Mentorship Episodes

Send us a message! What did it take to bring vacation rentals into the mainstream and what did we lose along the way? In this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we’re joined by industry veteran and Finding Better podcast host John Suzuki, who reflects on the emotional and operational toll of the tech transformation that reshaped short-term rentals over the last two decades. From the early days of fax machines and yellow page listings to the rise of e-commerce and AI, ...

Send us a message! In this empowering episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, Shelley Brown joins us to talk about how breaking outdated expectations and embracing your weird can lead to more authentic leadership and a deeper sense of belonging. As the original "Rebel in a Gown," Shelley brings her signature blend of authenticity, artistry, and humor to a conversation that challenges the status quo on leadership, burnout, and belonging. Shelley shares how an unexpected...

Send us a message! In this soul-stirring episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we sit down with Brittany Blackman, former vacation rental business owner turned leadership coach and founder of Discover Freedom. Brittany gets real about what it took to walk away from the business she built and loved, after realizing that outward success came at the cost of her inner peace. She opens up about her battle with burnout, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and how learn...

Send us a message! In this special episode, Alex & Annie sit down with the original queens of vacation rentals: three powerhouse women who helped shape the industry from the ground up. Meet Jeanne Dailey (Founder & CEO, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties), Valerie Hawkins (Co-Owner & CEO, Perdido Key Realty), and Audrey Miller (Co-Founder & CFO, Cottage Connection of Maine) - each with a story full of grit, heart, and game-changing innovation. From starting with whiteboards and spiral notebooks to...

In this special throwback episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Amber Hurdle, CEO and founder of Employer Brand Central. Originally aired around this time last year, this episode marks a pivotal moment for Alex & Annie as they navigated career transitions and personal growth. Amber’s wisdom, energy, and insights set the tone for what was to come, not just for the hosts, but for countless listeners. Amber reflects on the importance of building strong personal and employer brands, ov...

Exclusive offer for Alex & Annie listeners: Get $400 off your onboarding fee when you partner with Hostaway using this link: http://get.hostaway.com/alexandannie In this episode, Alex and Annie sit down with Heather Bayer, a veteran in the vacation rental industry. Heather shares her journey from running a management training company in England to becoming a prominent figure in the vacation rental space. She discusses her current role as the Director of Training for the Vacation Rental For...

Welcome to "Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals"! In this insightful episode, we sit down with powerhouse celebrity entrepreneur and personal development leader, David Meltzer. David reveals his profound journey and practical strategies for finding clarity, purpose, and unlimited potential. Learn the power of meditation to elevate your mindset, plus the value of a "be interested, not interesting" approach that will reshape how you live and lead. Key Takeaways: 🧘‍♀️ The Powe...

Join Alex & Annie with a cute participation of Chloe, newest furry member of the family, as they delve into the current vacation rental market trends. They share their insights on the fluctuating booking rates and the explosion of Airbnb listings, particularly in the Myrtle Beach area. The duo discusses the critical need for property managers to diversify their booking strategies and the importance of direct bookings as a way to build resilience in an increasingly competitive market. Key Take...

In this episode of "Alex & Annie, The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," hosts Alex & Annie welcome back and dive deep into the extraordinary journey of Jen Ford, a trailblazer in the vacation rental industry. Join us as we uncover the highs, lows, and unexpected turns that shaped her remarkable career. Jen's Evolution in the Vacation Rental Industry: Jen shares her transition from the fast-paced world of high tech to becoming a finance executive at HomeAway, and her decision to take some time ...

In this insightful episode, hosts Alex and Annie dive deep into the world of vacation rentals with a special guest, Sarah Bradford, co-host of Sarah and T Podcast, and former owner of two successful vacation rental companies in the picturesque landscapes of Colorado. Journey Through Experience: Sarah begins by unraveling her rich background in the vacation rental industry, providing listeners with an intimate look into her entrepreneurial journey. She candidly shares her experiences in sellin...

In this empowering episode of "Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals", we're reunited with a dear friend and the very first podcast guest, Amber Hurdle, the CEO and founder of Employer Brand Central. Together, the A.H. Trio dives deep into the transformative power of confidence and personal branding. The Fluidity of Confidence: The conversation delves into the concept of confidence not being static, but something that needs continuous work and self-awareness. They discuss the vulne...

🎙️ Today we're in for a treat as we chat with the fantastic Stacey St. John, a powerhouse in short-term rentals and a great friend of Alex and Annie. From crunching real estate numbers to running a buzzing property management firm, Stacey's got stories that'll make you nod in agreement and maybe chuckle a bit. Stacey's Journey into Short-Term Rentals: In this episode, Stacey shares her inspiring transition from long-term real estate to short-term rentals amidst the challenges of COVID-19. She u...

