Short Term Rental Secrets Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 262 - Airbnb Fees, Pricing Psychology, and Revenue Strategies with Thibault Masson Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Airbnb’s shifting fee structure is shaking hosts, but the real issue goes deeper—pricing psychology, guest behavior, and knowing your market.

In this episode, Thibault shares actionable strategies that hosts can use to protect margins, win more bookings, and scale smarter.

• Why Airbnb’s new fee model has hosts freaking out

• How to price for what guests see (not what you keep)

• Tools like PriceLabs—and why they’re useless without context

• How European vs. U.S. guests think about fees differently

• When to simplify pricing and present “one clean price”

• The principles of occupancy, demand, and market alignment

00:05:12 – 3 Pricing Foundations Every Host Must Know

00:07:02 – Why Hosts Are Freaking Out About Airbnb Fees

00:08:22 – The Real Reason Airbnb Changed Its Fees

00:09:15 – The Only Price That Matters to Guests

00:10:24 – Why “One Clean Price” Converts Better

00:11:50 – Airbnb vs. Vrbo vs. Booking.com Costs Compared

00:12:09 – How Airbnb Went From Host-Friendly to Guest-First

00:24:50 – Are More Bookings Always Better?

00:25:04 – AI + Pricing Strategy: Where the Future Is Headed

00:25:22 – Who Owns Mistakes—You or the Machine?

Guest Bio:

Thibault Masson is the Head of Product Marketing at PriceLabs. His short-term rental journey started as a villa owner in Bali and St. Barts, which gave him firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges of hosting. That passion for hospitality later brought him to Booking.com, where he worked on vacation rental strategy at a global scale, and inspired him to launch Rental Scale-Up as a platform for industry knowledge-sharing. Today at PriceLabs, Thibault brings together his experience as a host, tech marketer, and industry advocate to help property managers worldwide grow through smarter pricing and revenue management.

Guest Link:

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

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

(Step by Step) Closed a Co-hosting Deal in 13 Days | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 28 Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Mike Reilly breaks down exactly how he closed a co-hosting deal in just 13 days—from the first call to signing the contract. He shares the sales process, the assets he used, and even gives away the templates that sealed the deal.

• How to pitch revenue expectations with confidence

• The $10K guarantee that beat out competitors

• Proposal + deal analyzer templates revealed

• How to handle homeowners on the phone

• Closing tactics to avoid being ghosted

• The 13-day timeline broken down step by step

Want the ACTUAL Step by Step Training? Just click the link below.

https://go.strsecrets.com/watch-strs-vacasa?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T028&utm_content=StepByStep2

Ep 261 - Revenue, Scaling, and the Traits of Successful STR Hosts with Matthew McDonald Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

What separates the STR hosts who burn out from those who thrive?

In this episode, Matt shares his hard-earned lessons on revenue management, scaling, and the mindset shifts that set top operators apart.

• The truth about revenue management: when to DIY vs. hire

• How beginners can scale from 1–2 units to many

• Success traits Matt has seen across hundreds of operators

• Why your calendar is the foundation of business success

• The mindset shift: “If you can’t help yourself, you can’t help others”

• How to design life first, then build STR around it

00:02 – DIY Revenue Management: Matt’s 3 Best Tips

14:11 – Success Traits vs. Failure Traits

15:29 – The Power of a Strong WHY

18:29 – Calendar & Life Buckets for STR Success

19:08 – If You Can’t Help Yourself, You Can’t Help Others

20:52 – Designing Life First, Then Business

Guest Bio:

Matthew McDonald is a short-term rentals and hotels investor and coach.

Guest Link:

matt.mcdonald@strsecrets.com

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

Airbnb’s 15% Fee Change Explained: What Hosts and Managers Must Do | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 27 Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

Airbnb’s new 15% fee structure has left property managers, cohosts, and homeowners asking the same question: who’s really paying?

In this episode, finance expert Ben Coons breaks down the numbers behind gross vs. net commission models—and what you must do to protect your margins.

