The Builder Nation Podcast

Brian Koons
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Investing

The Builder Nation Podcast — hosted by real estate developer and entrepreneur Brian Koons (a.k.a. The Builder Brian) — dives deep into how high-performing entrepreneurs, investors, and creators use leverage to build wealth, health, freedom, and legacy. Each episode breaks down the real playbooks behind millionaire entrepreneurs and developers who do more with the same 24 hours — no silver spoons, no shortcuts. Expect raw conversations about business, systems, fitness, family, mindset, and building a life that actually cash flows — in every sense of the word. New episodes weekly. Built for the ones who want more out of life… and are willing to build it.

  1. Aug 13

    The Digital Nomad Millionaire w/Sumner Healey | TBN 032

    Sumner Healey left San Diego for Bali in 2024 and kept running four real estate businesses from 15 hours ahead. In this episode he breaks down how he built a land flipping operation that could survive the move, why he thinks land is the most overlooked asset class in real estate, and what America gets wrong about community that Bali gets right. We get into the hiring mistakes that cost him years, why every person on his team now has a profit share, and the three-year sprint he believes almost anyone can run to buy back their freedom. He also shares the identity work he did before any of the habits stuck, and why he treats his personal life with the same intensity he brings to his companies. Sumner started the land business in 2019 with $7,000 after finding tax delinquent lists online and mailing handwritten letters. Today his team buys rural land at 30 to 60 cents on the dollar in high demand markets and resells in about three weeks, and he has built a coaching community, a software company, and a call center around it. Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Get in touch: https://form.typeform.com/to/N94A3a27  Follow Sumner Healey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumnerhealey/?hl=en  Youtube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnd6Lb4HYOzQj8LMMlyZsmA  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sumner-healey-ba002b318  Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

  2. Jul 15

    The Capital Raiser & Yacht Captain w/Scott Kidd | TBN 031

    What does a 25-year yacht captain know about building wealth that most real estate investors don’t? Turns out, a lot. In this episode of The Builder Nation Podcast, Brian sits down with Scott Kidd - yacht captain, capital raiser, and podcast host - who’s spent his career in the rooms of billionaires and the ultra-wealthy. From getting laid off in the dot-com bust and landing in Fort Lauderdale with twenty bucks in his pocket, to putting together capital stacks on major development deals, Scott’s path is anything but conventional. We get into the surprising skills that carry over from running a yacht to closing real estate deals, what genuinely wealthy people have in common (it’s not what the internet tells you), and the one thing money can never buy no matter how much of it you have. Scott also drops some hard-won wisdom on partnerships, why the way someone handles a bad deal tells you everything, and the kind of assets that actually build lasting wealth. If you’re building a business, raising capital, or just trying to figure out what “success” is really supposed to feel like, this one’s worth your time.  Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Visit: https://hkdevelopmentgroup.com/#form  Follow Scott Kidd; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yachtierealestateinvestor His Podcast: https://investwithscottkidd.com/yachtie-podcasts YouTube: https://youtube.com/@scottkidd1969 Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

  3. Jun 24

    How To Be Happy | TBN 030

    In the first-ever solo episode of the Builder Nation Podcast, host Brian Koons marks two milestones at once: the start of Season 2 of the show, and his upcoming 30th birthday. To close out season one, he sits down to share the 30 most important lessons he's learned in his first 30 years - the foundational stuff that's shaped his health, his relationships, his finances, and his freedom. This one is personal. No guests, no script, just Brian reflecting on what's actually moved the needle in his life, and trying to hand you the practical, hard-won takeaways instead of the surface-level advice you've heard a hundred times. It's also a turning point for the show. Going forward, Builder Nation isn't only about real estate and growing a business - it's about building a genuinely wealthy life across all five pillars: financial, physical, mental, social, and relational. Because as Brian puts it, getting rich is easy. Getting wealthy is hard. That's the work this podcast is about. Whether you're younger, older, or right around Brian's age, there's something here worth taking with you. Season two is coming soon, with new guests, bigger stories, and more on how to build a better life — not just a bigger bank account. Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Visit: thebuildernation.com/partner  Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

