Latest news with #hosts
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: Spare party guests the ‘life story' video
Dear Miss Manners: We've been invited to a combination multi-graduate/Father's Day gathering at an in-law's house. The hosts suggested it in order to honor all the fathers in the family, as well as the three graduates: my husband from grad school, our son from high school and the hosts' daughter from high school. Our in-laws have offered to provide all the food and beverages.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How To Make Money Podcasting: 5 Tips From "The Fantasy Footballers"
The Fantasy Footballers Sirius XM With more than five million podcasts in circulation globally, it can be difficult for creators to break through and build a profitable show. But for the hosts of one of the top fantasy football podcasts in the country, the formula for success and making money has been rooted in authenticity, trust, and smart business decisions. Here's how " The Fantasy Footballers" built a thriving podcast brand — and what other creators can learn from their approach. "A big driver of our success is the deep trust and authenticity we've built with our listeners and fans," the hosts said. "At its core, we're just being ourselves." The show started organically as conversations between friends who had worked together for years. "The three of us have worked together for years, so we've had the chemistry you hear on the show today from many lunch conversations over the years. The show is just those lunch convos… with microphones. We are essentially listeners' fantasy football buddies." That familiarity and camaraderie have helped attract and retain a loyal audience. "That authenticity is what's built our audience, and once they find us, they tend to stick around," they said. Rather than limiting its content to a single platform, the podcast team expanded its presence across multiple channels, including audio, YouTube, and social media. "Since the beginning, we've met our audience where they are – whether that's audio, YouTube or social," the hosts said. In 2024, they announced an exclusive partnership with SiriusXM, a move that further expanded their reach and opened up new opportunities to monetize. "Every episode of our show also airs on SiriusXM's Fantasy Sports Radio channel," they said. "It's another awesome way to get our content out there and reach even more fantasy football fans." They also create exclusive, standalone content for the SiriusXM app, designed to give listeners a deeper level of insider access. "The power of podcasting is in the ability to connect with fans in a truly authentic and meaningful way," said Lizzie Collins, senior vice president and head of B2B marketing at SiriusXM Media. "Andy, Jason and Mike of The Fantasy Footballers really embody that, and we're proud to support their growth across platforms through Creator Connect." "Trust with listeners and brands is essential to securing and maintaining impactful sponsorships and monetization," the hosts said. "Our fans spend time with us every day as we help them navigate their leagues and win championships. That builds real trust over time – and because we're selective with advertisers, our endorsements carry weight with the audience." One example is a branded segment called "Raising Cane's Rising Stars," sponsored by the fast-food chain Raising Cane's, which highlights emerging NFL players. "About 90% of our brand partners return to sponsor future segments because our integrations run deep and our audience connects their love for the show with our genuine enthusiasm for the brands and products we endorse," they said. Their continued success with advertisers underscores a larger trend — that fantasy football is no longer a niche hobby but part of a growing, multibillion-dollar industry. Their top piece of money advice for fellow creators is to focus on the opportunities that matter most. "Sometimes you have to say 'no' or 'not yet' – focus on the opportunities that make the most impact," they said. "The 80/20 principle is key to our business. Opportunities come from all over the place, but you need to focus on your primary disciplines and select your partnerships and opportunities carefully to maximize impact." By keeping a tight focus on their core content and audience, they've avoided distractions and scaled their show in a sustainable way. For these hosts, success is about more than downloads or dollars. "We're all family guys. Each of us has three kids," they said. "Being able to create a company centered around something we are all passionate about — fantasy football — and creating a show that we're happy for our kids and families to listen to has been an incredible opportunity that represents a 'richer life' to us." Whether you're just starting a podcast or looking to take your show to the next level, the path to monetization is built on connection, consistency, and credibility.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
