CPE Podcasts

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191

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Aug 2026

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CPE Podcasts is a multi-series channel produced by Commercial Property Executive, exploring issues and trends across the U.S. commercial real estate industry. Find out more on our website: www.cpexecutive.com

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August 24, 2026Episode 322 min

RICS Monitor: North America Leads Uneven CRE Recovery

Global commercial real estate sentiment improved in the second quarter, but the recovery story remains far from straightforward. While some markets are showing clearer signs of momentum, others are still grappling with tighter credit conditions, geopolitical uncertainty and sharp differences between prime and secondary assets. In this episode of RICS Monitor, CPE’s quarterly podcast series tracking global real estate sentiment, Executive Editor Laura Valean speaks with Tarrant Parsons, head of market analytics at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in London, about the latest RICS surveys and what they reveal about the state of the CRE market.

August 20, 202631 min

Sustainability Street: It's Go-Time for CRE

Welcome back to Sustainability Street, CPE ’s podcast on the intersection of commercial real estate and the world we live in. With 2030 just around the corner, occupiers and property owners are under pressure to turn decarbonization strategies into operational realities. As Cushman & Wakefield's new chief sustainability officer & global head of sustainability services, my guest Stephanie Greene will be helping the commercial real estate services giant and its vast client base accomplish that—with an eye toward resilience and sustainability's economic potential. "It's about making sure investments in energy efficiency are adding value to the asset," Greene said. "How are we saving operational costs, which improves NOI? How are we thinking about this all holistically?" Listen to the full episode to learn about Greene's dynamic background and her insights on the top concerns for occupiers and owners, the increasing influence of technology and building performance standards and her vision for the future of corporate sustainability. Conversation highlights: 2:39 The making of a sustainability expert 5:38 From the tactical to the practical 8:45 Turning targets into reality 9:39 Value preservation and creation 17:32 Building performance standards as incentives 20:57 The next frontier in sustainability 23:44 Occupier, owner cooperation 25:31 The role of technology 28:58 For further information

August 10, 2026Episode 423 min

Inside Industrial: Why Small-Bay Demands Discipline

Small-bay industrial continues to post tighter fundamentals than larger warehouse formats. Buildings under 100,000 square feet recorded an average vacancy rate of 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, about half the rate for larger facilities, according to BKM Capital Partners’ latest Light Industrial Market Update. Spaces under 50,000 square feet also accounted for 80 percent of industrial leasing activity during the quarter. In the fourth episode of Inside Industrial, Brett Turner, senior managing director of acquisitions & dispositions at BKM Capital Partners, joined CPE’s Diana Firtea to discuss what is driving that divide, how automation and advanced manufacturing are changing tenant demand and why success in small-bay depends on more than access to capital. Turner said small-bay differs from big-box industrial because supply remains limited and many tenants are established businesses tied to domestic demand. Automation, data centers and advanced manufacturing are also supporting demand for flexible, smaller spaces. Operating those portfolios is labor-intensive. BKM expects to complete about 1,000 leases this year, which Turner said gives experienced operators an advantage as institutional capital enters the segment. He also stressed the need to remain disciplined on basis, particularly as high construction costs make new development difficult to justify.

August 5, 202626 min

Investment Matters: Midsummer Market Snapshot

In this episode, Investment Matters host Paul Rosta discusses today's hot commercial real estate investment and capital markets trends with CPE Executive Editor Therese Fitzgerald. With all the moving parts in the market today, midyear is a good time to take stock of what’s really shaping commercial real estate finance and investment. This month’s guest constantly keeps her ear to the ground for the most important trends. Therese Fitzgerald is the longtime finance and investment editor here at CPE. She brings her expertise to her role as the editor of the CPE Capital Markets newsletter, and she advises our team on covering this dynamic sector. During this episode, she discusses the economic, policy and capital markets issues that will shape investment during the second half of the year and beyond. And as I do with the industry executives who join me as guests on this podcast, I asked Therese to tell us about her career origin story, highlights and turning points. She shares insights into how commercial real estate and business journalism have changed in the past couple of decades and what to look for in the future. Take a listen. Episode highlights: · (1:20) Unconventional journey in journalism · (4:03) Coming full circle · (5:44) The new dimensions of covering CRE · (6:26) Adjusting to new market realities · (8:09) The bifurcation factor · (9:29) Refi’s “sliding glass door” · (11:04) Key policy trends to watch · (12:52) Investment strategy and energy issues: connecting the dots · (13:44) Covering the investment and finance waterfront · (16:15) The ins and outs of today’s M&As · (18:42) CRE finance’s changing picture · (20:33) Don’t underestimate this trend · (21:50) Off the clock: hitting the books and theaters For more great investment and finance content, subscribe to the CPE Capital Markets Newsletter, which is curated twice each month by my guest and colleague, CPE executive editor Therese Fitzgerald. To subscribe, just go to : https://www.commercialsearch.com/news/subscriptions/ Follow, rate and review CPE’s podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and don’t forget to subscribe to CPE’s YouTube channel!