  4. May 21

    The Secret to Selling w/Alex Bradley | TBN 029

    Most wholesalers focus on acquisitions. Alex Bradley built his entire business doing the opposite - and it’s paying off. Alex is San Diego’s go-to Dispo guy. He doesn’t talk to sellers. He doesn’t run cold call campaigns. He just moves deals, and he’s built a reputation doing it so well that wholesalers across the country come to him when they can’t get something off the books. In this episode, Brian sits down with Alex to break down the Dispo-only business model, why it might actually be the best entry point into real estate wholesaling, and what it takes to find buyers in a market where flippers are sitting on inventory and everyone’s underwriting harder than they have in years. They get into what separates a cookie cutter deal from a funky one, how Alex avoids the daisy chain reputation trap, and the difference between going shotgun versus sniper when building a buyers list. Alex also shares how he built his entire business from scratch with zero overhead and why the Dispo space is getting more competitive heading into 2026. Brian also pulls back the curtain on the Macawa deal - a project his team is actively building out right now - and why it could be the first ADU condoization project completed in San Diego. If you’ve got deals to move, buyers to find, or you’re just trying to figure out how to break into this industry without burning cash on acquisitions, this one’s for you. Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Visit: https://hkdevelopmentgroup.com/#form  Follow Alex Bradley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_dadley?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexbradley.investor?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrbradley  Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

  5. May 6

    What Your Broker Won't Tell You w/Joseph Silva | TBN 028

    Most real estate agents are playing the same game and losing. Joseph Silva isn't. With a background in investment banking and business banking, Joseph ditched the traditional buy-sell agent model and built CCG Real Estate Advisors around one core idea: lead with value, not with sales. On this episode of Builder Nation, Brian and Joseph get into what it actually means to serve real estate investors at a high level, from portfolio analysis and return on equity to 1031 exchanges, triple net leases, DSTs, and tenant-in-common structures. They also get into the ADU development space and don't hold back. Joseph breaks down exactly why so many developers are getting burned right now - aggressive pro formas, mismatched comps, no parking, and only one exit strategy - and what separates the ones who survive from the ones who don't. If you're an investor trying to figure out what to do with a portfolio you've been sitting on for 20 years, or a developer trying to understand how buyers are actually going to underwrite your asset, this episode is worth your time. The episode discusses: Differentiating yourself as a real estate professionalConsultative sales, return on equity as a portfolio metric1031 exchanges, passive investing optionsADU development mistakesMultifamily underwritingThe importance of conservative assumptionsWhy multifamily is Joseph's top asset class for the next decade. Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Visit: https://hkdevelopmentgroup.com/#form  Follow Joseph Silva Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofjsilva/  Company Website: https://ccgrea.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsilvarealty/  Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

  6. Apr 27

    The $1,000,000 Mistake w/Thach Nguyen | TBN 027

    This episode of The Builder Nation Podcast is a live Q&A from the ADU Investor Summit with Brian Koons, Andrew Greer, and keynote speaker Thach Nguyen - focused on operator‑level ADU investing strategy. In this conversation, Brian, Andrew, and Thach pull the audience into the weeds on what actually makes an ADU or small‑multifamily project succeed - from how you decide whether to keep or rent, to designing the right unit mix, finishes, and site plan for the business plan instead of your ego. They unpack painful real‑world stories about utilities (water, sewer, power) blowing up budgets and timelines, and walk through the feasibility checks that every investor should do before going under contract. You’ll also hear candid lessons on hiring experienced ADU architects and GCs, setting proper reserves, avoiding emotional offers, and why one great deal you buy with discipline can beat a year of chasing “cheap” construction and thin‑margin flips. You'll hear: How to decide “keep vs. rent” and design the entire project backward from that decision (bedroom count, circulation, exterior, and finishes)The utility traps that kill ADU deals - flow tests, undersized water lines, sewer capacity, and the true cost of opening streets and upgrading infrastructureWhy the lowest‑bid architect or contractor often costs the most, especially on dense infill and tight ADU sitesA simple framework for reserves on your first ADU: down payment, 12–18 months of payments, plus real contingencyHow to eliminate emotional deal‑making, stick to your underwriting standard, and avoid six‑figure lessonsWhy you “can’t make it to the top solo,” and how Thach structures his A‑team to de‑risk every projectLike, subscribe, and drop your biggest ADU question in the comments so we can hit it in a future episode. Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Visit: https://hkdevelopmentgroup.com/#form Follow Thach Nguyen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thachnguyen/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thachnguyenre Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThachNguyen Follow Andrew Greer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realtyentrepreneur/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-t-greer-17a17417/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewThomasGreer1 Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

