Best Creative Retail Mentor Podcasts (2025)

1
JF 3900: Capital Slowdown, Phoenix Deals, and Data-Driven Rent Growth ft. Michael Episcope 48:54

24m ago48:54

48:54

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Michael Episcope, co-founder of Origin Investments, about his journey from trading commodities to building a real estate firm with over 10,000 multifamily units transacted. Michael shares how his grandfather's scrappy approach to West Side Chicago buildings shaped his foundational real es…

1
JF 3899: Building a Resilient Portfolio, Avoiding Luxury Assets, and Navigating Insurance Hikes ft. Christian Busch 48:06

11h ago48:06

48:06

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Christian Busch, a seasoned real estate investor and managing partner at Glass Cube Investments. Christian shares insights from his 12-year journey navigating both active and passive commercial real estate investments, starting with crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise and eventual…

1
JF 3898: Scaling Wealth with Private Businesses, Real Estate Alternatives, and Smart Underwriting ft. Suja Shyam 37:59

1d ago37:59

37:59

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Suja Shyam, Managing Partner of Lux Capital Investment Group. Suja shares how her firm has expanded beyond multifamily real estate into alternative assets, including private equity and small business acquisitions. She explains the appeal of cash-flowing businesses amid…

1
JF 3897: Building a Family Business, Mastering Empathy, and Scaling with Multifamily ft. Michael Kramer 48:16

2d ago48:16

48:16

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Michael Kramer, founder of Freed by Real Estate. Michael shares his deeply personal journey from losing his father and building businesses to ultimately discovering a more balanced, family-centered life through real estate. He discusses how a life-altering accident and a failed first marriag…

1
259. Behind the Counter: Building a Unique Retail Shop with Heart with Amy and Chris Hart 44:06

3d ago44:06

44:06

With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ In This Episode: Can couples successfully run a retail shop together? Absolutely! From a flash of inspiration on a trip to London to creating a beloved community hub in Thomasville, Georgia; Amy and Chris Hart join me on the Creative Shop Talk Podcast to share how passion, t…

1
JF 3896: AI in Capital Raising ft. Dr. Adam Gower, Tim Mai, and Irwin Boris 1:01:23

4d ago1:01:23

1:01:23

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Dr. Adam Gower, Tim Mai, and Irwin Boris to explore how AI is transforming capital raising in commercial real estate. The panel shares their most effective AI tools and how they use them for investor outreach, appointment setting, and content creation. Tim explains how he automates …

1
JF 3895: Interest Rates, Apartment Demand, and Operational Excellence 33:18

5d ago33:18

33:18

On this episode of The Horizon, John discusses key insights from a high-level meeting with ten of the nation's top commercial real estate investors. Topics included the rising threat of stagflation driven by tariffs and shifting trade policies, and the broader implications for inflation, interest rates, and apartment demand. Despite macroeconomic u…

1
JF 3894: Building for Gen Z, Investing in Universities, and Housing Resilience ft. Gary Holloway Jr. 27:52

6d ago27:52

27:52

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Slocomb Reed interviews Gary Holloway Jr., CEO of GMH Communities, to discuss how his second-generation company evolved from local syndications to large-scale institutional student housing developments. Gary shares insights on identifying top-tier markets for student housing, the economics behind $100K+ per bed pro…

1
JF 3893: Market Trends, Fed Policy, and Cash Flow Plays ft. Neal Bawa 24:24

7d ago24:24

24:24

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Neal Bawa, known as the “mad scientist of multifamily,” live from Best Ever Conference. They dive into Neal’s preparation for the BEC real estate debate on whether the Fed has stuck a soft landing, highlighting key data points like wage growth outpacing rent growth and the Fed’s dual tool…

1
JF 3892: Market Cycles, Predictable Cash Flow, and Building a Durable LP Portfolio ft. Jeremy Roll 1:02:41

8d ago1:02:41

1:02:41

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Jeremy Roll, a full-time passive investor since 2002 with active investments in over 60 deals. They discuss how to strategically read market cycles, why Jeremy prioritizes predictability and cash flow over chasing high returns, and how his portfolio has evolved to favor asset class…