• Gross vs. net commission explained in plain English

• How Airbnb’s fee hits managers vs. homeowners

• Why this change is different from Vrbo and Booking.com

• Pricing adjustments to avoid eating the new fee

• Commission stacking and where your money really goes

• How to communicate fee changes to homeowners clearly

• Key takeaways to stay profitable under the new system

Co-hosts and homeowners: want the real numbers on Airbnb’s 15% fee?

Click the link and DM us “SPREADSHEET” and we’ll send you the file.

Link: https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T027&utm_content=Spreadsheet

00:04:30 – Example Scenarios: Who Really Pays the Fee

00:07:00 – Comparing Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com

00:11:30 – Impact on Gross Model Operators

00:14:00 – Impact on Net Model Operators

00:18:30 – The Homeowner’s Point of View

00:23:30 – Commission Stacking: The Hidden Cost

00:26:00 – Pricing Adjustments to Stay Profitable

00:29:00 – How to Communicate Fee Changes to Homeowners

00:32:00 – Key Takeaways: Run the Numbers & Adapt Early

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

Ep 260 - Marketing Frameworks Every STR Host Can Steal with Chris Crawford Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

Marketing isn’t just about ads—it’s about positioning, messaging, and action.

In this episode, Chris shares practical frameworks and timeless principles that every business owner (and STR host) can use to stand out, attract clients, and scale smarter.

• Why marketing and sales matter more than ever

• The real difference between content and community

• How to build a personal brand the right way

• Authentic content vs. performative posting

• Head vs. heart: the two frames of content

• Why information ≠ transformation in business

• How to message to your avatar’s pain + desire

• Funnels, ads, and what they can’t replace

• Systems for managing leads without overwhelm

• Why investing in belief shifts your identity

00:01:27 – Why Listen to Chris (Marketing & Sales Depth)

00:03:07 – Community Leverage > Content Alone

00:11:38 – “Give Me a Framework” Moment

00:12:02 – Starting a Brand the Right Way

00:15:05 – Content Resistance, Authenticity, and Output

00:16:48 – Frames of Content: Head vs. Heart

00:21:26 – Information ≠ Transformation

00:26:33 – Avatar, Pain + Desire (Messaging 101)

00:28:15 – Ads, Funnels, and Social Avoidance

00:34:45 – Investing in Belief and Identity Shift

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

Cohosting 101: How to Start and Scale a Sustainable STR Business | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 25 Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Cohosting is one of the most powerful (and overlooked) ways to build a short-term rental business without heavy upfront costs.

In this episode, we break down the cohosting model step by step—from the basics to the systems that let you scale sustainably.

• What cohosting really is (and how it works)

• The 3 key things you need before starting

• How to choose the right market for success

• Proven ways to find clients and grow your portfolio

• The cohost funnel: your roadmap from startup to scale-up

Want the tested and proven Pitch Deck? Just click the link below and DM us "Pitchdeck"

https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T026&utm_content=Pitchdeck

00:04:45 – What Is Cohosting

00:11:49 – Cohosting vs. Arbitrage

00:12:59 – Why Arbitrage Is Failing

00:15:45 – Why Cohosting Is a Better Model

00:17:26 – Three Key Things Before Starting

00:23:40 – Market Selection for STR

00:26:52 – Acquisition Channels for Clients

00:28:15 – The Cohost Funnel Framework

00:29:40 – Tracking Where You Are in the Funnel

00:34:10 – Special Giveaway for Listeners

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

Ep 259 - Why STR Is Just the Vehicle to Building True Freedom Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

Short-term rentals are not the endgame—they’re the vehicle.

In this episode, Emanuele and Mike break down how STR can fuel bigger goals, lasting freedom, and a life by design.

• Why STR is a tool, not the destination

• The mindset shift that changes how you build

• How to keep your bigger vision in focus

• Avoiding the trap of chasing unit count

• Using business to buy back your time and freedom

00:03:21 – Designing a Business That Lasts

00:05:26 – Keeping Your Bigger Vision Alive

00:06:32 – The Mindset Shift for STR Success

00:11:00 – The Mindset Shift for STR Success

00:12:15 – Why Belief Fuels Momentum

00:15:27 – Designing a Business That Lasts

00:17:11 – Designing a Business That Lasts

00:19:35 – How to Build Lasting Momentum

00:20:25 – Designing a Business That Lasts

00:20:56 – Scaling With the Right Mindset

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

Ep 258 - Analyzing STR Markets and Deciphering the Numbers with John Bianchi Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

John Bianchi has directed 100+ STR market analyses with a 100% success rate.

