Neutral Podcast

<p>Have you ever considered where industrial waste goes? What if the dust from a factory or the runoff from a pottery studio could be transformed into a beautiful, handcrafted sink in your home? </p><p>We’re on-site in Kohler, Wisconsin, at the innovative Kohler Waste Lab with Matt to discuss how they are turning landfill-bound materials into luxury home products. </p><p>Matt shares the origin story of the Waste Lab—an idea born from employees experimenting on their lunch breaks—and how it’s scaling into a full-fledged business unit. In this episode, you’ll learn how Kohler is challenging the future of manufacturing by viewing waste not as a liability, but as a primary resource.</p><p> We get into the details of their process, from collecting foundry dust and pottery scraps to handcrafting unique tiles and sinks that give new life to discarded materials. </p><p>We also explore how Waste Lab is building a resilient supply chain from unpredictable sources and what it means for the future of the circular economy.</p><p> This conversation will change how you see industrial waste and inspire a new perspective on the future of sustainable design.</p><p> <strong>Kohler WasteLAB</strong>: https://www.kohlercompany.com/our-impact/wastelab/</p><p> <strong>Neutral</strong>: https://www.neutral.us </p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p>01:37 - The History of Kohler and the Origin of Waste Lab</p><p>04:33 - Matt's Personal Journey to Waste Lab</p><p>08:26 - Scaling Production: Building a Supply Chain from Waste</p><p>17:17 - A Breakdown of the Materials: From Foundry Dust to Pottery Scraps </p><p>20:42 - The Philosophy: Why Waste Lab Focuses on Landfill Diversion </p><p>25:32 - The Handcrafted Process vs. Large-Scale Manufacturing </p><p>28:46 - The Future: Exploring New Products and Categories </p><p>33:07 - How Neutral and Waste Lab Are Partnering on Sustainable Projects </p><p>#SustainableDesign #CircularEconomy #Upcycling #KohlerWasteLab #IndustrialWaste #Handcrafted #SustainableManufacturing #InnovationByDesign #Kohler #Wisconsin</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://neutralpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">neutralpodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>When you see a strawberry in the grocery store in the middle of winter, have you ever stopped to ask how it got there? And why it can last for weeks when a fresh one from a local farm is best eaten in days? </p><p>We’re on-site at Vitruvian Farms, just outside Madison, Wisconsin, with co-founder Tommy Stauffer to walk through what it really means to relocalize our food system. </p><p>Tommy shares the story of starting the farm in college, driven by a passion for building community and changing how we think about what we eat. </p><p>In this episode, you’ll learn the difference between conventional and regenerative farming, and why practices like crop rotation and cover cropping are essential for building healthy soil. </p><p>We get into the details of what “eating seasonally” actually looks like—it’s about diving deep into what’s available right now, from asparagus in the spring to tomatoes in the summer.</p><p> We also explore how Vitruvian is making local, organic food more convenient than ever through their online store and partnerships, bringing the farm directly to your door.</p><p> This conversation will give you a new appreciation for the food on your plate and the people who grow it. </p><p>Vitruvian Farms: www.vitruvianfarms.com/</p><p>Neutral: www.neutral.us </p><p>Timestamps </p><p>00:43 - The Story of Vitruvian Farms</p><p> 08:46 - What Regenerative Farming Actually Means </p><p>18:26 - How the Farm-to-Building Model Works </p><p>29:45 - The Truth About Supermarket Produce </p><p>44:24 - A Practical Guide to Seasonal Eating </p><p>51:44 - Inside the Greenhouse: Extending the Season </p><p>53:21 - Building Community Beyond the Crops</p><p> 55:08 - The Future of Local Food</p><p>#LocalFood #OrganicFarming #RegenerativeAgriculture #FarmToTable #CSA #VitruvianFarms #KnowYourFarmer #SeasonalEating #SustainableFarming #MadisonWisconsin</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://neutralpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">neutralpodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>Your home should be more than just a place to live. What if it could adapt to your life, whether you’re staying for a night, a month, or a year? </p><p>In this conversation, we sit down with a leader from ICONIQ Capital and Sentral to walk through the evolution of renting. He shares his journey from traditional multifamily development to helping build Airbnb’s strategy for apartments, and now to creating a new model that merges hospitality with home. You’ll learn how integrating short and mid-term furnished rentals into Class A apartment buildings isn't just a trend – it's a fundamental shift. </p><p>We explore how this model can increase a property’s revenue by up to 70% and why, surprisingly, it can lead to lower overall maintenance costs. We also discuss how technology is turning local apartment buildings into global destinations, opening them up to a new world of residents and guests. </p><p>This is a look at the future of how we live, travel, and think about real estate.