Records & Real Estate Podcast
Records & Real Estate is where Chicago's amazing music and real estate landscapes collide. Each episode, Andrew Wendt, president and founder of Be Realty LLC in Wrigleyville, and his musician/colleague and friend Karen Sandvoss, share a piece of Chicago music history and then tie it to the neighborhoods and real estate surrounding it. Whether you're new to the city, are looking for a property to buy or sell, or just love talking music, this is the place to be!
Episodes
36 episodes
From Teen Bands to TV Scores: The Evolution of Johnny Iguana
Ever wondered how an unexpected live tryout in Boston could change the course of a music career? Join us as Johnny Iguana, the dynamic keyboardist from The Claudettes, recounts his serendipitous journey from playing in teenage blues bands to la...
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Episode 35
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1:25:53
Jay Stanek’s Harmonious Home: Echoes of John Prine, Chicago Blues, and Balancing Life’s Passions
What if your home once echoed with the chords of a musical legend? Join us as we welcome Jay Stanek, a high school history teacher from Evanston Township, who discovered that his house was a creative haven for the legendary songwriter John Prin...
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Episode 34
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1:03:19
Harmonizing Homes and Heavy Metal: Jenafur Schlangen's Lens on Real Estate and Riffs
When the worlds of real estate and heavy metal collide, you know you're in for an electrifying experience. That's precisely what happened when we sat down with Jenafur Schlangen, a music photography maven and journalist who just stepped into th...
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Episode 33
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55:47
Reviving Rhythms and Real Estate: Moses Hall’s Strategy for Societal Symphony
Moses Hall, a maestro in the realms of both music and real estate, graces our latest episode with his extraordinary tale of transition. The man known as Mo fuses a unique sartorial flair with astute branding acumen to navigate Chicago's propert...
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Episode 32
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1:09:35
Preserving Memories in Music and Mortgages with Josh Jones
Join the conversation as Josh Jones, a mortgage maestro with a penchant for vinyl, spins tales from his collection and the loan industry. The nostalgia of a well-loved Sam Cooke record meets the stark realities of navigating mortgage complexiti...
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Episode 31
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1:10:15
Tom Lee's Architectural Symphony: Weaving Stories, Spaces, and Sustainability Into Urban Fabric
Imagine stepping into a world where every detail in the space around you is a result of thoughtful storytelling and functionality. That's the essence of our latest conversation with acclaimed architect Tom Lee. In this rich tapestry of personal...
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Episode 30
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1:10:10
Striking Chords in Music and Mortgages with Sam Sharp and Larry Steinway
Ever wondered how the thump of a bass drum echoes in the halls of real estate? Our latest episode brings together the unlikely duo of music and mortgages with Chicago's own Larry Steinway and Sam Sharp. With their roots deeply planted in th...
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Episode 29
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56:00
Pudding Shot Maker, Fundraising Expert, and Everyone’s Favorite Hype Woman for Multi-Generational Concerts Sharri Scott Positively Runs Through this Episode
Have you ever experienced that magical moment when music bridges the gap between generations? Our latest chat with Sharri Scott dives into the heart of Chicago's Rock and Roll Playhouse, where families are grooving together to live music tailor...
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Episode 28
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1:13:17
Steaming Radiators and Synced Rhythms with Mary Beth Brennan
Ever wondered how the grit of Chicago's music scene mingles with the bricks and mortar of its real estate? Let me introduce you to Mary Beth Brennan from The Baby Magic, who's not only rocking the stage with her solo project Baggy Time but also...
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Episode 27
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1:18:16
From Clarinet Rivals to Cultural Chroniclers: Mark Guarino on Chicago's Evolving Music Scene and Urban Tapestry
Remember those battles for first chair in the school band that seemed like life and death? Our latest episode takes that competitive spirit to new heights as we sit down with Chicago's own Mark Guarino, tracing our shared roots from ...
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Episode 26
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1:15:53
Adam Thurston's Harmonic Blueprint: Music, Venues, and Real Estate is Chicago's Heartbeat
Gather 'round as we reminisce over matzah ball soup and the bonds that tie us to the thrumming heart of Chicago's music and real estate scene. We're joined by Adam Thurston, the maestro behind the iconic venues Schuba’s and Lincoln Hall, to dis...
