{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Drawing the Blueprint ","home_page_url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm","feed_url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/json","description":"Hosted by Blueprint CEO \u0026amp; Co-Founder Ben Firestone, Drawing the Blueprint brings you raw access to the movers and shakers in healthcare real estate and beyond. From industry pros, Blueprint insiders, and legends from completely different arenas, each episode explores career origin stories and dives deep into the guests’ journey, uncovering how dynamic people grow, lead, and build.\r\n\r\nFun, provocative, and always conversational, Ben brings curiosity (and his signature “Fire’s Hot Seat”) to every guest. Whether you’re an insider hungry for insights, an emerging professional looking for mentorship, or simply a culture-curious listener who loves entrepreneurial stories, this is your front-row seat to the mindsets and moments that shape success.\r\n\r\n\r\nFind Ben and the Blueprint Crew on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@drawingtheblueprint. ","_fireside":{"subtitle":"Drawing the Blueprint brings you raw access to the movers and shakers in healthcare real estate and beyond.","pubdate":"2025-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00","explicit":false,"owner":"Ben Firestone","image":"https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/1/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/cover.jpg?v=1"},"items":[{"id":"9465d81c-d3f7-4902-bb02-426f71415a0c","title":"Episode 9: From Student-Athlete to NIL Trailblazer: Jared Wangler on Building Champions Circle at Michigan","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/9","content_text":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, host and Michigan alum Ben Firestone sits down with Jared Wangler, a former University of Michigan student-athlete turned leader in the NIL space. Jared played football at Michigan from 2014–2018 before shifting his focus to the business side of sports, where he now leads Valiant Management and Champions Circle, the university’s NIL collective.\n\nJared traces his early entrepreneurial instincts back to 2016, when he began working in apparel with a focus on tailgating gear. After graduating, he moved to Chicago to intern at a sports agency, gaining hands-on experience in recruiting and marketing while learning the endorsement and business side of athletics. That experience ultimately sparked a bigger vision.\n\nIn 2021, Jared returned to Ann Arbor to launch a sports marketing agency centered on creating commercial opportunities for student-athletes — from putting their names on jerseys to securing local advertising partnerships around campus. That momentum set the stage for Michigan’s leadership in NIL, culminating in the launch of Champions Circle in the spring of 2022. Since then, the collective has facilitated more than $45 million in deals across all 29 varsity sports, solidifying Michigan as a first mover in brand endorsements for student-athletes.\n\nJared’s story highlights how passion, community, and innovation can come together to create lasting impact in college athletics.\n\nLinks \u0026amp; Resources:\nCheck out Champions Circle here: https://www.championscircleuofm.com/\nJared Wangler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wangler-b9a5a7113/","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, host and Michigan alum Ben Firestone sits down with Jared Wangler, a former University of Michigan student-athlete turned leader in the NIL space. Jared played football at Michigan from 2014–2018 before shifting his focus to the business side of sports, where he now leads Valiant Management and Champions Circle, the university’s NIL collective.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJared traces his early entrepreneurial instincts back to 2016, when he began working in apparel with a focus on tailgating gear. After graduating, he moved to Chicago to intern at a sports agency, gaining hands-on experience in recruiting and marketing while learning the endorsement and business side of athletics. That experience ultimately sparked a bigger vision.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2021, Jared returned to Ann Arbor to launch a sports marketing agency centered on creating commercial opportunities for student-athletes — from putting their names on jerseys to securing local advertising partnerships around campus. That momentum set the stage for Michigan’s leadership in NIL, culminating in the launch of Champions Circle in the spring of 2022. Since then, the collective has facilitated more than $45 million in deals across all 29 varsity sports, solidifying Michigan as a first mover in brand endorsements for student-athletes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJared’s story highlights how passion, community, and innovation can come together to create lasting impact in college athletics.