The Orlando Real with Ken Pozek

Orlando 60 year old plays EDC, Condo Building Wows Guests, and an IAPPA Preview

What makes an Orlando City Soccer match so special? In this episode of The Orlando Real Podcast,we go behind the scenes at Inter&Co Stadium with Jarrod Dillon, President of Business Operations for Orlando City, the Orlando Pride, and the stadium, for a full tour of the home of Orlando soccer.We walk through The Vault and the club’s history, from the Austin Aztex days to the 2024 Orlando Pride championship, the record-setting safe-standing supporters’ section, the award-winning local food program featuring Orlando restaurants, and the newest fan experience upgrades. Jarrod shares how the club reaches 12,000 kids through youth soccer, the $400 million in economic impact it has generated over five years, the intimidating players’ tunnel, and what’s next for the club’s future.

Evermore’s expansion, a $100 million I-Drive CRA extension and the future of Ovation Orlando lead this week’s live, along with new openings across Central Florida and a conversation on building community in Orlando.

Do you believe in ghosts? Just in time for Halloween, we walk the streets of downtown Orlando with Ashlie Pounds, known as Ghost Story Girl on Instagram and YouTube, to uncover the haunted history hiding in plain sight around the city.Ashlie Pounds, known online as Ghost Story Girl, is an Orlando-based historian and paranormal investigator who pairs meticulously researched local history with hands-on investigations of the stories behind hauntings in Central Florida and beyond. A self-described skeptic who “investigates stories of hauntings,” not ghosts, she has built a large following sharing the true history behind landmarks like the Beacham Theater, and is the author of the upcoming book “Beyond the Legend: Paranormal Paths to Hidden History.” Follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ghoststorygirl and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@ghoststorygirl

Today we're discussing over 500k people that've left Florida, plus some massive Disney area developments that are finally taking shape! Come hang out, ask questions, and lets dive into all things Orlando!

How does Orlando become more than a theme park town? In this episode of The Orlando Real Podcast, Ken Pozek sits back down with Cole NeSmith, one of Central Florida's most creative minds and the founder of Creative City Project, IMMERSE, and Dazzling Nights, to talk about his vision for turning Orlando into "Creative City, USA."Cole and Ken get into his Memoir Agency's new investment from Avalon Park Group, how creativity and placemaking build real community in new developments, why so much of Orlando outside the theme parks feels generic, what downtown Orlando actually needs to thrive, the tourist development tax funding behind the arts, the future of Leu Gardens and Dazzling Nights, and the upcoming Celebrate the City events planned for 2027.Cole NeSmith is the Executive Director of the Creative City Project and co-founder of The Memoir Agency, the team behind IMMERSE, Dazzling Nights, and immersive placemaking work for cities and developers. An experienced curator, writer, musician, and actor, he created IMMERSE, which platforms 1,000 artists for more than 100,000 guests in Downtown Orlando each year. Learn more about the Creative City Project at www.creativecityproject.com and follow along with Cole on Instagram at www.instagram.com/colenesmith.Whether you love Orlando, are a local creative, work in real estate or development, or just care about where the city is headed, this conversation is a blueprint for building a future Orlando with meaning.This episode is brought to you by The Pozek Group. Thinking of selling or buying a home anywhere in Greater Orlando? We’d love to help! Reach out at https://pozek.com/youtube or email [email protected] to get started.

Today we're talking about some Orlando HOT TAKES and news you can use. Come hang out and let's talk all things Orlando!

Lots of traffic/transit talk (potential good news) plus a bunch of projects getting updates and approval.

