Breaking Ground SA

Real Estate Council of San Antonio

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast where we dig into real estate deals, developments, and decision-makers shaping San Antonio. Hosted by Stephanie Reyes, President and CEO of RECSA, and local policy expert Rob Killen, each episode explores the stories behind the city's transformation—from downtown revitalization and major developments to the people and passion driving San Antonio's growth. Whether it's iconic buildings, economic development, or the future of our community, Breaking Ground SA takes you behind the scenes of the projects building the city our kids want to call home.

Episodes

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Ron Nirenberg on Leadership, Collaboration, and Building San Antonio’s Future | Ep. 2

    In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, we sit down with former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, collaboration, and what it takes to guide a city through growth and transformation. Hosted by Stephanie Reyes, President and CEO of RECSA, alongside policy expert Rob Killen, this episode explores Ron’s journey into public service, his approach to building coalitions across government, and his vision for San Antonio and Bexar County’s future. Ron reflects on lessons learned during his time as mayor, the importance of long-term planning over short-term wins, and why strong relationships between city and county leadership are essential for economic development, infrastructure, housing, and quality of life. The conversation also touches on workforce development, transportation, housing strategy, climate action, and the responsibility leaders have to create opportunities for the next generation. This episode offers valuable insight for developers, business leaders, and policymakers who care about the future of San Antonio and the role thoughtful leadership plays in shaping the city our kids will want to call home. Topics Covered Ron Nirenberg’s path into public service and leadershipWhy collaboration between city and county governments mattersThe role of long-term vision in economic developmentHousing, transportation, and workforce challenges facing San AntonioBuilding coalitions to move complex projects forwardLeadership lessons from serving as mayor during periods of changeCreating opportunity and quality of life for future generations Resources RECSA: https://recsanantonio.com/ Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city. Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media.

    50 min
  2. 25 JAN

    Building the City Our Kids Want to Call Home with Randy Smith | Ep. 1

    In this episode, we sit down with Randy Smith, co-founder and CEO of Weston Urban, to explore his unexpected journey from attorney to developer and his vision for San Antonio's future. Randy shares how a breakfast at IHOP led him to Rackspace and eventually to transforming downtown San Antonio with projects like Frost Tower, the Milam Building, and the upcoming downtown baseball stadium. We discuss why downtowns matter, the importance of people over buildings, and how San Antonio's unique community spirit sets it apart. Randy also opens up about the challenges of capitalizing development projects, his passion for creating family-friendly spaces, and why he believes San Antonio does community better than anywhere else in America. Topics Covered: (00:34) - From Attorney to Developer: Randy's unexpected career journey(8:34 - Moving to San Antonio: Why Randy and Rachel chose San Antonio in 2005(13:41) - The IHOP Breakfast: Meeting Graham Weston and joining Rackspace(15:19) - Founding Weston Urban: "Building the city our kids want to call home"(23:00) - Frost Tower: Breaking San Antonio's 30-year office tower drought(25:09) - The Frost Tower Land Deal: Complex three-way swap with Frost Bank and the City(28:53) - Why Downtown Matters: Economics, community, and San Antonio's identity(37:55) - Downtown Baseball Stadium Update: Current status and challenges(42:05) - "Who Has It Better Than Us?": Randy's philosophy on gratitude and perspective(47:00) - The Power of People: Why humans matter more than buildings in San Antonio's future Resources: https://recsanantonio.com/https://westonurban.com/ Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media

    49 min

About

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast where we dig into real estate deals, developments, and decision-makers shaping San Antonio. Hosted by Stephanie Reyes, President and CEO of RECSA, and local policy expert Rob Killen, each episode explores the stories behind the city's transformation—from downtown revitalization and major developments to the people and passion driving San Antonio's growth. Whether it's iconic buildings, economic development, or the future of our community, Breaking Ground SA takes you behind the scenes of the projects building the city our kids want to call home.