A vacation in a flowerpot... and a Chinook? 10 incredible US homes that make Airbnb's ‘most wishlisted' ranking for 2025
It seems that when it comes to staycations, Americans are swapping the tried and tested for something a little different. That's according to Airbnb and its 2025 list of the most wishlisted homes in every state. The rental platform notes that it contains "one-of-a-kind stays that offer completely immersive experiences' – and as our pick of the bunch below shows, it's a fair assessment. Scroll down to behold 10 incredible rentals guaranteed to enshrine your next vacation as unforgettable, from a fairytale tower to a train caboose, and from a "flowerpot home" to a refurbished bus with aurora views. Flowerpot home in Burley, Idaho A "blooming good time" is always on the cards at the "flowerpot" home in Burley, Idaho, according to the hosts. The rental offers views of their neighboring flower farm, while inside is a sleeping loft accessed by a spiral staircase and, on the ground floor, a modish sofabed and kitchenette. The reviews for the property are overwhelmingly positive, with one visitor describing it as "cute and perfect". Sleeps four. Cost per night from around $340. Airbnb The Copper Fox Treehouse, Maine If you feel like you're in a dream while staying in this fox-shaped abode, say the hosts, "it's because you are". They explain: "This fox-shaped home came to the owner/designer/builder in a dream and slowly came to life over a four-and-a-half-year time period." The rental is the guest house to the owner's private home, which nestles in six acres of land next to Bradbury Mountain State Park. Reviewer Edward said: "The natural smell of wood welcomes you as soon as you open the door, and you wake up to tree-speckled sunlight. Definitely our favorite place to stay in more than 10 years of Airbnb-ing." Sleeps four - best for a couple or a family with one to two kids. Cost per night from around $450. Airbnb 'Park bus', Fairbanks, Alaska This former Denali National Park shuttle bus has been refurbished to "provide a comfortable and memorable place to stay". It's permanently parked on a knoll between Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs Resort – the "perfect" place for aurora viewing, with guests able to use nearby foot trails for snowshoeing, skiing and berry picking. Other activity options for the itinerary include ATV, snowmobile, and rafting tours; plus reindeer farm visits. In the evenings, the bus offers a "magical and romantic" place to bed down for the night, according to one reviewer. It sleeps five, courtesy of a king-sized bed, a fold-down couch and a convertible bench – and there's a farmhouse-style kitchen for rustling up meals. Calls of nature can be answered in the outhouse, but guests need to purchase showers, which can be taken in a nearby unit. Cost per night from around $170. Airbnb Train caboose in Lynchburg, Virginia All aboard for a truly unique Airbnb experience – a train caboose that the owners bought on Facebook Marketplace and converted into a stunning rental for three guests. It's called James Station and sits on a section of railway track above the James River, a railway line and a pipe-making plant on the north-east side of Lynchburg. The owners describe the area as a "beautiful, historic front-porch neighborhood" where "everyone knows everyone and watches out for each other". Read more: They list sitting on the porch swing and watching the trains and "factory action" as a recommended activity, but warn that the "industrial experience will not be for everyone". The caboose interior, however, is likely to be universally adored – it comes with hammocks and voguish furniture fit for a magazine cover. Guests are generally extremely impressed, describing it variously as "beautiful", "fun", and "cozy". Stays cost from $220 a night. Airbnb Chinook helicopter, Brooksville, Florida Book into this "meticulously transformed" Chinook, located on a "serene" compound inside the Withlacoochee State Forest, and your vacation is bound to take off. The incredible former army helicopter, which was used in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, features a bedroom in the cockpit. A further bedroom is positioned by the loading ramp, where cargo would have been loaded and unloaded during missions. "You can almost feel the aura of the hard-working veterans," says the listing. It adds that there is a full kitchen, bath and living area that have been custom-designed for the space, "with every design detail poured over". Sleeps six. Stays from $286. Airbnb 'Spectacular Spyglass Treehouse', Sonoma County, California If Bilbo Baggins built a treehouse, it might look something like the "Spyglass Treehouse", a cylindrical haven nestling among the giant redwoods of Sonoma County. The listing