Podcast
Stay In Good Company
Hosted by Mollie Reese · EN
Stay In Good Company is a podcast series sharing the stories of families behind independently owned and operated stays and experiences across the world. From the history of the places to the personal visions for the businesses. From the variety of experiences offered to the attention to details that make each stay truly unique.
Stay In Good Company captures the fond memories and traditions, past advice and future excitement of these places. Introducing a global audience of mindful slow travelers to the welcoming hospitality of family raised and run homestays.
14episodes
Episodes
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S9. | E5. Serenbe | Atlanta, Georgia | Steve Nygren Proves That Changing The World Begins In Your Own Backyard With His Award-Winning Biophilic Community
Nov 2500:40:13Tap to summarize“Generally you have to choose one and drive to the other. You have to choose either a rural setting or an area that has all these services with it—you walk to the schools, the hospitality, the shops, the medical services. And so one of the key things is it's all here—you just decide which door you're gonna go out.”We’re in great company with Steve Nygren, the visionary behind, and steward of Serenbe, an award winning biophilic community on the edge of Atlanta that connects its residents and guests to nature and each other. A place where fresh air, fresh food, and fresh ideas flourish. Whether you come for a weekend escape at The Inn at Serenbe or envision making it home for a lifetime, this community offers a living model of how we can reconnect with what matters most.In this Thanksgiving episode, Steve reminds us that if we want to change the world, we can start in our own backyards—sharing how his family's dedication to protecting their land has blossomed into a movement inspiring communities around the globe to live in harmony with nature.Top Takeaways[1:45] Listen as Steve’s story comes full circle, from farm roots through urban hospitality ownership, ultimately back to the land where he planned to raise his family—only to discover it was threatened by urban sprawl and desperately in need of a creative solution.[4:30] “ The effort was to not convince one side to come over to the other, but rather find a solution where each group could get more, that we could get a higher value for the land than they had ever thought they could, and to preserve more of it than we ever thought possible.” [11:10] With English countryside villages and European hamlets as his blueprint, Steve built Serenbe on four essential components—art for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health and wellness for vitality, and education for growth.[15:10] Across 2,000 acres of biophilic community design, Serenbe's miles of nature trails weave together homes, restaurants, and arts businesses while immersing visitors in rich sensory experiences around every corner. [20:30] At The Inn at Serenbe, guests can experience community life firsthand through a selection of rooms and cottages that offer both modern luxury and authentic connection to the land, complete with farm-to-table dining and access to all of Serenbe's wellness amenities.[22:30] Guests can dine and drink in good company across Serenbe's spectrum of culinary offerings—from refined seasonal menus to casual bites around the community—with every dish celebrating locally sourced ingredients grown under the nurturing care of neighbors. [25:25] Serenbe's amenities and activities celebrate both relaxation and exploration, offering everything from rejuvenating yoga classes to horseback riding adventures, and charming community experiences like feeding farm animals and listening to live music.[28:50] At its core, biophilic design embraces living in harmony with nature as a community to achieve well-being, sustainability and prosperity, creating spaces where this principle can flourish for individuals, the places we live, and the world around us.[30:10] Serenbe's future embraces a vision of "free range kids" and elders living in harmony together, applying Blue Zone principles to create a lifestyle that values longevity, community, and the richness of multigenerational living.Notable MentionsLast Child In The Woods by Richard LouvAtlanta BeltlineNew York City High LineStart In Your Own Backyard by Steve NygrenVisit For YourselfSerenbe Website | @serenbeSteve Nygren Website
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S9. | E4. Restaries | Suffolk, England | Gem & Thom Transform A Historic Suffolk Farm Into Contemporary Retreats Away From The Ordinary Grind
Nov 1300:49:30Tap to summarize“ It has to mean something to you in order for it to mean something to anybody else. And that's all we're dealing with really. We're giving people the most authentic version of what we see as hospitality that we can give. For us it's a very simple equation of giving what we really would like to receive.”We’re in great company with Gem Boner and Thom Scherdel, the tastemakers behind Restaries, a collection of contemporary accommodations and event spaces located on the border of Suffolk and Norfolk, where epic woodlands meet serene sea fronts. Here, they have curated not just a place to stay, but a deliberate pause from the ordinary grind. Set on the grounds of a 16th-century Suffolk farm with a rich history spanning cider production to New World Music distribution, Paradise Farm has always been about creating experiences that bring people together.In this episode, Gem and Thom discuss how they've learned that luxury comes not from ostentation but from time, connection, and the simple art of making every guest feel genuinely welcomed home.Top Takeaways[1:50] After years of telling other brands' stories—from Topshop showrooms to Soho House events—Gem and Thom discovered that their greatest collaboration would be both personal and professional—creating the hospitality experience they'd always wished existed.[9:10] From bubbling cider production to spinning vinyl records, Paradise Farm has always been about creating experiences that bring people together—a legacy Gem and Thom honor as they write their own chapter in this 500-year story of craft, culture, and community.[16:05] Perfectly positioned among Suffolk's coastal heritage, rolling farmland, and vibrant independent towns, Paradise Farm's 10 secluded acres offer everything from tree-lined tranquility to quick beach escapes and the kind of brilliant stargazing that inspired their very name. [20:50] Each accommodation honors its original purpose while embracing “Mother Nature's color palette,” championing sustainable brands and local ceramicists whose stories are shared through Restaries’ Rest & Read series.[25:20] “We adapt the land to cater for every need"—from romantic proposal setups in candlelit spaces to pizza-making in lush gardens, from woodland cocktails classes to communal dining experiences—Gem and Thom create the art of play and discovery through genuine hospitality.[29:15] Restaries’ "marketing team" of Pedigree Pygmy goats, Valais Blacknose sheep, and Kune Kune pigs offer guests real things and real feelings—from naughty goats greeting arrivals to calm alpacas that respond to chilled energy.[33:00] Kitchen garden beginnings meet seasoned culinary takeovers and locally acclaimed producers—as Restaries becomes the home for London chefs looking to escape the city to craft woodland dining experiences with seasonal Suffolk produce.Notable MentionsDesign & That interior designColors of Arley fabricsPophams ceramicsVerden scentsSomerset GrillChef @WasteNotRowen Fen Farm Dairy Flint VineyardThe SuffolkThe Black Dog DeliPinchAlde CafeGreyhound InnThorpeness villageThe Gunton ArmsEarsham Street DeliFocus OrganicThe Southwold Flower CompanyBlack Lines DrinksVisit For YourselfRestaries Website | @restaries
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S9. | E3. Fowlescombe Farm | Devon, England | Caitlin Owens Welcomes Guests To A Regenerative Retreat Where Luxury Means Connection, Not Choice
Oct 3000:53:27Tap to summarize“ So what I really want from Fowlescombe is actually that you come away feeling like you've stayed with a friend—if that friend was an amazing cook, had really beautiful guest rooms, and was a fantastic host—who'd looked after you really well and who'd really made the effort to show you around. Because actually there's nothing better than visiting a place with a friend, seeing it through their eyes and feeling like you've seen something a bit different.”We’re in great company with Caitlin Owens, the proud new owner and managing director of Fowlescombe Farm, a quietly luxurious and restorative rural retreat of just ten beautifully designed suites, nestled at the heart of a 450-acre regenerative farm, set close to the wilds of Dartmoor in Devon.Dating back to 1537, rich with ghost stories and Sherlock Holmes lore, this historic estate became the perfect canvas for Caitlin to realize her childhood dream of owning a hotel when she returned home to the English countryside ready to pave her own path. In this episode, Caitlin takes us through her philosophy of doing luxury differently—learning from her time at Four Seasons but choosing intimacy over opulence, inviting overnight guests to participate in farm rhythms while opening her table to the local community, and pioneering regenerative hospitality that cares for land, nourishes guests, and sustains her family business.Top Takeaways[2:00] Caitlin's childhood dream of owning a hotel found its home when she returned during lockdown to rediscover the beauty of Devon’s countryside and the opportunity within her family’s farm. [8:50] The estate, owned by the Fowle family since 1537, sits among Dartmoor's mystical landscape—rich in folklore, witchcraft history, haunting tales of ghostly hounds, and the backdrop for a Sherlock Holmes best seller.[16:20] Rather than replicate Four Seasons' luxury through choice and opulence, Caitlin built Fowlescombe around removing decisions—curating an intentional experience that feels like staying with a trusted friend who takes care of every detail.[21:20] Caitlin's favorite season brings the energy of new calves and lambs, bees buzzing through wildflowers, savory wild garlic scenting the woods, and the surprising sweetness of gorse on the moorland.[23:50] Every suite designed by creative director Paul Glade prioritizes tactile luxury—soft wool from their own flock, stone quarried on the farm, English oak, and layered fabrics that invite guests to touch and connect with the sense of place. [27:50] From childhood books to wellies in every size, every object at Fowlescombe has a story and is chosen intentionally so guests can connect to the place and carve out their own space on the farm.[31:30] Overnight guests harvest eggs and make bread with the chefs, while local dinner guests tour the gardens before sharing the communal table—creating connections to the farm and community through food.[39:20] Caitlin envisions a future where the community of people wanting to do luxury differently grows, and the concept of regenerative practices extends beyond farming to hospitality itself.Notable MentionsThe Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleVisit For YourselfFowlescombe Farm Website | @fowlescombe
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S9. | E2. Château Royal Berlin | Berlin, Germany | Kirsten Landwehr’s Decidedly Cosmopolitan Boutique Hotel Champions Contemporary Art And A Convivial Atmosphere
Oct 1700:25:42Tap to summarize“ I feel like Berlin is a city where anything is possible, while never quite achieving polished glamor. And that's its charm. There is no steep hierarchy to enter the art scene, or any scene to be honest. And that is what we wanted to reflect here in Château Royal Berlin, this kind of openness and uniqueness.”We’re in great company with Kirsten Landwehr, co-founder and curator of Château Royal, an enchanting and eccentric boutique hotel in the heart of Berlin Mitte, where craftsmanship and reinterpretation have revived what was once en vogue during the city's former golden ages, now adorned with contemporary art and convivial hosts.Rooted in Berlin’s creative pulse, Kirsten and her husband, restaurateur Stephan Landwehr of Grill Royal fame, have transformed two historic buildings into a living gallery—one that celebrates design, culture, and the art of gathering. With her background in art and photography curation, Kirsten’s vision marries history and modernity with effortless elegance.In this episode, Kirsten shares how she’s shaped Berlin’s art and hospitality scenes—revealing her philosophy on collecting, creating soulful spaces, and honoring the ever-evolving spirit of her city.Top Takeaways[2:00] As a child, Kirsten always dreamed of a bigger and better world. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, she decided to set out and steward that world herself. [4:00] How Kirsten and her husband, Stephan, with their shared appreciation for Berlin's creative energy and culinary artistry, fed and fueled the birth of Berlin’s contemporary art scene through their cult classic restaurant, Grill Royal. [7:00] Hear the turbulent history of two historic buildings in the heart of Berlin Mitte, steps away from the Brandenburg Gate—from being the center of the Golden Twenties to falling into disrepair after WWII, from being used for surveillance during the GDR to housing the studios of squatting artists after the Berlin Wall. [9:00] As Kirsten and Stephan breathed new life into these buildings, curating what would become Château Royal Berlin, they set out to create a space that was “decidedly cosmopolitan, yet unimaginable in any other city.”[10:20] Today, Château Royal Berlin is full of life and conviviality—as locals and travelers, artists and guests, fill the space with their own perspectives and fresh ideas. [11:45] With 93 guest rooms to design and a deep personal determination that no two would be the same, Kirsten invited her artist community to fill their spaces. What then became #93Rooms93Artists, was a permanent home for these artists to proudly showcase their work, host their own guests and welcome in new friends.[14:30] At Restaurant Château Royal, a creative menu and curated atmosphere proves food can be fancy while still being familiar and fresh.Notable MentionsDirector Edward BergerArtist & Art Collector Damien HirstChâteau Royal’s Guide to BerlinSaint Charles ApothecaryVenini Lamps & Chandeliers Visit For YourselfChâteau Royal Berlin Website | @chateauroyalberlin
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