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLinks \u0026amp; Resources:\u003cbr\u003e\nCheck out Champions Circle here: \u003ca href=\"https://www.championscircleuofm.com/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ehttps://www.championscircleuofm.com/\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nJared Wangler: \u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wangler-b9a5a7113/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wangler-b9a5a7113/\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, host and Michigan alum Ben Firestone sits down with Jared Wangler, a former University of Michigan student-athlete turned leader in the NIL space. Jared played football at Michigan from 2014–2018 before shifting his focus to the business side of sports, where he now leads Valiant Management and Champions Circle, the university’s NIL collective.","date_published":"2025-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/9465d81c-d3f7-4902-bb02-426f71415a0c.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":78723480,"duration_in_seconds":3270}]},{"id":"c114867f-1990-4621-a558-70f191159e52","title":"Episode 8: Leveling Up Law: Insights from Jennifer Sternshein on Growth and Leadership","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/8","content_text":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, host Ben Firestone sits down with Jennifer Sternshein, a standout leader in the legal industry whose path to law is anything but traditional. Jennifer shares how she began acting at age 17 and used her acting career to help pay for law school - an early lesson in grit that continues to define her leadership today.\n\nShe reflects on her firm’s remarkable rise from a nursing-home basement startup founded by her brother-in-law during the pandemic to a boutique powerhouse completing nearly $3 billion in transactions in 2024.\n\nA major theme of the conversation is the power of authentic relationship-building. Jennifer credits strategic marketing and personal connection as key drivers of her success and encourages young attorneys to prioritize people over transactions. She also champions hiring for grit over pedigree, often looking to those with retail or service backgrounds for their strong client-first mindset.\n\nOutside the office, Jennifer and her husband run their own farm, Stardust Grove - a grounding counterbalance to her high-paced legal work. Her influence also extends through the annual Jennifer Sternshein Award, recognizing attorneys who embody collaboration and brand ambassadorship.\n\nJennifer’s journey blends resilience, creativity, and connection - proving that unconventional paths and strong values can lay the foundation for extraordinary success in the legal field.\n\nLinks \u0026amp; Resources:\nThe Neighborhood Hotel (Use code BLUEPRINT15 for 15% off your next stay): https://theneighborhoodhotel.com\nSternshein Legal Group:\n https://sternsheinlegalgroup.com\nStardust Grove Farm:\n https://thestardustgrove.com\nLater Days Movie Trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4bgTPwZXhuQ","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, host Ben Firestone sits down with Jennifer Sternshein, a standout leader in the legal industry whose path to law is anything but traditional. Jennifer shares how she began acting at age 17 and used her acting career to help pay for law school - an early lesson in grit that continues to define her leadership today.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShe reflects on her firm’s remarkable rise from a nursing-home basement startup founded by her brother-in-law during the pandemic to a boutique powerhouse completing nearly $3 billion in transactions in 2024.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA major theme of the conversation is the power of authentic relationship-building. Jennifer credits strategic marketing and personal connection as key drivers of her success and encourages young attorneys to prioritize people over transactions. She also champions hiring for grit over pedigree, often looking to those with retail or service backgrounds for their strong client-first mindset.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOutside the office, Jennifer and her husband run their own farm, Stardust Grove - a grounding counterbalance to her high-paced legal work. Her influence also extends through the annual Jennifer Sternshein Award, recognizing attorneys who embody collaboration and brand ambassadorship.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJennifer’s journey blends resilience, creativity, and connection - proving that unconventional paths and strong values can lay the foundation for extraordinary success in the legal field.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLinks \u0026amp; Resources:\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Neighborhood Hotel (Use code BLUEPRINT15 for 15% off your next stay): \u003ca href=\"https://theneighborhoodhotel.com\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ehttps://theneighborhoodhotel.com\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSternshein Legal Group:\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003ca href=\"https://sternsheinlegalgroup.com\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ehttps://sternsheinlegalgroup.com\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nStardust Grove Farm:\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003ca href=\"https://thestardustgrove.com\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ehttps://thestardustgrove.com\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nLater Days Movie Trailer: \u003ca href=\"https://youtube.com/watch?v=4bgTPwZXhuQ\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ehttps://youtube.com/watch?v=4bgTPwZXhuQ\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"","date_published":"2025-12-10T09:30:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/c114867f-1990-4621-a558-70f191159e52.