The Stage Debate Podcast

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for a special election-focused episode featuring a debate between candidates running for Secretary of AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. This episode features Dhiren Masters, Partner at The Lion Group DFW, and Mahendra (MZ) Patel, Founder of MHO Hotels and AAHOA Regional Director, as they share their backgrounds, leadership experience, and vision for the future of AAHOA and the hospitality industry. The conversation covers key topics including hotel profitability, rising operating costs, franchising challenges, legislative advocacy, member engagement, and the evolving role of first- and second-generation hotel owners. With perspectives rooted in both decades of experience and next-generation thinking, this episode offers valuable insights for hotel owners, real estate investors, and hospitality professionals looking to understand the future of the industry.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Michael Procopio, CEO of The Procopio Companies, a fourth-generation real estate development and construction firm founded in 1949. Michael shares how the company evolved from a small family homebuilder into a vertically integrated multifamily platform with more than $1 billion in ground-up development, and explains how partnerships with institutional capital including The Carlyle Group helped fuel that growth. This episode covers raising private equity, identifying overlooked submarkets before they take off, build-to-rent single family communities in the Northeast, improving NOI through in house property management, applying hospitality principles to multifamily housing, leadership lessons, mentorship, and balancing business success with family priorities. Perfect for real estate developers, multifamily investors, capital raisers, and entrepreneurs looking for practical insights on scaling a real estate company in today’s market.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Zack Gharib, President of Red Roof. Zack shares his journey into hospitality and breaks down what it takes to lead a 700+ hotel brand in today’s competitive market. This episode covers hotel franchising vs. independent hotels, franchisee relationships, cost pressures, technology, brand standards, and strategies hotel owners need to succeed in 2026. Zack also explains how Red Roof supports franchisees through scale, transparency, and disciplined growth. Perfect for hotel owners, franchisees, hospitality investors, and real estate professionals looking for practical insights on navigating the hotel industry.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for a high-impact conversation with Ricky Raman of PeachState Hospitality and Saagar Parikh of Spark GHC as they share their journeys, development strategies, and real-world insights on navigating today’s hotel market. Ricky discusses PeachState’s focus on disciplined development, market intelligence, and building durable lender and brand relationships, while Sagar brings a Wall Street-honed perspective on capital, culture, investor relations, and long-term thinking. Together they break down the challenges of financing new construction, entering unfamiliar markets, understanding brand saturation, and managing risk in a shifting hospitality landscape. The episode also spotlights Project Scarlet, Spark GHC’s innovative Marriott Tribute hotel and apartment concept in downtown Cleveland, and concludes with honest, practical advice for new hotel investors on curiosity, relationships, transparency, and playing the long game.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an exciting episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring Ravi Patel, Chief Executive Officer of SINA Hospitality; Ashok Patel, VP of Development at Jamsan Hotel Management; and Chico Patel, Co-CEO of Wealth Hospitality Group. Dive into their inspiring stories as second and third generation hoteliers building impressive portfolios across the U.S. in 2025. Discover insights on overcoming early struggles, navigating COVID's impact, ground-up development vs. acquisitions, financing challenges in a post-pandemic world, brand selection strategies, and innovative amenities to enhance guest experiences. Gain valuable advice for aspiring hoteliers on hard work, market exploration, and balancing product, people, and debt. Ideal for hotel investors, developers, operators, and entrepreneurs looking for actionable hospitality wisdom on growth, resilience, and industry trends.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an engaging episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring Taran Patel, MBA, Managing Principal of A-1 Hospitality Group, and Bhavin Patel, CEO and Founder of Shreem Capital. Explore their journeys from second-generation hoteliers to leading dynamic hospitality companies in 2025. Learn innovative strategies for boosting ancillary revenue, managing bad reviews, and navigating guest challenges. Discover Taran’s leadership in AAHOA and Bhavin’s passion for boutique hotels. Perfect for hotel investors, hospitality professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking insights on operations, growth, and industry advocacy.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring Ravi Desai, Principal and CEO of Opal Hotels Group, and Bhavesh Lad, MBA, Managing Principal of Spark Hotels. Dive into their journeys from humble beginnings to building thriving hotel portfolios in 2025. Discover strategies for navigating financing challenges, scaling operations, and fostering strong partnerships in the competitive hospitality industry. Perfect for hotel investors, hospitality professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights on leadership, acquisitions, and market trends.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for a compelling episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring industry leaders Greg Friedman, CEO of Peachtree Group, Ravi Patel, President of Hawkeye Hotels, and Paul Coury, CEO of Coury Hospitality. Discover their journeys, from early risks to leading hotel empires in 2025. Learn strategies for overcoming challenges like COVID-19 and high interest rates, scaling boutique hotels, and mentoring future leaders. Ideal for hotel investors and hospitality pros, this episode dives into leadership and innovation.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an inspiring episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring industry giants Mit Shah of Noble Investment Group, Al Patel of Titan Management, and Dr. Ruby Dhalla of Dhalla Group. Dive into their remarkable journeys, from humble beginnings to leading major hotel portfolios in 2025. Learn how these leaders navigated challenges like COVID-19, 9/11, and economic downturns, while sharing actionable insights on building resilient hotel businesses, fostering team culture, and mentoring the next generation of hoteliers. Perfect for hotel investors, hospitality professionals, or anyone curious about real estate and entrepreneurship, this episode explores immigrant grit, operational excellence, and the future of hospitality. Don’t miss expert advice on scaling hotels, leveraging operating leverage, and avoiding common pitfalls in this dynamic industry!

