The Promote Podcast

ten31 Media

Your Commercial Real Estate Insider guide. From profiles of the biggest dealmakers to skyline-shaping transactions, we bring you the deals, breakdowns and war stories that move the market — for insiders, by insiders. From bad-boy guarantees to CMBS tranche warfare to syndicator sins, we cover it all. Each week, The Promote Podcast explores three of the most interesting and consequential stories in CRE, taking you well beyond the headlines and into the heart of the action. Hosted by the award-winning “Bard of CRE,” Hiten Samtani, founder of ten31 media and author of The Promote newsletter, along with no-BS institutional insider Will Krasne. Also check out our 3x/week newsletter for industry insiders at https://www.thepromote.com/

  1. Sleepless in Seattle: The Martin Selig Story

    DEC 3

    Sleepless in Seattle: The Martin Selig Story

    This week, we dive deep into the maverick career of Seattle skyscraper titan Martin Selig - a true man in full who at his pomp controlled more than a third of the city's downtown, but is now at risk of losing it all. As of this summer, Selig has lost 19 of his buildings to third-party managers or lenders. He’s been unable to make good on over $850 million in loans. We break down his meteoric rise, his ability to survive through cycles that ended the careers of lesser men, and why this time may truly be the end. To advertise: Reach out to partnerships@thepromote.com For feedback: Write us at podcast@thepromote.com And please rate us and write a review on Apple. Up your CRE game:  Consider becoming a premium subscriber to The Promote to unlock access to expert CRE content. Take 10% off annual subscriptions by using this link: https://www.thepromote.com/upgrade?offer_id=b700858f-21e0-47a2-9695-a93055d3ed15 Further reading/listening: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-20-fi-194-story.htmlhttps://www.seattletimes.com/business/developer-seligs-one-man-show-plays-well-in-current-downturn/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/martin-selig-helped-shape-downtown-seattle-now-hes-the-face-of-its-office-woes/ https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/29/realestate/focus-seattle-creating-an-office-empire.html https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/developer-donates-922000-to-try-to-get-estate-tax-erased/ WAhttps://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/another-piece-of-seligs-seattle-office-empire-sold-at-fire-sale-discount/Talking Tycoons: Tom Cousins

    30 min
  2. NOV 19

    Sonder's Mercy Killing and the Mooch's OZ Misadventure

    This week, we explore why more multifamily REITs are offering themselves up at the altar - there just doesn’t seem to be a real path forward for many of these midsize players in this capital-markets environment. We then look at Marriott’s mercy killing of Sonder and the lessons to take away from yet another high-profile proptech implosion. And finally, the Mooch’s OZ fund was kinda like the Mooch’s White House tenure. Short and painful. To advertise: Reach out to partnerships@thepromote.com For feedback: Write us at podcast@thepromote.com - we're taking questions for a special mailbag episode! And please rate us and write a review on Apple. Up your CRE game:  Consider becoming a premium subscriber to The Promote to unlock access to expert CRE content. Founding memberships open now at https://www.thepromote.com/upgrade Programming Note: We're off for Thanksgiving Week. We'll see you back here week after that! Further reading/listening: Marriott-Sonder Deal: https://www.thepromote.com/p/the-promote-marriott-s-sonderlust-trimont-grabs-the-crown#inside-marriotts-sonderlust Mooch OZ: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-13/scaramucci-s-opportunity-zone-bet-likely-to-be-zero-for-clients Centerspace: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-11/apartment-landlord-centerspace-is-said-to-explore-potential-saleSonder Winddown: https://investors.sonder.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sonder-holdings-inc-complete-immediate-wind-down-operationsCortland's PE Courtship: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jpms-roosevelt-run-cortlands-pe-courtship/id1801355295?i=1000718664676

    31 min
  3. NOV 5

    Blackstone Cubs, Secondaries Sizzle & Hines of Arabia

    In a world awash with capital, it’s the same names who are vacuuming up increasing shares of it: We dive into Blackstone alpha cub Chad Pike's take-private megadeal for industrial REIT Plymouth, his most significant deal since being shunted to the BX sidelines. We then discuss how major US players such as Hines and Brookfield are now heading to the Gulf, not just to raise capital for US projects, but to build out those lucrative skylines. And finally, buying leftovers has never been sexier - CRE secondaries are the hottest game in town.  To advertise: Reach out to partnerships@thepromote.com For feedback: Write us at podcast@thepromote.com and please rate us and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Up your CRE game:  Consider becoming a premium subscriber to The Promote to unlock access to expert CRE content. Founding memberships open now at https://www.thepromote.com/upgrade Further reading: Jon Gray profile Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/jon-gray-blackstone-profile-succession-schwarzman-interview-ceo-bumble-oatly-2021-1 Behind Blackstone Cub's $1.25B Haul: https://www.thepromote.com/p/the-promote-dial-m-for-mortgage-fraud#behind-blackstone-cubs-125-b-haul Property Giant Hines to Expand into Booming Saudi Arabian Market: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-24/property-giant-hines-to-expand-into-booming-saudi-arabian-market Deep Dive- Inside the LPAC: https://www.perenews.com/deep-dive-inside-the-lpac/

    32 min
  4. OCT 29

    Fugazi First Positions & Cracking Billionaires' Row

    This week, we look at explosive allegations of mortgage fraud that have caught up 2 prominent regional banks. Zions and Western Alliance woes stemming from shenanigans at a California CRE investor once again show how vital regional banks are to the industry’s capital markets – and how distress in that space can ruin the whole party. Next, we look at Walmart’s intriguing new playbook – the retail behemoth is on a mall shopping spree. And finally, there’s a LITERAL crackdown allegedly happening at one of the country’s most notable supertalls- Harry Macklowe and CIM Group's 432 Park Avenue. To advertise: Reach out to partnerships@thepromote.com For feedback: Write us at podcast@thepromote.com and please rate us and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Up your CRE game:  Consider becoming a premium subscriber to The Promote to unlock access to expert CRE content. Founding memberships open now at https://www.thepromote.com/upgrade Further reading: Troubled Real Estate Firm at Center of Banks’ Latest Loan Pinch: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-17/troubled-real-estate-firm-at-center-of-banks-latest-loan-pinch Why Did Walmart Just Buy a Shopping Mall?: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/business/walmart-shopping-malls.html?unlocked_article_code=1.u08.Zxzg.LSLcjr4T2Nsw&smid=url-share A Tower on Billionaires’ Row Is Full of Cracks. Who’s to Blame?: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/nyregion/432-park-avenue-condo-tower.html Age of Accountability for Supertalls: https://www.thepromote.com/p/supertall-retribution-ackman-s-baby-berkshire-playbook#age-of-accountability-for-supertall Macklowe Case Study- the GM Building: https://mackloweproperties.com/pdfs/GMBuilding.pdf

    31 min
4.9
out of 5
67 Ratings

About

Your Commercial Real Estate Insider guide. From profiles of the biggest dealmakers to skyline-shaping transactions, we bring you the deals, breakdowns and war stories that move the market — for insiders, by insiders. From bad-boy guarantees to CMBS tranche warfare to syndicator sins, we cover it all. Each week, The Promote Podcast explores three of the most interesting and consequential stories in CRE, taking you well beyond the headlines and into the heart of the action. Hosted by the award-winning “Bard of CRE,” Hiten Samtani, founder of ten31 media and author of The Promote newsletter, along with no-BS institutional insider Will Krasne. Also check out our 3x/week newsletter for industry insiders at https://www.thepromote.com/

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