The Cohost Bros

Some people come into the short-term rental industry chasing money. Lucas Piper came in chasing something bigger and accidentally built one of the most respected luxury STR brands in Central Texas along the way. Matt and Austin sit down with Lucas Piper, founder of Five Star Vacation Home Rentals in Austin, for one of the most genuine and inspiring conversations the show has had. Lucas started as...

What if you could get more bookings, give back to veterans, and list your properties for free all at the same time? That is exactly what Matt Hammlett and the team at Crew Dogs have built. Matt and Austin sit down with Matt Hammlett, COO of Crew Dogs and a seriously impressive STR operator in his own right, for a conversation packed with operator insight and a genuinely compelling platform that ev...

there is one person in the vacation rental industry who has literally seen and done it all, it is Steve Trover. Matt and Austin sit down with the co-founder and CEO of Better Talent for a conversation that every STR operator and property manager needs to hear. With over 30 years in the space, Steve has founded 16 companies, built and scaled a four-location vacation rental management company to 400...

Not everyone gets into the short-term rental industry by owning or managing properties, and Stephanie Rounds is proof of that. Matt and Austin sit down with Stephanie, Owner Relations Manager at Beachside VR on Florida's Space Coast, who found her way into the STR world over 12 years ago through photography and conference work with VRMA, eventually landing at Better Talent as a Talent Relationship...

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by marketing your STR or co-hosting business, this episode is exactly what you need. Matt and Austin sit down with Chantell Hammond, business and marketing strategy coach and founder of Strategy Square, who helps short-term rental operators cut through the noise and build marketing strategies that actually fit their business. Chantell did not start in the STR worl...

Design is one of the most underrated revenue drivers in the short-term rental business, and this is the first time in over 100 episodes that the Co-Host Bros have had a designer on the show. Episode 103 brings in Andrea Moxham, virtual STR designer and founder of Moxie and Co., to break down exactly how thoughtful design translates directly into more bookings and better reviews. Andrea started her...

f you have ever thought about taking your STR or co-hosting business to the next level, this episode is your roadmap. Matt and Austin sit down with Dawn Cornett, Texas-based STR investor, co-host, and boutique hotel operator behind Skyview Vacations, as well as co-founder of Hospitality Hustle. With nearly a decade in the short-term rental space, 40 properties under management, and her own micro r...

Austin's out, the guests cancelled, and Matt is flying solo for Episode 101! But don't sleep on this one because he drops some real talk on one of the hottest topics buzzing around the STR community right now: the return of Airbnb's split fee model. Should you switch back? Matt breaks down exactly why he thinks staying on the simplified fee structure is the smarter move, and walks through the math...

Episode 100 is here, and we brought in a big one to celebrate. Matt and Austin sit down with Mike Michalowicz, bestselling author of Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, and his newest book, The Money Habit. Simon Sinek called him the patron saint of entrepreneurs, and after this episode, you will understand why. Mike breaks down the money mistakes that are quietly killing small businesses,...

If you've ever thought about selling your STR business someday, this episode is a must-listen. Matt and Austin sit down with Dylan Burgess, VP of Mergers and Acquisitions at C2G Advisors, the leading M&A advisory firm in the short-term rental industry. With nearly 10 years in the space and 36 acquisitions under his belt, Dylan has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, includin...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Cody Wood , founder of Ghost Hosts , a company that helps vacation rental operators build stronger systems, leadership structure, and scalable operations. Cody’s journey into short-term rentals started with a simple house-hacking strategy in Houston while transitioning out of an engineering career. What...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Phillip and Kate Munoz , a husband-and-wife team who turned a single beach house idea into a growing short-term rental portfolio and management company. Their journey started in 2020 , when Phillip — already investing in long-term rentals — started listening to STR podcasts and convinced Kate (while she...

In this bonus episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Tera Lorimer , a luxury vacation rental operator with nearly two decades of experience in the industry and the current President of VR Nation . Tera’s journey started in 2001 as a custom home builder , constructing vacation homes near Mount Baker, Washington , one of the snowiest places in North Am...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Mike Kitko , a recovered Fortune 500 executive leader, former Marine, and founder of Inner Wealth . Mike shares a raw story of everything collapsing: two high-level executive roles lost, a home that felt like a battlefield, his wife battling pharmaceutical addiction, his own drinking at toxic levels, and...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast, Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Josh George, founder of Deja Vu Vacation Rentals in Southern California. Josh shares his unconventional path into short-term rentals — from directing and working in Apple’s advertising department to managing nearly 60 vacation rentals full time. The conversation dives deep into one major decision that tes...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Simon Seroussi , founder of SuiteOp , to talk about distribution, OTAs, and what short-term rental operators can learn from the hotel industry. Simon brings nearly a decade of experience from the hotel software world, including time at TravelClick before it was acquired by Amadeus — one of the largest tr...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Sam Hirst , a short-term rental marketing operator who helped scale some of the most viral themed vacation rentals in the country — and later grew STR tech platforms to tens of thousands of listings. Sam started with Loma Homes , a company known for extreme themed vacation rentals near Disney that went v...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Jack Zoppa for a grounded conversation about building short-term rentals with clarity, discipline, and intentional decision-making. Jack shares how he evaluates risk, why patience matters more than speed, and how too many operators get caught up chasing trends instead of building something sustainable. T...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Mike Stone , a short-term rental operator and savvy Realtor in the Arizona market , for a grounded conversation about what it actually takes to operate STRs responsibly. Mike brings a practical perspective shaped by hands-on experience in both real estate and short-term rentals. Rather than chasing hype...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with JJ King , a hospitality and short-term rental professional with deep experience across the industry. JJ shares how the STR space has evolved over the years, what he’s seen change, and what fundamentals still matter no matter how the market shifts. The conversation focuses on long-term thinking, building...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Joe Rohne , a seasoned real estate professional with years of experience navigating multiple market cycles. Joe shares his perspective on how the real estate business has evolved, what stays consistent no matter the market, and why long-term thinking beats short-term speculation. Rather than chasing tren...

📄 EPISODE DESCRIPTION (Accurate to Transcript) In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Chris Petzy , a short-term rental operator who takes a practical, numbers-first approach to building a profitable hospitality business. Chris shares how he evaluates deals, why understanding your metrics is non-negotiable, and how too many hosts let emotion...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Sam Amir , a short-term rental operator who built his hospitality business through consistency, patience, and learning from early mistakes. Sam shares how he first entered the STR world, what those early days really looked like, and how COVID ended up shifting his mindset, strategy, and long-term vision....

In this episode, Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Rachel Vigil , who runs a marketing company focused on product placement and brand partnerships within Airbnb and vacation rentals. Rachel breaks down: How her company gets free items into hosts’ welcome baskets Which brands WANT to partner with STR operators Why guest experience matters more than ever What types of items perform we...

In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast , Matt Codd and Austin Spitzenberger sit down with Garrett Brown , a host with big personality, big stories, and big lessons learned the hard way. Garrett’s journey into STRs isn’t polished, curated, or corporate — it’s real. He talks openly about: The “WTF moments” every host deals with Why STRs demand creativity, resilience, and humor How he balances h...