The Regenerative Real Estate Podcast

In this episode, Neal sits down with Micha Mikailian, CEO of Geoship, to explore a bold attempt to reimagine housing at a time when affordability, resilience, and ecological design are more urgent than ever.Geoship is reviving Buckminster Fuller’s iconic geodesic dome—not as a nostalgic throwback, but as a scalable, bioceramic solution to today's housing and climate crises. But this episode goes deeper than domes. Neal and Micha unpack the organizational model behind Geoship, how the company is being built around community, and why its mission is resonating so strongly before a single unit has even shipped.Whether you’re dome-curious, dome-skeptical, or somewhere in between, this is a rich conversation about architecture, systems change, and what it takes to build new models in a world that’s desperate for them.———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe

When we talk about housing innovation, our minds usually go to big cities buzzing with new ideas. But in this episode of The Regenerative Real Estate Podcast, host Neal Collins sits down with Wendy Reid Fairhurst of Reclaim CDO to explore a groundbreaking approach taking root far from the usual hotspots—in St. John’s, Newfoundland.An architect-turned-community-builder, Wendy shares how her own challenges as a single parent searching for co-housing led her to develop a radically different model: Community-Led Development. Together, Neal and Wendy unpack how this approach is rewriting the script on affordability, belonging, and neighborhood design.This is a story of resilience, regeneration, and real possibility—even in the most unexpected places. Tune in and discover how a housing revolution can start with one person’s lived experience and ripple out to reshape community.Reclaim CDO website: www.reclaim-cdo.orgKillick Ecovillage website: https://killickecovillage.ca/———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe

Katie McCamant, a co-housing pioneer, and Dave Boehnlein, a permaculture designer, share insights on transforming a former dairy farm into Rooted Northwest, a thriving agri-village. They discuss the challenges of securing land for sustainable co-housing and the importance of community involvement. The duo highlights innovative funding strategies and the benefits of multi-generational living in these communities. Their vision combines farmland conservation with community resilience, urging a shift toward environmentally conscious housing solutions.

The construction industry is at a turning point. Pre-manufactured housing seeks to disrupt conventional building methods due to labor shortages, weather delays, and material waste, as a faster, more efficient alternative. But efficiency shouldn’t come at the cost of health or sustainability.In this episode, Neal Collins sits down with Evan Ryan, a founding member of Croft, a company pioneering a new approach to homebuilding. By integrating the speed of manufacturing with the benefits of natural building, Croft is able to produce homes that are actually carbon negative. Their homes use locally sourced straw for insulation, actively sequestering carbon rather than emitting it. On average, each Croft home locks away 146 tons of carbon, while conventional homes of the same size release between 120 and 260 tons of CO2.Join us as we dive into Evan’s journey, the company’s vision, and the challenges and opportunities in reshaping the future of housing. If you care about regenerative design, sustainable materials, and creating homes that are both high-performing and healthy, this episode is for you.———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is a front-row seat at a masterclass in regenerative development. Mazyar Mortazavi, CEO of TAS Impact, joins us to share how his Toronto-based firm is redefining urban development by weaving community, sustainability, and impact into every project.Mazyar’s journey is deeply personal—the organization’s strategic plan is following his old master's thesis on anti-gentrification strategies. His interest in this was shaped by growing up in an immigrant family and witnessing firsthand the effects of gentrification in Canada’s largest city. Under his leadership, TAS has evolved from a custom home builder into a trailblazing urban development company that is creating places harnessing community engagement processes most firms can’t even dare to imagine.TAS is a great example that demonstrates how the process and approach are what truly shape remarkable, resilient places.———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe

Tre' Cates, an entrepreneur and regenerative thought leader with over 25 years of experience, shares insights on creating life-centered organizational environments. He discusses the principles of regenerative design and their application beyond agriculture, particularly in real estate. The conversation highlights the challenge of balancing profit and purpose, emphasizing innovation that prioritizes long-term community well-being. Tre' also showcases successful cooperatives and advocates for collaborative ecosystems that value societal impact over mere financial gain.

