Robnett’s Real Estate Rundown

Lane Kawaoka joins Shannon Robnett for a conversation about financial independence, tax strategy, and why most people may be chasing a retirement number that is far higher than they actually need. After starting his career as a civil engineer, Lane built a real estate portfolio, moved into syndication, and now manages more than $2 billion in assets as a general partner.

Paul Hutchinson built a life that many people would consider the definition of success. He made significant wealth at a young age, owned dozens of cars, lived in a massive home and surrounded himself with an extraordinary lifestyle.

But behind that success, Paul realized something was missing.

In this conversation, he opens up about the period when he was living what he describes as a “lifestyle of excess,” while his second marriage was heading toward divorce. He began to recognize that another car, another party, another relationship or even another rescue mission wasn't going to provide the fulfillment he was looking for.

That realization eventually changed the direction of his life.

Listen to the full episode, share your biggest takeaway in the comments, and subscribe to The Real Estate Rundown for more conversations about commercial real estate and entrepreneurship.

Dusten Hendrickson joins Shannon Robnett for a conversation about the part of the housing market most developers overlook: renters who earn too much for subsidized housing but still cannot afford a new home or luxury apartment.

Neal Bloom joins Shannon Robnett for a conversation about what “smart money” should actually mean. With roots in real estate and a background in engineering, Neal moved from working on major aerospace programs to building technology companies and investing in early-stage founders through Rising Tide Partners.

Robert Helms joins Shannon Robnett for a candid conversation about the difference between owning assets and actually having freedom. After five decades in real estate, Robert explains why cash flow - not just a bigger bank account or a rising portfolio, is what gives people control of their time.

Raj Kothari joins Shannon Robnett for a candid conversation about what business owners need to understand before they buy, grow, or sell a company. After selling 80% of his own business and later making more on the 20% he kept, Raj explains why the best exits are prepared years in advance—not when the first buyer shows up.

John Rubino joins Shannon Robnett for a candid conversation about what separates a real passive investment from a deal that only looks good on paper. After serving in the military and building experience across more than 30 real estate projects, John explains why the sponsor, the market, and the relationship with investors matter more than the pitch. 

They discuss conservative underwriting, rising rates, investor fit, due diligence, and the 74-unit project that had to be reworked when the financing environment changed. The central question: do you really know who is operating the deal before you invest?

Listen to the full episode and subscribe to The Real Estate Rundown for more conversations about commercial real estate and investing.

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Matthew Horne joins Shannon Robnett for a candid conversation about how to keep making self-storage deals when rates rise and the numbers stop working the way they used to. After helping build a large storage operation and later launching his own firm, Matthew explains how repeatable systems, direct owner conversations, seller financing, and creative deal terms helped him keep moving through a difficult market. 

They discuss due diligence, managing managers, market supply, household income, AI, and why some deals look completely different once you leave the spreadsheet. The central question: are you analyzing the market or just trusting the model?

Listen to the full episode, share your biggest takeaway in the comments, and subscribe to The Real Estate Rundown for more conversations about commercial real estate and entrepreneurship.

Russell Gray joins Shannon Robnett for a candid conversation about what happens when leverage, debt, and blind confidence meet a changing financial system.

After losing everything in the 2008 crash, Russell explains why real estate should be built on cash flow and productive assets, not hope for appreciation. They discuss inflation, sound money, portfolio risk, market cycles, and why surrounding yourself with experienced people may be the smartest investment you can make.

The central question: are you building real freedom or just collecting more doors?

Listen to the full episode and subscribe to The Real Estate Rundown for more conversations about commercial real estate and entrepreneurship.

In this episode of The Real Estate Rundown, Shannon Robnett sits down with Ken McElroy to talk about building and protecting wealth through real estate across different market cycles.

Ken shares why he remains optimistic about real estate despite high interest rates and economic uncertainty: years of limited construction, population growth, and migration have left many markets undersupplied. But he also explains why investors need to look beyond broad labels like “Dallas” or “Phoenix” and understand the exact submarket, rents, jobs, vacancy, and future supply.

The conversation covers distressed multifamily opportunities, cash flow versus appreciation, fixed-rate debt, patient investors, property management, and why owners need to know their numbers firsthand. Ken also shares the story behind his “paper versus hard assets” philosophy and why the best investors make money when they buy - not when they sell.

Listen to the full episode and subscribe to The Real Estate Rundown.