Episodes

If you’re tired of cold calling, chasing leads, or feeling like your credibility is always on trial—this one’s for you. I sat down with author and CRE strategist Ed Winslow to talk about how he built an inbound lead machine using proof, positioning, and online authority. The same approach that got him featured on the front page of the New York Times—twice. 📌 This isn’t theory. It’s a playbook for brokers who want everyone to trust them before they even say a word. 👥 Who this episode is for: ...

This week on Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Brittany Megrath, owner and principal broker at M Square Commercial, to dig into the evolving world of retail real estate and ground-up development. From fast-food drive-thrus to the explosion of Las Vegas, Brittany shares what’s working in retail, why land pricing is more critical than ever, and how developers are adapting to a high-cost, high-uncertainty market. Key Topics Covered: Why retail—especially service-based pad sites—is th...

This week, I sat down with Matt Buchalski—head of sales at OwnWell and founder of Deep Blue Capital—to talk about something that’s crushing a lot of investors right now: property taxes. Let’s be real—pricing peaked in 2022, but the tax assessments haven’t caught up. If you’re not actively appealing, you’re probably getting fleeced. Matt and I go deep on how he and the OwnWell team are using AI, machine learning, and real-time financials to fight back—and win. 💥 In this episode, we cover: Why ...

Want to sell a property and keep more of your profits instead of writing a massive check to the IRS? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Chassidy Goolsby, a 1031 exchange expert who breaks down—plain and simple—how a 1031 exchange works, how investors can defer capital gains taxes, and why most people don’t learn the real rules until they’re already under the gun. Key Topics Discussed What a 1031 exchange is (explained like you’re in 5th g...

On this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with my friend, fellow mom, and one of the sharpest brokers I know—Amy Calandrino. She’s the founder of Beyond Commercial and just released her first book, From Perfect to Real. Amy and I talk about the pressure to always have it together in commercial real estate—and how admitting you're not okay can actually be your greatest turning point. In this episode, we get into: How a podcast, a keynote, and...

This week, I sat down with Rod Santomassimo, founder of the Massimo Group and one of the most influential voices in commercial real estate coaching. Rod has helped some of the biggest names in the business—including Bob Knakal—scale their income and sharpen their focus. I’m proud to say I’ve been working with Rod for over a year now, and his impact on my mindset and business has been game-changing. In this episode, we talk about: How Rod went from serial entrepreneur to launching the most respe...

This week, I sit down with Topher Stephenson, Head of Operations at Aspire Commercial and author of Chat CRE News—the leading newsletter on AI and tech in commercial real estate. In this episode, Topher breaks down how ChatGPT is becoming a secret weapon for brokers, operators, and owners looking to save time and scale smarter. What we cover: How Topher uses ChatGPT to create bios, draft property descriptions, and even write drone video scripts The difference between experimenting with AI and...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Justin Ryder, a commercial real estate advisor, investor, and media creator based in Kentucky. Justin is the co-host of Sales Life, a new podcast redefining what it means to thrive in brokerage—with a focus on authenticity, consistency, and human connection. We talk about: 🚀 How content creation brought him repeat deals and long-term clients 🎯 Why consistency beats intensity in commercial real estate 📈 The ROI of media: From soc...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Brent Bowers, land investor and founder of The Landsharks. After deployments and landlord headaches, Brent found a high-margin niche no one was talking about—flipping raw land for massive profits, building passive income, and ultimately, buying commercial properties with cash flow from dirt. 🏞️ We talk about: 🚀 How Brent turned $285 land deals into multi-million dollar flips 📦 Why seller-financed land is better than rental prope...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Cory Zelnik, CEO and founder of Zelnik & Company. After building his career from walking Manhattan streets for $250 a week to negotiating multimillion-dollar leases, Cory is now one of NYC's leading retail leasing experts. We talk about: 🛍️ Why retail isn’t dead (and how luxury brands are thriving in NYC) 🤝 How to build lifelong client relationships (featuring CVS, Duane Reade, and Panda Express) ⏳ The secret to patience in deal...