklahoma City and the Sunbelt. It’s not about replicating Parisian density or banning cars. It’s about building places where fa...
2025-05-291h 08
The Building Culture Podcast#41 Joachim Tantau: Sacred Geometry, Beauty, and the Universal Language of NatureIn this episode, I sit down with Joachim Tantau–a cabinetmaker, artist, teacher, and occasional architect to explore the quiet power of sacred geometry. Joachim works at the intersection of tradition, craftsmanship, and cosmic math. His approach to design isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about uncovering the fundamental order embedded in nature, music, architecture, and even the movements of planets.We talk about how flowers, planets, and buildings all share hidden proportional systems; why the Golden Ratio keeps showing up in history and design; and how ancient builders created structures more efficient-and more awe-inspiring-than much of wha...
2025-05-151h 23
The Building Culture Podcast#40 Inflation, Architecture, and the Death of Beautiful Buildings - a Yoeman Podcast Guest EpisodeA hundred years ago, people in small towns were building things that still stop us in our tracks. Two-story brick shops on the corner of Main and Commerce. Sturdy. Modest. Enduring. And beautiful.So the question is: what changed?I joined Geoff Graham on his Yeoman podcast, alongside Jaime Izurieta and Saifedean Ammous (author of The Bitcoin Standard), to try and unpack that question.We talk about why the small towns of the early 1900s could build beautiful things without credentialed architects, starchitects, or REIT funding... and why today, with all our global...
2025-05-011h 20
The Building Culture Podcast#39 Alli Thurmond Quinlan - The Field-Tested Guide to Terraforming Your CityYou’re not supposed to be good at everything. But somehow, Alli is.Architect, landscape architect, developer, GC, policy reformer, zoning translator, builder of teams, builder of trust, builder of actual buildings-it’s no wonder we spent the first five minutes of this episode just trying to list all the roles she plays.In this conversation, Alli joins me to talk about what it means to be a true generalist in an era obsessed with specialization. We cover her journey from flipping houses as a teenager to running a growing team at Flintlock Lab, directing the...
2025-04-171h 41
The Building Culture Podcast#38 Jeral Poskey: Urban Transportation of the Future? Retrofitting Suburbia with Swyft Cities.In this episode, I talk with Jeral Poskey, former project executive at Google, and current Founder and CEO of Swyft Cities, about a radically different approach to urban transportation that’s fast, flexible, and surprisingly affordable. Spoiler: it's not autonomous or flying cars.When I first heard about Swyft’s solution, I was skeptical. But I’m increasingly excited about the possibilities, and how it could unlock walkable districts and neighborhoods within the suburban sprawl context (so basically everywhere). We get into how Jeral’s experience inside Google’s real estate division led to the birth of Proj...
2025-04-0352 min
The Building Culture Podcast#37 Ryan Johnson: Culdesac - Building America’s First Car-Free Neighborhood From ScratchIn this episode, I talk with Ryan Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Culdesac, about building the United States’ first car-free neighborhood from scratch. We discuss everything from winning over the fire department with foldable ladders to building hundreds of units without building a single parking garage. Ryan also opens up about how designing for people—rather than cars—has paid off big time for both residents and local retailers, and why he believes autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing, and a passion for walkability will reshape cities nationwide.TAKEAWAYSWalkability Isn’t a Niche Luxury—It’s a Mas...
2025-03-2059 min
The Building Culture Podcast#36 Stephen Smith: Safety vs. Sanity: The Surprising Cost of Over-Regulating Our Built WorldIn this episode, I sit down with Stephen Smith, founder of the Center for Building, to uncover the labyrinthine world of building codes—how they’re made, who really influences them, and why they end up stifling the very innovation and affordability we need. From the peculiarities of elevator requirements to the often overlooked role of local politics and special interests, we unpack how these complex rules shape our homes, buildings, and cities more than we might realize.TAKEAWAYSWhy Building Codes Matter: Even if you’re not a builder or developer, codes...
