Shows
CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 4–CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven: Niche Assets, Recession Fears, LL97 & Real Estate Tech SurvivorThe gang explores how niche assets like data centers, healthcare housing, and music buildings are creating new opportunities for investors seeking resilient, high-yield returns. They break down the capital market forces driving these sectors, examine signals of a possible recession, and debate New York City’s ambitious Local Law 97 and its impact on building owners. The episode wraps with a fun round of Real Estate Tech Survivor, where our hosts weigh in on which technologies are built to last.Show Notes: 0:10: Intro0:43: The Rise of Investments in Ni...2025-06-2657 minCRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 12 - The New Age of CRE Tech: AI, Startups, and Smarter Investment Strategies with Alon GorbonosWhat does the next chapter of real estate tech really look like? We sit down with Alon Gorbonos, founder of RE Angels and veteran of the global investing scene, for a candid convo on the evolution of venture capital, the AI-fueled startup wave, and what it actually takes to scale innovation in a tighter, tougher CRE market. From PropTech to ConTech to FinTech (and a few dad jokes in between), we unpack where tech meets traction—and why the smartest bets are getting smaller, scrappier, and more sustainable.Sh...2025-06-201h 00CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 3- CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven: The CRE Draft, Tariffs, and the DIY Tech SurgeIn this CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven crossover, Ryan, Nadine, and Brad unpack the ripple effects of newly imposed tariffs and the fresh wave of uncertainty hitting the market. They dig into the hype (and reality) of reshoring manufacturing—and whether bringing production back home could actually reshape industrial demand and CRE investment strategy.As hybrid work continues to win out over return-to-office mandates, the crew explores how this shift is rewriting the rules on office usage, workplace design, and company culture. Then it’s onto the rise of bootstrapped tech: with AI, no-code tools, and dirt-cheap infr...2025-05-3058 minCRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 11 - From Grid Limits to Green Wins: Building Better with Josh HullumThe construction industry is evolving fast—and at the center of it all is the race to build smarter, faster, and more responsibly.In this episode of CRE Unplugged, hosts Nadine Ezzie and Ryan Elazari sit down with Josh Hullum, Executive Director of Construction at Affinius Capital to unpack how teams are navigating grid constraints, shrinking carbon footprints, and making smarter bets on materials and markets.Josh shares how his team cut embodied carbon by 40% on a California industrial park, why mass timber and wellness are more than trends, an...2025-05-1459 minCRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp.2 - CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven Collab: RTO or GTFO? Congestion, Zoning & Mayors in the Hot SeatIn this episode of the CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven collab series, Nadine, Ryan, and Brad dive into four hot-button issues shaking up U.S. cities—and the real estate world. We continue to unpack NYC’s embattled congestion pricing plan (with a surprise Trump twist), break down Cambridge’s landmark rezoning and its impact on housing affordability, and ask the big question: why are mayors of America’s top cities floundering? Plus, we cut through the noise on the return-to-office wave and what it really means for commercial real estate.Whether...2025-04-1448 minCRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 10 - Communities at the Core: Multifamily Tech, Strategy, and Staying Ahead-with Susan GerockNadine and Ryan sit down with Susan Gerock, CIO of Elme Communities and one of the most respected voices in multifamily tech, to cut through the noise and get real about what’s actually moving the needle in real estate technology. From the one tech investment smaller firms can’t afford to skip to how applying a hospitality mindset to multifamily is reshaping the industry, Susan brings sharp insights and hard-earned lessons on aligning innovation with strategy. She also tackles cybersecurity risks, marketing tech madness, and the biggest mistakes in tech adoption (so you don’t have to learn the ha...2025-03-271h 20CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp.1 - CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven Collab: Congestion Pricing, New Cities & PropTech vs Prog MetalIn the first episode of this special collaboration series, Nadine and Ryan are joined by none other than Brad Hargreaves, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thesis Driven and a sharp voice on all things real estate and urbanism. Together, we dive into the biggest trends shaping commercial real estate—from NYC’s congestion pricing and its ripple effects to the rise of exurbs and new cities designed for the next generation.We also preview upcoming real estate events that are worth watching in 2024. And to top it off, Brad puts Nadine and Ryan...2025-02-1857 minCRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp.9 - Behind the Industrial Data Curtain: Leading with Analytics - with Matthew RandWhat does it take to lead a cutting-edge research and analytics team in one of the biggest names in industrial real estate? Everything—and then some. On this episode, Nadine and Ryan welcome Matt Rand, Managing Director of Research and Analytics at Link Logistics, for a no-holds-barred conversation about leadership, legacy, and data. Matt spills the secrets on mastering the "build vs. buy" tech dilemma, and tackling change management head-on. He breaks down the communication barriers between real estate pros and data scientists and shares his strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome in an ever-evolving industry.
...2025-01-161h 04CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp.8 - Tis’ The Season for Joy: Curating the Workspace Experience - with Anna Squires LevineWhat do biophysics, customer experience, and co-working have in common? Anna Squires Levine, Chief Customer Officer at Industrious, connects the dots in this insightful episode of CRE Unplugged! Join Nadine and Ryan as they explore the evolution of co-working spaces, the traits that truly define great leadership, and how to measure the "desirability" of a space.
