I’m sitting down with Dustin Baker, a digital marketing pro who’s shaking up how short-term rentals get seen, booked, and branded. With nearly a decade of experience across e-commerce and tech, Dustin brings a fresh perspective to an industry overdue for a marketing glow-up. We dive into why relying solely on Airbnb isn’t the move anymore, and how social media, email strategy, and content funnels can help you take control of your bookings (and your income).

Whether managing a portfolio or just getting started with your first unique stay, this convo breaks down actionable ways to build a real brand—not just a listing. Dustin shares how to create a full-funnel strategy that actually works in 2025.

If you're trying to grow your STR game the smart way, this one’s for you.

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Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/

Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/

Connect with Dustin Baker on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dustindbaker/

In this episode, we sit down with Isaac French, a lifelong entrepreneur who built and sold Live Oak Lake, an experiential hospitality venture that grossed over $1M in its first year. Isaac shares his journey from a homeschool upbringing on a Texas farm to designing and scaling a multimillion-dollar hospitality brand—all before turning 30!

If you’re interested in real estate, short-term rentals, or building a business from scratch, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss!

Connect with me...

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/

Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/

Connect with Isaac French on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/isaacfrench_/

In this episode, we sit down with Zach Busekrus, a well-connected entrepreneur in the short-term rental (STR) space. From launching and selling his own startup to building powerful networks within the industry, Zach has seen it all!

We dive deep into loyalty in the STR industry and how concepts from hospitality giants like Hilton and Marriott can be applied to short-term rentals. Zach, Head of the Journey Alliance, shares his insights on retention, scaling, and the future of guest experience.

Connect with me...

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/

Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/

Connect with Zach Busekrus on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/

In this episode, I sit with Brooke Pfautz, founder and CEO of Vintori & Comparent, who is an absolute beast in the short-term rental industry. He’s helped 800+ companies scale their acquisitions and even wrote a book on it. But here’s the crazy part – Brooke built his empire after losing everything in the 2007 crash. How did he bounce back? How did he scale from 0 to 500 units in just 5 years? And most importantly… how can you do it too?

Don’t miss this! Brooke drops pure gold on acquiring properties, making irresistible offers, and dominating the game.

Connect with me...

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/

Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/

Connect with Brooke Pfautz on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepfautz/

Buckle up, because this episode is straight-fire! We’ve got Emanuele Pani in the house—a legit legend in the short-term rental game. He went from working maintenance and fixing things behind the scenes to owning40+ units, co-hosting 10 more, and leading major syndications. Oh, and he’s also the host of STR Secrets, one of the biggest podcasts in the space.

But here’s the real kicker, Emanuele is deep in the mindset game, unlocking the mental blocks that hold people back from success. He’s helped hundreds of students scale their businesses, and in this episode, he’s dropping straight gold. If you’re ready to level up and stop playing small, this one’s for you.Let’s get into it!

Connect with me...

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/

Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/

Connect with Emanuele Pani on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epani.realestate/

What’s up, everyone! I’m sitting down with Arthur Colker, the Founder and CEO of StayFi. If you’ve ever wondered how to ditch dependency on Airbnb and take control of direct bookings, this episode is for you. Arthur breaks down how his platform captures guest data (yep, through WiFi!) and turns it into marketing gold. 📨💻

We’re diving into his journey from digital marketing to creating a game-changing tool for property managers. He’s got all the insider tips on leveraging StayFi to boost bookings, engage guests, and stay ahead in the short-term rental game.

So grab your coffee (or your fave energy drink) and hit play, this one’s packed with gems! 💎🔥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

Connect with me...

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/

Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/

Connect with Arthur on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/acolker/

We’ve got the one and only JJ King, a STR rockstar shaking up the Florida scene. What started as a few units has exploded into over 250 properties and they’re about to hit 300. JJ talks about how his side hustle turned into a full-blown empire, the hustle behind his success, and how he balances big vision with building systems.

Madi Rifkin, CEO and founder of Mount, a groundbreaking platform for short-term rental hosts! 🚀 At 27, she is already transforming the way guests experience travel by connecting them to hidden local gems through her innovative software. From selling candy as a kid to creating her first company at 12, Madi's entrepreneurial spirit has always been unstoppable.

In this episode, we dive into her journey—from building Mount to solving major gaps in the short-term rental industry, like helping hosts unlock new revenue streams beyond bookings.

Tune in for her story, insights, and how she’s redefining travel for hosts and guests alike!

Connect with me...

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

Connect with Madi Rifkin on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/madirifkin/

What if AI could take all the stress out of managing short-term rentals? Cole Rubin, Co-Founder of Host AI, is here to spill the secrets behind his game-changing platform that’s redefining the industry. From flipping 30+ properties to breaking records in Joshua Tree, Cole’s journey is nothing short of legendary.

We’re talking about how he turned a simple idea into an all-in-one tool that handles messaging, leads, and operations like a pro.  Oh, and did I mention he built this while crushing it in Y Combinator? 

If you’re ready to hear how Cole’s revolutionizing real estate with AI, this is an episode you can’t miss!

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I’ve got my guy Jason Samson on the pod today, and let me tell you, this dude is a legend. He’s out in Hawaii managing over 60 co-hosting units and just bought a short-term rental management company—absolute boss moves.

If you’ve ever wanted the inside scoop on STRs, investing smart, or just how to juggle a million things at once, this episode’s for you. 🚀

Connect with me...

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patryk-swietek

YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/

Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/

Connect with Jason Samson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jsamsonsolutions/