2025-03-061h 17
The Building Culture Podcast#35 Moses Kagan: Building Generational Wealth with Generational Assets - "Indefinite Holds" in Real EstateMoses Kagan has a unique take on real estate development and investing – and he’s influenced my thinking substantially over the past couple of years.He is a highly successful syndicator, investor and developer with over $200 million in assets under management. He runs Adaptive Realty, having renovated over 100 multi-family buildings in Los Angeles, managing them in-house while specializing in the "indefinite hold” strategy for long-term wealth building.He is the Co-Founder of ReSeed, a platform offering long-term GP and LP capital, along with mentorship for emerging real estate operators nationwide. He also hosts Reconvene, a highly...
2025-02-201h 19
The Messy City PodcastBuilding Culture in OklahomaAustin Tunnell is one of the shining stars of a new generation of designer/builders for creative smaller projects, and he also happens to work in the world of mass masonry construction. In this episode, we talk about his journey from accountant to mason and beyond, with his really cool company called Building Culture.Austin now lives and works in the Oklahoma City area, and he’s aggressively expanding his scope with a new project called The Townsend. Audio doesn’t really do these projects justice. You really need to look these up, and/or see them in p...
2025-02-111h 10
The Building Culture Podcast#34 Coby Lefkowitz: Building Optimism - Rethinking Cities, Architecture, and the Future of Urban DesignWhat if our cities weren’t just places we lived, but places that made us feel alive? In this episode, we welcome back Coby, an urban planner, developer, and author of Building Optimism, to talk about how we can move beyond pessimism and reclaim the built environment. We dive into the philosophy of traditional urbanism versus traditional architecture, how to balance art and economics in development, and why optimism in city building isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s already happening.Coby shares how his latest project integrates affordability, beauty, and human-scale design, and why zoning reform is begin...
2025-02-061h 27
The Building Culture Podcast#33 Matthew Plechan: How to Paint Masonry. The Durable, Breathable Beauty of Mineral Stains.Most Americans think painting brick is as simple as grabbing a bucket of latex or oil-based paint, but this common approach can wreak havoc on your home–and is uglier to boot.
In this episode, I sit down with Matt Plechan, the founder of Mineral Stains. We dive deep into the art and science of finishing brick with mineral stains like limewash, potassium silicate and sol silicate.
These centuries-old techniques are not only more durable and beautiful but also allow your brick to breathe, preventing costly damage.
I talk to many people who go to...
2025-01-231h 10
The Strong Towns PodcastComparing the Strong Towns and YIMBY Approaches to the Housing CrisisThe Building Culture Podcast explores holistic solutions to crafting a more beautiful, resilient and thriving world through the built environment. Its host, Austin Tunnell, recently invited Strong Towns President Charles Marohn and California YIMBY’s Nolan Gray onto the show to debate the housing crisis. It was a great conversation that explores how these movements align and differ in their approaches to housing.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES
Transcript available on our site.
The Building Culture Podcast.
Nolan Gray (Twitter/X).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
2025-01-131h 31
The Building Culture Podcast#32 Citymakers Collective: Empowering the Next Generation of Architects, Developers and BuildersI’m excited to share this conversation with Will McCollum and Matthew Marshall, the passionate minds behind Citymakers Collective.
This summer, they’re hosting a transformative two-week program in Charleston, featuring some of the top practitioners in the New Urbanism and human-centered design movements.
Their approach is holistic, hands-on, and experiential, with a mission to equip the next generation of city makers to design and build places that are resilient, beautiful, and centered on people.
In this episode, we delve into the challenges of traditional education, what’s missing, and why they felt compell...
2025-01-0956 min
The Building Culture Podcast#31 Wrapping Up the Year: Building a Business, Management, Branding & Vision, Tech Stack, Resources, Updated Thinking, and a Merry Christmas from Building CultureHi everyone! I’m excited to share our final episode of the year, marking one full year of the Building Culture Podcast! This episode is a solo reflection—something new for me—where I dive into the evolution of our brand, key business learnings, our tech stack, updated thinking, and personal growth.
I explore how Building Culture has grown from focusing on structural masonry to a broader mission of creating durable, human-centered architecture and thriving communities. Adapting to challenges like rising costs and supply chain disruptions, I reflect on how staying versatile has helped us remain true to our...
