Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities

Hosted by Ben Hoffman & Felipe Azenha

Business Education

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Episodes

133

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Built World Podcast is the premier biographical series and educational resource dedicated to the visionaries, risk-takers, and Institutional Operators shaping the landscape of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) , Urbanism , and Property Development . Hosted by Felipe Azenha and Ben Hoffman , active Commercial Real Estate Brokers and Co-Founders of Built World Advisors in Miami , this show is more than a market update—it is a deep-dive exploration into the life stories, personal philosophies, and investment strategies of the industry’s most influential leaders. Each episode is a professional masterclass delivered through the lens of a personal history, uncovering the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of the entrepreneur’s journey from their first deal to their most iconic project. Conversations, Cocktails, and High-Level Banter We believe the best insights happen when the guard comes down. Our signature "Conversations & Cocktails" format creates a relaxed, inviting atmosphere where the banter is light, the humor is sharp, and the drinks are flowing. But don't let the cocktails fool you—the dialogue is profoundly intelligent, offering a tactical look at the Capital Stack , Asset Management , and Market Economics . It’s the kind of high-stakes "shop talk" you usually only hear in a private boardroom or a closed-door partner meeting. Virtually Every Asset Class Explored: While Felipe and Ben are specialists in the Miami Industrial and Warehouse sector, The Built World Podcast explores the entire spectrum of the built environment. We provide high-level analysis across virtually every asset class, including: Industrial & Logistics: From Small-Bay Industrial and Last-Mile Distribution to Flex Space and Cold Storage . Multifamily & Residential: High-rise luxury, Workforce Housing , and Build-to-Rent (BTR) . Office & Mixed-Use: The evolution of the workplace and the rise of Live-Work-Play environments. Retail & Hospitality: The transformation of the High Street , boutique hotels, and experiential retail. Niche Assets: Self-storage, medical office buildings (MOB), and life sciences. What We Explore: If you are looking for an insider’s read on the South Florida Real Estate Market and national CRE Trends , we dive deep into: The Miami Market: Navigating the Miami Skyline , Wynwood , Brickell , Miami Beach and beyond. Capital Markets & Debt: Real-time perspectives on Cap Rates , interest rate impacts, GP/LP structures , and why veteran operators are moving off the sidelines. The Operator’s Playbook: A look at the "Operator" side of the business—scaling income, professionalizing property management, and building high-performance brokerage teams. PropTech & Innovation: How AI in Real Estate , advanced prospecting tools, and new construction technologies are redefining Placemaking . Our Guest List: We feature a "Who’s Who" of the built world, including: Real Estate Developers, Principals, Institutional Asset Managers, Capital Markets Brokers, Architects, Attorneys, and Urban Planners. Who This Is For: Whether you are a seasoned Commercial Broker , an Active Investor looking for a Value-Add play, a student, or an entrepreneur obsessed with the future of our cities, this show offers a front-row seat to the minds redefining the built world.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 20261 hr 35 min

Daniel "Danny" Diaz Leyva - Partner, Day Pitney LLP

In this episode, we are joined by a true Miami OG, Danny Leyva, partner and head of Day Pitney's Florida Real Estate practice group. Over a glass of Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia, Danny shares his unique, boots-on-the-ground perspective on the incredible evolution of the South Florida market.From navigating complex transactional structures and land-use regulations to tracking the massive influx of commercial real estate investments driven by Latin American family offices, Danny has a front-row seat to the region's growth. We dive deep into where international capital is flowing from, which submarkets are absorbing it, and what the future holds for the Miami landscape. Whether you are a developer or investor, Danny’s insights offer an invaluable look into the legal and financial mechanisms shaping our built world.In this episode, we discuss:Danny’s journey and his role leading Day Pitney’s real estate group in Florida.The mechanics of local land-use, zoning, and navigating complex transactions in a mature market.The rise of Latin American family offices and their shifting strategies toward Miami commercial real estate.A macro view of current capital flows and where the next wave of investment is headed.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

June 10, 20261 hr 42 min

Carlos Lago, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP.

Carlos came in with a beautiful bottle of Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia on a Friday afternoon. As a land use lawyer at Greenberg Traurig, he's spent his career navigating the intersection of development, politics, zoning, and city-building; he is one of the attorneys behind many of Miami's most impactful real estate projects. We discuss how major projects actually get approved, the evolution of neighborhoods like Wynwood and Edgewater, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the deals, negotiations, and public processes that are shaping the future of Miami.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

May 29, 20261 hr 49 min

Frankie Ruiz - Co-Founder, Life Time Miami Marathon | Breakwater Hospitality

Frankie Ruiz helped build Miami's running culture from the ground up. In this episode, he shares the story behind founding the Miami Marathon, scaling and selling the business, leading Nike Run Club across the Southeast, and spending more than two decades shaping Miami's parks, trails, and active lifestyle community; as well as his new ventures with Breakwater Hospitality Group. It's a conversation about entrepreneurship, civic impact, and the power of not stopping.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

May 27, 20261 hr 15 min

Raimundo Onetto - Principal & CEO, Alta Developers

Onetto has 35 years of development experience, bringing over 3,500 units to the South Florida market. An architect by trade, he began his career as the Founder & Partner of the Chilean architecture firm Archiplan. In 2002, he brought his family to Miami and partnered with Terra Group to introduce Archiplan USA. In 2010 he founded Alta Developers.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

