Permit To Build

About Permit To Build

The Permit To Build Podcast, hosted by Gene Voloshin, features conversations with entrepreneurs, builders, leaders, and people who have achieved extraordinary things. From business and real estate to mindset, leadership, and the lessons learned along the way, Gene sits down with people who are building something meaningful.

Publisher

Gene Voloshin

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Sept 2026

Latest episode

4 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Nov 2026

   ENT Surgeon on Sleep Apnea, AI & Running a Marathon on a Broken Leg | Dr. Jordan Glicksman E8

   In this episode, my guest is Dr. Jordan Glicksman, an ENT surgeon specializing in sinus surgery, a partner in a private practice working mostly out of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School. He's also the first doctor we've ever had on Permit To Build. We start with how Jordan ran the Berlin Marathon on a broken leg, and why it's a lot easier to give advice than to take it. He walks through his path from Toronto and McGill to medical school, residency and a sinus surgery fellowship, then landing in Boston, and how he went from employee to partner in his practice. He shares the "Garden of Eden" lesson a mentor gave him about the forbidden tree every young doctor has to avoid. We also get into how sinus treatment keeps changing with biologic medications for nasal polyps, why snoring is your bed partner's problem but sleep apnea is your problem, and how kids misdiagnosed with ADHD were really suffering from sleep apnea. Jordan explains the Inspire implant, sleep debt, alcohol and sleep, and what his WHOOP data tells him. Then we dig into AI in medicine, including the time an AI tool suggested a child's dose that was twice the adult amount, plus surgical robots, the surgical safety checklist that has saved lives, and his take on running training. This is a conversation about mastery, staying current, and why empathy will always matter in medicine, no matter how good the technology gets. Timestamps (00:00:00) Cold Open: The Kids Misdiagnosed With ADHD (00:00:58) Introduction: Dr. Jordan Glicksman, Our First Doctor Guest (00:01:33) Running the Berlin Marathon on a Broken Leg (00:05:37) From Toronto & McGill to Residency, Fellowship & Boston (00:07:20) Choosing ENT: Mentorship & Why Connections Fuel Everything (00:09:38) From Employee to Partner & Scaling a Private Practice (00:13:11) Coaching Associates, Staff & Medical Students (00:14:15) The "Garden of Eden" Lesson on Ethical Care (00:16:17) Medicine Keeps Changing: Biologics & Sinus Polyps (00:19:29) Saline Rinses, Construction Dust & Snoring (00:21:25) Sleep Apnea, the Inspire Implant & the ADHD Misdiagnosis (00:25:19) Sleep Debt, Sleep Routines, Alcohol & WHOOP Data (00:31:12) Teaching at Harvard Medical School (00:33:12) AI in Medicine: OpenEvidence & Catching Its Mistakes (00:36:16) Surgical Robots, Self-Driving Teslas & AI Drug Discovery (00:40:50) Staying Current & Inside the Operating Room (00:44:30) The Surgical Safety Checklist That Saves Lives (00:46:19) Run Less, Run Faster vs. Zone 2 Training (00:53:48) How Doctors Relax & Why Empathy Will Outlast AI (00:56:33) Why He Chose Medicine & a Family of Doctors (00:59:20) Rapid-Fire Questions: Tel Aviv, Baseball & the Golden Rule _____________________________________ FOLLOW Dr. Jordan Glicksman More on Jordan: https://www.doctorglicksman.com/ Mass General Brigham: https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/doctors/g/jordan-glicksman-3005712 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordannose?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&vrfl=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-g-362546114/ _____________________________________ CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com Email: gene@catalystdg.com Phone: (617) 953-8747 FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @catalystdev

2. 

