Send us a textWhat happens when self-storage meets artificial intelligence? Scott Meyers and Joe Downs reunite right after their Mastermind and Academy events to dive deep into the game-changing role of AI in the self-storage industry. Fresh from coaching hungry investors through their first deals, they shift gears into a passionate discussion about AI’s transformational power—from automating market analysis and underwriting to building personalized dashboards and internal GPTs that replace hours of manual work. With Joe’s infectious excitement and Scott’s strategic insight, this episode delivers a powerful look at how leveraging AI can drastically speed up, simplify, and supercharge success in real estate investing—especially self-storage. Listen For:1:17 Seal the Deal: Whale hunts, masterminds, and champagne for first deals4:23 Hungry Dogs and First Wins: The energy of new investors and what fuels momentum11:00 AI Revelation: How Joe realized he's spending 50% of his time learning AI19:05 Market GPT is Here: The birth of Belrose’s self-storage-specific AI30:52 Redefining Industry Norms: Why common metrics like supply index might be outdated CONNECT WITH GUEST: JOE DOWNSLinkedIn | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.
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Is the Future of Self Storage AI + Franchise Systems?
Send us a textWant to future-proof your storage business? It starts with systems, scale—and a bit of AI.Scott Meyers welcomes Steve Raposa from Mini Mall Storage Properties, who shares his unique journey from military service to hospitality and finally to becoming a key player in the self-storage world. They explore how franchise systems and hospitality efficiency directly translate into scalable, streamlined self-storage operations. From the impact of AI on underwriting and marketing to the importance of charitable giving and personal growth, this episode dives deep into what it means to run and scale a modern storage business in a data-driven world WHAT TO LISTEN FOR4:12 Franchise Thinking in Self Storage7:08 Can AI Make Storage Smarter?12:16 Zoning, Data, and the AI Revolution14:40 AI's Impact on Labor and Marketing18:32 Giving Back: Veterans & St. Jude Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH STEVEN RAPOSALinkedIn | Mini Mall StorageCONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.
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Relief Rally Ahead and What It Means for YOU
Send us a textIs the economy heading for a soft landing… or a “touch-and-go”? Scott Meyers is joined with economist Mark Vitner, to unpack why commercial real estate got overpriced during the low-rate era, how self-storage cap rates often move differently from other asset classes, and what falling market rates plus clearer tariff policy could mean for deals ahead.Vitner flags a likely 75 bps easing path and a housing cool-stress-relief scenario (mortgages in the 6–6.5% band), with meaningful improvement showing up around April next year. He also maps migration winners (Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia; continued heat in Dallas, Houston, Miami, Charlotte, Raleigh) and why that churn is good for storage—plus practical advice for operators and new investors alike. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR7:01 How ultra-low rates inflated CRE values8:40 Why self-storage cap rates can buck the trend13:55 Vitner’s “touch-and-go” landing and 75 bps roadmap27:51 Florida’s out-migration—and the Carolinas surge29:28 Today’s hottest metros for storage demand Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH MARK VITNERLinkedIn | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.
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The Human Side of Smart Storage
Send us a textCan AI truly replace the human touch in self-storage? Scott Meyers welcomes Mason Levy, founder of Swivl, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming customer engagement across the self-storage industry. From its surprising roots in healthcare and cannabis tech to powering over 4,700 self-storage facilities today, Swivl is revolutionizing the contact center model with its AI-driven platform. The conversation dives deep into conversational AI, human-in-the-loop systems, future-proofing tech stacks, and why personalization still matters in an automated worldWHAT TO LISTEN FOR0:56 The Accidental Storage Tech Founder5:48 What Makes Swivl Different From Just Another Chatbot?10:31 Smarter Gate Codes & SMS: Real-Life Use Cases20:59 Swivl’s Future: Voice AI, Contact Center Suite & More32:55 The Human Side of Storage: Why Empathy Still WinsLeave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH MASON LEVYLinkedIn | Swivl CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.
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Park’n Shade: A Game Changer in Storage?
Send us a textWhat does it take to turn a family carport business into a multi-state RV storage powerhouse? Scott Meyers talks with Travis Bailey, owner of Park’n Shade, about the booming demand for covered RV and boat storage. Travis shares his journey from working summers in his dad’s business to buying it outright, and the evolution of RV storage from a niche service to a necessity driven by rising vehicle values and customer expectations. They discuss market demand, construction challenges, regional trends, solar integration, and how cautious growth has fueled Park’n Shade’s steady expansion across eight states. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR0:58 How a Carport Company Became an RV Storage Leader3:06 Surviving the 2008 Downturn7:56 The Shift from Luxury to Necessity in Covered RV Storage17:54 Why Some Developers Are Sitting Out (and Others Aren’t)24:29 Industry Crystal Ball: Where Covered RV Storage Is Headed Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH TRAVIS BAILEYLinkedIn | Park‘n Shade | CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.
This is the Self Storage Investing podcast, where we share the knowledge and skills from the industry’s leading investors, developers, and operators to help you launch and grow your self-storage investing business. What made them a success? Built their wealth? What was their mindset and mentality as they entered the space and found room for business growth? Led by podcast host Scott Meyers, the ORIGINAL SELF STORAGE EXPERT, we have a track record spanning two decades having successfully acquired, converted, developed, and syndicated over 4 1/2 million square feet of self-storage properties nationwide. Discover the secrets to building wealth and creating a thriving business mindset through our insightful episodes with leading experts. We delve into topics such as navigating recessions and market crashes, as well as the lucrative world of real estate investing through self storage. Join us as we explore strategies, tactics and insider tips that will propel your self storage investing journey toward prosperity. Get ready to unlock the potential of this lucrative (recession-proof) industry and embark on a path to financial freedom.
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