The Matthews Mentality Podcast

In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, host Kyle Matthews interviews Sean Burton, CEO of City View. Sean discusses his journey from his humble beginnings and formative years in Santa Barbara to impactful roles in the Clinton White House, major law firms, and Warner Bros. He shares his transition to real estate, navigating the Great Financial Crisis, and spearheading City View's development projects across the Western U.S. Sean also highlights balancing his career with public service and family. Join this conversation about resilience, real estate market challenges, and impactful change.

Recorded live during ICSC in Las Vegas, this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast features Brad Hutensky, CEO of Hutensky Capital Partners. Kyle asks Brad about his journey in real estate, from his roots in West Hartford, Connecticut to overseeing transactions for more than 30 million square feet across 29 states. Brad shares insider lessons on how to navigate the market, the importance of staying physically healthy, and what it's like working with family. Brad and Kyle also cover broader themes of leadership, reputation, and making a meaningful career.

Join Kyle Matthews in the 27th episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast as he kicks off season two with a special Father's Day episode featuring his father, NFL veteran Clay Matthews Jr. Celebrate their journey together, delving into Clay Jr.'s remarkable 19-year NFL career, cherished family stories, and invaluable life lessons. From his early days in Palo Alto to playing football at USC and navigating the challenges of NFL free agency, Clay Jr. shares candid memories filled with humor, wisdom, and inspiration. Discover the mindset of perseverance, the pressures of being a public figure, and the transition from playing to coaching his kids. This heartfelt episode showcases the dynamic bond between father and son while offering an in-depth look at what it takes to succeed in one of the most demanding sports.

In this episode , host Kyle Matthews interviews his longtime friend Brian Wood, the founder and CEO of BC Wood Properties. Starting his real estate journey at just 22, Wood purchased a 31,000 sq. ft. shopping center and has since grown his company to become one of the largest retail landlords in the nation. This conversation delves into Wood's incredible journey, detailing major inflection points, risks taken, and the persistence required to achieve success. Insights include his daily routine, the significance of early morning workouts, and how his upbringing on a farm with his grandparents instilled a strong work ethic. Wood also discusses the importance of patience, the willingness to handle risks, the power of teamwork, and his philosophy of embracing challenges. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned professional, or simply interested in compelling success stories, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiration. 

CEO of First Washington Realty, Alex Nyhan, discusses his real estate strategies, leadership, work-life balance, and personal growth journey. Topics include childhood influences, transitioning to Harvard Business School, and the importance of family life. Additionally, insights on leadership, deal-making, overcoming fear of failure, career growth, rediscovering music passion, and traits of high achievers are explored.

One of Fort Capital’s core values is resilience, something its founder Chris Powers knows well. In this episode, Chris joins Kyle to talk about his personal and professional journeys, from navigating the loss of his father and wrestling with society’s expectations about men’s emotions to key career moments and the decision to focus on Class B industrial real estate. Chris emphasizes the importance of mental health, his challenges in real estate entrepreneurship, and the power of self-awareness. These things, Chris shares, helped him transition from a hands-on CEO to chairman of his multibillion-dollar real estate investment firm, Fort Capital. Highlights include Chris’ definition of success, the value of emotional vulnerability, and building relationships to grow personally and professionally.

In this episode, Kyle tackles insights from esteemed high school football coach Bruce Rollinson about his tenure at Mater Dei High School and the integral values of pride, poise, and courage that led to his formidable football legacy. Rollinson shares wisdom from on and off the field about leadership, the art of team building, mentoring young athletes, and evolving to stay competitive. Learn how Rollinson built his legacy—and helped others build theirs—by sticking to the fundamentals: preparation, resilience, and mentorship. Highlights also include Rollinson’s retirement plans, self-confidence as a catalyst for success, and the intricacies of sports and life. 00:00 Introduction01:55 The Rollinson Legacy: Building Character On and Off the Field02:42 High School Rivalries and Family Ties04:18 Coaching Beyond the Game25:45 Rebuilding Mater Dei Football from the Ground Up35:27 Adapting and Overcoming Challenges42:13 A New Era for Mater Dei Football44:46 On Success and the Drive to Win47:30 The Danger of Complacency in Success48:08 Leadership and Continuous Improvement53:28 Learning from Losses57:55 The Role of Self-Belief in Developing Talent01:04:22 Creating a Winning Culture and Leadership Dynamics01:11:38 The Essence of Pride, Poise, and Courage01:21:05 Retirement Reflections01:28:43 High Achievers vs. Those Who Fall Short01:35:40 No Excuses, Just Effort

Real estate powerhouse Keith Wasserman discusses investing strategies, building business relationships, managing a career with his wife, raising capital, navigating real estate markets, entrepreneurial ventures, journey from eBay to real estate success, Phoenix investment journey, balancing passion and family, operational changes, fundraising challenges, confronting challenges, building relationships, evolution of cold calling, and insights on Twitter and perfectionism.

In this episode, NFL’s own Justin Pugh joins Kyle to talk about his journey from first-round NFL draft pick to starting lineman to avid real estate investor. As an underdog, Justin shares what it was like to be underestimated in football and how that instilled in him the mental and physical resilience he carried into business. Justin’s entry to commercial real estate as an owner was a natural one, prompted by the grit and competitiveness needed to succeed in sports. Highlights include new parenthood as an NFL player, shifting from rookie to fighter mentality, and the importance of finding a good mentor.Show Notes00:00 – Introduction01:05 – Justin’s Journey: From Football to Real Estate03:27 – The Impact of Family on NFL Careers10:51 – Signing with the Arizona Cardinals20:53 – College Football’s Highs and Lows27:47 – Being an NFL Player and a New Parent35:52 – Building Confidence in the Early Days38:22 – The NFL Draft45:23 – The Business Side of the NFL52:33 – From Rookie to Veteran01:03:57 – Mental and Physical Strength in the NFL01:07:13 – Turning to a Success Coach for Guidance01:11:44 – Navigating Injuries and Management Changes01:15:13 – The Link Between Football and Real Estate Investments01:24:42 – The Future: Real Estate Development and Potential NFL Return

In this episode, Kyle Matthews is joined by Liz Elting. Liz is the co-founder of the world's largest translation service, TransPerfect, and founder of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation. From building her startup in her college dorm to becoming one of Forbes' richest self-made women, Liz has a unique leadership story to tell. She is the author of “Dream Big and Win,” a book that translates passion into purpose, and is a guest lecturer at Columbia and NYU. Today, Liz shares her insight on the importance of scalability, the complexities of business partnerships, balancing work and family, her commitment to growth, and the role of business in giving back to society. 00:00 Introduction and Early Career01:38 Liz's Big Moment in 201804:09 Current Life and Activities07:33 Childhood and Early Experiences09:09 Language Skills and International Experiences11:03 College and Early Career34:53 Starting TransPerfect36:23 Challenges and Successes in Building TransPerfect43:40 Setting Goals44:00 The Early Struggles and Triumphs of Entrepreneurship44:16 The Importance of Resilience45:57 The Challenges of Self-Funding and Balancing Growth46:43 The Evolution of Management Style and Company Growth47:44 The Turning Point: Realizing the Potential for Success58:28 The Journey to Global Expansion01:00:41 Work-Life Balance01:09:00 The Decision to Sell and Achieving Financial Freedom01:14:57 The Creation of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation01:23:19 Reflections on a Successful Career and Advice for Young Professionals