   30 Oct 2026

   From Intern to Luxury Home Builder: The Mentorship Playbook | Ben Maiden E7

   In this episode, my guest is Ben Maiden, Owner of Octavian Development, Co-Founder of Confido Builders, and Partner at Synergy Property Group. Years before Ben was running his own luxury home building and general contracting companies across Greater Boston, he got his start right here at Catalyst Development after skipping the traditional college route at 18. We start with the true story of how Ben’s father called me behind the scenes and offered to secretly fund Ben’s hourly pay just to get his foot in the door, and how Ben went from cleaning up job sites at 285 pounds to managing projects and eventually branching out on his own. Ben shares what happened when his first build after leaving Catalyst was with a builder who turned out to be a scammer, and how the core principle he learned at Catalyst—operating with a relentless sense of urgency—helped him survive and build a real business. We also get into the operational side of scaling a construction company: running his first builds out of a spiral notebook, making his first key hire to build standard operating procedures, why he hires on a trial basis, and his rule that employees must bring three solutions to every problem. We break down why the bridge of communication with a client can never collapse, why stepping up years after closing to fix a cracked island or boiler is a "good faith deposit" on your reputation, and where the Greater Boston market and Massachusetts ADU boom are headed next. This is a full-circle conversation about mentorship, work ethic, patience, and what it actually takes to go from sweeping job sites to building luxury homes. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction: From Catalyst Intern to Luxury Home Builder (00:01:10) How Ben’s Dad Secretly Offered to Pay His Wage to Get His Foot in the Door (00:02:57) Skipping College at 18: Choosing Construction Over Wentworth (00:07:19) Day One at Catalyst Development: Job Site Cleanup at 285 Pounds (00:09:51) Growing Up in Needham & How the Town Transformed Over 20 Years (00:11:46) Leaving Catalyst & Surviving a First Build With a Scammer Builder (00:14:50) A Relentless Sense of Urgency: Treating Construction as a Service Business (00:20:43) The First Builds: Running Two Projects Out of a Spiral Notebook (00:24:49) First Key Hire: Building the SOP Book & Creating an Extension of Yourself (00:27:28) Top 3 Qualities of a Great Project Manager in High-End Residential Construction (00:30:19) Trial Hires & The "Bring 3 Solutions" Rule for Problem Solving (00:36:40) Micro-Improvements: Monday All-Hands Meetings & Fixing Process Bottlenecks (00:38:40) Layers of Urgency: Why Every Day Costs Money & The 4:00 AM Client Call (00:44:43) Don’t Let the Bridge Collapse: Client Communication When Things Go Wrong (00:51:52) Good Faith Deposits: Replacing a Cracked Waterfall Island & Boiler Years Later (01:02:09) Market Conditions: High Interest Rates, Rising Costs & the Massachusetts ADU Boom (01:05:46) State ADU Feasibility Studies & Designing Homes for Generational Living (01:09:30) Biggest Lessons Learned: Patience, Emotions & the 12-Month Bagel Analogy (01:15:31) Advice to His Younger Self & How Young People Can Break Into Construction (01:19:07) Rapid-Fire Questions: Builders vs. Realtors, Cold Calls & Who Retires First ________________________________________ FOLLOW Ben Maiden Octavian Development: (https://octaviandev.com/)octaviandev.com (https://l.instagram.com/?u=http%3A%2F%2Foctaviandev.com%2F%3Futm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAae84PoxEIcLO5eEdE3HELrvWmSAknujViF6_DS7PsQWWbxPRjtdH8ZgN8smQQ_aem_3StxkfS5Kz92ZzOycZE9mQ&e=AUDkZ1pxc2AjUiQoZBi7dQDxkkFzdhh9EN0q3XZ9aaKD7oF1YFcm2nIZVbckn6xNSKpHz7Wthcfb0BKcivlFgfzh9L3GMULd0VVH3jhlscCr82K7DGOeSRmzE4hl5-k--xYUJ6ifFSEgQn5IX8I9gti7-w44) Confido Builders: confidobuilders.com (https://confidobuilders.com/) Instagram (Octavian Development): (https://www.instagram.com/octaviandevelopment/)https://www.instagram.com/octavian_development?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&cplk=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== (https://www.instagram.com/octavian_development?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&cplk=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) Instagram (Confido Builders): www.instagram.com/confidobuilders (https://www.instagram.com/confidobuilders/) LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-maiden-557206154/)https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-maiden-6ab00a291/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-maiden-6ab00a291/) ________________________________________ FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @catalystdev CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com (http://www.catalystdg.com)Email: gene@catalystdg.comPhone: (617) 953-8747

3. 

