Check-In with Bryan

It’s another Check-Out Friday — and this week, Bryan and Tyler are kicking back from Scottsdale, Arizona, recording out of the gorgeous NextSpace Studios while reflecting on a wild production week.

From hilarious Reddit hotel reviews (featuring a mysterious “Mountain Lion Club” next door 😅) to Tyler’s missed flight adventure, and a deep dive into whether Outback Steakhouse still holds up — this episode is all about travel chao...

From selling candy in grade school to running the #1 rated hostel in North America, investor Michael Russell shares how hustle, timing, and creative thinking turned risk into a multimillion-dollar hospitality portfolio.

What you’ll learn:
•How the Great Recession became his once-in-a-lifetime buy-in opportunity.
•The leap from vacation rentals → boutique hospitality investing.
•Inside the creation of Hakuna Mat...

From brand standards and PIPs to boutique independence, designer Tonya Almallah Schmitt shares how to deliver ROI without losing soul—plus why scent, sound, and “memory points” matter more than spec sheets.

What you’ll learn:

• Career leap: How Tonya turned a downturn layoff into an entrepreneurial studio.
• ROI-first design: Balancing brand standards with owner realities; value engineering without cheapening the experience.
• Independen...

From wild Reddit hotel reviews to a cinematic recap of our Belfast “Come From Away” episode, this Friday wrap hits travel, hospitality, and a little GM-life chaos.

What you’ll hear:
•The Belfast episode drop: behind the drone shot at The Lyric and how we built a more cinematic edit.
•Two-interview week: Tonya  Schmitt up next Tuesday; Michael Russell coming soon.
•Reddit rabbit holes: why traveler oversharing i...

This week on Check-In with Bryan, we traveled to Northern Ireland to support St. Agnes’s Choral Society in their powerful production of Come From Away at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre.

As the world reflects on the 24th anniversary of 9/11, this episode highlights how kindness, hospitality, and community can shine in times of crisis. Host Bryan Fish sits down with cast members Fiona Keegan and Michelle Hannaway, along with St. Agnes’s lead...

After two whirlwind weeks in Northern Ireland, Bryan and Tyler are finally back stateside (in two different cities), unpacking the trip, the late-night sessions, and why Nando’s x 3 became a ritual. We chat shooting a special onstage episode with St. Agnes Choral Society, near-miss key mishaps, brutal sleep schedules, and why the Financial District is Bryan’s new underrated NYC home base (plus a surprisingly great stay at a Sonder)...

What makes independent hotels thrive in a world dominated by the big brands? In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, Bryan sits down with Jenn Parks, Vice President of Member Development & Communication at Curator Hotel & Resort Collection.

Jenn brings a powerhouse background — 15 years at National Geographic building the Unique Lodges of the World program, and now leading Curator’s mission to support nearly 100 independent ...

Welcome back to Check-Out Fridays, our end-of-week series from Check-In with Bryan.

This week, Bryan takes the mic solo to break down one of the most common struggles in leadership and hospitality: work-life balance. Drawing inspiration from clips with past guests and voices like Scott Clary, Jay Shetty, and Mel Robbins, Bryan unpacks the three biggest myths that keep leaders stuck in burnout and chasing “someday.”

It’s midnight in New York, but Bryan and Tyler are wide awake for this week’s Friday Check-Out.

Fresh off a whirlwind week of filming, travel prep, and deep dives into hospitality, the duo sit down to talk about:

• Their recent interview with Cody Adent and his very Utah ventures
• NYC filming adventures (including a 9/11 Memorial visit and security guard diplomacy)
• The chaos of air travel: middle seats, man-spreading, and rogue airpor...

What if your hotel could run seamlessly — with no front desk, no on-site staff, and 5-star reviews?

In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, host Bryan Fish sits down with Cody Adent, President & CFO of Vibrant Management and host of The Virtual GM Podcast. Cody shares the game-changing process behind their Virtual GM model, which allows boutique hotels to operate profitably with remote teams and lean operations — often in proper...

From Instant Pot debates to airport karaoke fails, this week’s episode of Check-Out Fridays with Bryan and Tyler is full of laughs, updates, and future plans.

Tune in as the duo catch up before their upcoming trip to New York and Northern Ireland, where they’ll be filming, podcasting, and collaborating with some familiar faces in hospitality and the arts.

Inside this episode:

• A bizarre karaoke experience at Orlando International A...

What if designing your next hotel could be done in minutes—not months?

In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, we’re joined by Brian Ahmes, co-founder of Parafin, an AI-powered platform that’s transforming how developers evaluate sites, run financial models, and design hospitality projects. From his early architecture days at HKS to pitching radical hotel concepts to Hyatt’s C-suite, Brian shares an extraordinary journey blending de...

This week’s Friday Checkout is packed with laughs, travel recaps, and real talk. Bryan and Tyler reunite (with working Wi-Fi!) to reflect on their recent Greece trip—from late-night pizza missions and legendary taxi drivers to overeating on cruise ships and Athens surprises.

They also dive into the latest Check-In with Bryan episode featuring Matthew Schueller, where they explore the rise of community-driven group travel a...

“I’ve never felt more accepted or free to be myself.”

That’s the kind of feedback Matthew Schueller gets from the travelers who join his global group trips — and in this episode of Check-In with Bryan, we explore exactly why.

This heartfelt conversation welcomes back LGBTQ+ travel expert, content creator, and community builder Matthew Schueller, nearly a year after his first appearance. From launching 11 group trips in under 12 ...

From rooftop hammocks in Greece to hospitality soul-searching, Bryan takes us solo on this week’s Check-Out Friday.

Hear all about a chaotic yet memorable group trip through Athens, Santorini, and Crete — with cruise surprises, internet meltdowns, and emotional wins. Bryan opens up about why this trip rekindled his love for hospitality, the impact of creating memories for guests, and the power of personal reinvention.
...

Want your team to give more than just their job description?

In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, host Bryan Fish sits down with returning guest Scott Clary—entrepreneur, podcaster, and marketing strategist—to explore how great leaders can unlock 150% effort from their teams. The key? Helping employees achieve their career goals, even if it means eventually leaving your company.

From real-world examples of team members w...

What if the hustle is hurting more than helping?

In this powerful episode of Check-In with Bryan, host Bryan Fish reconnects with Scott Clary—marketer, podcaster, and business strategist—to explore what it really means to architect a life you love. From cutting unnecessary meetings to rejecting hustle culture, Scott shares raw insights on building a career (and life) that’s sustainable, intentional, and aligned with who you tru...

This week on Friday Checkout, Bryan and Tyler are reporting in from Athens, Greece, where they’re prepping for a whirlwind content trip with Destinations by Reliance. From scouting shoot locations to navigating unexpected travel hiccups (hello, missing Diet Coke), the duo shares what it’s really like working on the go.

Inside this episode:

• First impressions of Athens 🏛️
• Tyler’s upcoming first-ever cruise
• A sneak peek at ...

In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, we sit down with hospitality executive and inspiring leader Jack Paul for a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

With decades of experience across top hotel brands, Jack reflects on the moments that shaped his philosophy—how showing up, staying humble, and making small, human-centered choices can create lasting impact. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in hospitality, leadersh...