web01.fireside.fm Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:16:41 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Drawing the Blueprint - Episodes Tagged with “Drawingtheblueprint” https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/tags/drawingtheblueprint Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:30:00 -0500 Hosted by Blueprint CEO & 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. Fun, 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. Find Ben and the Blueprint Crew on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@drawingtheblueprint. en-us episodic Drawing the Blueprint brings you raw access to the movers and shakers in healthcare real estate and beyond. Ben Firestone Hosted by Blueprint CEO & 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. Fun, 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. Find Ben and the Blueprint Crew on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@drawingtheblueprint. no Ben Firestone drawingtheblueprintpodcast@gmail.com Episode 9: From Student-Athlete to NIL Trailblazer: Jared Wangler on Building Champions Circle at Michigan https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/9 9465d81c-d3f7-4902-bb02-426f71415a0c Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:30:00 -0500 Ben Firestone full Ben Firestone 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. 54:30 no 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. Jared 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. In 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. Jared’s story highlights how passion, community, and innovation can come together to create lasting impact in college athletics. Links & Resources: Check out Champions Circle here: https://www.championscircleuofm.com/ Jared Wangler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wangler-b9a5a7113/ University of Michigan, Football, Sports Marketing, NIL 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.

Jared 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.

In 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.

Jared’s story highlights how passion, community, and innovation can come together to create lasting impact in college athletics.

Links & Resources:
Check out Champions Circle here: https://www.championscircleuofm.com/
Jared Wangler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wangler-b9a5a7113/

]]> 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.

Jared 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.

In 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.

Jared’s story highlights how passion, community, and innovation can come together to create lasting impact in college athletics.

Links & Resources:
Check out Champions Circle here: https://www.championscircleuofm.com/
Jared Wangler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wangler-b9a5a7113/

]]> Episode 8: Leveling Up Law: Insights from Jennifer Sternshein on Growth and Leadership https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/8 c114867f-1990-4621-a558-70f191159e52 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:30:00 -0500 Ben Firestone full Ben Firestone 38:56 no 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. She 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. A 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. Outside 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. Jennifer’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. Links & Resources: The Neighborhood Hotel (Use code BLUEPRINT15 for 15% off your next stay): https://theneighborhoodhotel.com Sternshein Legal Group: https://sternsheinlegalgroup.com Stardust Grove Farm: https://thestardustgrove.com Later Days Movie Trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4bgTPwZXhuQ senior housing, healthcare law, women-owned, blueprintcre 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.

She 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.

A 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.

Outside 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.

Jennifer’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.

Links & Resources:
The Neighborhood Hotel (Use code BLUEPRINT15 for 15% off your next stay): https://theneighborhoodhotel.com
Sternshein Legal Group:
https://sternsheinlegalgroup.com
Stardust Grove Farm:
https://thestardustgrove.com
Later Days Movie Trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4bgTPwZXhuQ

]]> 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.

She 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.

A 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.

Outside 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.

Jennifer’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.

Links & Resources:
The Neighborhood Hotel (Use code BLUEPRINT15 for 15% off your next stay): https://theneighborhoodhotel.com
Sternshein Legal Group:
https://sternsheinlegalgroup.com
Stardust Grove Farm:
https://thestardustgrove.com
Later Days Movie Trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4bgTPwZXhuQ

]]> Episode 7: The Making of a Dealmaker: A Conversation with Kory Buzin https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/7 0bfc8bf0-5e5c-4640-8a53-6eb4628ad33e Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0500 Ben Firestone full Ben Firestone 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. 22:16 no 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. Ben and Kory revisit the early days of Blueprint, swap stories about mentors and mischief with Mike Segel, 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. Along 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. With 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. Senior housing, Deal making, Blueprint HCRE, Career transition, Property operations 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.

Ben and Kory revisit the early days of Blueprint, swap stories about mentors and mischief with Mike Segel, 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.

Along 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.

With 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.

]]> 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.

Ben and Kory revisit the early days of Blueprint, swap stories about mentors and mischief with Mike Segel, 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.

Along 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.

With 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.

]]> Episode 3: Building Solera, Backing Innovation, & Defining the Future of Senior Living https://drawingtheblueprint.fireside.fm/3 8608dcbb-20b9-44f9-88ab-f43eb7610e1b Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:30:00 -0400 Ben Firestone full Ben Firestone In this episode of Drawing the Blueprint, we sit down with Adam Kaplan, entrepreneur, operator, venture capitalist, and family man. 28:42 no 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. Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV4XgFoKx0U Senior Living, Venture Capital, BluePrint 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.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV4XgFoKx0U

]]> 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.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV4XgFoKx0U

]]>