Inside Deal host Sam Schneider revisits standout moments from the show's first eight episodes, featuring investors, entrepreneurs, and deal makers who share the frameworks and instincts that shaped their careers. The compilation explores career pivots, early failures, and the discipline required to capitalize on high-value moments in both business and life.

They discuss:

- How failed ventures and non-linear career paths often precede long-term success

- Why recessions and market downturns present disproportionate opportunity for those positioned to act

- The importance of outworking competitors while maintaining strong relationships across all levels

- How overlooked asset classes like truck parking and build-to-rent housing reward deep market understanding

- Strategies for navigating crises without making fear-based decisions

This episode distills lessons on resilience, strategic pivots, and asymmetric risk-taking for anyone building a career in real estate or entrepreneurship.

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:17) - No one’s career is a straight line

(00:09:25) - No money, no relationships, no problem

(00:13:14) - Deals nobody else would touch

(00:30:51) - The unfair edge

(00:37:46) - Advice for young professionals

Sam Schneider

    LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schneider-11234826/

Companies:

  Imperium Capital — https://www.imperiumcap.com

Sam Schneider and Peter Von Der Ahe explore the systems, mindset shifts, and strategic pivots that powered Peter's journey from cold-calling broker to leading one of New York's top multifamily investment sales teams, and eventually transitioning into full-time principal investing through MFP Capital.

They discuss:

- Why moving the money conversation to the front of a deal unlocked team collaboration and eliminated friction in brokerage

- How cloud computing and marketing automation allowed Peter to scale from six people to fifty-five while leveraging his time tenfold

- The decision to walk away from a successful, established brokerage business to build a principal platform from scratch

- How recessions create disproportionate opportunity for those with runway, preparation, and the right reframe

- Why understanding what you're naturally good at matters more than chasing what sounds impressive on the surface

This episode offers a blueprint for anyone building teams, navigating career transitions, or looking to compound small advantages into lasting success in real estate.

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:55) - Peter's early years and college at BC

(00:04:24) - Moving to New York and first jobs

(00:06:32) - Arthur Andersen and the CMBS boom

(00:09:12) - Dot com detour and sales experience

(00:12:06) - Joining Marcus & Millichap

(00:13:51) - The GFC as opportunity

(00:17:03) - Building a team-based brokerage model

(00:23:42) - The marketing letter that changed everything

(00:28:51) - Scaling with technology and systems

(00:30:39) - Podcast and inbound strategies

(00:31:12) - New York rent laws and pivoting out

(00:33:36) - COVID acceleration and the Florida move

(00:36:06) - Going all in on MFP Capital

(00:40:45) - MFP's investment strategy

(00:41:51) - Finding operational upside in deals

(00:43:48) - Favorite deal story

(00:45:23) - Peter's 90 mile-an-hour fastball

(00:47:03) - Navigating adversity and hard decisions

(00:49:51) - Advice for young professionals

Sam Schneider

    LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schneider-11234826/

Peter Von Der Ahe

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pvonderahe/

Companies:

  Imperium Capital — https://www.imperiumcap.com

  MFP Capital - https://www.mfpcap.com/

Adam Gordon and Sam Schneider explore the evolution of a real estate career built on recognizing emerging opportunities before they become mainstream. Gordon shares how he transitioned from flipping cars in high school to developing hundreds of millions of dollars in urban self-storage, luxury residential conversions, modern e-commerce warehouses for Amazon, EV charging infrastructure, and ultimately Wildflower Studios—the first vertical film studio in the world, co-founded with Robert De Niro. The conversation traces a pattern of entering undervalued sectors early, building expertise quickly, and exiting when margins compress.

