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PODCAST

The Peak Season

Lucas Miller & Tyler Kostich

The Peak Season Podcast is where hospitality, entrepreneurship, and real estate intersect. Each episode dives into the strategies that drive high-performing short-term rentals — from pricing and guest experience to design, marketing, and leadership. Whether you’re managing properties, growing an STR portfolio, or exploring what it takes to build a truly exceptional hospitality brand, you’ll find real conversations, practical insights, and lessons learned from the field. Tune in to level up your

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All Episodes

00:25:17

E207 - Simple Systems That Add Real Profit to...

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/29

Episode SummaryIn this episode ofThe Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler break down real-world, low-effort strategies that directly increase short-term rental profit. Using recent bookings at White Birch Cabin as a case study, they explain how small system tweaks—like minimum stay adjustments, direct booking visibility, and smart upsells—can add thousands of dollars to the bottom line without adding operational stress. This episode is all about thinking like an operator, not just a host.Key

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00:34:31

E206: Evaluating a New STR Market from 30,000 Feet:...

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/27

🎙️ Episode Show NotesEpisode Title:Evaluating a New STR Market from 30,000 Feet: The Bourbon Trail (Part 1)---### Episode DescriptionIn this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler step outside their usual Michigan focus and evaluate a brand-new short-term rental market: Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. Rather than jumping straight into spreadsheets and underwriting, this episode intentionally stays at the 30,000-foot level—the phase where operators decide whether a market is even worth deeper

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00:21:41

E205: Reading Market Demand Before You Panic Price

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/22

Show NotesIn this episode ofThe Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler return toPriceLabsfor a hands-on walkthrough of one of the most underused (and misunderstood) features in the platform:Neighborhood Data and Market Dashboards.The conversation starts with a familiar host fear—“I was way more booked this time last year… should I be worried?”—and quickly turns into a data-driven framework for answering that questionwithout panic-cutting prices.Luke shares how to comparecurrent market occupancy vs

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00:29:17

Episode 204: Gap Nights & Minimum Stays During Peak...

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/20

📝 Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Tyler and Lucas unpack one of the most debated levers in vacation‑rental strategy: Should you hold firm to a seven‑night minimum during peak season, or open the calendar to shorter stays to fill gap nights?They explore how each approach affects revenue, workload, guest satisfaction, and operational flow, weaving in real examples from their own portfolios. The conversation also highlights the importance of active pricing, the role of

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00:36:25

E203 - Brandon Wood Part 2

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/15

The Peak Season Podcast – Part 2 with Brandon WoodIn Part Two of our conversation, Brandon Wood goes deep on what actually powers a scalable short-term rental operation—without burning out or over-engineering too early.We cover Brandon’s full tech stack (from PMS to insurance), how he thinks about outsourcing versus control, and whytimeis the real bottleneck most operators ignore. Brandon also shares real-world customer service stories that should’ve been one-star disasters—but turned into five-star

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00:41:32

E202 - From W2 to 11 STRs: Brandon Wood’s Approach to...

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/13

📄 Episode SummaryIn this episode ofThe Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler sit down withBrandon Wood, founder of Adventure Nest, for a candid conversation about what itactuallylooks like to scale a short-term rental portfolio without losing your sanity—or your family in the process.Brandon shares his journey from a demanding W2 career into full-time short-term rentals, including how he went from a single property to operating11 high-quality STRs across multiple states. Rather than chasing door

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00:27:16

Episode 201 - The STR Reset: Why 2026 Could Be the...

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/08

🎙️ Peak Season PodcastThe AirDNA 2026 Outlook: Why the Next STR Buying Window Might Be Closer Than You ThinkIn this episode, Luke Miller and Tyler K break down the latestAirDNA2026 Outlookand what it means for short-term rental owners, investors, and operators heading into the next cycle.We unpack a rare convergence of market forces—falling mortgage rates, stabilizing home prices, and recovering travel demand—that could create one of the most attractive entry points the STR industry has seen in

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00:17:37

Most Hosts Don’t Do This—and It Shows in Their Revenue

The Peak Season ·

2026/01/06

Episode SummaryIn this solo episode ofThe Peak Season Podcast, Luke breaks down a practical, repeatable system for forecasting short-term rental revenue using PriceLabs and a simple spreadsheet. Instead of vague goals like “make more money,” Luke walks through how to set clear monthly revenue targets, track progress in real time, and adjust pricing strategy based on occupancy, seasonality, and lead times.Using a real property in Northwest Michigan, Luke shows how treating pricing like a fitness

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00:25:34

6 Lessons Learned Launching an Airbnb in 6 Days

The Peak Season ·

2025/12/30

Episode DescriptionIn this episode ofThe Peak Season Podcast, Luke shares a behind-the-scenes look at what itreallytakes to launch a short-term rental at warp speed. From the closing table to live in just six days — and from over 1,000 miles away — this was not a smooth, Instagram-worthy rollout.Between delayed closings, Midwest blizzards, scattered Wayfair boxes, canceled deliveries, marathon sourcing trips, and a smart lock that absolutely refused to cooperate, Luke breaks down the lessons learned

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00:28:10

From Chaos to Control: Automating STR Operations with...

