What’s to Come in 2026
Are We Here Yet Podcast
Cohosts Ryan Munn and Scott Graves delve into what’s on the horizon in Vermont tech in 2026. Talk of BETA Technologies recent IPO and its consequences on employment opportunities was high among the list of other companies mentioned that we’re watching in the upcoming year. The list includes OnLogic, former podcast guest , Lightshift Energy and more. If you didn’t make the conversation this time around, have no fear. We’re watching YOU, too! A look at the upcoming year cannot be had without some meaningful conversation on artificial intelligence, advanced...
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Rural Housing Report: New Ideas from Otis, MA
Are We Here Yet Podcast
Rural Housing Report: New Ideas from Otis, MA We’re joined by , a fifth generation citizen from the Berkshire hamlet of Otis, MA. After listening to Stacey tell us in detail about the town’s greatest assets we’re feeling good about the resiliency of small town New England. Alongside her neighbors Stacey is engaged in garnering new ideas to solve Otis’s housing challenges in the most direct way possible, by listening to what your neighbors have to say. We’ve been gathering some compelling stories of economic development and housing this year from...
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Lean Into Success Lean Real Estate’s Michael Cohen
Are We Here Yet Podcast
is a partner and founding member of a successful investment firm buying directly from owners. The team at Lean applies lean manufacturing principles to real estate investment, which has helped the team of three stay focused and well disciplined in every aspect of their operation. Learn from Michael how to apply lean principles to your operation in our episode, plus understand more about the Burlington, Vermont real estate market. Burlington is one of Vermont’s highest performing markets for increasing value as is Chittenden county as a whole, which has been good for...
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New England Equity Collective Transforms Lives One Neighborhood at a Time
Are We Here Yet Podcast
is a realtor who recently donned the hat of a developer and non-profit leader. What makes this remarkable is the model of her new venture, . The NEEC is targeting families across a wide spectrum of backgrounds for co-living in pocket neighborhood developments combining services like art and music therapy with a more affordable and desirable place to live. Listen in if you are a non-profit leader looking to discover how to refine your model. Listen in if you are a new urbanist looking for an intentional design to a pocket neighborhood. Listen in if you care about innovation...
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Hypnotic Boogie: Re-discovering the Hill Country Blues
Are We Here Yet Podcast
The Hill Country Blues is, in effect for many of us, a form of early american music that is hiding in plain site. Take one part, fife and folk from the british isles,another part west african polyrhythms. Mix european balladeering with caribbean hypnotic rhythms. What begins as drum and fife music deep in the hills of northern Mississippi and Alabama blended with other blues from the region then heavily influenced the likes of Rock legends like Bo Diddley. We're re-discovering what Hill Country blues is all about. I'm joined by 2025 Massachusetts beat poet...
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Our 200th Episode
Are We Here Yet Podcast
Robert Reich wrote on his substack for September 16, One study found that of Americans expect a second civil war to happen “in the next few years,” even if the specifics vary according to one’s politics and imagination. On the other hand, unlike the Civil War of 1861-1865, no particular issue — like slavery back then — pulls the nation apart. While immigration, crime, abortion, and LGBTQ+ rights are controversial, none of these seem to elicit the anger and passions that might generate civil war. Nor are we enduring an economic calamity, pandemic, world war, or other national...
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A Housers Report from Rural New England
Are We Here Yet Podcast
Darren Sherburne is Associate Broker of Four Seasons Sotheby’s Fairlee VT office and an active houser developing a variety of properties in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. Darren reports on the current housing challenges in his region and gave us plenty to think about regarding how to get more of your housers started, where the funding can come from, what policy measures could improve our situation in Vermont and Northern New England. You’ll appreciate Darren’s focused intent on successful building, successful housing.
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For the Small Scale Developer In Your Life
Are We Here Yet Podcast
Andrew Overton is a founding member of , where he partners with small developers and communities to make sense of the real estate process. From acquisitions and zoning to community outreach, my daily goal is helping others feel supported—especially those stepping into development for the first time. I’ve spent years coaching new developers, breaking down regulatory hurdles, and building education programs to empower people, because real success comes from informed decision-making that benefits both clients and neighborhoods. Today we’re speaking directly to you, small scale or...
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Getting in the Zone: Make or Break Your Cities Recovery
Are We Here Yet Podcast
I’m joined this week by Ed Bove, the Planning Director for my hometown of Rutland, Vermont, USA. A year into his tenure Ed is leading the effort to refine our cities zoning regulations to reflect an effort to build 1000 units of housing in five years. We discussed the inner workings of the ongoing regs themselves, what changes are needed and why and the vision for what our community desires for results. We discussed the shortcomings and challenges for building middle market housing in Rutland and solutions for proliferating projects and small-scale developers who...
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Sticking to the Plan
Are We Here Yet Podcast
The city of North Adams, MA is a great locale these days if your passion is transforming downtowns. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is slated to fund a complete reversal of urban renewal’s worst mid-century mistakes by eliminating the Route 2 overpass. There are myriad other improvements in the works, too. That’s why the folks who care the most about their city reinvigorated the North Adams Partnership, who is brushing off the dust on an otherwise vibrant long-term plan for the city’s next chapter and hired Jenny Wright to lead the effort. If you are a...
info_outlineWe’re joined this week by tech founder and Real Estate professional Lilian Chen. She founded Proptimal in order to provide foundational knowledge for investors and developers who generally don’t get the attention they deserve from firms focused on established clients.
We talked about the inherent challenges in serving smaller clients and on the importance of your underlying analytical processes. Lilian guides clients to ensure their focused on the right processes based on their clear goals. Not about right or wrong, good or bad. But about can you work with the right context and can you replicate it project to project.
When I asked Lilian what we can expect of the short term, our conversation focused on artificial intelligence and its effect on people. It’s clear Lilian’s background, having grown up in a house filled with the creation of music, has a profound effect on her people-focused approach to business.
Lilian’s Bio: Lilian Chen is the Founder of Proptimal, building the 10X Real Estate Analyst with patent-pending tech that makes institutional analysis accessible to everyday investors.
She has advised on more than $2B in transactions across 200 firms — from first-time investors to institutions with billions under management — and has taught hundreds of high-net-worth individuals the fundamentals of real estate investing.
Outside of work, she’s traveled to over 40 countries and writes on how real estate, technology, and culture shape the way we live.