Future of Living

Latest Episodes:

Joe Colistra - Creating Sustainable, Forever Neighborhoods Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

Joe Colistra believes in the power of community and that if we could share more meaningful data, instead of trying to steal it, we might see advancements beyond our wildest imaginations. This episode is a replay of an early episode of Future of Living. The work Joe and his researchers are doing is making a huge difference in how communities are being designed.

Colistra is Associate Professor of Architecture, Design, and Planning at the University of Kansas. In addition to his work with KU he is the founder of In Situ Design, an international architecture and urban design firm. In Situ has won multiple awards and been published even more. The firm is obsessed with finding ways to use architecture as an instrument for transforming communities.

Joe is uniquely interested in merging new technology into senior living communities. An area often ignored. This conversation covers a lot of ground. In this episode, Blake and Joe discuss:

How common technology like accelerometers can be used to diagnose things like dementia and malnutrition.
Why population health data is important for governments and developers alike.
What Real Estate developers should be considering when creating communities for longevity.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

The Future of Living Podcast is produced by Media Club. Learn more at https://mediaclub.co.

Dr. Brian Matthys - Using Wearable Tech to Prevent Skin Cancer Apr 04, 2019

Show notes

It might not seem connected, but nearly drowning as a child lead Dr. Brian Matthys into Dermatology. Nearly drowning convinced him he needed to become a stronger swimmer. So he committed himself to that endeavor and spent an exceptional amount of time under the sun and in the water at the pool practicing, and lifeguarding. It was during this time he witnessed first hand the harmful effects of sun damage on un- or poorly protected skin.

A self-described "fixer," today Dr. Matthys is on a mission to help people protect their skin. Part of that mission gave birth to Eclipse Rx™, a patent pending, solar-powered, wearable device that tracks sun exposure and uses technology to change behaviors to help people protect their skin.

This technology is opening up a world of opportunity for physicians and remotely monitored healthcare. In this conversation, Blake and Dr. Matthys discuss:

How Real Estate developers can increase the longevity of properties by protecting against sun damage.
Steps property owners and community planners can take to assist in improving residents sun health.
What remotely monitored healthcare actually means for the future of physicians.

Learn more about Eclipse Rx™ at https://eclipsrx.com and give them a follow on Instagram, @eclipse.rx, on Twitter, @LUVLifeOutdoors and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/exclipserx. Connect with Dr. Matthys on his LinkedIn page.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

The Future of Living is produced by Media Club.

Gabe Halimi - Stopping Catastrophe Before it Starts Mar 28, 2019

Show notes

Did you know that your home is twice as likely to suffer water damage than fire or theft combined? Gabe Halimi (@gabehalimi, TW) is well aware of this and learned the hard way. After suffering catastrophic water damage, Gabe's Dad felt he could devise a solution to stop home water damage before it started. Thus Flo was created.

Halimi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Flo Technologies, the creators of a breakthrough plumbing technology that detects and stops leaks before they turn into much bigger problems. Prior to his own experience, Gabe Halimi was very familiar with plumbing failures. As a claims manager, he touched millions of dollars in product liability claims for allegedly failed plumbing products. This was a crucial career step that helped give way to Flo.

In this conversation, Blake and Gabe discuss:

How technology like Flo is affecting water conservation at a municipal level.
Ways for Multifamily and Multi-purpose real estate to leverage preventative technology like Flo.
Why the Internet of Things might resurrect skilled labor trades.

Find Gabe on Twitter, @gabehalimi or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielhalimi. Also, feel free to email Gabe at g@meetflow.com. Learn more about Flo and watch a great video with Gabe and his Dad at https://meetflo.com.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

The Future of Living Podcast is produced by Media Club. Learn more at https://mediaclub.co.

Chris Webb - Bridging the Gap Between Small Restaurants and Big Tech Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

Chris Webb (@ChrisChowNow, TW) has always had an affinity for small and independently owned restaurants. Dining at these restaurants, in his opinion, is like taking a mini-vacation. His love of these small businesses and his own family's small step into the food retail space revealed in him a passion at the intersection of food and technology.

