📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights on better living in Atlanta and discover more ways of mindful living, delivered straight to your inbox: https://www.maconatlanta.com/📖 Read more about this episode on: https://www.maconatlanta.com🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5BKnknrfxlAABOUT THE EPISODE⭐ Featured Guest: Gene KansasGene Kansas is an award-winning historic preservationist, real estate developer, storyteller, and author based in Atlanta. He's the founder of Gene Kansas | Commercial Real Estate, a firm dedicated to culturally connecting people and place by building up history, not over it www.genekansas.com.Gene is also the founder of Constellations, a culturally-based workspace in Atlanta's historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood www.constellations.community. He is the author of Civil Sights (University of Georgia Press, February 2025), a definitive history of Sweet Auburn and the civil rights movement www.civilsights.com.He was the creator and host of the award-winning Sidewalk Radio for five seasons on Atlanta’s AM 1690. Gene has received numerous accolades including the 2016 Ivan Allen Jr. Legacy Award from Georgia Tech and the 2016 Alonzo F. Herndon Business Award.Gene holds a BS in Entrepreneurship from University of Arizona and an MS in Digital Media from Georgia Tech, where he now serves as Advisory Board Member and Vice Chair of the Ivan Allen College.Connect with Gene Kansas:Instagram: www.instagram.com/gene\_kansas/Instagram (Civil Sights): www.instagram.com/civilsights/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gene-kansas-54844b2/🎙️ Host: Brent MaconBrent Macon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host. As a dad and spiritual seeker, he's passionate about exploring how technology can help us live better, more connected lives. Through his podcast Macon Atlanta, Brent talks with interesting people about big ideas, personal growth, and building a thriving community. He believes in balancing ambition with wellbeing, and using business as a force for good.Connect With Brent:Instagram: www.instagram.com/maconatlanta/YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyBo\_7H2OpMjJ2m3mRBDng/Twitter/X: www.x.com/MaconAtlanta/Facebook: www.facebook.com/p/Macon-Atlanta-61560549557983/?\_rdr/📺 About the Show:Macon Atlanta is a podcast exploring big questions, bold ideas, and better living with inspiring Atlantans. Host Brent Macon sits down with innovators and thought leaders from diverse fields to delve into their stories, insights, and visions for creating a better world with more thriving.If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a 5-star review / like & comment to help others discover the show. You can also tweet @MaconAtlanta with your feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes, and we'll personally thank you for tuning in 🙏.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction and Welcome1:31 - Gene's Background: Entrepreneur, Developer, Author3:00 - Moving to Atlanta: A Junior Year Decision5:27 - Atlanta's Evolution: From '95 Olympics to Today's Opportunities7:14 - The Inspiration Behind "Civil Sites"10:53 - Historic Preservation as Business Strategy13:53 - The Research Process: 8 Years and 10,000+ Pages16:32 - The Team Behind the Book: Four Different Editors18:33 - Balancing Real Estate Business with Writing19:38 - Defining Success: Getting Books to Students22:07 - Heron's Restaurant: The Complexity of Integration24:36 - Being a White Author of Civil Rights History26:08 - Reception and Impact Since Publication27:08 - Book Format: Making History Accessible31:24 - Geographic Structure and Landmark Mix32:26 - Personal Growth Through the Passion Project33:27 - Closing and Book Recommendation#MaconAtlanta #Podcast