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":56100677,"duration_in_seconds":2336}]},{"id":"0bfc8bf0-5e5c-4640-8a53-6eb4628ad33e","title":"Episode 7: The Making of a Dealmaker: A Conversation with Kory Buzin","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/7","content_text":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, host Ben Firestone sits down with Northeast broker Kory Buzin, a dealmaker known for his grit, charisma, and unshakeable work ethic. From law school and big-firm life to navigating elopements during site tours, Kory’s journey into senior housing brokerage is anything but traditional.\n\nBen and Kory revisit the early days of Blueprint, swap stories about mentors and mischief with Mike Siegel, and dig into the inflection point that pushed Kory from the legal world into commercial real estate. Kory shares how his legal training shaped his discipline and thinking, how regional immersion gives brokers a competitive edge, and why relationships not spreadsheets are the heart of senior housing investing.\n\nAlong the way, Kory offers a hilarious (and heroic) tale of saving an elderly resident mid-Zoom call, reflects on what it takes to make a name in a competitive industry, and breaks down the three things every young originator must learn: sell the value, sell the firm, and sell yourself.\n\nWith stories of dealmaking, road-warrior travel, leadership at the property level, and the true currency of the industry, information, this episode is a candid, energetic look at what it means to build a career at Blueprint.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, host Ben Firestone sits down with Northeast broker Kory Buzin, a dealmaker known for his grit, charisma, and unshakeable work ethic. From law school and big-firm life to navigating elopements during site tours, Kory’s journey into senior housing brokerage is anything but traditional.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBen and Kory revisit the early days of Blueprint, swap stories about mentors and mischief with Mike Siegel, and dig into the inflection point that pushed Kory from the legal world into commercial real estate. Kory shares how his legal training shaped his discipline and thinking, how regional immersion gives brokers a competitive edge, and why relationships not spreadsheets are the heart of senior housing investing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlong the way, Kory offers a hilarious (and heroic) tale of saving an elderly resident mid-Zoom call, reflects on what it takes to make a name in a competitive industry, and breaks down the three things every young originator must learn: sell the value, sell the firm, and sell yourself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith stories of dealmaking, road-warrior travel, leadership at the property level, and the true currency of the industry, information, this episode is a candid, energetic look at what it means to build a career at Blueprint.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"A law-school grad turned senior housing dealmaker—Kory Buzin joins the show to talk grit, relationships, regional expertise, and the reps it takes to build a career at Blueprint.","date_published":"2025-11-24T10:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/0bfc8bf0-5e5c-4640-8a53-6eb4628ad33e.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":32198736,"duration_in_seconds":1336}]},{"id":"aff6761a-d991-43ce-81bf-31afaca12f6f","title":"Episode 6: Inside HealthTrust: Past, Present, and What’s Next","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/6","content_text":"Founder \u0026amp; CEO Alan Plush and CFO/Partner Samantha Medred of HealthTrust, one of healthcare real estate’s leading valuation advisory firms join Ben for a two-part conversation on the past, present, and future of senior housing and healthcare valuation.\n\nAlan rewinds to his Sarasota start, the leap from boutique shops to forming HealthTrust post Sarbanes-Oxley, and how the firm scaled from a small team to 1,500–1,700 appraisals a year nationwide. He explains why technology (and now AI) boosts speed but never replaces judgment, and how a coach-player leadership style keeps him close to the work and the client.\n\nSamantha breaks down today’s market mechanics: how HealthTrust’s geo and product-type teams (HUD/SNF/CCRC/AL) use a live data platform; what’s really happening with HUD timelines; how state-by-state Medicaid policy drives SNF demand and cap rates; and why older-vintage AL often trades at higher yields until stabilized.