Anna dives into the groundbreaking Industrious/Delta partnership, her vision for the future of the office, and how technology is shaping customer-centric real estate. Anna’s candid advice and key career lessons are not to be missed. Plus, hear about Anna’s pe...2024-12-191h 07CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 7 - The Winning Ballot: Predicting Multifamily Trends with Data-Driven Tech - with Michael BroderWhat happens when a political strategist trades campaigns for coding? You get Michael Broder, CEO of RCKRBX™, and his mission to revolutionize multifamily real estate with tenant-driven data. In this episode of CRE Unplugged, Ryan and Nadine uncover how RCKRBX is turning tenant preferences into the ultimate cheat sheet for owners and operators. Think predictive analytics, actionable insights, and a crystal ball for asset performance—minus the mysticism.
Michael spills the tea on his journey from the halls of GWU (cue the nostalgia) to launching a groundbreaking SaaS platform during a global pandemic. Along the way, he dish...2024-12-031h 22CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 6 - Multifamily Unplugged: Tech, Trends, and Building Community - with Brent WilliamsIn this episode of CRE Unplugged, we sit down with Brent Williams, Chief Insider at Multifamily Insiders, fresh from his panels at Blueprint Vegas. Brent dives into his career journey, the inspiration behind Multifamily Insiders, and what’s on the horizon for the platform. We tackle tech adoption, including barriers, opportunities, and how data can personalize the resident experience. Brent also shares his vision for tech innovation over the next five years and tips for future-proofing operations. His passion for residential goes well beyond the apartment sector. Brent tells us how he loves to unplug by touring our country’s gr...2024-10-101h 02CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 5 - Revolutionizing Places: Energy Solutions, AI, and Building Technologies - with Mead RusertOn this episode of CRE Unplugged, we sit down with Mead Rusert, VP and GM of Building Technologies at Carrier. With over 30 years of experience under his (tool)belt, Mead’s the man behind the controls at Carrier’s Automated Logic, where he’s basically the maestro of everything that isn’t HVAC.Why should you listen? Because smarter buildings equal smarter people—or at least more productive ones. From hiking treks in New Mexico with a bunch of teenage boys (seriously, the guy’s brave) to leading cutting-edge innovations at Carrier, Mead walks us through h...2024-09-1250 minCRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 4 - Speaking Volumes: From Market Trends to Masterful Communication - with Spencer LevyIn this episode, we sit down with none other than Spencer Levy, Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor for CBRE, the largest commercial real estate services firm in the world. In this role, he focuses on client engagement and public-facing activities, including thought leadership work performed in conjunction with CBRE Research. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable’s Research Committee. Spencer has 27 years of experience in commercial real estate, including the past 15 at CBRE. In this time, he has served as a lawyer, investment banker, capital markets and senior re...2024-08-141h 03CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 3 - Trailblazing the Future: Steering Workplace Innovation - with Lisa PicardIn this much anticipated episode, we sit down with industry visionary Lisa Picard, a commercial real estate pioneer with a resume longer than a CVS receipt. With two MIT degrees, Lisa curated an incomparable career path from EVP at Skanska to CEO of EQ Office, to now emerging out of stealth mode with her next venture (which she reveals exclusively with us!). Lisa shares how cycling is her metaphor for life, inspiring her to stay the course one step at a time. Lisa is widely known and revered for her incredible ability to design office spaces that inspire the...2024-07-091h 32CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 2 - From Standup Comedy to VC: Embracing Life One Opportunity at a Time - with Bob GillespieIn this episode, we had an absolute blast chatting with Bob Gillespie, Managing Partner of REACH Commercial, the commercial fund of Second Century Ventures, and let us tell you, it's a ride you don't want to miss! Even though he’s no longer a stand-up comedian, Bob is a testament to the power of humor and public speaking when pitching new ideas and solutions. Think of it as stand-up comedy with a dash of TED Talk brilliance! For those of you in career limbo, fret not. Our guest shares golden advice on how to tackle what he calls the pa...2024-06-101h 02
CRE Unplugged: Innovating from the Streets to the SkylineEp. 1 - Can AI and Real Estate Foster a Human Renaissance? - with Mollie EislerOn this inaugural episode of "CRE Unplugged," we sit down with Mollie Eisler, VP of Innovation and Technology for Almanac Realty Investors and explore the intersection between real estate, AI, and humans. Mollie takes us on her career journey starting in hospitality, highlighting the essential skill of relationship building (critical in real estate!) We then discusses whether people should fear for AI coming for their jobs (Mollie says no but with a twist). AI is great for automating repetitive tasks and processing large amounts of data, but innovation, creativity, and collaboration? Not so much; that's where us humans still...2024-05-1230 min
Tenant Experience Network (TEN)Nadine Ezzie & Ryan Elazari | Co-hosts of CRE Unplugged | Innovating from the streets to the skylineIn this episode, host David Abrams is in conversation with the co-hosts of the new CRE Unplugged podcast, Nadine Ezzie, Founder and President of ezzie + co and Ryan Elazari, Senior Director at Empire Management. We learn about Nadine and Ryan’s journey to commercial real estate and how they got started in the business. Nadine is an attorney and made her way to CRE, serving as in-house counsel for an industrial developer. Through LinkedIn, she was then presented with the perfect opportunity to join a proptech startup, heading up its customer success team. Nadine headed to Boston to be em...2024-02-1337 min