Podcast
In The Lab with Ruben Kanya
Hosted by Ruben Kanya · EN
In The Lab with Ruben Kanya compiles over $2 Billion worth of successful real estate experiments for new investors looking to get started in real estate. With real estate being a broad umbrella, in the lab we introduce you to a variety of real estate models (experiments) that real practitioners have implemented while sharing their wins, losses and lessons in the lab so that you can pick the experiments that suit your lifestyle the most and double down. In the lab we focus on repeatable processes, systems and ingredients so that you can implement your own experiments and build.
34episodes
Episodes
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How to Build a Breakthrough Year: Using AI & The 1-5-10 Method with Ruben Kanya - Episode #350
Dec 1600:31:54Tap to summarizeGet the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprintIn this forward-focused episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down the three pillars he’s using to engineer a powerful and intentional 2026: a clear definite aim, an AI-powered execution toolbox, and the 1-5-10 framework for turning vision into action. After reflecting on Q4, two AI workshops, and the patterns he’s seen among operators and entrepreneurs, Ruben explains why most people fail at goal setting — and how a simple shift in mindset and structure changes everything.He walks through why experimentation is the only path to discovering your purpose, how to filter every opportunity through a 10-year trajectory, and why alignment becomes your internal GPS. From there, Ruben shows how AI removes the two biggest excuses holding people back — lack of information and lack of time — and how to use AI as a personal board of directors to eliminate blind spots and accelerate execution.Finally, Ruben breaks down the 1-5-10 framework, including how to define your 10-year dream life, reverse-engineer your five-year milestones, convert that into one-year focus, and translate everything into monthly and weekly sprints that actually stick. This episode is a practical blueprint for anyone who wants to avoid another “New Year sprint–February fizzle” cycle and instead build a system that compounds for years.Tune in now to learn how to set a clear aim, harness AI, and build a weekly structure that finally closes the gap between who you are and who you’re becoming.#EntrepreneurMindset #GoalSetting #AIForBusiness #ProductivitySystems #ExperimentNation #BusinessGrowth #VisionPlanning #RealEstateEntrepreneur #MindsetMatters #2026Planning
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The Hidden Wealth Engine Inside Mobile Home Parks: Stability, Scale & Serious Tax Advantages with Jack Martin - Episode #349
Dec 801:09:42Tap to summarizeIn this powerhouse episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Jack Martin — co-founder and CIO of 52TEN, one of the top mobile home park operators in the United States. Jack brings decades of experience across development, acquisitions, capital formation, and operations, having overseen over $1B in real estate projects and more than 2,000 lots nationwide.Jack breaks down why mobile home parks sit at the lowest end of the real-estate risk spectrum, how they deliver unusually stable cash flow, and why investors from high-net-worth individuals to family offices chase the asset class for its superior tax advantages. He explains the core difference between mobile home parks and RV parks, why land improvements are the real engine of bonus depreciation, and how lot-rent economics create both affordability for residents and reliable income for operators.Throughout the conversation, Jack unpacks key levers for value creation — sub-metering, operational discipline, expense reduction, proper sizing for scale, and what separates truly institutional-quality parks from everything else. He also reveals how his team evaluates 150 deals a year and buys only three, why scarcity drives long-term upside, and how EOS, belief, and people have shaped 52TEN’s rise into a market leader.This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the real math behind mobile home park investing, see how large operators think, and learn why this niche remains one of the most tax-efficient, recession-resistant strategies in the country. Tune in now to discover why Jack calls mobile home parks “the most stable real estate in America.”Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprintHIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:08:02 Jack talks about why MHPs are lowest on the risk spectrum25:56 Jack talks about applying cost segregation KEEPING IT REAL:06:00 – Mobile home park model08:06 – Why investors choose MHPs10:36 – Bonus depreciation power12:57 – Tax buckets clarified14:49 – Investor profiles shift21:17 – Land improvements explained24:53 – Cost-seg advantage28:10 – Evaluating properties33:03 – Renting land, not homes37:56 – Tenant stability factor45:28 – Why new parks aren’t built49:04 – Expense leaks & fixes53:05 – Affordability for residents57:22 – Yield expectations1:04:12 – Belief, EOS, people Episode Hashtags: #MobileHomeParks #RealEstateInvesting #AffordableHousing #WealthStrategy #PassiveIncome #TaxStrategy #LandImprovements #MHPInvesting #FinancialFreedom #ScaleWithStabilityCONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://52ten.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-martin-52ten/
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The Power of the Room: Why Proximity, Mentorship, and Alignment Accelerates Success with Ruben Kanya - Episode #348