John Morgan built Morgan & Morgan into one of the largest law firms in America, all from Orlando. In this episode of The Orlando Real Podcast, Ken Pozek sits down with the billionaire founder, investor, and author to talk about his new book on luck, the businesses he's built beyond the courtroom, and his honest take on Orlando.We get into his journey from leaving Kentucky as a kid to building an empire, the three types of luck, his attractions business behind WonderWorks and Alcatraz East, his honest assessment of downtown Orlando and the Magic, the nationwide expansion of Morgan & Morgan, building his own legal AI, preparing for "black swan" events, and the mentors and family he adores and credits most.Whether you're an entrepreneur, an Orlando local, or just want a candid conversation with one of the city's most recognizable figures, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss it.John Morgan is an American attorney and political figure based in Florida, and is best known as the founder of the personal injury law firm, Morgan & Morgan. Learn more and keep up with him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/johnmorganesqThis episode is brought to you by The Pozek Group. Thinking of selling or buying a home anywhere in Greater Orlando? We’d love to help! Reach out at https://pozek.com/youtube or email [email protected] to get started0:00 Meet John Morgan0:24 How Did John Morgan End Up in Orlando?2:58 What Are the Three Types of Luck according to John Morgan?4:48 Are Entrepreneurs Born or Made?7:50 What Businesses Does John Morgan Own?9:43 What Are WonderWorks and Alcatraz East?11:30 How Do You Turn a Business Failure Into a Success?14:59 Why Invest in Wine Bar George and Flavortown?16:39 Should Baseball Come to Orlando?17:09 Why the Magic Are So Profitable19:19 What's Holding Downtown Orlando Back?23:40 Can the Right Investment Turn Downtown Around?26:34 Morgan & Morgan's Nationwide Expansion27:33 What Is the "Grow or Die" Strategy?31:12 Why Are Injury Cases Flooding In?31:45 What Would Google Do as a Law Firm?34:00 What Are John Morgan's 2026 Goals?35:13 Litify: The Software Behind the Empire36:03 How Do You Stay Sharp as You Get Older?38:46 When Should You Quit a Business?40:51 What Is a "Black Swan" Event?44:14 What Do You Do in a Business Crisis?46:09 How Did John Morgan Get Ahead of COVID?47:39 The Mentor Who Shaped Him: Bill Dimitri49:27 How Does John Morgan Want to Be Remembered?50:03 The Purpose of Life According to John Morgan52:00 Wrap Up

If you've ever run a race in Central Florida, you've probably crossed paths with Track Shack. In this episode of The Orlando Real Podcast, Ken Pozek sits down with second-generation owner Chris Hughes to talk about how a small Mills 50 running store, open since 1977, became the hub of Orlando's running community.Chris Hughes is the Vice President of Business Operations of Orlando’s beloved family-owned running store and event company, Track Shack. Since 1977, Track Shack has kept Central Florida’s runners and walkers fit, inspired, and connected through retail expertise, training programs, and community events. Learn more about Track Shack at www.trackshack.com and stay up to date on the latest on Instagram at www.instagram.com/orlandotrackshack In this conversation we explore the store's history, growing up in the back of the shop, how Track Shack produces around 15 local races a year plus the run management for runDisney, the rise of Orlando's run clubs, and the Track Shack Youth Foundation, which has given more than $3 million to programs that improve kids' lives through sports. They also cover how Mills 50 transformed into one of Orlando's best neighborhoods, tips for getting into running, and what's next as Track Shack heads toward its 50th anniversary in 2027.This episode is brought to you by The Pozek Group. Thinking of selling or buying a home anywhere in Greater Orlando? We’d love to help! Reach out at https://pozek.com/youtube or email [email protected] to get started.0:00 What Is Track Shack?1:19 Who owns Track Shack? The Hughes3:26 How Mills 50 Transformed Over the Decades4:26 What Makes Orlando's Community Unique?5:37 The 15 Races Track Shack Produces Each Year6:38 How Track Shack Got the runDisney Contract7:58 Early Race Memories: Chip Timing & Spindles9:54 The Original runDisney Marathon10:22 Track Shack's Running History Museum12:03 Producing the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando13:01 How does a Running Shoe Fitting Work?14:41 The Track Shack Youth Foundation: $3M Given Back15:49 Is Running Having Another Boom in Orlando?16:43 Orlando's 100+ Run Clubs17:42 How to Get Started as a New Runner?18:47 How to Find Your First Runners High?20:10 How to get a runDisney Bib?20:46 Run Clubs, Events & Training Programs in Orlando22:12 Is Track Shack a Store or Event Company?23:36 Track Shack's 50th Anniversary: What’s Next