In this episode, he joins Emanuele to break down the science behind choosing the right markets and making STR numbers work for you.

• How John analyzed 100+ STR markets with zero failures

• The method he uses to “decipher the numbers”

• Why market selection is the real make-or-break skill

• Common mistakes hosts make when running numbers

• How to use data to build a sustainable STR portfolio

00:04:20 – Using Data to Drive STR Success

00:07:23 – Using Data to Drive STR Success

00:08:38 – How to Analyze STR Markets Effectively

00:09:33 – Using Data to Drive STR Success

00:10:45 – How to Analyze STR Markets Effectively

00:19:15 – Learning From Costly STR Mistakes

00:19:53 – Spotting Profitable STR Deals

00:21:15 – How to Analyze STR Markets Effectively

00:22:57 – How to Analyze STR Markets Effectively

00:25:27 – Using Data to Drive STR Success

Guest Bio:

John Bianchi is the Founder of STR Search. He has successfully directed over $100M+ investments into cash-flowing Airbnbs across the country. As a master of deciphering complex datasets, John has a 100% success rate across 250 + properties for helping his clients acquire cash-flowing Airbnbs. When he's not poring over data, he’s spending quality time with his family.

Guest Link:

https://www.instagram.com/theairbnbdataguy/

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

Ep 257 - Why Getting Sick Taught Steve Resnick the Real Goal of STR Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

After getting sick, Steve Resnick had a wake-up call: you can’t work forever.

This episode dives into how that moment reshaped his approach to business—and why building systems that outlast you is the true measure of success.

• The turning point when Steve realized he couldn’t keep grinding

• Why time freedom matters more than unit count

• How to design an STR business that runs without you

• Systems vs. hustle: the real key to longevity

• Lessons every host should apply before burnout hits

00:06:06 – Why Time Freedom Beats Unit Count

00:08:03 – The Health Crisis That Sparked Change

00:11:22 – Reframing Success Around Freedom

00:14:48 – Designing a Business That Runs Without You

00:16:52 – Shifting From Hustle to Sustainability

00:20:08 – Systems That Keep Growing Without You

00:26:32 – Avoiding the Burnout Trap

00:29:10 – Lessons From Scaling the Wrong Way

00:33:49 – Time Freedom as the Real Metric

00:34:20 – Building an STR Business That Lasts

Guest Bio:

Steve Resnick left the corporate world to pursue a career in co-hosting. He scaled from 12 to 99 properties in less than 2 years.

Guest Link:

https://linktr.ee/heavenlyrez

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

Do You Really Want It? Lessons on Grit and STR Growth | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 25 Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

Success in STR—or anything—comes down to one question: do you really want it?

This episode dives deep into mindset, grit, and the obstacles that stop most people before they ever scale.

• The difference between interest and commitment

• Why obstacles are often just excuses in disguise

• Lessons from Navy SEALs on resilience

• How to reframe challenges into momentum

• What separates consistent winners from quitters

👉 Do you really want it? Prove it—click the link below and start building your STR business today.

https://go.strsecrets.com/podcast?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T025&utm_content=Wantit

00:00:02 – Deciding If You Really Want It

00:01:29 – The First Mindset Shift Toward Success

00:02:24 – Breaking Through Excuses and Rationalizations

00:03:26 – Why Most People Quit Too Early

00:04:50 – Building Grit When Challenges Stack Up

00:06:01 – Turning Pain Into Long-Term Discipline

00:07:15 – Lessons on Focus From Elite Performers

00:08:29 – How to Push Past Mental Barriers

00:09:39 – Recommitting When Doubt Creeps In

00:10:58 – Keys to Sustainable Personal and Business Growth

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

http://group.strsecrets.com/

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