2024-12-191h 18
The Building Culture Podcast#30: Sarah Campbell: All About Windows for Design NerdsIn this episode, I chat with Sarah Campbell, an architectural consultant at Sierra Pacific, to explore the key details that matter when selecting one of the most significant investments in any building: windows. Whether you're an architect, developer, builder, or planning a home renovation or new construction, this episode is packed with valuable insights just for you.
CHAPTERS
00:00The Importance of Quality Windows
02:14Introduction to Window Technology
07:43The Evolution of Windows Through History
11:53Understanding Glass Technology
18:04Modern Window Design and Energy Efficiency
24:06...
2024-12-121h 02
The Building Culture Podcast#29 DEBATE: Chuck Marohn & Nolan Gray - Strong Towns & YIMBY Approach to the Housing CrisisIn this episode, I sit down with Chuck Marohn from Strong Towns and Nolan Gray from California YIMBY to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: the housing crisis in America.
It started with an exchange on X (Twitter) where I saw Nolan and Chuck disagreeing. Surprised, I asked them on the podcast to discuss areas of overlap and disagreement between the YIMBY movement and Strong Towns. They were kind enough to agree.
In this episode we discuss the complex web of factors driving housing unaffordability, from financialization and zoning laws to t...
2024-11-261h 32
The Building Culture Podcast#28 Jen Griffin: Fast-Tracking Affordable Housing: How Pre-Approved Building Plans Are Enabling Infill & Changing CommunitiesIn this episode, I sat down with architect and advocate Jennifer Griffin to delve into real-life examples of missing-middle, pre-approved plan programs and their potential to transform local development. While fixing zoning laws is essential, it’s not enough to significantly increase missing middle and infill housing—a reality I understand firsthand as a small developer and builder.
Pre-approved plan programs aim to fast-track infill projects by providing community-vetted, permit-ready plans with associated budget estimates, giving small developers a clearer idea of construction costs.
While these estimates may vary over time and with specific project deta...
2024-11-1455 min
The Building Culture Podcast#27 Steve Mouzon: Catching Up with an OG in the New Urbanist MovementIn this episode, I sit down with OG Steve Mouzon, a well-known architect, designer and instigator of the New Urbanist movement, to explore the art of building places that truly matter. Steve shares compelling stories from his journey in urbanism, including projects like Mahogany Bay Village and Providence in Huntsville, Alabama, where he brought local materials and craftsmanship to life in unique, resilient ways. Steve makes a bold case for why "impossible" projects bring out the best in urban design, inspiring us to rethink what’s achievable. We discuss how generalist thinking, leadership, and a willingness to challenge outdated re...
2024-10-312h 12The Building Culture Podcast#26 Daniel Herriges: The Strong Towns Approach to the Housing CrisisIn this episode I sit down with Daniel Herriges, the new Policy Director for Parking Reform, and co-author of The Housing Trap, a book he wrote alongside Strong Towns' Chuck Marohn. We delve into the complex issue of housing affordability, discussing how it goes far beyond the usual culprits of capitalism or zoning. Daniel provides great insights into the financial, legal, and cultural forces that have shaped our current housing crisis.
We discuss how housing has become a financial product intertwined with national economic stability, and explore how the suburban experiment, government mortgage programs...
2024-10-101h 28The Building Culture Podcast#25 Jaime Izurieta: Reviving Main Street - Designing Authentic Experiences with “The Storefront Guy”I sit down with Jaime Izurieta, founder of Storefront Mastery, to explore the transformation of local businesses into powerful engines for community engagement and downtown revitalization. Drawing on his diverse background in architecture, urban planning, and retail design, Jaime shares how he helps small businesses reinvent themselves by focusing on experience and authenticity. We dive into the importance of local businesses as cultural stakeholders, how Main Streets can compete in today’s convenience-driven world, and the role of design in shaping customer experiences. Jaime also discusses the evolution of Main Streets into destinations, not just transactional spaces, while providing in...
2024-09-261h 20The Building Culture Podcast#24 Thomas Dougherty: Designing a One Acre Infill Townhome Neighborhood & Good Suburban DevelopmentI invited Thomas Dougherty, or lead urban designer, back on the Podcast to discuss real life lessons behind several of our current projects at Building Culture. We discuss Townsend, a 1+ acre infill site with 19 townhomes, a couple live/works and 10,000 SF of boutique commercial, that we are nearing approvals on. We get into some really practical stuff we’ve learned, such as how we are parking it, dealing with trash, utilities, and balancing privacy with connection. We also discuss an 80-acre master plan we are working on and how we are taking a slightly different approach than many current TNDs...
