Fouad spent 20 years in banking and 11 more consulting banks before walking away from corporate life when his wife’s income surpassed his.

What happened next?

A wild ride through the world of short-term rentals, driven by family, strategy, and a long-term vision few operators ever reach.

In this episode, Fouad breaks down:

• How a personal medical emergency forced him to buy his first Airbnb
• Why most operators price listings wrong—and how he uses math instead
• The real difference between luxury and comfort STRs (and why he runs both)
• His custom tech stack using Go High Level
• And the real reason he’s scaling to $12M/year before exiting

This one’s for the operators who want to scale smart, stay profitable, and build something sellable.

What you’ll learn:

• How to scale with dual verticals (luxury + comfort)
• Why you must reverse-engineer around your exit
• How banking lessons apply directly to STRs
• Why pricing = math, not emotion
• How Fouad thinks about purpose and legacy

Ready to build a business that banks would beg to fund?

Fouad shows you how.

03:30 – Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: Why He Left Corporate

07:00 – First STR Deal: Starting Small With Big Vision

10:00 – Smart Risk: Learning to Bet on Yourself

13:00 – From 1 to 10+ Units: Scaling With Confidence

17:00 – Wealth Mindset: Thinking Like an Owner, Not an Operator

20:00 – Cash Flow vs Time: Redefining Success Metrics

24:00 – Building a Business, Not a Job: Systems and Team Growth

27:00 – Lessons From the Field: What He’d Do Differently

30:00 – Purpose-Driven Investing: Time, Family, and Freedom

Guest Bio:

Fouad Bazzi is a professional in the short-term rental (STR) industry. His activities include owning, managing, and building new build-to-rent properties, as well as consulting and educating others in the STR space. He also owns a pool servicing company that specializes in serving STR properties.

Guest Link:

https://www.instagram.com/fouad_airbnb

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

Airbnb just rolled out its biggest update of the year, and if you’re a host, you need to know what’s coming.

In this live breakdown, we cover:

• The truth about Airbnb’s new “Services” feature and why it matters

• What this means for photographers, chefs, massage therapists, and YOU

• How Airbnb plans to monetize add-ons (and why you might not see a cut)

• Major liability concerns Airbnb isn’t talking about

• How this could affect your guest experience—and your reviews

• Why this is really a pivot toward becoming the Instagram of Travel

Plus: actionable strategies to get ahead of this change, build local service partnerships, and protect your property.

TLDR? This update means more work for hosts, unless Airbnb starts paying us to help them grow. Watch this now so you’re not caught off guard.

Want to get the summary of Airbnb's Latest Update?

Just click the link to our Instagram below and send 'Update'

https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T014&utm_content=Update

00:00 – Bold Shift: Airbnb’s 2025 Release Redefines the Platform

01:30 – Major Update 1: Cleaning Services Now Offered to Guests

04:00 – Major Update 2: Handy Services and Maintenance on Demand

06:30 – Control at Risk: Services Can Be Scheduled Without Host Approval

08:45 – Host Autonomy Undermined: Who Has Access to Your Property?

10:30 – Guest Experience Prioritized: Host Voice Being Muted

12:00 – Airbnb’s Strategic Shift: From Booking Site to Service Ecosystem

13:30 – Host Action Plan: Communicate, Audit, and Prepare

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

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In this raw, no-fluff episode, Hostaway CEO Marcus Rader shares the hard-won lessons behind building a billion-dollar vacation rental software company, starting with zero industry experience.

Marcus breaks down:

• Why most entrepreneurs aim too small and why it costs them everything
• The mental and physical toll of building at scale (including 7 years without a dentist visit)
• How he filters “good money” vs “bad money” when raising capital
• The future of short-term rentals in a regulated, AI-powered world
• Practical leadership advice for scaling teams without losing your mission

Plus: his marathon training, travel hacks, and how to avoid becoming a micromanaged founder.

Whether you’re a startup founder, STR operator, or tech junkie—this is a must-listen for anyone who wants to win big without burning out.

Ready to scale? Tap into Marcus’s billion-dollar playbook now.

