The Tori Nook Talk Show

Welcome to this episode of The Tori Nook Talk Show! In this episode, Tori sits down with Danielle Sprouls, a transformational leader, executive coach, published author, former attorney, and a powerful advocate for women’s empowerment. Danielle is widely known as the “WTF Lady”, with WTF standing for Women That Flourish, and she’s the founder of Unscripted Pivots LLC, where she helps ambitious professionals navigate reinvention with clarity, courage, and confidence.

Before launching her coaching work, Danielle spent decades in the commercial title insurance world, closing $20B+ in deals, including the Chrysler Building in NYC. The conversation gets real about intuition, fear, recovery, discipline, and how high performers can move through life’s biggest curveballs without losing themselves. Interestingly, Danielle also breaks down her upcoming book framework on how to “master the pivot” when chaos hits.

📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro and meeting Danielle Sprouls

02:25 – How Tori discovered Danielle and why this connection mattered

04:45 – Synchronicities, intuition, and “everything is data”

06:05 – Courage, fear, and saying yes more often

07:30 – Healing vs. “getting older” as the real catalyst

09:05 – Aligning with fear, not trying to eliminate it

10:40 – Biggest pivot: from law track to unexpected CRE career

12:20 – The party offer that changed everything

14:15 – Why curiosity and awareness create opportunity

16:45 – Title insurance success, sacrifice, and what it cost

20:55 – Why high performers need coaches

22:10 – The hardest season: change, habits, and sobriety

24:55 – WTF framework and why curveballs can be fuel

26:45 – The PIVOT method: pause, identify, vet, outreach, test

30:50 – What to do in the first 24 hours after a WTF moment

32:35 – Faith, surrender, and letting go of outcomes

34:45 – Awareness, acceptance, action

37:20 – Wholeness, service, and gratitude as daily practice

41:20 – Stop comparing. Compete only with yesterday’s you

46:05 – Where to find Danielle and her books

48:10 – Wrap-up and where to watch new episodes

👤 Connect with Danielle Sprouls

Website http://unscriptedpivots.com/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/daniellesproulsesq

X: https://x.com/The_WTF_Lady

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesprouls

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRV9cy8aZNE5p7ZkKMsYBSA

Unscripted Pivots Podcast: https://unscriptedpivots.transistor.fm/

👤 Connect with Tori Nook

Website: https://torinook.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torirendanonook/

Instagram: @torinook

🎧 The Tori Nook Talk Show is where real conversations meet real success. Subscribe for weekly or biweekly episodes that explore how leaders build personal and professional fulfillment on their own terms.

Welcome to this episode of The Tori Nook Talk Show. In this conversation, Tori sits down with Rafael Weiss, CEO and Co-Founder of Sytes, a fast-growing tech platform built to streamline site selection for retailers, tenant reps, landlords, and developers. Rafael is also a developer with JW Advance and an experienced thoroughbred horse breeder, bringing a mix of CRE insight, entrepreneurial grit, and personal story into this conversation.

They walk through how Sytes originated out of frustration with the slow, fragmented dealmaking process in retail real estate. In addition to covering how the platform works, they dig into broader industry themes including deal velocity, tenant rep challenges, development timelines, and why transparency creates more opportunity for everyone involved in the CRE pipeline. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Rafael shares his journey from DJ and music producer to developer and tech founder, highlighting how persistence, curiosity, and self-education shaped each step.

🎯 Topics covered:

• How Sytes was created to fix inefficiencies in CRE deal flow

• The communication gap between tenant reps and developers

• Why speed, clarity, and accurate criteria improve dealmaking

• Industry resistance to change and how adoption is shifting

• Lessons from development, risk, and long-term planning

• Personal growth, family influence, and transitioning careers

• The thoroughbred racing world and why horses teach patience

Whether you are a broker, developer, retailer, or an operator who wants cleaner deal flow, this episode offers practical insights on how data and communication can drive better outcomes in CRE.