The Peak Season ·

2025/12/18

🎙️ Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler break down the property management system Hospitable and how hosts can use it to streamline operations and elevate the guest experience. They cover automated messaging rules, review workflows, team communication, and smart home integrations, sharing practical tips from real hosting experience. Whether you manage one property or a growing portfolio, this episode offers actionable insights to help you save time, improve

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00:26:50

Two Properties. One Month. Zero Margin for Error.

The Peak Season ·

2025/12/15

Episode SummaryLuke and Tyler sit down for a real-time catch-up as Luke races to bringtwo new short-term rentals online before year-end. One isAlm Haus, Luke’s first major renovation, and the other is a newly acquired“tree house vibe” propertynear Bellaire.They unpack winter booking softness, renovation realities, vendor coordination during the holidays, and whysoft openingswith trusted guests can save you from costly mistakes. The episode also dives into thetax-driven urgencybehind getting

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00:08:51

Overwhelmed? Try This.

The Peak Season ·

2025/12/11

SummaryIn this Real Talk episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke opens up about something every short-term rental host eventually hits: end-of-season burnout. Between wrapping renovations, racing toward year-end tax deadlines, juggling slow-season bookings, and navigating holiday stress, it’s a lot.Luke shares the simple mental framework he leans on when the entrepreneurial pressure cooker gets too hot — a three-part reset he callsState, Story, Strategy. You’ll learn how to quickly get out of your

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00:16:06

Comp Sets 101: The PriceLabs Feature Most Hosts Ignore

The Peak Season ·

2025/12/09

SummaryIn this solo episode, Luke takes listeners behind the curtain of PriceLabs and breaks down the features most hosts overlook—Market Dashboards and comp sets. Luke shares how he analyzes competitor pricing and occupancy, how he builds comp sets that reveal real market patterns, and why triangulating data leads to smarter, more profitable pricing decisions. If you’ve ever opened PriceLabs, clicked around, and pretended you knew what you were looking at… this episode will get you genuinely

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00:09:09

Stop Wasting Your Property Visits: 7 Moves That...

The Peak Season ·

2025/12/04

SummaryIn this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke walks through seven practical tips for making the most of your visits to your vacation rental property. He covers how to choose the right timing, why solo trips often lead to better efficiency, and how simple organization—like keeping running lists—can make each visit more productive.Luke also touches on the value of batching errands, hiring help for small but time-consuming tasks, documenting your property with updated photos and videos,

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00:23:53

From W2 to Freedom: Tyler Kostich on Real Estate and...

The Peak Season ·

2025/12/02

✨ SummaryIn this episode of The Peak Season Podcast, Tyler Kostich opens up about his inspiring journey from military service and a W2 career in human resources to becoming a full-time entrepreneur in real estate and consulting. He shares how short-term rentals became both a passion and a business, the role of family support in his transitions, and the lessons learned about fulfillment, gratitude, and automation. This is a story of courage, connection, and carving out a life aligned with personal

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00:06:44

Thanksgiving Bonus Episode - Holiday Bonuses - Who?...

The Peak Season ·

2025/11/26

🦃 SummaryIn this Thanksgiving special of thePeak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler dig into one of the most underrated levers in the STR world: holiday bonuses for cleaners. They break down how to decide on bonus amounts, why timing matters, and creative ways to show appreciation beyond cash. The duo highlights how gratitude, recognition, and treating your team like actual humans (wild concept, we know) creates better service, happier guests, and a stronger business all year long.🎯 TakeawaysA solid

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00:25:10

Luke’s Story: What Real Estate Taught Me About Myself

The Peak Season ·

2025/11/20

🎙️ SummaryIn this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, we dive into Luke’s real estate journey — from his early days in long-term rentals to discovering the world of short-term rentals and the markets that shaped him. Luke shares the wins, the mistakes, and the mindset shifts that helped him grow not just as an investor, but as a person.He opens up about the Smoky Mountains, why Northern Michigan captured his heart, and how understanding markets, taking risks, and learning through experience helped

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00:24:34

Co‑hosting 101 — What It Is and Why It’s Changing the...

The Peak Season ·

2025/11/18

📌 SummaryIn this episode of The Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler explore the growing world of co-hosting — a smart alternative to traditional property management for Airbnb and Vrbo owners. They break down what co-hosting is, how it works, and why it’s becoming the go-to solution for property owners who want to maximize revenue, save time, and maintain control without the full workload of self-management.Luke and Tyler also dive into the practical benefits: how co-hosting can improve guest

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00:25:28

Handling Difficult Guests Like a Pro

The Peak Season ·

2025/11/13

In this episode of thePeak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler break down one of the most critical (and underrated) skills in the short-term rental industry:handling difficult guests. From unexpected complaints to avoidable misunderstandings, they share real-world examples and proven strategies for keeping guest interactions smooth, professional, and empathetic.Listeners will learn how to deescalate tense moments, communicate clearly, document everything, and implement proactive systems that reduce

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00:23:32

Real Talk: Growing Business, Shrinking Team: Turning...

The Peak Season ·

2025/11/11

📌 SummaryIn this episode of The Peak Season Podcast, hosts Luke and Tyler get real about one of the most stressful operational challenges in the short-term rental world: losing trusted members of the cleaning team. When two key cleaners suddenly step away, it could feel like a major setback — especially while expanding a property portfolio.Instead of panicking, the guys break down how they turned this pain point into an opportunity to elevate their cleaning operations, improve quality control, and

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27 results

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