00:00 – Go Bigger: Why Playing Small Carries the Same Risk but Less Reward

00:39 – Craft Over Hype: The Power of Repetition and Mastery

02:04 – Be There: Why Leading Remotely Doesn’t Win Markets

03:45 – Market Leadership: How Hostaway Beat Older, Bigger Players

05:58 – Hiring Giants: From 50,000 Applicants to the Top 0.1%

08:59 – Cost of Ambition: Health, Relationships, and the Real Price of Building

12:29 – Go for Billionaire Moves: Why Medium Goals Aren’t Worth the Sacrifice

15:31 – Choosing Good Money: Partnering with Investors Who Let You Lead

17:23 – No Kitchen Rules: Keeping Creative Control While Scaling Up

20:27 – Invisible AI: How Hostaway Uses Tech to Deliver Unseen Excellence

23:00 – Review Intelligence: Turning Guest Feedback into Business Strategy

25:30 – Tool Advantage: Hostaway’s Marketplace as a Growth Engine

27:17 – Global Expansion: Owning New Markets One Continent at a Time

29:33 – Regulation Shakeout: Why Strong Rules Are Good for Professionals

32:50 – Reputation Reset: Cleaning Up the Industry with Standards That Matter

Guest Bio:

Marcus Räder is co-founder and CEO of Hostaway, the leading all-in-one vacation rental management software. Originally from Finland, Marcus has lived in many countries around the world including Sweden, Poland, and The Netherlands before settling in Canada. It was this passion for travel, real estate and his dedication to learning about the vacation rental ecosystem that enabled the creation of Hostaway.

The company quickly grew thanks to the deep technological expertise of its founders, with over a decade of tech start-up success between them. Hostaway gives property managers all the tools needed to compete with hotels and other vacation rentals, including sales channel management, dynamic pricing and hospitality services. It now boasts preferred partnerships with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com, in addition to a marketplace of over 100 integrated software partners.

Guest Link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingmarcus/

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

This episode unpacks the real playbook behind scaling short-term rental businesses with AI, leadership, and culture.

Straight from the STR Boardroom event in Salem, hosts Chris and E break down their biggest takeaways from Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh’s AI workshop to the emotional breakthroughs in hot seats, to Mark from Minoan’s CEO mindset at 50+ employees.

What you’ll learn:

• The AI stacking method Rachel used to double her sales team’s close rate

• The 5 levels of VA hiring, from cheap help to AI-powered specialists

• Why great team members outgrow companies, and how to lead through it

• The exact moment a founder must pivot from operator to people leader

• How to use the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team framework to build culture that scales

• Why emotional safety is the hidden growth lever most CEOs ignore

• And how to actually implement event takeaways before you lose momentum

This isn’t another tech tips episode.

It’s a tactical and vulnerable deep dive into what it takes to scale, lead, and stay grounded in 2025.

00:00 – Building Confidence: Lessons from Struggle, Sales, and Self-Belief

04:00 – Rewiring Identity: From Overwhelm to Intention

08:00 – Leveraging Chaos: Why Adversity Becomes Your Superpower

12:00 – The Four Levels of Competence: From Unconscious to Mastery

16:00 – Winning in Business: Simplifying Systems, Offers, and Time

20:00 – $20K Days in 5 Hours: Prioritizing High-Leverage Work

24:00 – Clarity Is Power: Why Lack of Decision-Making Kills Momentum

28:00 – Excuse Audit: The Hidden Stories That Keep You Small

32:00 – Emotional Regulation: How to Respond Instead of React

36:00 – Final Challenge: Step Into Power and Choose a New Story

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

Most people screw up VA hiring, not because they pick the wrong person…

…but because they don’t have a system.

In this training, Mike and Chris break down the 3 proven models for hiring virtual assistants.

Agency, recruiter, and self-hire.

Plus the crucial 4R framework you need before bringing anyone on.

Whether you’ve got 5 properties or 100+, this is the training that saves you from wasted money, broken systems, and constant turnover.

What you’ll learn:

• The 3 types of VA hiring models (and when to use each)

• The biggest reason your VA won’t work out (it’s not what you think)

• How to build a talent pipeline that scales with your portfolio

• When to hire for skills vs culture fit

• Bonus: Where to find agency + recruiting referrals we actually trust

_

Want to get the FREE VA Contract and 4R Doc?

Just click the link to our Instagram below and send 'Contract'

https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T013&utm_content=Contract

00:00 – Hiring Roadmap: Breaking Down the VA Models

02:00 – Agency Model Explained: Training Wheels for Scaling Leaders

05:00 – Recruiting Model: Upfront Investment, Long-Term Efficiency

08:30 – Self-Hiring Secrets: Full Control, High Risk, High Reward

11:00 – Referral Power: Leveraging A-Players to Source Talent

13:30 – Cultural Pitfalls: The Hidden Risk in Team Referrals

16:00 – Specialty Roles: Revenue Management vs. Marketing VAs

19:00 – Creating Execution Frameworks for Social & Brand Marketing

22:00 – Revenue Management Mastery: Metrics, Mindset, and Misconceptions

25:00 – Bonus Resource: Contract Templates & Legal Protections for VA Hiring

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

Most people aren’t missing strategy.