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📌 Timestamps:

00:00  Meeting Rafael Weiss and the origins of Sytes

03:40  From music production to commercial real estate

09:26  Why the retail industry needs better visibility

14:18  The biggest pain points between developers and tenant reps

19:32  How Sytes removes friction from the deal process

25:14  Early adopters, results, and real examples

31:47  Broker resistance and how the culture is shifting

37:55  What faster dealmaking means for lenders and underwriting

43:12  The future of the platform and long-term vision

46:48  Rafael’s background in breeding and racing thoroughbreds

54:20  Life lessons from horses, patience, and discipline

59:40  Final thoughts and where to connect with Rafael

👤 Connect with Rafael Weiss

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelweiss/

Sytes: https://sytescre.com

👤 Connect with Tori Nook

Website: https://torinook.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torirendanonook/

Instagram: @tori_nook

X: @torinook
Youtube: @torinook

🎧 The Tori Nook Talk Show is where real conversations meet real success. Subscribe for weekly or biweekly episodes that explore how leaders across industries build personal and professional fulfillment on their own terms.

Welcome to this episode of The Tori Nook Talk Show. In this conversation, Tori sits down with Julie T. Fox, Co-Founder of The Pipeline, a national community created to connect and advance women in retail real estate. From regional events to a private app and curated subgroups, The Pipeline gives women across the country a place to learn, collaborate, and grow together.

They talk about why Julie launched The Pipeline, how the group grew from a small regional meet-up to a multi-region network, and what it really looks like to support women beyond transactions. The discussion covers career paths, mentorship, job changes, burnout, and practical support for everything from ICSC prep to investing and leadership. You also get a behind-the-scenes look at the investment club, landlord and retailer subgroups, and the vision for bringing The Pipeline model to markets like the Midwest.

🎯 Topics covered:

• Why The Pipeline was created for women in retail real estate

• Relationship-driven networking vs. purely transactional connections

• How regional chapters, virtual events, and the app work together

• Inside the investment club, landlord leasing group, and retailer subgroup

• Career support, self-advocacy, and navigating job changes or burnout

• National expansion, Midwest growth, and how to get involved

Whether you are a woman in CRE, a leader building teams, or someone who cares about community in business, this episode gives a clear picture of what real support can look like in retail real estate.

📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Meeting Julie T. Fox and the story behind The Pipeline

02:10 – Early days in brokerage and why support networks matter

03:55 – How The Pipeline grew into nine regions and counting

05:05 – Virtual Lunch & Learn format and national engagement

06:20 – Investment club: education, pro formas, and group deals

07:35 – Landlord leasing and retailer subgroups inside the community

09:15 – Who qualifies to join The Pipeline and why the focus stays on retail

11:05 – Membership process, the app, and annual dues

13:10 – Signature New York and Vegas ICSC events and why they matter

16:20 – Using the group for jobs, career transitions, and mentorship

19:00 – Social channels, website, and how members stay connected

21:10 – “Know before you go” ICSC prep and practical tips for women

22:40 – Culture, collaboration, and the power of women backing women

23:50 – How to join and invitations to connect

👤 Connect with Julie T. Fox

Website: https://pipelineladies.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliefoxretail/ Instagram: @thepipelinecre

👤 Connect with Tori Nook

Website: https://torinook.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torirendanonook/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tori_nook/

X: @torinook

🎧 The Tori Nook Talk Show is where real conversations meet real success. Subscribe for weekly or biweekly episodes that explore how leaders across industries build personal and professional fulfillment on their own terms.

In this episode of The Tori Nook Talk Show, Tori sits down with Maria Macali, founder of Fleurish Strategy & Marketing, to talk about building a career in commercial real estate marketing, launching her own consultancy, and balancing it all while raising two young children.

Maria shares the behind-the-scenes of marketing in CRE, the most common mistakes companies make when hiring marketing talent, and why scaling doesn’t mean hiring a full in-house team. She opens up about starting a business during a life pivot, the power of her network, and how women can build support systems at work and at home to thrive in both.