</p><p><strong>Jaja Jackson:</strong> https://www.linkedin.com/in/contactjaja</p><p><strong>ICONIQ:</strong> https://www.iconiqcapital.com/ </p><p><strong>Sentral:</strong> https://sentral.com/real-estate-partnerships</p><p>T<strong>imestamps:</strong> </p><p>00:53 - A Career Start: Learning Multifamily at Emerald Fund </p><p>02:26 - The Move to Airbnb: Bridging the Gap with Landlords </p><p>06:01 - A New Chapter: Joining Iconic Capital to Build Central </p><p>09:22 - The Thesis: Proving the Flexible Living Model Works</p><p> 12:24 - Central’s Value: More Profit and a Better Resident Experience</p><p> 16:52 - Why the Market Was Ready for Branded, Flexible Living</p><p> 21:23 - Finding the Ideal Mix of Short-Term and Mid-Term Stays </p><p>24:42 - How to Pick the Right Markets for Flexible Rentals</p><p> 28:53 - The Financials: Understanding the ROI of Furnishing Units</p><p> 31:27 - The Revenue Premium: A 30-80% Boost Over Traditional Leases </p><p>32:55 - Analyzing the Full Picture: Revenue Gains vs. Expense Increases </p><p>36:08 - The Maintenance Surprise: Why Shorter Stays Can Mean Better Kept Units 41:12 - From a 50-Mile Radius to the Entire Planet: The Tech Shift in Housing </p><p>47:40 - Beyond the Room: Adding Value with Enhanced Hospitality Services </p><p>51:32 - The Next 10 Years: Projecting the Growth of the Flexible Rental Market</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://neutralpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">neutralpodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>Episode #24</p><p>In this episode of the Neutral Podcast, Nate sits down with David Barber, a leading fire safety engineer, during a live three-hour fire test for the Edison Project—a groundbreaking 31-story mass timber tower in downtown Milwaukee. With the roar of the furnace in the background, they unpack what it means to push timber to new heights. David explains why this test matters, what it takes to meet the elusive 3-hour fire rating, and how fire codes are adapting to the rise of mass timber. They also explore jurisdictional hurdles, the city of Milwaukee's role, and what the future holds for hybrid construction. </p><p>Timestamps</p><p>00:00 - Introduction from the fire testing site </p><p>02:00 - David Barber on the Edison Project and mass timber's potential</p><p>10:00 - What it takes to earn a 3-hour fire rating </p><p>18:00 - Challenges in updating building codes for timber </p><p>26:00 - The collaboration behind Edison and jurisdictional hurdles </p><p>34:00 - Safety systems, code classifications, and hybrid construction </p><p>42:00 - Research, evolution, and the future of tall timber buildings </p><p>52:00 - Final thoughts on innovation, testing, and what’s next</p><p>#masstimber #firesafety #DavidBarber #EdisonProject #sustainabledesign #NeutralPodcast #architecture #highrise #buildingcode #constructioninnovation</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://neutralpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">neutralpodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>You’ll meet Peter Kraus, a trainer-turned-entrepreneur who’s spent years building spaces that make movement second nature. From modeling gigs to training elite performers—from Ironman competitors to professional sports teams—his path led to one idea: health should live where you do.</p><p>Dr. Allan steps in with a doctor’s view of the system—after decades in emergency care, he’s shifting the focus to prevention. To daily habits. To care that starts before there’s a crisis.</p><p>This conversation walks you through the Neutral philosophy: not a gym. Not a clinic. But a place where diagnostics, coaching, and medical insight meet you where you are—right inside your building.</p><p>Think of it as stepping out of your apartment and into a space where you can get your blood work done, talk to a trainer, or adjust your health plan based on real-time data. No commute. No waiting rooms. Just integrated wellness that fits your daily life. Your home. Your pace. Your health, every day.</p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p>00:12 – Peter’s Path: From Personal Training to Building Neutral</p><p>06:23 – Dr. Allan’s Medical Perspective: Fixing the System</p><p>10:45 – Integrating Fitness, Medicine & Holistic Health</p><p>40:38 – Tools, Tech & Data: The Engine Behind Neutral</p><p>57:01 – Looking Ahead: Expanding Wellness to More Communities</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://neutralpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">neutralpodcast.substack.com</a>