1
JF 3891: Resort Market Investing, Starting a Boutique Brokerage, and Retail Opportunities ft. Jaimee Keene 37:55

9d ago37:55

37:55

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Jaimee Keene, founder of Peaks Commercial Real Estate. Jaimee shares her journey from commercial real estate appraiser to top-performing broker and now investor, focusing on Colorado’s resort markets. She discusses building a specialized commercial brokerage, navigatin…

1
JF 3890: Multifamily Development, Steel Construction, and DFW Market Trends ft. Phillips Wagner 28:22

10d ago28:22

28:22

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Phillips Wagner of Mill Street Partners. They dive into how Phillips is making ground-up multifamily and industrial development deals work in today’s challenging market, including creative land entitlement, vertical integration to control construction costs, and the use of steel framing to s…

1
258. Five Smart & Ethical Ways to Build Your Email List and Connect with Customers 24:31

10d ago24:31

24:31

With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ In This Episode: What’s something you are doing now in your retail business that you wish you would have started doing sooner? When I ask clients this question, the answer is often “I wish I would have started an email list sooner.” The reason is because they’ve learned over…

1
JF 3889: AI In Acquisitions ft. Paul Hopkins, Perry Zheng, Lance Pederson and Bo Barron 46:29

11d ago46:29

46:29

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews AI-savvy investors Paul Hopkins, Perry Zheng, Lance Pederson, and Bo Barron to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping commercial real estate acquisitions. The panel shares practical tools—like Google’s Notebook LM, ChatGPT, AI21, and Claude—and strategies for deal analysis…

1
JF 3888: Midwest Rent Growth, Economic Uncertainty, and CRE Opportunities 33:05

12d ago33:05

33:05

On this episode of The Horizon, John discusses his takeaways from the conference he just attended, emphasizing the resilience of commercial real estate amidst economic uncertainty. He highlights positive investor sentiment, particularly around multifamily, medical office, and necessity-based retail assets, while noting caution about tariffs, stagfl…

1
JF 3887: Alaska Losses, West Virginia Wins, and Syndication Strategy ft. Stephen Predmore 27:32

13d ago27:32

27:32

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Slocomb Reed interviews Stephen Predmore, an engineer-turned-investor and owner of Talbot Investments. Stephen shares his journey from small single-family rentals in Baltimore to JV, LP, and co-GP multifamily positions across the U.S. He highlights key lessons from a challenging 33-unit JV in Alaska and contrasts i…

1
JF 3886: Real Estate Matchmaking, Fund Building, and Office Flips ft. Lon Welsh 1:03:37

14d ago1:03:37

1:03:37

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Lon Welsh, founder of Ironton Capital and seasoned real estate investor managing over $80 million in other people’s money. Lon shares how his journey began with house hacking and fix-and-flips before scaling into brokerage, syndication, and ultimately launching multiple real estate funds.…

1
JF 3885: Main Street Capitalism, Industrial CRE, and the End of Fake Equity ft. Russell Gray 1:15:43

15d ago1:15:43

1:15:43

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Russell Gray, the long-time co-host of the Real Estate Guys Radio Show and a seasoned LP investor. Russell dives deep into the critical role macroeconomics plays in investment success, sharing his personal crash-and-burn story from the 2008 mortgage crisis and the economic warning …

1
JF 3884: Triple Net Wins, Dollar Stores, and Lease Nuance ft. Tom Rauen 47:07

16d ago47:07

47:07

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Tom Rauen, the self-branded "Fast Food Landlord" and owner of Rauen Capital. Tom shares his strategy behind acquiring Triple Net lease assets—primarily dollar stores and fast food locations—in underserved Iowa markets. He dives into the nuances of lease structures, inv…

1
JF 3883: Public-Private Wins, Capital Strategy Shifts, and Mobile Home Profits ft. Jesse Sells 29:57

17d ago29:57

29:57

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Jesse Sells, co-founder and COO of Impact Growth Capital. Jesse shares how he transitioned from the Air Force into real estate by diving headfirst into mobile home park syndications, using his background in flipping and rentals to raise capital from personal connections. He discusses the cha…