They discuss:

- How Gordon secured his first internship at Trammell Crow by offering to work for free and proved his value

- The shift from factory outlet retail in Vermont to urban self-storage in New York after studying demographic and rent arbitrage opportunities

- Why he handled all major leasing himself to stay close to demand signals and spot the next wave before competitors

- The origin of his Amazon relationship and how asking one question about long-term tenant satisfaction led to pioneering EV charging deals

- Building Wildflower Studios by interviewing practitioners for a year to design space that elevates the filmmaking process

This episode offers a blueprint for entrepreneurs seeking to build differentiated businesses in alternative real estate sectors while managing downside risk.
Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:04:09) - Childhood interests and early entrepreneurship
(00:06:12) - Family background and shaping destiny
(00:07:56) - Flipping cars at the University of Michigan
(00:11:57) - Getting into real estate through Trammell Crow
(00:14:45) - Learning the business at Trammell Crow
(00:16:19) - Bear Stearns and financing skills
(00:17:25) - First principal deals in Chicago
(00:18:36) - Factory outlet stores in Vermont
(00:20:29) - First Vermont shopping center deal
(00:24:26) - Urban self-storage in New York
(00:28:27) - Building modern e-commerce warehouses
(00:31:09) - First Amazon warehouse deal
(00:34:12) - Luxury residential townhouse conversions
(00:38:09) - EV charging infrastructure
(00:40:12) - Wildflower Studios with Robert De Niro
(00:44:30) - Beyond real estate: Wagyu beef ranching
(00:45:39) - Competitive advantages and success principles
(00:48:00) - Risk management and dealing with failure
(00:49:15) - Advice for young professionals

Sam Schneider

Sam Schneider and Martin Nussbaum sit down on Inside Deal to explore how learning disabilities, early failures, and strategic pivots shaped a multifaceted real estate career. Martin shares his path from pre-med student to real estate investment banker, and eventually to co-founding Slate Property Group—a vertically integrated firm managing thousands of units and billions in credit across the East Coast. The conversation unpacks how early setbacks, including a failed first venture during the financial crisis, informed his approach to diversification and risk management.

They discuss:

- Why bringing in co-GP partners accelerates learning and provides crucial balance sheet support for new developers

- How Slate built separate profit-and-loss verticals for construction, property management, leasing, affordable housing, and lending to weather market cycles

- The decision to hire a professional management team and step back from daily operations despite founding the company

- What makes East Coast markets more operationally manageable than West Coast expansion for hands-on developers

- Why maintaining weekly operational data on thousands of units creates competitive advantages in investor conversations and acquisition underwriting

This episode offers a detailed look at building resilience and institutional scale in real estate development for operators and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.

(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:02:06) - Growing up in New Jersey as a first-generation American
(00:04:27) - Overcoming learning disabilities through hard work
(00:05:49) - College at SUNY Albany and family circumstances
(00:07:40) - The pivot away from medical school
(00:09:24) - Breaking into real estate investment banking
(00:11:12) - Learning the operational side at Atlantic Realty
(00:14:43) - Taking the leap and the N2 Realty failure
(00:19:43) - Starting Silverstone Property Group after the GFC
(00:21:09) - Early Brooklyn development before gentrification
(00:22:49) - Launching Slate Property Group with David Schwartz
(00:24:19) - Managing ground-up construction and value-add simultaneously
(00:26:04) - The co-GP partnership model explained
(00:28:54) - Building vertical integration across service lines
(00:32:40) - Expanding into affordable housing development
(00:35:38) - Launching the credit business to diversify
(00:37:23) - Investment thesis and when to close failed ventures
(00:39:39) - The importance of constant reinvention
(00:41:11) - Hiring a management team and stepping back
(00:46:13) - Competitive advantages: relationships and multitasking
(00:48:04) - Advice for starting with nothing today
(00:49:13) - Final advice: outwork everyone with a chip on your shoulder
Sam Schneider

Sam Schneider and David Peretz explore the evolution of a real estate career built on relationships, hustle, and strategic pivots. David Peretz, co-founder and managing partner of East End Capital, shares how he transitioned from investment banking at Lazard to becoming one of New York's most active office buyers during the post-financial crisis era. The conversation traces his journey from high-leverage lessons at Broadway Partners through launching East End Capital in 2010, identifying emerging opportunities in markets like Wynwood before they became household names, and adapting to capital and industry shifts.

