Hostel Road Trip Podcast
Hostel Road Trip Podcast A Quest For The Greatest Hostels Of The Americas. The Hostel Road Trip Podcast began with a simple question: What makes a hostel unforgettable? Hosted by Jimmy Black and Bobby Dyer of ITH Hostels, this show is a founder-led journey across North and Central America to discover the heart of hostel culture — the risk-takers, the dreamers, and the communities built around shared beds and shared stories. We travel city to city, surf town to mountain pass, sitting down with the owners who built their hostels from scratch. From iconic backpacker landmarks like Green Tortoise Seattle to small-town mountain hostels and beachside surf communities, each episode explores how these spaces were imagined, built, struggled through, and ultimately brought to life. This podcast isn’t just about travel. It’s about: • Entrepreneurship • Reinvention • Community • Hospitality • Backpacker culture in America • And the courage to build something meaningful Hostels are more than a cheap place to sleep. They are launchpads for friendships, ideas, adventures, and sometimes entire life changes. Whether you’re a solo traveler looking for connection, an aspiring hostel owner dreaming of opening your own space, or someone who believes travel should bring people together — this show is for you. This is not a studio podcast. It’s recorded on the road. Inside hostels. With the people who built them. Join us as we document the modern hostel movement and chase the greatest hostels of the Americas. Explore the journey at: www.HostelRoadTrip.com Subscribe and come along for the ride.
Episodes
Bobby Dyer talks with Maury Haslock, manager of the Park City Hostel in Utah, about running a hostel in one of America's best-known mountain towns.
Maury was a longtime Park City local before she took over as hostel manager. In this conversation, she shares how her roots in the community shape the guest experience, what it's like to operate a hostel in a ski town, and what makes Park City Hostel a standout stop for travelers.
Whether...
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In this episode of Hostel Road Trip, we visit HI Vancouver, one of the most unique Hostelling International properties in Canada. We speak with the team at HI Jericho Beach, the oldest HI hostel in Canada, located right on the beach in Vancouver.
We dive deep into what makes this hostel stand out — from its deep commi...
In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, we travel to the mountains of New Mexico to sit down with Stephanie, the founder of Cloudcroft Hostel — a rustic, community-driven mountain hostel perched at 6,700 feet in the heart of the Lincoln National Forest.
What started as a solo motorcycle adventure across America in 1994 turned into a lifelong dream. Stephanie bought a dilapidated building on a hillside and spent five y...
Winthrop, WA | North Cascades Mountain Hostel — The Mountain Hostel That Started Small & Rebuilt Big
North Cascades Mountain Hostel | Building a Purpose-Built Mountain Hostel in Winthrop, Washington
In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, we travel to Winthrop, Washington, to interview Liza and Paul, cofounders of North Cascades Mountain Hostel — a purpose-built mountain hostel located in the Methow Valley near North Cascades National Park.
This episode explores how a small, simple hostel in Washington State evolved i...
In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, we sit down with Rex Baldwin, cofounder of the legendary Green Tortoise Hostel in Seattle, to explore the roots of American hostel culture.
Before opening the iconic Seattle hostel near Pike Place Market, Rex and his partner Gardener operated the original Green Tortoise hostel bus, traveling across North America for more than 20 years. What started as a counterculture road trip experi...
In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, host Jimmy Black and co-host Bobby Dyer travel to Conway, New Hampshire, to highlight one of New England’s most community-driven hostels — CoHo Conway Hostel.
CoHo is known for its warm social atmosphere, adventure-focused travelers, and the powerful idea that defines their culture: “Go Solo, Leave With Friends.” From hikers exploring the White Mountains to sol...
In this episode of the Hostel Road Trip Podcast, we travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to visit Apple Hostels, one of the most iconic and influential hostels on the East Coast. Host Jimmy Black and Bobby Dyer sit down with Marc Desmarais, the owner of Apple Hostels, to explore how this legendary property continues to shape the backpacking community in Philly.