urges you to "immerse yourself in the serenity" of the forest, and to explore nearby "rugged cliffs and pristine beaches". Once that's ticked off, you can relax in the outdoor cedar hot tub and curl up in the king-sized bed. "Come, experience the extraordinary," teases the owner. Hyperbole? Reviewers don't think so. They describe it as "so romantic" and the "perfect escape". Sleeps two. Stays from $776. Airbnb Elevation 40 Zion cabin, Apple Valley, Utah City dweller fed up with gridlocked traffic and crowded malls? This captivating cabin in South Zion may be just what you need to decompress. The listing beckons you to a "realm where untamed beauty meets modern comfort, where the vastness of the desert landscape becomes your personal sanctuary". Your neighbors here will be bighorn sheep, squirrels, chipmunks, desert hares, eagles and coyotes. And some might invite themselves in, with the listing warning that mountain mice and woodrats "may find their way into the vicinity". But rest assured, they're visits that "are part of the wilderness experience". A quick glance at the reviews and it's clear that this is one of Airbnb's most-loved properties, with past guests breathlessly describing it as "amazing", "magical" and a "true hidden gem". Sleeps seven. Stays from $965. Airbnb Still Bend by Frank Lloyd Wright, Two Rivers, Wisconsin A true masterpiece, Still Bend is the real-life version of a "dream home" that renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright submitted in 1938 to LIFE magazine for an article called "Eight Houses for Modern Living". It was commissioned by Two Rivers businessman Bernard Schwartz - and the rest is, as they so often say, history. Today, the property, smothered in red brick, is a chance for vacationers to "experience the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright's vision for American family life". Describing the design in LIFE, he wrote: "American family life is unlike any other in the world and I think this plan recognizes it for pretty much what it is - a little private club, with special privacies, ultra conveniences and style all the while." The listing adds: "Every turn will reveal a new detail that reaffirms Wright's genius." There are enticements in Two Rivers as well, a historic fishing town with museums, town-square concerts and a 120-year-old department store. Sleeps eight. Stays from around $700. Airbnb The Glade Top Fire Tower treehouse, Bradleyville, Missouri Deep in the Mark Twain National Forest is this one-of-a-kind rental with a "lookout tower" vibe. There's a first-floor deck area with a swinging bed and a grilling station, and a luxurious bedroom, kitchenette and outdoor shower above this on the second floor - at a height of 40ft. Don't worry about hauling luggage up there - there's a basket/winch system that'll take the strain. "If you're looking for a unique experience and to get away from it all, this is the place to book," says reviewer Hailey. "It's extremely secluded with beautiful scenery and unmatched unique architecture." Sleeps two. Stays from $265. Airbnb Gingerbread House tower, Tyringham, Massachusetts Step into a fairytale with a stay in the tower of the "Gingerbread House", located on the Santarella Estate in the Berkshires. The listing reveals that there's a sofa, a hanging chair, and a "huge walk-in shower". Plus, windows offer views out into the gardens, where you'll discover a lily pond, stone bridges and a wooded area. "A storybook experience," the owners add. And past guests agree, hailing it as "enchanting" and "as magical as the photos suggest".
Condé Nast Traveler
06-05-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Airbnbs in Tuscany for Your Next Trip to the Italian Countryside
The landscapes of Tuscany are regarded as some of the most beautiful in the world: wild, beautiful, unspoilt hillsides, dotted occasionally with the odd ancient barn, secluded villa, and crumbly ruin, plus wide expanses of olive groves and vineyards reaching as far as the eye can see. The area is vast, with a plethora of cities and towns rich in culture and history ripe for exploring—it is the birthplace of the Renaissance, after all—with Pisa, Florence, and Lucca, to name a few, all sitting within this region. With such a wide area comes a diverse selection of places to stay, and that can make the choice overwhelming. That's where we come in. We've done the legwork for you and found the best Airbnbs in Tuscany to book right now. We've scoured through the listings, choosing our top picks based on the best areas to stay in the region, aesthetic appeal, and the helpfulness of the host, so you'll be ready and armed with all the recommendations you'll need to truly live like a local. Read on for 15 of the best Airbnbs in Tuscany. We've vetted these listings based on Superhost status, ratings, amenities, location, previous guest reviews, and decor. Top picks:
