What do the spaces where we play as children teach us about belonging, confidence, and opportunity?

In this episode of The Real State, Alex Norman and Jamie Blond sit down with Honorata Gręczykowska, an urban designer living and working in Barcelona whose research focuses on how the design of everyday spaces influences behavior, mobility, and social dynamics. Drawing from years of work across Europe and deep, year-long studies inside Catalonian primary schools, Honorata explains why schoolyards are often the first true public spaces children navigate independently—and why they matter far more than we realize.

The conversation explores how culture, especially in a football-centric city like Barcelona, shapes public space design, and how participatory, intersectional research with children, parents, teachers, and municipalities can challenge long-standing norms. We dig into how small design decisions can dramatically change who feels welcome, who participates, and who is pushed to the margins, and why inclusive design doesn’t require big budgets—just better understanding.

We close by looking ahead. What could the future of schoolyards, parks, and public spaces look like if cities truly designed for how people live and play? And how might these early experiences shape healthier, more confident communities for generations to come?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In From Success to Significance: The Second Mountain Mindset, Alex Norman and Jamie Blond unpack why the goals that drive us early in life often stop feeling satisfying and how that shift can open the door to purpose, community, and contribution.

Inspired by David Brooks’ The Second Mountain, they share personal stories of career peaks, loss, reinvention, and the moment when achievement gives way to meaning. From Miami to Mexico City, more people are rebuilding their lives in midlife and rethinking what fulfillment looks like.

This episode offers a candid, often funny take on second acts, the role of place in starting over, and why giving back can feel better than getting ahead.

Follow The Real State for more honest conversations about life, change, and the spaces we build.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is the club era over or just evolving? In “Club Collapse,” Alex and Jamie trace the arc from Studio 54 to bottle service and today’s experience-driven mega clubs, then dig into why many are shuttering and what’s rising in their place. They cover cost inflation, $150–$200 entry fees, festival trade-offs, and the growing pull of destination party spots.

You’ll hear why restaurants with “show” vibes are siphoning demand, how private members clubs changed the lounge game, and why smaller rooms, vinyl bars, and mixed-use spaces are delivering the connection people actually want. Alex also shares a DJ’s view on what makes intimate sets work and how venues can nurture emerging talent.

If you enjoyed our restaurant episode, this one pairs perfectly. Rate and review, then tell us where you think nightlife goes next.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.