What would your life look like if you actually designed it on purpose—down to how you spend your mornings, who you work with, and where you pour your creative energy?

In this episode, I sit down with certified Airbnb stylist and designer Erica Egner, whose journey from a burnt-out graphic designer to a thriving short-term rental entrepreneur is a masterclass in intentional living.

We talk about:

1. How Erica and her husband worked backward from a vision of freedom to escape the 9-to-5 commute and daycare cycle
2. The story of a scruffy 1970s A-frame in Washington that transformed Erica from a DIY novice into a soulful hospitality expert
3. Why Erica is choosing to keep her boutique co-hosting portfolio small to protect her boundaries and her "people-pleaser" tendencies
4. How graphic design principles translate into physical spaces to guide a guest’s eye, and their experience, through a home
5. The power of plugging into mentors and communities to build systems and avoid the chaos of figuring it out alone.

But this isn't just about beautiful interiors. It’s about alignment. Erica pulls back the curtain on the grit and creativity required to turn a tired space into a high-performing rental that guests describe as "healing." You’ll hear how she navigated the transition from remote design work to full-time hospitality, and why she views her business not as a machine, but as an engine for the life she actually wants to lead.

If you’ve ever felt like your business is dictating your life instead of the other way around, this conversation will give you the permission—and the plan—to start designing your exit. Get ready to align your daily actions with your biggest vision.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:01] A short introduction about our guest Erica Egner, how she got started into the world of short term rental, and how it has changed her life

[03:35] Erica explains how shared values around time, freedom, and family guided major life and career decisions with her partner

[07:05] Erica describes how patience, research, and shared values guided conversations around starting in short-term rentals

[12:09] How reframing the short-term rental as an easy family escape helped Erica’s husband embrace the idea

[13:28] Erica reflects on how applying design fundamentals in a real-world renovation revealed a natural shift toward interior design

[17:23] How foundational design training shaped the way Erica approaches interior design in short term rentals

[18:28] Erica describes how methodical pacing and hands-on involvement defined her co-hosting growth and journey

[22:56] Erica explains how proximity, standards, and fit now guide her co-hosting client decisions

[24:28] Erica shares how learning to set boundaries became essential to protecting her time and energy, and

[27:20] How designing Erica’s own short-term rental revealed a clear and natural entry point into the interior design world

[31:40] How learning from others helped...

What does it really take to build a multi-billion-dollar real estate enterprise, raise a family on your own terms, and still have the energy to show up as the face of your brand every single day? Most people think it requires sacrificing your personal life; Avery Carl is proof that it requires a better system.

In this episode, we’re skipping the basic tactics and going deep on the woman behind the empire—the one who went from a $37,000 salary to leading the country’s largest STR-focused real estate team.

We talk about:

1. How Avery and her husband structured a massive business so that, to their kids, it feels like they have two stay-at-home parents
2. Avery’s intentional prioritization filter—how she decides what stays on her plate and what gets delegated to her team
3. Why telling a client not to buy a property is the secret to building a decade of trust (and a billion-dollar legacy)
4. How Avery dominates Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok when she’d actually rather not be on camera at all.
5. The relentless focus on what actually moves the needle versus what just feels like "busy work."

Avery pulls back the curtain on the hard conversations, the fear of letting go, and why she insists on writing every word of her books herself. You’ll hear how she transitioned from "doing it all" to becoming a leader who empowers a team, all while maintaining the boundaries that protect her family time. If you’ve ever felt torn between your ambition and your afternoon with the kids, this conversation is your blueprint.

Get ready to rethink your role and learn how to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:05] A short introduction about our guest Avery Carl, a seasoned real estate investor and short-term rental expert

[03:23] Avery explains how consistency, lived experience, and transparency shaped her cohesive personal brand

[06:43] Avery shares her experience on encountering shiny object syndrome without abandoning her strategy

[08:17] Avery reflects on losing focus, learning fast, and recommitting to her core business

[09:46] How Avery Carl decides what deserves her attention inside a growing business and shares how delegation, focus, and integrity guide her leadership style

[18:19] Avery explains how fluid boundaries help her balance business demands and family life

[19:45] Avery shares how virtual assistants and AI reduce the constant demands of short-term rental hospitality

[23:57] How Avery develops content ideas, refines the message, and publishes with consistency

[26:23] Avery looks back on when she realized content creation mattered and why she started later than most

[28:06] Avery explains how she evaluates content performance beyond likes, views, followers and how her platform strategy evolved from a few core channels to everywhere

[30:47] What are the biggest lessons Avery learned about focus, credibility, and follow-through from writing multiple books

[33:38] Avery’s advice to anyone dreaming of writing a book and emphasizes...

Ever felt like you’re building an empire on an island, carrying the entire mental load of your business while wondering why there isn’t a roadmap for women like you? Scaling to the top of this industry requires more than just strategy; it requires the grit to go first and the heart to bring others with you.

In this episode, I’m joined by the legendary Lisa Roads, a trailblazer who grew a UK property portfolio into a powerhouse managing over 175 luxury villas in Cyprus, all while pioneering a movement for women in hospitality.

We talk about:

1. How Lisa spotted a gap in the Cyprus market and scaled to 175+ luxury units before the industry had a manual.
2. The raw reality of the loneliness and lack of support that often comes with rapid growth.
3. Why Lisa is dedicated to solving the representation crisis and lifting the "unique burdens" women face in property management.
4. The essential boundaries you must set to ensure your business doesn’t consume your life.

But this isn't just about property counts or profit margins. It’s about reclaiming the narrative of the female entrepreneur. You’ll hear why true success isn’t just about the daring leaps you take for yourself, but about the space you carve out for others to be heard, supported, and celebrated.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of being the "only one" in the room or are ready to scale a business that aligns with your deepest values, this conversation is your blueprint. Get ready to move beyond the grind and start leading with legacy.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:01] A short introduction about our guests Lisa Roads, and shares her journey from long-term investor to industry leader while explaining her mission to elevate and support women in the short-term rental space

[05:31] Lisa Rhodes and I reflect on the power of women-centered communities to build confidence, visibility, and leadership in short-term rental businesses

[11:38] Lisa shares the realities of scaling a property management business to 175 high-performing properties by prioritizing alignment, systems, and long-term profitability

[14:22] Lisa emphasizes the importance of intentional, systems-driven growth over chasing door count and scaling chaos in large property management portfolios

[16:29] How intentionally defining the ideal guest, designing for that audience, and building strategic partnerships allowed Lisa to create demand in an undeveloped short-term rental market

[18:11] Lisa on creating high-trust travel agent partnerships and the operational systems that made them scalable

[20:51] Lisa explains how she built custom systems to manage bookings, property operations, and service delivery in a market without established short-term rental technology

[22:31] How building a support network was essential to managing the invisible mental load of running a business and caring for family

[25:50] Lisa emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, protecting mental and physical health, and intentionally scheduling downtime to prevent burnout as an entrepreneur

[29:19] Lisa reflects on growing up in an entrepreneurial, nomadic family, and emphasizes the importance of self-belief and having a solid...