May 12, 20261 hr 56 min

Don Peebles - Founder, Chairman, and CEO of the Peebles Corporation

On this episode of The Built World, we sit down with legendary developer Don Peebles founder and CEO of The Peebles Corporation. Over a glass of tequila Don shares the story of building one of the largest real estate development firms in the country, from working as a congressional page at 13 to winning the Royal Palm Hotel deal on Miami Beach and developing the Bath Club.We discuss his first development deal, public-private partnerships, billion-dollar projects, wealth, politics, succession planning, and the future of American cities in a candid conversation filled with lessons from over four decades in real estate.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

May 6, 20261 hr 51 min

Q1 Market Update: Industrial, Impact of AI & Oil Prices on the Economy

Our quarterly sit-down with Juan Arias, National Director of U.S. Industrial Analytics at CoStar, and Anthony Graziano, CEO of Integra Realty Resources. We covered softening industrial demand, the data center capital rotation story, and the Iran war, specifically what elevated oil prices mean for the broader economy and how a sustained energy shock could ripple through CRE. The conversation also turned to AI: Juan and Anthony walked us through how CoStar and IRR are deploying it inside their own businesses, where it is already changing analytics and valuation, and where they see it reshaping the industry over the next few years. Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

April 29, 20261 hr 35 min

Moishe Mana - Founder and Chairman, Mana Common

In this episode, we sit down with Moishe Mana, one of the most unconventional and visionary developers shaping Miami today.Moishe’s story is as wild as it gets. He arrived in New York with nothing, slept on park benches, started a moving company with a single van, and built it into the largest operation in the tri-state area. That hustle became the foundation for a sprawling business empire spanning logistics, media, art, and real estate. We get into his early days in New York, identifying opportunity in overlooked neighborhoods like the Meatpacking District, and how that same instinct led him to Wynwood long before it became what it is today. Moishe shares what it actually takes to bet on a neighborhood, assemble land at scale, and create a cultural movement, not just a real estate project.The conversation then shifts to Miami: Wynwood, Downtown, and beyond, where Moishe lays out his vision for the city as a global hub connecting the Americas, art, fashion, and technology. This one is about grit, conviction, and seeing what others don’t, and having the courage to go all in on it.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

April 22, 20261 hr 26 min

Dev Motwani - Managing Partner of Merrimac Ventures

In this episode, we sit down with Dev Motwani to dig into one of South Florida’s most unique real estate journeys - from growing up working the front desk of a struggling beach motel to leading over $3B in development across the region.Dev shares how his family survived the collapse of Fort Lauderdale’s spring break era, pivoted into distressed hotel acquisitions, and ultimately helped reshape the city into a luxury destination. We get into the evolution of Merrimac Ventures, the lessons learned during the 2008 financial crisis, and the strategy behind landmark projects like the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale and beyondIt’s a conversation about resilience, long-term vision, and what it actually takes to assemble, entitle, and execute transformative projects; told by someone who’s been in the trenches since childhood.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

April 14, 20261 hr 46 min

Michael Goldban - Founder & CEO, Magellan Realty Group

In this episode, we sit down over a glass of tequila with Michael Goldban, founder of Magellan Realty Group and a commercial real estate veteran with over 25 years of experience across law, development, and retail leasing.Michael has held senior leadership positions at Brookfield Property Partners, CIM Group, EQ Office, and Forest City Ratner Companies. Through Magellan Realty Group, he has expanded into sports and entertainment real estate — including retail leasing at Inter Miami CF's stadium — applying institutional-grade tenant curation to some of the most high-profile and complex venues in the country.Topics covered in this episode:• Retail leasing inside sports and entertainment venues, including Inter Miami CF• Why ground-floor retail is the most consequential — and most challenging — component of mixed-use projects• How strategic tenant curation shapes placemaking and drives long-term asset value• The shift toward experiential retail and what it demands from developers and leasing teams• Lessons from 25+ years inside major institutional platforms• Michael's transition from institutional real estate to entrepreneurshipA must-listen for anyone working at the intersection of real estate, sports, and live experience.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya

April 7, 20261 hr 29 min

Grant Killingsworth - SVP, CBRE

Grant came in hot with Spanish wine in hand to unpack the evolving office market in South Florida and what tenants are really thinking right now.Grant is a true Miami local and currently a First Vice President at CBRE. He brings nearly 15 years of experience representing office users, with a background that spans both landlord and tenant perspectives. Before joining CBRE, he spent close to a decade at JLL, where he worked on some of Miami’s most prominent office assets, including Espirito Santo Plaza and 1221 Brickell.We get into how the tenant mindset has shifted post-COVID, what companies are prioritizing today when making office decisions, and how landlords are adapting to compete. Grant also shares how his early experience working for institutional owners shaped the way he negotiates on behalf of tenants, often unlocking creative structures and meaningful cost savings.This conversation is a deep dive into the real dynamics behind office leasing today, from deal strategy and underwriting to what actually drives decision-making at the tenant level.Connect with usWant to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?📧 Get in touch: Built World Advisors🎙️ Listen & Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube📱 Follow the show: LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with the Hosts:Felipe Azenha Ben Hoffman Our Partners & Sponsors🏢 Studio Space: A special thank you to Büro coworking space for hosting us! Proudly sponsored by:Top of Mind PRVizzdaVinya