2024-09-051h 19The Building Culture PodcastWelcome to The Building Culture PodcastInspiring and equipping architects, developers, and anyone working in the built environment to craft a more beautiful and resilient world for people.
2024-09-0301 minThe Building Culture Podcast#23 Sara Bega: Las Catalinas - Building a Stunning Car-Free, Kid-Friendly, Multi-Generational TownLas Catalinas might be the most beautiful town built in the 21st century. And my guest today, Sara Bega, has stewarded its evolution as Town Architect for a decade. Las Catalinas is a car-free, kid-friendly, multi-generational community in Costa Rica. Their goal is to create a pedestrian-first environment that maximizes kid freedom and allows for independent exploration and discovery. The town is built on 20% of the 1200-acre site, with a mix of houses, flats, hotels, and shops.
We discuss Sara’s professional journey, and the principles and practices behind developing such a stunningly beautiful and h...
2024-08-221h 22The Building Culture Podcast#22 Alan Pullman: Creating Meaningful, Mixed-Use Infill Projects that Make Our Cities Better.Today I get to speak with Alan Pullman, founder of Studio One Eleven, an architecture, urban design and landscape architecture practice focused on human scaled, mixed-use infill projects. They have a truly impressive portfolio of work. I love their “practice themes” which I think will resonate with many of you: housing for all, building community + place, renewing the public realm, 21st century mobility, and equitable practice.
I was truly inspired by this conversation with Alan, particularly around the community integration and engagement they cultivate in their office. He intentionally moved the practice out of their “...
2024-08-081h 13The Building Culture Podcast#21 Bobby Fijan: Building Multi-Family Apartments for Families with Simple AdjustmentsI had the opportunity to speak with Bobby Fijan today, who sometimes refers to himself as the Bill James of floorplans. His focus? Building apartments for families – and helping others do it too. He’s a developer, entrepreneur and consultant.
We discuss the lack of family-friendly apartment buildings and the impact on loneliness and community, and how we need to make cities and apartment buildings more family friendly. We touch on the importance of amenities and spaces that are suitable for children, how floorplans make having even one young child very uncomfortable (thereby incentivizing people to...
2024-07-2552 minThe Building Culture Podcast#20 Rob Parker: Trilith President - Town Builders of the 21st Century and the New Walkable CityTrilith is a newly built (and growing) walkable community located next to Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of the most successful TNDs and New Urbanists communities in the country.
Rob Parker, as President, leads a team of designers, architects, planners and builders in creating the 235 acre master-planned residential and mixed use development. Rob is a transformational leader with a focus on people, and has extensive experience in town building, commercial and retail development, music entertainment, non-profit leadership, marketing, branding and capital development.
This episode is a must...
2024-07-111h 19The Building Culture Podcast#19 Justin Mares - Pt 2: Fixing the Broken Food & Health SystemsIn part 2 Justin Mares and I discuss the broken food and health systems in the US and the need to prioritize human flourishing. We get into the weaponization of our instincts by companies that produce addictive food, the importance of fixing our environment and food system, and the role of human health in the built environment. Justin shares his experience in the health industry and highlights the misalignment of incentives in the food and healthcare industries.
We touch on the lack of trust in traditional institutions and the challenges of following dietary guidelines. Justin t...
2024-06-2753 minThe Building Culture Podcast#18 Justin Mares - Pt 1: The Great American PoisoningJustin Mares is the founder of Kettle and Fire, Perfect Keto, and Surely Non-Alcoholic Wines, and is working on his fourth company: Truemed. I am super impressed with what Justin has accomplished, and am a big fan of Kettle and Fire. My wife and I drink their bone broth regularly. What I am most inspired by is that Justin isn’t in business just to be in business. He is in business to solve problems that make peoples’ lives better, specifically around their physical and mental health and wellbeing. As the sickest generation of Americans in history–and it’s not even cl...
