MC Fireside Chats, an Outdoor Hospitality Podcast

The episode was hosted by Brian Searl, who kicked off the conversation by checking in on the peak summer season following the 4th of July holiday. Brian guided the dialogue through the nuances of outdoor hospitality, touching on market trends, the balance between rustic and luxury accommodations, and the challenges of transitioning a property from a passion project into a profitable business. Jere...

In the July 1, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, host Brian Searl gathered a diverse panel of industry experts to discuss the latest macroeconomic trends, generational shifts, and operational strategies in the outdoor hospitality sector. The panel included recurring guests Scott Bahr of Cairn Consulting Group, Simon Neal of CampMap, and Phil Ingrassia of the RVDA, alongside special guests Lori S...

In the June 24, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, host Brian Searl led a discussion on the adoption of artificial intelligence and technology in the outdoor hospitality industry. He kicked off the conversation by questioning why many campground owners gladly spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on physical amenities, like miniature golf courses, but hesitate to invest minor amounts in high-ROI...

The June 17, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl, brought together a panel of recurring and special guests to discuss the latest trends and challenges in the outdoor hospitality industry. The panel included Jeff Hoffman of Camp Strategy, RV industry advisor Sandy Ellingson, Cris Risley of Bar Run Golf and RV Resort, and Ken and Garrett Sawyer of Freedom Yurt Cabins. After som...

The June 10th, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats , hosted by Brian Searl, brought together a panel of outdoor hospitality experts to discuss driving campground demand, leveraging social media, defining target customer personas, and navigating shifting macroeconomic indicators. The conversation began with lighthearted banter about adult preferences for sweets before transitioning into introduction...

The June 3, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats brought together a diverse panel of industry experts to unpack the current state of the outdoor hospitality market. Host Brian Searl was joined by recurring guests Scott Bahr of Cairn Consulting Group and Simon Neal of CampMap, alongside special guests Paul Bosley of Business Finance Depot and Ed O. Bridgman of EOB Consulting. The conversation quickly...

The episode kicked off with host Brian Searl, Founder & CEO of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, noting a lighter panel than usual due to last-minute travel changes among the recurring guests. However, he quickly pivoted to emphasize that smaller panels often yield highly valuable, in-depth conversations, which certainly proved true for this broadcast. Brian was first joined by Cara Csizmad...

The episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, featured a deep-dive interview with Jon Thatcher, the owner of Shady Oaks Camping Resort in Plattsburgh, New York. Due to last-minute scheduling conflicts pulling away the rest of the panel, the episode shifted into an intimate look at the reality of modern campground ownership. Jon introduced himself a...

The May 13th, 2026 episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl, focused heavily on the evolution of experiential outdoor hospitality and the unique ways campground owners and resort developers are crafting immersive guest experiences. The conversation opened with Jeremy Johnson of Kona Hills Campground, who questioned the current state of dynamic pricing in the outdoor hospitality sector....

The May 6th, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Scott Bahr (President of Cairn Consulting Group), featured a deep dive into the 2026 outlook for the outdoor hospitality and RV industries. The panel included Eleonore Hamm (President of RVDA of Canada), Simon Neal (Founder & CEO of CampMap), John Lindley (CEO of the Michigan Association of RVs & Campgrounds), and Kevin Long (CEO o...

The April 29th, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats brought together a unique panel of industry professionals to discuss the future of camping, app integrations, and shifting guest demographics. Host Brian Searl steered the conversation while broadcasting on-the-go from the Florida-Alabama conference. The collaborative session highlighted how the industry is evolving as different generations and in...

In the recent episode of MC Fireside Chats, Brian Searl hosts a discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence and outdoor hospitality with guests Blair Noel, Thierry Tombelle, and Matt Whitermore. Brian opens the session by addressing the inherent tension between high-tech tools and the "unplugged" nature of camping. He suggests that AI should act as an invisible intelligence layer tha...

The April 15th, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, brought together a panel of industry leaders to discuss the complexities of scaling outdoor hospitality brands, the integration of advanced technology, and the rising demand for luxury wellness amenities. Brian Searl opened the conversation by introducing recurring guest Robert Preston...

