7 Best Vacation Rental Industry Podcasts

112 million people of the US population have listened to a podcast. The average podcast listener subscribes to at least 6 shows.

With the increase in audio-engagement for information, other popular podcasts relate to the vacation rental industry. We found the best vacation rental podcasts from industry influencers. We’ve featured the top podcasts in our new e-book.

This blog post expands on the available podcasts to feature the top 7 vacation rental podcasts.

1. Vacation Rental Success by Heather Bayer

Heather Bayer is the CEO of Cottage Blogger and the Co-founder at Real Estate Advanced Learning for Vacation Rentals at REALforVR. With the help of her son Mike Bayer, the two have launched successful businesses and resources.

In between these positions in 2013, Heather started the podcast Vacation Rental Success. This podcast features interviews with industry experts and successful owners. Listeners come away with tips and strategies they can apply to their business.

Podcast Frequency

• Weekly

Content

• Interviews with industry influencers/business owners
• Includes design tips & marketing ideas
• Gives shout-outs to other industry influencers/resources
• Examples:
• VRS211 – Paying it Forward with Vacation Rental Owner Bob Garner
• VRS210 – How to Create a Great Lead Magnet with Jason Beaton

Length

• 45 mins – 1 hour

Listen From

• Cottage Blogger website
• Or where you download podcasts (iPhone App, iTunes, etc.)

Quality

• Great introduction music
• Clear quality & voice

Would you like a deeper analysis of this podcast? Or access to exclusive content? Download your copy of Futurestay’s e-book: The 20 Best Places to Learn from Successful, Independent Vacation Rental Entrepreneurs.

2. Holiday Let Success by Elaine Watt

Elaine is the podcast host of Holiday Let Success. She is also involved in Stayable Property Solutions which specializes in short-stay markets.

Frequency

According to iTunes, Elaine published 4 podcasts throughout 2017. However, there are 75 total episodes queued from 2016. The post frequency ranges from 2-7 podcasts per month.

Content

• Educating owners to build successful businesses
• Focuses on sharing industry knowledge
• How to create lasting guest relationships
• Examples:
• 079: How to Maximize Your Booking.com Income | Jitka Foralova | Booking.com
• Ep 010: Advertising Vacation Rentals | Facebook Mastery | Valerie Shoopman

Length

45 mins – 1 hour

Listen From

• iTunes
• First Page of the Holiday Let Success website

Quality

• Introductory music
• Clear voice
• Draws on personal experience (Ep. 70 Apps & Smartphones)

3. Get Paid for Your Pad by Jasper Ribbers (Airbnb Superhost)

In 2012 Jasper listed his Amsterdam apartment on Airbnb. Through his learning curve, he finally made enough money to travel full-time through his income. As an Airbnb Superhost, he decided to create a website/podcast to show other Airbnb hosts “[how to] avoid pitfall, create outstanding guest experiences and generate an income… while keeping things safe.”

Frequency

2 times per week, Mondays and Fridays

Content

• Focuses on the Airbnb hosting experience
• How to make the most income
• Actionable tips
• News stories
• Personal anecdotes
• Example:
• EP212: The Power of Under-Promising and Over-Delivering
• The Week in the World of Airbnb

Length

• 25-30 mins

Listen From

• Podcast tab of website
• Access 100 Episodes on iTunes

Quality

• Strong, clear quality (similiar to radio)
• Custom introduction
• Quiet background, clear guest speakers

4. BiggerPockets by Joshua Dorkin & Brandon Turner

Joshua Dorkin founded BiggerPockets. As a marketing expert, he has published several real estate books and wrote for a variety of blogs. He is also active as a conference speaker.

His co-host is Brandon Turner. Brandon is an active real estate investor, entrepreneur, and author. Their podcast “features off-the-cuff interviews with investors of various backgrounds, niches, and experience levels.”