Dec 100:27:16Tap to summarizeGet the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprintIn this reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks one of the most overlooked success variables in entrepreneurship and temporary housing: your environment. After attending a high-level BookThinkers event hosted by his friend Nick Hutchinson of episode #99 and reconnecting with mentors and peers, Ruben breaks down how proximity, intention, and the rooms you choose to enter shape your growth more than tactics ever will.He shares the deeper meaning behind the “white lab coat vs. the suit” rebrand—why beginner operators need experimentation, and why seasoned operators need depth, systems, and specialization. Ruben walks through how he discovered his tribe across short-term rentals, mid-term rentals, insurance housing, and beyond, with pivotal moments sparked by guests like Michael Sjogren (Episode 91), Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh (Episodes 81 & 263), and Will Dotson. Each connection created a bridge, a business model, or a breakthrough reminder.This episode zooms in on the power of alignment, integration, and why deeper rooms lead to bigger opportunities, why Q4 is advantage season, and how vertically aligning your mission, business, and contribution creates momentum that lasts beyond a single market cycle.If you’ve ever felt stuck between where you are and the room you know you should be in, this episode is your invitation.Tune in now to learn how to choose environments that elevate you, adopt belief systems that accelerate you, and build a business that serves something bigger than yourself.#EntrepreneurMindset #RelationshipEquity #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #Networking #ExperimentNation
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The Power of Intensive Training: Proximity, Reps, and the Compound Effect with Ruben Kanya
Sep 100:27:07Tap to summarizeIn this focused solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks the lessons he learned from attending a three-day Nike tennis training camp and how they directly apply to business, real estate, and personal growth. He reflects on the four key pillars that make intensive training so powerful—proximity, reps, correction, and longevity—and why missing just one of these can make the entire experience meaningless.Drawing from his own journey as an athlete, coach, and entrepreneur, Ruben explains how the right environment accelerates progress, why repetition creates mastery, and how a single correction from a mentor can completely shift your trajectory. Most importantly, he emphasizes the compound effect: real transformation doesn’t come from a one-time intensive but from consistent application over time.If you’ve ever been inspired by a boot camp, conference, or training program but struggled to sustain the momentum afterward, this episode will show you how to turn short bursts of intensity into long-term growth. Tune in now to learn how to leverage intensive training for lasting success in your business, health, and personal experiments.Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connectGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #RealEstateStrategy #MindsetShift #CompoundEffect #ExperimentNation
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From Road Races to Real Estate: Lessons on Pacing, Preparation, and Mentorship with Ruben Kanya - Episode #339
Aug 2500:31:02Tap to summarizeConnect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connectGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint In this reflective solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben shares the lessons he gained from running his first 10K race and how they directly apply to entrepreneurship, real estate, and life. From training with mentors to pushing through discomfort and finding the right environment, Ruben unpacks why success is less about talent and more about discipline, persistence, and proximity to the right people.Using powerful analogies from sports and business, he explains how identifying your targets, surrounding yourself with the right environment, and pacing yourself against stronger peers can accelerate growth. Ruben also dives into the importance of environment over automation in today’s AI-driven age—and why genuine relationships remain irreplaceable.If you’re re-evaluating your goals mid-year or searching for the right push to keep going, this episode will help you reflect, reset, and realign with the fundamentals that never change: preparation, mentorship, consistency, and celebrating each milestone along the way.#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #MentorshipMatters #Resilience #RealEstateStrategy #Leadership #MindsetShift #ExperimentNation
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Peaks, Valleys, and Profits: The Resilient Path from Consumer Product Exits to 7-Figure Syndications with Brandon Rickman - Episode #338
