In Episode 8 of BUILT DIFFERENT, Erin Sykes sits down with Joey Columbo, a top producing agent with Douglas Elliman in Palm Beach who understands that in luxury real estate, relationships are currency.

Recently featured in The Real Deal for selling 27 assembled units to billionaire developer Stephen Ross for a future development site, Joey shares the real story behind a high-risk condo buyout he began in 2021. Unit by unit, through discreet negotiations and LLCs, he built a 42% stake in a distressed building across from Mar-a-Lago.

The outcome was a 6x return. Along the way, there were moments when he thought he could lose everything.

This episode goes beyond the headline. Erin and Joey break down how high-level deals are actually constructed in Palm Beach and why broker-to-broker trust still determines outcomes in a market defined by access and reputation. They discuss how condo buyouts have evolved, the surge in branded ultra-luxury product, whether West Palm is overbuilding, and why $20 to $40 million condo sales are no longer shocking.

They also examine the bigger picture shaping the region. The Wall Street South narrative. The wealth effect from the stock market. The growing divide between true ultra-luxury and everything else. Erin shares her outlook on 2026 and why a flat market may be a healthier reset than another spike.

At its core, this is a conversation about conviction, timing, and knowing when to move while others hesitate.

Listen if you’re:

• A broker or developer who wants insight into assemblage strategy
• An investor evaluating condo buyouts or downtown land plays
• A luxury buyer or seller navigating Palm Beach or West Palm
• Curious whether AI can replace relationship-driven brokerage
• Watching the evolution of West Palm and separating signal from noise

Connect:

Joey Columbo: joeycolumbo26@gmail.com

BUILT DIFFERENT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/built.different.pod

Erin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sykesstyle

Email: erin@sykesproperties.com

BUILT DIFFERENT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@built_different_pod

BUILT DIFFERENT Website: https://www.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT Community: https://connect.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida.

Learn more: https://www.podplusstudios.com

In Episode 6 of BUILT DIFFERENT, Erin Sykes sits down with Hayley Schapiro, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Founder of Curated Therapy Collective, for a nuanced conversation about mental health strategy for high-functioning leaders.

Hayley brings a rare perspective shaped by years of clinical practice and patient advocacy, explaining why many people struggle to benefit from therapy even when they are doing “everything right.”

The issue is often not readiness or effort, but misalignment. This episode explores how traditional directories, algorithms, and self-diagnosis frameworks fail to capture the complexity of real lives, especially for executives, entrepreneurs, and performers operating at a high level.

Erin and Hayley discuss the quiet patterns that tend to surface among high achievers. They also examine the difference between coaching and clinical care along with why proactive support can be far more effective than waiting for a breaking point.

Rather than positioning therapy as crisis intervention, this conversation reframes it as a strategic tool for clarity, sustainability, and long-term growth, guided by human judgment rather than checklists.

Listen if you’re:

• A high-performing professional looking to sharpen clarity without burning out
• Frustrated by impersonal therapy platforms or algorithm-based matching
• Curious about how mental health support actually works for leaders and executives
• Interested in proactive, human-first approaches to growth and decision-making

Connect:

Guest Hayley Schapiro:

Curated Therapy Collective: https://curatedtherapycollective.com

Curated Therapy Collective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curatedtherapycollective

BUILT DIFFERENT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/built.different.pod

Erin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sykesstyle

Email: erin@sykesproperties.com

BUILT DIFFERENT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@built_different_pod

BUILT DIFFERENT Website: https://www.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT Community: https://connect.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida. Learn more: https://www.podplusstudios.com

In episode 6 of BUILT DIFFERENT, Erin Sykes sits down with Christopher Seville, founder of Thatch Construction, to unpack the realities of modern construction, project management, and development in South Florida. A West Palm Beach native and experienced owner’s representative, Chris brings a rare, operator-first perspective on what actually determines whether a project succeeds or stalls.

The conversation goes far beyond tools and timelines. Chris unpacks what an owner’s rep actually does, drawing a clear line between building and true coordination. Efficiency, he explains, isn’t about moving faster but about staying aligned. The discussion also touches on how high-rise development has changed over time, the growing influence of branded residences on the condo market, and the ripple effects of rising costs on developers, investors, and the communities they impact.

At the center of it all is people. From subcontractors and city officials to developers and residents, Chris explains why integrity, transparency, and accountability are the real drivers of sustainable development, and why building better cities starts long before concrete is poured.

This episode is a must-listen for developers, real estate professionals, investors, and anyone curious about how cities grow, and who growth is really for.

Listen if you’re:

• A developer, investor, or owner navigating complex projects and trying to understand where deals actually succeed or break down
• A real estate or construction professional who wants a clearer picture of what an owner’s rep really does and why that role is critical
• Interested in how high-rise development, branded residences, and rising construction costs are reshaping South Florida
• Thinking about growth not just in terms of buildings, but in terms of community, people, and legacy

CONNECT & LINKS:

Christopher Seville:

Christopher’s LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/misterseville

Christopher’s Email: cseville@thatchconstruction.com

Thatch Construction: https://www.thatchconstruction.com/

BUILT DIFFERENT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/built.different.pod

Erin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sykesstyle

Email: erin@sykesproperties.com

BUILT DIFFERENT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@built_different_pod

BUILT DIFFERENT Website: https://www.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT Community: https://connect.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida. Learn more: https://www.podplusstudios.com