Why Physical Retail Isn't Going Away

Why Physical Retail Isn't Going Away

In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, Kyle Matthews sits down with Jodie McLean, CEO of EDENS, one of the nation’s largest privately held owners, operators, and developers of open-air retail and mixed-use destinations. Jodie’s journey is anything but conventional. She joined EDENS as a financial analyst fresh out of college and spent more than three decades helping transform the company into a real estate powerhouse with a portfolio that serves millions of people every day. Along the way, she became one of the most respected leaders in commercial real estate, served as Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and helped redefine what retail real estate can be in a rapidly changing world. Kyle and Jodie discuss leadership, mentorship, career longevity, the future of retail, artificial intelligence, community building, and the lessons learned from leading through economic cycles, e-commerce disruption, and changing consumer behavior. In this episode, you'll learn: • How Jodie rose from analyst to CEO after 36 years at one company • Why loyalty, impact, and long-term thinking still matter in today's business world • The leadership lessons that shaped EDENS' culture and growth • How e-commerce transformed retail real estate—and why physical places matter more than ever • Why AI may increase demand for human connection, not decrease it • What makes great communities and thriving mixed-use developments • Her experience serving as Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond • The challenges and opportunities of being a female leader in commercial real estate • Why culture ultimately beats strategy in building great organizations • The importance of mentorship, curiosity, resilience, and taking calculated risks Jodie also shares the story of nearly leaving EDENS, the mentor who changed her career trajectory, and the bold decisions that helped shape one of the most innovative retail real estate companies in America. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, investor, commercial real estate professional, or someone looking to build a meaningful career, this conversation is packed with wisdom on leadership, purpose, and creating lasting impact. Follow Jodie McLean: LinkedIn: Jodie McLean Instagram: @jodiewmclean Learn More About EDENS: https://www.edens.com [https://www.edens.com/] Follow Kyle Matthews: Instagram: @KyleMatthewsCEO X: @KyleMatthewsCEO LinkedIn: Kyle Matthews TikTok: @KyleMatthewsCEO #JodieMcLean #EDENS #CommercialRealEstate #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #RetailRealEstate #BusinessPodcast #MatthewsMentality #CEO #WomenInBusiness #RealEstateDevelopment #CommunityBuilding #FederalReserve #BusinessLeadership #KyleMatthewsCEO

The Real Reason Some Careers Accelerate

In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, Kyle Matthews sits down with Brian Finnegan, President and CEO of Brixmor Property Group (NYSE: BRX), one of the largest open-air shopping center owners and operators in the United States. Brian’s story is a masterclass in leadership, patience, and long-term career growth. Starting as a leasing representative in 2004, he spent more than two decades working through nearly every operational role in the company before ultimately becoming CEO of a publicly traded real estate investment trust with 344 shopping centers, 62+ million square feet of retail space, and more than 900 million annual consumer visits. Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:55 Welcome to the Show 02:25 Understanding Brixmor Property Group 05:10 Retail's Resurgence 08:04 Supply and Demand Dynamics 11:19 Same Store Growth 12:51 How We Met 15:13 Networking as a Young Professional 16:49 Brixmor's Evolution and History 20:41 Lessons from Being Young 22:30 Philadelphia Roots 24:29 Getting Into Real Estate 26:49 Brokerage Lessons 28:33 Cold Calling Stories 30:56 Dealing with Rejection 34:32 Time Blocking and Prospecting 35:10 Maximizing Your Current Role 38:01 Moving Across America 39:37 Embracing New Cities 40:54 National Portfolio Experience 41:36 Market Expertise Matters 43:14 Career Growth and Relocation 45:20 Becoming CEO 49:07 First Quarter Success 51:59 CEO Responsibilities 53:13 Redevelopment Strategy 56:08 Work Life Balance 01:00:13 Technology and AI 01:05:07 Innovation and Young Talent 01:07:50 Advice for Young Professionals 01:10:01 Rapid Fire Round If you're interested in commercial real estate, investing, leadership, entrepreneurship, career growth, public companies, REITs, retail real estate, or business strategy, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world experience. Follow Brian Finnegan: LinkedIn: Brian Finnegan Learn More About Brixmor Property Group: Website: https://www.brixmor.com [https://www.brixmor.com/] NYSE: BRX Follow Kyle Matthews: Instagram: @KyleMatthewsCEO TikTok: @KyleMatthewsCEO X: @KyleMatthewsCEO LinkedIn: Kyle Matthews Subscribe for more interviews with CEOs, founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. #KyleMatthewsCEO #BrianFinnegan #Brixmor #BRX #CommercialRealEstate #RetailRealEstate #REIT #Investing #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #RealEstateInvesting #CEO #Retail #ShoppingCenters #MatthewsMentality #BusinessGrowth #NYSE #CareerGrowth #CommercialProperty

