CRE Unplugged
Hosted by CRE Unplugged
A real estate operator interviews the founders and experts building the technology and infrastructure shaping the future of commercial real estate.
This is an interview show that sits at the intersection of commercial real estate (CRE) and technology (PropTech). Host Ryan Elazari, an operator himself, brings a practical, ground-level perspective to conversations about the industry's biggest disruptions. Episodes often feature founders of tech startups or deep-dive panels with specialists on complex topics like data center development, climate migration, and AI's real-world impact on property management.
“Unlike shows focused on deals or market commentary, CRE Unplugged zeroes in on the technology and infrastructure layer of real estate. The host's background as an operator and professor lends credibility and a 'no-hype' filter to conversations, focusing on practical applications and demystifying complex topics for a mainstream CRE audience.”
Who hosts this show
CRE Unplugged is hosted by Ryan Elazari, a New York-based real estate operator, media founder, and innovation strategist. With over a decade of experience running property portfolios, Elazari interviews the developers, founders, and key players on the front lines of commercial real estate's technological shift. The show's mission is to demystify topics like AI, data centers, and climate tech for a broad audience, from industry veterans to newcomers, through honest, accessible conversations.
Credentials & credits
- Host & Founder of CRE Unplugged
- Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Entrepreneurship, Baruch College
- Senior Director, Head of Innovation at Empire Management
- President of NAIOP NYC Metro Chapter
- Master of Science in Real Estate, Baruch College
- Advisor, In the Built World
Other ventures
- CRE AI Studio (co-founder)
- The Built World Innovation Council with Forum Ventures (member)
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01The AI Failure Trap Most CRE Firms Don't See ComingJun 18, 2026 · 57 min
- 02Climate Migration: Is Your State Next? | Founder Series with CENSAIMay 28, 2026 · 1h 03m
- 03Two Biggest Mistakes Founders Make Selling to Brokerages with Ashley StintonMay 6, 2026 · 47 min
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01Is the Data Center Boom Real? Power, Risk & What's Next with Dillon Zahler & Nathan Persky
A deep-dive panel that demystifies the complex world of data center development, covering critical issues like power constraints and community pushback.
- 02Climate Migration: Is Your State Next? | Founder Series with CENSAI
This episode challenges popular narratives with data, exploring what population intelligence reveals about how and why Americans are actually moving.
- 03Two Biggest Mistakes Founders Make Selling to Brokerages with Ashley Stinton
Features a partner from the National Association of Realtors' tech accelerator, offering a rare insider's view on why most PropTech fails to gain adoption.
- 04The AI Failure Trap Most CRE Firms Don't See Coming
This farewell episode for original co-host Nadine Ezzie also features the show's origin story and a critical look at AI adoption failures.
What you'll be asked on this show
Ryan Elazari's interview style is structured and inquisitive, moving from personal rapport-building to deep technical substance. He opens with disarming icebreakers, often related to the guest's location (e.g., "Thin crust or deep dish pizza?") or a universal experience ("Window seat or aisle seat?"). He then typically asks for the guest's "origin story"—how they got into their specific niche. Throughout the interview, he acts as a translator for the audience, taking complex topics like power grid constraints or AI workflows and grounding them with questions about practical impact and risk. He consistently closes with a call for actionable advice for listeners or a personal question tied to the show's theme, such as "Where in the world would you want to unplug?"
The show is primarily a long-form interview format, sometimes with a single guest and other times with a panel of two experts. Host Ryan Elazari begins with light, personal icebreakers before transitioning to a structured conversation about the guest's expertise. He often concludes interviews with a solo commentary segment, summarizing his key takeaways for the audience.
Questions CRE Unplugged keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when CRE Unplugged reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“What's your origin story?”
A frequent starting point after icebreakers to understand how a guest found their niche, especially for those with unconventional career paths.
- Q.02
“What specific unanswered question from a customer was the catalyst for starting your company?”
Asks founders to pinpoint the exact market problem or pain point that sparked their business idea.
personal
3- Q.01
“When you tell someone at a dinner party what you do, what is the response?”
An opening question used to gauge the public's perception of a guest's often complex or niche industry.
