The STR Sisterhood

Are you lowering your rates too quickly just because your calendar looks emptier than you’d like? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Sally Henry, Vice President of Market Intelligence and Insight at Key Data, to talk about what the numbers are really telling us about the short-term rental industry—and how smaller operators can actually use that information. Sally brings 25 years...

Have you ever wondered what makes guests choose a property not just as a place to stay—but as part of the reason for the trip itself? In this episode, I’m joined by April Williams, a designer, wife, mom, and short-term rental owner who turned an idea on paper into a thoughtfully designed mountain getaway in Blue Ridge, Georgia. April and her husband weren’t setting out to build a massive portfolio...

What if some of the biggest cleaning headaches in your short-term rental could be prevented before your cleaner ever walks through the door? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Britt Greenwood, who has spent more than a decade in the cleaning industry. What began as a way to make extra money as a mom grew into a multi-location cleaning business serving Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and De...

Do you really know who’s behind the reservation—and what could happen when you don’t? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Ela Mezhiborsky , a former short-term rental operator turned startup founder behind AutoHost and Checktiv , platforms focused on guest screening, identity verification, fraud prevention, and chargeback protection. Ela’s journey into guest screening began while...

What if AI could help you grow your short-term rental business without removing the very thing that makes hospitality feel human? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Ana Shapiro , a real estate investor with nearly two decades of experience and the founder of Chillin Away , a collection of family-friendly short-term rentals designed around connection, comfort, and creating memorab...

What if the goal of real estate investing isn’t simply to own more properties—but to create a life you actually enjoy? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Laura Sides, a former middle school science teacher turned stay-at-home mom, real estate investor, house flipper, and short-term rental host. Laura’s journey into real estate began in 2021 after realizing there was another way t...

What if becoming a better host has less to do with knowing every strategy—and more to do with understanding people? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Daniella Morganelli , a school counselor, former property manager, and Airbnb host who has been in the short-term rental space since 2018. Daniella brings a unique perspective to hospitality because so much of her professional life...

What happens when life takes you somewhere you never expected—and asks you to build something new from what’s left? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Kristen Sluiter , a former educator, writer, and short-term rental owner whose journey into real estate began when she unexpectedly became the caregiver for her parents. This conversation goes much deeper than short-term rentals. K...

What if you stopped waiting until everything was perfect before taking the next step? In this episode of the STR Sisterhood, I’m joined by Ramya Mehta , founder of Yellow Tulip Designs, short-term rental interior designer, corporate product manager, and mom. Ramya’s journey into STR design began by helping family members with their properties. By the second project, she was hooked—and realized tha...

Your PMS Runs Your Bookings. This Runs Your Business. What happens when one HOA rule changes and nobody writes it down? In this episode of The STR Sisterhood, I tell you about the family who spent an entire week of their Myrtle Beach vacation parking two miles from the condo — and why that story has almost nothing to do with the team member who answered the message. Most of us are running our shor...

Have you ever looked at someone else’s business and wondered if they know something you don’t? After 200 episodes of the STR Sisterhood, I’ve had the privilege of talking with women from just about every background imaginable—teachers, nurses, corporate executives, stay-at-home moms, military spouses, and women building businesses of every size. And I’ve learned something I didn’t expect. There is...

There’s no shortage of information about short-term rentals. Podcasts. YouTube videos. Facebook groups. AI. Courses. Conferences. Tools. Software. In fact, sometimes there’s so much information that figuring out what you actually need to do next becomes the hard part. And if you’re a newer host, it can leave you wondering whether you’re really ready to do this at all. In this episode, I’m sitting...

Have you ever had a single conversation completely change the way you think about money, work, and what’s possible for your future? Most professionals assume building wealth through real estate requires starting early, having perfect market timing, or making zero mistakes along the way. In this episode, I sit down with Traci Capraro, a tech sales leader, single mom of two, and founder of Take a Tr...

How do you turn one of the hardest seasons of your life into the catalyst for a hospitality business that changes not just your family’s future, but your guests’ experience too? In this episode, I sit down with Joanna Woods, a British short-term rental host and co-host who manages properties in Grapevine, Texas, all the way from her home an hour north of Liverpool. We talk about: Navigating a life...

How do you know when it’s time to stop pushing through and finally pivot—even when everything you’ve built looks successful from the outside? Most professionals assume scaling is a one-way street and that stepping back means giving up. In this episode, I sit down with Leah Yuhasz, a former nurse, mom, real estate agent, and short-term rental operator from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. We’re unpacking...

How do you go from having zero experience in short-term rentals to running a thriving, 27-property co-hosting business built almost entirely on word of mouth? Most people assume they need years of corporate hospitality experience before they can successfully scale. In this episode, I’m joined by Maddie Malik of Nomad Vacation Rentals. We’re digging into how she went from brand-new and admittedly c...

What do you do when something in your business is still making money, still getting attention, and still looks like a success from the outside… but deep down, you know it’s no longer the right fit for where you’re headed? In this solo episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the hardest business decisions I’ve made recently: retiring the STR Virtual Summit for Women. On paper, it was wo...

How do you turn what feels like an “ordinary” property into a brand that guests connect with, remember, and actively choose over everyone else’s? In this episode, I’m joined by branding and marketing strategist Ali Haney. We’re unpacking how she transitioned from a long-term rental disaster into remote short-term rental management across multiple states, eventually blending her photography backgro...

How do you find the courage to take on a project that feels way bigger than you—and turn it into something you’re genuinely proud of? In this episode, I sit down with Katie Wanzer, a corporate PR crisis expert turned boutique hotel operator and co-host. We’re unpacking how she transitioned from Fortune 500 communications into running an expanding boutique hotel portfolio and co-hosting company acr...

How do you grow a thriving short-term rental portfolio, protect your family life, and still keep a demanding career from taking over your entire identity? Most professionals assume they have to choose between their career and building wealth. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christina Kendrick, a pediatric anesthesiologist turned short-term rental investor. We’re unpacking how she and her husb...

Are you truly in control of the demand for your short-term rentals, or have you quietly outsourced it to the OTAs without even realizing it? Relying solely on large platforms means you don’t actually own your customer base; the hosts who master true demand generation are the ones who will thrive in the next phase of our industry. In this episode, I sit down with Amber Knight , the founder of Booki...

Is your short-term rental truly set up to cash flow, or are you just hoping the market will do the heavy lifting for you? Most hosts look at dynamic pricing as a "set it and forget it" tool, but real revenue strategy requires getting behind the wheel of your data. In this episode, I sit down with Colorado host and revenue strategist Melissa Stewart, the founder of Rev Collective. Melissa scaled fr...

What if the “scary” short-term rental market you keep hearing about is actually one of the best opportunities you’ll see in the next decade—especially if you’re willing to get smart with your data? Most investors are backing out due to market noise; my guest today used engineering logic to lean in and build a highly resilient portfolio. In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Sandy Lee, an...

What if the real reason your Airbnb isn’t booking has nothing to do with your decor, your rate, or your “perfect guest,” and everything to do with numbers you’ve never even looked at? Most hosts guess, tweak, and stress when bookings drop. In this solo episode of the STR Sisterhood podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on the exact data you need to stop guessing and start diagnosing your listing l...

What does it really take to grow a boutique vacation rental management company from a single DIY renovation to more than 115 homes in a tiny, highly seasonal market? Most operators think scaling just means adding more doors, but the reality requires a complete evolution of infrastructure, systems, and leadership. In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Look, the founder of Salt Air Properties. We’...