Smith Lane Podcast

This week, Callie and Monaca welcome Jenelle Schmidli, known as the “Platting Queen”, for an episode that bridges land development know-how with heartfelt advocacy for mental health. Jenelle unpacks the complex, collaborative world of platting, revealing how her childhood curiosity on a rural Mississippi road grew into a lifelong passion for shaping communities.

Together, the conversation moves from technical tips for efficient plat approvals to the human side of construction. Jenelle shares her personal journey as a survivor, advocate, and mother, illuminating the often-overlooked crisis of suicide in the construction industry. Her courage and vision, as well as her annual “Robe Walk” for suicide awareness, remind us that community-building is about more than plans and permits. It’s about connection, vulnerability, and turning pain into purpose.

Monaca and Callie welcome Jake Salzman, landscape architect and founder of Cultivate Land, for a timely conversation about revitalizing aging spaces, the “missing middle,” and why the true value of place is layered - starting long before the first shovel hits the ground. Drawing on personal stories from their farm childhoods and their careers in placemaking, the crew explores how our built environment shapes not just where we live, but how we connect, linger, and belong.

The episode unpacks what’s at stake and what’s possible when we shift from designing for cars and convenience to designing for people and experience. Jake explains why Houston is the perfect testing ground for new kinds of community infrastructure, and how creative re-use (from empty parking lots to forgotten warehouses) can transform neighborhoods from places we pass through to places worth staying.

With practical insights for developers, planners, and neighborhood champions, the team dives into the economics and human impact of early planning, social infrastructure, walkability, and authentic placemaking. Along the way, stories from projects like Newfield and Indigo show how risk-taking developers, layered systems, and authentic stewardship create community resilience and real belonging.

Monaca and Callie sit down with Charles Vogl - advisor, speaker, and international bestselling author of The Art of Community - for an essential conversation about the true meaning of community, how we’ve lost touch with the basics of real connection, and why building genuine support systems is more urgent than ever. Drawing from his experiences in documentary filmmaking, religious studies, and world-class consulting for organizations like Google, Airbnb, and the US Army, Charles offers a fresh (and sometimes radical) take on why lists, events, and amenities don’t make a community.

Together, they unpack the critical difference between “mirage” communities (just a list!) and the deep bonds that sustain us through life’s hardest moments. Charles shares practical ideas for becoming a better host, explains why inefficient, personal invitations are far more powerful than mass announcements, and gives actionable advice for creating small, quiet, screen-free spaces where real trust and vulnerability can grow.

In this episode, Monaca and Callie welcome Blake Lapinsky and Matt True, the dynamic duo behind PulteGroup’s explosive growth in Central Florida, for an energizing conversation about the evolution of homebuilding, community, and what it takes to deliver real meaning and connection in today’s neighborhoods.

With a combined 32 years at Pulte, Blake Lapinsky and Matt True share their stories of breaking into the industry - from pulling permits in Polk County to leading the region’s largest flagship communities. They give a transparent look inside Pulte’s “secret sauce,” from culture and mentorship to the radical way their team activates amenities around real people - not checklists.

Dive deep into standout new masterplans like Grow, a 2,000-home agrihood centered on a working farm and stately preserved oaks, and Everbee, with its lively “party pickleball pavilion,” barefoot bars, and walkable event lawns. Learn how intentional design, listening to buyers, and creative collaboration lead to communities where people truly want to gather, stay, and belong.

From hilarious personal stories (Halloween hay rides and wiffle ball fields included!) to practical developer tips on wellness, affordability, and generational housing, this episode spotlights how placemaking, not just house selling, shapes lives - and how every street can hold a bit of “Smith Lane” magic.

Monaca and Callie sit down with Claudine Leger-Wetzel, VP of Sales and Marketing at STOCK Development, for an uplifting and candid journey through the worlds of hospitality, placemaking, and luxury community building. With over 25 years at STOCK and nearly four decades in Naples, Florida, Claudine’s story is one of deep roots, family legacy, and unwavering dedication to her community.

They trace Claudine’s unique path from Ritz Carlton hospitality to shaping the culture and brand of STOCK Development, discussing how genuine service, empowered teams, and personal human touches set great communities apart. Claudine recounts lessons from the “unreasonable hospitality” of the Ritz, the importance of empowering teams on the ground, and what it actually means to be the “keeper of the brand”, from fixing a luxe bedspread to creating unforgettable welcome moments for new residents.

