Robnett‘s Real Estate Run Down

What does it really take to raise millions in real estate? In this episode of Real Estate Rundown, Shannon Robnett sits down with Brad Blazar, a capital-raising expert who has been involved in raising and funding more than $2 billion in investments. Brad shares his journey from working in the oil and gas industry to building a career around one of his strongest skills: raising capital. He explains how learning to build relationships and connect investors with opportunities became the foundation of his business. The conversation goes deep into the process of raising capital, including why you don't necessarily need a deal before you start building your investor network, how to create relationships with potential investors, and why trust needs to come before the pitch. 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.

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. They discuss the $3 million to $5 million retirement threshold, monthly spending, tax planning, real estate professional status, oil and gas investments, diversification, passive losses, and the difference between preparing for taxes and simply reacting to them. Lane also explains his idea of “financial escape velocity” and why reducing tax drag can help investors reach independence faster.  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.

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. With more than 25 years in real estate and over $500 million raised, Dusten explains why he focuses on workforce housing, stable Midwest markets, and repeatable ground-up development instead of chasing oversized amenities or short-term appreciation. They discuss interest rates, falling construction supply, build-and-hold investing, raising capital, phased lease-ups, vetting operators, and why real estate is a long-term wealth strategy rather than a quick money game. 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.

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. Neal explains why the most valuable part of an investment may not be the capital itself, but the expertise, relationships, customers, talent, and future funding that come with it. They discuss how to evaluate fund managers, why people often matter more than the idea, how to build a diversified portfolio after a successful exit, communicating bad news to investors, and why new investors should learn by starting smaller. 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.