Chris Webb is the CEO and co-founder of ChowNow, the leading online ordering and marketing platform for local restaurants. Founded in 2011, ChowNow currently works with 11,000 restaurants nationwide – making it easy for customers to order directly from their websites, ChowNow-built branded mobile apps and third-party websites including Google, Yelp, and Instagram.

Prior to ChowNow, Chris was a founding investor in healthy, fast-casual chain Tender Greens. Chris' involvement in Tender Greens fueled his mission to put smaller independent restaurants on a level playing field with the national chains when it came to technology solutions, tools, and apps.

The LA-native began his career with ten years trading on Wall Street at various firms including Lehman Brothers and RBC Capital Markets.

In this conversation, Blake and Chris discuss:

Why ordering direct from the retailer should always be the consumer's first option.
How Google, Yelp, and Facebook stack up against each other in the restaurant discovery and rating space.
Practical ways Real Estate Owners and Developers can make their properties more conducive to food delivery services for their residents and the services.

ChowNow is available nationwide and can be found online at https://get.chownow.com. You can find Chris on Twitter, @ChrisChowNow and on his LinkedIn page.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

Matt Staub - Building Dense Urban Neighborhoods for Everyone Mar 14, 2019

Show notes

Matt Staub (@staubio, TW) expects that in the not-so-distant future urban neighborhoods will see an even greater influx of residents than is already being experienced. The pace of automation replacing traditional jobs will gut rural and exurb towns, driving those residents to nearby metros in search of work. In Staub's opinion, this means we have to think more broadly about the definition of affordable housing.

Matt Staub serves as Kansas City Parking and Transportation Chair and Commissioner of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority. He describes himself as an urban advocate and outspoken civic leader, taking a no-nonsense approach to improving the quality of life for citizens and visitors.

In this conversation Blake and Matt discuss:

The importance of "naturally occurring" affordable housing.
What "housing a la carte" means and how it will shape future neighborhoods.
The opportunities available to City Planners as the makeup of urban neighborhoods rapidly evolves.

We highly recommend following Matt on Twitter, @staubio. His Instagram, also @staubio, is also full of delightful urban and transportation oriented eye candy. You can learn more about his marketing firm, Proxima at https://findproxima.com, and more about Matt on his LinkedIn page.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

Elizabeth Glynn - Investing in Basics to Spur Innovation Mar 07, 2019

Show notes

Elizabeth Glynn is passionate about what is happening in Indian Country here in America. Most Americans are simply unaware of what life is like in Indian Country and America has failed to invest as it should in these communities. As CEO of Travois, Glynn oversees more than $1.4 billion in financing for affordable housing and economic development in Indian Country. More than $700 million of that is private investor equity.

Travois was started in 1995 by Elizabeth's father, David W. Bland. He named the company Travois in homage to the set of poles that Plains Indians tied together to carry valuable things across rough terrain. It should come as no surprise that the company motto is, You know where you want to go; let us pull some of the weight for you.

In this conversation, Blake and Elizabeth discuss:

Why Indian Country lacks basic infrastructure.
How bringing broadband to Native American communities is literally saving lives.
Opportunities to real estate investors and developers, and tech companies to partner with tribal communities for impact and profit.

Learn more about Travois and the fantastic work they are doing throughout America at travois.com. You'll find them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook with the username: @travoiskc. You can find Elizabeth on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/glynnelizabeth.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

Nitesh Gandhi - Living as a Service Feb 28, 2019

Show notes

There's a saying, "Wherever you go, there you are." Nitesh Gandhi, Founder & CEO of Locale wants to make it so that wherever you go, you have a home. Locale (@StayWithLocale, IG) is an innovative, design-led aparthotel company based in Austin, TX. They partner with real estate owners and developers to design, furnish, and lease vacant units for short term stays.

Aparthotel is a relatively new term that we wrote about on the Homebase blog, Aparthotels: How Far Will Multifamily and Hospitality Converge?. Some might see it as the next evolution of Airbnb, but Gandhi envisions something bigger, Living as a Service.