Aug 1801:23:10Tap to summarizeConnect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connectGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint In this high-impact episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Brandon Rickman, an Atlanta-based investor, entrepreneur, and general contractor who has flipped over 500 houses, developed 100 new-construction single-family homes, and built vertically integrated businesses spanning private lending, self-storage, and consumer products. With over 25 years in real estate, Brandon shares how his career evolved from flipping houses to raising private capital for large-scale developments—including a three-story, Class A self-storage facility outside Atlanta.Brandon opens up about the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, from multi-million-dollar exits in the consumer products world to surviving the 2008 market crash when banks abruptly called his loans. He reveals the data-driven criteria he uses to reverse-engineer self-storage projects for REIT buyers, the add-on revenue strategies that maximize NOI, and why private lending has become a major growth focus.If you’re looking for a transparent blueprint to scaling across multiple real estate verticals while building resilience through challenges, this conversation is packed with insights on strategy, mindset, and execution.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:14:46 Brandon talks about self-storage investment strategy44:55 Brandon talks about entrepreneurial resilience and scaling across multiple real estate verticalsKEEPING IT REAL:05:20 – Why self-storage is Brandon’s top focus today06:47 – How syndication works for self-storage investors10:04 – Understanding demand: square footage per capita and site selection data14:46 – Reverse-engineering self-storage for REIT buyers17:47 – Pricing power and tenant retention in self-storage22:05 – Increasing NOI through add-on services and rentals26:27 – Automated vs. manned self-storage operations30:08 – From consumer products to multi-million-dollar exits44:51 – Surviving the 2008 market crash and negotiating with banks59:22 – Big wins: high-margin flips, 7-figure syndication potential, and legacy deals1:10:08 – Building a $20M/year private lending business1:14:10 – Advice for 20-year-old entrepreneurs CONNECT WITH THE GUESTLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-rickman-9885a22/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonrickman08/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQGTzF6JvH4qqT_V8Lx2cw#RealEstateInvesting #SelfStorage #EntrepreneurMindset #PrivateLending #FlippingHouses #ResilientEntrepreneur #CommercialRealEstate #BusinessGrowth #REITStrategy #FinancialFreedom
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From Bills to Bucket List: Escaping Routine and Living Life Without Regret with Jay Cameron - Episode #337
Aug 6, 202500:59:33Tap to summarizeConnect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connectGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint In this powerful and paradigm-shifting episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Jay Cameron, real estate investor, international speaker, and founder of Maximum Impact Travel. Jay opens up about the pivotal moment when he realized that grinding through life just to pay bills wasn’t enough. After building financial stability through real estate and entrepreneurship, he made a bold decision to travel to Africa—facing his fears, confronting his conditioning, and ultimately transforming his life.Jay shares the mental due diligence required to break out of the bubble, why many Americans have a flawed perception of Africa, and how embracing global citizenship reshaped his identity and his business. From launching a multimillion-dollar travel company to leading over 2,000 people on transformative international trips, Jay explains how deep experiences—not just dollars—pay the highest dividends.If you’ve ever felt stuck in routine, this episode will challenge you to rethink your own story. Tune in to hear Jay’s journey from constraint to clarity and how you can unlock a life filled with purpose, expansion, and global impact.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:11:03 Jay talks about overcoming the old paradigm of fear, routine, and mental confinement38:33 Jay talks about why Africa’s branding is broken KEEPING IT REAL:04:26 – How travel shaped his identity and business10:58 – The old paradigm: fear, routine, and mental confinement13:30 – First fearful leap to Africa in 201816:55 – A better way to grind? Unpacking hustle culture20:39 – Use low overhead to create freedom30:58 – Reframing travel as a personal investment32:59 – “Die With Zero” and building memory dividends37:15 – Why Africa’s branding is broken42:27 – Doing your own mental due diligence45:53 – How expanding your mind dismantles generational programming50:26 – Smiles, dignity, and the universal human connection51:22 – Turning the world into an adult summer camp53:23 – From viral YouTube video to travel empire54:05 – Why this business is the reward after the grindCONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://www.maximumimpacttravel.com/#Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-cameron-532a2951/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaycameronofficial/?hl=enYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/c/maximumimpactwithjaycameronLinktree: https://linktr.ee/maximumimpacttravel#RealEstateInvesting #GlobalCitizenship #MindsetShift #LifestyleDesign #EscapeTheGrind #MaximumImpact #TravelEntrepreneur #MentalDueDiligence #AfricaUnfiltered
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Industrial Real Estate Syndications: Debt-Free with Joel Friedland - Episode #336