Frequency

Once per week on Wednesdays

Content

• The hosts of the podcast describe it as, “Grabbing a beer with hundreds of real estate investors and entrepreneurs.”
• Not technically vacation rental-focused. Though VR owners can gain information through casual discussions about:
• Real estate industry
• Personal learning curves
• Owner information
• Example
• BiggerPockets Podcast 256: The Surprising (Scientific) Truth Behind What Makes You Successful with Eric Barker
• BiggerPockets Podcast 255: Six-Figure Real Estate Investing in Just 20 Hours a Week with Elliot Smith

Length

• 1 hour 30 mins

Listen From

• The Podcast tab of the BiggerPockets website
• iTunes, with 256 episodes
• Soundcloud
• Stitcher

Quality

• Casual, conversational radio-style
• Fun introductory music

5. Shampoo and Booze by Ryanne and Jay

Named after the two most frequently left-behind items, Ryanne and Jay share their long and short-term rental experiences. Their podcast tracks their renovations for both large and small projects and renting on Airbnb.

Frequency

• Varies based on length and complication of property renovations

Content

• Ryanne and Jay know what they’re doing. They document their progress to show the before and after of their renovations. First-hand accounts of the process are shared with owners who may also renovate or flip rental properties.
• Discuss the financial and marketing experience of renovating a home for Airbnb.
• Hosted by owners of rural vacation rentals.
• Covers their renovation progress, long and short-term renting, while running Airbnb’s.
• Example:
• Shampoo and Booze Episode 53: Renovation 100% Done! Now time to make money.

Length

• 21 minutes-1 hour
• Depends on the stage of the renovation. Mid-process check-ins are less time than final property reviews.

Listen From

• The Podcast tab of the Shampoo and Booze website
• iTunes
• YouTube
• Download the audio as an mp3

Quality

• Natural, realistic dialogue. Not scripted
• No introduction music. Jumps right into the content
• Accompanied by text and visual for an overall story

6. Hosting Your Home by Deb and Rob Hertert

The married high school sweethearts Debi and Rob own 4 vacation rental properties. They have listed on Airbnb since 2010.  In 2016, they launched their podcast. Hosting Your Home features Airbnb short-term rental hosts. Listeners can learn about the host’s property, guests, and their stories from the rental industry.

Frequency

• 2-3 times every few months

Content

• Stories from Airbnb hosts around the world. Topics range from every situation that owners may experience.
• Example
• HYH-40 “Sara Anselmi, Airbnb Host in Italy”
• HYH-41 “When Friendship is Your Business” with Bob Garner in Italy

Length

• 28-40 mins

Listen From

• Podcast tab of the website
• iTunes
• Google Play
• Stitcher

Quality

• Great intro with music
• Each episode has a visual and write-up under the article
• Clear, high-quality voice
• Doesn’t appear to be scripted, casual interview format

7. The Property Podcast by Rob Bence & Rob Dix

Rob Dix is a blogger and data-seeking property investor. He’s written 3 best-selling books, while acting as director of a finance company. Rob Bence is the founder of RMP Property (a property investment company). He is also the director of a letting agency and property management company in the United Kingdom.

With 100,000 listeners “the Property Podcast is packed with news, useful resources, weekly discussions and advice for established and aspiring property investors.”

Frequency

• 8-9 times / month

Content

• Broken into categories such as:
• Advanced
• Getting Started
• Random
• Ask Rob & Rob
• Goals & Strategy
• Business
• Lettings & Management
• Economics
• Mortgage & Finances
• Example
• TPP234: How to Get a High Yield
• TPP216: Alternative Property Investments You Should Be Aware Of

Length

• 30 minutes

Listen From

• iTunes: 300 episodes available
• The podcast tab of their website

Quality

• Introductory music
• Clear, professional quality

What Podcasts Do You Listen To?

Do you listen to any of the best vacation rental industry podcasts? Did we miss any podcasts you think are the best? What podcasts do you find valuable outside of our industry? Share your thoughts and comments below!