Andrew Gregor on Architecture, Resilience, and Writing ‘Roscoe’ About Homelessness in San Francisco

Host Russell Thackeray welcomes guest Andrew Gregor, a British-born, California-based architect and residential remodelling contractor who has transitioned into publishing novels. Gregor recounts being born in Beirut, sent to UK boarding school at 10, studying architecture, building an award-winning practice in Germany, then moving to the US and starting a renovation company. He discusses how architecture taught him practical skills like managing people, money, and materials, and reflects on AI’s potential impact as he plans to retire and write. Gregor’s novel ‘Roscoe,’ set over 12 hours in the life of a homeless man in San Francisco, draws heavily on his own voice and experiences, including briefly sleeping in his truck after the 2009 crash and divorce. He describes outreach work, the need to treat unhoused people with dignity, and endorses Housing First; the book won first place at the New York Book Festival and is available on major platforms. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:46 Andrew’s Global Journey 01:52 From Building to Books 03:11 Architecture Skills and AI 05:19 Beirut Roots and Languages 07:07 Writing Roscoe and Voice 07:49 Orwell and Experiencing Homelessness 10:19 Close to the Edge in 2009 12:29 Dignity and Outreach Stories 15:32 Humanising Homelessness Solutions 17:56 Veterans, War, and Hypocrisy 19:41 Where to Find the Book 20:15 Connect and Closing Thanks You can contact us at [email protected] Resources can be found online or link to our website https://resilienceunravelled.com