Tune into the Stage Debate Podcast as host Isaac Weinberger welcomes hotel industry leaders Mitch I. Patel of Vision Hospitality Group, Ryan Amin of Giri Hotels, and Jatin Desai of Peachtree Group. Discover how top hotel operators are tackling today’s dynamic hospitality market, innovating revenue streams, managing rising costs, and scaling their portfolios in 2025. Whether you’re a hotel investor, real estate enthusiast, or exploring hospitality investment strategies, this episode delivers actionable insights, personal journeys, and expert advice to elevate your game. Learn about hotel vs. multifamily investing, ancillary revenue tactics, and overcoming challenges like the Great Recession and pandemic—all packed into one must-listen session!

Tune into the Stage Debate Podcast as host Isaac Weinberger is joined by multifamily real estate investors Scott O’Neill, Alex Oliver, and Vivek Kumar. Learn how top operators are navigating today’s challenging real estate market, structuring creative deals, raising equity, and finding investment opportunities in 2025. Whether you're a real estate investor, syndicator, or exploring multifamily investing strategies, this episode is packed with real-world insights and valuable advice to help you succeed.

In this episode of the Stage Debate Podcast, host Isaac Weinberger is joined by Israel Leiner, Jake Gluck, and Rickey Shneyder, three top-tier professionals in the debt brokerage industry. Dive deep into their experiences and learn about the intricacies of structuring creative and complex financial deals in real estate. Whether you're an investor, broker, or just curious about the debt brokerage space, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice.

Dive into key investment strategies for today’s market with host Isaac Weinberger, joined by Steven Weinstock, Ben Spiegel, and Raj Tirur. Listen as they discuss the benefits of the fund model versus the syndication model, the opportunities presented by lower interest rates, and strategies for diversifying multifamily portfolios. Brimming with insights and actionable advice, this episode is a must-watch for both new and experienced investors looking to elevate their investment game. __   Don't forget to like and subscribe!   Follow Steven: @steven-weinstock-60aa86209 Follow Ben: @ben-spiegel Follow Raj: @raj-tirur-072b2629 __ Episode Chapters:  00:00 Introduction 02:34 Steven Introduction 03:24 Ben Introduction 04:38 Raj Introduction 07:08 Fund Model vs. Syndication Model 17:09 Lower Interest Rates 27:08 Diversifying a Multifamily Portfolio 29:54 Raj’s Recent Deal 31:03 Steven’s Recent Deal 34:08 Don’t Scale Too Quickly 35:54 Make Yourself Available 39:16 Get Involved 42:14 Networking 43:38 Subscribe   #investment #realestate #strategy #syndication #interestrates #multifamily #costsegisaac __   Give the Stage Debate podcast a listen whenever, wherever! Available now on Spotify and Apple Music @TheStageDebatePodcast __   Follow Me Here! LinkedIn: @Isaacweinberger

