Behind the Stays

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...  

On this epsiode of Behind the Stays, Zach interviews Kristen Bishop — a real estate professional who purchased the historic guest on the Filene family's estate that would become "Camp Adelaide." The Filene family owned and operated "Filene's Basement", also called The Basement, which was a Massachusetts-based chain of department stores that was owned by Retail Ventures, Inc. until April 2009 when it was sold to Syms. The oldest off-price retailer in the United States, Filene's Basement focused on high-end goods and was known for its distinctive, low-technology automatic markdown system. After purchasing the home in 2019, Kristen has made Camp Adelaide her nights and weekends project...slowly, but surely, restoring the home without disrupting its deep character.  Listen in to learn more about the serendipity that led to Kristen's acquisition of the home, the story behind why she decided to become an Airbnb host, and what "home" during a global pandemic means to Kristen and her family.  You can book a stay at Camp Adelaide, here. Mention "Behind the Stays" and/or "Sponstayneous" and Kristen might just cut you a special deal...but no promises :). 

Welcome to Behind the Stays — a podcast that shares the stories behind your favorite Airbnbs and the hosts who’ve made them memorable.