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In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Show, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Garr Russell, founder of Fireside RV Rentals, to unpack how a simple family RV purchase turned into one of the largest RV rental management franchises in the country. Garr shares his entrepreneurial journey from early lawn care businesses to building scalable systems in hospitality, why RV rental management is fundamentally different from short-term rentals, and how faith, discipline, and long-term thinking have shaped his approach to business. The conversation covers franchising, asset-light models, delegation, generational wealth, and why documenting systems is the real work behind scale.

Things You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How RV rental management works and why it differs from Airbnb-style real estate rentals
• Why turning lifestyle assets like RVs into income streams can offset ownership costs without chasing appreciation
• The economics behind Fireside’s 50/50 management model and why it makes sense in the RV industry
• What it takes to build and operate an RV rental management franchise with low overhead
• How franchising can be a faster and more scalable path than owning large fleets of depreciating assets
• The importance of documentation, systems, and delegation when scaling a hospitality business
• How faith influences Garr’s decision-making, leadership style, and approach to entrepreneurship
• Why thinking in terms of assets and recurring revenue changes how entrepreneurs build long-term wealth
• How community and support systems play a critical role in sustainable franchise growth
  
  

Connect with Garr Russell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrrussell
Website: https://firesidervrental.com/
https://firesidervrentalfranchise.com/
https://garrrussell.com/

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Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

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Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Show, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Tori Bolt, co-founder of Bolt Farm Treehouse, to unpack how one of the most recognizable names in experiential outdoor hospitality was built from a single handcrafted treehouse into a thriving, design-forward micro-resort.

Tori shares the real story behind Bolt Farm, including early missteps with zoning and entitlements, the painful decision to walk away from a failed development, and the lessons that shaped their successful relaunch in Tennessee.

The conversation dives deep into building with intention, scaling through offsite construction, designing amenities that actually drive revenue, and creating a hospitality brand centered on connection, relationships, and unforgettable guest experiences.

This episode is a masterclass for anyone building in hospitality who wants to grow with clarity, discipline, and heart.

Things You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Bolt Farm Treehouse evolved from a single wedding treehouse into a 33-unit experiential destination
• Why zoning, entitlements, and location selection can make or break a hospitality project
• The financial and operational lessons learned from a failed development and full restart
• How offsite construction and prefab manufacturing accelerated Bolt Farm’s growth
• Why focusing on a clear guest avatar leads to stronger branding and higher nightly rates
• How spa and wellness amenities can significantly impact revenue and margins
• The role of Instagram, influencers, and direct bookings in building demand before opening
• How to structure a hospitality team as you scale without bloating payroll
• What it takes to deliver “unreasonable hospitality” at scale
• Practical advice for couples building and running a business together

Connect with Tori Bolt

LinkedIn: Tori Bolt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-bolt/

Website: https://www.boltfarmtreehouse.com/

Instagram: @boltfarmtreehouse - https://www.instagram.com/boltfarmtreehouse/

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

Follow, Rate & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network! Your support helps us continue delivering conversations with industry leaders redefining hospitality.

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In this episode of The Radical Hospitality Show, host Zeke Freeman sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and hospitality visionary Sarah Dusek to explore what it really takes to build, scale, and reinvent purpose-driven travel brands. From her beginnings as an “accidental hotelier” to co‑founding Under Canvas, one of the largest luxury glamping brands in the U.S., Sarah shares candid stories of failure, resilience, and defining moments—including the night a storm flattened her entire camp.

The conversation dives deep into scalable business models, the power of repeatability, leadership through crisis, and why identity matters more than imitation in hospitality. Sarah also unpacks her current work with Few & Far, a transformational travel brand rooted in conservation in South Africa, and Enigma Ventures, an investment fund backing women founders across Africa.

This episode is a masterclass in problem‑solving, impact-driven entrepreneurship, and building businesses that balance people, planet, and profit.

Things You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Sarah transitioned from nonprofit work to building impact-driven hospitality businesses
• Why defining the right problem is half the solution in business and development
• Key lessons from scaling Under Canvas from “tents in a field” to a national brand
• What truly makes a business scalable—and why not every business should scale
• How to respond when everything falls apart (literally) and keep moving forward
• The importance of identity and personal values in hospitality brand design
• How Few & Far is redefining luxury travel through conservation, community, and carbon sequestration
• What investors really look for beyond pitch decks and financials
• Lessons Sarah learned moving from founder to investor and why she returned to building
• Practical advice for hospitality entrepreneurs navigating growth, capital, and leadership challenges

Connect with Sarah Dusek

• Website: https://www.sarahdusek.com
• Few & Far Travel: https://www.fandftravel.com
• Few & Far Luvhondo Lodge: https://www.fewandfarluvhondo.com
• Book: Thinking Bigger: A Pitch Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

Follow, Rate & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network! Your support helps us continue delivering conversations with industry leaders redefining hospitality.