This week, Gio and I sit down with Mike Kloppenburg, VP at Avison Young and longtime coworking insider, to pull back the curtain on what’s really happening in the brokerage world, and what it means for flex operators. From the “flight to quality” and secondary market opportunities, to the messy reality of management agreements and the IWG land grab, Mike brings candid insights you won’t get anywhere else.

What we cover:

• Why the big brokerages are cautiously optimistic, and where the optimism comes from.

• How the “flight to quality” is reshaping both traditional office leasing and flex space demand.

• Secondary and tertiary markets: where the supply-demand balance tips in favor of operators.

• The challenges of management agreements, how IWG’s aggressive expansion is affecting the industry, and why deal structure still makes or breaks success.

• Scaling beyond your home market: why granular, on-the-ground market knowledge is non-negotiable.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Michael on LinkedIn

Avison Young website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

If the term “cowarehousing” hasn’t hit your radar yet, this episode will change that.

Shannon and Emiliano Lerda didn’t set out to build a flex space company — they just wanted to stop tripping over shipping boxes in their living room. What they ended up creating is Elevator Co-Warehousing, a fast-growing brand built specifically for product-based businesses that need more than a desk… but less than a forklift.

In this episode, Gio and guest cohost Wesley Edmonds dive into how the Lerdas turned a personal pain point into a scalable model that blends real estate, hospitality, and serious operational know-how.

Here’s what we cover:

• How their own experience running an e-commerce brand led to the first Elevator space.

• Why their spaces feel more like coworking than traditional warehouse environments.

• The intentional decision to open in overlooked markets — and why it’s paying off.

• How community, design, and practical logistics create a retention flywheel.

• The financing and buildout lessons they’ve learned while scaling a new category.

If you’re exploring new flex models or thinking about how to serve a different kind of member — this conversation is full of smart, grounded inspiration.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Emiliano on LinkedIn

Shannon on LinkedIn

Elevator Spaces website

Wesley on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

A couch, a few desks, and a Wi-Fi password won’t cut it anymore.

In this episode, we sit down with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at Office Furniture Solutions, and Kurt Patrick, Senior Executive at Essensys, to talk about what it really takes to create a functional, flexible space, from physical design to digital infrastructure.

They’ve both worked behind the scenes on hundreds of flex space projects. Their perspective? Too many operators underestimate the complexity of getting a space ready, and keeping it competitive.

Here’s what we cover:

• Why tech infrastructure should be part of the earliest planning conversations — not a bolt-on.

• Common mistakes in space design that hurt member experience and operational efficiency.

• How Wesley helps landlords and operators align vision with real-world furniture, flow, and budget.

• What the biggest operators get right when it comes to tech, access control, and back-of-house ops.

• Why speed to market matters — and how the right team can help you launch faster and smarter.

If you're opening a space, refreshing your layout, or scaling a flex brand, this conversation will save you time, money, and headaches.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Wesley on LinkedIn

OFS website

Kurt on LinkedIn

essensys website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

We're bringing this one back because it's one of our most inspiring episodes. If you haven’t met Chiko Abengowe, you’re in for a masterclass in scaling coworking with hustle, heart, and zero VC funding.

Chiko is the founder and CEO of Perfect Office Solutions, a 20+ location flex brand that’s built for affordability, speed, and entrepreneurs who just need space to get to work.

We talk about:

• How Chiko turned $1,000 and a background in staffing into a coworking company serving hundreds of small businesses.

• The secret behind his “Walmart of coworking” model and why members furnish their own spaces.

• How he gamifies sales and motivates his team with monthly bonuses and international trips.

• The art of negotiating leases where landlords cover 100% of the buildout.

• Why staying lean, scrappy, and mission-driven still wins in a competitive flex market.

If you think you need fancy furniture and deep pockets to grow, this episode will challenge everything.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Chiko on LinkedIn

Perfect Office Solutions website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

In this host-only episode, Jamie and Gio catch up on what’s happening across the flex space landscape, and let’s just say, it’s anything but quiet.

From emerging product types to the mystery of Peerspace algorithms, this one dives into the macro (industry mergers, the rise of co-warehousing) and the micro (why your meeting room pricing strategy might be off).

If you’re feeling the pull to try something new or just want a pulse check on what’s working, this is the episode for you.

What we cover:

• Why showing up to coworking events and conferences is more valuable than ever.

• Meeting room trends: pricing, product design, and creative inventory strategies.

• The (surprising) growth of co-warehousing and adjacent flex models.

• Big moves in the flex industry: acquisitions, brand launches, and new entrants.

• Why some operators are quietly selling out and what others can learn from that momentum.

This one’s got ideas, inspiration, and a few names you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on.

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

If you think all coworking leaders have the same backstory… this episode will change your mind.

Mark Goldfinger, GM and Head of North America for Mindspace, joins us for a deep (and often hilarious) dive into his journey. From running global expansion at WeWork to building boutique, hospitality-forward spaces at Mindspace.

We talk about what he learned from the early days of coworking (and Adam Neumann), why operators should take events seriously, and how to scale without losing the heart of the business.

Plus, Mark opens up about the personal moments that shaped his leadership style, and yes, there’s a Taylor Swift karaoke moment in here too. 🎤

Here’s what we cover:

• Mark’s journey from international expansion lead at WeWork to scaling Mindspace in the U.S.

• The magic of Mindspace’s “host” events business model, and why events are core to modern coworking

• His six-year ride at WeWork and the powerful, human moments that defined it

• Mindspace’s U.S. growth strategy, and what he looks for before signing on a new location

• The unexpected connection between marathon training and scaling a coworking brand

This episode is part ops, part origin story, and full-on inspiration for anyone building a flex space with heart.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Mark on LinkedIn

Mindspace website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

In this episode, Amanda shares how she co-founded Bamboo and scaled it into a multi-location flex space operator managing over 200,000 sq ft—all while staying true to her indie roots and mission-driven values.

We cover:

• The early Bamboo story: humble beginnings, tough calls, and a few desks from Craigslist

• The decision to grow beyond Detroit and what scaling has meant for the team

• Bamboo’s strategy for operating AND managing third-party spaces (and why it works)

• A deep dive into their 115,000 sq ft conversion of a former school

• Amanda’s thoughts on public-private partnerships and building local ecosystems

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for indie operators and inspiring insights for anyone navigating the long game in flex. Amanda doesn’t just talk the talk—she’s walked every inch of this path.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

• Amanda on LinkedIn

• Bamboo Website

• Wesley Edmonds on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

If your goal is to create a coworking space that’s profitable, purposeful, and packed with community-driven energy, this episode is required listening.

Gina Schreck didn’t just open a coworking space—she built a village. What started as a 10,000-square-foot coworking concept born from her marketing agency has grown into a 50,000-square-foot hybrid of workspace, event center, and community hub. In this conversation, Gina shares how she and her team doubled down during the pandemic, leaned into events when others pulled back, and built a culture that continues to thrive—even when she’s not in the building.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Gina expanded from 10K to 50K square feet (and why she nearly walked away from it)

• What makes her podcast studio actually get used (and how it supports her community)

• The role of events in sustaining revenue and attracting foot traffic—even weddings and church services

• How her space became a true community center, with a waitlist for offices and thriving nonprofit partnerships

• Why DIY coworking isn’t for divas—and how she leans into a high-touch, high-hospitality model

This one is packed with personality, insights, and the kind of energy that’s hard to bottle—and harder to scale. But somehow, Gina’s done both.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Gina on LinkedIn

The Village Workspace website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast