Behind the Stays

In just a moment you’ll meet Louisa Conrad, Co-Founder of Big Picture Farm.  Big Picture Farm is a Vermont farmstead goat dairy and confectionery whose award-winning caramels have won over a dozen national awards...and while these candies are undeniably decadent, there is more to Big Picture than just the goat dairy…   After leaving their careers in academia, Louisa and her husband Lucas founded the farm in 2010. Their vision was to help their customers understand the rich context that surrounds the milk, cheese, and candies produced on the farm.  They aspired to tell consumers the story behind the food in hopes that they might, well, understand the “big picture” of how, what, and who made the treats they consumed.     But Lousia and Lucas dreamed of taking things a step further...what if they could invite folks to experience the dairy?  Could this be a vehicle through which they might expand their mission and help underwrite the cost of their Animal-Welfare-Approved farm?   Tune in to hear the story behind how Louisa and her husband Lucas built three bespoke residences on the farm that they now rent out on Airbnb. 

In just a moment you’ll meet Maris LeBlanc and JR Amantea, the creators of The Little House of Essex — a chic cottage near the Connecticut River in the most quintessential of quintessential New England towns.   Maris has spent her career in real estate — mostly brokering luxury, waterfront homes along the Connecticut Shoreline. When she met her now husband, JR, he was living in New York working in finance, but his real passion lay in curating and managing classic and exotic cars.    Maris encouraged JR to go all in on his passion and, soon after, he left New York, moved to Essex, Connecticut and started GT Motor Cars — a boutique vintage and exotic car dealership, and collection management company.    And it was here in Essex where Maris and JR bought a beautiful, oversized  ranch-style home which included a shed-like structure behind it.  And while JR had hoped to transform  this shed-like structure into a bachelor’s pad, Maris had bigger ambitions...tune in to hear the wonderful story behind the building of The Little House of Essex.  You can book your stay at The Little House of Essex here.  If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.

In just a moment you’ll meet Laura Gentry and Carollani Sandberg — the creators of The Sagecliff Satori, a luxurious Airbnb cabin in Quincy, Washington.  Laura and Carollani are what you might call “experience optimizers”.  They love to travel, try new restaurants, and explore off the beaten paths, but can’t help but do so with a critical eye.  They often ask each other, “what would you do differently if you owned this space?” or “how might you enhance this experience to make it even more memorable?” Carollani had decided that it was time to sell her townhouse and explore the possibility of a new rental property -- one that she and her family could use for short term rentals. One afternoon, Laura and Carollani were having lunch with a few friends who worked in real estate investments and the bunch started chatting about up and coming neighborhoods in and around the greater Seattle area, but none of these areas particularly compelled Laura and Carollani.  Right before lunch wrapped up, one of their friends casually mentioned a new development out in Quincy, Washington — about 2.5 hours east of Seattle. This development was to feature a collective of luxury condos that overlooked the Columbia River Gorge. And, while they didn’t know it at the time, that moment was the genesis of what would become The Sagecliffe Satori.  Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Laura and Carollani brought one of the most incredible and magical stays available on the Airbnb platform to life.  Book Your Stay: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/34682157  Follow the Stay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecliffesatori  Follow the Stay on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagecliffe/   

On this episode of Behind the Stays, you’ll meet Eli Clark and Alexa Lang from Clark Family Silos.    Eli grew up on a farm in Kalispell, Montana (about 30 minutes outside of Whitefish in the North-Western part of the state). After studying design in college, he moved to Carlsbad, California to work at a design firm where he got the opportunity to work on a couple of Addidas’ leading product lines.    But Eli wasn’t satisfied with the 9-5…so he bought an Airstream and embraced the freelance, digital nomad life…before it was the cool thing — Instagram wasn’t even around yet, so you won’t find any of his posts in #wanderlust.    About a decade later, Eli’s father, Brad, the Clark Family’s Farmer-in-Chief, was eyeing retirement.     Over drinks in a local town pub one evening, Eli and his partner Alexa pitched an idea to Brad that would make stepping back from the farm a bit more possible…and that idea?  It was to transform five grain silos into luxurious Airbnbs.   The problem?     Well, while Clark Family Farms had fields of canola, peas, and wheat, depending on the season, they didn’t own a single silo.    Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Eli, Alexa, the Clark family, and ultimately the entire Kalispell community, came together to erect some of the most inspiring and unique stays on the Airbnb platform.    You can book your stay at Clark Family Silos here — if you do, be sure to tell them that you discovered them through Behind the Stays!    If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.

In a minute, you’ll meet Valerie Malone — Creator and Founder of Quill Decor, a design consultancy that specializes in short-term rentals.   Valerie studied interior design at Auburn University, but always had a knack for entrepreneurship. After running a successful Airbnb out of her basement in Bloomington, Indiana, Valerie fell in love with the Airbnb community and felt a calling of sorts to make an impact in the budding short-term-rental economy.    After she landed her first Airbnb design gig, Valerie decided it would be worth documenting the entire process so that she could one day teach current and aspiring hosts how to successfully design their homes to stand out.    As fate would have it, her husband landed a professorship at Cambridge and Valerie’s family moved to the UK…but not before she produced one of the most comprehensive, inspiring, and user-friendly e-courses on Airbnb design on the market.   During our conversation, Valerie outlines several helpful frameworks for how to think about the design style of your Airbnb, and shares advice on how to effectively and efficiently craft a memorable experience that compels a 5-star rating.   One last thing before I introduce you to Val…Quill Decor is offering a free Airbnb Design Master Class on Wednesday, July 7th.  So, if you’re listening to this before the 7th, be sure to sign up!     Valerie is also offering Sponstayneous subscribers and Behind the Stays listeners a special offer on her Airbnb Design E-course.  Visit the links below more information.   Airbnb Design E-Course    Quill Decor's Short Term Rental STYLE QUIZ   A Free 3 Day Email Course   If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.