The April 8th, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl, provided a comprehensive look at how outdoor hospitality operators are leveraging automation and premium accommodations to elevate the guest experience. Joined by returning guests Jeremy Johnson and Zach Stoltenberg, alongside industry experts Zac Cummings, Matt Kraeuter, and AL and Sabine Betschart, the panel explored the d...

The April 1st, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl, offered a deep dive into the shifting landscape of outdoor hospitality as the industry prepares for the summer season. Joined by recurring experts Phil Ingrassia, Scott Bahr, and Simon Neal, the discussion focused on how economic pressures and geopolitical tensions are influencing traveler behavior and dealership operations....

The March 25, 2026 episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, featured Peter Pilarski, founder of the Tourism AI Network and CIPR Communications, alongside Mike Lee, the solo developer and owner of the Campsite Tonight app. The conversation centered on how AI and evolving technology are reshaping discovery, marketing, and commerce for campground own...

 The episode of MC Fireside Chats from March 18th, 2026, hosted by Brian Searl, brings together a panel of outdoor hospitality industry leaders to discuss current market trends, operational strategies, and the integration of new technologies. The recurring guest panel includes Jeff Hoffman from Camp Strategy, Mike Harrison from CRR Hospitality, and Robert Preston from Unhitched RV. They are joine...

The MC Fireside Chats episode aired on March 11th, 2026, featuring a dynamic panel of outdoor hospitality leaders who gathered to discuss the evolving landscape of campgrounds, RV parks, and glamping resorts. Host Brian Searl, the Founder and CEO of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, led the conversation from the Wisconsin WACO campground conference, emphasizing the show's role as a premier sour...

The outdoor hospitality industry is bracing for a year of "guarded optimism" as operators navigate shifting booking windows and economic fluctuations, according to experts on the March 4 episode of MC Fireside Chats. Scott Bahr, president of Cairn Consulting Group, noted that while the industry is seeing some optimism flatten, the current trend suggests a continued shortening of the booking timeli...

February 25th, 2026 Episode Recap The February 25th, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl, focuses on the cutting edge of AI and technology within the outdoor hospitality industry. The panel features recurring guests Matt Whitermore (Climb Capital), Kurtis Wilkins (RJourney), and Cara Csizmadia (CCRVA), alongside special guest Patrick Mullen (AffinityX). The discussion centers...

In the latest episode of MC Fireside Chats, host Brian Searl, the Founder & CEO of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, welcomed a panel of recurring and special guests to discuss the current state of the outdoor hospitality industry. The session featured recurring experts Jeff Hoffman, a Board Member at OHI; Sandy Ellingson, a prominent RV Industry Advisor; Mike Harrison, Chief Operating Offi...

In this edition of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Joe Duemig of App My Community (filling in for Brian Searl), the discussion focuses on the intersection of intentional experience design and modern park operations. The featured guest is John McMahon, the Operations Director at Camp Door County RV Resort & Campground, who shares the unique story of a brand-new facility entering its second season...

The recent episode of MC Fireside Chats, which aired on February 4th, 2026, focused on the critical role of data and analytics within the outdoor hospitality industry. Host Brian Searl, CEO of Modern Campground and Insider Perks, led the discussion alongside a robust panel of industry veterans and newcomers, emphasizing how rapidly market forces are shifting. The episode served as a platform to in...

On January 28th, 2026, host Brian Searl convened a dynamic panel of industry leaders for an episode of MC Fireside Chats focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology, and outdoor hospitality. Brian Searl, the founder of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, opened the session by welcoming recurring guests Matt Whitermore, Mychele Bisson, and Kurtis Wilkins, while introducing s...

On the January 21st, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, host Brian Searl gathered a robust panel of industry experts to navigate the evolving landscape of outdoor hospitality. Despite some initial technical difficulties with the studio setup, the group quickly settled into a dynamic conversation regarding the year ahead. The panel included recurring guests Jeff Hoffman, Board Member at OHI , Robe...