Cabin Culture

Today we're speaking with Chase, who has taken the concept of rapid scaling to a whole new level. In just five years, he's gone from buying his first cabin in Running Springs, California, to owning eight properties across multiple states—all while maintaining a full-time career as a loan officer and raising a family. What started as a weekend retreat they could barely use because it kept getting booked has evolved into a ...

Today I'm chatting with Steph, the force behind North Country Cabin Co., who has been building a Wisconsin lake cabin empire for over a decade. What started as a corporate escape plan and a podcast-inspired lightbulb moment has evolved into four distinctive lake properties and a completely reimagined life centered around what truly fills her up.

From drilling wells that cost double the estimate to managing hot tub maintenance a...

I am excited to launch a new format for some of our podcast episodes! I'm calling these 'Anchor Episodes', and they're just me 😬They'll be a bit shorter, and will be a deep dive of some of the ideas/thoughts/concepts that I reference regularly (but briefly) during our interviews with guests. My hope is it will provide some helpful content for regular listeners, as well as a way to share in the future on ep...

Today I'm speaking with Mia, a clinical psychologist who transformed childhood memories of a Maine dairy farm into a healing refuge for her family after profound loss. When Mia and her husband lost their six-and-a-half-year-old daughter Eloise, they discovered that all the therapeutic tools in the world couldn't shield them from devastation—but they could find solace in returning to the place where Mia felt most herself a...

Today we're welcoming Maura, an interior designer who created the Everwoods brand in Ohio's stunning Hocking Hills region. Drawing inspiration from childhood summers at a Wyoming dude ranch, Maura and her husband Tony have built four distinctive cabins that showcase the evolution from rustic log cabins to modern mountain retreats in this hidden Midwest gem. What started as a dream to escape corporate America has become a ...

Today we're welcoming Mitch, a commercial pilot who turned 90 acres of Maine forest into something truly unique in the short-term rental world: a fly-in cabin experience complete with its own FAA-registered runway. What started as a practical solution for getting his family from Pennsylvania to their beloved Maine quickly evolved into a destination that's capturing the imagination of pilots and non-pilots alike.

From the i...

Today is a special episode, as it’s only the second one ever recorded IN PERSON. Rick and Charles are the charming inn keepers at The Hideaway Inn in Camden, Maine. We got to visit during our last trip to Maine, and it did NOT disappoint. 

After falling in love with New England during their first visit in 2021, this couple made the bold decision to leave their corporate careers on the West Coast and purchase a historic inn in a town...

Today we're welcoming Ina, a 25-year-old chemist and Airbnb host whose riverside cabin in Concrete, Washington offers breathtaking views of the North Cascades. While many episodes focus on the joys of cabin ownership, today's conversation tackles a scenario that keeps many hosts awake at night: what happens when disaster strikes? Ina shares her harrowing experience of receiving a call that her cabin was on fire after gues...

This episode is from our very first month of the podcast, back in 2023, where we talked with Chris & Pam (the famous Dirt & Glass) about everything from how they got their start (hint: a hike, heartbreak, and an off-grid cabin in New York) to what makes a cabin photo truly stand out. They share insights on the evolution of cabin culture online, the behind-the-scenes process of working with cabin owners, and their deep commi...

Today we're joined by Kitty Costello, a design enthusiast and short-term rental consultant who brings a refreshingly authentic approach to creating spaces that tell a story. After relocating from Silicon Valley to Maine's magical mid-coast in 2022, Kitty has embraced the local culture and channeled her natural design instincts into helping vacation rental owners transform ordinary spaces into memorable experiences.

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Today we're joined by an amazing couple who embody what it means to create intentional spaces in the mountains of Utah. With over 11 years of hosting experience, they've transformed a treehouse and a 1970s hand-built cabin into magical retreats that offer more than just beautiful design—they create experiences that hold space for life's tender moments.

We'll explore how they discovered these unique properties jus...

Today we're welcoming Laura, a high school principal and passionate cabin owner in the Adirondack Mountains, who brings a uniquely educational perspective to the cabin ownership experience. From her beginnings as a home design blogger to managing two cabins while balancing a demanding career in education, Laura shares valuable insights on finding escape and renewal in mountain retreats.

We'll explore how she transformed a ...

Today we're welcoming Kendra, a real estate agent and A-frame cabin owner in Lake Almanor, California, who brings a uniquely practical perspective to the world of cabin ownership. From her family's deep roots in real estate investment to managing her own A-frame in an HOA-controlled community, Kendra shares valuable insights on the financial realities of cabin ownership in today's market. We'll explore how she t...

Today we're welcoming Lynn from Fresh Coast Cabins, whose journey from digital marketing executive to cabin entrepreneur offers a refreshing perspective on placemaking in the wilderness of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. From renovating a single rustic cabin to developing a collection of lakeside retreats, a public sauna, and now even a bar and event space, Lynn shares how her passion for creating meaningful experiences ha...

Today we're welcoming Andy Whitcomb, whose journey from furniture designer to cabin creator offers fresh insights into crafting immersive experiences that reconnect guests with nature. From his early days learning Airbnb hosting in a six-bedroom Seattle house to creating a row of three stunning riverside cabins, Andy shares how his background in design and entrepreneurship has shaped his approach to hospitality. We'll exp...

Today we're welcoming Nat Farber, whose journey from NASA's Europa Clipper mission to mountain cabin builder offers a refreshing perspective on the art of slow building. From finding burned land after the Four Mile Canyon Fire to spending ten years crafting his vision, Nat shares how approaching construction as a creative project rather than a race to completion allowed him to build something truly unique. We'll expl...

Today we're welcoming Zoe Berghoff, whose journey from glamping property owner to mentor and real estate developer offers a refreshing perspective on creating unique stays that align with your lifestyle. From transforming abandoned log cabins to developing off-grid properties at 8,000 feet, Zoe shares how focusing on quality over quantity has shaped her approach to hospitality. We'll explore why she believes the short-ter...

Today we're welcoming Nicole, known online as The Cabin Hunter, whose journey from wedding photographer to cabin specialist offers unique insights into the art of capturing and marketing vacation properties. From photographing over 100 unique properties across the globe to co-founding a property management company, Nicole shares how telling a cabin's story goes far beyond just beautiful photos. We'll explore everythi...

Today we're welcoming Carrie from Roost North Rentals, whose journey from a self-described "failed stay-at-home mom" to the owner of nine successful vacation rentals in Traverse City, Michigan, offers a masterclass in thoughtful growth and systematic hospitality. From her first casual property purchase in 2015 to her latest A-frame renovation and plans for an 18-cottage resort, Carrie shares how creating strong syste...