From television newsrooms to professional martial arts and eventually self-storage development, Thaddeus Campbell's journey has been anything but ordinary.

In this episode of No Vacancy, we sit down with the Director of Business Development at S3 Partners and host of Stories Behind the Door and Storage Unlocked to talk about taking risks, reinventing yourself, and finding success in unexpected places.

Thaddeus shares unforgettable stories from his fighting days, including stepping into the ring in front of Chuck Norris, before diving into the relationships that make self storage unique, today's development challenges, shifting market conditions, and why small-bay flex could represent a major opportunity for the industry's future.

It's a conversation about resilience, relationships, entrepreneurship, and recognizing opportunity, even when it looks a little different than you expected.

In this special episode of No Vacancy, we sit down with Foy Cooley, Founder and CEO of Access Self Storage, to look back on nearly 50 years of entrepreneurship, innovation, and change in the self-storage industry.

From taking a chance on a little-known concept and navigating high interest rates to building a lasting company culture, Foy shares the lessons that have shaped Access, and her leadership, along the way. Through it all, one philosophy has remained constant: do the right thing, invest in great people, and the business will follow.

It’s a conversation about business, family, leadership, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

Self-storage law has changed dramatically over the past 40 years, and few people have witnessed that evolution like Scott Zucker. In this episode of No Vacancy, we sit down with one of the industry's most respected attorneys to discuss how self-storage has transformed from a niche real estate asset into one of the strongest sectors in commercial real estate. Scott shares the biggest legal changes he's seen, memorable court cases, common operator misconceptions, and practical advice on everything from rental agreements and limitation of value to lien sales and tenant disputes. Along the way, we also explore his remarkable career, the importance of leaving a legacy, and why education and industry collaboration continue to shape the future of self storage. Whether you're a new operator or a seasoned veteran, this episode is filled with stories, insights, and legal lessons you won't want to miss.

Season 2 kicks off with a powerhouse panel featuring Jessica Johnson, Melissa Stiles, and Holly Fiorello, three of the industry's most respected marketing leaders and advocates. Together, they dive into how AI is reshaping customer search behavior, why independent operators have a unique opportunity to compete, the continued importance of grassroots marketing, influencer strategies, Google Business Profiles, and what today's self-storage customer really expects. The conversation also explores the value of state and national self-storage associations, leadership, networking, and the relationships that make this industry unlike any other. Whether you're an owner, operator, marketer, or vendor, this episode is packed with actionable insights and fresh perspectives to help prepare your business for what's next.

This week on No Vacancy, we sit down with Jessie Lamb, one of the most insightful voices in self storage operations and technology today.

From HR and call centers to multi-site operations and tech innovation, Jessie breaks down the operational side of self storage that most people never think about… but directly impacts performance every single day.

We dive into:

• Why maintenance and asset management are often the most overlooked part of the business
• How operators can scale smarter with better systems and workflows
• The challenges of implementing new technology and getting teams bought in
• Why company culture is everything in operations
• The future of hub-and-spoke and remotely managed facilities
• And of course… the unbelievable story of a storage unit filled with hundreds of chickens 🐔

As always, the conversation gets real, unfiltered, and occasionally off the rails — including lathes, baseball bats, vinyl records, and Celsius addictions.

If you’re in self storage, operations, or leadership, this episode is packed with practical insights and a lot of laughs along the way.

🎧 Listen now on No Vacancy.

In this episode of No Vacancy, we sit down with Gary Vaynerchuk for a raw, honest conversation about culture, leadership, and the reality of building a business that actually lasts.

We dig into what that actually means in the real world:

• Why most leaders say they care about culture, but don’t live it
• The truth about empathy in leadership (and whether it can be taught)
• Why tolerating one toxic employee can quietly destroy an entire company
• The balance between accountability and compassion
• And why playing the long game with people almost always wins, even when it’s harder in the moment

Gary also opens up about his personal mindset, the pursuit of massive goals (yes, including owning the New York Jets), and why the journey, not just the outcome, is what drives real fulfillment.

As always, we keep it No Vacancy style, real talk, a few laughs, and a conversation that goes deeper than the typical business playbook.

If you’re in self storage, or any business where it’s easy to blend in, this one is a must-listen.

In this episode of No Vacancy, the crew sits down with Daniel Gates of Gates Realty, engineer, broker, and third-generation operator, to talk about what it really takes to build and sustain a family real estate business for over 70 years.

From humble beginnings in post-WWII New Jersey to developing a thriving portfolio of small-bay warehouses and self storage facilities, Dan shares how Gates Realty evolved from maritime construction into a stable, cash-flow-driven real estate operation.

The conversation dives into:

• Why small-bay and multi-tenant assets outperform in uncertain markets
• The importance of low leverage and long-term thinking
• How to evaluate land, zoning, and deal feasibility
• The growing opportunity in flex space and co-warehousing
• And what it really means to “build homes for small businesses”

Plus, the guys keep it true to form with some laughs, a lightning round, and a few unexpected tangents (yes… wigs and karate boards included).

In this episode of No Vacancy, the crew dives into self-storage tech, without losing sight of the fundamentals that actually drive growth. From AI and automation to customer service empowerment, response time, and why “old school” service still wins. Along the way, they compare storage to grocery stores, telecom companies, and even self-checkout chaos, proving that sometimes the biggest competitive edge isn’t more tech… it’s better people.