Apple Hostels has become the heart of East Coast backpacking — kno...
Listen in as we have a conversation with Stephanie Nebhan to hear her story about how her family has owned, operated, and has success at running one of the oldest hotels and hostels in the country. Stephanie is the Manager of the Gardner Hotel & Hostel, and is constantly creating experiences to continue the amazing tradition of her property!
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to El Paso at the Gardner Hotel & Hostel i...
Listen in as we have a conversion with Hostel operators at the NAHA 2025 Hostel Conference in Playa del Carmen.
Join NAHA if you are a hostel operator and want to be more connected within the Hostel Industry.
Episode Recording Date: April, 2025
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
To hear more stories from hostel owners visit our website www.HostelRoadTrip.com
Listen in as we have a conversation with Matias to hear his story about how he started out as a backpacker and has built the largest hostel brand in Mexico for travelers. Matias is the Founder of Che Hostels and focuses on building an amazing culture and vibe with his Staff to create incredible experiences for their guests.
Check availability for your upcoming trip to Mexico at the various locations Che Hostels operates in includin...
Listen in as we have a conversation with Thea Delamater to hear her story about how she got into hostels, managed hostels, cofounded a hostel conference, and built a hostel direct booking platform.
Sign your hostel up to join Hostelling.US
Attend The Gathering Hostel Conference on Nov. 5-7 in Denver, CO.
Visit the Ember Hostel on your next trip to Denver.
Episode Recording Date: September, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Spons...
Listen in as we have a conversation with Alfie Mckenzie to hear his story about how he pursued his passion of hostels. Alfie now leads the non-profit HI Whistler Hostel, and is constantly creating experiences to make his hostel thrive in the mountains!
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Whistler at the HI Whistler Hostel in British Columbia, Canada.
Episode Recording Date: September, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters &...
Listen in as we have a conversation with Frankie Maduzia to hear his story about how he and his partner J. Charles Griggs followed their hostel desire to bring an adventure hostel to Bend Oregon.
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Bend at the Bunk+Brew Hostel.
Episode Recording Date: August, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
Listen in as we have a conversation with J. Charles Griggs to hear his story about how he and his partner Frankie followed their hostel desire to bring an adventure hostel to Bend Oregon.
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Bend at the Bunk+Brew Hostel.
Episode Recording Date: August, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
Listen in as we have a conversation with Dave Cook to hear his story about how he pursued his passion to create a community-based hostel catering to climbers and adventurers outside the White Mountains National Forest in New Hampshire.
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Rumney at the Barndoor Hostel & Campground
Episode Recording Date: August, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
Listen in as we have a conversation with Jim to hear the story about how he started his first hostel and continued to build and cultivate magical moments for travelers at multiple hostels for over 4+ decades!
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Portland at the NW Portland Hostel
Episode Recording Date: July, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
Listen in as we have a conversation with Ryan to hear the story about how the Monterey Hostel was built and what makes their guest experience so special!
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Monterey at the Monterey Hostel
Episode Recording Date: July, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
To hear more stories from hostel owners visit our website Hostel Road Trip
Listen in as we have a conversation with Sara to hear the story about how Hostel Tevere focuses on creating an amazing vibe for Staff and Guests.
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Mad River Valley at the Hostel Tevere
Episode Recording Date: September, 2018
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
To hear more stories from hostel owners visit our website Hostel Ro...
Listen in as we have a conversation with Sara to hear the story about how Santa Cruz Hostel focuses on creating an amazing vibe for Staff and Guests.
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Santa Cruz, CA at the Santa Cruz Hostel
Episode Recording Date: June, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
To hear more stories from hostel owners visit our website Hostel Road ...
Listen in as we have a conversation with Diego to hear the story about how Sin City Hostel focuses on setting the vibe right to attract hostel travelers.
Check Availability for your upcoming trip to Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sin City Hostel
Episode Recording Date: May, 2024
Thank you to our Supporters & Sponsors:
To hear more stories from hostel owners visit our website Hostel Road...
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