Work Space Talk Show

Measured Light Media
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management
  • Weekly

The Work Space Talk Show covers the people, projects, and decisions shaping commercial real estate today. From ownership and property management to construction, development, and workplace strategy, the show delivers sharp market updates and in-depth conversations with the builders, operators, owners, and strategists shaping how commercial spaces are planned, built, managed, and adapted. The podcast connects commercial real estate, workspace strategy, construction, and the future of the built environment.

  1. 20h ago

    The Hidden Costs of the AI Boom, And What We Can Do About It

    Data centers have gone from largely invisible internet infrastructure to one of the most debated developments in American communities. What happens when a new facility comes to town—and who pays for the electricity, water, and infrastructure it needs? In this solo episode, Nathan Manuel draws on his experience working in data centers to explore the surge in electricity demand from AI, the potential impact on household power bills, and the difference between direct and indirect water use. He also looks at closed-loop cooling, local opposition, secrecy around development agreements, and the rules communities are putting in place. The central question: how can the U.S. keep building the infrastructure behind AI without leaving local communities to bear the costs? Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

  2. Oct 28

    We Know Disasters Are Coming. Why Aren't We Ready? | Illya Azaroff

    We know disasters are coming. Why are so many buildings and communities still caught unprepared? Illya Azaroff, FAIA, 2026 President of the American Institute of Architects and founding principal of +LAB Architect, joins Nathan Manuel to discuss what it takes to build for a changing world. They talk about lessons from disaster recovery, why resilience needs to be part of design from the beginning, how adaptation is reshaping architects' responsibilities, and the AIA Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Pledge. They also examine the growing impact of data centers on communities, what their buildings might become as technology changes, and how AI could change architectural practice. Illya and +LAB Architect: https://www.pluslabglobal.com/ AIA Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Pledge: https://www.aia.org/design-excellence/climate-action/resilience/disaster-risk-reduction-and-resilience-pledge AIA Community Hub: https://communityhub.aia.org/home Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

  3. Oct 21

    The Designer Who Helped Reinvent the Modern Office | Primo Orpilla

    The modern office didn’t always look like this. Silicon Valley helped push companies away from high-walled cubicles and executive corner offices toward open plans, shared spaces, amenities, and environments designed around how people actually work. Primo Orpilla has spent decades designing workplaces for companies including Facebook, Microsoft, Samsung, Uber, Yelp, Nike, and McDonald’s. He joins Nathan Manuel to trace that shift from the early Valley through Facebook’s first headquarters and into today’s AI startups, where robotics, labs, and faster-moving teams are changing the physical office again. They also get into where open offices went too far, why different people need different kinds of space, how AI fits into the design process, and why firsthand physical experience still matters when you’re designing places for other people. Check out Studio O+A: https://o-plus-a.com/ Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

  4. Oct 14

    Construction Doesn’t Need to Be Reinvented | Steve Jones

    Construction doesn't need to be reinvented, Steve Jones argues, it needs everyday problems solved a little better. His test for any new technology is simple: does it help the people dealing with the real jobsite problem when the steel is late, a contractor disappears, or the data is incomplete? Steve Jones, Senior Director of Industry Insights Research at Dodge Construction Network, joins Nathan Manuel to discuss why point solutions create "silos of excellence," why inconsistent project data limits AI, how data centers are intensifying pressure on skilled labor, and whether modular and industrialized construction can finally scale in the U.S. They also get into how Dodge turns research into practical "so what" guidance, and the skills young people should bring into construction. Check out Dodge Construction: construction.com Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

  5. Oct 7

    “Safe, On Time, Under Budget” Isn’t a Selling Point | Chris Martin

    When every business makes the same promises, customers are left comparing prices. Chris Martin argues that being safe, on time, and under budget is the baseline - not a reason to choose you. The Atlas Marketing president and Building PA Podcast cohost joins Nathan Manuel to explain how companies can find a story that makes their value clear. They discuss skilled-trade training, contractor relationships, construction technology, and the people challenging the industry’s stereotypes. Atlas Marketing: https://atlasstories.com/ Building PA Podcast: https://buildingpapodcast.com/ Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

  6. Sep 30

    Buildings Are Affecting Your Health More Than You Think | Jason Hartke

    A room can look clean while the air inside affects how well you think and work. Jason Hartke makes the case that the buildings we spend our days in deserve the same attention we give to the safety of our food and water. Jason, who leads external affairs and global advocacy at the International WELL Building Institute, joins Nathan Manuel to explain how healthier buildings can support people and business performance. The challenge is moving from a promise on paper to conditions that are measured, verified, and improved as a building is used. Learn about WELL certification and WELL AP: https://www.wellcertified.com/ Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

  7. Sep 23

    What Actually Makes Work Enjoyable | Debbie Lovich

    Pay and benefits are easy to put on an employee survey. Feeling respected, supported, and valued is harder to measure, but Debbie Lovich argues those everyday experiences explain much more about why people stay and give their best. The Boston Consulting Group managing director and senior partner joins Nathan Manuel to share research with 11,000 employees and the ideas behind her book Make Work Work. Her case is practical: leaders can build a better place to work through small daily actions, from recognizing specific contributions to solving problems alongside the people doing the job. Pre-order Make Work Work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GK6VDP8D/ Learn more about Debbie: Deborahlovich.com Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

  8. Sep 16

    Why Having a Job Doesn’t Mean Having a Home | Vivian Ho

    Losing a home also means losing a reliable place to sleep, use a bathroom, or simply be left alone. When everyday spaces become off-limits, getting back on your feet becomes harder. Journalist Vivian Ho, author of Those Who Wander: America’s Lost Street Kids, joins Nathan Manuel to discuss what her reporting in San Francisco revealed about life without stable housing. From spaces designed to keep people out to the exhaustion of working without a safe place to sleep, she explains why more affordable homes and support services belong in the same conversation. Vivian’s writing and book:https://vivianhowrites.com/ Those Who Wander:https://www.amazon.com/Those-Who-Wander-Americas-Street/dp/1503903737 Learn more about the Work Space Talk Show: https://workspacetalkshow.com/

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Work Space Talk Show covers the people, projects, and decisions shaping commercial real estate today. From ownership and property management to construction, development, and workplace strategy, the show delivers sharp market updates and in-depth conversations with the builders, operators, owners, and strategists shaping how commercial spaces are planned, built, managed, and adapted. The podcast connects commercial real estate, workspace strategy, construction, and the future of the built environment.

Information

  • Creator
    Measured Light Media
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Measured Light Media
  • Show Website
    Work Space Talk Show