HOMETOWN HOSPITALITY with Mallorie Rasberry | Episode 108

What does it take to turn a small Southern town into a beloved destination? According to Mallorie Rasberry—CPA, HGTV designer, and Laurel native—it starts with hospitality. In this episode of The Heirloom Podcast, Josh Nowell and Jim Rasberry sit down with Mallorie to explore how welcoming strangers into a backyard cottage sparked a decade of transformation in Laurel, Mississippi. That spark became a movement—and now, The Heirloom Hotel. From staging homes on Home Town to opening a 30-room hotel with a cooking school, Mallorie has spent years building spaces that feel like home. Her approach is simple but powerful: kindness, comfort, and care for every guest who walks through the door. ▶ You’ll hear: • How Mallorie turned her love for hosting into Laurel’s first boutique hotel • Why true hospitality can change the economics of a small town • What a childhood on a dairy farm taught her about serving others • The power of embracing your town’s quirks—yes, even a giant peanut • How The Heirloom Hotel reflects Mallorie’s legacy of welcome “You don’t have to be perfect to be proud of your place and to welcome folks. That’s the story of Laurel.” – Mallorie Rasberry Whether you’re a fan of HGTV’s Home Town, a lover of small-town revitalization, or just looking for inspiration on how legacy is built one guest at a time—this is an episode you won’t want to miss. ⸻ Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:07 – Mallorie joins the podcast 03:38 – The early days of Home Town 04:49 – From Airbnb to hotel: the hosting journey 08:40 – Why Laurel needed a hotel 10:28 – Building The Heirloom Hotel 13:46 – Inspiration from the Viking cooking school 17:05 – What makes hospitality powerful 24:06 – The impact of weather, welcome, and kindness 29:16 – How Miss Hospitality shaped Mallorie’s worldview 33:05 – What to expect from The Heirloom Hotel 36:07 – The views from every room 39:00 – Hospitality as a legacy 44:41 – Why your town doesn’t need to be perfect 49:00 – “Find your peanut.” 50:13 – Final thoughts on legacy ⸻ Recorded in Laurel, Mississippi at The Heirloom Hotel Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your shows. Subscribe to stay connected with more stories of legacy, community, and craft. #TheHeirloomPodcast #HGTVHomeTown #MallorieRasberry #SouthernHospitality #SmallTownRevival #LaurelMississippi #Legacy #theHeirloomHotel #HomeTown #JoshNowell #JimRasberry #LaurelMercantile #ScotsmanCo #hgtv #theheirloom The Heirloom: (http://theheirloom.us) Heirloom Instagram:   / theheirloom.us   Heirloom Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Heirloom TikTok:   / theheirloom.us   Heirloom X: https://x.com/theheirloomus