July 31, 202627 min

Step Into My Office: Orange County’s Tale of Two Markets

Orange County’s office market is moving from correction to recalibration. While the sector is still navigating the effects of right-sizing and post-pandemic occupancy shifts, CBRE’s latest report points to a market that is gradually finding its footing. With vacancy remaining relatively steady at 13.3 percent and negative net absorption narrowing compared to the first quarter, Orange County appears to be moving closer to balance. In this episode of Step Into My Office , CPE’s Olivia Bunescu talks with Allison Kelly, senior vice president at CBRE, about what is driving Orange County’s office market now. Kelly discusses stabilizing fundamentals, the Greater Airport Area, the split between long-term owners and new high-net-worth buyers, institutional capital’s hesitation and why Class A assets continue to outperform older commodity buildings. For Kelly, Orange County’s next phase will be defined less by a broad office rebound and more by how each property is positioned within a market where stability, redevelopment and flight to quality are all happening at once. Here’s what they discussed: Orange County’s stabilizing office fundamentals (01:30) The market’s recovery is rooted in occupier diversity (03:03) Which tenants are driving demand? (05:05) From negative absorption to a positive trajectory (07:39) Submarkets leading leasing momentum (08:34) A tale of two ownership structures (10:44) Why institutional capital remains hesitant on office (15:10) Spec suites and move-in-ready space gain traction (17:22) Class A assets outperform, as older buildings seek new uses (20:35) What’s on top of the list for occupiers? (22:27) Stability, growth and redevelopment ahead (25:16)

July 16, 202633 min

Sustainability Street: Is Nuclear Energy the Answer?

Welcome back to Sustainability Street, CPE ’s podcast on the intersection of commercial real estate and the world we live in. For this episode, I'm talking about nuclear energy with Jon Lemmond, growth lead for sustainable operations, smart building services and energy engineering for real estate management services at JLL. There is a push to bring nuclear energy back into the mainstream power landscape. Its return would ease energy concerns and siting constraints for the fast-growing data center business and heavy industrial users. "If we can build nucler in a cost efficient way, once it's built, that's a huge amount of base loand that should then help us site more, build more and then also help minimize the cost increases from energy usage," Lemmond told me. But nuclear has sustainability downsides as well, and, Lemmond explained, its complex history has created a patchwork regulatory framework that will make progress difficult. Here are some highlights from our conversation: (02:26) Making of an energy expert (05:51) The federal push for nuclear (09:51) Nuclear and siting capability (15:08) A nation divided on nuclear (19:28) Shifting public opinion (20:48) Sustainability upsides/downsides (25:50) Elsewhere in energy innovation (30:41) For further information

July 10, 2026Episode 231 min

Commercial Design Lab: Charles Bloszies on What Makes Building Conversions Work

Office-to-residential conversions continue to dominate conversations across commercial real estate, but not every building is a good candidate for adaptive reuse. From floor plate configurations and structural systems to government incentives and seismic upgrades, successful conversions depend on a complex mix of architectural, technical and financial considerations. In the latest episode of Commercial Design Lab, San Francisco-based architect and structural engineer Charles Bloszies joined CPE's Beata Lorincz to discuss the realities of adaptive reuse, drawing on nearly four decades of experience working on rehabilitation, urban infill and conversion projects.

July 7, 2026Episode 232 min

The Learning Curve: A Lifelong Interest Becomes a Profession

MAA’s Associate Project Manager Jonathan Sinco sits down with CPE’s Mikayla Sciortino to discuss how a childhood dream became a career. From building towns out of Legos as a child to learning how to defend his design decisions in college, there is more that goes into becoming an architect in commercial real estate.

July 1, 202635 min

Investment Matters: Stockdale Capital's Power Moves

My guest for this episode is really on the go these days. Dan Michaels is managing partner of Stockdale Capital Partners, and he’s leading a major growth initiative for the L.A.-based private investor. Recent highlights include the closing of a $700 million opportunity fund, the firm’s first multifamily investment, and new offices in Dallas and New York City. On top of all that, the firm is expanding its ranks by recruiting senior professionals from other companies. Right before he was about to head back to the road recently, Michaels slowed down long enough to talk about the firm’s strategy and how he sees the market. He told me that the current climate offers the best opportunity amid dislocation since the Great Financial Crisis. As he put it, “We are pressing to make the bet that we're going to be one of the winners.” If you enjoy the Investment Matters podcast, I hope you’ll check out CPE’s Capital Markets newsletter, our free, twice-monthly roundup of the latest trends, analysis and data in commercial real estate investment. It’s easy to subscribe—just go to: https://www.commercialsearch.com/news/subscriptions/ Episode Highlights: (1:51) Investment opportunity amid multitudes of black swans (4:41) Why it’s “a very rich time” for fundraising, recruiting talent (9:58) Multifaceted debut in multifamily (13:14) Finding risk-adjusted returns in three food groups (15:51) Revitalizing retail in Denver, Southern California (23:25) Origin story: Wharton and an early fascination with finance (26:36) Building Stockdale’s opportunistic business model (29:20) Strategies for navigating dislocation (32:17) Executive off the clock: a taste of cultures from Copenhagen to Tokyo Follow, rate and review CPE’s podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and don’t forget to subscribe to CPE’s YouTube channel!

June 29, 2026Episode 215 min

FTI Experts’ Hub: Funding the Onshore Manufacturing Push

As the push to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. continues, developers and investors keep are searching for ways to fund capital-intensive projects. But what financing tools might they be overlooking? In this episode of FTI Experts’ Hub, CPE Executive Editor Laura Valean sits down with McRae Thompson, senior managing director & co-leader of U.S. Tax Advisory in the Real Estate Solutions practice at FTI Consulting, to explore how companies can finance large-scale onshore manufacturing developments at a time when federal support may not be as generous—or as easy to access—as many expect.