\nYou’ll hear practical insight on underwriting vs. performance, cap-rate reality vs. hype, and how the next generation of leaders is preparing for an AI-enabled future.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eFounder \u0026amp; CEO Alan Plush and CFO/Partner Samantha Medred of HealthTrust, one of healthcare real estate’s leading valuation advisory firms join Ben for a two-part conversation on the past, present, and future of senior housing and healthcare valuation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlan rewinds to his Sarasota start, the leap from boutique shops to forming HealthTrust post Sarbanes-Oxley, and how the firm scaled from a small team to 1,500–1,700 appraisals a year nationwide. He explains why technology (and now AI) boosts speed but never replaces judgment, and how a coach-player leadership style keeps him close to the work and the client.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSamantha breaks down today’s market mechanics: how HealthTrust’s geo and product-type teams (HUD/SNF/CCRC/AL) use a live data platform; what’s really happening with HUD timelines; how state-by-state Medicaid policy drives SNF demand and cap rates; and why older-vintage AL often trades at higher yields until stabilized.\u003cbr\u003e\nYou’ll hear practical insight on underwriting vs. performance, cap-rate reality vs. hype, and how the next generation of leaders is preparing for an AI-enabled future.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"HealthTrust’s Alan Plush (Founder \u0026 CEO) and Samantha Medred (CFO/Partner) join Ben to unpack 40 years of healthcare real estate valuation—how the firm scaled to 1,500–1,700 appraisals/year, where HUD fits now, what’s really driving SNF and AL cap rates, and how AI will change the work (without replacing judgment). A candid look at leadership, data, and the next generation of valuation pros.","date_published":"2025-11-12T09:30:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/aff6761a-d991-43ce-81bf-31afaca12f6f.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":66010321,"duration_in_seconds":2743}]},{"id":"87fc261d-7b31-45d7-a276-38f578984942","title":"Episode 5: Blueprint’s Behavioral Health Playbook: Dual-Path Deals, Adaptive Reuse \u0026 Real Value — with Andrew Sfreddo","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/5","content_text":"From a Back-to-the-Future icebreaker to a masterclass in value creation, Ben Firestone sits down with longtime friend and Blueprint partner Andrew Sfreddo to unpack how Blueprint stood up a behavioral healthcare practice that blends vision with rigor. Andrew breaks down the firm’s dual-path process, marketing challenged senior housing assets both to traditional operators and to behavioral health providers to create real optionality and higher outcomes.\n\nThey dig into adaptive reuse, licensed inpatient focus (psychiatric hospitals, drug \u0026amp; alcohol treatment, eating-disorder centers), and the nuts and bolts of execution: 1,200+ feasibility studies (about 1 in 5 viable), a team of five with provider-side expertise, and 30+ transactions where behavioral conversion outperformed seniors-housing valuations. Don’t miss the Plano, TX case study that jumped from $50K/unit offers to a $115K/unit sale by repositioning to licensed behavioral health, same building, smarter use.\n\nIf you care about healthcare real estate, behavioral health operations, or how culture and process compound into results, this episode is your playbook for turning “stuck” assets into community-serving, investment-grade solutions.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eFrom a Back-to-the-Future icebreaker to a masterclass in value creation, Ben Firestone sits down with longtime friend and Blueprint partner Andrew Sfreddo to unpack how Blueprint stood up a behavioral healthcare practice that blends vision with rigor. Andrew breaks down the firm’s dual-path process, marketing challenged senior housing assets both to traditional operators and to behavioral health providers to create real optionality and higher outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey dig into adaptive reuse, licensed inpatient focus (psychiatric hospitals, drug \u0026amp; alcohol treatment, eating-disorder centers), and the nuts and bolts of execution: 1,200+ feasibility studies (about 1 in 5 viable), a team of five with provider-side expertise, and 30+ transactions where behavioral conversion outperformed seniors-housing valuations. Don’t miss the Plano, TX case study that jumped from $50K/unit offers to a $115K/unit sale by repositioning to licensed behavioral health, same building, smarter use.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you care about healthcare real estate, behavioral health operations, or how culture and process compound into results, this episode is your playbook for turning “stuck” assets into community-serving, investment-grade solutions.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Blueprint’s Andrew Sfreddo joins Ben Firestone to reveal how a bold idea became a thriving behavioral healthcare practice. From adaptive reuse and dual-path dealmaking to a 50% jump in asset value, they unpack how creativity, culture, and execution are redefining healthcare real estate.","date_published":"2025-10-21T09:30:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/87fc261d-7b31-45d7-a276-38f578984942.