{"podcast":{"title":"Stories Behind the Door","slug":"stories-behind-the-door-7023511","podcast_index_feed_id":7023511,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/546122/rss","website_url":"https://safestorageusa.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/c/9/4/c/c94cdef6fd52dc2ad959afa2a1bf1c87/Stories_Behind_the_Door_Vertical_Thumbnails.jpg","author":"Thaddeus Campbell","episode_count":52,"summary":"Self-storage isn't just square footage — it's a booming industry powered by smart operators, bold investors, sharp brokers, and everyday people making things happen. Hosted by Thaddeus Campbell, Stories Behind the Door pulls back the curtain on the real players behind the deals, developments, and day-to-day grind. Every week, we sit down with the people who are shaping the future of storage and flex space — one story at a time. If you're in the business or thinking about getting in, this is your front-row seat.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-11T02:17:03.128526+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-behind-the-door-7023511"},"episode":{"title":"Ken Woolley shares his incredible journey over 56 years in storage.","slug":"ken-woolley-shares-his-incredible-journey-over-56-years-in-storage","published_at":"2026-02-11T16:45:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-behind-the-door-7023511/ken-woolley-shares-his-incredible-journey-over-56-years-in-storage","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-behind-the-door-7023511","url":"https://c1fb7a5a-b918-4752-8e66-99cccd34cccf.libsyn.com/ken-woolley-shares-his-incredible-journey-over-56-years-in-storage","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/c1fb7a5a-b918-4752-8e66-99cccd34cccf/0-Podcas-Audio-Ken-Woolley.mp3?dest-id=4709347","summary":"I sit down with Ken Woolley, the visionary Founder of Extra Space Storage, for a masterclass in industry history and leadership philosophy. Ken has been in the self-storage game for 56 years, witnessing the asset class transform from niche \"garage rentals\" into a mainstream institutional power player . Ken shares incredible stories from the early days, including his time as a management consultant in Boston and his 1973 study of the only 26 storage properties in Los Angeles . We discuss the current \"tight spot\" the industry finds itself in with cap rate shifts and excess supply, and why he remains bullish on the long-term demand driven by American consumerism . Key Takeaways from this Episode: Historical Context: How storage has evolved from $5/sq. ft. hard costs and 14% interest rates in the early 80s to the complex developments of today . The \"Win-Win\" Business Model: Why Ken rejected the idea that business is divided into \"screwers and screwees,\" choosing instead to lead with kindness and partnership . Market Trends for 2026: Ken's take on why the Northeast and Midwest are currently stronger than the Sun Belt due to supply absorption . Acquisition Strategy: How Extra Space continues to deploy capital—buying $1.2 billion in 2025—despite a challenging stock and debt environment . Development Barriers: Why building in \"tough\" markets like Boston, New York, and California creates a long-term \"quasi-monopoly\" and superior cash flow . If you want to understand the soul of the storage industry, this conversation with one of its primary architects is essential listening. Connect with Thaddeus Campbell (S3 Partners): https://www.s3.partners https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsthadcampbell/ thaddeus@s3.partners Connect with Kenneth Woolley (Extra Space Storage): https://www.extras…","meta_description":"I sit down with Ken Woolley, the visionary Founder of Extra Space Storage, for a masterclass in industry history and leadership philosophy. Ken has been i…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1809,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/stories-behind-the-door-7023511/episodes/ken-woolley-shares-his-incredible-journey-over-56-years-in-storage/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/stories-behind-the-door-7023511/ken-woolley-shares-his-incredible-journey-over-56-years-in-storage.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}