Liz Lambert (@thelizlambert) first purchased a seedy motel on South Congress Avenue 23 years ago, and transformed it into Hotel San José, which has become known today as the quintessential “Austin” hotel. The success of Hotel San José, which sparked a revitalization in the city’s now thriving South Congress district, led her to launch Bunkhouse Group, a hospitality company founded on the pillars of design, music, and community-driven experiences.

In the course of chronicling her experiences with the residents of Hotel San José on video camera, she ended up making the Last Days of the San José, a documentary that casts a fascinating light on human relationships in gentrification and urban renewal.

Connect with Liz on Instagram:   / thelizlambert  

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About Tim Ferriss:
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded 200 million downloads and been selected for “Best of iTunes” three years running.

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Start. [00:00]
Liz's documentary, The Last Days of The San José. [02:30]
Why transform a seedy hotel? [07:36]
How the documentary came about. [08:54]
Why did Liz go to three schools as an undergrad? [15:27]
"I'm a Texan, through and through.” [17:03]
Why study law after focusing on poetry? [19:27]
Does Liz regret the time she spent as a lawyer? [20:30]
Liz scratches an itch. [21:58]
As a lawyer with liberal politics, why become a prosecutor rather than a defender? [26:16]
On coming out and moving back. [27:25]
A re-evaluation of priorities. [29:23]
How Liz found her footing. [30:42]
On getting investors and a good business partner. [35:39]
What Liz would do differently if given the opportunity? [42:34]
Hotels as a hub that serves the community. [44:37]
Christopher Alexander and A Pattern Language. [47:27]
What makes each Bunkhouse property a unique experience? [52:00]
The wisdom and business acumen of Chip Conley. [1:11:31]
The importance of operational rigor. [1:17:28]
On balancing the desire to be both an artist and a business tycoon. [1:18:54]
A vision for Liz's hotel empire. [1:22:30]
Why Keith Moon trashes hotels. [1:26:51]
Liz’s vision for the future isn’t just about what’s good for her. [1:27:31]
On work-life balance, a growing family, and the realization of mortality. [1:29:21]
Books gifted most often. [1:32:03]
A favorite failure. [1:37:57]
What would Liz’s billboard say? [1:43:25]
Parting thoughts. [1:45:38]