Real Smart

Building Culver City: Carving a Path for Housing and Growth

In this episode of Real Smart, Spencer speaks with Culver City Planning and Development Director Mark Muenzer about how the city has become a standout example of getting housing built at a time when development often takes years to move forward. Mark explains how Culver City has embraced state housing mandates, streamlined approvals, and taken a problem-solving approach that turns plans into progress. He also shares insights on leadership, technology, and the role cities can play in removing barriers to growth. The conversation highlights how Culver City is proving that with the right mindset and leadership, cities can make housing development succeed.

Inside High-Stakes Disputes: What Business Leaders Need to Know

How do top trial lawyers stay calm under pressure — and help leaders make smarter decisions when the stakes are highest? In this episode of Real Smart, Spencer sits down with Alan Hearty, Chair of Allen Matkins' Century City Litigation Department, for an inside look at how to win (and prevent) high-stakes real estate and business disputes. Watch now.

Eddie Prosser on Credit, Distress, and Discipline in Real Estate Lending

Host Spencer Kallick sits down with Eddie Prosser — Principal and Head of Credit at Thorofare Capital — for a look at what really separates disciplined lenders in volatile markets. From his time doing FDIC bank resolutions and distressed workouts to today's transitional real estate loans, Prosser breaks down the "Plan B" mindset, where the next wave of opportunity may surface (including office-basis resets), and why fundamentals and relationships still beat shortcuts — even in the age of AI.

Digging into Geological Consulting and Real Estate Development | Josh Feffer, Ownder and Principal, Feffer Geological Consulting

In this episode of Real Smart, Spencer speaks with Josh Feffer, a geotechnical engineer and owner and principal at Feffer Geological Consulting. They discuss the critical role of geotechnical engineering in real estate development, including site assessments, historical research, drilling, and soil testing to ensure land stability and compliance with municipal codes. Josh walks us through the history of municipal codes in Los Angeles, which are especially complex due to hillside sites and seismic activity. He emphasizes the evolving challenges due to stricter seismic codes and the impact of natural events like fires on soil conditions. This is a deep dive into a fascinating and critical aspect of real estate development and into how Josh built his business from the ground up.

Preserving the Past While Building the Future – A Conversation with Katie Horak

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Horak, principal at Architectural Resources Group, to discuss the role of historic architects and consultants. Katie walks us through the process of identifying historic properties, the importance of early consultation, and the balance between preservation and development in Los Angeles, including projects like SurveyLA, as well as her leadership and teaching roles in historic preservation. This episode is a must-see for all historic architecture fans.