- Q.02
“What's a lighthearted personal preference, like 'window or aisle seat' or 'deep dish or thin crust'?”
A signature opening move to build immediate, lighthearted rapport with guests before diving into technical topics.
- Q.03
“Where in the world would you want to unplug?”
A signature closing question that ties back to the podcast's name and ends the conversation on a personal note.
process
2- Q.01
“How is AI changing your specific workflows right now?”
This question seeks concrete, recent examples of AI application, moving beyond hype to practical use.
- Q.02
“How do you bridge the education gap with communities, and whose job is it?”
Probes guests on strategies for managing public perception and stakeholder relations for controversial projects.
future
2- Q.01
“What does the predicted [major industry challenge, e.g., '2030 power wall'] actually mean for the market?”
Used to demystify a complex, forward-looking industry threat and get an expert's practical explanation.
- Q.02
“What themes keep surfacing that tell you where the industry is heading?”
Asks guests to synthesize their observations into a high-level forecast of future trends.
advice
2- Q.01
“What were the common mistakes you saw founders making when selling into the real estate industry?”
A question for investors or ecosystem partners to extract common failure patterns and advice for startups.
- Q.02
“What's one piece of advice for someone interested in this space, and what mistakes should they avoid?”
A standard closing question to provide actionable takeaways for listeners looking to enter the field.
controversy
1- Q.01
“If the AI boom cools, will we have overbuilt capacity?”
A direct question that challenges the hype cycle and asks guests to address market bubble risks.
Signature segments
- · The Founder Series
- · Host's solo takeaway segment after the interview
- · The closing question: "Where in the world would you want to unplug?"
- · The sign-off: "Keep your conversations real and unplugged."
- · Personal icebreaker questions (e.g., pizza, plane seats)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically founders of PropTech companies (from YC-backed startups to established players), data scientists, and niche industry consultants specializing in areas like data centers, climate risk, and real estate technology adoption. They are practitioners and subject matter experts actively building or analyzing the future of the industry.
- Nadine Ezzieon The AI Failure Trap Most CRE Firms Don't See Coming
- Devin Boesenon Climate Migration: Is Your State Next? | Founder Series with CENSAI
- Jonathan Liggetton Climate Migration: Is Your State Next? | Founder Series with CENSAI
- Ashley Stintonon Two Biggest Mistakes Founders Make Selling to Brokerages with Ashley Stinton
- Dillon Zahleron Ep. 19 - Is the Data Center Boom Real? Power, Risk & What's Next with Dillon Zahler & Nathan Persky
- Nathan Perskyon Ep. 19 - Is the Data Center Boom Real? Power, Risk & What's Next with Dillon Zahler & Nathan Persky
- Alix Maurinon Founder Series: Why 50% of Small Businesses Are Late on Rent w/ Alix Maurin & Joseph Thalinjan
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is sponsored by Hilo, a tenant experience platform. The host has also featured Hilo's CEO as a guest on a past episode, suggesting a sponsorship model that favors deep integration and alignment with the show's PropTech focus.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of CRE Unplugged?
- The host is Ryan Elazari, a real estate operator, innovation strategist, and Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Entrepreneurship at Baruch College.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It is a long-form interview show featuring conversations with 1-2 guests who are founders, experts, or operators in commercial real estate and technology.
- Is CRE Unplugged still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes on a regular basis, typically monthly.
- Who are the typical guests on the show?
- Guests are usually founders of PropTech companies, data scientists, and expert consultants specializing in emerging CRE trends like AI and data centers.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available as a video show on YouTube and on audio platforms like Apple Podcasts.
- How can I pitch a guest or sponsor the show?
- The official podcast website has a contact form for inquiries about speaking, sponsorships, and guest appearances.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Official Websitecreunplugged.com
- [02]Ryan Elazari joins In the Built World as Advisorvauntos.com
- [03]Alumni Spotlight: Ryan Elazari (MS, '13)zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu
- [04]The Pioneers Behind PropTech: In Conversation With Ryan Elazarivendorpm.com
- [05]Apple Podcasts Pagepodcasts.apple.com
- [06]YouTube Channelyoutube.com
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