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":44497192,"duration_in_seconds":1847}]},{"id":"e329f31c-8883-4721-8602-ad1ca6015e54","title":"Episode 4: From Hedge Funds to Helping Hands: Neal Goss on Dignity-First Home Care","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/4","content_text":"Ben sits down with longtime friend and founder of Lakeshore Helping Hands, Neal Goss, to explore what great non-medical caregiving really looks like and why it can restore independence for clients while easing stress for families. Paralyzed at 15 after a hockey accident, Neal has relied on caregivers for 25 years. That lived experience shaped his system for recruiting, interviewing, and training caregivers around what matters most: empathy, reliability, clear boundaries, and a relationship grounded in mutual respect.\n\nTogether, they unpack:\n\n\nThe difference a dignity-first caregiver makes in daily life and family dynamics\nHow to vet agencies and individual caregivers (green flags vs. red flags)\nWhy values and communication often matter more than résumés or prior tasks\nLessons learned the hard way (and a few humorous missteps) about keeping professional lines intact\nNeal’s purpose-driven leap from finance to entrepreneurship to help others avoid common pitfalls\n\n\nIf you’re navigating care for an aging parent, living with a disability, or building a caregiving team, this conversation offers practical takeaways and a hopeful blueprint for better support at home.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eBen sits down with longtime friend and founder of Lakeshore Helping Hands, Neal Goss, to explore what great non-medical caregiving really looks like and why it can restore independence for clients while easing stress for families. Paralyzed at 15 after a hockey accident, Neal has relied on caregivers for 25 years. That lived experience shaped his system for recruiting, interviewing, and training caregivers around what matters most: empathy, reliability, clear boundaries, and a relationship grounded in mutual respect.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTogether, they unpack:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe difference a dignity-first caregiver makes in daily life and family dynamics\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow to vet agencies and individual caregivers (green flags vs. red flags)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy values and communication often matter more than résumés or prior tasks\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLessons learned the hard way (and a few humorous missteps) about keeping professional lines intact\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeal’s purpose-driven leap from finance to entrepreneurship to help others avoid common pitfalls\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re navigating care for an aging parent, living with a disability, or building a caregiving team, this conversation offers practical takeaways and a hopeful blueprint for better support at home.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Discover how dignity-first caregiving empowers independence, eases family stress, and builds better home care teams.","date_published":"2025-10-01T09:30:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/e329f31c-8883-4721-8602-ad1ca6015e54.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":13018155,"duration_in_seconds":537}]},{"id":"8608dcbb-20b9-44f9-88ab-f43eb7610e1b","title":"Episode 3: Building Solera, Backing Innovation, \u0026 Defining the Future of Senior Living","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/3","content_text":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, we sit down with Adam Kaplan, entrepreneur, operator, venture capitalist, and family man. As CEO of Solera Senior Living and co-founder of Equitage Ventures, Adam shares his unique perspective on building best-in-class communities, investing in age-tech innovation, and navigating today’s capital markets. From his Chicago roots to his Denver reinvention, Adam reflects on parallel paths, lessons in entrepreneurship, and what drives him to keep evolving. A candid conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of senior housing you won’t want to miss.\n\nWatch the full conversation on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV4XgFoKx0U","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, we sit down with Adam Kaplan, entrepreneur, operator, venture capitalist, and family man. As CEO of Solera Senior Living and co-founder of Equitage Ventures, Adam shares his unique perspective on building best-in-class communities, investing in age-tech innovation, and navigating today’s capital markets. From his Chicago roots to his Denver reinvention, Adam reflects on parallel paths, lessons in entrepreneurship, and what drives him to keep evolving. A candid conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of senior housing you won’t want to miss.