The idea was born on a road trip from Waco, Texas to Ferndale, California.    Merritt Brodt and her daughter, Callie Alexandre, had gone to the Lone Star State to source antiques for their artisan shop, The Farmer’s Daughter, in downtown Ferndale.    Callie, whose husband's married family owns and operates Alexandre Farms (one of the few organic dairies to produce A2/A2 milk AND secure coveted shelf space at Whole Foods’ across the country) had the idea.   “What if we renovated the barn and turned it into an Airbnb?”   Merritt, mother of 3, grandmother of 4, owner of 500 cows, and founder of The Farmer's Daughter, was skeptical at first.  She had a pretty full plate already!   Upon arriving back home in their lush, almost Ireland-like town just a few hours north of San Francisco, Callie was able to convince Merrit and her husband Brian to give it a shot...and the whole family got to work.    Their mission?  To create a piece of heaven on Earth. Tune in to hear Merritt and her daughter-in-law Amanda share the inspiring story of how the family came together to bring The Farm Stay at the Bluff to life.    To book your stay at the Bluff, or to connect with the Brodt family, visit the links below!    Oh, and the next time you're at the grocery store and pick up a delicious block of Rumiano's Cheese or a pint of Humboldt Creamery's ice cream, say a little "thank you" to Merritt and the Brodt family...chances are, the milk came from one of their cows!    Book Your Stay   Follow Merritt on Instagram   Follow Amanda on Instagram   Follow Callie on Instagram   Follow the FarmStay on Instagram   Follow The Famer's Daughter on Instagram  Follow Rumiano Cheese   Follow Humboldt Creamery    If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.

They met at a Starbucks.  Amber was working as a barista and Tyler had just moved from Utah to Tennessee.  They didn't know it at the time, but just a few years later they would not only be life partners but business partners as well. The story behind the vision and building of the Little River Tiny House — one of the highest-rated Airbnbs in all of Tennessee — is nothing short of a miracle. Amber and Tyler Woodruff were rich with dreams, but poor in cash. Through a series of serendipitous events, the Woodruff's were able to purchase their dream home in Maryville, Tennessee — on a property that was large enough for a second home (a second tiny home that is). Tune in to this episode of Behind the Stays to hear the remarkable story of how a young family designed, built, and promoted their first Airbnb on little more than a wing and a prayer.  You can find Amber on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/littlerivertinyhouse/ And book the Little River Tiny House here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/44588661  If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.

Meet Katie Denton — a mother of three small children and a lifelong lover of travel and fine hospitality.  On this episode of Behind the Stays, Katie shares the origin story of Bees Nees Getaways — a boutique rental home collection she founded with a focus on unique and dreamy experiences in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Northern Neck of Virginia — and explains her vision and process for cultivating spaces that aren't just beautiful, but are conducive to the creation of memories.  Katie's properties include The Treehouse and The Cottage — which can be booked directly on Airbnb and you can view photos of these beautiful homes by following Bees Nees Getaways on Instagram.  Bees Nees was named for a very special home on Gibson Island, on the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland, and the family that filled its rooms every summer. The Patterson family made great memories within those walls and along the waters of the Bay. They loved a party, they loved to sail and they loved spending quality time with family. Even though the Pattersons no longer own the original Bees Nees retreat, they have kept up the rich tradition of family togetherness. Learn more about Katie, her family, her story, and the future of Bees Nees Getaways by tuning in to this week's episode of Behind the Stays.    If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.

Suzie has spent most of her life working at the intersection of travel and customer service.  She traveled the world as a flight attendant for many years, before deciding to become a full-time Airbnb host. But there's so much more to her story... My wife and I stayed at this impeccably clean and serene cottage on Suzie and Neal’s stunning property for two weeks and instantly fell in love with this calming and beautifully inviting and decorated space. The love, care, and thought poured into this place is unmatched. We found everything we might need and then some to make dinner prep feel like a French chef’s dream. And, when we didn’t want to cook, Suzie’s recommendations never disappointed. But, what made this place even more magical — besides the sweet smell of lavender wafting through the air, or the crisp linens on the bed, or even the fresh cut flowers that greeted us on the kitchen table...(oh aaaaand did I mention the chic decor and rustic fire pit?) — was Suzie and Neal’s kind and warm hospitality, which made our stay truly feel like home. If joy were a place, it would undoubtedly be The Sparrow’s Nest. Enjoy the show!  ------- Hey friends — hope you enjoyed today’s show!  If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.  Alright, all — see you next time...  

When they purchased their home in 2016, the Smith family had no idea what adventures lay ahead. On the far edge of their property sat an empty WWII train and a historic aircraft hangar... Fast forward just a couple of years, and these historic spaces have been transformed into gorgeous stays. Tune in for an exciting story of how the Smith family went from managing one to managing three Airbnbs, with Adrienne at the design helm, Tayler heading up branding and marketing, and Dean commanding the post of "Chief Customer Experience Manager"...oh, and their seven dogs playing key roles in the guest happiness department.  Check out the Smith Family Airbnb's here: Platform1346 Terminal1344 Dolly's Fantasy Camper  Hey friends — hope you enjoyed today’s show!  If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host,  who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!   Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com  Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!  So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.  Alright, all — see you next time...