1
257. Spring Cleaning for Your Retail Business: Refresh Your Mind, Shop, and Sales 20:39

17d ago20:39

20:39

With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ LAST CALL! Are you ready to simplify your marketing strategy and boost your retail sales? Join me and a small group of driven retail business owners for my 6-week, hands-on program: The Sales and Marketing Accelerator! Each week, you’ll receive a short video with an actionab…

1
JF 3882: Doubling NOI, Public-Private Partnerships, and Midwest Value-Add ft. John Casmon & Kent Ritter 56:43

18d ago56:43

56:43

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews John Casmon of Casmon Capital and Kent Ritter of Hudson Investing to explore the current state of multifamily investing and development. John shares insights on exiting value-add multifamily assets in the Midwest, strategic refinancing, and how he doubled NOI on a key property by id…

1
JF 3881: Tariffs, Tech, and Retail Resilience ft. Greg Katz 37:21

19d ago37:21

37:21

On this episode of The Horizon, John Chang interviews Gregg Katz to unpack the ripple effects of tariffs, the paralysis caused by economic uncertainty, and shifts in consumer behavior. The two dive into how fluctuating tariffs on Chinese goods are impacting retailers differently—especially discount chains like Five Below and Dollar General—and expl…

1
JF 3880: In-House Management, Columbus Expansion, and Tech-Driven Operations ft. Josh Goodwin 19:27

20d ago19:27

19:27

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Slocomb Reed interviews Josh Goodwin, co-founder of SimCap Holdings, a Cincinnati-based multifamily syndication firm with 212 units across nine properties. Josh shares how SimCap transitioned from third-party management to full vertical integration, detailing the impact on investor returns, internal operations, and…

1
JF 3879: Flipping Couches, Real Estate Innovation, and Building a Sellable Business ft. Ryan Pineda 46:16

21d ago46:16

46:16

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Ryan Pineda, a former pro baseball player turned powerhouse real estate entrepreneur. Ryan shares how he scaled from flipping couches to flipping houses, eventually launching multiple seven-figure businesses. He emphasizes the importance of mastering one thing at a time, reflects on past …

1
JF 3878: Mobile Home Parks, LP Strategies, and Long-Term Wealth Building ft. Mike Arndorfer 25:29

22d ago25:29

25:29

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Mike Arndorfer, a full-time passive investor with decades of LP experience and over 19 deals under his belt. Mike shares his approach to investing in asset classes like mobile home parks (his “stay-rich” money), debt funds, and his curiosity about marinas. He emphasizes the importa…

1
JF 3877: New Jersey CRE Wins, Cash Flow Tradeoffs, and Building a Capital Team ft. Aaron Fragnito 31:38

23d ago31:38

31:38

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Aaron Fragnito, co-founder of People’s Capital Group, about his multifamily and mixed-use investing strategy in New Jersey. Aaron shares how he's thriving in a competitive market through off-market deals, aggressive repositioning, and capitalizing on low cap rates. He …

1
JF 3876: Investor Vetting, Tax Abatements, and Crowdfunded Development ft. Mustafa Ladha 37:32

24d ago37:32

37:32

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Mustafa Ladha, Senior VP of Investor Relations at Veloce Capital. Mustafa shares how he transitioned from the pharmaceutical industry to real estate by leveraging WhatsApp to raise over $40 million through authentic, education-based investor relationships. He discusses the firm’s strategic f…

1
256. Retailers in the Wild: Elevate Your Retail Shop Using These Observations From My Time in New Zealand 29:25

24d ago29:25

29:25

With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Are you ready to simplify your marketing strategy and boost your retail sales? Join me and a small group of driven retail business owners for my 6-week, hands-on program: The Sales and Marketing Accelerator! Each week, you’ll receive a short video with an actionable tip foll…

1
JF 3875: Foreclosure Opportunities, Scaling with Culture, and Chicago CRE Lessons ft. Joe Root 33:38

25d ago33:38

33:38

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Joe Root, co-founder of East Superior Real Estate Partners. Joe shares insights into how his family’s 40-year legacy in Chicago real estate evolved into a vertically integrated firm managing and owning hundreds of multifamily units. He dives into the strategic advantage of analyzing…