They’re missing decision.

In this episode, Mike and Emanuele break down the 5 mindset philosophies that transformed their lives...

...from escaping burnout and W2 jobs to building multi-million-dollar businesses and raising families with time freedom.

If you feel like you keep “trying” but never break through, this episode will call you out...

...and pull you forward.

What you’ll learn:

• The most powerful reframe for taking back control of your life
• Why saying “I’ll try” guarantees failure
• How to train your decision-making muscle daily
• The “day one” philosophy that separates top performers from the rest
• A no-fluff breakdown of time vs. money thinking (and how to escape the trap)

Ready to finally commit?

This is your line in the sand.

00:00 - Uncovering Transformational Beliefs that Redefined Success

04:00 - Embracing Radical Ownership: Life Happens *For* You

09:35 - Unlocking Growth Through the Day One Philosophy

14:30 - The 4 Powerful Stages of Skill Development

18:20 - Tactical Time vs Money: Rewriting Productivity Rules

22:00 - Designing a $20K Month in 5 Hours: The Value-Driven Hustle

26:30 - Eliminating Excuses: Breakthrough Decisions that Shape Destiny

31:10 - The Critical Power of Fast Decision-Making

33:00 - Rethinking Reality: Story, Meaning & Inner Peace

35:00 - Final Challenge: Cut the Dirty Yes, Choose Powerfully

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

Your property is great. So why are guests still leaving 4 stars?

In this episode, Mike breaks down the 7 most common mistakes that silently ruin guest experiences and the reviews that follow.

These aren’t theories.

They’re field-tested lessons from 1,200+ reviews, across 28 properties, and over 5 years of hosting.

You’ll learn:

• Why nickel-and-diming your guests kills conversion
• The #1 amenity guests expect (but almost no one provides)
• How to stop losing stars from poor messaging and over-automation
• Why Photoshop and misleading listings backfire (fast)
• The deep clean schedule every top host follows
• How to protect margins while leveling up experience
• The review-killer most hosts don’t realize they’re doing

If you’re stuck at 4.8 and can’t crack 4.95+, this is your fix.

05:00 – Algorithm Boost: How Amenities and Photography Drive Ranking

06:00 – Lightning Response: The Profit Power of Immediate Communication

08:00 – Misleading Listings: The Hidden Cost of Photoshop and Fluffed Locations

11:00 – Guest-Friendly Pricing: Stop Nickel-and-Diming for Add-Ons

13:00 – Annual Investment Rule: Keeping Properties Fresh and 5-Star Worthy

15:00 – The Upgrade Clause: Property Improvement Plans That Scale Value

17:00 – The Cleanliness Factor: Deep Cleaning Every Quarter Pays Dividends

19:00 – Messaging Mistakes: Why Over-Communication Kills Guest Experience

21:00 – Final Recap: 7 Things Hosts Do That Secretly Cost Them Reviews

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

THE STR GAME HAS CHANGED AND THE DATA PROVES IT.

AirDNA’s Chief Economist Jamie Lane joins the show to break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes in the short-term rental market...

...and why most hosts are missing the shift.

Inside this episode:

• The real story behind occupancy, rates, and guest demand in 2024
• Why “big box” managers are losing properties fast
• The key numbers top investors are watching (and how to use them)
• How AirDNA’s new tools are reshaping STR deal analysis
• The warning signs for hosts scaling past 50 units and what breaks first
• Why small, well-managed portfolios are quietly outperforming everyone

You’ll also hear how Jamie’s team is using AI and custom comps to bring never-before-seen clarity to STR investing...

...and what you can do to stay ahead.

Listen now to future-proof your portfolio before the data leaves you behind.

03:30 – Supply Shock: Why New STR Listings Are Surging Nationwide

07:00 – Booking Behavior: How Travelers Are Changing Their Habits

10:00 – Revenue Realities: The Decline in ADR and Occupancy Rates

13:30 – Market Saturation: Top Cities Facing Over-Supply Pressures

17:00 – Strategic Advantage: How to Win in Competitive Markets

21:00 – Data-Backed Decisions: Using AirDNA to Stay Ahead

24:00 – The Investor Shift: From Arbitrage to Ownership Models

27:00 – Resilience & Risk: Preparing for Softening Demand Cycles

30:00 – Long-Term Outlook: What Smart Operators Are Doing Next

Guest Bio:

Jamie Lane is Vice President of Research for AirDNA, a short-term rental data & analytics company. He is responsible for data analysis, thought leadership, and leveraging advanced analytical techniques to provide new insights into short-term rental supply, demand, and pricing trends. He has been published in academic and professional journals and regularly speaks at lodging industry forums.