The team dives into STOCK’s latest landmark projects, including the much-anticipated Ritz Carlton Residences in Naples, the innovative Wild Blue at Waterside collaboration, and why early, thoughtful lifestyle planning is the unsung hero of successful communities. Along the way, they talk about what distinguishes family-run businesses, how to cultivate leadership longevity, the role of fun in work, and the everyday actions that build company culture, not just the statements on a wall.

Claudine closes with a moving reflection on her personal “Smith Lane,” the story of Brightwater Drive, family resilience, and the generosity of neighbors that shaped her vision of community.

Monaca and Callie return with their very first guest, Lesley Deutch of John Burns Research & Consulting, for an energetic, deeply relevant conversation about affordability, migration, and the shifting meaning of community in today’s housing market.

Reflecting on how far Smith Lane - and their business, now OnPlace Collective - has come since its scrappy beginnings, the trio traces the fast-evolving trends shaping who moves where and why, what buyers want, and how builders are rethinking the very concept of “home.”

Monaca and Callie are joined by Paul Kalbfleisch, co-author of The Joy Experiments, for a vibrant conversation about the pivotal role of joy, play, and genuine connection in shaping cities and communities. Paul’s background, spanning global brand building at BlackBerry and urban consultancy in Waterloo, Canada, sets the stage for a timely discussion: How can we reimagine urban life to foster real participation, belonging, and ownership in our communities?

They dig into what’s lost, and what can be gained, when corner stores, communal routines, and organic gatherings disappear from our daily lives. The team explores the difference between nostalgic “going back” and designing new kinds of participation for the future, asking how communities and public spaces can invite playful interaction and collective storytelling. Along the way, Paul shares stories from big-city parks, playful public art, and why small touches (like a few $2,000 spun chairs) can spark more belonging than million-dollar installations.

From practical developer tips to personal stories (and a deep dive on the power of Halloween!), this episode uncovers the frameworks, stats, and human stories that show why joy is much more than a fuzzy feeling: it’s the missing ingredient in vibrant, resilient places.

The episode closes with Paul’s own “Smith Lane”, a multicultural city park lit with golden-hour sunlight and filled with the sounds and smells of joyful community gatherings.

Listen, share, and join the movement to build more meaningful, connected communities, where joy isn’t the exception, but the rule.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Career in marketing and city planning

05:24 Discussing forms of playful interaction

07:53 Creating community ownership

09:59 Creating connected urban spaces

13:25 The evolving space in Atlanta

17:18 Community storytelling through murals

21:15 Community networking and collaboration event

22:55 Brainstorming and feedback process

26:38 Early community participation and play

31:02 Pitching an interactive sales trail

35:33 Design for Joy workshops

38:11 End of summer picnic scene

40:00 Designing spaces with invitations

Monaca and Callie welcome Ryan Glick - co-founder & CEO of Groov and host of The Land Development Podcast.

Ryan shares his journey from a tech-focused upbringing in Iowa to building a software company modernizing the land development industry. What started as a simple effort to solve a builder’s problem - accessing lot inventory - evolved into a platform that streamlines both lot management and land acquisition for developers.

The conversation dives into the real challenges of bringing innovation to a traditionally analog industry, the role of AI (and where it shouldn’t be used), and why relationships and authenticity still matter more than automation.

Ryan also shares how his podcast unexpectedly became a powerful industry platform, proving that storytelling and community can drive just as much impact as technology.

Monaca and Callie explore the concept of social architecture, the intentional design of systems, interactions, and environments that foster meaningful human connection. Moving beyond traditional “lifestyle” programming, they break down how thoughtful planning from amenities to programming and what creates vibrant, connected communities.

Through real-world examples (from retail fitting rooms to fitness centers and farmers markets), the conversation highlights how developers can design not just physical spaces, but the experiences and relationships that make communities thrive.

They also dive into why social architecture is no longer optional, how it impacts sales and resident satisfaction, and what questions developers should be asking from the earliest stages of a project.

Monaca and Callie sit down with Paige Byrd, Owner and Co-President of Thiel & Team, an award-winning architectural, interior design, and procurement firm specializing in hospitality and multifamily amenities.

The conversation explores why interior design should be prioritized earlier in the development process, how thoughtful amenity design shapes community experience, and what it means to design “from the inside out.” Paige shares insights from nearly two decades in the industry, including lessons from large-scale historic renovations, brand-driven environments, and the growing importance of wellness-focused amenities.

They also dive into team culture, budgeting strategy, and the evolving expectations of modern residents, ultimately highlighting how intentional design and strong collaboration lead to better communities.