Cash Flow Positive

Is your short-term rental income safe, or is the new Airbnb fee model slashing profits behind your back? Most hosts have no idea how much they’re really losing or why Vrbo is suddenly on the rise.
In this urgent, myth-busting episode, Kenny Bedwell sits down with revenue mastermind Emile Sakhel (Founder, Pricing by Mira) to expose the surprising ripple effects of Airbnb’s 15.5% host-only fee.
From real-world numbers to emotional guest decisions, you’ll learn exactly who’s winning and who’s losing after this game-changing shift. Discover proven tactics for protecting your net cash flow, avoiding “measurement mistakes,” and leveraging platform psychology before your next competitor.
Listen now to stop the silent drain on your profits. Avoid costly traps and get exclusive strategies you won’t hear from industry gurus or Facebook groups. This episode could mean the difference between cash flow victory and yearly regret.

Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] – Meet Emile Sakhel: The psychology (and math) of true STR profits
[00:02:37] – Airbnb’s shocking fee switch: The little-known 40% mistake sabotaging hosts
[00:04:14] – Why an 18.34% markup matters and the hidden math most hosts miss
[00:07:20] – The #1 mistake investors make when underwriting STR deals post-fee change
[00:10:09] – True or false: Did raising prices kill your ranking… or actually help?
[00:12:17] – Who’s quietly winning? The Vrbo surge nobody saw coming
[00:16:13] – Subscription secrets: How some hosts are crushing Airbnb margins on Vrbo
[00:23:17] – Price parity panic: Why guests (and algorithms) punish sloppy pricing
[00:31:19] – How to bulletproof your underwriting—get net right or get wrecked

About The Guest
Emile Sakhel is the founder of Pricing by Mira, a revenue management consultancy transforming how short-term rental operators pursue profit. Known for his deep-dive approach to revenue psychology, system building, and outperforming market RevPAR by up to 4x, Emile is a trusted educator and advisor for ambitious investors. He’s also the creator of My Revenue Academy, empowering hosts to master the art of pricing and platform strategy for themselves.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Mentioned Resources
My Revenue Academy
AirDNA
PriceLabs
RankBreeze
Vrbo (and “One Key” promo system)
DARM Conference (Data & Revenue Management)

Important Links
Want us to find the deals for you? https://strinsights.com
Get Top Markers for STRs (2025) - https://rebrand.ly/28b1df
Instagram – @kenny_bedwell
YouTube – Cash Flow Positive
LinkedIn – Kenneth Bedwell

Cash Flow Positive is an original podcast hosted by Kenny Bedwell. Brought to you by STR Insights. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Are you leaving hidden cash on the table after Airbnb’s dramatic fee overhaul or, worse, losing it without knowing?
In this data-charged episode, Kenny Bedwell breaks down the most misunderstood shift in recent STR history: Airbnb’s transfer of guest fees to hosts. If you’ve ever worried you’re charging the wrong nightly rate, or you’re blindsided by shrinking net returns despite steady bookings, you’re not alone.
With surgical clarity (and zero fluff), Kenny Bedwell reveals who actually won, who lost, and why only the savviest hosts survived. This isn’t another regurgitated news brief, it’s your exclusive masterclass on elasticity, ranking risk, and tactical pivots that could save (or sink) your STR portfolio.
Listen now to avoid sabotaging your own profits, act before your competition does, and get the unfiltered inside scoop you won’t find scrolling social or Reddit.

Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] The day everything changed: Airbnb’s shocking fee flip and what most hosts missed
[01:08] The chaos and confusion: Why hosts panicked over math and which ones got it right
[02:01] The 30/30/40 rule: Why most hosts failed to adjust and what it cost them
[05:57] The big economic reveal: Does the guest really care, or do hosts pay the highest price?
[07:09] The VRBO effect: How Airbnb’s move handed business to its rivals
[09:13] Secret algorithms: How fees, ranking, and property uniqueness now decide your fate
[11:14] Elastic vs. inelastic: Why “average” properties are at greatest risk in 2024
[15:20] How to future-proof your portfolio: Building your moat before the next big change

Mentioned Resources
VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner)
Ranking algorithm discussions on Airbnb

Important Links
Want us to find the deals for you? https://strinsights.com
Get Top Markers for STRs (2025) - https://rebrand.ly/28b1df
Instagram – @kenny_bedwell
YouTube – Cash Flow Positive
LinkedIn – Kenneth Bedwell

Cash Flow Positive is an original podcast hosted by Kenny Bedwell. Brought to you by STR Insights. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

in a short-term rental?
This episode will shake you out of indecision and challenge everything you thought you knew about market timing. Kenny Bedwell, founder of STR Insights, goes straight to the heart of opportunity cost, showing how hesitation can quietly devastate your wealth, your tax savings, and even your freedom.
Packed with frank, numbers-backed stories and actionable logic, Kenny breaks down why waiting for “the perfect market” is an investor’s biggest mistake and how missed months equal missed thousands. If you’re tired of guru hype and ready for practical data-driven education, tune in now. The longer you wait, the more you lose.
Listen today to avoid costly inaction and gain exclusive insight no algorithm or “expert” will give you. This episode is your wake-up call.

Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] – Why “timing the market” is just a myth (no crystal ball needed)
[00:02:42] – The shocking truth about real estate crashes and market cycles
[00:05:07] – The finite supply of “good deals” and how STR seasonality affects your shot
[00:07:18] – Real-life regret: Kenny’s confessions about not acting faster during COVID
[00:08:33] – How opportunity cost quietly steals your cash flow every missed month
[00:12:42] – Tale of two investors: Who wins and why taking action fuels exponential growth
[00:16:47] – “Ugly” puzzle properties: Why complexity signals massive upside
[00:22:17] – The secret to unlocking deals others fear (and how Kenny found a jackpot)
[00:23:30] – Kenny’s final brutal advice: Only act when you really have the means

Mentioned Resources
Goldman Sachs – Market rate forecast reference
Proper, Steadily – Insurance companies for STRs
Watkins Glen lottery system (STR permitting example)
Bonus depreciation (tax strategy for STR buyers)

Important Links
Want us to find the deals for you? https://strinsights.com
Get Top Markers for STRs (2025) - https://rebrand.ly/28b1df
Instagram – @kenny_bedwell
YouTube – Cash Flow Positive
LinkedIn – Kenneth Bedwell

Cash Flow Positive is an original podcast hosted by Kenny Bedwell. Brought to you by STR Insights. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Ever wonder why some real estate investors explode their portfolios while others fumble with endless spreadsheets?
Today, Kenny Bedwell pulls back the curtain on the STR Scale Summit and shares proven strategies, uncommon lessons, and hard truths from inside the event. If you crave more than generic advice, Kenny’s frank, numbers-driven breakdowns of scaling, partnerships, and real-world deal structures will give you exactly what you need.
This episode hits everything from micro resorts, boutique hotels, and creative financing, to why relationships—not just deal math—make or break your business. It’s the shortcut to avoid expensive mistakes, get access to exclusive insider tactics, and finally feel confident about scaling your STR game.
Listen now, because next year’s opportunities won’t wait, and this episode delivers practical, actionable takeaways you won’t get anywhere else.

Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] – STR Scale Summit recap: Will you be a victim of FOMO or grab your victory?
[00:01:24] – Why micro resorts are revolutionizing the cash flow game—economies of scale revealed
[00:03:15] – Inside boutique hotel investing: Real costs, real risks, and a live tour that shocked the crowd
[00:04:13] – The “whoopsie budget”—the surprising truth that blows up perfect spreadsheets
[00:05:47] – The 3 C’s of STR investing: Cute, Comfortable, Clean… and not over-amenitizing
[00:06:47] – Kenny’s “secret formula” for $100K+ cash flow properties—do you really know what to look for?
[00:07:25] – Raising capital, partnerships, and how not to get screwed—unfiltered deal structure lessons
[00:12:02] – Trust but verify: The hard rules for protecting yourself in partnerships
[00:13:08] – Why commercial lenders care about relationships more than your spreadsheets
[00:16:15] – The game-changing logistics every big investor now needs from Wayfair
[00:19:18] – Relationship ROI: Why “having a guy” beats hiring the big box company every time

Mentioned Resources
STR Scale Summit
Boutique hotel investing
Wayfair Professional account manager
BRRRR strategy
Commercial lending – Mark Sacco
506(c) and 506(b) syndication structures

Important Links
Want us to find the deals for you? https://strinsights.com
Get Top Markers for STRs (2025) - https://rebrand.ly/28b1df
Instagram – @kenny_bedwell
YouTube – Cash Flow Positive
LinkedIn – Kenneth Bedwell

Cash Flow Positive is an original podcast hosted by Kenny Bedwell. Brought to you by STR Insights. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Ever worry that one bad cleaning review could shatter your STR returns or even threaten your bookings? Imagine systematically boosting your ratings, delighting guests, and generating reliable cash flow, all simply by revolutionizing your approach to quality and teams.
This episode, host Kenny Bedwell sits down with short-term rental powerhouse Stacey St. John, whose unique playbook has catapulted her from long-term investor to founder of a wildly impactful community and management empire. Together, they destroy myths about “minimum viable cleaning,” break down why most owners are still losing thousands, and share the real leverage hidden in systems, mindset, and (yes) the legendary “toilet test.”
If you’re serious about staying competitive, maximizing income, and avoiding industry shakeout, you need these exclusive upgrades now, not next season. Listen in for data-backed strategies that no other podcast is telling you about.
Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] – A wild Ohio-to-beach vacation trend exposes a hidden rental goldmine
[00:02:13] – COVID, eviction bans, and the shocking trigger for a rental pivot
[00:03:33] – Why oceanfront for under $100k changed everything (and you missed it…)
[00:05:08] – Accidentally creating a 66,000-member community and why it matters
[00:11:46] – The real numbers: How “clean team” upgrades spiked ratings and revenue
[00:15:34] – Cattle call cleaners, uncomfortable truths, and busting industry norms
[00:29:40] – The “toilet test” and secrets of inspection culture that make or break your reviews
[00:41:56] – Building a true team: How to transform cleaners into your STR profit weapon

Mentioned Resources
Female Short-Term Rental Investors Facebook Group
Cozy Getaways
Book: Live Big by Stacey St. John
Airbnb
VRBO

About the Guest
Stacey St. John is a data-driven short-term rental investor, educator, and founder of Female Short-Term Rental Investors, the largest women’s STR community with over 66,000 members. Based in Cincinnati and operating properties across Myrtle Beach and Ohio, Stacey is also CEO of Cozy Getaways, where her focus on quality, systems, and empowering women has set new industry benchmarks for guest experience and financial performance.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

Important Links
Want us to find the deals for you? https://strinsights.com
Get Top Markers for STRs (2025) - https://rebrand.ly/28b1df
Instagram – @kenny_bedwell
YouTube – Cash Flow Positive
LinkedIn – Kenneth Bedwell

Cash Flow Positive is an original podcast hosted by Kenny Bedwell. Brought to you by STR Insights. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.