   21 Oct 2026

   From Liquor to Luxury Real Estate: The Broker of Fun | Craig Brody E6

   In this episode, my guest is Craig Brody, Team Lead of BMN Boston, powered by SERHANT, a luxury real estate, multifamily, and new development broker. Before real estate, Craig spent 15 years at M.S. Walker, his family’s wine and spirits business, a company that has been around since 1933. We talk about what it was like growing up in a six-generation family business, why the alcohol industry is far more complicated than most people realize, and what it actually takes to launch a spirits brand. Craig explains how he walked away from a stable career, used his industry connections to start over, and landed an eight-unit listing with no multi-unit experience by winning on trust and vision. We also get into the state of the market right now: buyers vs. sellers, inventory, pricing, and whether the post-pandemic jump in prices will hold. Craig shares why he thinks Massachusetts is one of the safest places to put your money, how families are changing the way they buy and live, and where AI fits into the future of real estate development. This is a conversation about betting on yourself, building a name in a new industry, and understanding that there’s no timetable for life. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:11) Market Trends: Space, Rising Prices & the Strong-but-Expensive Economy (00:05:35) Growing Up in the Family Liquor Business: 6 Generations of M.S. Walker (00:09:23) Alcohol Laws Most People Don’t Know: 50 States, 50 Rulebooks (00:11:00) How to Launch a Tequila Brand: Celebrities, Steps & Mistakes (00:16:39) Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Seltzers: Trend or Here to Stay? (00:18:43) The Broker of Fun: From Liquor to Real Estate (00:26:57) Why Massachusetts Is a Safe Bubble for Your Money (00:33:49) The 8-Unit Listing: Marketing, Vision & Winning on Trust (00:40:07) After the Pandemic: Everyone Thought They Could Be a Developer (00:42:23) A Buyers’ Market? Inventory, Pricing & Will Prices Come Down (00:48:54) The New Buyer: Social Media, Family Help & Generational Homes (00:55:22) AI, Technology & the Future of Real Estate Development (00:56:22) Advice for the Next Generation Starting Out (00:58:52) Looking Back: No Timetable for Life ________________________________________ FOLLOW Craig Brody Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brodycraiga?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&vrfl=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== (https://www.instagram.com/brodycraiga?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&vrfl=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-brody-7b9aa116/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-brody-7b9aa116/) Website:  https://bmnboston.com/estate_agent/craig-brody/ (https://bmnboston.com/estate_agent/craig-brody/) ________________________________________ FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @catalystdev CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com (http://www.catalystdg.com) Email: gene@catalystdg.com Phone: (617) 953-8747

4. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Fear Is a Compass: A Pro Fighter’s Mental Toughness Playbook | Shaun Shubert E5

   In this episode, my guest is Shaun Shubert, a retired professional Muay Thai fighter, founder of Red Seal Martial Arts, mental resilience coach, and author of Fighting Fear: From the Ring to the Stage. Shaun spent 15+ years in combat sports, moving from traditional martial arts black belts to MMA and eventually to pro Muay Thai, and now uses what the cage taught him to coach executives and dads who feel like they’ve lost their edge. We talk about why he walked away from grappling for pure striking, what actually changes when a fight record and a paycheck are on the line, and the day he decided to retire from competition. Shaun gets honest about what it feels like to lose your edge, the gap between how successful men look and how they actually feel, and what broke in him before he built the Reforged Method. We also get into the practical side: how freezing differs from performing under pressure and whether that’s trainable, a breathing technique anyone can use in a high-stakes moment, and the biggest myth about toughness that holds men back. We close with how those lessons apply to the pressure of big life decisions, like building the home of your life. This is a conversation about fear, identity, and learning to perform when everything is riding on it. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:22) From Physically Tough to Mentally Tough (00:02:58) How to Stop Fight-or-Flight (00:06:21) Self-Talk, Rewiring Your Brain & Reframing Negativity (00:07:54) The Tell: Is Their Confidence a Bluff? (00:11:30) What Shaun Actually Does Day to Day (00:15:48) Amateur to Pro: The Mindset Shift & Rise of the UFC (00:21:30) The Coach Who Shaped Him & The Rough Patch After (00:28:21) Is the Beef Between Fighters Real? (00:31:13) Why Emotions Are the Real Opponent (00:33:19) Muay Thai's History, Spirit & Thailand (00:36:32) The IronMind Method: Use Fear as a Compass (00:38:54) Why Your Brain Fakes Danger (00:45:44) The Reforged Method: For Dads Who Feel Lost (00:51:00) Muscles Don't Equal Toughness & Raising Kids Who Can Protect Themselves (00:57:39) Gene's Daily Win & Raising His Daughters (00:58:30) Inside the 8-Week Reforged Method (01:00:35) Rapid-Fire Questions! _______________________________________ FOLLOW Shaun Shubert Instagram: @shaun_shubert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-shubert-7069508a/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-shubert-7069508a/) Website: https://redsealma.com/ (https://redsealma.com/) Book: Fighting Fear: From the Ring to the Stage CODE: BUILD _______________________________________ FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @catalystdev _______________________________________ CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com (http://www.catalystdg.com) Email: gene@catalystdg.com Phone: (617) 953-8747

5. 