  7. Apr 13

    How To Turn Content Into Deal Flow w/Brandon LoCascio | TBN 026

    Brandon LaCascio has been in real estate since 2005 - right before the market collapsed. Instead of folding, he came out swinging. Now he's a broker, developer, and builder with over 120 units in his portfolio and decades of hard-earned experience that most people in this industry will never have. In this episode, Brandon breaks down one of the most underrated ideas in business right now: money follows attention. It sounds simple, but most people in real estate are still grinding in silence — heads down, skipping events, avoiding the camera — thinking that's the path to success. Brandon did the same thing for 15 years. Then the light bulb went off. After discovering how guys like Grant Cardone completely transformed their businesses by leaning into content and visibility, Brandon stopped saying no to everything and started showing up. Podcasts, LinkedIn, events, networking - and the results spoke for themselves. Deals came in from people he'd known for two decades who suddenly said "I never knew you did that." New doors opened that cold calling never could have unlocked. We get into: How surviving the 2008 crash shaped the way Brandon thinks about risk, resilience, and building through uncertaintyWhy Grant Cardone's content pivot at 50 years old completely changed Brandon's approach to growing his businessThe real reason people who've known you for 20 years still don't know what you do — and how to fix itWhat actually happens to your deal flow, your network, and your opportunities when you stop hiding and start showing upWhy in 2025, staying invisible is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in real estate If you're a real estate investor, broker, or builder still betting that the grind alone is enough - this one's for you. Brandon isn't just talking theory. He's living proof that when you combine the work ethic with the visibility, everything changes. Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Visit: https://hkdevelopmentgroup.com/#form Follow Brandon Locascio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrlocascio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-j-locascio/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_HYk4zYxRLkVdyxdnkRtkA Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

  8. Apr 6

    10X'ing through AI w/Christian Johnson | TBN 025

    In this episode of the Builder Nation Podcast, Brian Koons sits down with Marine Corps veteran, powerlifter, and AI operator Christian Johnson to unpack how small businesses can actually use AI to make more money - without becoming “tech companies” or hiring a team of engineers. They break down the idea of building a “digital twin” of you and your business, centralizing communication, and using automation to free up your time so you can do more of the high-value work only you can do.Christian walks through how to start from zero: recording and storing Google Meet calls, phone calls, and texts in a central knowledge base, then using that data to automatically create tasks, SOPs, and follow-ups so you’re not living in your inbox or Slack all day. You’ll hear real examples of taking a single sales call and turning it into CRM updates, task assignments, contracts, and follow-up sequences - without you lifting a finger after you hang up. They also zoom out and tackle the big question: how AI is likely to reshape the middle class and the ultra-wealthy over the next decade. Christian shares why small, scrappy operators are in a “Goldilocks zone” right now - small enough to move fast, but big enough to benefit massively from deeply integrating AI into their operations - and what happens to the businesses that ignore this shift. You’ll hear: How to build a digital twin of yourself and your business Why the first step is logging communication, not buying more softwareHow to connect tools like ClickUp, Gmail, your CRM, and AI models with APIsHow to remove busywork so you can spend more time on sales, strategy, and relationshipsWhy the next decade will reward owners who integrate AI deeply, and punish those who don’tIf you’re an entrepreneur, agency owner, real estate operator, or small business leader, AI could 10x your capacity. You need to understand how to make that happen before you're left behind. Thinking about building an ADU or need a team to manage your project properly? Visit: thebuildernation.com/partner Follow Christian Johnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohyesinvest/Christian’s Company: https://oodahost.com/ Follow The Builder Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuilderbrian/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankoons/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_builderbrian

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The Builder Nation Podcast — hosted by real estate developer and entrepreneur Brian Koons (a.k.a. The Builder Brian) — dives deep into how high-performing entrepreneurs, investors, and creators use leverage to build wealth, health, freedom, and legacy. Each episode breaks down the real playbooks behind millionaire entrepreneurs and developers who do more with the same 24 hours — no silver spoons, no shortcuts. Expect raw conversations about business, systems, fitness, family, mindset, and building a life that actually cash flows — in every sense of the word. New episodes weekly. Built for the ones who want more out of life… and are willing to build it.

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