The Real Finds Podcast connects global trends to real estate decisions across Chicago and the Midwest. Hosted by Gordon Lamphere, a fourth-generation commercial real estate broker at Van Vlissingen & Co., each weekly episode explores how macroeconomic shifts in supply chains, interest rates, automation, public policy, and culture drive commercial real estate outcomes. Moreover, Gordon and his guests take high-level insights and apply them to better understand high-transaction markets, including:
Chicago (downtown office, adaptive reuse), Elk Grove and O’Hare (industrial/logistics), Kenosha (SE Wisconsin distribution), Oak Brook and Schaumburg (suburban office), Naperville and the I-88 Corridor (flex and R&D), Bolingbrook and the I-55 Corridor (warehouse/fulfillment), and the collar counties: Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane, and McHenry.
Guests include developers, investors, operators, and public-sector leaders shaping the built environment across the Greater Chicagoland Area and the Globe.
🎧 New episodes every Wednesday at 3 PM CT.
What Manufacturers Gets Wrong About Supply Chain Risk With Phillip Gulley – RFP 66
In episode 67 of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Phillip Gulley, co-founder of Cofactr, to explore the opaque and high-stakes world of global supply chains. What starts as a conversation about electronics procurement quickly expands into a wide-ranging, eye-opening discussion about geopolitical risk, tariffs, duty drawback,...
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America’s Construction Crisis: Why Projects Go Over Budget — Barry LePatner on RFP 65
In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Barry LePatner, a construction attorney, author, and industry reformer, to unpack one of the biggest risks in commercial real estate: the broken business model behind American construction. Over the course of their wide-ranging conversation, LePatner exposes why...
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Most Landlords Get Office Design Wrong – Rod Kritsberg – RFP 64
In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere welcomes Rod Kritsberg, managing partner of KPG Funds and the creative force behind some of New York City’s most iconic boutique office redevelopments. From adaptive reuse to zoning loopholes, Rod takes us behind the scenes of his team’s bold bet...
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U.S. Logistics & Ports At A Breaking Point With Kent Gourdin – RFP 63
In this powerhouse episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere welcomes Kent Gourdin, professor and director of Global Logistics and Transportation at the College of Charleston, for a wide-ranging and deeply insightful conversation that peels back the layers of America’s supply chain crisis, port infrastructure limitations, and the real...
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Fixing Return To Office: Productivity Data & The Future of Work With Andrew Farah – RFP 62
In this episode, Andrew Farah, CEO and co-founder of Density, joins us to unpack what’s actually going on inside modern offices, and why so many companies are making costly decisions based on flawed assumptions. He explains why traditional metrics like badge swipes and headcount don’t reflect true office utilization, and how...
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Tariffs & Real Estate: How Supply Chain Shocks Reshape the Market With Kristian O’Meara – RFP 61
In the latest episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host and commercial real estate agent Gordon Lamphere sits down with global supply chain expert Kristian O’Meara (“KO”), Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at JAGGAER, to explore how geopolitical upheaval is redrawing the map for procurement—and in turn, for commercial real...
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The Data Center Arms Race: From Natural Gas To Nuclear Power With Pete DiSanto – RFP 60
In a world increasingly driven by digital infrastructure, industrial space is being redefined—not just by location or zoning, but by access to power. In Episode 60 of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Pete DiSanto, a marine engineer turned microgrid and energy infrastructure expert, to explore why...
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Why I Love Mondays With Jimmie Brennan -RFP 59
On Episode 59 of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere welcomes Jimmie Brennan, founder of Love Mondays Office Space, for a candid and illuminating discussion on why the office isn’t dead, it just needs to be reborn. https://youtu.be/bcJ44lpN-Tk?si=zWvP_EUiw4vq-TBa Forget everything you think you know about dreary office parks, lifeless gray...
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How To Survive Trump’s Supply Chain Shock? With Richard Barnett – RFP 58
As the global economy braces for another wave of trade disruption, companies are being forced to rethink their most fundamental assumptions—from where they source materials to where they place factories and warehouses. And with the specter of a second Trump administration looming, the return of aggressive tariffs is no longer just...