   20 Oct 2026

   She Spent 20 Years Fixing Numbers. Then She Built AI to Fix the Business. | Zulfiya Forsythe E4

   In this episode, my guest is Zulfiya Forsythe, CPA, Founder & CEO of Omadli, a Boston-based data analytics and AI company. After spending nearly 20 years working across accounting, data, and AI, Zulfiya saw a problem that most business owners don't even realize they have: the information they need to run their businesses is already there, but they can't actually use it. We discuss her journey from spending days manually cleaning financial reports to building AI systems that give business owners a clearer picture of what's happening inside their companies. Zulfiya explains why contractors often mistake cash flow and hiring for their biggest problems, when the real issue may be a lack of operational visibility, and how one of her Automation Blueprints uncovered a $600,000 margin leak for a client. We also get into the decision to leave the traditional accounting world and build Omadli, the challenges of turning complicated data into practical business intelligence, and what happens when a company relies on one person's knowledge to keep everything running. Zulfiya shares how she approaches entrepreneurship, what she has learned from working with construction companies, and what business owners should understand about the growing role of AI. This is a conversation about reinvention, entrepreneurship, and the importance of knowing what's actually happening inside the business you're building. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:45) AI, Business Bottlenecks & Opportunity (00:01:49) Zulfiya's Background & Career Journey (00:03:55) Gene's Background & Career Journey (00:05:50) Education, Ambition & Finding Your Purpose (00:06:35) The Power of Technology, Data & Reinvention (00:09:01) From Corporate Careers to Entrepreneurship (00:18:18) Getting Companies' Attention & Selling Your Vision (00:23:38) Choosing the Right Tools for the Job: Henry Ford's Lesson (00:26:14) How to Scale a Business from $2M to $10M (00:30:34) The Meaning Behind Permit To Build (00:31:30) Career Regrets, Life Choices & Looking Back (00:36:10) The Reality of Running an AI Business: What Makes a Bad Week? (00:40:26) AI, College Students & The Future of Work (00:41:57) Building a Construction Business: Technology, Data & The Next 12 Months (00:46:58) The Future of AI in Construction: Can It Build a Home? (00:51:08) Rapid-Fire Questions! ______________________________________________ FOLLOW Zulfiya Forsythe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zulfiyaforsythe/ (https://www.instagram.com/zulfiyaforsythe/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zulfiya-forsythe-akbarova-cpa-0214b98/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/zulfiya-forsythe-akbarova-cpa-0214b98/) Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zulfiyaforsythe?xmt=AQG0Wx8WIHFX0vZWcXDDEq747ISDmNJFuTWMk143FZa2lcI (https://www.threads.com/@zulfiyaforsythe?xmt=AQG0Wx8WIHFX0vZWcXDDEq747ISDmNJFuTWMk143FZa2lcI) Website: https://www.omadligroup.com/ (https://www.omadligroup.com/) CODE: PERMITTOBUILD ______________________________________________ FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/catalystdev/ (https://www.instagram.com/catalystdev/) ______________________________________________ CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com (http://www.catalystdg.com) Email: gene@catalystdg.com (mailto:gene@catalystdg.com) Phone: (617) 953-8747

6. 