Packed with tips on tax planning, maximizing deductions, and navigating real estate tax laws, this episode offers valuable insights for both investors and accounting professionals. Isaac Weinberger sits down with expert CPAs Brandon Hall, Nicole DeRosa, and Chelsea O’Shields to discuss year-round tax strategies, common mistakes real estate investors make, and how to qualify as a real estate professional.  __ Don't forget to like and subscribe! Follow Brandon: @brandonhallcpa Follow Nicole: @nicole-derosa-cpa-macc  Follow Chelsea: @chelsea-o-shields-cpa __ Episode chapters:  0:00 Introduction 2:35 Chelsea Introduction 3:23 Brandon Introduction 4:27 Nicole Introduction 6:15 Setting Up for Success 12:55 CPA Fees 17:26 Specially Allocated Depreciation 23:33 Biggest Mistakes Real Estate Investors Make 29:15 Bonus Depreciation 35:20 Qualifying as a Real Estate Professional 46:29 How to Sell Yourself as a CPA 51:20 Long-Term CPA Goals 56:24 Subscribe! #investing #realestate #cpa #costsegisaac #dealclosing #investmentstrategy __ Give the Stage Debate podcast a listen whenever, wherever! Available now on Spotify and Apple Music @TheStageDebatePodcast __ Follow Me Here! LinkedIn: @Isaacweinberger    

What does it take to be a successful broker? Skill? Honesty? Strategy? The answers are all here in this week’s episode of the Stage Debate podcast, with expert guests Aaron Kuroiwa, Christian Zaciewski and David Ferber. Join host Isaac Weinberger in discovering the true meaning behind success in brokerage. __ Don't forget to like and subscribe! Follow Aaron: @indianamultifamily Follow Christian: @christianzaciewski Follow David: @davidferbercpa __ In this episode: 0:00 Introduction 3:00 Aaron’s background and style 4:18 Christian’s Story 5:40 David’s Career 7:02 How did you become successful? 15:08 Assessing values 23:37 Show up every day and work hard 26:00 The Big Question 29:49 Be honest and build trust 39:19 Turning points in careers 41:38 Show up for your clients and make more progress 43:39 Give your clients the facts 47:20 Advice to newbie investors   #investing #realestate #businessmanagement #costsegisaac #dealclosing #broker #brokerage #investmentstrategy __ Give the Stage Debate podcast a listen whenever, wherever! Available now on Spotify and Apple Music @TheStageDebatePodcast __ Follow Me Here! Linkedin: @Isaacweinberger

Are you someone who struggles with creating and maintaining a solid exit strategy? This weeks episode follows Chad Schieler, Kevin Falk and Nick Elder and their expert opinions on the real estate market today. 

Wondering if you should opt for Self Management or Third Party Management? Our guests Shawn Ricehouse, Mac Shelton, and Bhavin Patel have all the answers in this new episode.

Having a hard time closing a good investment deal? Hear industry experts Glenn Gonzales, Avi Abadie and Teddy Mohlman share their experience and how to overcome challenges when approaching a potential investment. Tune in every week with host Isaac Weinberger and don't forget to subscribe!

Worried about how inflation will affect the real estate market? Hear about the challenges of increased interest and insurance rates from development experts Joel Fine, Shane Carter, and Sridhar Sannidhi. 

Welcome to the Stage Debate Podcast with Isaac Weinberger, a bi-weekly debate style interview with the top experts in the real estate field. In this episode we discuss boosting NOI with multifamily properties with our guests Garret Lynch, Mike Woodfield and Jeff Sherman.