In this conversation Blake and Nitesh discuss:

What Aparthotels are and how they benefit real estate owners and developers.
How Living as a Service will introduce a new level of flexibility for both independent and corporate workers.
The role of community when building vibrant multifamily, mixed-use properties.

Learn more about Locale and Nitesh Gandhi at https://www.staywithlocale.com. Check out the Locale Instagram account, too, if you need to quench some wanderlust. The Locale Facebook page is where you can keep up with what's happening at various Locale destinations. Finally, connect with Nitesh Gandhi on his LinkedIn page.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

Diane Mulcahy - Accessing the American Dream Through The Gig Economy Feb 21, 2019

Show notes

Diane Mulcahy (@dianemulcahy, TW) first joined the podcast in October of 2018. This is a replay of that conversation. Mulcahy wrote the book on The Gig Economy. Literally. As the author of The Gig Economy Diane is keenly tuned into the future of work, how it will affect the way we live and the economic revolution it is ushering in. All of which Diane dives into in this conversation.

Six years ago, before it was even a thing, Diane created an MBA course on the Gig Economy at Babson College. The course gained immediate traction and was named by Forbes as one of the Top Ten Most Innovate Business School Courses in the country.

Diane walks her talk. She works independently, remotely, and flexibly in the Gig Economy as a consultant and advisor to Fortune 500 and startup company clients, and as a speaker, writer, and adjunct professor.

In this conversation, Diane and Blake discuss:

How remote and independent workers are changing living spaces.
Access versus ownership and how the former is reshaping the American Dream.
The reigning platform of the future and why it's already here.

Learn more about Diane Mulcahy, her work and The Gig Economy at http://www.dianemulcahy.com. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/dianemulcahy.

Find more of The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram, @FutureLivingPod.

Dr. Damon Heybrock - Reclaiming Healthcare Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

When was the last time your doctor met you at a coffee shop to diagnose an ailment? For that matter when was the last time you called your doctor's office and got an appointment within the hour, then actually saw your doctor within the hour? Can your doctor pull off a legit horizontal bar routine and stick the landing? Probably not and Dr. Damon Heybrock (@healthstudiokc, IG) probably isn't your doctor.

Dr. Heybrock is a pioneer in a type of practice gaining popularity in America; Direct Primary Care. This model of health care is subscription based and patients have unbelievable access to their physicians at all hours of the day, are on a first name basis with their physician, and getting in touch is often as easy a text message.

In this conversation, Blake and Dr. Heybrock discuss:

What subscription medicine means for the future of healthcare.
The role of wearable tech in healthcare present and future.
What Real Estate Developers need to know to attract and retain Direct Primary Care practices.

Find Dr. Heybrock online at https://www.healthstudiokc.com, on Instagram as @HealthStudioKC and on Facebook. Additionally, you may connect with Dr. Heybrock on his LinkedIn page.

Find The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Or on Twitter and Instagram: @FutureLivingPod.

Jeff Wood - Optimizing Urban Transit and Land Use Feb 07, 2019

Show notes

Jeff Wood (@TheOverheadWire, TW) thinks we won't ever have truly autonomous cars and that Apple is stuck in the past. His reasoning is sound, unique, and definitely not what you might expect to hear from anyone in Silicon Valley. Jeff owns and operates The Overhead Wire, a San Francisco based consultancy focused on transit and land use strategies primarily in urban areas.

Jeff also curates The Overhead Wire Daily, a newsletter disseminating over 30 pieces of news about cities around the world for advocates, elected leaders, researchers, and other interested parties. Additionally, you can hear Jeff each week on the Talking Headways podcast.

In this conversation Blake and Jeff discuss:

The "Location Affordability Index".
Why we should be concerned that only a few companies control map data.
Challenges and opportunities facing city executives, planners, and real estate entrepreneurs as urban areas continue to boom.

Find Jeff online at The Overhead Wire, on Twitter, @TheOverheadWire, and on the Talking Headways podcast. You can also connect with Jeff on his LinkedIn page.

Find The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Or on Twitter and Instagram: @FutureLivingPod.