1
JF 3874: Consumer Confidence Collapse, Tariff Fallout, and Real Estate Resilience 31:52

26d ago31:52

31:52

On this episode of The Horizon, John discusses the volatile intersection of trade policy, economic sentiment, and commercial real estate performance. He unpacks the steep drop in consumer sentiment, largely driven by aggressive tariff measures and global trade uncertainty—highlighting their ripple effects on tech, construction, and imports. John ex…

1
JF 3873: UC Berkeley Focus, Student Housing Strategy, Value-Add Execution ft. Nhan Nguyen Le 29:15

27d ago29:15

29:15

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Slocomb Reed interviews Nhan Nguyen Le, CEO of Valiant Capital. Nhan shares his journey from growing up in federally assisted housing to leading a $300M student housing portfolio focused exclusively on UC Berkeley. He explains why his firm targets high-demand, location-driven assets and executes a vertically integr…

1
JF 3872: House Hacking, Syndication Strategies, and Maximizing Real Estate Equity ft. Chris Lopez 25:32

28d ago25:32

25:32

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Chris Lopez, a real estate entrepreneur who transitioned from a tech-savvy internet marketer to a successful real estate broker and investor. Chris shares how he built a modern real estate brokerage by leveraging digital marketing and BiggerPockets forums to attract clients in Denver. He …

1
JF 3871: Vetting GPs, Stabilized Yield, and Hidden Risks Every LP Should Know ft. The Real Estate God 1:07:09

29d ago1:07:09

1:07:09

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews The Real Estate God, a private equity investor with $30–40 million in assets under management. Known for his sharp insights and anonymous presence online, Michael shares how LPs can think like GPs by breaking down deal evaluation, spotting hidden risks, and understanding the import…

1
JF 3870: Strategic Development, Market Shifts, and Build-to-Hold Philosophy ft. Victor Menasce 25:58

30d ago25:58

25:58

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Victor Menasce, senior partner at Y Street Capital. Victor shares his transition from electrical engineering to full-time real estate development, focusing on why he pivoted from value-add deals to ground-up development across multifamily, industrial, and land projects…

1
JF 3869: Wholesaling to $20M Deals, RV Park Rollups, and Scaling Smarter ft. Ben Simon 40:48

1M ago40:48

40:48

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Ben Simon, CEO of Archer Acquisitions. Ben shares his unique path from wholesaling in Boston to scaling a 500+ unit multifamily and 12 RV park portfolio. He breaks down his transition from small deals to $20M+ projects, the strategic value of partnerships, and how RV parks became a major foc…

1
255. Resilience, Real Talk & Redefining Success in Your Retail Business (and Life) 24:13

1M ago24:13

24:13

With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Are you ready to simplify your marketing strategy and boost your retail sales? Join me and a small group of driven retail business owners for my 6-week, hands-on program: The Sales and Marketing Accelerator! Each week, you’ll receive a short video with an actionable tip foll…

1
JF 3868: Class A Success, Off-Market Deals, and Multifamily Resilience ft. Judd Standage 37:24

1M ago37:24

37:24

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Judd Standage, founder of Aztex Management Group, who shares his journey from an IT career to owning and managing a 1,000-door multifamily portfolio. Judd discusses lessons from his first heavy value-add deal, why he shifted toward stabilized Class A and B+ properties in tertiary ma…

1
JF 3867: Stock Market Tumbles, Treasury Yields Drop, Real Estate Stands Firm 31:57

1M ago31:57

31:57

On this episode of The Horizon, John discusses the sweeping impact of the new U.S. tariff hikes—dubbed "Liberation Day"—and their cascading effects on inflation, unemployment, and commercial real estate. He breaks down the economic fallout from increased tariffs on China, Vietnam, and other major trade partners, highlighting the resulting stock mar…

1
JF 3866: Tariffs, Treasury Trends, and Multifamily Recovery 23:58

1M ago23:58

23:58

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless flies solo and dives into the latest Best Ever newsletter with updates and insights on the commercial real estate market. Joe breaks down the impact of new tariffs, treasury rate movements, and the state of multifamily trends across markets like DFW, Florida, and the Sunbelt. He highlights aff…