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWatch the full conversation on YouTube:  \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV4XgFoKx0U\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV4XgFoKx0U\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, we sit down with Adam Kaplan, entrepreneur, operator, venture capitalist, and family man. ","date_published":"2025-09-10T10:30:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/8608dcbb-20b9-44f9-88ab-f43eb7610e1b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":41476697,"duration_in_seconds":1722}]},{"id":"e5863416-64a6-4e1a-93c2-1e2cd799e803","title":"Episode 2: New Capital Enters Senior Housing:  Health Wave Partners","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/2","content_text":"In this episode, we sit down with longtime friend and industry veteran John Cobb to trace his journey from a successful run at Blueprint to launching Health Wave Partners—a new healthcare real estate investment platform backed by Macquarie Asset Management.\n\nJohn shares how his career pivot led to co-founding a startup with serious momentum, the strategic advantage of building a complementary senior team, and why his investment focus is on core-plus, high-quality senior housing assets. We talk about the underestimated challenges of starting a new venture, lessons from assembling the right culture, and how AI is already streamlining due diligence in real estate.\n\nWhether you’re an investor, operator, or just curious about where healthcare real estate is headed, this conversation offers an inside look at launching with intention, scaling with speed, and modernizing an industry still catching up to other asset classes.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode, we sit down with longtime friend and industry veteran John Cobb to trace his journey from a successful run at Blueprint to launching Health Wave Partners—a new healthcare real estate investment platform backed by Macquarie Asset Management.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJohn shares how his career pivot led to co-founding a startup with serious momentum, the strategic advantage of building a complementary senior team, and why his investment focus is on core-plus, high-quality senior housing assets. We talk about the underestimated challenges of starting a new venture, lessons from assembling the right culture, and how AI is already streamlining due diligence in real estate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you’re an investor, operator, or just curious about where healthcare real estate is headed, this conversation offers an inside look at launching with intention, scaling with speed, and modernizing an industry still catching up to other asset classes.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"We sit down with longtime friend and industry veteran John Cobb to trace his journey from a successful run at Blueprint to launching Health Wave Partners","date_published":"2025-09-04T09:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/e5863416-64a6-4e1a-93c2-1e2cd799e803.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":23868165,"duration_in_seconds":989}]},{"id":"a6929d50-fd77-40af-bff1-6d997a541a91","title":"Episode 1: Blueprint's Co-Founders and Their Story","url":"https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/1","content_text":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, co-founders Ben Firestone and Jacob Gehl rewind to the earliest days of Blueprint—before the playbook was written and when everything felt like an experiment. From the surprising outpouring of market support to the avalanche of behind-the-scenes challenges (legal, accounting, tax, compliance, and more), they share the real story of what it takes to move from producers to business builders.\n\nExpect candid reflections on mistakes made, lessons learned, and the foundation that ultimately shaped Blueprint’s success. It’s a conversation about grit, growth, and the unglamorous—but essential—work that turns vision into reality.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, co-founders Ben Firestone and Jacob Gehl rewind to the earliest days of Blueprint—before the playbook was written and when everything felt like an experiment. From the surprising outpouring of market support to the avalanche of behind-the-scenes challenges (legal, accounting, tax, compliance, and more), they share the real story of what it takes to move from producers to business builders.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExpect candid reflections on mistakes made, lessons learned, and the foundation that ultimately shaped Blueprint’s success. It’s a conversation about grit, growth, and the unglamorous—but essential—work that turns vision into reality.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, co-founders Ben Firestone and Jacob Gehl rewind to the earliest days of Blueprint—before the playbook was written and when everything felt like an experiment.","date_published":"2025-08-29T11:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1616b0e3-8f2b-4966-aa13-5ce0fca5f0dd/a6929d50-fd77-40af-bff1-6d997a541a91.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":17762763,"duration_in_seconds":735}]}]}