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Episode 25
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1:04:54
Rocket Scientist, Journalist, Reluctant Optimist, and Music Aficionado, Jeff Elbel Talks About the Power of Creativity
Ever met a music journalist with an encyclopedic knowledge of music, and a knack for capturing the vibrancy of the Chicago music scene? Join us as we explore the captivating worlds of music and real estate with our esteemed guest, Jeff Elbel. A...
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Episode 24
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1:08:20
Rhythm of the City: Mauricio Reyes on Music, Gentrification, and Life in Ukrainian Village
Prepare yourself for a musical extravaganza, as we embark on a journey filled with melodies, anecdotes, and passion with our special guest, Mauricio Reyes. Known for his time as a DJ at Chirp Radio Chicago, Mauricio's love for music is as conta...
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Episode 23
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1:16:07
Andy Farag’s Musically Seasoned Journey from Drum Circles in Bloomington to Esteemed Percussionist of Umphrey’s McGee
Let's take a trip down memory lane, as Karen and Andrew reconnect with Andy Farag, the incredible percussionist from Umphrey’s McGee. Remember those legendary Thursday night parties from our college days at Indiana University? Well, they're bac...
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Episode 22
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59:37
A Finance Guru’s Musical Affair Amidst Edgewater's Architectural Marvels
Come along on a captivating journey through the annals of the iconic Pink Building, the Edgewater Beach Apartments Corporation, as we sit down with John Plamondon, its treasurer, and a finance professor at DePaul. This episode unveils the charm...
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Episode 21
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1:29:59
The Jordan Collecting Mayor of Chicago Real Estate
In this episode of Records and Real Estate Karen and Andrew interview the incomparable Tommy Choi Co-Founder of the Weinberg Choi Team and one of the owners of Keller Williams ONE. Tommy is a huge Pearl Jam fan, a lifelong Chicagoan, and is ...
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Episode 20
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1:25:29
Prince Saves Lives!
Our conversation with bass/guitar/bass 6 player for The Claudettes is a musically focused episode that dives deep into the Chicago music scene and specifically the scene in and around Lakeview. Zachariah James Verdoorn talks about the punk scen...
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Episode 19
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1:13:00
What’s It Take To Be a Jazz Singer? A Little Bit of Everything!
On this episode of Records and Real Estate Karen and Andrew sit down with Libby York who discusses her career as a Jazz Singer, being a restaurateur and an historic home owner. Come join us for the next hour as we slowly have epiphanies about m...
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Episode 19
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1:13:00
A Jam Productions Talent Buyer
We’re speaking with the wonderfully well-connected and knowledgeable Mike LeMaistre of Jam Productions. Jam is a 50-year-old company that was born out of promoting small concerts in Chicago, and it’s still a big part of what Jam does today. Hav...
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Episode 18
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59:54
Ron and John of Orbit Records Talk All Things Vinyl
We’re speaking with Ron and John, the owners of Orbit Records. They started their online record store before online stores were even a thing! What started as a hobby has evolved into a unique endeavor that stayed afloat (and thrived) during the...
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Episode 17
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1:00:41
A Sales Coach Moves to the Suburbs and Becomes a Working Stiff
It’s not often that you go to the bathroom and come back to a different persona! Well, that’s just what happened to David Fisher at a gig one night. He left the stage "David" and came back to it as D.Fish! And is still D.Fish to this day 20 yea...
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Episode 16
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1:09:07
Bucket O’ Blood, an Avondale Original
Grant McKee was looking for something to do with his money and decided to light it on fire. That’s a paraphrase for what he actually says, but here we are nine years later and he and his wife, Jennifer McKee, are still at it and open. They are ...
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Episode 15
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1:15:58
The Altruistic Keyboardist and Storyteller of Lincoln Park
When you have been around the Chicago music scene as a musician and bartender as much as Barry Brown, you tend to gain some stories throughout the years. Well, a few of those are on display in this episode of Records and Real Estate. With a foc...
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Episode 14
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1:08:23
One Part Electronica and One Part Legal
From humble beginnings as a folding table under a tree at Lollapalooza, electronica has hit the mainstream. Our guest today, Marc Cervantes (real estate attorney extraordinaire), has seen the genre explode like a laser and confetti fueled drop ...
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Episode 13
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1:21:06
R & R Special – We are Pleased to Present, Brian Biancardi, AKA The Running Gag
Karen and Andrew sit down with the one and only, Brian Biancardi. Topics of conversations include go to albums after a long hard day. Country music, yay or nay. Rooting for the villain. And many others! We talk about origin stories of all the f...
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Episode 12
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56:06