   13 Oct 2026

   He Built a $4B Company. Then He Started Over. | Adam Patti E3

   In this episode, my guest is Adam Patti, Co-Founder & CEO of VistaShares and the entrepreneur who built IndexIQ into a $4B+ ETF platform before selling it to New York Life. We discuss why he chose to start over and build again after a life-changing exit, how he spotted the ETF opportunity years before the market caught on, and what it actually takes to pick the right partners and create your own luck. We get into the AI boom held up against the dot-com era, how illiquid wealth like real estate fits into a bigger investment picture, and the early-career mistakes that shaped how Adam operates today. Adam also opens up about working with family, the advice from his mother that's stuck with him, and his ventures outside of finance, including time in the restaurant business. This is a conversation about risk, timing, partnership, and what it actually looks like to keep building after you've already won. Timestamps (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:30) Guest Adam Patti (00:01:05) What are ETFs? (00:03:24) Dot-com boom vs. AI boom (00:05:01) Why Finance? (00:06:17) Gene's early days… (00:08:32) Learning from the dot-com boom (00:13:00) Hedge fund replication (00:16:39) Running the company (00:19:05) Hard letting go (00:20:27) Starting VistaShares (00:21:55) Early career mistakes (00:23:42) Why come back? (00:24:53) You work for your luck (00:28:15) If your younger self saw you now (00:30:30) Restaurant ventures (00:35:03) Advice to the younger generation (00:40:28) Working with family (00:41:56) Mother knows best! (00:42:33) Reach out to Adam (00:43:10) Rapid-fire questions _____________________________________ FOLLOW ADAM PATTI X: @adampatti LinkedIn: Adam Patti LEARN MORE ABOUT VISTASHARES Website: www.vistashares.com (http://www.vistashares.com) THE BILTMORE TAVERN — NEWTON, MA Website: biltmoretavern.com Instagram: @biltmoretavern BLUE ON HIGHLAND — NEEDHAM, MA Website: blueonhighland.com Instagram: @blueonhighland _____________________________________ FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @catalystdev _____________________________________ CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com (http://www.catalystdg.com) Email: gene@catalystdg.com Phone: (617) 953-8747

7. 

   5 Oct 2026

   From the 2008 Crash to Top 1% Loan Officer | Greg Giokas E2

   When the mortgage industry collapsed in 2008, careers disappeared almost overnight. Greg Giokas didn’t just survive, he rebuilt, adapted, and eventually became one of the Top 1% of mortgage originators in America for three consecutive years. Greg breaks down what it takes to stay successful through market crashes, rising interest rates, changing companies, and more than two decades of competition. He shares how he built his business through trust and relationships, why some loan officers thrive while others disappear, and what today’s buyers misunderstand about the mortgage market. This isn’t just a conversation about mortgages. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and building a career strong enough to survive when the entire market turns against you. (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:02) What does a Top 1% Loan Officer do every day? (00:06:00) Bank VS Broker (00:12:39) How it all began... (00:28:44) The 2008 crash! (00:31:02) How ex-criminals became loan officers... (00:39:38) The significance of your career. (00:42:00) The golden handcuff. (00:42:23) Gene's origin story. (00:47:00) Massachusetts VS Florida (00:48:40) Good time to buy in Florida? (00:58:34) Ever thought about walking away? (01:01:23) Waiting for a better time for a mortgage? (01:06:23) Rapid Fire Questions! _____________________________________ FOLLOW Greg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guildgreggiokas?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== (https://www.instagram.com/guildgreggiokas?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) Phone: (617) 791-2054 _____________________________________ FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @catalystdev _____________________________________ CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com Email: gene@catalystdg.com Phone: (617) 953-8747

8. 

   16 Sept 2026

   How she left corporate and started a successful brokerage | Lena Voloshin E1

   Gene interviews his wife and business partner, Lena Voloshin, founder of LV Real Estate Group and the exclusive realtor behind every home Catalyst Development builds. This is the pilot episode of The Permit to Build Podcast, and it seemed only right to start it with the same person Gene started Catalyst Development with. They talk about how Lena built her real estate career, what actually separates a top-producing agent from everyone else, and why she thinks builders are harder to work with than realtors. Then it's rapid-fire: pools, saunas, wine rooms, heated driveways, and $100K appliance packages- worth it, or not? This is the beginning of something great, and we're happy to have you along. Timestamps (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:38) Smart Questions get Smart Answers (00:04:14) How to be successful (00:07:54) 25K a year vs 500K a year (00:12:56) Buyers VS Sellers (00:21:45) Builder VS Realtor (00:24:20) Husband or Wife who is right? (00:26:24) Never mention this... (00:29:59) Always talking Business (00:32:57) If you can't beat them...join them (00:40:09) Rapid-fire questions! (00:47:33) ONE Question you do not ask!!! _____________________________________ FOLLOW Lena YouTube: @LenaVoloshin Instagram: @lenarealtor Email: lena@lvgrouprealestate.com Phone: (617)-905-8555 _____________________________________ FOLLOW CATALYST DEVELOPMENT Instagram: @catalystdev _____________________________________ CONTACT GENE Website: www.catalystdg.com Email: gene@catalystdg.com Phone: (617) 953-8747

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