In this engaging episode of Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we sit down with Valerie Gangas, a powerhouse in Transformational Life Coaching, an accomplished Author, and the visionary CEO behind Juniper Holiday & Home. As Valerie shares her fascinating journey, we explore how her roots in the restaurant and bar industry grew into a passion for hospitality, ultimately guiding her towards the dynamic world of vacation rentals. During the challenges of the COVID era, Valerie's e...

On this episode of Alex & Annie : The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, Alex is joined by D. Brooke Pfautz, Founder of Vintory - a company that is laser-focused on helping vacation rental managers grow their inventory. Brooke stumbled into the vacation rental space right before the global economic crisis of 2008 when he founded Vantage Resort Realty which quickly grew to 500+ properties under management and became one of the country’s largest vacation rental managers. After exiting from Vantage in...

In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by two recurring guests: Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago, and Matt Landau, Founder of VRMB. Together, they have started a new joint venture called Keystone Retreats. These recurring cohorts aim to help those in the vacation rental industry break through to the next level through creative and educational workshops and events. Last year, Matt was feeling that burnout was creeping up on him. Not being his first rodeo, he knew exactly what the signs are, and d...

VALUES AND ETHICS ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUCCESS In today’s episode, Alex and Annie welcome Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago. He shares his unintentional entry into the vacation rental industry and how working with the local community is at the core of his success. Steve also talks about Casago University, the company’s in-house training institution, and how this empowers local heroes because their success is the franchise's success too. Find out more about Steve and the owner-centric systems he c...

THE KEY TO A GREAT TEAM IS AUTHENTICITY In today’s episode, Alex and Annie welcome Alex Zemianek, the Founder and CEO of JZ Vacation Rentals. He shares how trial after trial left him broke and almost broken. However, when he allowed himself to be vulnerable with his team, they rallied behind him during their darkest days. Alex says that it was through an authentic relationship with the people who make up his team that this was even possible. Find out more about Alex and JZ Vacation Rentals in this latest episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals. “REAL” TALK ALEX ZEMIANEK: AUTHENTICITY CREATES A TEAM THAT STAYS "The biggest thing is making sure that you have some kind of authentic relationship. And when people feel that you're genuine, then they're probably going to perform a little bit differently." ALEX ZEMIANEK: GIFT KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EDUCATION "I genuinely feel that education is the best gift you can give and receive as well because people can …

As we wind down this incredible year, we wanted to share our two favorite episodes from 2022. Narrowing down this list was no easy task! Over the past 12 months, we've had the privilege to interview many of the top leaders in the vacation rental industry and beyond. For part 1, we bring back our episode with Marcus Räder, CEO of Hostaway who shared an insightful perspective on the importance of planting seeds in your career journey that very much hits home for the both of us. Marcus shares how...

Andrew McConnell joins us today for look behind his new book, Get Out of My Head: Creating Modern Clarity with Stoic Wisdom. Known in the vacation rental world for his role as CEO of Rented, Inc., Andrew shares the most expensive rent of all: the self doubt and negativity that we allow to live rent free in our minds. In this book, Andrew shows it’s possible to achieve clarity, make good decisions, and rise in your career, by illustrating that the human mind is not unlike real estate: adopting a...

Matt Landau is one of the most respected thought leaders in vacation rentals. Founder of VRMB, Matt has built an information-sharing media empire, driven by one simple yet effective concept. As he tells us, "If you have a tip, share it!" You will find more like-minded individuals to collaborate with and by sharing information we are all helping each other and the industry grow. What does it mean to be Limited Edition, and how can you leverage this positioning to create your OWN lane and break f...

We are honored to be joined by two of the most inspirational female leaders in travel, Silvia Camarota and Rachel Humphrey, as they share a behind-the-scenes look at the networking & mentorship organization Women in Travel Thrive. Founded to propel women closer to equality in the travel industry, this organization provides connections, education, and tangible resources designed to support women in their travel careers. Silvia leads Expedia as the Senior Director for North America Market Manag...

Fresh off a major announcement that Hostfully successfully raised $4M in funding, Margot is part of only 2% of venture funded companies led by female founders. Margot credits her success to her ability to lead with transparency and authenticity that is rarely seen in the VC world. Mom of 3 beautiful children, she talks to us about how she balances a very busy work and home life and the challenges this has created along the way of building Hostfully into one of the most successful property manage...

Tracy Johnstone is one of those leaders who if you are lucky enough to encounter on your career journey, will aspire you to become so much more than you ever thought possible. As a female who rose to the top of the ranks of corporate McDonald's in the 1990’s, Tracy shares how she built her confidence and found her voice in a male dominated boardroom. She recalls, “There’s lots of seats at the table… I just learned early on, which ones I wanted. Just being on the team wasn’t enough for me, at som...

Ali Cammelletti joins us today to discuss all things related to leadership and resilience in the workplace. Ali has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including several years with Navis where she worked with resort and lodging companies around the world to drive revenue and increase sales agent performance. Ali now owns her own consulting company, Spark Your Mindset, and specializes in leadership coaching with business leaders in all industries. While vacation rentals...