In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, Zeke Freeman sits down with Dustin Feider, founder of O2 Treehouse, to explore how elevated design, sustainability, and hospitality intersect—literally—in the trees. From geodesic spheres suspended 40+ feet in the air to modular treehouse villages designed for scalable hospitality, Dustin shares how his childhood inspiration evolved into a globally recognized design-build studio.

They unpack the engineering challenges of building on living, moving structures, the economics of unique stays, and how immersive, nature-forward hospitality can outperform traditional square-foot thinking. Whether you’re developing boutique hotels, glamping resorts, or experiential real estate, this conversation will expand how you think about space, experience, and return on investment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Dustin turned a furniture design background into a global treehouse brand
• The engineering challenges of building on living trees and how O2 solves them
• Why unique stays can outperform larger homes in ADR and ROI
• What it costs to build elevated hospitality structures
• The difference between suspended tree structures and ground-based glamping units
• How experiential design drives demand in modern hospitality
• Why smaller, one-of-a-kind builds can outperform traditional real estate metrics
• The process behind designing, engineering, and budgeting custom tree projects
• Where immersive, nature-driven hospitality is headed next

Connect with Dustin:

Website: https://www.o2treehouse.com/

Email: dustinfeider@o2treehouse.com

LinkedIn: Dustin Feider https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinfeider/

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.

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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.

In this episode of The Radical Hospitality Podcast, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Tyler Cauble, a Nashville-based commercial real estate investor, advisor, and developer known for turning overlooked properties into community anchors through adaptive reuse and neighborhood-first strategy.

Tyler shares how he dropped out of college, landed an in-house leasing role at a boutique development firm, and quickly built real-world experience across office, retail, industrial, and development. After completing his first major development project, he launched his own firm and began raising capital for deals rooted in a clear philosophy: be product-type agnostic, but hyper-local about where you invest. For Tyler, that means spending nearly all his time understanding the real fabric, demand, and trajectory of specific neighborhoods like East Nashville and Madison.

Takeaways:

• Tyler Cauble emphasizes the importance of understanding neighborhood dynamics for successful investments.
• He prefers commercial real estate over residential due to the complexities of tenant relationships.
• Tyler's approach to underwriting deals focuses on finding the 'X factor' that sets projects apart.
• He believes in the potential of opportunity zones to spur investment in neglected areas.
• Tyler discusses the challenges of navigating city regulations and permitting processes.
• He highlights the significance of choosing the right management team for hospitality projects.
• Tyler's Peerless Mill project aims to create a self-sustaining community within a mixed-use development.
• He stresses the need for conservative underwriting in uncertain market conditions.
• Tyler shares insights on the benefits and challenges of utilizing historic tax credits.
• He advocates for hiring experienced professionals to navigate complex financing options like TIFs.

Connect with Tyler Cauble:

Website: crecentral.com

Instagram: @commercialinnashville

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.

In this episode, Zeke Freeman sits down with Steph Weber, a branding and marketing leader in the short-term rental, boutique hotel, and micro resort space. Steph shares the origin story behind her move from fashion and influencer marketing into hospitality, and why story-led branding is no longer optional as platforms shift and competition tightens.

They unpack what “owning your brand” really means for STR and boutique operators, how to build a brand before construction is even finished, and why strong marketing systems (email lists, content, direct bookings) become part of the business asset itself, especially when it’s time to exit.

What you’ll learn

• How Steph went from fashion branding and influencer work to hospitality investing and development
• Why storytelling is the competitive edge in modern STR and boutique hotels
• The difference between “good design” and a stay that creates emotion (and loyalty)
• How to define a target guest profile that guides everything from amenities to messaging
• What it looks like to market a property while it’s still under construction
• Why relying on OTAs alone can cost you loyalty, margin, and long-term business value
• The real-world journey of building Cabins on the Cumberland: partnerships, financing, surprises, and lessons learned
• How to think about event venues, capacity, and the economics of full-property buyouts

Connect with Steph Weber:

Website: theweberco.com

Instagram : @theweberco

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.