Blake Jones is a founder of several cooperative enterprises, including Namaste Solar and Kachuwa Impact Fund. He’s a pioneer in his marrying of the cooperative model and impact investing. Kachuwa Impact Fund is democratically owned and operated by its members. They invest in companies that have a positive impact on the environment and society, and real estate that does the same—such as organic farms and affordable housing. They invest in Main Street as opposed to Wall Street, and impact is their number one priority with financial return being second. In this episode, Blake and show host Neal discuss Blake’s journey from working in the oil and gas industry to shifting his interest to renewable energy, and eventually becoming fascinated by the cooperative enterprise model. They dive into the concept of impact cooperative investment funds, discussing how these funds differ from traditional investment models and why they are essential for supporting mission-driven enterprises and real estate. It’s a fairly new concept and Blake shares details of how the fund works in practice—how they vet potential investments and investors, how they approach liquidity and patience, and how members’ voting power is not tied to their investment amount. Blake shares valuable insights from his experience with Kachuwa and other cooperative enterprise, as well as some valuable tips for anyone interested in impact investing cooperatives. For more information about Blake and his work, visit Kachuwa Impact Fund. ———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe

Kris Maher is an architect and developer. For over 20 years, she’s worked for the Rancho Mission Viejo community in Orange County, California, where she is currently senior vice president of community development. The master planned community lies on a former cattle ranch, and currently they are developing a 23,000 acre entitlement that will have 14,000 homes in six non-contiguous villages. Almost three-quarters of that land will remain open space surrounding the villages. Kris leads urban planning and community design, with the natural, preserved landscape at the heart of her efforts. “The land is our brand,” she says. In this episode, Kris and show host Neal explore her life journey from a mechanical drafting class in high school to becoming a pivotal figure in community development. They trace the history of Rancho Mission Viejo from the 1800s when it was a cattle ranch, to the 60s when the owning families decided to develop a master planned community, to today as it continues to grow with new homes and an emphasis on the land in the age of the agrihood. They discuss the variety of amenities at Rancho Mission Viejo, including the community farm where residents can volunteer and pick up produce, and the horses who live on site and have captured the hearts of the community. Kris shares insights into the intricacies of marketing to different generations, the challenges of dealing with rising insurance costs in light of wildfire risk, the creative solutions they’ve employed for water efficiency, and the general obstacles of greenfield development and creating affordable housing. For more information about Kris and her work, visit ranchomissionviejo.com.———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe

Jenny Andersson is a regenerative strategist and educator, and the founder of the Really Regenerative Centre in the UK. With over 30 years of experience working alongside brands, organizations, and communities to inspire sustainable and regenerative initiatives, Jenny believes in "harnessing the power of the collective intelligence of organizations and communities to create visions for the future they want." She believes the world has undergone profound shifts—more billionaires than ever, microplastic pollution, ill soil health—and people are sensing it consciously and unconsciously. They are ready for change. But real change, including creating regional and regenerative economies, requires not only contemplating all dimensions of our society, it requires looking closely at oneself, one’s own relationships, and ways of thinking.In this episode, Jenny and host Neal explore her journey from international development in Tanzania to founding the Really Regenerative Centre, from her current home in West Sussex. They discuss her experiences in brand strategy helping major businesses develop environmental initiatives, her battle with stage four lymphoma, and her deep dive into regenerative practices which she calls her “informal PhD.” Jenny shares insights into her work with the Really Regenerative Centre, which brings people together to learn about the essence of regeneration and inspire them to make the change they know is possible. It supports local resilience and transforms extractive economies into regenerative ones. Neal and Jenny highlight the importance of right relationships, community engagement, and systemic thinking in creating lasting change. They also discuss the necessity of funding for experimentation, the potential of regionalizing economics, and the challenges of “fixing the plane while it’s still flying”—i.e., making change within complex adaptive systems. For more information about Jenny and her work, visit reallyregenerative.org.———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe

Emily Niehaus is a former mayor and a leader in both affordable housing and education. She is the founder of Community Rebuilds, a nonprofit that constructs affordable straw bale homes, and more recently, she’s also the founder of Heron School, a micro-school for gifted neurodiverse students. In between those ventures, she found the time to be the mayor of Moab, Utah, where she was able to advocate for housing policy with a larger platform. Throughout her impressive, varied career, she has been driven by purpose and a “doer” attitude, she says “if I see something that needs fixing, I just try to fix it."Emily and show host Neal explore Emily's journey from Ohio to her “forever home” in Utah, where she started off as a park ranger at Bryce Canyon before settling down in Moab. She followed her passions, working at a community theater and as a social worker, before she became a loan officer as a pathway to getting into creating affordable housing. They talk about her innovative nonprofit, Community Rebuilds, which she founded as a way to replace outdated trailer homes with sustainable straw bale homes for families in need. They also dive into her term as the mayor of Moab, where she promoted affordable housing and learned valuable lessons about political will and community engagement. Finally, they discuss her most recent venture, Heron School, which was inspired by Emily’s son, a gifted learner on the autism spectrum. The school operates on a profit-for-purpose model, with the support of the neighboring Sunflower Hill Inn, which Emily also owns. For more information about Emily and her work, visit heronschool.com and communityrebuilds.org.———————-This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life: Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner. Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments. Get full access to The Regenerative Real Estate Newsletter at regenerativerealestate.substack.com/subscribe