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Can We Save America’s Construction Industry? With George Carrillo – RFP 57
The cranes may still dot our skylines, but the ground beneath America’s construction industry is starting to shake—and not in a good way. https://youtu.be/0HbsgubOzJY In a powerful episode of the Real Finds Podcast, host and commercial real estate agent Gordon Lamphere sits down with George Carrillo, CEO of the Hispanic Construction...
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The Hidden Risks Of Private Real Estate Markets With Hunter Hopcroft – RFP 56
In today’s increasingly complex investment environment, the differences between public and private real estate markets are more than just structural—they’re strategic. On Episode 56 of The Real Finds Podcast, host and commercial real estate agent Gordon Lamphere sits down with Hunter Hopcroft, a seasoned investor and the voice behind the influential...
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Industrial Real Estate Growth Strategies for 2025 and Beyond With Scott Robinson – RFP 55
After a historic slowdown in total transaction volume, the industrial real estate market has a renewed appetite for acquisitions. However, the investment landscape in 2025 is far from straightforward. Liquidity challenges, rising energy costs, shifting logistics trends, and evolving tenant demands are forcing investors and occupiers to rethink their approach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezxjXqOl7b8...
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Developing Successful & Sustainable Planned Communities With Tom Hoban – RFP 54
When most developers talk about community, they’re referring to lot sizes, traffic patterns, and maybe a town square with a few restaurants. But when Tom Hoban talks about community, he’s talking about something radically different. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J73czbf4OAo In Episode 54 of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere speaks with Hoban—President and...
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Successfully Redefining Office Space with Spencer Levine – RFP 53
The phrase “office space” no longer means what it did five years ago. In a post-pandemic world shaped by hybrid work, lifestyle flexibility, and rising urban costs, the physical workplace is undergoing a transformation, and some developers are far ahead of the curve. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9557SQZmTSc In Episode 53 of The Real Finds...
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Multifamily Investing With Impact – Peter Slough & Jenny Romera – RFP 52
Impact investing is no longer just about making a difference—it’s about achieving exceptional financial returns while creating lasting, positive change. In this episode of the RealFinds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere is joined by Peter Slaugh and Jenny Romera to explore how impact investing in multifamily real estate is reshaping the industry....
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Can Landlord’s Keep Raising Rents? With Tim Wallen of MLG Capital – RFP 51
On this episode of the RealFinds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Tim Wallen, CEO of MLG Capital, to discuss the ever-changing real estate landscape. Drawing from decades of experience and over 45 million square feet of acquired properties, Tim offers an insightful look into the challenges, opportunities, and strategies...
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Navigating the Housing Crisis: Insights from Gordon Lamphere and Matt Hutchinson – RFP 50
Today, Gordon Lamphere sits down with Matt Hutchinson, Communications Director at SpareRoom, to discuss the escalating housing crisis impacting both the UK and the US. With rents continuing to rise across major metro areas, securing affordable housing is becoming increasingly difficult for individuals and families alike. In this compelling conversation, Gordon...
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The Art and Science of Real Estate Deals with Rob Solomon – RFP 49
On today’s RealFinds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Robert Solomon, President and Chief Legal Officer, to explore his remarkable career journey and the strategies behind managing a multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio. From his transition into real estate after law school to overseeing industrial, office, retail, and multifamily assets, Rob...
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Navigating the Disrupted Real Estate Market with Chris Loeffler – RFP 48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDjdzsjPhBk We sit down with Chris Loeffler, a former finance professional turned seasoned real estate investor, who takes us on a journey through commercial real estate. Chris provides a firsthand look into today’s disrupted market, sharing his strategies for identifying distressed assets, exploring opportunity zones, and highlighting emerging trends in...
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Missing The Middle: Steps To Solve America’s Housing Crisis With Sean Roberts – RFP 47
The housing crisis in the United States is reaching a critical point, with 77% of households unable to afford the median-priced home and a deficit of millions of homes needed to meet demand. On today’s RealFinds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sat down with Sean Roberts, CEO of Villa, to discuss this...
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