202. Most Problems Start Before Construction

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1. 

   S8 · E207 · 27 May 2026 · 44 min

   207. Office to Housing Conversion with Michael Bohn

   In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius speaks with Michael Bohn, AIA, Partner at Studio One Eleven, about the growing opportunity to convert underused office buildings into housing. As office vacancy rates remain elevated in many cities and communities continue to face severe housing shortages, adaptive reuse offers a powerful path forward—one that can reduce waste, lower embodied carbon, preserve community character, and bring new life to struggling urban districts. Michael brings more than 35 years of architectural experience and leads Studio One Eleven’s affordable, modular, and adaptive…

2. 

   S8 · E206 · 20 May 2026 · 23 min

   206. Understanding Project Scope

   In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius highlights how one of the biggest mistakes owners make happens before they hire a contractor, define a budget, or submit plans: they don’t fully understand what kind of project they’re actually taking on. And that misunderstanding can dramatically impact cost, timeline, permitting, engineering, and overall project complexity. He breaks down the critical differences between: Renovations Remodels Additions ADUs Rebuilds …and explains why these categories are not interchangeable. Drawing from more than 20 years of experience, Dimitrius walks through the…

3. 

   S8 · E205 · 13 May 2026 · 44 min

   205. The Critical Role of Daylight with Joe Menchefski

   In this episode of SPACES, Joe Menchefski shares his journey from chemical engineering to sustainable design and highlights the importance of daylighting in architecture. He discusses the challenges of glare and thermal discomfort in buildings, and explains innovative solutions like diffused glazing that enhances natural light while minimizing discomfort. Joe identifies the health implications of natural versus artificial light, the importance of design considerations, and the future trends in daylighting and sustainability. He also touches on the Better Buildings for Humans podcast, where…

4. 

   S8 · E204 · 6 May 2026 · 49 min

   204. Why California Housing is So Expensive, What 2026 Governor Candidates Got Wrong (and Right)

   In this episode, Dimitrius breaks down why California housing costs are so high, exploring systemic drivers beyond just impact fees, contractor fees, and material prices. He reflects of the 2026 California Governor candidates housing platforms, dives into policy and structural factors influencing housing costs, and shares insights from his new guidebook, Before You Build , offering valuable guidance for homeowners and builders alike. Before You Build Guidebook Download Built to Divide Podcast Series LYNES If you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow creators at…

5. 

   S8 · E203 · 29 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

   203. Off-Grid, the Hot Rod of Buildings, with David Sellers

   This episode of SPACES features David Sellers, Principal Architect and co-founder of Hawaii Off-Grid, a pioneering firm committed to designing only net-zero new buildings. David shares his journey from Texas to Hawaii, detailing the experiences that shaped his commitment to sustainable architecture. He discusses the evolution of off-grid architecture, the importance of net-zero buildings, and the innovative materials and technologies that are transforming the industry. Sellers emphasizes the need for adaptability in design to address climate change and the significance of financial…

6. 

   S8 · E201 · 15 Apr 2026 · 28 min

   201. Revolutionizing Lease Arbitrage with Alex Passler

   In this episode of SPACES, I learn how Vallist is revolutionizing office design by creating high-quality shared spaces that cater to modern work needs. Discover insights from expert Alex Passler. In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, the design of office spaces is more crucial than ever. With the rise of hybrid work strategies, companies are reevaluating how their office spaces function. Alex Passler, founder of Vallist, offers a fresh perspective on this transformation, drawing from his extensive experience in the co-working sector. We explore key insights about the future of office…

7. 

   18 Feb 2026 · 51 min

   12: We're Not Done - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide

   In this powerful season finale of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch dismantles the myths that have kept America’s housing crisis misunderstood for decades. Drawing from personal experience, economic history, and policy analysis, the episode reveals how housing transformed from shelter into one of the most powerful vehicles for wealth extraction in modern society. From restrictive zoning and financial deregulation to labor shifts, political incentives, and the collapse of social infrastructure, Lynch exposes the deeper machinery driving unaffordability — and why tidy explanations often…

8. 

   11 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 32 min

   11: The Tea Leaves of Feudalism 2.0 - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide

   What if the future of America doesn’t resemble a democracy — but a modern form of feudalism? In this gripping episode of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch traces a chilling throughline from 19th-century “other-ism” to the emerging architecture of concentrated power shaping today’s housing markets, financial systems, and governance models. Beginning with the displacement of Chinese and Japanese laborers and the weaponization of fear for economic gain, the episode reveals how crisis has repeatedly been used to reorganize ownership — transferring land, wealth, and opportunity upward. Then the…

9. 

   4 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 30 min

   10: Divide & Conquer - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide

   In this episode of Built to Divide , Dimitrius Lynch traces how crisis becomes opportunity — not for everyone, but for those positioned to acquire when others are forced to let go. From psychological influence campaigns and the weaponization of belief to pandemic-era wealth acceleration, this episode reveals how instability reshapes ownership itself. Lynch connects redlining to modern rent burdens, shows how algorithmic pricing may be rewriting competition, and examines how disasters — from COVID-19 to California wildfires — can trigger generational wealth transfers. You’ll hear how…

10. 

    28 Jan 2026 · 49 min

    09: Under Pressure - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide

    In this episode of Built to Divide we dissect the collision of NIMBY politics, Proposition 13 in California, environmental law, rising construction costs, and cultural status signaling that defined housing in the 2010s. Dimitrius Lynch takes listeners inside the community meeting rooms where projects die quietly, tracing how California’s tax revolt rewired local incentives, how CEQA evolved from environmental shield to procedural weapon, and why housing scarcity became fiscally rational—even when socially destructive. This episode connects Thorstein Veblen’s leisure class theory to modern…