1
JF 3865: Garage Condos, Flex Space, and Building a Category of One ft. Ben Lapidus 52:39

1M ago52:39

52:39

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Ben Lapidus, a seasoned real estate investor and innovator behind a unique new concept called Playground. They dive into Ben’s journey from self-storage investments to pioneering the emerging asset class of garage condos—flexible, purpose-built spaces that can serve as luxury storage, per…

1
JF 3864: LP Red Flags, Market Trends, and Multifamily Wins ft. Andrew Cushman 1:03:43

1M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Andrew Cushman, founder of Vantage Point Acquisitions. Andrew shares his journey from chemical engineer to successful multifamily investor, highlighting how he transitioned from flipping homes to acquiring nearly 3,000 multifamily units across the Southeast. He breaks down his firm…

1
JF 3863: IOS Storage, SBA Financing, and the Power of Partnerships ft. Christopher Long 33:15

1M ago33:15

33:15

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Christopher Long, CEO of Long Yards. Christopher shares how he scaled Long Yards from a contractor’s solution to a $12 million industrial outdoor storage (IOS) business serving contractors and service-based businesses. He explains the evolution from a franchise model t…

1
JF3862: Vetting Sponsors, Multifamily in Tennessee, and Value-Add Plays ft. Brent Barcus 30:40

1M ago30:40

30:40

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Brent Barcus, Managing Partner at I-65 Capital. Brent shares how he transitioned from the entertainment industry into real estate, focusing on capital raising and strategic partnerships with experienced operators. He breaks down his process for vetting sponsors, discusses lessons learned fro…

1
254. The Magic of Joining Forces to Foster Community and Build a Retail Destination Town with Millie and Adam Blackwell 28:41

1M ago28:41

28:41

With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Are you ready to simplify your marketing strategy and boost your retail sales? Join me and a small group of driven retail business owners for my 6-week, hands-on program: The Sales and Marketing Accelerator! Each week, you’ll receive a short video with an actionable tip foll…

1
JF3861: Passive Investing, AI Due Diligence, and Risk Mitigation ft. Sam Giordano 32:07

1M ago32:07

32:07

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Sam Giordano, a practicing gastroenterologist, real estate investor, and co-founder of PassiveAdvantage.com. Sam shares his journey into real estate syndications as a limited partner (LP), highlighting how his meticulous vetting process led him to create an AI-driven platform to hel…

1
JF3860: Economic Uncertainty, Inflation Risks, and the Real Estate Outlook ft. John Silvia 34:03

1M ago34:03

34:03

On this episode of The Horizon, John Chang interviews economist John Silvia to discuss economic uncertainty, inflation risks, and their implications for real estate investors. Silvia highlights concerning trends, including slowing consumer spending, falling consumer sentiment, and the potential for a negative GDP print in the first quarter. He also…

1
JF 3859: Protecting LPs, Building Trust, and Growing Through Mentorship ft. Christion Sadler 37:50

1M ago37:50

37:50

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Christion Sadler, CEO of PreIShare, a platform revolutionizing liquidity for LP investors in real estate syndications. Christion explains how PreIShare allows passive investors to list and sell their positions through a secondary market, providing a critical option for accessing capital mid-…

1
JF 3858: Creative Partnerships, Risk Mitigation, and the Power of Community ft. Liz Faircloth 48:10

1M ago48:10

48:10

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Liz Faircloth, his wife, business partner, and co-founder of both the DeRosa Group and The Real Estate InvestHer. Together, they dive into the diverging investor mindsets in today’s market—some bullish and scaling, others cautious and holding back—and the importance of conservative underw…

1
JF 3857: Structuring Smart Syndications, Vetting Operators, and Going Active ft. Bethany LeFlam 1:04:56

1M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Bethany LeFlam, a seasoned SEC attorney who has structured thousands of real estate syndications. They dive deep into LP protections, red flags in PPMs, and what Bethany looks for before investing passively herself. She shares how she transitioned from legal advisor to active hotel…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Creative Retail Mentor Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen