Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities

Ben Hoffman & Felipe Azenha

The Built World Podcast is the premier biographical series and educational resource dedicated to the visionaries, risk-takers, and Institutional Operators shaping the landscape of Commercial Real Estate (CRE), Urbanism, and Property Development. Hosted by Felipe Azenha and Ben Hoffman, active Commercial Real Estate Brokers and Co-Founders of Built World Advisors in Miami, this show is more than a market update—it is a deep-dive exploration into the life stories, personal philosophies, and investment strategies of the industry’s most influential leaders. Each episode is a professional masterclass delivered through the lens of a personal history, uncovering the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of the entrepreneur’s journey from their first deal to their most iconic project. Conversations, Cocktails, and High-Level Banter We believe the best insights happen when the guard comes down. Our signature "Conversations & Cocktails" format creates a relaxed, inviting atmosphere where the banter is light, the humor is sharp, and the drinks are flowing. But don't let the cocktails fool you—the dialogue is profoundly intelligent, offering a tactical look at the Capital Stack, Asset Management, and Market Economics. It’s the kind of high-stakes "shop talk" you usually only hear in a private boardroom or a closed-door partner meeting. Virtually Every Asset Class Explored: While Felipe and Ben are specialists in the Miami Industrial and Warehouse sector, The Built World Podcast explores the entire spectrum of the built environment. We provide high-level analysis across virtually every asset class, including: Industrial & Logistics: From Small-Bay Industrial and Last-Mile Distribution to Flex Space and Cold Storage.Multifamily & Residential: High-rise luxury, Workforce Housing, and Build-to-Rent (BTR).Office & Mixed-Use: The evolution of the workplace and the rise of Live-Work-Play environments.Retail & Hospitality: The transformation of the High Street, boutique hotels, and experiential retail.Niche Assets: Self-storage, medical office buildings (MOB), and life sciences. What We Explore: If you are looking for an insider’s read on the South Florida Real Estate Market and national CRE Trends, we dive deep into: The Miami Market: Navigating the Miami Skyline, Wynwood, Brickell, Miami Beach and beyond. Capital Markets & Debt: Real-time perspectives on Cap Rates, interest rate impacts, GP/LP structures, and why veteran operators are moving off the sidelines.The Operator’s Playbook: A look at the "Operator" side of the business—scaling income, professionalizing property management, and building high-performance brokerage teams.PropTech & Innovation: How AI in Real Estate, advanced prospecting tools, and new construction technologies are redefining Placemaking. Our Guest List: We feature a "Who’s Who" of the built world, including: Real Estate Developers, Principals, Institutional Asset Managers, Capital Markets Brokers, Architects, Attorneys, and Urban Planners.  Who This Is For: Whether you are a seasoned Commercial Broker, an Active Investor looking for a Value-Add play, a student, or an entrepreneur obsessed with the future of our cities, this show offers a front-row seat to the minds redefining the built world.

  1. 23H AGO

    David Adler - CEO, Adler Development

    David Adler, CEO of Adler Group, joined us for a deep dive into one of Miami’s most storied development legacies. With roots stretching back to post-WWII Miami Beach, David provides a unique perspective on how to navigate multi-generational business and evolving asset classes. Key takeaways from our conversation: The Evolution of Industrial: How David’s father, Mike Adler, pioneered the "Miami International Commerce Center" and went non-union to make the economics of industrial work in the 70s.  Public-Private Partnerships (P3): Why David believes ground leases with the County and City are the ultimate "recession-proof" strategy in a high-interest-rate environment.  The 2008 Playbook: How the Adler Group stayed active during the Great Recession by managing non-performing notes and working with lenders to finish underwater projects.  Transit-Oriented Development: A look at their massive investments along the Miami Metrorail and why density around transit is the future of the city. The "Closet King" Legacy: Lessons learned from three generations of building—from 12-story rentals to 400,000 sq. ft. City of Miami headquarters.  Connect with us Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene? It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at info@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410. Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation. Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn Felipe Azenha: LinkedIn  We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.

    1h 28m
  2. MAR 10

    Live at the University of Miami with Daniel Kodsi - CEO, Royal Palm Companies.

    We took The Built World Podcast on the road for a special live episode! Teaming up with the University of Miami’s Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism (MRED+U) program, we sat down on campus with Daniel Kodsi. And don't let the academic setting fool you—even though we were hosting a live university event, we still made sure to throw back a few cocktails with Dan while unpacking his incredible career. Dan walks us through his massive trajectory in South Florida real estate. We cover his early days grinding it out in property management and single-family homes, to eventually developing the iconic Paramount Miami Worldcenter (58 stories and 567 condos). By the time he was just 26 years old, Dan had already built 400 homes and 700 apartments. Tune in for a masterclass in scale, vision, and execution. Connect with us Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene? It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at info@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410. Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation. Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn Felipe Azenha: LinkedIn  We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.

    1h 53m
  3. MAR 3

    Anthony Scavo - President & Managing Partner, Basis Industrial

    We sat down with Anthony Scavo over cocktails to break down his career trajectory and the strategy behind Basis Industrial's recent $84.75 million acquisition of a 42-building industrial portfolio in Hialeah. Anthony brings decades of institutional weight to the table. After growing up in Brooklyn and attending NYU, he spent 26 years alongside his father overseeing construction for the LeFrak Organization. Since joining Basis Industrial in 2021, he has helped pivot the firm toward a highly lucrative niche: small bay warehouses. In this episode, we cover: The transition from the LeFrak Organization to Basis Industrial.The specific economic tailwinds driving the small bay warehouse market.The thesis behind their massive $84.75 million Hialeah portfolio acquisition.How Basis scaled to over 77 properties and 12 million square feet of industrial space.Basis is actively looking for new opportunities, making this required listening for anyone operating in the South Florida industrial market. Connect with us Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene? It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at info@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410. Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation. Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn Felipe Azenha: LinkedIn  We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.

    1h 53m
  4. FEB 24

    Ricardo Dunin - Founder & CEO of Oak Capital

    Over some Flor De Cana & Tequila we sit down with Ricardo Dunin, Founder & CEO of Oak Capital. Ricardo is behind some of Miami’s most iconic developments, including The Mutiny Hotel, Sonesta Coconut Grove, Meridian Lofts,  The Ritz-Carlton Residences Miami Beach, and currently the Domus projects in Brickell, and Edgewater.  Born in Minnesota, raised in Brazil, and trained across global markets, Ricardo’s journey spans investment banking in Nashville, real estate in New York, and building a dominant commercial brokerage in Rio before ultimately planting roots in South Florida. From pioneering Miami’s first luxury condo-hotel to transforming the former Miami Heart Institute into one of the most refined residential properties in the city, Ricardo has built a career on seeing opportunity where others see obstacles. We talk about the early days of professionalizing real estate in Brazil, taking bold risks, partnering with global brands like Ritz-Carlton, and why great developers are more like orchestra conductors than builders. This is a conversation about vision, design, risk, and what it really takes to create projects that define a city. Connect with us Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene? It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at info@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410. Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation. Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn Felipe Azenha: LinkedIn  We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.

    1h 47m
  5. FEB 16

    Q4 2025 Market Update: Juan Arias, National Director of Industrial Analytics, CoStar Group & Anthony Graziano, CEO, Integra Realty Resources

    This quarter, we poured some whiskey and sat down with two of the sharpest minds in commercial real estate data: Juan Arias, National Director of Industrial Analytics at CoStar Group, and Anthony Graziano, Chairman & CEO of Integra Realty Resources. Every quarter, Juan and Anthony help us cut through the noise and break down what’s actually moving Miami’s industrial market: pricing trends, vacancy shifts, absorption, capital flows, and where deals are getting done (and where they aren’t). The conversation ranged from industrial fundamentals to politics, tariffs, and where real opportunities may be emerging in today’s market. We started with industrial, often an early indicator of broader economic health, then zoomed out to a wider discussion on commercial real estate, touching on macroeconomic forces, demographics, and how investors should be thinking about the current environment. Connect with us Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene? It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at info@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410. Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation. Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn Felipe Azenha: LinkedIn  We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.

    1h 46m
4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

The Built World Podcast is the premier biographical series and educational resource dedicated to the visionaries, risk-takers, and Institutional Operators shaping the landscape of Commercial Real Estate (CRE), Urbanism, and Property Development. Hosted by Felipe Azenha and Ben Hoffman, active Commercial Real Estate Brokers and Co-Founders of Built World Advisors in Miami, this show is more than a market update—it is a deep-dive exploration into the life stories, personal philosophies, and investment strategies of the industry’s most influential leaders. Each episode is a professional masterclass delivered through the lens of a personal history, uncovering the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of the entrepreneur’s journey from their first deal to their most iconic project. Conversations, Cocktails, and High-Level Banter We believe the best insights happen when the guard comes down. Our signature "Conversations & Cocktails" format creates a relaxed, inviting atmosphere where the banter is light, the humor is sharp, and the drinks are flowing. But don't let the cocktails fool you—the dialogue is profoundly intelligent, offering a tactical look at the Capital Stack, Asset Management, and Market Economics. It’s the kind of high-stakes "shop talk" you usually only hear in a private boardroom or a closed-door partner meeting. Virtually Every Asset Class Explored: While Felipe and Ben are specialists in the Miami Industrial and Warehouse sector, The Built World Podcast explores the entire spectrum of the built environment. We provide high-level analysis across virtually every asset class, including: Industrial & Logistics: From Small-Bay Industrial and Last-Mile Distribution to Flex Space and Cold Storage.Multifamily & Residential: High-rise luxury, Workforce Housing, and Build-to-Rent (BTR).Office & Mixed-Use: The evolution of the workplace and the rise of Live-Work-Play environments.Retail & Hospitality: The transformation of the High Street, boutique hotels, and experiential retail.Niche Assets: Self-storage, medical office buildings (MOB), and life sciences. What We Explore: If you are looking for an insider’s read on the South Florida Real Estate Market and national CRE Trends, we dive deep into: The Miami Market: Navigating the Miami Skyline, Wynwood, Brickell, Miami Beach and beyond. Capital Markets & Debt: Real-time perspectives on Cap Rates, interest rate impacts, GP/LP structures, and why veteran operators are moving off the sidelines.The Operator’s Playbook: A look at the "Operator" side of the business—scaling income, professionalizing property management, and building high-performance brokerage teams.PropTech & Innovation: How AI in Real Estate, advanced prospecting tools, and new construction technologies are redefining Placemaking. Our Guest List: We feature a "Who’s Who" of the built world, including: Real Estate Developers, Principals, Institutional Asset Managers, Capital Markets Brokers, Architects, Attorneys, and Urban Planners.  Who This Is For: Whether you are a seasoned Commercial Broker, an Active Investor looking for a Value-Add play, a student, or an entrepreneur obsessed with the future of our cities, this show offers a front-row seat to the minds redefining the built world.

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