They discuss:

- Why buying a C-grade building in the Garment District launched East End Capital's first major success

- How East End identified Wynwood, Miami as an opportunity years before it became a national destination

- The shift from traditional opportunity funds to insurance companies and private capital driving today's real estate transactions

- Why starting a business requires financial runway and complementary partners you genuinely enjoy working with

- How being proactive rather than reactive when learning from mentors separates successful operators from the rest

This episode from Inside Deal offers practical insights for anyone navigating real estate investment, building a firm from the ground up, or learning how to spot value others overlook.

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:02:38) - Growing up on Long Island and early work experience
(00:04:17) - Penn and the value of college networks
(00:09:42) - Real estate as the information business
(00:12:51) - Management versus investment skill sets
(00:17:54) - Landing at Lazard and investment banking grind
(00:26:50) - Joining Broadway Partners and lessons learned
(00:33:18) - Starting East End Capital
(00:41:20) - First deal and the power of relationships
(00:52:08) - Pivoting to Miami and discovering Wynwood
(00:57:58) - Partnering with Related on ground-up development
(01:01:59) - Entering the movie studio business
(01:09:21) - Future opportunities in New York office
(01:14:25) - Skills and advice for young investors
(01:18:28) - Closing advice for starting your own shop

Sam Schneider

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-peretz-76b1542ab/

Sam Schneider and Travis Talmadge sit down on Inside Deal to trace Travis's path from college intern to co-founder of Bathhouse, a rapidly expanding wellness brand redefining sauna culture in America. Travis shares how he entered real estate brokerage during the 2008 financial crisis, built momentum through relentless hustle and relationship management, and eventually left a thriving career to launch something entirely new. The conversation moves from early deal-making lessons to the pivot that led Travis and his business partner to open their first Bathhouse location in Williamsburg in 2019—just months before the pandemic hit.

They discuss:

- Why working hard and making yourself valuable matters more than subject matter expertise early in a career

- How Travis structured landlord-financed build-to-suits to scale Bathhouse without raising excessive capital

- What it took to survive COVID as a high-volume social business and emerge stronger

- How information arbitrage shaped Travis's early success in off-market real estate transactions

- Why Bathhouse designs every location uniquely and focuses on premium locations over cookie-cutter expansion

This episode offers a blueprint for anyone navigating career pivots, building operating businesses, or learning how to turn curiosity and grit into long-term success.

(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:02:43) - Growing up in Bedford and early work ethic
(00:04:23) - Landing the Eastern Consolidated internship
(00:08:23) - The 2008 financial crisis and starting out in brokerage
(00:10:00) - Early career lessons on hard work and discipline
(00:12:53) - Buyer-focused brokerage strategy
(00:14:53) - Joining Imperium Capital as first employee
(00:18:03) - Early Imperium deals and market strategy
(00:19:43) - The Soho Square deal and following up
(00:22:33) - Information arbitrage in real estate
(00:27:24) - Starting Triplet Acquisitions
(00:30:35) - The Bathhouse origin story
(00:33:03) - Finding the first Williamsburg location
(00:34:35) - Building out a bathhouse in New York City
(00:37:38) - Opening day and early traction
(00:41:43) - COVID shutdown and survival strategy
(00:46:43) - Expanding to Manhattan Flatiron
(00:49:58) - Operating at scale across two locations
(00:51:55) - National expansion and build-to-suit deals
(00:55:01) - Real estate strategy for Bathhouse locations
(01:00:36) - Product evolution and the Aufguss program
(01:02:45) - Advice for young professionals

Sam Schneider

Sam Schneider and Dan Glaser trace the arc of their two-decade real estate partnership on Inside Deal, from cold-calling interns to co-founders of Imperium Capital. Dan recounts his early exposure to Manhattan real estate through Rangers games with his father, an internship in office leasing that taught him to canvas relentlessly, and a second internship at City Habitats that introduced him to investment sales. The conversation moves quickly to their meeting at KMG Partners in 2005, the shift to Eastern Consolidated during the financial crisis, and the decision to launch Imperium in 2010 with no salary, no safety net, and desks borrowed from Centurion.