If you’re a woman in CRE, a marketing leader, or thinking of starting your own company, this episode is packed with tactical advice, real talk, and career wisdom.

📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Maria Macali: Flourish Strategy & Marketing 01:00 – Maria’s background in CRE: DDR, ShopCore, and launching her firm

03:45 – What Maria actually does for clients in CRE marketing

05:00 – Building teams, budgets, and marketing plans for developers and startups

06:30 – Why most companies don’t know how to hire marketers

08:00 – How long it takes to see results from good marketing

09:15 – Typical consulting timeline and client structure

10:30 – Maria stays active in the CRE industry and attends major events

11:30 – From high-level strategy to practical execution

12:00 – Why Maria started her own company after leaving ShopCore

14:00 – The hardest parts of launching a business — and what no one tells you

15:30 – Owning your schedule as a mom and founder

17:30 – Time management, tech tools, and flexibility as superpowers

19:00 – The real misconceptions about what “marketing” is in CRE

20:30 – How to identify your marketing priorities and outsource wisely

22:00 – Letting go of control and asking for help

23:30 – How hiring support (home and business) makes you a better leader

26:00 – Shared responsibilities, strong partnerships, and shifting mental loads

29:00 – Starting a business with confidence — and listening to your inner circle

31:00 – Why your network is your most powerful tool

33:00 – The importance of your reputation, and how fast you can lose it

34:00 – Final thoughts: You don’t have to do it all

36:00 – Where to find Maria online

👤 Connect with Maria Macali

Website: https://fleurishstrategy.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-macali-15929620/

👤 Follow Tori Nook

Website: https://www.torinook.com

Instagram: @tori_nook

LinkedIn: Tori Nook

X: @torinook

Youtube: @torinook

🎧 The Tori Nook Talk Show is where real conversations meet real success. Subscribe for regular episodes that explore how leaders across industries build personal and professional fulfillment on their own terms.

Welcome to this episode of The Tori Nook Talk Show! In this episode, Tori sits down with Jenn Quader, CEO of The Smart Agency, a national public relations firm specializing in commercial real estate. Jenn is also the host of Resiliency: The Podcast and a TEDx speaker who believes in the transformative power of storytelling, purpose-driven leadership, and trusting your gut.

They discuss how PR has evolved in CRE, what it really takes to build trust and credibility, and how AI, authenticity, and brand consistency are shaping the future of communication. The conversation takes a deep dive into personal growth, intuitive leadership, and navigating change — with insights on faith, mental resilience, and why listening to your inner voice is a business advantage.

🎯 Topics covered:

• Strategic PR in commercial real estate

• Leadership, branding, and building trust

• The power of storytelling and earned media

• AI, social media, and modern communications

• Personal transformation and intuitive growth

• Resilience, reinvention, and owning your voice

Whether you’re a CRE pro, a marketing leader, or building a brand of your own, this episode is packed with rich insights and real talk.

📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Meeting Jenn Quader: From Acting to PR for CRE

04:16 – From Broadway tours to CEO: Jenn’s unconventional career path

06:04 – Why CRE needs reputational support — not just transactions

11:14 – Impact of Social Media and AI on PR 14:41 – Handling Social Media for Clients

21:57 – Discovering One's Life's Work

22:40 – Embracing Change and Overcoming Fear

24:04 – The Birth of the Resiliency Podcast

25:42 – Stories of Resilience from TEDx

29:39 – The Power of Intuition and Certainty

36:34– The Importance of Staying Open and Connected

41:04– Leadership and Continuous Growth

42:39– Conclusion and Where to Connect with Jenn

👤 Connect with Jenn Quader

Website: https://thesmartagency.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennquader/

Podcast: https://resiliencythepodcast.com/

Instagram: @jennquader

👤 Connect with Tori:

Instagram: @tori_nook

LinkedIn: Tori Nook

X: @torinook

Youtube: @torinook

🎧 The Tori Nook Talk Show is where real conversations meet real success. Subscribe for weekly or biweekly episodes that explore how leaders across industries build personal and professional fulfillment on their own terms.