2024-06-2047 minThe Building Culture Podcast#17 Andy Boenau: Rethinking Traffic Engineering: Questioning Established Norms & Prioritizing Human Well-being in Urban PlanningI got the chance to chat with Andy Boenau today, who sometimes refers to himself as a Plangineer, with a background in urban planning and engineering. We chat about the flaws in traffic engineering and the need for a different approach to the built environment. Andy is passionate about questioning established norms and finding shared interests to drive positive change. He advocates for the need for critical thinking and curiosity in industries that often prioritize conformity.
TAKEAWAYS
Traffic engineering often prioritizes efficiency and speed over the needs and well-being of communities.
Questioning established nor...
2024-06-061h 19The Building Culture Podcast#16 Micah Springut: Revolutionizing Architecture with AI & Robotic Stone CarvingMicah is the founder of Monumental Labs, one of the most exciting companies in the architecture and construction industry right now. It blends humanistic values with tech – much like Apple did to revolutionize the computer industry in the 80’s.
His company is building robotic stone carving factories to unleash a renaissance in art and architecture, using robots to create sculptures, architectural pieces, and more. The goal is to bring costs down, unleash creativity, empower people, and to once again build great architecture that will be standing in 500 years.
You can see why I’m so excited to talk to him! We at Bu...
2024-05-231h 09
Beers With ContractorsE23 - Building A Contracting Business with Timeless Quality - Why Modern Architecture is Failing UsIn this episode of Beers with Contractors, hosts Will and Dillon explore the intricacies of cash vs. accrual accounting, critical for contractors' success. Special guest Austin Tunnell from Building Culture shares his unique journey from accounting to the Peace Corps, and eventually to starting his construction practice focused on sustainability and human flourishing. Austin reveals his groundbreaking projects like the Townsend, emphasizing traditional, beautiful, and long-lasting building practices. The show wraps with reflections on the importance of building timeless, sustainable structures, the challenges of modern architecture, and the significance of considering human interaction in urban development.
2024-05-2358 minThe Building Culture Podcast#15 Matt Dean: Creating an Authentic Brand in Commercial Real Estate & Caring About PeopleIn this episode I get to chat with Matt Dean of Dean &
Co, an award-winning agency that we at Building Culture hired to collaborate on our Townsend project, an urban infill, mixed-use neighborhood breaking ground later this year (2024). While out of LA, he made a trip to Oklahoma City in the middle of our collaboration, and it was awesome to get to meet and chat in person!
After trying several routes, we simply weren’t on the same
page with the other marketing companies we tried (we tried several!). Not their fault, it just wasn’t a good f...
2024-05-021h 11The Building Culture Podcast#14 Devon Zuegel: Building a People-First Town From Scratch with Esmeralda & Rethinking How We LiveDevon Zuegel is planning a bold, people-centered town from scratch. She has a background in software engineering and has worked at some of the big firms in Silicon Valley. She discovered a passion for urbanism and
housing while living in San Francisco when she started looking into why there wasn’t more housing, and she draws a lot of inspiration from her childhood experiences at Chautauqua, a small town in Western New York.
We discuss the need for more beautiful and community-oriented neighborhoods and the challenges of current housing policies and regulations. Devon also explains her vision for Esmeralda, a...
2024-04-181h 33The Building Culture Podcast#13 Philippe Block: The Incredible Future of Sustainable ConstructionI met Philippe Block while studying historic masonry structures in Spain last summer. He presented his work and I was blown away. He is a pioneering structural engineer who, as part of his research group Block
Research Group, is inventing the future of sustainable construction by blending old knowledge and precedent with new technology, materials and innovation. He's BUILDING off of thousands of years of architectural
innovation and deepening our knowledge of how structures really work, with stunning results.
And what makes it so impressive is he isn't just doing this in a research lab somewhere--though that is where...
2024-04-041h 14
Love Mondays AgainEpisode 003 // Building CultureOklahoma City, OK - Austin Tunnell moved to OKC in 2020 determined to achieve proper urbanism one neighborhood and building at a time. After getting hit by a literal bus, Austin began the long journey of never giving up and building his business brick by brick. This conversation goes deep into understanding “durable ideas” and a heart of one of the best people you’ll ever meet.