Why Turning Down Shark Tank Was the Best Decision They Made

Nick Friedman, co-founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, joins Kyle Matthews to share how a 2003 summer hustle with a beat-up cargo van grew into a national brand with roughly 200 franchise owners across 40+ states. They discuss the origin of the name and the HUNKS acronym (Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable Service), why customers pay for convenience and clutter relief, and how systems from The E-Myth helped them scale. Nick recounts appearing on Shark Tank’s first episode, dealing with Kevin O’Leary’s negativity, receiving an offer from Robert Herjavec, and turning it down. He explains franchising pros/cons, self-funding for 15 years, culture and accountability, lessons from Undercover Boss, industry headwinds tied to housing, and the company’s giving efforts including domestic violence survivor moves and Tampa hurricane relief.

The Dark Side of Buy Now Pay Later

On the Matthews Mentality podcast, host Kyle Matthews interviews four-time founder and Kasheesh CEO Sam Miller, who dropped out of college, bootstrapped early companies, achieved three exits, and now leads a fintech platform that lets consumers split purchases across multiple cards with no loans, interest, or credit checks. Miller explains Kasheesh’s origin as a response to predatory buy-now-pay-later lending, its evolution from a browser extension to Apple Pay/Google Pay, and growth to 110,000+ users and $72M+ in transactions. They discuss fundraising challenges, differences between bootstrapping and venture-backed startups, lessons from working in VC, and how consumer usage shifted from discretionary spending to essentials like rent and utilities. The conversation also covers AI’s impact on work, economic warning signs, and Kasheesh roadmap features like Replay, group payments, and rent reporting to credit bureaus.

He Quit Wall Street to Buy a Frozen Yogurt Shop

In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, Kyle Matthews interviews Neil Hershman, CEO of 16 Handles, entrepreneur, franchise operator, Everest summiter, endurance athlete, and business owner. Neil shares how he left a hedge fund career at 23 years old, bought a single 16 Handles frozen yogurt franchise with an SBA loan, and scaled it into a rapidly growing national franchise brand with nearly 80 locations. This episode covers entrepreneurship, franchising, business growth, leadership, scaling a company, SBA loans, franchise ownership, investing, mental toughness, endurance training, and building a successful consumer brand. Topics covered in this episode: * How Neil Hershman bought and scaled 16 Handles * Growing a franchise business from 1 location to nearly 80 stores * Using SBA loans to buy a business * Entrepreneurship and startup lessons * Scaling operations and franchise systems * Leadership lessons from business and endurance sports * Climbing Mount Everest and completing ultra-endurance races * Balancing business growth, family, and personal performance * The future expansion of 16 Handles across the United States * How community-driven brands win in today’s market If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, franchising, startups, scaling a business, investing, business leadership, or founder stories, this episode is packed with insights and practical lessons. Follow 16 Handles: Instagram: @16handles Website: https://16handles.com [https://16handles.com/] Follow Kyle Matthews: Instagram: @KyleMatthewsCEO TikTok: @KyleMatthewsCEO X: @KyleMatthewsCEO LinkedIn: Kyle Matthews Subscribe for more interviews with entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors, athletes, and high performers.