They discuss:

- Why they structured C-corp acquisitions to avoid double taxation and landed the Apple Store building in SoHo for $75 million

- How a cold call on a Chelsea apartment building turned into a same-day flip with a hidden buyer sitting in the closing room

- The origin of IG Logistics after discovering truck parking in Atlanta and tripling NOI on a Denver site while still under contract

- Why being a broker first builds the deal-sourcing skillset that AI cannot replicate

- How problem-solving under pressure across zoning codes and municipalities separates successful operators from everyone else

This episode captures the mechanics of off-market dealmaking and the mindset required to build a platform from scratch in a fragmented asset class.

(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:02:00) - Growing up on Long Island
(00:03:31) - First interest in real estate
(00:04:12) - Cold calling as an office leasing intern
(00:06:25) - City Habitats and learning investment sales
(00:10:28) - Meeting at KMG Partners
(00:11:52) - The 2006 market shift
(00:14:04) - Moving to Eastern Consolidated
(00:14:17) - Learning from top brokers at Eastern
(00:19:05) - Understanding OPM and capital structures
(00:26:05) - Starting Imperium Capital
(00:32:45) - First months at Imperium
(00:34:21) - Building a sports team culture
(00:36:59) - First building on Worcester Street
(00:37:42) - The Apple Store building deal
(00:40:46) - Soho Square with Larry Gluck
(00:45:35) - The Chelsea flip transaction
(00:53:24) - Discovering industrial outdoor storage
(01:01:34) - COVID and the Nashville deal
(01:05:32) - LaPan Street Denver creative structuring
(01:09:36) - Birth of IG Logistics platform
(01:11:33) - Vision for the future
(01:13:22) - Overcoming adversity
(01:18:05) - Essential skills for real estate
(01:19:59) - Career advice for aspiring operators
Show Platforms:

  Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-deal/id1896846542?uo=4

  Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/033poSD8Wsy72Xnb2mKB4Z

Speaker Profiles:

  Sam Schneider

    LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schneider-11234826/

  Dan Glaser

    LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-glaser-3bb06445/

Companies:

  Imperium Capital — https://www.imperiumcap.com

Sam Schneider and Simon Ziff sit down at Miami Beach's historic Bath Club to explore what it takes to build lasting success in commercial real estate finance. Simon, president of Ackman-Ziff, traces his path from a small Pennsylvania town to leading one of the industry's most respected debt and equity brokerage firms for over three decades. The conversation covers how he built a culture around execution over ego, why internal alignment matters more than star producers, and how cultivating deep client trust has kept the firm thriving through multiple market cycles.

They discuss:

- Why knowing more than your competition is the foundation of long-term success

- How Ackman-Ziff structured teams to avoid internal conflicts and encourage collaboration

- The value of staying at one firm versus pivoting early in a career

- Why Simon advises his own son to work elsewhere for five years before considering the family business

- How AI is being used to improve execution and capital sourcing without replacing human judgment

This episode on Inside Deal offers a candid look at relationship-driven deal-making and the discipline required to sustain a competitive edge in institutional real estate finance.

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:52) - From Phillipsburg to Penn State

(00:03:32) - Moving to New York City

(00:05:40) - Joining Ackman Brothers

(00:06:12) - Building a competitive advantage

(00:09:13) - Focus over money

(00:11:20) - Pivoting in capital markets

(00:14:06) - Finding money through reputation

(00:15:44) - Sam's path to Michigan

(00:20:52) - Day trading to real estate

(00:22:33) - Cold calling and canvassing

(00:23:46) - Starting Imperium Capital

(00:24:59) - What you know over who you know

(00:25:51) - Building authentic relationships

(00:28:27) - Building Ackman Ziff's culture

(00:30:07) - Execution over sales

(00:33:15) - The trust business

(00:38:29) - Team structure and collaboration

(00:43:51) - Teaching and mentorship

(00:44:35) - Family business lessons

(00:46:09) - Next generation entering the business

(00:47:36) - Know more than others

(00:50:03) - Embracing AI in brokerage

(00:53:43) - What excites Simon most

Links:

Show Platforms:

  Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-deal/id1896846542?uo=4

  Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/033poSD8Wsy72Xnb2mKB4Z

Speaker Profiles:

  Sam Schneider

    LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schneider-11234826/

  Simon Ziff

    LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonziff

    Twitter / X — https://x.com/SimonZiff_AZ

Companies:

  Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group — https://www.ackmanziff.com/

  Imperium Capital — https://www.imperiumcap.com

Bill Martin joins Sam Schneider on the Inside Deal Podcast to reflect on a career that spans real estate development, banking, college athletics, and leadership at the Olympic level. Bill shares how a chance job posting at the University of Michigan led him into real estate, eventually building First Martin into a major development firm and founding the Bank of Ann Arbor. The conversation explores the lessons he learned navigating public approvals, scaling organizations, hiring leaders, and managing high-pressure roles simultaneously. Bill also discusses his unexpected path to becoming Athletic Director at the University of Michigan and President of the US Olympic Committee, offering candid insights into leadership, politics, perseverance, and long-term thinking.

They discuss:

• How Bill accidentally entered the real estate business while earning his MBA at Michigan

• Building a real estate company from zero equity and running operations out of car trunks

• The 17-year partnership with McDonnell Douglas that transformed First Martin

• Why real estate development is fundamentally a “public sector business”

• Leading the renovation of Michigan Stadium and navigating intense political opposition

• Founding the Bank of Ann Arbor after frustrations with bank consolidation

• How Bill managed leadership roles across real estate, banking, Michigan athletics, and the US Olympic Committee simultaneously

• The hiring traits Bill values most, including humility, teamwork, and long-term thinking

• Advice for young people entering real estate today, including working for experience before compensation

• Lessons from Sam Zell and the importance of perseverance in building a career

This episode is packed with practical leadership lessons and career insights for anyone interested in real estate, entrepreneurship, sports leadership, or institution building.

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:22) - Getting into real estate through a bulletin board job

(00:06:22) - First major deal with McDonnell Douglas

(00:09:08) - Navigating public sector approvals and Michigan Stadium renovation

(00:12:06) - From real estate to Michigan athletic director

(00:25:11) - Starting the Bank of Ann Arbor

(00:29:00) - Managing multiple leadership roles simultaneously

(00:37:01) - Hiring for team players and delegation

(00:41:53) - The key to career success: perseverance and people

(00:43:00) - Advice for breaking into real estate today

Links:

Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-deal/id1896846542?uo=4

  Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/033poSD8Wsy72Xnb2mKB4Z

Speaker Profiles:

  Sam Schneider

    LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schneider-11234826/

    Imperium Capital - https://www.imperiumcap.com/ 

Companies:

  Bank of Ann Arbor — https://www.bankofannarbor.com/about-us/help-center/

  First Martin — https://www.firstmartin.com/about/

Organizations:

  Urban Land Institute — https://uli.org/

  US Olympic Committee — https://www.usopc.org/

  US Sailing Association — https://ussailing.org/about/our-organization/

  Weiser Center for Real Estate — http://studyrealestate.umich.edu/

Books:

  Am I Being Too Subtle? — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318899/am-i-being-too-subtle-by-sam-zell/

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build something extraordinary — not from a textbook, but from the trenches — this is The Inside Deal Podcast.

I'm Sam Schneider, Managing Partner at Imperium Capital, and on this show, I sit down with the operators, investors, entrepreneurs, and dealmakers who've built remarkable careers and businesses from the inside out. Real estate is in our DNA, but the conversations go far beyond it — because the principles behind great deals, great companies, and great careers are universal.

These aren't surface-level conversations about headlines or hype. They're real stories about risk, resilience, relationships, and the decisions that changed everything.

From launching firms in the aftermath of the financial crisis, to building billion-dollar platforms across industries, to navigating massive pivots and coming back stronger after failure — these conversations are candid, tactical, and deeply human.

This show is for ambitious people who want to understand how great careers and great businesses are actually built. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, operator, student, or just fascinated by high-stakes decision making, you'll hear the lessons that rarely make it into conference panels or social media posts.

You'll learn how exceptional people think through uncertainty, build trust, raise capital, spot opportunities others miss, and create relationships that compound over decades.

And what makes these conversations different is that I'm not interviewing from the outside. I've lived this world myself — so these episodes feel less like interviews and more like sitting in on an honest conversation between people who've spent years navigating the business together.

This is The Inside Deal Podcast.