References:
Building Culture: https://www.buildingculture.com/
Building Culture on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture
Building Culture on Instagram: https://instagram.com/bu...
2024-04-0147 minThe Building Culture Podcast#12 Ruben Hanssen: Dutch City Building; Beauty & Culture; Everyday Experience; Tradition v ModernityToday I interview Ruben Hassan, a Dutch podcaster and founder of the Aesthetic City podcast. Ruben shares his journey from being an engineer to becoming a full-time podcaster and filmmaker. We discuss the state of construction and development in the Netherlands and the importance of creating beautiful and sustainable built environments. We also explore the day-to-day life in the Netherlands, including transportation, education, and the value of beauty in society.
The conversation covers various themes related to the built environment, society, and culture. Some of the key takeaways include the importance of prioritizing people and their well-being in urban...
2024-03-211h 08
TFTC: A Bitcoin Podcast#491: Bitcoin Urbanism with Tuur Demeester, Kelly Lannan & Austin TunnellMarty sits down with the Tuur, Kelly and Austin after the Bitcoin Urbanism panel for an extended chat about fiat real estate, walkable cities, beautiful architecture, and more.
Tuur on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TuurDemeester
Kelly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ktlannan
Austin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell
0:00 - Intro
5:05 - Introducing guests
14:03 - Fiat real estate and centralized planning
22:48 - Environment and psychology
34:33 - Gradually, Then Suddenly
35:12 - Efficiency can be bad for your health
44:15 - Real estate is a shitcoin
55:14...
2024-03-181h 32The Building Culture Podcast#11 Thomas Dougherty: Infill Development; Smaller Scale & Vibrancy; HumanismToday, I have friend and colleague Thomas Dougherty on the podcast. Last year Tom joined the Building Culture team as our lead Urban Designer. He studied architecture and urban design at Notre Dame and focused on inner block development and has become known as the "alley-guy" for his expertise in creating spaces in these areas.
It's a great conversation focused on the centralization of capital in real estate and how that affects decision making, how we prioritize profits over people and most importantly what we can do differently to try and solve these issues. We chat about smaller scale...
2024-03-071h 06The Building Culture Podcast#10 Coby Lefkowitz: Beliefs Inform Building; Personal Agency; Creating a Better World for AllI'm thrilled to have Coby Lefkowitz on the show today. Coby is an urbanist, real estate developer, writer, and consultant based in New York, and I would add, all around optimist. I've been following him on X for several years, and while it was our first conversation it felt like we had known each other much longer. We are saving the technical conversation on building and development for a time down the road, and today we really focused on the culture around building well and the obstacles that come with it. We both share this idea, in a lot...
2024-02-221h 38
YeomanAustin Tunnell: Building Culture, structural masonry, & creating beauty - Episode #2Austin Tunnell joins Geoff for a conversation about his business Building Culture. They talk about getting started as a mason and a homebuilder, small scale real estate development, structural masonry, apprenticeships, living in a place like Carlton Landing, and creating beauty.
Some relevant links:
Austin on X
Build Culture on X, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify
Build Culture's new Townsend project
We discussed this Build Culture interview with Matt Hayes about the architecture profession
Clay Chapman on X and on Instagram
Here's the Samuel Hughes article...
2024-02-151h 02The Building Culture Podcast#9 Sam Day Pt. 2: Retrofitting Suburbia, Importance of Centers, Architecture School & DevelopmentToday I'm dropping the second half of my conversation with Sam Day. In case you missed Part 1, head back to Episode 8 in our Podcast series to check it out. Sam is an architect, urbanist, and infill developer based in Oklahoma City--a rare combination of someone designing buildings (architect), creating spaces with those buildings (urbanist), and actually facilitating them coming out of the ground, including buying land, figuring out financing, leasing up, etc (development).
At the beginning of this episode, we continue our conversation on the importance of centers, the challenge of creating centers in suburbia, and the possibility of improving...
2024-02-0956 minThe Building Culture Podcast#8 Sam Day Pt 1: Tackling Housing, Retrofitting Suburbia, Land Value Tax & Infill DevelopmentIn the first half of today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking
with a friend and colleague, Sam Day. Sam is an architect, urbanist, and infill developer based in Oklahoma City--a rare combination of someone designing buildings (architect), creating spaces with those buildings (urbanist), and actually facilitating them coming out of the ground, including buying land, figuring out financing, leasing up, etc
(development).