Jul 28, 202501:18:22Tap to summarizeGet the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprintIn this deep-dive episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Joel Friedland, founder of Brit Properties, to explore an uncommon but powerful approach to real estate syndication: acquiring industrial properties with no debt. Joel, who has been in the industrial real estate game since the age of 22, shares his evolution from working under a Chicago family office to building his own portfolio of high-performing industrial buildings.The conversation spans everything from the anatomy of industrial leases and long-term tenant retention to the personal values that shape Joel’s unique investment philosophy. Joel opens up about surviving the 2008 financial crisis, the dangers of signing standard loan documents, and how he now protects his investors through detailed side letters and ultra-low leverage—or none at all.You’ll hear how Joel evaluates industrial assets, builds long-term relationships with tenants and investors, and why he believes most operators are taking unnecessary risk in the name of returns. His perspective is rare, contrarian, and backed by decades of experience.If you're a syndicator, investor, or entrepreneur curious about how to build a portfolio with resilience and integrity, this episode will shift how you think about risk, returns, and relationships. Tune in now to learn why Joel is one of the few operators in America focused on building a community through no-debt deals—and how you can apply the same principles to your business and life.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:21:34 Joel talks about building relationships13:11 Joel talks about his lawn mowing business at age 14KEEPING IT REAL:05:00 – Why industrial outperforms office and retail08:13 – Long-term leases and tenant retention10:00 – Triple net leases and low-maintenance management11:16 – Entry into industrial real estate13:11 – Lessons from starting a lawn business at 1415:06 – Are entrepreneurs born or made?20:19 – From chasing deals to building relationships30:16 – A model focused on long-term trust and low turnover36:08 – The critical importance of reading legal docs42:46 – Hidden risks in loan documents47:04 – Avoiding high leverage even if it means lower returns52:00 – Strategy and differentiation: why safety wins56:00 – Why he doesn’t use infinite banking or other loan-backed strategies59:03 – Hiring mistakes and how to identify A-players1:03:01 – Likability ≠ capability: the hiring lesson most learn too late1:06:10 – Current focus and future direction1:08:55 – Why he only buys infill industrial in Chicago1:10:50 – The shrinking market advantage in industrial real estate1:13:02 – Parting advice and how to connect with Joel.CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://www.britproperties.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-friedland/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Brit-Properties/61561165483112/?_rdrYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@investingwithjoel#PublicAdjuster #InsuranceClaims #CoverageD #MidtermRentals #TemporaryHousing #RealEstateInvesting #PolicyholderAdvocacy
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Why 2025 is the best time to implement Hybrid STR/MTR Model for Tax Benefits with Ruben Kanya - Episode #335
Jul 22, 202500:29:43Tap to summarizeIn this timely episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down when and why you should consider shifting to a hybrid short-term and mid-term rental model and how the latest tax legislation makes it even more lucrative. Coming off last week’s Driving Conversations with AI vs. Questions, he explains how operators can strategically layer MTR contracts over STR availability to increase monthly income while protecting long-term upside.Ruben shares why hybrid models aren’t just a fallback when STRs are soft—but a proactive strategy that aligns with seasonality, market demand,and most importantly the tax code. He covers how to position your properties to attract both leisure guests and insurance contracts, the systems you need in place to pull it off, and how to avoid making reactive decisions that hurt your business in the long run.If you’re looking to increase occupancy, optimize taxes, and build a more resilient and profitable rental portfolio in today’s evolving landscape, tune in now and learn why now is the best time to execute the hybrid STR/MTR model.#MidtermRentals #ShortTermRentals #STRStrategy #MTRGrowth #HybridHosting #RealEstateInvesting #VacationRentalTips #InsuranceHousing
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Driving Conversations with AI: How to Think, Plan, and Scale Smarter with Ruben Kanya - Episode #334
Jul 16, 202500:20:45Tap to summarizeGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint In this informative episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down a powerful framework for how to actually use AI as a strategic partner—not just a search engine. Drawing from real-world conversations he's had with AI to help close deals, refine business plans, and optimize decision-making, Ruben reveals how the right prompts, context, and conversations can turn ChatGPT into your most valuable board of advisors.This isn't about asking better questions—it's about having better conversations. Ruben shares the difference between surface-level prompts and deep AI dialogue that reveals blind spots, sharpens thinking, and accelerates progress. From uploading your favorite book frameworks to building bots that mirror your business philosophy, this episode maps out exactly how to scale your thinking using AI.If you’re ready to move faster, make clearer decisions, and unlock unfair advantages with AI in your back pocket, tune in now and upgrade the way you operate—before your competition does.#RealEstateStrategy #MidtermRentals #Entrepreneurship #TemporaryHousing #BusinessGrowth #MTRAccelerator #Q3Planning #RealEstateTips
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