Prior to AirDNA, Jamie spent 10 years as an economist at CBRE, leading research, forecasting and data intelligence teams to support client analysis. Mr. Lane is an active member of the National Association of Business Economists and the Atlanta Economics Club. Jamie holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Georgia and an M.S. in Business Economics from Georgia State University.

Guest Link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

DIVORCED, BROKE… THEN SHE BUILT A 105-UNIT STR BUSINESS.

Ashley Freeman wasn’t supposed to be here.

Divorced, struggling to make ends meet as a tennis pro.

She took a chance on Airbnb with her farmhouse.

Now she manages over 105 units, leads a team of 25……

and lives a life most people only dream about.

In this powerful episode, Ashley reveals:

• How a side hustle became a 7-figure business
• The mindset shifts that changed everything
• Why systems + a strong team scaled her from 4 to 100+ properties
• How she created a 5-star guest experience that owners can’t stop raving about
• The identity shift required to step into true leadership

Success doesn’t happen overnight.

It happens when you refuse to quit.

Listen now and see how Ashley built an empire…

…one step, one belief, and one property at a time.

03:30 – From Rock Bottom to Rising Entrepreneur: Ashley’s Journey

07:00 – Faith, Grit, and Overcoming Self-Doubt in Business

10:00 – Rebuilding Self-Image: How Belief Rewires Success

13:30 – Tactical Scaling: Systems, Team Building, and Leadership Lessons

17:00 – Secrets to Sustainable Growth: Mindset, Service, and Strategy

20:30 – Life by Design: Building Freedom Through STR Success

24:00 – Living the Dream: Redneck Ranch, Soccer Travels, and Family First

Guest Bio:

Ashley Freeman is a 7-figure short-term rental expert who transformed her life through the power of short-term rentals. Starting with just one property, she scaled her business to 105 properties in under three years, growing from less than $50,000 in her first year to $2 million annually by year three, with the support and mentorship of STR Secrets and Conway Consulting. Passionate about serving others, Ashley is dedicated to helping people find the same freedom and life-changing opportunities that the short-term rental business gave her.

Guest Link:

https://www.instagram.com/velvet_ditch_villas

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

NEW AIRBNB POLICY JUST DROPPED...AND IT COULD KILL YOUR LISTING.

If you collect emails, drop a guidebook link, or offer guests early check-in via Venmo…

You might be in violation of Airbnb’s new policy.

In this episode, Mike Reilly breaks down exactly what Airbnb’s new off-platform & fee transparency rules mean for STR hosts.

And how to stay compliant without losing control of your business.

You’ll learn:

• The exact actions Airbnb will now penalize (even by AI detection)
• Why asking for an email could get you flagged
• How to safely use guidebooks, QR codes, and text marketing
• The only way to charge guests for add-ons (without breaking policy)
• The smart way to collect damage waivers and manage taxes without risk

If 80% of your bookings come from Airbnb, you can’t afford to get this wrong.

02:30 – Dangerous Moves: Why Secret Messaging Will Get You Flagged

05:00 – Booking Extensions & Repeat Guests: What’s Now Off-Limits

07:30 – Is Direct Booking Worth It? Margins vs Platform Protection

10:00 – Hostfully Links, Guidebooks & Legal Loopholes Explained

13:00 – Mandatory Disclosures: HOA Rules, Emails & County Compliance

15:00 – Fee Transparency: Avoiding Suspensions With Clean Listings

18:00 – Payment Violations: Why Airbnb Bans Zelle, Venmo & Side Deals

21:00 – Damage Waivers Over Deposits: How to Protect and Profit

24:00 – Airbnb AI Enforcement: Messaging Triggers and Flagging Risks

27:00 – Contact Info Restrictions: What You Can and Can’t Ask Guests

30:00 – SMS Tactics: Getting Verbal Consent and Staying Compliant

33:00 – Future-Proofing: Will Airbnb Eliminate Direct Contact?

36:00 – Review Removal Struggles: Why AI Appeals Are Failing Hosts

39:00 – Case Study: Retaliatory Reviews & the Fight for Fairness

42:00 – Platform Fatigue: Why Community Knowledge is Your Best Weapon

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com