Sam is also very philosophical, and it's easy for us to talk for hours
and debate ideas. He is both an ideas guy and an executor, which is
another rare combo that leads to unique...
2024-02-0155 minThe Building Culture Podcast#7 R. John Anderson - An Insightful Journey From Tradesman to DeveloperToday I sit down with the infamous and inspiring R. John Anderson, also known as 'R John the Bad'. We dive into John's unique story, from his early days quitting high school to pursue his passion in the trades, to his transformative experiences as a developer and influential figure in urban planning.
I met John in 2016 at an Incremental Development Alliance workshop he was putting on in San Antonio--teaching normal folks how to be small-scale developers.
I love his message about "form follows finance", and that, while it is...
2024-01-261h 29The Building Culture Podcast#6 Matthew Myers - A Deep Dive on Community, Culture & Real Estate DevelopmentToday I get to chat with my business partner and mentor Matthew Myers, a successful entrepreneur, syndicator and real estate developer of unique, infill projects. As a local developer renowned for his work on infill pocket neighborhoods, Matthew shares a wealth of knowledge and personal insights.
This episode is a blend of technical expertise, cultural commentary, and personal anecdotes, providing a unique perspective on urban development and its impact on community life.
Key Highlights:
Matthew Myers' Journey: From leadership training with Giant to real estate development,
Discover Matthew's transition and his venture into...
2024-01-081h 17The Building Culture Podcast#5 Austin Tunnell - Accepting Suffering, Finding Meaning, the Future of Building CultureIn this conversation, Austin Tunnell shares a personal story of surviving a bus accident and the life changes and challenges he has faced since then. He discusses the importance of identity and acceptance in adapting to new circumstances.
Austin also talks about the evolution of Building Culture's identity. He emphasizes the mission of cultivating a better human habitat and the need for advocacy and cultural change in the industry.
Finally, he reflects on the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life and the journey towards happiness.
Takeaways:Life can change dramatically in...
2023-12-3130 minThe Building Culture Podcast#4 Trevor Acorn - The Future of Construction w/ Structural Mastery from a Structural EngineerIn this conversation, Trevor Acorn, a structural engineer, discusses his background and experience in the field. He explains his interest in structural masonry and how he became familiar with it through restoration work. The conversation also covers the strength and durability of masonry compared to other construction materials.
Trevor emphasizes the importance of designing buildings that we love and the role of aesthetics in the longevity of structures. He provides an overview of structural engineering and the different approaches to structural analysis. The use of graphic statics in engineering is discussed, including its application in finding the...
2023-12-271h 23
This is OklahomaThis is Austin Tunnell - Building Culture | Built To LastOn this episode I chatted with return guest Austin Tunnell about his business Building Culture. We talk about how his business has grown over the past 3 years, projects in Edmond and OKC as well as the insights into community living and walkable neighborhoods.
Follow Austin - www.instagram.com/buildingculture
www.instagram.com/austintunnell
Huge thank you to our sponsors.
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum telling Oklahoma’s story through its people since 1927. For more information go to www.oklahomahof.com and for daily updates go to htt...
2023-12-1558 minThe Building Culture Podcast#3 Anthony Catania - Designing Vibrant Communities for PEOPLEIn this episode, Austin interviews Anthony Catania, an experienced architect and urban designer who specializes in New Urbanist communities and TNDs. They delve into the essence of building for people, the challenges faced in the process, and the vision required for creating vibrant, walkable communities.
Anthony shares insights gained from his diverse career, spanning Washington, D.C., to his recent move to Oklahoma City. Discussing the nuances of designing at various scales, from individual buildings to entire neighborhoods, he emphasizes the importance of prioritizing human experiences in urban design.
The conversation touches on the impact...
2023-12-061h 13
The Messy City PodcastReforming our culture of building, one brick at a timeSomehow it’s fitting that his name is Clay. Yet, he’s more than just a brick mason. Clay Chapman is part artist, part philosopher, and part builder. His new buildings have captured the attention and imaginations of everyone who’s seen them. I joke with him that at every conference session I’ve seen, he’s the most popular presenter. But it’s no joke; people are enthralled by his newly constructed homes.Clay talks about how he became the country’s most famous bricklayer (ok, that’s my moniker for him), and the ins and outs of building...
