In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast, Matt Codd and Austin Spitz sit down with Mike O’Connell, a seasoned STR operator and one of the founders of Happy Guest — a tool designed to make hosting easier, smoother, and more guest-focused.

We talk about:

• Mike’s journey from host to tech founder
• Why guest experience is the most overlooked growth lever
• How Happy Guest helps automate communication, check-ins, and 5-star stays
• Lessons learned from scaling hospitality tech

If you’re looking to stand out in a crowded market by delivering better experiences (without working harder), this is a must-listen.

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In this episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast, Matt Codd and Austin Spitz welcome back Justin Powell — but this time, it's not about a rental horror story. It’s about growth, hustle, and scaling fast. Justin shares how he went from zero to managing over 20 short-term rentals in less than a year, and what it took to build Seabrook Vacation Management into a thriving operation.

In this episode:

• How Justin found and onboarded 20+ properties
• What systems and processes kept him sane during the growth
• Lessons he learned the hard way (and how you can avoid them)
• Why relationship-building is his #1 growth hack

This is a must-listen for anyone growing their STR portfolio or looking to build a management business from scratch.

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In this bonus episode of The Co-Host Bros Podcast, Matt flies solo — no Austin, just vibes — and launches a brand new series: Co-Host Bros Woes. The concept? Real stories from real hosts about the disasters, headaches, and lessons that come from the darker side of short-term rentals.

This week’s guest is Justin Powell from Seabrook Vacation Management, and he’s bringing a doozy of a story involving guests, mistakes, and STR chaos.

If you’ve ever said, “This would make a great podcast episode,” this is the one.

Let us know if you like this series — and if you’ve got a story to share, DM us and come on the show!

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Instagram - @cohostbros

Facebook - @cohostbros

YouTube - @cohostbros

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Follow Matt

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Tik Tok @creativecodds

Facebook @matt.codd.3

Follow Austin

Facebook - @austin.spitzenburger

Instagram - @austin_spitzz

Tik Tok - @austin_spitzz