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This week on Here’s What We Know, we welcome Eric Hayden, founder and CEO of Urban Catalyst, a company that’s helped drive billions of dollars in development across Silicon Valley. He was also named the 2025 Silicon Valley Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year.

That’s the resume. But that’s not the story. Because this conversation goes beyond real estate and development. It’s about how someone goes from selling sand dollars as a kid… to helping shape an entire city.

And really, when you strip it all down, it’s about how we think, how we build, and how we show up in the world.

In This Episode:

• Why housing is so expensive, and why it’s not an easy fix
• What it really means to “win” at school, work, and life
• What it actually takes to build in places like Silicon Valley
• The hidden systems behind growth, cities, and opportunity
• How curiosity and creativity can shape a career in unexpected ways
• And why success has a lot less to do with intelligence than people think
  
  

This episode is sponsored by:

Bison Junk Removal (Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

Bio:

Eric Hayden is the Founder and Managing Partner of Urban Catalyst. Responsible for developing more than $3.5 billion in real estate projects, including over 2,300 residential units in the California Bay Area, Mr. Hayden has experience in acquisition, contract negotiation, due diligence, risk assessment, financing, construction, and disposition of multifamily, single-family, and large mixed-use and master-planned developments. He maintains relationships with a broad network of property owners, enabling him to identify and acquire prime investments. Mr. Hayden also has expertise in navigating projects through the entitlement process by working with elected officials, community groups, and political organizations to gain support and get projects approved.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/urbancatalystfund/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhayden/

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History tends to remember the loudest voices in the room. But sometimes the person who actually helped prevent disaster is the one sitting in the middle.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the world stood just hours away from nuclear war. Most of us remember the names Kennedy and Khrushchev. What we often forget is the man working behind the scenes at the United Nations, trying to slow things down before the world lost its mind. His name was U Thant.

This week on Here’s What We Know, we sit down with historian and author Thant Myint-U, who also happens to be U Thant’s grandson. His book Peacemaker tells the story of a schoolteacher from a small town in Burma who somehow found himself standing between the superpowers at one of the most dangerous moments in modern history.

We talk about the Cold War, the role of the United Nations, and what it was like for a grandson to discover the real scope of his grandfather’s life by digging through archives decades later.

This episode is a fascinating story about diplomacy, history, and the people who sometimes carry the biggest responsibility. Listen now!

In This Episode:

• The Forgotten Peacemaker Behind the Cuban Missile Crisis
• Growing Up With the UN Secretary General
• When Did He Realize His Grandfather Was a Global Leader?
• Why U Thant Was Left Out of the Cuban Missile Crisis Story
• From Burmese Schoolteacher to UN Secretary General
• The Human Side of a World Leader
• Taking Over the UN During the Cold War
• Political Assassinations and Cold War Tensions
• The Golden Age of the United Nations
• Can the United Nations Still Prevent Global Conflict?
• The Power and Limits of the UN Security Council
• What the UN Was Originally Designed to Do
• The Decline of UN Peacekeeping Influence
• Why the UN Still Matters Today
• The Personality of U Thant: Calm, Pragmatic Leadership

This episode is sponsored by:

Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

License #: 679261

Bio:

Thant Myint-U is a historian, author, and former United Nations official specializing in the history and politics of Myanmar and Southeast Asia. Educated at Harvard, Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Cambridge, he served on UN peacekeeping missions in Cambodia and the Balkans and later worked at the UN Secretariat in New York on humanitarian and political affairs. He has also advised Myanmar’s government on economic reform and peace negotiations and founded the Yangon Heritage Trust to preserve the city’s historic architecture.

Website: https://www.thantmyintu.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thant-myint-u-340aa99/

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Sometimes what looks like an overnight success story is really a 25 year journey that most people never see. Country artist Chas Collins knows that road well.

This week on Here’s What We Know, we sit down with Chas Collins to talk about what the music business really looks like behind the curtain. They dive into the long road of touring, the reality of chasing a dream, and why some artists are finally finding success later in life.

Chas shares stories from 25 years of performing across the country, the moment he realized people were actually paying attention, and why faith and timing can sometimes matter more than raw talent.

If you have ever chased something that took longer than you expected, this conversation will probably feel very familiar. Tune in now!

In This Episode:

• How Chas Collins built a fan base singing karaoke
• Why success in country music doesn’t have an expiration date anymore
• The grind behind life on the road that fans rarely see
• Why faith and timing matter in creative careers
• What it feels like when 25 years of work finally starts paying off

This episode is sponsored by:

Reed Animal Hospital

Dignity Memorial

Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!

Bio:

Chas Collins is a country music artist and Nashville recording artist known for powerful storytelling, raw emotion, and high-energy performances. Blending deep country roots with an influence of 80s rock, his music captures life’s most vivid moments, from the thrill of a Saturday night to the quiet ache of life on the road.

Born in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Chas overcame personal loss and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina before heading to Nashville with just $500 and a dream. Those experiences shaped a songwriting style grounded in authenticity, resilience, and heart.

Standing 6'6" with a commanding stage presence, Chas has performed more than 3,500 shows across 43 states, building a loyal grassroots fanbase through relentless touring and genuine connection with audiences. Now based in Tampa Bay while continuing to record in Nashville, he continues to share stories of life, loss, faith, and hope through music that resonates with fans across the country.

Website: https://www.chascollins.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chascollinsmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chascollinsmusic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chascollinsmusic

Connect with Gary:

• Gary's Website
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Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!