2023-10-311h 02The Building Culture Podcast#2 Matt Hayes: What Every Architecture Student Needs to KnowListen in on the one-year anniversary of Matt Hayes joining the Building Culture team. Whether you're considering architecture as your field of study, want to hear what the day to day of working for a Design & Build small business is like, or are just curious to hear more on what makes beautiful places, this one is for you.
Prior to joining Building Culture in 2022, Matt graduated from the Notre Dame School of Architecture and worked in Manhattan at G.P. Schafer Architect on custom residences in areas including Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, and New York City. Following several...
2023-10-151h 00The Building Culture Podcast#1 Ashley Terry: Designing Neighborhoods For How People Want To Live - Wheeler DistrictI was thrilled to have Ashley Terry, VP of Development for Wheeler District on the Building Culture Podcast. Wheeler District is a Traditional Neighborhood Development, or TND, just a mile from downtown Oklahoma City.
Ashley Terry has an amazing story. She started off as a hairdresser and as her career progressed she started to feel the itch for something more. Upon reading one of Jan Gehl's books, it completely changed how she saw cities and architecture, and how it shapes peoples' lives, so she decided to get more involved wherever she could in that arena--even though she...
2023-09-291h 08
Modern Craftsman#270 - Austin Tunnell of Building CultureOur Partners: Andersen Windows Buildertrend The Episode: Austin Tunnell joins Nick and Tyler this week to talk about what him and his team are working on at Building Culture. With their style of building rooted in the new urbanism movement, Austin is working towards sustainable and long lasting houses, utilizing the same building principles as the past few centuries with updated technology. Tune in to dig into craftsmanship and building science and whether we should be building airtight homes. The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast F...
2023-07-171h 47
The Aesthetic City#15 - Austin Tunnell, Building Culture: Structural Brick Masonry & The Value of Authenticity & Craftsmanship, an Alternative to Stick FramingBuilding Culture creates wonderful structural brick masonry, something not common in current construction practice (to put it very mildly). Their work is beautiful, of excellent quality and above all, authentic. This authenticity sparks a passion and lingering desire for beauty in many who see their work. Starting Building Culture has been a life changing experience for its founder Austin Tunnell, who is as passionate as it gets about building. Listen to his inspiring story in this episode!
Find the website here: https://www.buildingculture.com/
Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/
2022-07-141h 08This is OklahomaThis is Austin Tunnell - Building CultureOn this episode I chatted with Austin about the lost art of building masonry. Like many of our guests, Austin has a wonderful journey to find his passion. Originally from Houston he went to university and then onto an accounting firm. After a year in the office he knew he needed something different. Austin embarked on a journey to South America working for the peace corps where he found a master of masonry and wallah a passion was born.
Searching the web Austin found a guru stateside building homes in Carlton Landing near Lake Eufaula and offered t...
2021-09-0240 minThis is OklahomaThis is Austin Tunnell - Building CultureOn this episode I chatted with Austin about the lost art of building masonry. Like many of our guests, Austin has a wonderful journey to find his passion. Originally from Houston he went to university and then onto an accounting firm. After a year in the office he knew he needed something different. Austin embarked on a journey to South America working for the peace corps where he found a master of masonry and wallah a passion was born.
Searching the web Austin found a guru stateside building homes in Carlton Landing near Lake Eufaula and offered t...
2021-09-0241 min
The Regenerative Real Estate PodcastBuilding Culture through intentional design with Austin TunnellAustin Tunnell is an emerging developer that designs and builds stunning, community-oriented, and masonry framed homes. His work extends from pocket neighborhoods to custom homes with his sights on more urban infill guided by a new urbanism philosophy. Austin decided at an early age that being a CPA at a big four accounting firm was not the path for him. He quit his job and began getting immersed into sustainable building/living in Panama before joining the Peace Corps in Uganda. He then teamed up with Clay Chapman to learn how to be a builder in Oklahoma...
2020-07-1748 min